Are we Alone In The Universe?

More than 400 years ago, Giordano Bruno, an Italian monk, wrote that "In space there are numberless earths circling around other suns, which may bear upon them creatures similar or even superior to those upon our human Earth." Bruno deserves to be remembered in the millennium year -- he was burnt at the stake, in Rome, in the year 1600.

In the late 19th century, the science fiction of Jules Verne and H.G. Wells popularised the idea of alien life. Percival Lowell, a wealthy American, built his own observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona primarily to study Mars. He believed that its surface was criss-crossed by 'canals', dug by an advanced civilisation to channel water from the frozen polar caps to the 'deserts' near the Red Planet's equator.

In 1900, a French foundation offered the Guzman Prize of 100,000 francs for the first contact with an extra-terrestrial species; but prudence led them to exclude Mars -- detecting Martians was then thought to be too easy!

Is there life on Mars - the idea has always fascinated us.

How life began, and whether it exists elsewhere remains one of the most fascinating questions in the whole of science -- indeed, you don't need to be a scientist to wonder about this. But we still don't know the answer. We're less optimistic about Mars than our forbears were a hundred years ago. Even if there is life there, it would be nothing more than microscopic 'bugs' of the kind that existed on Earth early in its history--- there is certainly nothing on Mars like the 'Martians' of popular fictions.

Indeed, nobody now expects 'advanced life' on any of the planets or moons in our Solar System. But our Sun is just one star among billions. And in the vastness of space far beyond our own Solar System we can rule out nothing. Astronomers have discovered, just within the last five years, that many stars have their own retinue of planets. There are millions of other Solar Systems. And there would surely, among this vast number, be many planets resembling our Earth.

Life could be everywhere - over 31 planetary systems have been discovered around other suns

Could some of these planets, orbiting other stars, harbour life-forms far more interesting and exotic than anything we might find on Mars? Could they even be inhabited by beings that we could recognise as intelligent?

Never Give Up

Abraham Lincoln

* 1816 - Family was forced out of home, and he had to work to support them
* 1818 - His mother died
* 1831 - Failed in business
* 1832 - Lost election for legislature
* 1832 - Lost his job
* 1832 - Wanted to go to law school but couldn't get in
* 1833 - Began a business and went bankrupt, spent next 17 years paying off the debt
* 1835 - Sweetheart died
* 1836 - Nervous breakdown
* 1838 - Sought to become speaker of legislature and was defeated
* 1843 - Defeated for Congress
* 1848 - Defeated for re-election to Congress
* 1849 - Rejected for job of land officer
* 1854 - Defeated for US Senate
* 1856 - Defeated for Vice President
* 1858 - Defeated for US Senate
* 1860 - "Elected President of the United States"



Lesson: Never Loose Hope & Never Quit Trying.

Peace begins with You and Me

World peace is the Utopian idea of planetary non-violence by which nations willingly cooperate, either voluntarily or by virtue of a system of governance which prevents warfare.

Some see a trend in national politics by which city-states and nation-states have unified, and suggest that the international arena will eventually follow suit. Many countries such as China, Italy, the United States, Germany and Britain have unified into single nation-states, with others like the European Union and African Union following suit, suggesting that further globalization will bring about a unified world order.

Many interpretations of the concept are not overtly political, however. World peace may simply mean the resolution of global and regional conflict through nonviolent means.

If peace is defined as the absence of hostility, violence and conflict, world peace would imply a worldwide end to violence and thus to institutions which rely on threats of violence to sustain their existence. It follows that there could be no law enforcement, because force is a form of conflict. Without law enforcement, there could be no laws, except those which everyone voluntarily agrees to follow. Finally, there could be no governments of the type that rely on threats of violence to collect taxes, maintain their borders, or govern their citizens. Considered in this light, world peace goes beyond the cessation of nation-state warfare and calls for dramatic changes in most of the political institutions familiar to people worldwide.

Mahatma Gandhi

In January 1948, before three pistol shots put an end to his life, Gandhi had been on the political stage for more than fifty years. He had inspired two generations of India, patriots, shaken an empire and sparked off a revolution which was to change the face of Africa and Asia. To millions of his own people, he was the Mahatma- the great soul- whose sacred glimpse was a reward in itself. By the end of 1947 he had lived down much of the suspicion, ridicule and opposition which he had to face, when he first raised the banner of revolt against racial exclusiveness and imperial domination. His ideas, once dismissed as quaint and utopian ,had begun to strike answering chords in some of the finest minds in the world. "Generations to come, it may be", Einstein had said of Gandhi in July 1944, "will scarcely believe that such one as this ever in flesh and blood walked upon earth."

Though his life had been continual unfolding of an endless drama, Gandhi himself seemed the least dramatic of men. It would be difficult to imagine a man with fewer trappings of political eminence or with less of the popular image of a heroic figure. With his loin cloth, steel-rimmed glasses, rough sandals, a toothless smile and a voice which rarely rose above a whisper, he had a disarming humility. He used a stone instead of soap for his bath, wrote his letters on little bits of paper with little stumps of pencils which he could hardly hold between his fingers, shaved with a crude country razor and ate with a wooden spoon from a prisoner’s bowl. He was, if one were to use the famous words of the Buddha, a man who had "by rousing himself, by earnestness, by restraint and control, made for himself an island which no flood could overwhelm."

