1.
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Delhi
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Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, in New Delhi, India, is a multipurpose sports arena hosting football and other sporting events, as well as large-scale entertainment events. It is named after the first Prime Minister of India, the all-seater facility seats 60,000 spectators, and up to 100,000 for concerts. In terms of seating capacity, it is the fourth largest multipurpose stadium in India, the stadium complex also houses the headquarters of the Sports Authority of India, the field arm of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, and Indian Olympic Association. In preparation for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, the stadium reduced its capacity from 78,000 to 60,254 spectators, the stadium played host to Amnesty Internationals Human Rights Now. Benefit Concert on 30 September 1988, the show was headlined by Sting and Peter Gabriel, and also featured Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, Tracy Chapman, Youssou NDour, and Ravi Shankar. The project was led and managed by Mr. Ramji Lal from CPWD, michael Jackson was scheduled to perform 2 concerts at the stadium in December 1993 as a part of his Dangerous World Tour. This would have been the first time Jackson would have performed in India, MTV India and other T. V. channels played Jacksons music videos months before the concert which created mass hysteria and anticipation in the public for the concerts and Jacksons visit to India. Both the concerts were expected to be sold out and these two concerts were scheduled to be the last performances of the tour. Unfortunately the concerts in Delhi along with the dates for Indonesia and Australia were cancelled due to Jacksons health problems, the Stadium has hosted two One Day International matches featuring India against Australia in 1984 which incidentally, was the first day night one day international in India. And South Africa in 1991, again the fixture being a day night one, batsman Kepler Wessels played in both the matches but for different countries and scored 107 for Australia and 90 for South Africa. Some local National Football League matches have also played here. The stadium was the venue for the 2011 South Asian Football Federation Cup. On 10 January 2012, the Government of India, and Audi, in this one-sided affair, the German club has defeated Indian team by 4-0 in front of 30,000 spectators. This was the match to Baichung Bhutia as Indian National Football Team captain. Since 2014 Indian Super League season, it has been home ground for Delhi Dynamos FC, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium was the main venue for the 2010 Commonwealth Games. It hosted the opening and closing ceremonies as well as events for the Delhi Games. The stadium underwent massive redesign and reconstruction for the biggest multi-sport event hosted by India to that date and it was opened to the general public on 27 July 2010. In July 2010, the first-ever Asian All Asian Athletics Championship was held, over 1,500 students from schools came to see the event
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Delhi
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Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (JLN)
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Delhi
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A-22 Stand
2.
2010 Commonwealth Games
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The 2010 Commonwealth Games, officially known as the XIX Commonwealth Games, were held in Delhi, India, from 3 to 14 October 2010. A total of 6,081 athletes from 71 Commonwealth nations and dependencies competed in 21 sports and 272 events and it was also the largest international multi-sport event to be staged in Delhi and India, eclipsing the Asian Games in 1951 and 1982. The opening and closing ceremonies were held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and it was the first time that the Commonwealth Games were held in India and the second time they were held in Asia after Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 1998. It was also the time a Commonwealth Republic hosted the games. The official mascot of the Games was Shera and the song of the Games. The President of the International Olympic Committee, Jacques Rogge, said that India had made a foundation for a future Olympics bid. Commonwealth games Federation chief Mike Fennell stated that Delhi delivered a fantastic Games, some observers accused sections of the media of bias, unfair expectations, and negative reporting. The final medal tally was led by Australia, the host nation India achieved its best performance ever at the Games, finishing second overall. This was Indias first successful bid for the Games, the bid was Canadas attempt to hold the games for the fifth time. Indias bid motto was New Frontiers and Friendships, the successful 2003 Afro-Asian Games held in Hyderabad was also seen as having shown that India has the resources, infrastructure and technical know-how to stage a big sporting event. Such actions are worthy of emulation by all concerned in Pakistan, I have no doubt that if both sides continue to live by such ideals, one day, sooner than later our generations to come will reap the benefits of and be grateful to those making such contributions. You would certainly be such person, the Indian government stated that it would underwrite the total cost of the Games. In spite of delays and the corruption cases levied on the organisors, commentators stated that they were confident that India will successfully host the games, the BCI was formed to both market the Games and promote Indian business interests internationally. The initial total budget estimated by the Indian Olympic Association in 2003 for hosting the Games was ₹16.2 billion, in 2010, however, the official total budget soon escalated to an estimated ₹115 billion, a figure which excluded non-sports-related infrastructure development. Business Today magazine estimated that the Games cost ₹700 billion, the 2010 Commonwealth Games are reportedly the most expensive Commonwealth Games ever. In response to concerns over the number of trains that pass by the Delhi metropolitan region daily. To expand road infrastructure, flyovers, cloverleaf flyovers, and bridges were built to improve links for the Games, road-widening projects were finished with an emphasis being placed on expanding national highways. To improve traffic flow on existing roads, plans were made to both the inner and outer Ring roads signal free
2010 Commonwealth Games
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OC main building
2010 Commonwealth Games
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Logo of 2010 Commonwealth Games
2010 Commonwealth Games
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Delhi–Gurgaon Expressway with Toll Tax Gate, Gurgaon
2010 Commonwealth Games
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Delhi Metro
3.
Venues of the 2010 Commonwealth Games
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The 2010 Commonwealth Games, officially known as the XIX Commonwealth Games, were held in Delhi, India, from 3 to 14 October 2010. A total of 6,081 athletes from 71 nations in the Commonwealth of Nations competed in 272 events in 21 sports, the games were the largest international multi-sport event to be staged in Delhi and in India, eclipsing the 1982 Asian Games that Delhi hosted. Events took place at competition venues, and twenty venues were set aside as training venues. Other venues in the games included the Commonwealth Games Village and the Main Media Centre, the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games Organising Committee, whose headquarters was situated in the New Delhi Municipal Council building, was established to organise the event. This does not include the two venues—the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex and Jawaharlal Nehru Sports Complex—that received major renovations or an uplift, all other venues had existed prior to the games. The Commonwealth Games Village was a separate venue that provided accommodation. The largest venue was the Jawaharlal Nehru Sports Complex, which had a capacity of 60,000 during the games, the stadium was the main venue of the games, hosting both the opening and the closing ceremonies. On the other hand, the Central Reserve Police Force Shooting Range located in Kadarpur had the smallest seating capacity, at 345. The days leading up to the games saw numerous concerns and controversies over the readiness and the state of venues of the games, the matter would receive widespread attention from the media, both local and international. A total of six venues—the Dr, for example, the Yamuna Sports Complexs archery facility could hold 1,500 while its facility for table tennis could hold 4,297. Siri Fort Sports Complex in New Delhi A total of twenty training venues were used in the Games, the Commonwealth Games Village provided accommodation and training for athletes of the Games, and was open from 23 September to 18 October 2010. It was located along the east bank of the Yamuna river, in proximity to competition and training venues as well as city landmarks, two transport systems, provided free of charge, served athletes and team officials in the Games Village. The Internal Village Shuttle provided internal movement within the Games Village, bus services linked the Games Village to competition and training venues, the airport, and the city centre, Connaught Place. The Residential Zone specifically accommodated athletes and team officials, with 1,168 apartments in 34 residential towers. The entire zone itself was divided into four zones, styled after four unique folk art found in India as identified by a colour. Nine Resident Centres, each serving hundreds of residents, were spaced across the residential towers, the Residential Zone also housed offices and services centres for the Commonwealth Games Associations, a polyclinic, religious services and casual dining facilities. The International Zone served as the hub of the Games Village, offering retail and entertainment services as well as a location for visitors. Key facilities such as a bank, post office and general store were hosted there, alongside shops and entertainment facilities including a cinema
Venues of the 2010 Commonwealth Games
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The opening and closing ceremonies of the games took place at the
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
Venues of the 2010 Commonwealth Games
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The
Thyagaraj Sports Complex hosted netball during the games
Venues of the 2010 Commonwealth Games
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The
Jawaharlal Nehru Sports Complex seen during the
opening ceremony of the games
Venues of the 2010 Commonwealth Games
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Tennis was held at the
R.K. Khanna Tennis Complex during the games
4.
Jiyo Utho Bado Jeeto
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Jiyo Utho Bado Jeeto is a song by Indian musician A. R. Rahman. It was the anthem for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, which was held in Delhi. The highly anticipated song was released on August 28 for digital download, receiving mixed responses from the Organising Committee, critics. The music video of the song was released on 23 September, the new version became the official anthem, since it received very positive responses. The title of the song is based on the motto of the games, Come out, Jiyo Utho Bado Jeeto was first performed by Rahman at the song release function held at Kingdom of Dreams in Gurgaon, Haryana on August 28,2010. The song was dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi, a. R. Rahman was chosen to compose the theme song way back in 2009. The Commonwealth Games Organising Committee officially signed on Rahman to compose the song in April 2010, Rahman asked ₹15 crores as remuneration, a very large sum. However, considering all this money is basically what the common man pays as income tax. The Group of Ministers approved the song on August 15,2010, Rahman would also be associated with the promotional events of the sporting event. About the selection of the song as the anthem, Rahman said. I hope people like it and it becomes the spirit of the whole Commonwealth Games, the song was composed and performed by A. R. Rahman. It is the second time Rahman has composed for a sports event, the lyrics for the song, in Hindi with partly English words, were penned by Mehboob, who also penned Rahmans Maa Tujhe Salaam. It took nearly six months for Rahman to complete the song, Rahman, who started the work in April, was still modifying the song on the day before the song release. Additional arrangements of the song was done by Ranjit Barot, while the chant Jiyo Utho Bado Jeeto was by Mehboob Alam, the song release was preceded by a promotional event held at Delhi. Rahman unveiled the title of the song and sang the initial lines, on being asked if it was in the style of Waka Waka Rahman answered that he was not trying to replicate Waka Waka and that he wanted to go beyond what already exists. Rahman also stated that the song would be out within ten days, at this event, Rahman dedicated the song to Mahatma Gandhi. The song was released on August 28,2010. Organising Committee Chairman Suresh Kalmadi unveiled the song in the inaugural Swagatham ceremony held at Kingdom of Dreams Gurgaon, the release function was also preceded by speeches by Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and her Haryana counterpart Bhupinder Singh Hooda
Jiyo Utho Bado Jeeto
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Rahman performing "Jiyo Utho Bado Jeeto" at its audio release
5.
2010 Commonwealth Games medal table
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The 2010 Commonwealth Games, was a multi-sport event held in Delhi, India from 3 to 14 October 2010. It was the first time that India hosted the Commonwealth Games, a total of 6,081 athletes from 71 Commonwealth Games Associations participated in this Games, competing in 272 events in 21 sports. Athletes from 36 participating CGAs won at least one medal, athletes from 23 of these CGAs secured at least one gold, Australia led the medal table for the sixth consecutive time with 74 golds and 177 medals overall. Host nation India finished second in the table for the very first time in Commonwealth Games history with a tally of 38 golds and 101 medals overall, Botswana, the Cayman Islands and Samoa won their first ever Commonwealth Games gold medals. Australian swimmer Alicia Coutts emerged as the most successful athlete with five gold medals, the ranking in this table is consistent with International Olympic Committee convention in its published medal tables. By default, the table is ordered by the number of medals the athletes from a nation have won. The number of medals is taken into consideration next and then the number of bronze medals. If nations are tied, equal ranking is given and they are listed alphabetically by IOC country code. In Boxing two bronze medals were awarded in each weight class, additionally there was a tie of three athletes for the third place in the womens pole vault in athletics meant that three bronze medals were awarded. Therefore, the number of bronze medals is greater than the total number of gold or silver medals. Silver medallist Hassene Fkiri of Australia was disqualified from the competition for making an obscene gesture at the judges. Kakoma Bella-Lufu of South Africa was elevated from bronze to silver, eric Feunekes of Pakistan was elevated from 4th to the bronze medal position. Sally Pearson, an Australian hurdles specialist, was the winner of the gold medal in the womens 100 metres contest. However, the English Commonwealth Association launched an appeal arguing that Pearson had also started at the same time that Laura Turner was disqualified for doing so. A final decision could not be made before the final as the chief judge had left the stadium. Pearson was disqualified later that night but a delay in communication meant Pearson was only told of the decision against her prior to the medal ceremony. On 11 October Oludamola Osayomi was reported to have tested positive for the banned stimulant Methylhexaneamine, on 15 October it was announced that silver medallist Folashade Abugan had been disqualified after testing positive for testosterone prohormone. Aliann Pompey of Guyana was promoted to the medal position
2010 Commonwealth Games medal table
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Medalists of the
Badminton mixed team event. From the left:
India (silver),
Malaysia (gold), and
England (bronze)
6.
Commonwealth Games Federation
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The Commonwealth Games Federation is the international organisation responsible for the direction and control of the Commonwealth Games, and is the foremost authority in matters relating to the games. Following the 1932 Summer Olympics, it was decided to form the British Empire Games Federation who would be responsible for the organising of the games. It consists of 3 or more representatives of a Commonwealth Games Association of each member countries and territories, the Vice-Patron, Life Vice-Presidents, sessions of the General Assembly are chaired by the CGF President, with each CGA and the President having one vote. The Executive Board are representative of the Commonwealth Games Associations which form the General Assembly, the board consists of the ex officio Vice-Patron, the President, six officers of CGF and six Vice-Presidents representing, and being responsible for the CGAs in the 6 regions of the CGF. The Vice-Patron is elected at the General Assembly and usually remains in office for life, the honour is awarded on the recommendation of the Executive Board at the General Assembly. Former Chairmen and Presidents automatically become a Life Vice-President, the selection process is made in accordance with the Candidate City Manual, as drafted by the Executive Board and made available to candidates 18 months before a decision is made. The President of the Commonwealth Games Federation is responsible for chairing the Executive Board, a candidate is elected to the position by the General Assembly the year following the Commonwealth Games. Other duties include inviting the Head of the Commonwealth for the opening and closing declaration of the games, previously before the XVI Commonwealth Games in 1998, the President was a ceremonial role, taking on the duties of the now Vice-Patron. The Chairman was elected by the General Assembly as head of the Commonwealth Games Federation
Commonwealth Games Federation
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Seal of the Commonwealth Games Federation
7.
Indian Olympic Association
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It also acts as the Indian Commonwealth Games Association, responsible for selecting athletes to represent India at the Commonwealth Games. Background and early years, The background behind the creation of the Indian Olympic Association was related to India’s participation in the 1920 and 1924 Olympics. Subsequently, in 1923-24, a provisional All India Olympic Committee was formed, eight athletes from these games were selected to represent India at the 1924 Paris Olympics, accompanied by manager Harry Crowe Buck. This gave impetus to the development and institutionalization of sports in India, and, in 1927, sir Dorab Tata was important in financing and supporting the movement and became the first Indian Olympic Association president in 1927. Messrs Buck and Noehren travelled across India and helped many states organise their Olympic associations, Noehren was the first Secretary and G. D. Sondhi was the first assistant secretary of the Indian Olympic Association, and, after Noehren resigned in 1938, Sondhi and S. M. Moinul Haq became the Secretary and Joint Secretary of the Indian Olympic Association, and so the Indian Olympic Association was formed in 1927, and since that year was officially recognised by the International Olympic Committee as Indias national Olympic organisation. In 1928, Maharaja Bhupindra Singh took over as Indian Olympic Association president, early Tasks, Sending Teams to the Olympics, In its first decade, the Indian Olympic Association selected sportspersons to represent India at the Olympic Games in 1928,1932, and 1936. And so, from 1948 onward, India began sending teams representing several sports – each selected by its respective sports federation – to the Olympics and it obtained funding from the Indian government, from the state governments, and from various state sports federations. The National Games, The Indian Olympic Association had one other major responsibility and it recognised, in the 1920s-1940s, that the promotion of sports in India needed a National Games, because there was no overall national sports federation of India. Instead, there were separate national federations for each sport, such as athletics, swimming, basketball, volleyball, wrestling, weightlifting, cycling, boxing and these sports federations essentially held their national championships at the Indian National Games. On 4 December 2012, the International Olympic Committee suspended the IOA on the basis of corruption, government interference, several members of the IOA have been charged with crimes. The IOA was formally banned for not following the Olympic Charter in their elections, the IOA held elections under the Indian Sports Code due to a directive from the Delhi High Court. India still did not have its three competitors play under the flag at the 2014 Olympics. On 9 February, an election was held to choose a head of the IOA, abhay Singh Chautala and Lalit Bhanot were ineligible due to having a court charge against them. The President of the World Squash Federation Narayana Ramachandran was instead elected, mr. #Mohan Chandra Pal Indian members of the International Olympic Committee were Dorab Tata, G D Sondhi, and Raja Bhalindra Singh. They served as ambassadors of the International Olympic Committee to the Indian Olympic Association, since 26 April 2011, after the arrest of its president Suresh Kalmadi, Vijay Kumar Malhotra was the acting president of the IOA up to 5, December,2012. The current President, Secretary General and treasurer of the IOA are N. Ramachandran, Rajeev Mehta, the election of Lalit Bhanot was considered controversial by some due to his alleged involvement in the Commonwealth Games Scam. The International Olympic Committee suspended Indias National Olympic committee on 4 December 2012 because of government interference in its election process, on 11 February 2014, the International Olympic Committee revoked the ban enforced on Indian Olympic Association
Indian Olympic Association
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Indian Olympic Association
8.
