M.S Subbulakshmi

Unit : 7

Q1. Give Details of M.S achievement.

Q2. Describe the meeting between M.S and Helen Keller.

Introduction

Madurai Shanmukhavadivu Subbulakshmi was an Indian Singer from Madurai, Tamil Nadu. She was the first Musician to be awarded the Bharat Ratna. She was the first Indian who performed in United Nations General Assembly in 1966. Most of the people known her as M.S.

General Assembly of the United Nations in New York

In October 1966, M.S was invited to sing in the great hall of the General assembly of the United nations in New York. This was one of the greatest honours for her. International audience appreciate her performance and stood up at last to give her honour. M.S has carried great music with her to international level. She becomes one of the great ambassador of India.

Gandhiji’s views

Gandhiji was spell bound by her performance. He used to invite her every evening for singing hymns. This was another greatest achievement of M.S. She sang “Vaishnav Jana to tene Kahiye” which was appreciated by Gandhiji a lot. The feelings that she put into it , brought tears to the eyes of everyone who listened to her. She has also sang “Raghupati Raghav Raja ram” and made it nation’s favorite hymn.

Death of Gandhiji

One day when M.S was listening to evening;s Radio on 30^th January 1948, then it was interrupted by an announcement: The father of the nation had been shot dead. After this announcement the song “Hari Tum Haro jan ki pir” which was recorded in her voice was started. By listening this shocking news M.S fell unconscious with sadness. She was not even able to hear that song.

Meeting with Helen Keller

It was great experience of M.S to sing in front of deaf, blind, famous American writer Helen Keller. Helen has learned to read and write as well as to speak. She talked with people through her fingertips. When M.S sang in front of her, she put her fingertips on the throat of M.S to sense the vibration or music. She appreciate her performance and commented on her music.

“You make such a beautiful music”

This was greatest achievement for M.S because world famous writer who is not able to hear can feel her music. Mostly people are praising her talent by listening through their ears but this was strange experience for her to sing in front of deaf. It was such a great Tribute for her.

Madaras Music academy

M.S inherited singing talent from her mother Shanmukhavadivu,She was a famous Veena player. M.S gave her first performance when she was only 10 year old. She was invited to sing in Madras Academy where only the most famous singers were invited.

All India Music conference

In 1943, M.S first time sang to a national audience at the All India Music Conference in Bombay. Everyone has praised her singing at this national conference.

Charitable work

M.S used to contribute her money for charitable cause. She has helped thousands of poors, suffering people through her music. She has used her money for building hospitals, schools and libraries.

Hindi film: Meera

M.S has acted and sang in one the most famous Hindi film “Meera”. The film was popular everywhere mainly for her song. She acted perefectly the role of immortal devotional poet from Rajasthan.

Edinburgh Festival

In 1963, M.S sang at Edinburgh Festival in Europe. All Europeans including expert critics like her singing. She has also given special concert in London.

America

In 1977 M.S sing in Indian Temples which were being built in American cities. Many people liked her singing. They came from different culture and spoke different language, but they can feel the music of M.s with their heart. That’s why M.s never felt like singing in foreign countries. She felt like singing in madras because at both these places she received equal amount of love, appreciation. No matter what the language is.

Awards won by M.S

i)              Padma Bhushan: 1954

ii)             President of India’s Award: 1956

iii)            Made president of Madras Music Academy

iv)            Magsaysay Award: 1974

v)             Padma Vibhushan: 1975

vi)            Universities have given doctoral degrees

Conclusion

M.S is still living in the hearts of people through her immortal singing talent. She has never give up her singing practice, even at the age of 65 or more. She and her daughter used to practice music together. She is not only good by voice, but good by nature also. It was her goodness and purity of soul that attracts people.

Who killed the Bogmen of Denmark and why?

Unit 6

Who killed the Bogmen of Denmark and why?

-by Maurice Shadbolt

Questions-

1.       Why people pass by a murder victim? Explain

2.       What is the role play by Peter Globe in solving the mystery

Introduction

The article “who killed the Bogmen of Denmark and why?”  is written by Maurice Shadbolt. The title itself is asking a question that who has killed the Bogmen. It means that this article is about revealing a secret of Denmark. There were always historians who can find answers from histories. In this article also there is one historian who is revealing all hidden truths behind the murder of bogmen. There is blind faith of cruel people which forced other innocent people to sacrifice their life.

Visitors in the town of Silkeborg

People used to visit the town of Silkeborg for watching murder victim in museum. They are not aware about the name, and past of the murdered victim. Bogmen which is found in Silkeborg was innocent. His face has made men and women emotional. They were driven by tears by looking at the gentle face, with eyes and lips closed. There was a short growth of hair on the chin.

Digging task by two brothers

There are two brothers Emil and Viggo Hojgaard, they have started digging in the twon of Silkeborg for collecting peat. But during that process they have found the dead body and then this process of mysterious investigation began. At first they have informed to Police, but there were no missing case of anyone. That’s why Police has handed over this task to great historian Prof. Peter Glob. Then this body was kept in museum after going through all physical and biological tests.

Professor Peter Glob

Professor Peter Glob is famous Archaelogist from Aarhus University. He has did investigation very carefully. He has seen that there were marks on the neck of dead man that’s why he has assumed his death by being strangled or hanged. When one of the man who is pulling the body for examination fell down and died, then all thinks that this was a sign of bad luck, as if some old God wanted the life of modern man in place of man from the past. These bodies were to be kept away from sunlight and air, so that it won’t rotten.

