Napanda Poonacha, from Kodagu district, Karnataka, was recently awarded the Plant Genome Saviour Farmer Reward for his contribution and promotion towards the conservation of Adi Pepper – an indigenous variety of pepper. He is extensively involved in identifying the native crops that have the potential to become commercial crops with little or no ill impact on biodiversity.
International Men’s Day is celebrated every year across the globe, on November 19. The day is observed to honor the positive contribution of all men to society and to spread awareness about their well-being. The day was first established by Jerome Teelucksingh in 1999, who chose this day to mark the birthday of his father.
On November 19, 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid his tributes to Indira Gandhi on her 104th birth anniversary. Born in 1917, Indira Gandhi was the only woman Prime Minister of India till now. She served as the first women Prime Minister of India from 1966 to 1977 and again from 1980 until her assassination in 1984.
Chalamala Renuka, an engineering student from Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh, not only won a bronze medal in the AP Wrestling Championship, 2021, but also secured a silver medal in the AP South Zone Tennis Cricket tournament. In addition to these achievements, she also excels in karate. Renuka believes that extra-curricular activities are as important for students as studies, as it helps in their overall development.
On 14 November, 2021, female candidates appeared for the written entrance exam, conducted by UPSC, to join the first batch of the elite National Defence Academy for girls. 75% of the registered girls appeared for the written test. Those who clear the written test, will appear for the five-day Service Selection Board (SSB) interview, to join the academy.
28-year-old Devaki Vijayaraman, from Tamil Nadu, was crowned as the winner in MasterChef Tamil. She started making cakes as a hobby during the first lockdown but soon, with the encouragement of her friends and family, started selling her products. She sold more than 450 cakes as the demand for home bakers grew in the pandemic.
Environmentalist Tulsi Gowda has nurtured more than forty thousand trees and is actively involved in the afforestation program of the Forest Department, even at the age of 72. She was recently awarded the Padma Shri by President Kovind at an august ceremony in Rashtrapati Bhavan. Dressed in her tribal attire and walking barefoot, Tulsi Gowda was a proud symbol of the indigenous people of our country and their invaluable connect with nature.
22-year-old Vedhapriya Ganesan, from Chennai, is a snake rescuer with experience in handling 500 snakes. She volunteers for the Tamil Nadu Fire & Rescue Services (TNFRS) to rescue snakes within the city and its suburbs during the rains. Vedhapriya is the first volunteer to be a woman snake rescuer at TNFRS and shares her techniques with other personnel.
To celebrate the birth anniversary of iconic tribal leader Birsa Munda, who led a rebellion against the British, Janjatiya Gaurav Divas celebrations are to be launched in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, on November 15, 2021, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Janjatiya Gaurav Divas is marked to recognize the sacrifice and valour of many unsung tribal heroes who participated in India’s freedom movement.
On 15 November, 2000, Jharkhand was carved out of Bihar to become the 28th state of India. Since then, November 15 is celebrated as Jharkhand Foundation Day. Known as the land of forests, Jharkhand is the 15th largest state based on its area. With Ranchi as its capital, the state has 24 districts. The existing population of Jharkhand is around three crores.