New Delhi
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New Delhi is the capital of India and one of Delhi citys 11 districts. The National Capital Region is a larger entity comprising the entire National Capital Territory along with adjoining districts. The foundation stone of the city was laid by George V and it was designed by British architects, Sir Edwin Lutyens and Sir Herbert Baker. The new capital was inaugurated on 13 February 1931, by Viceroy, New Delhi has been selected as one of the hundred Indian cities to be developed as a smart city under Prime Minister of India Narendra Modis flagship Smart Cities Mission. Calcutta was the capital of India during the British Raj until December 1911, Delhi had served as the political and financial centre of several empires of ancient India and the Delhi Sultanate, most notably of the Mughal Empire from 1649 to 1857. During the early 1900s, a proposal was made to the British administration to shift the capital of the British Indian Empire, as India was officially named, from Calcutta on the east coast, to Delhi. The Government of British India felt that it would be easier to administer India from Delhi in the centre of northern India. The land for building the new city of Delhi was acquired under the Land Acquisition Act 1894. The foundation stone of New Delhi was laid by King George V and Queen Mary at the site of Delhi Durbar of 1911 at Kingsway Camp on 15 December 1911, during their imperial visit. Large parts of New Delhi were planned by Edwin Lutyens, who first visited Delhi in 1912, the contract was given to Sobha Singh. The original plan called for its construction in Tughlaqabad, inside the Tughlaqabad fort, construction really began after World War I and was completed by 1931. The city that was later dubbed Lutyens Delhi was inaugurated in ceremonies beginning on 10 February 1931 by Lord Irwin, Lutyens designed the central administrative area of the city as a testament to Britains imperial aspirations. Soon Lutyens started considering other places, however, it was rejected by the Viceroy when the cost of acquiring the necessary properties was found to be too high. The central axis of New Delhi, which faces east at India Gate, was previously meant to be a north-south axis linking the Viceroys House at one end with Paharganj at the other. During the projects early years, many believed it was a gate from Earth to Heaven itself. Eventually, owing to space constraints and the presence of a number of heritage sites in the North side. A site atop the Raisina Hill, formerly Raisina Village, a Meo village, was chosen for the Rashtrapati Bhawan, then known as the Viceroys House. The reason for this choice was that the hill lay directly opposite the Dinapanah citadel, which was considered the site of Indraprastha
New Delhi
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Clockwise from top left:
Secretariat Building,
Connaught Place,
Jantar Mantar,
Rashtrapati Bhavan,
India Gate
New Delhi
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Lord Curzon and
Lady Curzon arriving at the Delhi Durbar, 1903.
New Delhi
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The Delhi Durbar of 1911, with King George V and Queen Mary seated upon the dais.
New Delhi
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The 1931 series celebrated the inauguration of New Delhi as the seat of government. The one
rupee stamp shows
George V with the "Secretariat Building" and Dominion Columns.
9.
Indian Standard Time
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Indian Standard Time is the time observed throughout India and Sri Lanka, with a time offset of UTC+05,30. India does not observe daylight saving time or other seasonal adjustments, in military and aviation time IST is designated E*. Indian Standard Time is calculated on the basis of 82.30 E longitude, in Shankargarh Fort, in the tz database, it is represented by Asia/Kolkata. The Central observatory was moved from Chennai to a location at Shankargarh Fort Allahabad district, daylight Saving Time was used briefly during the China–Indian War of 1962 and the Indo–Pakistani Wars of 1965 and 1971. Inhabitants of the states have to advance their clocks with the early sunrise. In the late 1980s, a team of researchers proposed separating the country two or three time zones to conserve energy. The binary system that they suggested involved a return to British–era time zones, in 2001, the government established a four–member committee under the Ministry of Science and Technology to examine the need for multiple time zones and daylight saving. In Assam, tea gardens follow a separate time zone, known as the Chaibagaan or Bagan time, still Indian Standard Time remains the only officially used time. The filmmaker Jahnu Barua has been campaigning for a time zone for the past 25 years. In 2010, he suggested creating a time zone for the Development of Northeastern Region. In 2014, Chief Minister of Assam Tarun Gogoi started campaigning for another time zone for Assam, however, the proposal would need to be cleared by the Central Government of India. Official time signals are generated by the Time and Frequency Standards Laboratory at the National Physical Laboratory in New Delhi, the signals are based on atomic clocks and are synchronised with the worldwide system of clocks that support the Coordinated Universal Time. IST is taken as the time as it passes through almost the centre of India. To communicate the exact time to the people, the time is broadcast over the state-owned All India Radio. Telephone companies have dedicated phone numbers connected to mirror time servers that also relay the precise time, another increasingly popular means of obtaining the time is through Global Positioning System receivers
Indian Standard Time
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IST in relation with the bordering nations
10.
Charles, Prince of Wales
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Charles, Prince of Wales is the eldest child and heir apparent of Queen Elizabeth II. Known alternatively in South West England as Duke of Cornwall and in Scotland as Duke of Rothesay, he is the heir apparent in British history. He is also the oldest person to be next in line to the throne since Sophia of Hanover, Charles was born at Buckingham Palace as the first grandchild of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. After earning a bachelor of degree from Trinity College, Cambridge. In 1981, he married Lady Diana Spencer and they had two sons, Prince William later to become Duke of Cambridge, and Prince Harry, in 1996, the couple divorced, following well-publicised extramarital affairs. Diana died in a car crash in Paris the following year, in 2005, Charles married Camilla Parker Bowles. Charles has sought to raise awareness of the dangers facing the natural environment. As an environmentalist, he has received awards and recognition from environmental groups around the world. His support for alternative medicine, including homeopathy, has been criticised by some in the medical community and he has been outspoken on the role of architecture in society and the conservation of historic buildings. Subsequently, Charles created Poundbury, a new town based on his theories. He has authored a number of books, including A Vision of Britain, A Personal View of Architecture in 1989 and he was baptised in the palaces Music Room by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Geoffrey Fisher, on 15 December 1948. When Prince Charles was aged three his mothers accession as Queen Elizabeth II made him her heir apparent. As the monarchs eldest son, he took the titles Duke of Cornwall, Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick, Baron of Renfrew, Lord of the Isles and Prince. Charles attended his mothers coronation at Westminster Abbey on 2 June 1953, seated alongside his grandmother, as was customary for upper-class children at the time, a governess, Catherine Peebles, was appointed and undertook his education between the ages of five and eight. Buckingham Palace announced in 1955 that Charles would attend school rather than have a private tutor, Charles then attended two of his fathers former schools, Cheam Preparatory School in Berkshire, England, followed by Gordonstoun in the north-east of Scotland. He reportedly despised the school, which he described as Colditz in kilts. Upon his return to Gordonstoun, Charles emulated his father in becoming Head Boy and he left in 1967, with six GCE O-levels and two A-levels in history and French, at grades B and C, respectively. Tradition was broken again when Charles proceeded straight from school into university
Charles, Prince of Wales
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The Prince of Wales in
Jersey, July 2012
Charles, Prince of Wales
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Signature
Charles, Prince of Wales
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Telegram announcing the birth of Prince Charles to the
Governor-General of New Zealand
Charles, Prince of Wales
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Queen Elizabeth II formally invests the Prince of Wales with
his coronet, 1969
11.
Elizabeth II
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Elizabeth II has been Queen of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand since 6 February 1952. Elizabeth was born in London as the eldest child of the Duke and Duchess of York, later King George VI and Queen Elizabeth and her father acceded to the throne on the abdication of his brother Edward VIII in 1936, from which time she was the heir presumptive. She began to undertake duties during the Second World War. Elizabeths many historic visits and meetings include a visit to the Republic of Ireland. She has seen major changes, such as devolution in the United Kingdom, Canadian patriation. She has reigned through various wars and conflicts involving many of her realms and she is the worlds oldest reigning monarch as well as Britains longest-lived. In October 2016, she became the longest currently reigning monarch, in 2017 she became the first British monarch to commemorate a Sapphire Jubilee. Elizabeth has occasionally faced republican sentiments and press criticism of the family, however, support for the monarchy remains high. Elizabeth was born at 02,40 on 21 April 1926, during the reign of her paternal grandfather and her father, Prince Albert, Duke of York, was the second son of the King. Her mother, Elizabeth, Duchess of York, was the youngest daughter of Scottish aristocrat Claude Bowes-Lyon, 14th Earl of Strathmore and she was delivered by Caesarean section at her maternal grandfathers London house,17 Bruton Street, Mayfair. Elizabeths only sibling, Princess Margaret, was born in 1930, the two princesses were educated at home under the supervision of their mother and their governess, Marion Crawford, who was casually known as Crawfie. Lessons concentrated on history, language, literature and music, Crawford published a biography of Elizabeth and Margarets childhood years entitled The Little Princesses in 1950, much to the dismay of the royal family. The book describes Elizabeths love of horses and dogs, her orderliness, others echoed such observations, Winston Churchill described Elizabeth when she was two as a character. She has an air of authority and reflectiveness astonishing in an infant and her cousin Margaret Rhodes described her as a jolly little girl, but fundamentally sensible and well-behaved. During her grandfathers reign, Elizabeth was third in the line of succession to the throne, behind her uncle Edward, Prince of Wales, and her father, the Duke of York. Although her birth generated public interest, she was not expected to become queen, many people believed that he would marry and have children of his own. When her grandfather died in 1936 and her uncle succeeded as Edward VIII, she became second-in-line to the throne, later that year, Edward abdicated, after his proposed marriage to divorced socialite Wallis Simpson provoked a constitutional crisis. Consequently, Elizabeths father became king, and she became heir presumptive, if her parents had had a later son, she would have lost her position as first-in-line, as her brother would have been heir apparent and above her in the line of succession
Elizabeth II
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The Queen in March 2015
Elizabeth II
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Princess Elizabeth aged 3, April 1929
Elizabeth II
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Princess Elizabeth aged 7, painted by
Philip de László, 1933
Elizabeth II
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Elizabeth in
Auxiliary Territorial Service uniform, April 1945
12.
Head of the Commonwealth
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There is no set term of office or term limit and the role itself involves no part in the day-to-day governance of any of the member states within the Commonwealth. By 1949, the then British Commonwealth was a group of eight countries, India, however, desired to become a republic, but not depart the Commonwealth by doing so. This was accommodated by the creation of the title Head of the Commonwealth for the King, the title is currently held by the elder daughter of George VI, Queen Elizabeth II. The title was devised in the London Declaration as a result of discussions at the 1949 Commonwealth Prime Ministers Conference, since 1953, it has formed a part of the monarchs title in each Commonwealth realm. The Head of the Commonwealth or a representative attends the biennial Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting and this is a tradition begun by the monarch on the advice of Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau in 1973, when the CHOGM was first held in Canada. During the summit, the Head of the Commonwealth has a series of meetings with Commonwealth countries leaders, attends a CHOGM reception and dinner. The Queen or a representative is present at the quadrennial Commonwealth Games and on every Commonwealth Day. The Commonwealth Secretariat asserts any successor will be chosen collectively by the Commonwealth heads of government, the Daily Telegraph reported that the post is not hereditary and many leaders want an elected head to make the organisation more democratic. In 1949, King George VI was king of each of the countries that comprised the British Commonwealth, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Ceylon, India. However, the Indian Cabinet desired the country become a republic, when India adopted a republican constitution on 26 January 1950, George VI ceased to be its monarch, but it did regard him as Head of the Commonwealth. Elizabeth II became Head of the Commonwealth on her accession in 1952 and it is an entirely new conception built on the highest qualities of the spirit of man, friendship, loyalty, and the desire for freedom and peace. The following year, a Royal Style and Titles Act was passed in each of the Commonwealth realms, in December 1960, the Queen had a personal flag created to symbolise her as Head of the Commonwealth and not associated with her role as queen of any particular country. Over time, the flag has replaced the British Royal Standard when the Queen visits Commonwealth countries of which she is not head of state, when the Queen visits the headquarters of the Commonwealth Secretariat in London, this personal standard—not any of her royal standards—is raised. Former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney said Elizabeth was a behind the force in ending apartheid in South Africa
Head of the Commonwealth
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Incumbent Queen
Elizabeth II since 6 Feb 1952
Head of the Commonwealth
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George VI
Head of the Commonwealth
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Elizabeth II
13.
President of India
–
The President of the Republic of India is the Head of State of India and the Commander-in-chief of the Indian Armed Forces. The oath of the President is taken in the presence of the Chief Justice of India, the President resides in an estate known as the Rashtrapati Bhavan situated in Raisina Hill in New Delhi. The presidential retreats are The Retreat in Chharabra, Shimla and Rashtrapati Nilayam in Hyderabad, the 13th and current President is Pranab Mukherjee, who was elected on 22 July 2012, and sworn in on 25 July 2012. He is also the first Bengali to be elected as President, India achieved independence from the British on 15 August 1947, initially as a Dominion within the Commonwealth of Nations with George VI as king, represented in the country by a governor-general. Still, following this, the Constituent Assembly of India, under the leadership of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, the Constitution of India was eventually enacted on 26 November 1949 and came into force on 26 January 1950, making India a republic. The offices of monarch and governor-general were replaced by the new office of President of India, the constitution of the Republic of India gave the President the responsibility and authority to defend and protect the constitution of India and its rule of law. Invariably, any action taken by the executive or legislature entities of the constitution shall become law only after Presidents assent, the president shall not accept any actions of the executive or legislature which are unconstitutional. The president is the foremost, most empowered and prompt defender of the constitution, the primary duty of the President is to preserve, protect and defend the constitution and the law of India as made part of his oath. The President is the head of all independent constitutional entities. All his actions, recommendations and supervisory powers over the executive and legislative entities of India shall be used in accordance to uphold the constitution, there is no bar on the actions of the President to contest in the court of law. Legislative power is vested by the Parliament of India of which the president is the head. The President of the Republic summons both the Houses of the Parliament and prorogues them and he can dissolve the Lok Sabha. The President inaugurates Parliament by addressing it after the general elections, the Presidential address on these occasions is generally meant to outline the new policies of the government. All bills passed by the Parliament can become laws only after receiving the assent of the President per Article 111, after a bill is presented to him, the President shall declare either that he assents to the Bill, or that he withholds his assent from it. As a third option, he can return a bill to Parliament, if it is not a money bill, when, after reconsideration, the bill is passed accordingly and presented to the President, with or without amendments, the President cannot withhold his assent from it. Article 143 gave power to the president to consult the Supreme Court about the validity of any issue. These are in the nature of interim or temporary legislation and their continuance is subject to parliamentary approval, ordinances remain valid for no more than six weeks from the date the Parliament is convened unless approved by it earlier. Re-promulgation of ordinances after failing to get approval within stipulated time of the houses of parliament is unconstitutional act by the President
President of India
–
Incumbent
Pranab Mukherjee since 25 July 2012
President of India
–
Presidential Standard of India (1950-1971)
President of India
–
Rashtrapati Bhavan, official residence of the President, located at New Delhi.