Gandhi’s, deepest strivings were spiritual, but he did not-as had been the custom in his country- retire to a cave in the Himalayas to seek his salvation. He carried his cave within him. He did not know, he said, any religion apart from human activity; the spiritual law did not work in a vacuum, but expressed itself through the ordinary activities of life. This aspiration to relate the spirit- not the forms-of religion to the problems of everyday life runs like a thread through Gandhi’s career; his uneventful childhood, the slow unfolding and the near- failure of his youth, reluctant plunge into the politics of Natal, the long, unequal struggle in South Africa, and the vicissitudes of the Indian struggle for freedom, which under his leadership was to culminate in a triumph not untinged with tragedy.

However, he was not destined to pick up the threads of his constructive Programme. He had a narrow escape on January 20, 1948, when a bomb exploded in Birla House in New Delhi where he was addressing his prayer meeting. He took no notice of the explosion. Next day he referred to the congratulations which he had received for remaining unruffled after the explosion. He would deserve them, he said, if he fell as a result of such an explosion and yet retained a smile on his face and no malice against the assailant. He described the bomb-thrower as a misguided youth and advised the police not to "molest" him but to convert him with persuasion and affection. "The misguided youth" was Madan Lal, a refugee from West Punjab, who was a member of a gang which had plotted Gandhi’s death. These highly-strung Youngman saw Hinduism menaced by Islam from without and by Gandhi from within. Madan Lal having missed his aim, a fellow conspirator from Poona, Nathu Ram Godse, came to Gandhi’s prayer meeting on the evening of January 30, whipped out his pistol and fired three shots. Gandhi fell instantly with the words ‘He Rama’ (Oh! God).

Tirupati

Tirupati (Telugu: తిరుపతి) is a pilgrimage city located in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India. It is located at the foothills of Tirumala. The city owes its existence to the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple situated on the Tirumala Hills. Tirumala is the abode of Lord Venkateshwara, one of the Avatars of Lord Vishnu, located atop Seshachala hills often called as Yedu Kondalu (seven hills).
The temple of Lord Venkateshwara was built by Telugu Kings. The temple is the richest and the most visited place of worship in the world.


Tirupati was recognised as a major municipal Corporation (MCT) in 2002. Although the district headquarters is 60 km from the city, major government establishments and operations take place in Tirupati. The Tirupati Urban Development Authority further expanded its horizon to about 1380 km² with a total population of about 10 lakhs. Tirupati is one of the fastest growing cities in India with IT, BPO and Health industries coming up. It is a major boom for real estate. Tirupati is also emerging into a major educational, entertainment, tourism and a commercial city. Near the bus stand, stands a statue of the great singer Bharatharatna M.S. Subbulakshmi.

Chandragiri Fort

Chandragiri is famous for the historical fort, built in the 11th century, and the Raja Mahal (Palace) within it. Chandragiri was under the rule of Yadavrayas for about three centuries and came into control of Vijayanagar rulers in 1367. It came into prominence during Saluva Narasimha Rayalu,he got the title of Mahamandaleswara and his illustrious Prime minister Chitti Gangarayalu(Ganganamatyudu)of Balija/Kapu caste in 15th century,Chitti Gangarayalu was known for his vision, wisdom and rectitude and was revered as a Bhisma pitamaha in his times, he was the person who identified intellectualism of Timmarasu and taken him into the service of Chandragiri and later promoted to the Prime minister of Vijayanagar Empire.Gangaraya discendents served the Vijayanagara empire as trusted Generals and Governors for several generations,Chandragiri was the 4th capital of Vijayanagar Empire, Rayas shifted their capital to here when Golconda sultans attacked Penukonda. In 1646 the fort was annexed to the Golkonda territory and subsequently came under Mysore rule. It went into oblivion from 1792 onward. The fort encircles eight ruined temples of saivite and vaishnavite pantheons, Raja Mahal, Rani Mahal and other ruined structures.

Raja Mahal Palace, Chandragiri
The Raja Mahal Palace (shown in picture) is now an archeological museum. The palace is three storeyed, is an example of Indo-Sarcen architecture of Vijayanagar period. The crowning towers represents the hindu architectural elements. The palace was constructed using stone, brick, lime mortar and devoid of timber.
Koneti Naidu, who was made the king of Penukonda by the Vijayanagar Raya was the great-grandson of Kanaka Naidu of Chandragiri Royal Family, Koneti Naidu belonged to Vasarasi family of Balija/ Kapu (caste) and he ruled for about fourteen years.

Finally!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Finally I have a blog!! Had been thinking about blogging for so long...Initially I thought that I had nothing to write (And knew that it wasn't true!), then got stuck coz couldn't come up with a fancy name!!(some excuse that is...huh?!!) Then the name "itzd4u" stuck me !! (Could've come up with something original!!) . And I hope that this blog is a record of my
forgotten memories...........
forgotten thoughts...................
forgotten dreams..........................

H@ppy D@y's

I complete Three year's Of My Btech and Now In Final Year. As always time has galloped all the way and as always, I smile when I look back. Last year's was marked by many firsts(not necessarily in order)
My first Day @ College.
My first trek .
My first flight (I am not counting the one I made as a baby.)
My first stay in a tent.
My first blog.
My first digi cam.
My first lappie.
My first car.
My first bike.
And there would be many more if I sit down to list them all.I dabbled a lot last year: Trecking, guitar, photography, and blogging. Given a choice I would always prefer to be a jack-of-all-trades rather than being a master of one or let me make it even better, jack-of-all-trades and master of one. :DToday being the start of another year I hope I keep dabbling and discovering.

Cheers!
Pushya Mitra