National
Art exhibition titled “Silent Conversation: From Margins to the Centre”
⇒ The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu inaugurated an art exhibition titled, “Silent Conversation: From Margins to the Centre” in New Delhi on November 3, 2023.
During the inaugural ceremony, the President was presented with a memento made by an artist belonging to the Mahar community of Kanha Tiger Reserve. The painting titled Baghdev in dot/ bindu style represents how Mahars engage in night time worship rituals under the blue sky, seeking the tiger’s eternal protection.
» The first ever art exhibition of its kind, was held at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi from 3rd – 5th November, 2023.
Organised by:
This exhibition was organised by the National Tiger Conservation Authority, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) in collaboration with the Sankala Foundation to celebrate the completion of 50 years of Project Tiger.
Key Points:
- The exhibition showcased the exceptional talent of 43 artists from 12 different states across India, representing a myriad of art styles such as Gond, Bhil, Patachitra, Khovar, Sohrai, Warli, and many more.
- The display highlighted the intricate relationship between tribal and other forest dwelling communities residing around India’s tiger reserves and their deep-rooted connection with the forest and wildlife.
- The exhibition offered an extraordinary platform for the public to immerse themselves in the art and culture of these communities, enabling a deep appreciation of their ethos & culture.
- Throughout the weekend, Delhi NCR played host to numerous distinguished guests such as Ambassadors and High Commissioners representing various nations. They, along with their families, graced the occasion, not only to engage with the artists but also to acquire these unique paintings and artifacts, thereby contributing to the promotion and preservation of tribal art and heritage.
- The exhibition served as a platform to educate the public about the importance of wildlife conservation, the challenges faced by tiger reserves and the pivotal role of tigers in maintaining ecological balance.
- Through the sale of artwork, the exhibition empowered the participating artists economically, providing them with alternate and sustainable livelihoods. A remarkable feature is that proceeds from the sale were sent directly to the bank accounts of the tribal artists via a QR code.
- This exhibition marks the beginning of a series that will further be showcased in other major cities in India, spreading the message of art, culture, and tiger conservation to a broader audience.
Indian Navy Sailing Championship (INSC) 2023
⇒ The Indian Navy’s most awaited and the largest sailing regatta, the Indian Navy Sailing Championship (INSC), took place in Mumbai from 05 to 09 November 2023.
Host:
The Indian Navy Sailing Championship (INSC) 2023 was conducted at the Indian Naval Watermanship Training Center (INWTC), Mumbai under aegis of Indian Naval Sailing Association (INSA) based at Naval Headquarters.
Key Points:
- The event is an inter Command championship. This edition witnessed participation from more than 100 personnel from all three naval Commands comprising of officers, sailors (including agniveers) and cadets.
- The championship was conducted in five different classes of boats namely ILCA 7 for men, ILCA 6 for women, BicNova Wind surf boards, Laser Bahia (team racing), and J-24 (match racing) class of boat.
» A total of 37 races were conducted over a span of four days in three different formats of racing.
- Fleet Racing was conducted in ILCA-6 class boat for women, ILCA-7 class boat for men and BicNova class board for windsurfing open.
- Team Racing took place in Laser Bahia class boat.
- Match Racing took place in J24 class boat.
Winners:
The Overall Championship Trophy was awarded to the Western Naval Command whereas Southern Naval Command and Eastern Naval Command teams stood runners up and second runners up respectively.
About INSC:
- INSC is an annual event conducted under the aegis of Indian Naval Sailing Association (INSA) based at Naval Headquarters to encourage participation of naval personnel in competitive sailing.
- INSA conducts INSC annually to scout talent and encourage participation by budding naval personnel in sport of sailing.
FIND Festival ’23, an initiative by Ekya Schools and the launch of Ekya Nava, a new frontier in K-12 educational innovation
⇒ Union Minister of State for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and Electronics & IT, Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar attended the FIND Festival ’23, an initiative by Ekya Schools on 04 November 2023.