President of India
–
Rashtrapati Nilayam is the official retreat of the President located in Hyderabad.
14.
Pratibha Patil
–
Pratibha Devisingh Patil is an Indian politician who served as the 12th President of India from 2007 to 2012. A member of the Indian National Congress, Patil is the woman to hold the office. She previously served as the Governor of Rajasthan from 2004 to 2007, Pratibha Devisingh Patil is the daughter of Narayan Rao Patil. She was born on 19 December 1934 in the village of Nadgaon, in the Jalgaon district of Maharashtra, India. She was educated initially at R. R. Patil then began to practice law at the Jalgaon District Court, Patil married Devisingh Ransingh Shekhawat on 7 July 1965. The couple have a daughter and a son, Raosaheb Shekhawat, the BBC has described Patils political career prior to assuming presidential office as long and largely low-key. In 1962, at the age of 27, she was elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly for the Jalgaon constituency. Thereafter she won in the Muktainagar constituency on four occasions between 1967 and 1985, before becoming a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha between 1985 and 1990. In the 1991 elections for the 10th Lok Sabha, she was elected as a Member of Parliament representing the Amravati constituency, a period of retirement from politics followed later in that decade. Patil had held various Cabinet portfolios during her period in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, on 8 November 2004 she was appointed as the 24th Governor of Rajasthan, the first woman to hold that office and according to the BBC was a low-profile incumbent. Patil was announced as the United Progressive Alliance candidate on 14 June 2007 and she emerged as a compromise candidate after the left-wing parties of the alliance would not agree to the nomination of former Home Minister Shivraj Patil or Karan Singh. In the same month that she was selected, Patil was accused of shielding her brother, G. N. Patil, in the 2005 Vishram Patil murder case. Vishram Patil had narrowly defeated G. N. Patil in an election to be the President of the District Congress Committee of Jalgaon and her accusations were rejected by the courts in 2009 but in 2015 G. N. Patil was charged. No reference to the involvement of Pratibha Patil was made at this time. Due to the role being largely a figurehead position, the selection of candidate is often arranged by consensus among the various political parties. Contrary to the pattern of events, Patil faced a challenge in the election. The BBC described the situation as the latest casualty of the increasingly partisan politics. It degenerated into unseemly mud slinging between the party and the opposition
Pratibha Patil
–
Pratibha Patil
Pratibha Patil
–
President Patil speaking at the
Doon School 's Platinum Jubilee in October 2010.
15.
Manmohan Singh
–
Manmohan Singh is an Indian economist and politician who served as the Prime Minister of India from 2004 to 2014. The first Sikh in office, Singh was also the first prime minister since Jawaharlal Nehru to be re-elected after completing a full five-year term, born in Gah, Singhs family migrated to India during its partition in 1947. After obtaining his doctorate in economics from Oxford, Singh worked for the United Nations during 1966–69 and he subsequently began his bureaucratic career when Lalit Narayan Mishra hired him as an advisor in the Ministry of Foreign Trade. Over the 70s and 80s, Singh held several key posts in the Government of India, such as Chief Economic Advisor, Reserve Bank governor and Planning Commission head. In 1991, as India faced an economic crisis, newly elected Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao surprisingly inducted the apolitical Singh into his cabinet as Finance Minister. Over the next few years, despite opposition, he as a Finance Minister carried out several structural reforms that liberalised Indias economy. Subsequently, Singh served as Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government of 1998–2004, in 2004, when the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance came to power, its chairperson Sonia Gandhi unexpectedly relinquished the premiership to Manmohan Singh. In 2008, opposition to a civil nuclear agreement with the United States nearly caused Singhs government to fall after Left Front parties withdrew their support. Although Indias economy grew rapidly under UPA I, its security was threatened by several terrorist incidents, the 2009 general election saw the UPA return with an increased mandate, with Singh retaining the office of Prime Minister. After his term ended in 2014 he opted out from the race to the office of the Prime Minister of India during 2014 Indian general election. Singh was never a member of the Lok Sabha but continues to serve as a member of the Indian Parliament, Singh was born to Gurmukh Singh and Amrit Kaur on 26 September 1932, in Gah, Punjab, British India, into a Sikh family. He lost his mother when he was young and was raised by his paternal grandmother. After the Partition of India, his family migrated to Amritsar, India and he completed his Economics Tripos at University of Cambridge as he was a member of St Johns College in 1957. Joan Robinson was a brilliant teacher, but she sought to awaken the inner conscience of her students in a manner that very few others were able to achieve. She questioned me a deal and made me think the unthinkable. She propounded the left wing interpretation of Keynes, maintaining that the state has to play more of a if you really want to combine development with social equity. Kaldor influenced me more, I found him pragmatic, scintillating, stimulating. Joan Robinson was an admirer of what was going on in China
Manmohan Singh
–
Manmohan Singh
Manmohan Singh
–
A renowned economist, Singh is shown here with Indian delegation at the
33rd G8 summit in
Heiligendamm.
Manmohan Singh
–
Manmohan Singh with American President
Barack Obama at the
White House. Singh is known to be a pro-US leader and has contributed substantially in cementing the ties between the two countries.
Manmohan Singh
–
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh seen here with
Dmitry Medvedev,
Hu Jintao,
Dilma Rousseff and
Jacob Zuma at the
3rd 2011 BRICS Summit in
Sanya, China.
16.
Heads of state
–
A head of state is the public persona that officially represents the national unity and legitimacy of a sovereign state. In some countries, the head of state is a figurehead with limited or no executive power, while in others. Former French president Charles de Gaulle, while developing the current Constitution of France, some academic writers discuss states and governments in terms of models. An independent nation state normally has a head of state, the non-executive model, in which the head of state has either none or very limited executive powers, and mainly has a ceremonial and symbolic role. In parliamentary systems the head of state may be merely the chief executive officer, heading the executive branch of the state. This accountability and legitimacy requires that someone be chosen who has a majority support in the legislature and it also gives the legislature the right to vote down the head of government and their cabinet, forcing it either to resign or seek a parliamentary dissolution. In parliamentary constitutional monarchies, the legitimacy of the head of state typically derives from the tacit approval of the people via the elected representatives. In reality, numerous variants exist to the position of a head of state within a parliamentary system, usually, the king had the power of declaring war without previous consent of the parliament. For example, under the 1848 constitution of the Kingdom of Italy, the Statuto Albertino—the parliamentary approval to the government appointed by the king—was customary, so, Italy had a de facto parliamentarian system, but a de jure presidential system. These officials are excluded completely from the executive, they do not possess even theoretical executive powers or any role, even formal, hence their states governments are not referred to by the traditional parliamentary model head of state styles of His/Her Majestys Government or His/Her Excellencys Government. Within this general category, variants in terms of powers and functions may exist, the constitution explicitly vests all executive power in the Cabinet, who is chaired by the prime minister and responsible to the Diet. The emperor is defined in the constitution as the symbol of the State and of the unity of the people and he is a ceremonial figurehead with no independent discretionary powers related to the governance of Japan. Today, the Speaker of the Riksdag appoints the prime minister, Cabinet members are appointed and dismissed at the sole discretion of the prime minister. In contrast, the contact the President of Ireland has with the Irish government is through a formal briefing session given by the taoiseach to the president. However, he or she has no access to documentation and all access to ministers goes through the Department of the Taoiseach. The president does, however, hold limited reserve powers, such as referring a bill to the court to test its constitutionality. The most extreme non-executive republican Head of State is the President of Israel, semi-presidential systems combine features of presidential and parliamentary systems, notably a requirement that the government be answerable to both the president and the legislature. The constitution of the Fifth French Republic provides for a minister who is chosen by the president
Heads of state
–
Sixteen heads of state meeting at a
UNASUR -
BRICS summit in July 2014.
Heads of state
–
President
Pranab Mukherjee, head of state of
the Republic of India from July 2012
Heads of state
–
Two contemporary heads of state who are
constitutional monarchs, but with no political power: Emperor
Akihito of Japan (left), and King
Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden (right.)
Heads of state
–
Charles de Gaulle, President and head of state of the
French Fifth Republic June 1958 – January 1959
17.
List of members of the Commonwealth of Nations
–
The Commonwealth of Nations is a voluntary association of 52 independent and sovereign states. Most are former British colonies or dependencies of these colonies, no one government in the Commonwealth exercises power over the others as is the case in a political union. The symbol of free association is Queen Elizabeth II who serves as the Head of the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth was first officially formed in 1931 when the Statute of Westminster gave legal recognition to the sovereignty of dominions, in 1949, the London Declaration was signed and marked the birth of the modern Commonwealth and the adoption of its present name. The newest member is Rwanda, which joined on 29 November 2009, the most recent departure was the Maldives, which severed its connection with the Commonwealth on 13 October 2016. Presently, of the states that are members of the Commonwealth of Nations, three are in Europe, twelve in North America, one in South America, eighteen in Africa, seven in Asia, and eleven in Oceania. There are eight members, four of which no longer exist as independent entities. The members have a population of 2.4 billion people, almost a third of the world population, of which 1.21 billion live in India. All table information based on figures provided by the Commonwealth of Nations Secretariat members list, most population figures are based on 2007 estimates, unless otherwise noted, independence was gained from the United Kingdom on the date of joining the Commonwealth. ^ B. Not a member of the Commonwealth Foundation. ^ C, the population figure is based on 2004 estimates. ^ D. The population figure is based on 2005 estimates. ^ E, though Pakistan celebrates 14 August 1947 as its independence day, independence was officially granted at midnight,15 August 1947. Therefore, its date of joining the Commonwealth would be 15 August 1947. ^ F, Commonwealth realms, recognising Elizabeth II as their head of state since the day of their independence, distinctly from her being the sovereign of United Kingdom. Other states which have expressed an interest in joining the Commonwealth over the years include Algeria, Cambodia, Madagascar, Palestine, and Yemen
List of members of the Commonwealth of Nations
–
Syria and Lebanon
List of members of the Commonwealth of Nations
–
Current Commonwealth members (dark blue), current suspended members (green), former members (orange), and
British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies (light blue)
List of members of the Commonwealth of Nations
–
Mesopotamia (draft)
List of members of the Commonwealth of Nations
–
Iraq treaty
18.
Mohamed Nasheed
–
Mohamed Nasheed, GCSK is a Maldivian politician, human rights and environmental activist, who served as the fourth President of the Maldives from 2008 to 2012. He was the first democratically elected president of the Maldives and one of the founders of the Maldivian Democratic Party, Nasheed assumed office on 11 November 2008. On 7 February 2012, Nasheed resigned as president under disputed circumstances, following weeks of protests by the opposition, the Maldives Commission of National Inquiry reported that it had found no evidence to support Nasheeds version of events. On 30 August 2014, Nasheed was elected as the President of the Maldivian Democratic Party, in March 2015, Nasheed was convicted under the Anti-Terrorism Act of Maldives for arresting Criminal Court Judge Abdulla Mohamed while president and sentenced to 13 years at Maafushi Prison. In 2016, Nasheed was given asylum in the United Kingdom, Nasheed was born in Malé, Maldives, to a middle-class family. He attended Majeediyya School in Maldives between 1971 and 1981 and he continued his secondary school education at Colombo International School in Sri Lanka from 1981 to 1982 until he completed his GCE O Levels. In August 1982 he moved to England, where he completed his secondary education at Dauntseys School in Wiltshire. Straight after his GCE A Levels, Nasheed moved north to Liverpool, Nasheed was held in prison for an article in the political magazine Sangu, published in 1991, alleging the government had rigged the 1989 General election. He was named an Amnesty International prisoner of conscience in 1991 and he has stated that he was tortured while in detention, including being chained to a chair outside for 12 days and forced to eat food containing crushed glass. He was later alleged by the government, to have information about a bombing plot. On 8 April 1992, he was sentenced to three years in prison on that charge and he was released in June 1993, then re-arrested in 1994 and 1995. In 1996 he was sentenced to two years imprisonment for an article he had written about the 1993 and 1994 Maldivian elections, in all, he was arrested more than twenty times during Gayooms rule, missing the births of both of his daughters. During his time in jail, he spent significant amounts of time studying, producing three books on Maldivian history, in 1999, he was elected as a Member of Parliament representing Malé. However, he was forced to leave office on a charge that the BBC. In September 2003 Nasheed requested that a view the body of Hassan Evan Naseem. The subsequent investigation revealed that Naseem had been tortured to death, in November 2003 Nasheed left the Maldives and joined Mohamed Latheef to help establish the Maldivian Democratic Party, in self-exile, in Sri Lanka and the UK. He was recognised as a refugee by the British government in 2004. After about 18 months, Nasheed returned to Malé on 30 April 2005, after returning to the Maldives, he began promoting the MDP before it was officially recognised by the Government
Mohamed Nasheed
–
Mohamed Nasheed محمد نشید
Mohamed Nasheed
–
Nasheed at the launch of the Climate Vulnerability Monitor
Mohamed Nasheed
–
Nasheed during the
Copenhagen Climate Change Conference
19.
Marcus Stephen
–
Marcus Stephen is a Nauruan politician and former sportsperson who previously was a member of the Cabinet of Nauru, and who served as President of Nauru from December 2007 to November 2011. The son of Nauruan parliamentarian Lawrence Stephen, Stephen was educated at St Bedes College, after his retirement from weightlifting, Stephen worked at the Bank of Nauru before being elected to parliament at the 2003 elections. Having occupied various portfolios in the Nauruan government under President René Harris, Stephen was sworn in as president after moving a no confidence motion against his predecessor, Ludwig Scotty. Two separate elections were called in April and June 2010 after accusations of bribery of government members of parliament, Marcus Stephens father, Lawrence Stephen, served as a Member of the Parliament of Nauru from 1971 to 1977 and again from 1980 to 1986. He is related to the prominent Keke family of Nauru, Stephen received High School education in Australia attending St Bedes College, Melbourne Victoria. He has a Diploma in Business Accounting from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, from 2001 to 2003 he was employed in management at The Bank of Nauru. He initially played Australian rules football for the team the Aces. In 1989 the Nauru Weightlifting Federation was founded, primarily to give Stephen, the sole top-class weightlifter in Nauru at the time, in 1992 he took part in his first Olympic Games in Barcelona. Since Nauru had no Olympic Committee at the time, he applied for Samoan citizenship and was allowed to compete for Samoa. In 1993 the committee was founded and Stephen was able to represent Nauru in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, when the Olympic torch was carried to Sydney, Stephen had the honour of being a torch bearer during its stopover in Nauru. It was at the Commonwealth Games where most of his successes came, in the 1994 Commonwealth Games he won three gold medals in the 59 kg class and in the 1998 Commonwealth Games in the 62 kg class he collected three more golds. In his last Games, the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester he won three silvers in the 62 kg class, at the 1999 World Championship in Athens he was runner up in the clean and jerk in the 62 kg class. In 2005 he was elected member of the International Weightlifting Federation Hall of Fame, in March 2008, it was reported that Stephen had been appointed to the presidency of the Oceania Weightlifting Federation, the Pacific regions official continental weightlifting body. Since 1997 he has been the Treasurer of the Nauru Olympic Committee, on 3 May 2003 Stephen was elected to the Nauru parliament with a score of just over 215 points, achieving first place in the Ewa and Anetan Constituency. In October 2004 he was re-elected to parliament, between November 2004 and May 2006 Stephen held Chairmanship of the Nauru Fisheries & Marine Resources Authority later becoming Minister for Nauru Fisheries & Marine Resources on 13 November 2007. After Nauru joined the International Whaling Commission on 15 June 2005 and he represented Nauru at the IWC-Congress in June 2005 in the South Korean city of Ulsan. Stephen was re-elected to parliament in the August 2007 parliamentary election and he unsuccessfully stood as a presidential candidate in the vote held in parliament on 28 August, in which Scotty was re-elected. However, following a vote of no confidence in Parliament against President Scotty on 19 December 2007
Marcus Stephen
–
Marcus Stephen
20.
