18th January 2021

 

Topics Covered:

 

• Important personality.

• Agriculture.

• Glory to Punjab.

 

 

Topic: Important Personality.

 

What is the news?

• In memory of Tera Singh Chan, who brought IPTA into Punjab.

 

About Tera Singh Chan:

• Born in Campbellpur (now Attock) in western Punjab on January 6, 1921.

• India was at war with China in 1962 and with several more left-wing leaders. Tera Singh Chan was detained on suspicion that his sympathies were with the communist neighbor.

• At the same time, ironically, his song «Eh pyaari Bharat maa» inspired the masses on the radio. Punjabi newspapers wrote down the dichotomy and the government was forced to release Chan.

• A song by «Kaag Samay DA Boleya», his anthology of poems, tells how times change and the widow wears her jewelry again. It was a radical idea, and his works were brimming with them.

• As we celebrate the poet-playwright’s birth centenary this year, his writings are still inspiring — like his poem “Desh de Kisaan, aa Gaye vich Maidan” reverberating at the Delhi borders that are witnessing an unprecedented farmers’ movement.

 

Important Contribution:

• He is credited with bringing Punjabi theatre to the masses with the Indian People’s Theatre Association (IPTA) and launching the literary organization, Kendri Punjabi Lekhak Sabha.

• IPTA was formed across various parts of India in 1943, but a committee wasn’t formed in the culturally strong state until 1952 when Chan organized its Punjab chapter along with a host of like-minded people.

(Source: The Tribune)

 

 

Topic: Agriculture

 

What is the news?

• Low temperatures are a godsend for the wheat harvest, say experts.

• Agricultural experts say the cold weather during the day, followed by fog at night, has shown to be conducive to wheat growth.

 

How?

• The current atmosphere would result in rapid crop maturity and yield would need to be increased by one to two quintals per acre.

• The low temperature also prevented the culture of attack of various diseases such as suction of parasites and fungi, increasing yield.

 

Statics:

• Last year the average yield of wheat was recorded at 20 quintals per acre, which could be increased to 21-22 quintal per acre this time.

• Wheat has been sown in 2.10 lakh hectares in Fazilka district this year.

(Source: The Tribune)

 

 

Topic: Glory to Punjab

 

What is the news?

• Khalsa Aid’s nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize.

 

About Khalsa Aid:

• Khalsa Aid is an international NGO that provides humanitarian assistance to disaster areas and civilian conflict areas worldwide.

• The United Kingdom-based non-government organization Khalsa Aid has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for its humanitarian work.

• It was founded by Ravinder (Ravi) Singh, who was struck by the plight of the refugees in Kosovo in 1999, the charity has provided support around the world for victims of natural and man-made disasters such as floods, earthquakes, famine and war for over 20 years.

• Inspired by the Sikh ideology of Sarbat DA Bhalla, which means well-being for all, Khalsa Aid has helped all those in need, regardless of race, religion or borders.

 

Who nominated?

• Canadian MP Tim Uppal, Mayor of Brampton Patrick Brown and the MPP for Brampton South Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria have officially nominated Khalsa Aid for the Nobel Peace Prize.

 

About Noble Peace Prize:

• The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded 101 times to 135 Nobel Peace Prize winners between 1901 and 2020, 107 persons and 28 organizations.

• Since the International Committee of the Red Cross has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize three times (in 1917, 1944 and 1963), and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize two times (in 1954 and 1981), there are 25 individual organizations which have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

 

Important:

 

The Nobel Peace Prize 2020:

• World Food Programme (WFP) “for its efforts to combat hunger, for its contribution to bettering conditions for peace in conflict-affected areas and for acting as a driving force in efforts to prevent the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict”

Process of Selection:

• A nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize may be submitted by any person who meets the nomination criteria. A letter of invitation to submit is not required. The names of the nominees and other information about the nominations cannot be revealed until 50 years later.

 

Process of Nomination and Selection:

• The Norwegian Nobel Committee is responsible for selecting the Nobel Peace Prize Laureates. A nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize may be submitted by any persons who are qualified to nominate.

(Source: The Tribune & Official website of Noble Peace Prize)

 

WORDS OF THE DAY 

 

 Word                    Meaning

 

1) Apposite                Relevant, Suitable, Apt

 

2) Rancour                 Bitterness , Hatred , Spite