- It aims to transform K-12 education and launch Ekya Nava, a new frontier in K-12 educational innovation in Bengaluru.
Theme:
The theme of the festival was “World of Learning, Learners, and Extraordinary Educators”.
» During the event, a panel discussion featured leaders from the educational and entrepreneurial sectors and provided a platform for dialogue and exchange of ideas.
- Minister Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar interacted with academia, students, policy makers and prominent leaders of the education sector from Karnataka who attended this event.
» The event introduced Ekya Nava, a new model in K-12 education focusing on innovation, creativity, and design thinking.
- Ekya Schools celebrated a significant milestone in K-12 education with the unveiling of Ekya Nava – Asia-EMEA’s inaugural K-12 Maker School of Innovation, Creativity, and Design.
- This groundbreaking venture promises to transform India’s educational landscape by moving from traditional rote learning to a purpose-driven academic approach.
- Ekya Nava stands as a beacon for the ‘Maker Movement’ in India, poised to cultivate the upcoming generation of thinkers, innovators, and technology-forward entrepreneurs.
- Ekya Nava introduces a purpose-driven learning approach that transcends typical Indian academic paradigms. It’s enriched by four key pathways: Design, Making, Entrepreneurship & Innovation, and Information Technology & Society.
- Ekya Nava encourages students to transcend traditional classroom confines, immersing themselves in varied, real-world scenarios to foster enduring adaptability and growth.
» Additionally, the event celebrated the launch of “Creating Extraordinary Educators: Teacher Roadmap to Becoming Extraordinary,” a publication designed to elevate teaching standards and inspire educators towards excellence.
- This book is authored by Ekya educators and compiled by Ekya School’s Professional Development Institute, with Dr. Tristha Ramamurthy, Founder, Ekya Schools, being the guiding force behind this project.
About FIND Festival:
- The FIND Festival is an initiative by Ekya Schools, aimed at fostering a transformative dialogue in K-12 education.
- The festival brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including educators, students, school leaders, and policymakers, to collaborate and share insights that will shape the future of education.
Sports
15th Asian Shooting Championship 2023
⇒ The Asian Shooting Championship 2023 was held between 22nd October and 2nd November 2023 in Changwon, Republic of Korea.
- The 2023 Asian Shooting Championships was the 15th Asian Shooting Championships.
- China finished first in the medal table with 76 medals, including 33 gold, 21 silver and 22 bronze.
- Host Korea won 16 gold, 22 silver and 19 bronze.
Performance of India:
» India won 55 medals in junior and senior competitions at 15th Asian Shooting Championship. India was second with 21 gold, 21 silver and 13 bronze.
- Indian rifle shooter Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar and the mixed trap team comprising Manisha Keer and Prithviraj Tondaiman won gold medals.
Important Day
Andhra Pradesh Formation Day 2023
⇒ Andhra Pradesh Foundation Day is celebrated every year on 1 November to commemorate the anniversary of the state’s foundation.
History:
- On November 1, 1956, Andhra Pradesh was constituted as a new state by combining the Telugu-speaking districts of the former Madras state.
- The new state of Andhra Pradesh was established under the State Reorganisation Act of 1956.
- As per the States Reorganisation Act, Andhra Pradesh was formed by merging Andhra State with Hyderabad State on November 1st, 1956.
- Andhra Pradesh is well-known for its diverse culture, customs, and delectable regional cuisines.
- For over 60 years, the state commemorated Andhra Pradesh formation day until the state’s split culminated in the foundation of Telangana as a new state.
- Andhra Pradesh restarted its festivities of Andhra Pradesh Day in 2019, when the Jagan Mohan Reddy-led YSRCP government took office.
- The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act 2014 bill for the formation of the Telangana state was passed by Parliament in February 2014 after going through various stages. The bill was then passed by the Indian President on March 1, 2014, and the state of Telangana was at last formed on June 2.