Albert II, Prince of Monaco
–
Albert II is the reigning monarch of the Principality of Monaco and head of the princely house of Grimaldi. He is the son of Prince Rainier III and the American actress Grace Kelly, Prince Alberts sisters are Caroline, Princess of Hanover, and Princess Stéphanie. In July 2011, Prince Albert married Charlene Wittstock, Prince Albert II is one of the wealthiest royals in the world, with assets valued at more than $1 billion, which include land in Monaco and France. Albert was born in the Princes Palace of Monaco and he has ancestry from Ireland, Britain, the United States, Germany, France, Belgium, and Monaco. His godmother was the Spanish queen Victoria Eugenia of Battenberg, Albert graduated with distinction from the Lycee Albert Premier, in 1976. He was a camper and later a counselor for six summers at Camp Tecumseh, on Lake Winnipesaukee, Moultonborough, New Hampshire and he speaks French, English, German, and Italian. He spent the summer of 1979 touring Europe and the Middle East with the Amherst Glee Club, Albert also undertook an exchange program with the University of Bristol, at the Alfred Marshall School of Economics and Management in 1979. Albert was a sportsman, participating in cross country, javelin throwing, handball, judo, swimming, tennis, rowing, sailing, skiing, squash. He is a patron of Monacos football teams, Albert competed in the bobsleigh at five consecutive Winter Olympics for Monaco, taking part in both the two-man and four-man events. In the two-man bobsleigh Albert finished 25th at the 1988 games in Calgary, 43rd at the 1992 games in Albertville, and 31st at the 2002 games. In the four-man bobsleigh Albert finished 27th in 1992, 26th at the 1994 games in Lillehammer, Albert was Monacos flag bearer at the 1988,1994, and 1998 Winter Olympics. Albert took part in the 1985 Paris–Dakar Rally, but did not finish it and he also became a judo black belt. On 7 March 2005, Alberts father was admitted to a hospital in the principality, the Prince was being treated for breathing, kidney, and heart trouble. This decision was reached by the Crown Council of Monaco, a made up of notable local figures with residual powers to make judgments about certain constitutional matters. On 6 April 2005, Ranier III died and Albert succeeded him as Albert II, the first part of Prince Albert IIs enthronement as ruler of the Principality was on 12 July 2005, after the end of the three-month mourning period for his father. A morning mass at Saint Nicholas Cathedral presided over by the Archbishop of Monaco, afterward Albert II returned to the princely palace to host a garden party for 7,000 Monégasques born in the principality. In the courtyard, the Prince was presented with two keys of the city as a symbol of his investiture, the evening ended with a spectacular fireworks display on the waterfront. The second part of his investiture was on 19 November 2005, Albert was enthroned at Saint Nicholas Cathedral
Albert II, Prince of Monaco
–
Albert II
Albert II, Prince of Monaco
–
Prince Albert with his mother
Grace in 1972.
Albert II, Prince of Monaco
–
Princess Caroline and Albert, then Hereditary Prince of Monaco, with
Ronald and
Nancy Reagan in
Washington D.C. on 28 March 1983.
Albert II, Prince of Monaco
–
Prince Albert with
Russian President Vladimir Putin on 4 October 2013.
21.
Anand Satyanand
–
Sir Anand Satyanand GNZM QSO KStJ is a former lawyer, judge and ombudsman. He was the 19th Governor-General of New Zealand and he is currently Chair of the Commonwealth Foundation. Satyanand was born and raised in Auckland to an Indo-Fijian family in 1944 and his grandparents arrived in Fiji from India in 1911, and were married on Nukulau Island. His father, Mutyala Satyanand OBE, a doctor, was born in Sigatoka in 1913. His mother Tara Tillak was a nurse from Suva and she married his father after moving to New Zealand. Satyanand attended Sacred Heart College in Auckland, and then moved to Dunedin to take an intermediate course at the University of Otago. He was not successful in gaining entry to the medical school, looking back over that year, I remembered that one of the things I had really enjoyed was the debating and forum meetings involving students. So instead he took up law, graduating with a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Auckland in 1970 and he worked as a lawyer for the next 12 years, initially for Greig, Bourke and Kettelwell. Later he worked as a barrister for the Crown Law Office and he served on the Council of the Auckland District Law Society from 1979 until his appointment as a judge of the District Court of New Zealand in 1982. During the 1975 general election Satyanand and his wife helped David Lange in his first, later, when Satyanand was a law student, he helped Clive Edwards when he stood in Auckland Central for National. In 1995 he was appointed an ombudsman and he served two five-year terms, between 2005 and his appointment as Governor-General he chaired the Confidential Forum for Former In-Patients of Psychiatric Hospitals. Satyanand married Susan Sharpe in Auckland in 1970 and she was born in Sydney, Australia in 1947 and moved to New Zealand with her family in 1955. He and his wife have three adult children, satyanands daughter Anya is an advocate of gay marriage, being in a civil union with her partner Ange. In 2002, Satyanand and his wife were involved in a car accident in Dome Valley north of Warkworth. An oncoming car crossed the line and crashed head-on into their car. The accident resulted in spinal injury to Satyanand, he broke his C2. He had to wear a halo traction to keep his head straight and he is a member of Rotary Club of Wellington. As well as English, Satyanand also speaks Fijian, Hindi, in 2006, Satyanand was appointed Governor-General of New Zealand by Queen Elizabeth II on the advice of Prime Minister Helen Clark
Anand Satyanand
–
The Right Honourable Sir Anand Satyanand
GNZM QSO KStJ
Anand Satyanand
–
Satyanand putting flowers on the Tomb of the Unknown warrior, April 2011
22.
Governor General of New Zealand
–
The Governor-General of New Zealand is the viceregal representative of the monarch of New Zealand, currently Queen Elizabeth II. The office is mandated by letters patent and the officeholder is formally titled the Governor-General, when travelling abroad, the governor-general is seen as the representative of New Zealand, and of the Queen of New Zealand. For this reason, the governor-general is viewed by some as the de facto head of state, under the Niue Constitution Act, the governor-general also represents the monarch in Niue. The governor-general initially represented the British monarch and the government of the United Kingdom, therefore, many officeholders have been British statesmen. In 1972, Sir Denis Blundell became the first New Zealand resident to be appointed to the office, governors-general are not appointed for a specific term, but are generally expected to serve for five years. The current Governor-General is Dame Patsy Reddy, who has served since 28 September 2016, administrative support for the governor-general is provided by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Appointment to the Office is made by the Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister of New Zealand, the Prime Ministers advice has sometimes been the result of a decision by Cabinet, although there is no requirement for this. The appointment of Anand Satyanand met with the approval of every leader in the House of Representatives, by convention the Leader of the Opposition is also consulted on the appointment, however this too has not always been the case. This suggestion was in turn criticised by the Government, as Sir Edmund had backed Labour in 1975 as part of the Citizens for Rowling campaign, however, the right granted by the convention was not exercised directly by a New Zealand Prime Minister until 1967. Although non-partisan while in office, there have been a number of appointments of Governors-General to the office that have attracted considerable controversy, despite their political backgrounds, neither of these appointments could be said to have discharged their duties in a partisan way. There has often been speculation that a member of the Royal Family might take up the position, before the Governor-General enters office, his or her commission of appointment is publicly read in the presence of the Chief Justice of New Zealand and the members of the Executive Council. The Governor-General must take the Oath of Allegiance and the oath for the due execution of the office, from time to time, there have been proposals to elect the Governor-General. When first drafted by then Governor George Grey, the New Zealand Constitution Act 1852 contained provision for the Governor to be elected by New Zealands Parliament. This provision was removed from the enactment, probably because the Colonial Office wanted to keep a check on New Zealands colonial government. In 1887 Sir George Grey, by then also a former Premier, the Bill was narrowly defeated 46–48, being opposed by the government of Harry Atkinson. In 2006 political commentator Colin James suggested that the Governor-General could be elected by a 60% majority of votes cast in Parliament, James argued that the New Zealand public should be given the ability to choose the Queens representative, and that the current system is undemocratic and not transparent. National MP Nikki Kaye queried whether several one-member parties in parliament could veto the decision, the Republican Movement responded that the method would ensure appointments were made that most MPs and parties found acceptable. The Governor-General holds office at the pleasure of the Queen, under clause II of the Letters Patent
Governor General of New Zealand
–
Incumbent
Lieutenant General Sir Jerry Mateparae GNZM,
QSO since 31 August 2011
Governor General of New Zealand
–
Coat of Arms of New Zealand
Governor General of New Zealand
–
Government House, Wellington, the primary residence of the Governor-General.
Governor General of New Zealand
–
The official vehicle of Government House in 2010, a
Jaguar XJ8. During official travel it is the only vehicle in the country not required to use standard number plates.
23.
International Olympic Committee
–
The International Olympic Committee is the supreme authority of the worldwide Olympic movement. It is an international, non-profit, non-governmental organization based in Lausanne and its mission is enshrined in the Olympic Charter, to support the development of competitive sport by ethical and environmentally sustainable means. The IOC was created by Pierre de Coubertin, on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president, today its membership consists of 100 active members,32 honorary members, and 1 honour member. The IOC is the authority of the worldwide modern Olympic movement. The IOC organises the modern Olympic Games and Youth Olympic Games, held in summer and winter, the first Summer Olympics organised by the IOC was held in Athens, Greece, in 1896, the first Winter Olympics was in Chamonix, France, in 1924. Until 1992, both Summer and Winter Olympics were held in the same year, the first Summer Youth Olympics were in Singapore in 2010 and the first Winter Youth Olympics were held in Innsbruck in 2012. In 2009, the UN General Assembly granted the IOC Permanent Observer status and this decision enables the IOC to be directly involved in the UN Agenda and to attend UN General Assembly meetings where it can take the floor. This has provided the possibility to promote sport at a new level, during each proclamation at the Olympics, announcers speak in different languages, French is always spoken first followed by an English translation and the dominant language of the host nation. The stated mission of the International Olympic Committee is to promote Olympic throughout the world and it is the IOC’s supreme organ and its decisions are final. Extraordinary Sessions may be convened by the President or upon the written request of at least one third of the members, among others, the powers of the Session are, To adopt or amend the Olympic Charter. To elect the members of the IOC, the Honorary President, to elect the President, the Vice-Presidents and all other members of the IOC Executive Board. To elect the host city of the Olympic Games, the Olympic Laurel is awarded to individuals for promoting education, culture, development, and peace through sport. For most of its existence, the IOC was controlled by members who were selected by other members, countries that had hosted the Games were allowed two members. When named, they did not become the representatives of their countries to the IOC. The membership of IOC members ceases in the circumstances, Resignation. Non re-election, any IOC member ceases to be a member without further formality if they are not re-elected, age limit, any IOC member ceases to be a member at the end of the calendar year during which they reach the age of 80. Failure to attend Sessions or take part in IOC work for two consecutive years. Transfer of domicile or of main center of interests to an other than the country which was theirs at the time of their election
International Olympic Committee
–
The headquarters of the International Olympic Committee in
Lausanne,
Switzerland.
International Olympic Committee
–
The first IOC, at the
1896 Athens Games
International Olympic Committee
–
1985
German Democratic Republic stamp
24.
Jacques Rogge
–
Jacques Jean Marie Rogge, Count Rogge is a Belgian sports administrator and physician who served as the eighth president of the International Olympic Committee from 2001 to 2013. In 2013, the IOC announced that Rogge would become their Honorary President, born in Ghent, Belgium, under the Nazi-occupation, Rogge is by profession an orthopedic surgeon and was educated at the Jesuit private school Sint-Barbaracollege and the University of Ghent. Rogge is an athlete in his home country. He was a 16-time Belgian national champion in rugby and a one-time yachting world champion and he also competed in the Finn class of sailing at the Summer Olympic Games in 1968,1972, and 1976. In October 2016, The British School of Brussels named their new Sports Centre in his honour, Rogge served as President of the Belgian Olympic Committee from 1989 to 1992, and as President of the European Olympic Committees from 1989 to 2001. He became a member of the IOC in 1991 and joined its Executive Board in 1998 and he was knighted in 1992, and in 2002 made a Count in the Belgian nobility by King Albert II. In his free time, Rogge is known to modern art and is an avid reader of historical. He is married to Anne, they have two adult children, on 14 October 2016, The British School of Brussels opened their new sports center in Tervuren, Belgium. The building was opened and named after Rogge, titled The Jacques Rogge Sports Centre, Rogge was elected as President of the IOC on 16 July 2001 at the 112th IOC Session in Moscow as the successor to Juan Antonio Samaranch, who had previously led the IOC since 1980. At the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Rogge became the first ever IOC President to stay in the Olympic village, in October 2009 he was re-elected for a new term as President of the IOC. In September 2013 at the 125th IOC Session in Buenos Aires a new IOC President was elected, in 2011, a Forbes magazine list of the 68 most powerful people in the world listed Rogge at no.67. On 27 July 2011, one prior to London 2012. Former Olympians HRH The Princess Royal and Sebastien Coe unveiled the medals up for grabs, in December 2011, Jacques Rogge was invested as an Officer of the Légion dhonneur by French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Jacques Rogges IOC Presidency came to an end at the 125th IOC Session in Buenos Aires, german Thomas Bach was elected as the new IOC President at the session on 10 September 2013. He then went on to become the Honorary President of the IOC, however, by 30 July 2008, IOC spokesman Kevan Gosper had to retract this optimistic statement, announcing that the Internet would indeed be censored for journalists. Rogge later denied any such meeting had taken place. In response to his comments, Yahoo, in an interview with Irish Times reporter Ian ORiordan, Rogge clarified, Maybe there was a little bit of a misunderstanding. What he does before or after the race I have no problem with, I just thought that his gesticulation during the race was maybe a little disrespectful
Jacques Rogge
–
Jacques Rogge
Jacques Rogge
–
Jacques Rogge with
Juan Antonio Samaranch and
Vladimir Putin following Rogge's election as IOC President in 2001
25.
