Did you know that National Technology Day was created by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee? The day is observed annually in India on 11 May, to commemorate the anniversary of the successful nuclear tests conducted in Pokhran in May, 1998. The first successful nuclear test was conducted in 1974. National Technology Day is also celebrated to honour the achievements and efforts of scientists and researchers in the field of technology.
Bontha Tirupathi Reddy from Posupalli village in Prakasam district, Andhra Pradesh, has recently secured two railway jobs, Grade-4 Assistant and Commercial Cum Ticket Clerk (CCTC), only with the help of YouTube. Due to his family’s financial status, the 27-year-old could not attend any special coaching classes. Instead, he watched videos on general knowledge (GK), reasoning, and other subjects on YouTube, to prepare for the competitive exams.
Have you thought about how art can be used to address hunger problems? 38-year-old Chitresh Sinha founded, ‘The Plated Project’, in 2019, The Plated Project is a digital, direct-to-consumer business that sells art-led decor and dinnerware objects. The organization donates 50% of its profits to hunger-related charities and sponsors meals for the underprivileged every month.
New Delhi will soon witness the beauty of Chinar trees and the soft bloom of the Cherry Blossom. The saplings were planted by Vinai Kumar Saxena, the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, in the floodplains of the Yamuna River on 7 May 2023. The Territorial Army has been given the responsibility of protecting these saplings. For the first time, the national capital will experience these beautiful trees, which are mostly found in Jammu and Kashmir.
Numismatologist Harikrishnan Valmiki, from Secunderabad, feels that the touch and feel of the coins cannot be replaced. Hence, Harikrishnan has collected various coins and currencies from over 100 countries in the past 35 years. He added that students could gain valuable knowledge about the historical, socio–economic, and cultural traditions of different communities living worldwide by examining these currencies.
15-year-old NRI girl Umasri Pujyam, collected plastic waste from the Godavari River for hundred days to create awareness about the ill effects of water pollution and the need for clean drinking water among residents of Godavari districts. Over the past few years, she has organised over 100 clean-up drives and worked hard to guide the residents on proper waste disposal.
Buddha Purnima, also known as ‘Buddha Jayanti’ and ‘Vaisakhi Buddha Purnima’, is celebrated annually on the full moon day of the Vaisakha month. This year, the day falls on 5 May, 2023. On this day, devotees visit Buddhist shrines and recite hymns and sermons about the life, teachings, and principles of Lord Buddha.
Kanchan Bhadani from Jhumri Talaiya, Jharkhand, started her entrepreneurial journey in her 60s, to share and pursue her passion for crocheting. She started her toy business, ‘LoopHoop’, in 2021, to empower the tribal women of Jhumri Talaiya. So far, she has trained over 50 tribal women in crocheting and has sold over 3,000 handmade crochet toys.
Annamraj Saritha from Karimnagar, Telangana, was passionate about trekking since childhood. The 43-year-old software engineer recently fulfilled her dream of reaching Mount Everest’s south base camp from Nepal, on 19 April, 2023. Saritha mentioned her previous trekking experience, where she climbed Machu-Picchu in Peru, within five days. Currently, Saritha lives with her husband Annam Raj Venkateshwar Rao, in California.
After he shot a rare bird, Ruvuotuo Belho’s heart was filled with regret. He decided to give up hunting and vowed to preserve and protect the wildlife. Today, the 64-year-old from Nagaland, takes care of injured birds and animals and has saved over 60 species. Belho added that he would keep preserving and protecting the animals and birds, as long as he lives.