Other bodies in the bogs

After Second World War other bodies were found in bogs.

i)                    1942: At Store Arden

ii)                   1946, 1947, 1948 : At Borre Fen, a full grown male, died in same manner as like other bodies which are having marks of rope around neck, last meal is of grain.

iii)                 1952: At Grauballe, hid throat had been cut savagely, his face was twisted with terror.

iv)                 Same way of their death: All these bodies are belonging to Iron Age of Denmark, murdered by tying rope around neck and having last meal of grain.

Examination of dead body

Professor glob examined the body carefully. The condition of teeth showed that dead man will be over 20 years old. Heart, lungs and liver were in excellent condition, last meal is having a mixture of barley, linseed and other vegetarian things. It suggested that a meal prepared in winter or early spring season. There were no vegetarians in Iron age but still these bodies are having vegetarian diet at the time of their death. Their hands and fingertips were soft as if like they have not did any hard work in their life. It reveals their royal background.

Roman historian: Tacitus

Prof. Glob has read history book written by Tacitus in which the secret was revealed about the death of Bogmen. Tacitus has written about the custom of the German tribes. He has thrown light into the dark corners of Denmark’s past. They are completing their religious ceremonies with human sacrifice. These people worship the goddess Nerthus (Mother earth). At the time of early spring, they offered sacrifice for getting help in the early coming of spring and summer harvest from the goddess Nerthus.  They used to give special meal to that man who is going to sacrifice his life.

Conclusion

Peter Glob has solved the murder mystery with his excellent investigation.  He was satisfied after getting the reason of the death of bogmen. In this way everything got revealed about Denmark’s past.

Will farmers grow fossil fuels?

Will farmers grow fossil fuels?

Unit 8

Q1. What is fossil fuel? Give the causes for its preservation?

Q2. Why Calvin warns humans? Give suitable reasons to support it.

Answer.

Introduction

“Will farmers grow fossil fuel” by Charles Pefit is an article about the making of fossil fuel from plants. Scientist Melvin Calvin discusses the new way of making fossil fuel through Latex of Euphorbia plants. He is searching the best out of Euphorbia plants to make crude oil.

Fossil Fuels

Fossil fuel formed in the geological past from the remains of living organisms. It is formed after the process of hundreds or millions of years. After passing these years, remains of plants turn into coal and petroleum.  Now a day’s people are using fossil fuels excessively. We have used all the savings of fossil fuels. Now we have to make it again to avoid shortage in future.

Scientist: Melvin Calvin

The American Chemist Melvin Calvin discovered new way of making Crude oil from Euphorbia plants. He spoke of the possibility of producing crude oil from Euphorbia in 1976, at a meeting of the American chemical society. He has also received Noble prize in 1961 for his research on Photosynthesis. It is the process by which plants can convert sunlight into energy. Now he is trying to make synthetic substance that may be duplicate the process of Photosynthesis.

His recent discovery is greatest achievement for him. He has discovered a plant that might be produce crude oil more cheaply than any other oil well.

Research on different plants

Calvin is researching on different plants to find out the best which can be use for making crude oil. One is a thin little “Gopher Bush” plant from California; another is young plant from Ethiopia. Both of these members of family plants called “Euphorbia”. Rubber tree is also related to Euphorbia.

These trees produce thick white liquid called “Latex”. This is similar in many ways with Crude oil. It contains 30 to 40percent of Hydrocarbon.

Euphorbia plant

There are 3000 members of Euphorbia plants. Calvin has started searching all its members wherever he is going. He used to give bottles to his foreigner friends to collect Latex from plants so that he can get sample from everywhere.

Calvin has also started planting those plants on his land. Tests will be carried out on the Latex to see if they can be turned into living oil fields.

Difference between the latex of Euphorbia and Rubber tree

Latex found in Euphorbia is much similar to the latex of rubber tree. It is belonging to the Hevea family. The difference between both these plants is about the molecular weight. The molecules of Euphorbia are much smaller, lighter and less complex than the molecules of rubber tree. That’s why it makes it easier to produce oil from Euphorbia by the process of refining.

Trees	Molecular weight
Rubber tree	500,000 to 2,000,000
Euphorbia	20,000

Rubber Plant

There is similar process for the cultivation of rubber plant as like Euphorbia. It also grows wilder in the jungle of South America. Brazil held a monopoly in the production of rubber. But in 1873, a few seeds of the Hevea (rubber tree) were carried out to London. From there it was taken to Malaysia. At that time the production of natural rubber was less. Scientist in Europe and Africa are producing synthetic rubber which is very much cheap as compared to natural rubber.  Countries which are producing natural rubber are not able to compete with this synthetic rubber. That’s why they have decided to use intensive cultivation method to increase the production.

Harvesting process of Euphorbia

Harvesting of Euphorbia will not be done simply. It may be necessary to ‘harvest’ the leaves and branches of Euphorbia and cut them into small pieces, in order to collect the latex. Areas with greatest sunshine may be best for Euphorbia because latex carries stored solar energy.

Conclusion

In this way the discovery of making crude oil from latex became a greatest invention in science history. Still it required a lot of work. Scientist who are experimenting in this new and fast developing field believe that this production will help to lower down the rising cost of fuels. Therefore, we can transform useless plants into valuable crops.