Oswestry
–
Oswestry, one of the UKs oldest border settlements, is the largest market town and civil parish in Shropshire, England, close to the Welsh border. It is at the junction of the A5, A483, the town was the administrative headquarters of the Borough of Oswestry until that was abolished under local government reorganisation with effect from 1 April 2009. Oswestry is the third largest town in Shropshire, following Telford, the 2011 Census recorded the population of the civil parish as 17,105 and the urban area as 16,660. The town is five miles from the Welsh border, and has a mixed Welsh and English heritage and it is the home of the Shropshire libraries Welsh Collection. Oswestry is the largest settlement within the Oswestry Uplands, a natural area. It has also known as, or recorded in historical documents as, Album Monasterium, Blancminster, Blankmouster, Blancmustier, Croes Oswallt, Oswaldestre. The site is also named Caer Ogyrfan or The City of Gogyrfan, the Battle of Maserfield is thought to have been fought there in 642, between the Anglo-Saxon kings Penda of Mercia and Oswald of Northumbria. Oswald was killed in battle and was dismembered, according to legend, one of his arms was carried to an ash tree by a raven. Thus it is believed that the name of the site is derived from a reference to Oswalds Tree, the spring, Oswalds Well, is supposed to have originated where the bird dropped the arm from the tree. Offas Dyke runs nearby to the west, the Domesday Book records a castle being built by Rainald, a Norman Sheriff of Shropshire, Loeuvre – see Oswestry Castle. Alans duties to the Crown included supervision of the Welsh border and he also founded Sporle Priory in Norfolk. He married Ada or Adeline, daughter of Ernulf de Hesdin and their eldest son William FitzAlan was made High Sheriff of Shropshire by King Stephen in 1137. He married a niece of Robert of Gloucester, the town has many Welsh language street and place names and the towns name in Welsh is Croesoswallt, meaning Oswalds Cross. It eventually became known as Oswalds Tree in English, from which its current English name is probably derived, the town changed hands between the English and the Welsh a number of times during the Middle Ages. In 1149 the castle was captured by Madog ap Maredudd during The Anarchy, occasionally in the 13th century it is referred to in official records as Blancmuster or Blancmostre, meaning White Minster. The castle was reduced to a pile of rocks during the English Civil War, in 1190 the town was granted the right to hold a market each Wednesday. With the weekly influx of Welsh farmers the townsfolk were often bilingual, after the foot and mouth outbreak in the late 1960s the animal market was moved out of the town centre. In the 1990s, a statue of a shepherd and sheep was installed in the square as a memorial to the history of the market site
Oswestry
–
Oswestry Marketplace
Oswestry
–
Oswestry – Historic buildings in the town centre, October 2008. Timber framed building in foreground is Llwyd Mansion.
Oswestry
–
Old Oswestry
Oswestry
–
Parish Church of St Oswald
26.
England
–
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west, the Irish Sea lies northwest of England and the Celtic Sea lies to the southwest. England is separated from continental Europe by the North Sea to the east, the country covers five-eighths of the island of Great Britain in its centre and south, and includes over 100 smaller islands such as the Isles of Scilly, and the Isle of Wight. England became a state in the 10th century, and since the Age of Discovery. The Industrial Revolution began in 18th-century England, transforming its society into the worlds first industrialised nation, Englands terrain mostly comprises low hills and plains, especially in central and southern England. However, there are uplands in the north and in the southwest, the capital is London, which is the largest metropolitan area in both the United Kingdom and the European Union. In 1801, Great Britain was united with the Kingdom of Ireland through another Act of Union to become the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. In 1922 the Irish Free State seceded from the United Kingdom, leading to the latter being renamed the United Kingdom of Great Britain, the name England is derived from the Old English name Englaland, which means land of the Angles. The Angles were one of the Germanic tribes that settled in Great Britain during the Early Middle Ages, the Angles came from the Angeln peninsula in the Bay of Kiel area of the Baltic Sea. The earliest recorded use of the term, as Engla londe, is in the ninth century translation into Old English of Bedes Ecclesiastical History of the English People. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, its spelling was first used in 1538. The earliest attested reference to the Angles occurs in the 1st-century work by Tacitus, Germania, the etymology of the tribal name itself is disputed by scholars, it has been suggested that it derives from the shape of the Angeln peninsula, an angular shape. An alternative name for England is Albion, the name Albion originally referred to the entire island of Great Britain. The nominally earliest record of the name appears in the Aristotelian Corpus, specifically the 4th century BC De Mundo, in it are two very large islands called Britannia, these are Albion and Ierne. But modern scholarly consensus ascribes De Mundo not to Aristotle but to Pseudo-Aristotle, the word Albion or insula Albionum has two possible origins. Albion is now applied to England in a poetic capacity. Another romantic name for England is Loegria, related to the Welsh word for England, Lloegr, the earliest known evidence of human presence in the area now known as England was that of Homo antecessor, dating to approximately 780,000 years ago. The oldest proto-human bones discovered in England date from 500,000 years ago, Modern humans are known to have inhabited the area during the Upper Paleolithic period, though permanent settlements were only established within the last 6,000 years
England
–
Stonehenge, a
Neolithic monument
England
–
Flag
England
–
Boudica led an uprising against the
Roman Empire
England
–
Replica of a 7th-century ceremonial
helmet from the
Kingdom of East Anglia, found at
Sutton Hoo
27.
Kerala
–
Kerala historically known as Keralam, is an Indian state in South India on the Malabar Coast. It was formed on 1 November 1956 following the States Reorganisation Act by combining Malayalam-speaking regions, spread over 38,863 km2, it is bordered by Karnataka to the north and northeast, Tamil Nadu to the east and south, and the Lakshadweep Sea to the west. With 33,387,677 inhabitants as per the 2011 Census, Malayalam is the most widely spoken language and is also the official language of the state. The region has been a prominent spice exporter since 3000 BCE, the Chera Dynasty was the first prominent kingdom based in Kerala, though it frequently struggled against attacks by the neighbouring Cholas and Pandyas. In the 15th century, the spice trade attracted Portuguese traders to Kerala, after independence, Travancore and Cochin joined the Republic of India and Travancore-Cochin was given the status of a state in 1949. In 1956, Kerala state was formed by merging Malabar district, Travancore-Cochin, Hinduism is practised by more than half of the population, followed by Islam and Christianity. The culture is a synthesis of Aryan and Dravidian cultures, developed over millennia, under influences from other parts of India, the production of pepper and natural rubber contributes significantly to the total national output. In the agricultural sector, coconut, tea, coffee, cashew, the states coastline extends for 595 kilometres, and around 1.1 million people in the state are dependent on the fishery industry which contributes 3% to the states income. The state has the highest media exposure in India with newspapers publishing in nine languages, mainly English, Kerala is one of the prominent tourist destinations of India, with backwaters, beaches, Ayurvedic tourism and tropical greenery as its major attractions. The name Kerala has an uncertain etymology, One popular theory derives Kerala from Kera and alam is land, thus land of coconuts, this also happens to be a nickname for the state due to abundance of coconut trees and its use by the locals. The word Kerala is first recorded in a 3rd-century BCE rock inscription left by the Maurya emperor Ashoka, the inscription refers to the local ruler as Keralaputra, or son of Chera. This contradicts the theory that Kera is from coconut tree, at that time, one of three states in the region was called Cheralam in Classical Tamil, Chera and Kera are variants of the same word. The word Cheral refers to the oldest known dynasty of Kerala kings and is derived from the Proto-Tamil-Malayalam word for lake, the earliest Sanskrit text to mention Kerala is the Aitareya Aranyaka of the Rigveda. It is also mentioned in the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, the two Hindu epics, the Skanda Purana mentions the ecclesiastical office of the Thachudaya Kaimal who is referred to as Manikkam Keralar, synonymous with the deity of the Koodalmanikyam temple. Keralam may stem from the Classical Tamil cherive-alam or chera alam, the Greco-Roman trade map Periplus Maris Erythraei refers to Keralaputra as Celobotra. According to Hindu mythology, the lands of Kerala were recovered from the sea by the warrior sage Parasurama. Parasurama threw his axe across the sea, and the water receded as far as it reached, according to legend, this new area of land extended from Gokarna to Kanyakumari. The land which rose from sea was filled with salt and unsuitable for habitation, so Parasurama invoked the Snake King Vasuki, out of respect, Vasuki and all snakes were appointed as protectors and guardians of the land
Kerala
–
A houseboat near
Alappuzha, Kerala
Kerala
–
Parasurama, surrounded by settlers, commanding
Varuna (the
Hindu God of water) to part the seas and reveal Kerala.
Kerala
–
A
dolmen erected by Neolithic people in
Marayur
Kerala
–
Silk Road map. The spice trade was mainly along the water routes (blue).
28.
Manipur
–
Manipur is a state in northeastern India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. It is bounded by Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south, the state covers an area of 22,327 square kilometres and has a population of almost 3 million, including the Meitei, Kuki, Naga, and Pangal peoples, who speak Sino-Tibetan languages. Manipur has been at the crossroads of Asian economic and cultural exchange for more than 2,500 years and it has long connected the Indian subcontinent to Southeast Asia, enabling migration of people, cultures and religions. During the British Rule, the Kingdom of Manipur was one of the princely states, between 1917 and 1939, the people of Manipur pressed for their rights against the British Rule. By the late 1930s, the state of Manipur negotiated with the British administration its preference to be part of India. These negotiations were cut short with the outbreak of World War II, on 21 September 1949, Maharaja Budhachandra signed a Treaty of Accession merging the kingdom into India. This merger is disputed by groups in Manipur as having been completed without consensus, the dispute and differing visions for the future has resulted in a 50-year insurgency in the state for independence from India, as well as in violence between ethnic groups in the state. Over 2010–2013, the militant insurgency was responsible for the violent death of about 1 civilian per 100,000 people, the world average annual death rate from intentional violence has been 7.9 per 100,000 people. The Meitei ethnic group, represents 53% of the population of Manipur state, the main language of the state is Meitei. By comparison, indigenous tribal peoples constitute 20% of the population, they are distinguished by dialects. Manipurs ethnic groups practice a variety of religions, according to 2011 census, Hinduism is the major religion in the state closely followed by Christianity. Other religions include Islam, Sanamahism, Buddhism etc, Manipur has primarily an agrarian economy, with significant hydroelectric power generation potential. It is connected to areas by daily flights through Imphal airport. Manipur is home to sports, the origin of Manipuri dance. Manipur is mentioned in texts as Kangleipak or Meeteileipak which covered only the three valleys districts, Bishnupur, Thoubal and Imphal. Sanamahi Laikan wrote that officials during the reign of Meidingu Pamheiba in the eighteenth century adopted Manipurs new name, according to Sakok Lamlen, the area had different names in its history. During the Hayachak period, it was known as Mayai Koiren poirei namthak saronpung or Tilli Koktong Ahanba, during the Langbachak era, it became Tilli Koktong Leikoiren, and finally Muwapali in the Konnachak epoch. Neighbouring cultures each had differing names for Manipur and its people, the Shan or Pong called the area Cassay, the Burmese Kathe, and the Assamese Meklee
Manipur
–
Kangla Sha
Manipur
–
Location of Manipur (marked in red) in
India
Manipur
–
Kangla Gate, the west entrance to the
Kangla Fort
Manipur
–
Loktak Lake, the largest lake in the state.
29.
Karnataka
–
Karnataka is a state in south western region of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, originally known as the State of Mysore, it was renamed Karnataka in 1973. The capital and largest city is Bangalore, the state covers an area of 191,976 square kilometres, or 5.83 percent of the total geographical area of India. It is the seventh largest Indian state by area, with 61,130,704 inhabitants at the 2011 census, Karnataka is the eighth largest state by population, comprising 30 districts. Kannada, one of the languages of India, is the most widely spoken. Most of these rivers flow out of Karnataka eastward into the Bay of Bengal, though several etymologies have been suggested for the name Karnataka, the generally accepted one is that Karnataka is derived from the Kannada words karu and nādu, meaning elevated land. Karu nadu may also be read as karu, meaning black, the British used the word Carnatic, sometimes Karnatak, to describe both sides of peninsular India, south of the Krishna. With an antiquity that dates to the paleolithic, Karnataka has been home to some of the most powerful empires of ancient, the philosophers and musical bards patronised by these empires launched socio-religious and literary movements which have endured to the present day. Karnataka has contributed significantly to both forms of Indian classical music, the Carnatic and Hindustani traditions, Karnatakas pre-history goes back to a paleolithic hand-axe culture evidenced by discoveries of, among other things, hand axes and cleavers in the region. Evidence of neolithic and megalithic cultures have also found in the state. Gold discovered in Harappa was found to be imported from mines in Karnataka, prior to the third century BCE, most of Karnataka formed part of the Nanda Empire before coming under the Mauryan empire of Emperor Ashoka. Four centuries of Satavahana rule followed, allowing them to large areas of Karnataka. The decline of Satavahana power led to the rise of the earliest native kingdoms, the Kadambas, the Kadamba Dynasty, founded by Mayurasharma, had its capital at Banavasi, the Western Ganga Dynasty was formed with Talakad as its capital. These were also the first kingdoms to use Kannada in administration, as evidenced by the Halmidi inscription, the Western Chalukyas patronised a unique style of architecture and Kannada literature which became a precursor to the Hoysala art of 12th century. Parts of modern-day Southern Karnataka were occupied by the Chola Empire at the turn of 11th century, the Cholas and the Hoysalas fought over the region in the early 12th century before it eventually came under Hoysala rule. At the turn of the first millennium, the Hoysalas gained power in the region, literature flourished during this time, which led to the emergence of distinctive Kannada literary metres, and the construction of temples and sculptures adhering to the Vesara style of architecture. The expansion of the Hoysala Empire brought minor parts of modern Andhra Pradesh, in the early 14th century, Harihara and Bukka Raya established the Vijayanagara empire with its capital, Hosapattana, on the banks of the Tungabhadra River in the modern Bellary district. The empire rose as a bulwark against Muslim advances into South India, in 1565, Karnataka and the rest of South India experienced a major geopolitical shift when the Vijayanagara empire fell to a confederation of Islamic sultanates in the Battle of Talikota
Karnataka
–
Mallikarjuna temple and Kashi Vishwanatha temple at
Pattadakal, Karnataka, built successively by the kings of the
Chalukya Empire and
Rashtrakuta Empire is a
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Karnataka
–
Map of Karnataka
Karnataka
–
Hoysala Empire sculptural articulation in
Belur.
Karnataka
–
Shilabalika sculpture at the Chennakeshva Temple in Belur
30.
Orissa, India
–
Odisha (/ɒˈrɪsə, ɔː-, oʊ-/, is one of the 29 states of India, located in the eastern coast. It is surrounded by the states of West Bengal to the north-east, Jharkhand to the north, Chhattisgarh to the west and north-west, Odisha has 485 kilometres of coastline along the Bay of Bengal on its east, from Balasore to Malkangiri. It is the 9th largest state by area, and the 11th largest by population and it is also the 3rd most populous state of India in terms of tribal population. Odia is the official and most widely spoken language, spoken by 33.2 million according to the 2001 Census. The ancient kingdom of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Mauryan emperor Ashoka in 261 BCE resulting in the Kalinga War, the modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April 1936, as a province in British India, and consisted predominantly of Odia-speaking regions. April 1 is celebrated as Odisha Day, the region is also known as Utkala and is mentioned in Indias national anthem, Jana Gana Mana. Cuttack was made the capital of the region by Anantavarman Chodaganga in c,1135, after which the city was used as the capital by many rulers, through the British era until 1948. Thereafter, Bhubaneswar became the capital of Odisha, the term Odisha is derived from the ancient Prakrit word Odda Visaya as in the Tirumalai inscription of Rajendra Chola I, which is dated to 1025. Sarala Das, who translated the Mahabharata into the Odia language in the 15th century, calls the region Odra Rashtra, the inscriptions of Kapilendra Deva of the Gajapati Kingdom on the walls of temples in Puri call the region Odisha or Odisha Rajya. After a brief debate, the house, Lok Sabha, passed the bill. On 24 March 2011, Rajya Sabha, the house of Parliament, also passed the bill. Prehistoric Acheulian tools dating to Lower Paleolithic era have been discovered in places in the region. Kalinga has been mentioned in ancient texts like Mahabharata, Vayu Purana, the Sabar people of Odisha have also been mentioned in the Mahabharata. Baudhayana mentions Kalinga as not yet being influenced by Vedic traditions, Ashoka of the Mauryan dynasty conquered Kalinga in the bloody Kalinga War in 261 BCE, which was the eighth year of his reign. According to his own edicts, in that war about 100,000 people were killed,150,000 were captured, the resulting bloodshed and suffering of the war is said to have deeply affected Ashoka. He turned into a pacifist and converted to Buddhism, by c.150 CE, emperor Kharavela, who was possibly a contemporary of Demetrius I of Bactria, conquered a major part of the Indian sub-continent. He also built the monastery atop the Udayagiri hill, subsequently, the region was ruled by monarchs, such as Samudragupta and Shashanka. It was also a part of Harshas empire, later, the kings of the Somavamsi dynasty began to unite the region
Orissa, India
–
Hathigumpha on the
Udayagiri Hills built in c. 150 BCE
Orissa, India
–
Seal
Orissa, India
–
Konark Sun Temple built by the
Eastern Ganga dynasty (c. 1250) is a
World Heritage Site
Orissa, India
–
Satellite view of the
Mahanadi river
delta
31.
Punjab, India
–
Punjab is a state in North India, forming part of the larger Punjab region. The state capital is located in Chandigarh, a Union Territory, after the partition of India in 1947, the Punjab province of British India was divided between India and Pakistan. The Indian Punjab was divided on the basis of language in 1966 and it was divided into 3 parts. Haryanvi speaking areas were carved out as Haryana, Hilly regions, Punjab is the only Sikh majority state in India with Sikhs being 57. 69% of the population. Agriculture is the largest industry in Punjab, Punjab has the largest number of steel rolling mill plants in India, which are located in Steel Town—Mandi Gobindgarh in the Fatehgarh Sahib district. The word Punjab is a compound of the Persian words panj, thus Panjāb roughly means the land of five rivers. The five rivers are the Sutlej, Beas, Ravi, Chenab, traditionally, in English, there used to be a definite article before the name, i. e. The name is sometimes spelled as Panjab. During the period when the epic Mahabharata was written, around 800–400 BCE, Punjab was known as Trigarta, the Indus Valley Civilization spanned much of the Punjab region with cities such as Rupar. The Vedic Civilization spread along the length of the Sarasvati River to cover most of northern India including Punjab and this civilisation shaped subsequent cultures in the Indian subcontinent. The Punjab region was conquered by many ancient empires including the Gandhara, Nandas, Mauryas, Shungas, Kushans, Guptas, Palas, Gurjara-Pratiharas, the furthest eastern extent of Alexander the Greats exploration was along the Indus River. Agriculture flourished and trading cities such as Jalandhar, Sangrur and Ludhiana grew in wealth, due to its location, the Punjab region came under constant attack and influence from both west and east. Punjab faced invasions by the Achaemenids, Greeks, Scythians, Turks and this resulted in the Punjab witnessing centuries of bitter bloodshed. Its culture combines Hindu, Buddhist, Islamic, Sikh and British influences, the regions of Azad Kashmir and Jammu have also been historically associated with the Punjab. The Punjab is the Sapta Sindhu region mentioned in the Rig Veda, among the classic books that were wholly or partly composed in this region are the following. The Brahmins of this region are called Saraswata after the legendary Saraswati river region, Hinduism has been prevalent in Punjab since historical times before the arrival of Islam and birth of Sikhism in Punjab. Some of the influential Sikh figures such as Guru Nanak, Banda Singh Bahadur, Bhai Mati Das, many of Punjabs Hindus converted to Sikhism. Punjabi Hindus can trace their roots from the time of the Vedas, many modern day cities in Indian Punjab and Pakistani Punjab are still named from that period like Lahore, Jalandhar, Chandigarh and so on
Punjab, India
–
Bottom to top:
Harmandir Sahib,
Qila Mubarak,
Gandhi Bhavan,
Wagah Border,
Jallianwala Bagh Memorial
Punjab, India
Punjab, India
–
Darbar of
Maharaja Ranjit Singh
Punjab, India
–
Sikh Empire
32.
Hariharan (singer)
–
Hariharan is an Indian playback and ghazal singer, whose songs have been featured mainly in Tamil and Hindi movies. He has also many songs in other languages including Malayalam, Kannada, Marathi, Bhojpuri. He is a ghazal singer and one of the pioneers of Indian fusion music. In 2004, he was honoured with the Padma Shri by the Government of India and is a two-time National Award winner, Hariharan, associating with Lesle Lewis, formed Colonial Cousins, a two-member band. They have cut many private albums and also scored music for few feature films in Tamil cinema. Hariharan was born in India and grew up in Mumbai in a Tamil speaking Iyer family and he has bachelors degrees in science and law. He is fluent in speaking Tamil, Hindi, Malayalam, and he did his collegiate studies from S. I. E. S. The son of renowned Carnatic vocalists, Shrimati Alamelu and the late H. A. S, mani, he inherited his parents musical talents. From her, he picked up Carnatic music skills and he was also exposed to Hindustani music from a young age. In his teens, inspired by the songs of Mehdi Hassan, Hariharan developed a passion for ghazals and he used to put in thirteen hours of singing practice every day. At the start of his career, Hariharan did the concert circuit and he sang for a number of TV serials. In 1977, he won the top prize in the All India Sur Singaar Competition and was signed on by the late music director Jaidev to sing for his new Hindi film Gaman. His debut song Ajeeb Sa neha Mujh Par Guzar gaya yaaron in that became such a hit that it won him an Uttar Pradesh State Film Award. Hariharan entered the world of Tamil films in 1992 introduced by debutant music director A. R, Rahman with the patriotic song Thamizha Thamizha in Maniratnams film Roja. He was judged best male singer in the 1995 Tamil Nadu State Government Film Awards for his soulful rendition of the song Uyire Uyire also by music director A. R Rahman in Maniratnams Bombay. In 1998, Hariharan won the award for the best playback singer for the soulful rendition of the song Mere Dushman Mere Bhai from the Hindi movie Border. Hariharan got another National Award for the Marathi song Jiv Rangla from Jogwa and he has sung more than 500 Tamil songs and nearly 200 Hindi songs. He has also sung hundreds of songs in Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada, Marathi, Hariharan has acted in a Tamil film with Kushboo, Power of Women, and played cameo roles in the Tamil film Boys and the Malayalam film Millennium Stars
Hariharan (singer)
–
Hariharan in February 2014
Hariharan (singer)
–
Hariharan performing at A R Rahman's concert, Sydney (2010)
Hariharan (singer)
–
Hariharan
33.
A. R. Rahman
–
Allah-Rakha Rahman, is an Indian composer, singer-songwriter, music producer, musician and philanthropist. A. R. Rahmans works are noted for integrating Indian classical music with music, world music. Among his awards are two Academy Awards, two Grammy Awards, a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe, four National Film Awards, fifteen Filmfare Awards and he has been awarded the Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian award, in 2010 by the Government of India. In 2009, Rahman on the Time 100 list of the worlds most influential people, the UK-based world-music magazine Songlines named him one of Tomorrows World Music Icons in August 2011. With an in-house studio, Rahmans film-scoring career began during the early 1990s with the Tamil film Roja, working in Indias film industries, international cinema and theatre, Rahman is one of the worlds all-time best-selling recording artists. In a notable career, he has been acclaimed for redefining contemporary Indian film music. Rahman has become a humanitarian and philanthropist, donating and raising money for a number of causes and charities. Rahmans body of work for film and stage has given him the nickname of the Mozart of Madras, Rahman was born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. His father, R. K. Shekhar, was a composer and conductor for Tamil and Malayalam films, Rahman assisted his father in the studio. After his fathers death when Rahman was nine years old, the rental of his fathers musical equipment provided his familys income, raised by his mother, Kareema, Rahman was a keyboard player and arranger for bands such as Roots and founded the Chennai-based rock group Nemesis Avenue. He mastered the keyboard, piano, synthesizer, harmonium and guitar, Rahman began his early musical training under Master Dhanraj, and at age 11 began playing in the orchestra of Malayalam composer M. K. Arjunan. Studying in Chennai, Rahman graduated with a diploma in Western classical music from the school, Rahman was introduced to Qadiri Islam when his younger sister was seriously ill in 1984. His mother was a practicing Hindu and he converted to Islam with other members of his family in 1989 at age 23, changing his name from R. S. Dileep Kumar to Allah Rakha Rahman. Rahman initially composed scores for documentaries and jingles for advertisements and Indian television channels, in 1987 Rahman, then still known as Dileep, composed jingles for a line of watches introduced by Allwyn. He also arranged the jingles for advertisements that went on to become very popular, including the popular jingle for Titan Watches. In 1992, he was approached by director Mani Ratnam to compose the score and soundtrack for his Tamil film, Rahmans film career began in 1992 when he started Panchathan Record Inn, a recording and mixing studio in his backyard. It would become the recording studio in India, and arguably one of Asias most sophisticated. Cinematographer Santosh Sivan signed Rahman for the Malayalam film Yodha, a Mohanlal starrer directed by Sivans brother Sangeeth Sivan that released in September 1992, the following year, Rahman received the Rajat Kamal award for best music director at the National Film Awards for Roja
A. R. Rahman
–
Rahman at a promotional event for
Highway in 2014
A. R. Rahman
A. R. Rahman
–
Rahman (left) receiving a platinum award at the MagnaSound Awards; MagnaSound released his first film soundtrack,
Roja, in 1992.
A. R. Rahman
–
Rahman at the 2010
Nobel Peace Prize Concert
34.
Mehndi
–
Mehndi or Mehendi is a form of body art from Ancient India, in which decorative designs are created on a persons body, using a paste, created from the powdered dry leaves of the henna plant. Ancient in origin, mehndi is still a form of body art among the women of the Indian Subcontinent, Africa. Mehndi is derived from the Sanskrit word mendhikā, the use of mehndi and turmeric is described in the earliest Hindu Vedic ritual books. It was originally used for only womens palms and sometimes for men, haldi as well as mehndi are Vedic customs, intended to be a symbolic representation of the outer and the inner sun. Vedic customs are centered on the idea of awakening the inner light, Traditional Indian designs are representations of the sun on the palm, which, in this context, is intended to represent the hands and feet. There are many variations and types in mehndi designs which are categorized, such as Arabic mehndi designs, Indian mehndi designs, women usually apply variations of henna or mehndi design patterns on their hands and feet. Botanists believe the plant, Lawsonia inermis, originated in Egypt and was carried regularly to India where it was used since at least 700 AD for decorating hands. Historically henna has also used for medicinal purposes, to dye cloth and leather as well as hair, to color the manes of horses. Mehndi decorations became fashionable in the West in the late 1990s, Mehndi in Indian tradition is typically applied during special Hindu weddings and Hindu festivals like Karva Chauth, Vat Purnima, Diwali, Bhai Dooj and Teej. In Hindu festivals, many women have Henna applied to their hands and feet and sometimes on the back of their shoulders too, as men have it applied on their arms, legs, back, and chest. Some Muslims in the Indian subcontinent also apply Mehndi during festivals such as Eid-ul-Fitr, in the modern age and even due to limited supply of Indian Traditional Mehndi artists, usually people buy ready-made Henna cones, which are ready to use and make painting easy. However, in areas in India, women grind fresh henna leaves on grinding stones with added oil. The term henna tattoo is figurative, because true tattoos are permanent surgical insertions of pigments into the skin, Alta, Alata, or Mahur is a red dye used similarly to henna to paint the feet of the brides in some regions of India, for instance in Bengal. Likely due to the desire for an appearance, some people add the synthetic dye p-Phenylenediamine to henna to give it a black colour. PPD may cause allergic reactions and was voted Allergen of the Year in 2006 by the American Contact Dermatitis Society. Mehndi is an art form which originated in the ancient Indian subcontinent. It is typically applied during weddings - for brides, in Rajasthan, the grooms are given designs that are often as elaborate as those for brides. In Assam, apart from marriage, it is used by unmarried women during Rongali bihu
Mehndi
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Mehndi (
Henna) applied on both hands; front view
Mehndi
Mehndi
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Mehndi (
Henna) applied at back of both hands
Mehndi
–
Mehendi decoration of palms and feet of a bride
35.
Birju Maharaj
–
Brijmohan Mishra, popularly known as Pandit Birju Maharaj, is the leading exponent of the Lucknow Kalka-Bindadin gharana of Kathak dance in India. He is a descendant of the legendary Maharaj family of Kathak dancers, even though dancing is his first love, he also has an excellent command over Hindustani classical music and is an accomplished vocalist as well. He took Kathak to new heights by choreographing new Kathak dance dramas. He is also the founder of kalashram and he has toured extensively around the globe, given thousands of performances and held hundreds of workshops for kathak students. Birju Maharaj was born in the house of noted Kathak exponent, Jagannath Maharaj, popularly known as Acchan Maharaj of Lucknow Gharana, Birju was trained by his uncles, Lachhu Maharaj and Shambhu Maharaj and his father, and he gave his first recital at the age of seven. On 20 May 1947, his father died when he was nine, after a few years of struggle, his family moved to Delhi. Birju Maharaj started teaching the dance form at the age of thirteen. He composed the music, and sang, for two sequences in the Satyajit Rays Shatranj ke Khilari, and choreographed the song Kaahe Chhed Mohe from the 2002 film version of novella Devdas. In addition, he has also choreographed Kathak dance sequences in Dedh Ishqiya as well as Umrao Jaan, Birju Maharaj has won many accolades, including Padma Vibhushan in 1986, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award and the Kalidas Samman. He also received honorary Doctorate degrees from Banaras Hindu University and Khairagarh University, Filmfare Award for Best Choreography for song Mohe Rang Do Laal from Bajirao Mastani in 2016. He was the recipient of the Lata Mangeshkar Puraskaar in 2002, bharat Muni Sammaan 2012 National Film Award for Best Choreography, Vishwaroopam 2016 Filmfare award, Bajirao Mastani List of Kathak dancers Māni Mādhava Chākyār Massey, Reginald. Indias kathak dance, past present, future, Pandit Birju Maharaj Kathak maestro Birju Maharaj on top Indian dancers at the Wayback Machine
Birju Maharaj
–
Birju Maharaj
36.
Kathak
–
Kathak is one of the ten major forms of Indian classical dance. The origin of Kathak is traditionally attributed to the bards of ancient northern India. The term Kathak is derived from the Vedic Sanskrit word Katha meaning story, wandering Kathakas communicated stories from the great epics and ancient mythology through dance, songs and music in a manner similar to early Greek theatre. Kathak evolved during the Bhakti movement, particularly by incorporating the childhood and stories of Hindu god Krishna, Kathak is found in three distinct forms, named after the cities where the Kathak dance tradition evolved – Jaipur, Banaras and Lucknow. Stylistically, the Kathak dance form emphasizes rhythmic foot movements, adorned with bells. The main focus of the dance becomes the eyes and the foot movements, the eyes work as a medium of communication of the story the dancer is trying to communicate. With the eyebrows the dancer gives various facial expressions, the difference between the sub-traditions is the relative emphasis between acting versus footwork, with Lucknow style emphasizing acting and Jaipur style famed for its spectacular footwork. Kathak as a performance art survived and thrived as a tradition, learnt and innovated from one generation to another verbally. The term Kathak is rooted in the Vedic term Katha which means story, conversation and it differs from the numerous folk dance forms found in north and other parts of the Indian subcontinent. The Kathak dancers, in the ancient India, were traveling bards and were known as Kathakas, another variant that emerged from ancient Kathak is Thumri. According to Mary Snodgrass, the Kathak tradition of India is traceable to 400 BCE, the most studied version of the Natya Shastra text consists of about 6000 verses structured into 36 chapters. Dance and performance arts, states this ancient Hindu text, are a form of expression of ideas, virtues. The 2nd century BC panels found in Bharhut show the dancers in a stance with their arms positions already suggesting todays Kathak movements. Most of the dancers have one arm near the ear in a pataka hasta, in subsequent years, the hasta was lowered to the bust level. Textual studies suggest that Kathak as a dance form likely started in Benares and from there migrated northwest to Lucknow, Jaipur and other parts of north. The love between Radha and Krishna became symbolism for the love between Atman and the source, a theme that dance ballet and mimetic plays of Kathak artists expressed. The Mughal era courts and nobles accepted Kathak as a form of aristocratic entertainment, according to Drid Williams, It should be remembered that the first Kathak dancers were, after all, Hindus who danced for Moghul overlords. Too much outward expression of belief was without doubt undesirable
Kathak
–
Kathak danseuse
Arushi Nishank performing at Lucknow Kathak Sansthan.
Kathak
–
Kathak dancer Richa Jain performing the chakkarwala tukra, one of the many popular highlights of Kathak
Kathak
–
Kathak performance by Sharmila Sharma and Rajendra Kumar Gangani at the Guimet Museum (November 2007)
Kathak
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State of 'sam' performed by Manisha Gulyani
37.
Rajkumar Singhajit Singh
–
Rajkumar Singhajit Singh, is a leading exponent, choreographer and a guru of Indian classical dance form of Manipuri, including the Pung cholom and Raslila. He was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1984 and the Padma Shri in 1986 for his contribution to the Manipuri dance. Guru Singhajit Singh and his wife Charu Sija Mathur, who is also a Sangeet Natak Akademi Award recipient, have established, Manipuri Nrityashram, rajkumar Singhajit Singh was born in a family of dancers and musicians in Manipur. Over the year, he and his troupe, have extensively travelled to several countries in Europe. Manipuri by R K Singhajit Singh, Dances of India series,2004, Wisdom Tree, the Martial Arts of Asia, Eliminating Violence Guru R. K. Singhajit Singh, Charu Sija Mathur website An interview with R K Singhajit Singh And Charu Sija Mathur R K Singhajit Singh on Manipuri Dance
Rajkumar Singhajit Singh
–
Raj Kumar Singhajit Singh with his wife Charu Sija Mathur, in 2008
38.
Manipuri dance
–
It is particularly known for its Hindu Vaishnavism themes, and exquisite performances of love-inspired dance drama of Radha-Krishna called Raslila. However, the dance is performed to themes related to Shaivism, Shaktism. The roots of Manipuri dance, as with all classical Indian dances, is the ancient Hindu Sanskrit text Natya Shastra, with evidence of Vishnu temples in the medieval era, the dance arts have been passed down verbally from generation to generation as an oral tradition. The first reliably dated written texts describing the art of Manipuri dance are from the early 18th-century, the Manipuri dance is a team performance, with its own unique costumes, aesthetics, conventions and repertoire. The Manipuri dance drama is, for most part, marked by a performance that is graceful, fluid, sinuous with greater emphasis on hand and it is accompanied with devotional music created with many instruments, with the beat set by cymbals and double-headed drum of sankirtan. Manipuri dance is an art and its aim is the expression of spiritual values. Aspects of this art is celebrated during Hindu festivals and major rites of passage such as weddings among the Manipuri people. The dance drama choreography shares the plays and stories of Vaishnavite Padavalis, the Vedic Usha, the goddess of the dawn, is a cultural motif for Manipuri women, and in the Indian tradition, it was Usha who created and taught the art of feminine dance to girls. This oral tradition of dance is celebrated as Chingkheirol in the Manipuri tradition. The ancient Sanskrit texts such as the Mahabharata epic mentions Manipur, Dance is called Jagoi in a major Meitei language of the region and it traces a long tradition in Manipur. Lai Haraoba dance likely has ancient roots and shares similarities with dance postures of Nataraja. Historical texts of Manipur have not survived into the modern era, theories about the antiquity of Manipuri rely on the oral tradition, archaeological discoveries and references about Manipur in Asian manuscripts whose date can be better established. Further waves of Buddhists and Hindus arrived from Assam and Bengal, after mid 16th-century during Hindu-Muslim wars of Bengal Sultanate, in 1704, the King Charai Rongba adopted Vaishnavism, and declared it to be the state religion. In 1717, the King Gareeb Niwaz converted to Chaitanya style devotional Vaishnavism, in 1734, devotional dance drama centered around Hindu god Rama expanded Manipuri dance tradition. Maharaja Bhagyachandra of Manipur State adopted Gaudiya Vaishnavism, documented and codified the Manipuri dance style and he designed an elaborate costume known as Kumil. The Govinda Sangeet Lila Vilasa, an important text detailing the fundamentals of the dance, is attributed to him. King Bhagyachandra is also credited with starting public performances of Raas Lila, maharaja Gambhir Singh composed two parengs of the tandava type, the Goshtha Bhangi Pareng and the Goshtha Vrindaban Pareng. Maharaja Chandra Kirti Singh, a drummer, composed at least 64 Pung choloms
Manipuri dance
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Rasa Lila performance
Manipuri dance
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Krishna and
Radha
Manipuri dance
–
A Manipuri performer strikes an evocative pose.
Manipuri dance
–
A
Pung cholom performer
39.
Bharatnatyam
–
Bharatanatyam or Bharathanatiyam is a major genre of Indian classical dance that originated in the Hindu temples of Tamil Nadu and neighboring regions. Bharatanatyam is quite possibly the oldest classical dance tradition of India, the dance is accompanied by music and a singer, and typically her guru is present as the director and conductor of the performance. The dance has traditionally been a form of a narration of mythical legends. The performance repertoire of Bharatanatyam, like other classical dances, includes nrita, modern stage productions of Bharatanatyam have incorporated technical performances, pure dance based on non-religious ideas and fusion themes. The term Bharatanatyam is a compound of two words, Bharata and Natyam, the term Bharata in Bharatanaytam, in the Hindu tradition, is not named after the famous performance art sage to whom the ancient Natya Shastra is attributed. The tradition states that the word Bharata is a mnemonic, consisting of bha–ra–ta, the bha stands for bhava, ra stands for raga, and ta stands for tala. The term Natyam is a Sanskrit word for dance, the compound word Bharatanatyam thus connotes a dance which harmoniously expresses bhava, raga and tala. In its history, Bharatanatyam has also been called Sadir, the theoretical foundations of Bharatanatyam are found in Natya Shastra, the ancient Hindu text of performance arts. Natya Shastra is attributed to the ancient scholar Bharata Muni, the most studied version of the Natya Shastra text consists of about 6000 verses structured into 36 chapters. Dance and performance arts, states this ancient text, are a form of expression of ideas, virtues. More direct historical references to Bharatnatyam is found in the Tamil epics Silappatikaram, the ancient text Silappatikaram, includes a story of a dancing girl named Madhavi, it describes the dance training regimen called Arangatrau Kathai of Madhavi in verses 113 through 159. The carvings in Kanchipurams Shiva temple that have dated to 6th to 9th century CE suggest Bharatanatyam was a well developed performance art by about the mid 1st millennium CE. Many of the ancient Shiva sculptures in Hindu temples are same as the Bharata Natyam dance poses, for example, the Cave 1 of Badami cave temples, dated to 7th-century, portrays the Tandava-dancing Shiva as Nataraja. The image,5 feet tall, has 18 arms in a form that expresses the dance positions arranged in a geometric pattern, the arms of Shiva express mudras, that are found in Bharatanatyam. Bharatanatyam, state Allen Noble and Ashok Dutt, has been a source of inspiration to the musicians, poets. Some colonial Indologists and modern authors have stated Bharatanatyam is a descendant of an ancient Devadasi culture, modern scholarship has questioned this theory for lack of any direct textual or archeological evidence. According to James Lochtefeld, Bharatanatyam remained exclusive to Hindu temples through the 19th century, the anti-dance camp accused the dance form as a front for prostitution, while revivalists questioned the constructed histories by the colonial writers. In 1910, the Madras Presidency of the British Empire altogether banned temple dancing, the 1910 ban triggered powerful protests against the stereotyping and dehumanization of temple dancers
Bharatnatyam
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Ranjitha Shivanna performing Bharatanatyam
Bharatnatyam
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Bharathanatyam By Ranjitha Shivanna
Bharatnatyam
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Bharata Natyam in
Serfoji II 's period
Bharatnatyam
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One of the 81 Bharata Natyam dance positions carved on the outer wall of the upper storey of
Peruvudaiyar Koyil, Thanjavur. completed in 1010.
40.
Sonal Mansingh
–
Sonal Mansingh is an Indian classical dancer and Guru Bharatanatyam and Odissi dancing style, who is also proficient in other Indian classical dancing styles. Sonal Mansingh was born in Mumbai, second of three children to Arvind and Poornima Pakvasa, a social worker from Gujarat and Padma Vibhushan winner in 2004. Her grandfather was Mangal Das Pakvasa, a fighter. Degree in German Literature from Elphinstone College, Bombay, Mansingh was married to former Indian diplomat Lalit Mansingh. The couple decided to divorce later and her father-in-law Mayadhar Mansingh introduced her to Kelucharan Mohapatra where she had her training in Odissi. Sonal Mansingh dancing career which started in 1962, after her arangetram in Mumbai and this was followed by Kalidas Samman of Madhya Pradesh government, in 2006 and on April 21,2007, she was conferred with Doctor of Science by G. B. Pant University, Uttarakhand at Pantnagar and Doctor of Literature by Sambalpur University, indradhanush Manavatta Mera Bharat Draupadi Gita Govinda Sabras Chaturang Panchkanya Devi Durga Aatmayan Samanavaya A dancer is not just a dancer. He/She is part of this environment, he/She does not exist in a vacuum. Society and its happenings have an impact on all individuals, especially artists, if an art form does not reflect the existing milieu, it stagnates. Radha is a grand image too but shes a personification of love without which there is no creation, in our male-dominated mythology the image of Krishna at the feet of Radha, begging for her love, is most unusual. Gita Govind invokes deep spiritual thoughts, packaged in beautifully written verses, the Penguin Book of Indian Dance by Sonal Mansingh, Penguin Books Australia. Classical Dances by Sonal Mansingh, Avinash Pasricha, Varsha Das, Draupadi, by Sonal Mansingh, Museum Society of Bombay,1994. Sonal Mansingh Contribution to Odissi Dance by Jiwan Pani,1992, Centre for Indian Classical Dances. Bharata Natyam, Indian Classical Dance Art, by Sunil Kothari, Indian women in dance India’s 50 Most Illustrious Women by Indra Gupta
Sonal Mansingh
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Sonal Mansingh performing in
New Delhi.
41.
Odissi dance
–
Odissi, also referred to as Orissi in older literature, is a major ancient Indian classical dance that originated in the Hindu temples of Odisha – an eastern coastal state of India. Odissi, in its history, was performed predominantly by women, Odissi performances have also expressed ideas of other traditions such as those related to Hindu gods Shiva and Surya, as well as Hindu goddesses. The Odissi dance tradition declined during the Islamic rule era, and was suppressed under the British Rule, the suppression was protested by the Indians, followed by its revival, reconstruction and expansion since India gained independence from the colonial rule. Odissi is learnt and performed as a composite of basic dance motif called the Bhangas and it involves lower, mid and upper as three sources of perfecting expression and audience engagement with geometric symmetry and rhythmic musical resonance. An Odissi performance repertoire includes invocation, nritta, nritya, natya, modern Odissi productions by Indian artists have presented a diverse range of experimental ideas, culture fusion, themes and plays. The foundations of Odissi are found in Natya Shastra, the ancient Hindu Sanskrit text of performance arts, the basic dance units described in Natyashastra, all 108 of them, are identical to those in Odissi. Natya Shastra is attributed to the ancient scholar Bharata Muni, the most studied version of the Natya Shastra text consists of about 6000 verses structured into 36 chapters. Dance and performance arts, states this ancient text, are a form of expression of ideas, virtues. The Natya Shastra refers to four vrittis in vogue – Avanti, Dakshinatya, Panchali and Odra-Magadhi, of these, the Odra refers to Odisha. More direct historical evidence of dance and music as an ancient performance art are found in sites such as caves and in temple carvings of Bhubaneswar, Konarak. The Manchapuri cave in Udayagiri shows carvings of dance and musicians, — Hathigumpha inscription, Line 5, ~ 2nd-1st century BCE The musical tradition of Odisha also has ancient roots. Archeologists have reported the discovery of 20-key, carefully shaped polished basalt lithophone in Sankarjang, the highlands of Odisha, which is dated to about 1000 BCE. The Buddhist, Jaina and Hindu archaeological sites in Odisha state, particularly the Assia range of hills show inscriptions, important sites include the Ranigumpha in Udaygiri, and various caves and temples at Lalitgiri, Ratnagiri and Alatgiri sites. The Buddhist icons, for example, are depicted as dancing gods and goddesses, with Haruka, Vajravarahi, historical evidence, states Alexandra Carter, shows that Odissi Maharis and dance halls architecture were in vogue at least by the 9th century CE. However, the Jaina manuscripts use the dance poses as decorative art in the margins and cover, but do not describe or discuss the dance. Hindu dance texts such as the Abhinaya Chandrika and Abhinaya Darpana provide a description of the movements of the feet, hands, the standing postures, the movement. It includes illustrations of the Karanãs mentioned in NãtyaShãstra, similarly, the illustrated Hindu text on temple architecture from Odisha, the Shilpaprakãsha, deals with Odia architecture and sculpture, and includes Odissi postures. Actual sculptures that have survived into the era and panel reliefs in Odia temples, dated to be from the 10th to 14th century
Odissi dance
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Odissi performance
Odissi dance
–
Odissi dancer
Odissi dance
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An Odissi dancer
42.
Mohiniattam
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Mohiniyattam, also spelled Mohiniattam, is one of two classical dances of India that developed and remain popular in the state of Kerala. The other classical dance form from Kerala is Kathakali, Mohiniyattam dance gets its name from the word Mohini – a mythical enchantress avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu, who helps the good prevail over evil by deploying her feminine powers. Mohiniyattams roots, like all classical Indian dances, are in the Natya Shastra – the ancient Hindu Sanskrit text on performance arts, however, it follows the Lasya style described in Natya Shastra, that is a dance which is delicate, eros-filled and feminine. It is traditionally a solo performed by women after extensive training. The repertoire of Mohiniyattam includes music in the Carnatic style, singing and acting a play through the dance, the song is typically in Malayalam-Sanskrit hybrid called Manipravala. The earliest mention of the word is found in the 16th-century legal text Vyavaharamala, the socio-political conflict ultimately led to renewed interest, revival and reconstruction of Mohiniyattam by the people of Kerala, particularly the poet Vallathol Narayana Menon. Mohiniyattam, also referred to as Mohini-attam, is derived from Mohini – a famous female avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu in Indian mythology, Mohini refers to a divine enchantress, supreme seductress. She appears in Hindu mythologies during a battle between Devas and Asuras, after the evil had won control of Amrita. Appearing in her youthful bloom, dressed rapturously she uses her charms to seduce the Asuras, Mohini after gaining the Amrita gives it to the good instead, depriving the evil from gaining immortality. The details of the Mohini story varies by the Purana and region, aattam is a Malayalam language word, and means rhythmic motion or dance. Mohiniyattam thus connotes a dance of an enchantress, a beautiful woman, Mohiniyattam is a classical Indian dance, which by definition traces its repertoire to the foundational text Natya Shastra. The Natya Shastra text is attributed to the ancient scholar Bharata Muni and its first complete compilation is dated to between 200 BCE and 200 CE, but estimates vary between 500 BCE and 500 CE. The text describes the elements and the structure of two types of dance, the vigorous, high energy Tāṇḍava dance and the gentle, calmingly graceful Lāsyā dance. Mohiniyāttam follows the structure and aims of the Lāsyā dance in Natya Shastra, according to Reginald Massey, Mohiniyattams history is unclear. Kerala, the region where this dance genre developed and is popular, has a tradition of lasya style dances whose basics. The earliest evidence of Mohiniyattam, or a Mohiniyattam-like dance tradition is found in sculpture of Kerala. The 11th century Vishnu temple at Trikodithanam, and the Kidangur Subramanya temple, have several sculptures of dancers in Mohiniyattam pose. The textual evidence from 12th century onwards suggest that Malayalam poets and playwrights included Lāsyā themes, the 16th century Vyavaharamala by Nambootiri contains the first known mention of the term Mohiniyattam, in the context of a payment to be made to a Mohiniyattam dancer
Mohiniattam
–
Mohiniyattam performance by
Rekha Raju
Mohiniattam
–
Expression of an artist
Mohiniattam
–
Sunanda Nair Performing
Mohini Attam at
Bhopal
Mohiniattam
–
A Mohiniyattam pose
43.
Kuchipudi
–
Kuchipudi ) is one of the eight major Indian classical dances. It originated in a village named Krishna district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, Kuchipudi is a dance-drama performance art, with its roots in the ancient Hindu Sanskrit text of Natya Shastra. It developed as a religious art linked to traveling bards, temples and spiritual beliefs, evidence of Kuchipudis existence in an older version are found in copper inscriptions of the 10th century, and by the 15th century in texts such as the Machupalli Kaifat. Kuchipudi largely developed as a Hindu god Krishna-oriented Vaishnavism tradition, the Kuchipudi performance usually begins with an invocation. Then, each costumed actor is introduced, their role stated, next, the performance presents pure dance. This is followed with expressive part of the performance, where rhythmic gestures as a sign language mime the play, vocalists and musicians accompany the artist, with the song recited in Telugu language, and the tala and raga set to. The typical musical instruments in Kuchipudi are mridangam, cymbals, veena, flute, the popularity of Kuchipudi has grown within India, and its performances held worldwide. Kuchipudi is named after the village in Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh named Kuchipudi – shortened form of the full name Kuchelapuram or Kuchilapuri – where it developed, the name of village, states Ragini Devi, is itself derived from Sanskrit Kusilava-puram, which means the village of actors. Kusilava is a found in ancient Sanskrit texts and refers to traveling bard. Kuchipudi, like classical dance forms in India, traces its roots to the Natya Shastra. Its first complete compilation is dated to between 200 BCE and 200 CE, but estimates vary between 500 BCE and 500 CE, the most studied version of the Natya Shastra text consists of about 6000 verses structured into 36 chapters. Dance and performance arts, states this ancient text, are a form of expression of ideas, virtues. The dance-drama tradition in Andhra Pradesh is of ancient origins, Bharata Muni credits a graceful movement to Andhra region and discusses it as Kaishiki vritti. The pre-2nd century CE text calls one raga as Andhri, that is from Andhra, the Andhri, is related to Gandhari and Arsabhi, and is discussed in many other 1st millennium Sanskrit texts. Some, state Bruno Nettle and others, place the origins of Kuchipudi to 3rd century BCE, dance-drama performance arts related to Shaivism, in Telugu-speaking parts of South India, are evidenced in 10th-century copper inscriptions, and these were called Brahmana Melas or Brahma Melas. The medieval era dance-drama performance artists were Brahmins, in Andhra, this performance art evolved into Kuchipudi, while in Tamil Nadu it became known as Bhagavata Mela Nataka. This royal sponsorship, states Varadpande, encouraged many poets and dance-drama troupes to adopt Radha-Krishna themes into the then prevailing versions of classical Kuchipudi and these were regionally called Vaishnava Bhagavatulus. Tirtha Narayanayati authored Sri Krishna Leela Tarangini and introduced sequences of rhythmic dance syllables at the end of the cantos, Narayanayati lived for a while in the Tanjore district and presented the dance-drama in the Tanjore temple
Kuchipudi
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Kuchipudi dancer in "Tribhanga" bangima (posture)
Kuchipudi
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Kuchipudi dancers in Action
Kuchipudi
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Kuchipudi dancer in "Lathangi" bangima (posture)
Kuchipudi
–
A Kuchipudi dancer performing at
IIM Bangalore
44.
A.R. Rahman
–
Allah-Rakha Rahman, is an Indian composer, singer-songwriter, music producer, musician and philanthropist. A. R. Rahmans works are noted for integrating Indian classical music with music, world music. Among his awards are two Academy Awards, two Grammy Awards, a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe, four National Film Awards, fifteen Filmfare Awards and he has been awarded the Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian award, in 2010 by the Government of India. In 2009, Rahman on the Time 100 list of the worlds most influential people, the UK-based world-music magazine Songlines named him one of Tomorrows World Music Icons in August 2011. With an in-house studio, Rahmans film-scoring career began during the early 1990s with the Tamil film Roja, working in Indias film industries, international cinema and theatre, Rahman is one of the worlds all-time best-selling recording artists. In a notable career, he has been acclaimed for redefining contemporary Indian film music. Rahman has become a humanitarian and philanthropist, donating and raising money for a number of causes and charities. Rahmans body of work for film and stage has given him the nickname of the Mozart of Madras, Rahman was born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. His father, R. K. Shekhar, was a composer and conductor for Tamil and Malayalam films, Rahman assisted his father in the studio. After his fathers death when Rahman was nine years old, the rental of his fathers musical equipment provided his familys income, raised by his mother, Kareema, Rahman was a keyboard player and arranger for bands such as Roots and founded the Chennai-based rock group Nemesis Avenue. He mastered the keyboard, piano, synthesizer, harmonium and guitar, Rahman began his early musical training under Master Dhanraj, and at age 11 began playing in the orchestra of Malayalam composer M. K. Arjunan. Studying in Chennai, Rahman graduated with a diploma in Western classical music from the school, Rahman was introduced to Qadiri Islam when his younger sister was seriously ill in 1984. His mother was a practicing Hindu and he converted to Islam with other members of his family in 1989 at age 23, changing his name from R. S. Dileep Kumar to Allah Rakha Rahman. Rahman initially composed scores for documentaries and jingles for advertisements and Indian television channels, in 1987 Rahman, then still known as Dileep, composed jingles for a line of watches introduced by Allwyn. He also arranged the jingles for advertisements that went on to become very popular, including the popular jingle for Titan Watches. In 1992, he was approached by director Mani Ratnam to compose the score and soundtrack for his Tamil film, Rahmans film career began in 1992 when he started Panchathan Record Inn, a recording and mixing studio in his backyard. It would become the recording studio in India, and arguably one of Asias most sophisticated. Cinematographer Santosh Sivan signed Rahman for the Malayalam film Yodha, a Mohanlal starrer directed by Sivans brother Sangeeth Sivan that released in September 1992, the following year, Rahman received the Rajat Kamal award for best music director at the National Film Awards for Roja
A.R. Rahman
–
Rahman at a promotional event for
Highway in 2014
A.R. Rahman
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Rahman (left) receiving a platinum award at the MagnaSound Awards; MagnaSound released his first film soundtrack,
Roja, in 1992.
A.R. Rahman
–
Rahman at the 2010
Nobel Peace Prize Concert
A.R. Rahman
–
Rahman at 2010 Sydney concert
45.
Jai Ho (song)
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Jai Ho is a song composed by A. R. Rahman for the 2008 film, Slumdog Millionaire. When Danny Boyle, the director of Slumdog Millionaire, approached Rahman to compose its soundtrack, Jai Ho accompanies a choreographed dance sequence at the end credits of Slumdog Millionaire. The song features vocals from Sukhvinder Singh, Mahalaxmi Iyer and Vijay Prakash in Hindi, Urdu, Indian singer Tanvi Shah wrote and provided vocals for a Spanish section of the song. Jai Ho is a Hindi phrase which can be translated as Let victory prevail, Let there be victory. Particularly, in Nepali, it means Let victory be yours, Jai Ho was, at the time of its release the toast of the town in almost every part of the world. Covers and remixes of the song and performances of the Jai Ho dance were posted on YouTube, Jai Ho received universally favorable reviews from music critics, who cited it as the best song on the Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack. The song won an Academy Award for Best Original Song and a Grammy Award for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture and it was also the official campaign song of the Indian National Congress during the 2009 election. American girl group The Pussycat Dolls recorded an English interpretation of Jai Ho, entitled Jai Ho. and credited to A. R. Rahman and the Pussycat Dolls featuring Nicole Scherzinger, the song appeared on the re-release of the groups second studio album Doll Domination. Rahman was unsure how to answer, but after exchanging several more emails, Rahman summarized their first meeting by saying when I talked to him, I had some interest and I wanted to see the film. He had a first cut of the already, and when I saw that I was really interested and wanted to do it. So I left another film to do this one, while composing the soundtrack to the Slumdog Millionaire, Rahman aimed to mix modern India with eighties Hindi film soundtracks. Boyle, who hated sentiment and cello, told Rahman to never put a cello in my film, Boyle also insisted on a pulsey score. Rahman stated that Boyle wanted edgy, upfront music that did not suppress sound and he noted that Theres not many cues in the film. Usually a big film has 130 cues and this had just seventeen or eighteen, the end credits, beginning credits. The soundtrack for Slumdog Millionaire took Rahman two months to plan and two weeks to complete and he recalled that, Usually it takes six months with the musical films Im doing in India. Rahman said the soundtrack isnt about India or Indian culture, the story could happen anywhere, China, Brazil, anywhere. Who Wants to Be a Millionaire is on in every damn country, Rahman composed Jai Ho using Logic Pro, a digital audio workstation and MIDI sequencer software application created by Apple Inc. At the time of the production, Rahman had been using the software for almost 12 years
Jai Ho (song)
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"Jai Ho" was originally composed for
Subhash Ghai 's 2008 film
Yuvvraaj, but the director felt the song to be "too subtle and soft" for inclusion in the film.
Jai Ho (song)
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A. R. Rahman with the two
Academy Awards he received from his work on Slumdog Millionaire.
Jai Ho (song)
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The Pussycat Dolls performing "Jai Ho! (You Are My Destiny)" as the opening act of
Britney Spears ' 2009 tour,
The Circus Starring Britney Spears
46.
2006 Commonwealth Games
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The 2006 Commonwealth Games, officially the XVIII Commonwealth Games, were held in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia between 15 and 26 March 2006. It was the largest sporting event to be staged in Melbourne, eclipsing the 1956 Summer Olympics in terms of the number of competing, athletes competing. The site for the opening and closing ceremonies was the Melbourne Cricket Ground which was used during Melbournes 1956 Olympic Games. The mascot for the games was Karak, a red-tailed black cockatoo, for the first time in the history of the Games the Queens Baton visited every single Commonwealth nation and territory taking part in the Games, a journey of 180,000 km. During the 1998 Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, two cities initially expressed interest in hosting the event, Melbourne and Wellington, New Zealand. Wellington withdrew its bid, citing the costs involved with matching the bid plan presented by Melbourne, the cost was described in some local media as excessive. National Party leader Peter Ryan said that the Labor government should win gold for burning money However, Melbournes premier sporting ground, the Melbourne Cricket Ground, was redeveloped in preparation for the Games. The change from Daylight Saving Time to Standard Time in Australian states that follow it was delayed from 26 March to 2 April for 2006 to avoid affecting the games. In addition, state and private schools amended their usual term times so as to allow the first term holidays to coincide with the Games. Melbournes public transport system – train, tram and bus – ran to altered timetables with some amended or substituted services for the duration of the Games, for the most part, timetabled services were unchanged but suffered due to higher loads. For the first time ever, the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games appointed a Goodwill Partner, the following venues were used at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. The sport that were played at that venue are listed after it and they showed rolling coverage, except for a break for the evening news and overnight. In Australia Fox Sports broadcast the Games on eight dedicated digital Pay-TV channels and these were available on the Foxtel, Austar and Optus Vision networks. The BBC covered the Commonwealth Games in the UK on BBC One, bBCi included a choice of two extra video streams on Freeview and four streams on Digital Satellite and Cable. Users with broadband in the UK could also view all 5 video streams on bbc. co. uk, CBC, CBC Newsworld, and CBC Country Canada aired a daily one-hour highlights show of the Commonwealth Games in Canada. Compared to past games, the CBCs coverage was minimally staffed, Satellite provider Astro included three dedicated channels to broadcast the Games live to its Sports package subscribers, in addition to delayed broadcast 24 hours later. Singapores MediaCorp TV had supposedly not broadcast the games due to the high cost of telecast rights, satellite charges, However, on 17 March, the MediaCorp found other sponsors which is the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports and the Singapore Sports Council. Broadcast started from 18 March till the end of the games, in the United States, selected coverage was carried by Fox College Sports
2006 Commonwealth Games
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2006 Commonwealth Games
2006 Commonwealth Games
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Melbourne Cricket Ground
2006 Commonwealth Games
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Docklands Stadium
2006 Commonwealth Games
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Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre
47.
Australia at the 2010 Commonwealth Games
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Australia competed at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India. Australias diving team consists of 12 divers Australias swimming team consists of 53 swimmers over 44 events, Australias archery team consists of 12 archers over 8 events Track Q denotes automatic qualification. Q denotes qualification based on time, Field Road Track Field Road Women Men Women Men Women Men Women Australias synchronized swimming team consists of 3 swimmers over 2 events. Wrestler Hassene Fkiri was disqualified and stripped of the medal after making an obscene gesture at the international FILA judges during the final. Australian athletes have been accused of vandalizing the towers of the village they were staying in by breaking furniture. Delhi Police did not press the case after the Organizing Committee refused to file a complaint while Indian external affairs minister SM Krishna dismissed it as a one-off incident, a unnamed member of the team was sent home early. A washing machine was hurled from the floor of the same tower. Nobody on the ground was hit, but it is unclear who the culprit was, Indian newspapers have reported that the Australian Commonwealth Games Authority agreed to pay for the damages and have apologised for the incident. The Australian High Commissioner rejected the claim, stating that the incident was the result of partying, later comments by Australian officials have contradicted claims by Lalit Bhanot that they had admitted responsibility. Perry Crosswhite said that it was unclear if athletes from other nations present in the tower at the time had been responsible. Australia at the 2008 Summer Olympics Australia at the 2012 Summer Olympics
Australia at the 2010 Commonwealth Games
48.
Sharelle McMahon
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Sharelle Jane McMahon is an Australian former netball player who captained the Australia national netball team. She played in the attack and goal shooter positions. Born in Bamawm, Victoria, McMahon captained the Melbourne Vixens in the ANZ Championship and she led the Vixens to the ANZ Championship title in 2009, defeating the Adelaide Thunderbirds in the grand final. McMahon captained the Vixens from its season in 2008 until 2011. McMahon was best and fairest for the Vixens in 2009 and 2010, on 31 March 2011, McMahon ruptured her Achilles tendon in an ANZ Championship game against Queensland Firebirds. Following surgery, she withdrew from the 2011 Netball World Championships in Singapore, Australian coach Norma Plummer described McMahon as probably the most athletic player of natural talent to have played the game. McMahon confirmed during the off season that she would be returning to the Melbourne Vixens in the 2012 ANZ Championship, but after playing one pre season match McMahon announced that she was pregnant and withdrew from the Vixens team for the 2012 season. Her son Xavier was born on 30 August 2012 and her daughter Ruby was born on 27 November 2015, on 25 October 2012 it was announced that McMahon would return to the Melbourne Vixens for the 2013 season. McMahon officially retired at the end of the 2013 season, in 2017 McMahon joined the match review panel of the AFL Womens football league in its inaugural year. McMahons international career began when she was selected in the Australian Under 21 team in 1996 following her performances in the Victorian Under 21 team, in 1997, she made her début for the full national team against the Jamaican national team in Jamaica. She was the youngest member of the Australian team which won the gold medal at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur. In September 2009, McMahon made her 100th appearance for the national side, McMahon captained the Australian team at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi and was selected as the Australian flagbearer for the opening ceremony. In 2010 McMahon won the Australias Favourite Diamond award, late in 2011, McMahon considered her 2012 future in the Australian Diamonds. I had some thoughts of how it would be nice to finish my career and it didnt involve being carried off the court with a snapped Achilles. Theres a lot that has to happen before I do make it back in the team, theyve won a world championship without me so Im certainly not expecting to walk straight back in. In October 2016, she was inducted as an Athlete Member of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame,2010 Australian Netball Diamonds profile, Sharelle McMahon
Sharelle McMahon
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McMahon being presented with the
Constellation Cup by Sir
Anand Satyanand
