King Shalya was Sledging

In cricket sledging is very common, this is done to demotivate your opponent and let him lose control over his game. Most important part is to push the opponent to commit a mistake.

So is sledging new, no it is as old as oceans.

For this we have to refer Indian History. An extract from a newspaper article will open the eyes:

But this decision proved to be a fatal mistake, for when Karna’s chariot wheel got stuck in the mud Shalya argued as king he had never changed wheels, but surely as charioteer’s son Karna would know better, thus showing the sarathi (chariot-driver) turned rathi (chariot-rider) his place in the social hierarchy.

But even before this dramatic event, Shalya kept praising Arjuna’s skill in archery, thus demotivating Karna. It was a charioteer’s job to motivate the chariot-rider, as Krishna motivated Arjuna, but Shalya did the very opposite. The reason for this was simple: he resented being tricked by Duryodhana to fight against the Pandavas, not to mention serving as charioteer to the charioteer’s son. Yudhishtira, on learning of how Shalya had been tricked, had asked his uncle only one thing, ‘Let your body fight for them but let your mind fight for us.’

Source: The Print

Yet another new learning from the Divine Epic Mahabharata.

Salutations to the Divine Sage / Guru Veda Vyasa.

Ancient Indian Education System

A great interview by Sahana Singh on ancient Indian Education System worth listening. 

Lots of examples not just plain talks. Worth listening by every Indian.

I will thank Internet that this knowledge is emerging and being passed on to the whole world.

Source: Francois Gautier

India Tourism - Changing Times

On 27th September 2022 (World Tourism Day), Indian Government released Tourism Statistics Report 2022 (2021-22).

The report revealed the top 10 tourist places in India (10 most popular centrally protected ticketed monuments - Domestic and Foreign) . 

An attempt is made to compare the statistics 2022 (2021-22) vis-à-vis 2012 (2011-12) . The list is tabulated below:

Domestic Visitors:

Place	Rank	2021-22	Rank	2011-12
Taj Mahal	1	32,94,611	1	46,46,203
Red Fort	2	13,23,501	3	26,15,976
Qutub Minar	3	11,57,664	2	29,80,415
Mamallapuram	4	11,42,150	-	-
Agra Fort	5	10,27,462	5	16,05,432
Golkonda Fort	6	9,46,972	6	14,83,333
Sun Temple, Konark	7	6,72,891	4	22,25,087
Upper Fort Aguada	8	6,56,756	-	-
Chittorgarh Fort	9	5,90,389	-	-
Shaniwarwada	10	5,16,448	-	-

Foreign Visitors:

Place	Rank	2021-22	Rank	2011-12
Mamallapuram	1	1,44,984	9	74,187
Taj Mahal	2	38,922	1	6,68,903
Rock Cut temple, Saluvankuppam	3	25,579	-	-
Agra Fort	4	13,598	3	3,06,097
Gingee Fort	5	10,483	-	-
Fort Vattakottai	6	9,174	-	-
Qutub Minar	7	8,456	2	3,31,557
Fort Musuem, Thirumayam	8	8,422	-	-
Red Fort	9	5,579	6	1,60,425
Rock Cut Jain Temple, Sittanasal	10	5,432	-	-

Sources:

Tourism Statistics September 2022 - Page number 163.

India Tourism Cover 29 Oct 2012 - Page number 108.

We have to remember that:

• In 2021-22 due to corona, there was a substantial drop in the foreign visitors to India.
• Above is centrally protected monuments where tickets are issued to visitors.
• Temples at Tirupati, Pandharpur, Puri and other famous ones do not issue tickets and they do not fall under centrally protected monuments. These places attract daily thousands of visitors.

The above report indicates how tourist places are undergoing a change. 

Mamallapuram (Group of Temples - Pallava Dynasty) was not there in the Top 10 destination in 2011-12. However, 2021-22 it reached 4th Position in case of domestic travelers. In case of foreign tourist, it was 9th ranked in 2011-12.  In 2021-22 it reached 1st Spot, dethroning Taj Mahal.

So what was the key reasons for the change:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi (India) and President Xi Jinping (Chinese) met at Mamallapuram on October 11, 2019.

This was the first time a foreign dignitary visited India and they decided to meet at Tamil Nadu , Mamallapuram (near Chennai City). Previously, the foreign dignitaries visited New Delhi and the closest visit used to be Agra, Taj Mahal. 

This was one of the important initiative by Prime Minister Modi to take dignitaries to other states and showcase other Indian monuments.

The result of that initiative has given excellent results in terms of visitors visiting other important monuments and not get restricted to Taj Mahal only.

There is a vey high chances that in the year 2022-23, Tourism Statistics book, Mamallapuram will not only retain the top spot in Foreign Tourist with big numbers, but will be 2nd spot among Domestic Tourist. The reason being 44th Chess Olympiad, which was held in Mahabalipuram, Chennai (July-August 2022).

India is a land of historic monuments and they all need to be showcased to the world.

This is a positive step.

Open / Reserved Category (India) - II

This post is in continuation over Government Medical Colleges vis-à-vis Open / Reserved Category.

Earlier post: Sunday, 3rd February 2019 (GMC Palakkad , Kerala) and Sunday, 8th May 2022 (GMC Thrissur, Kerala).

Here we are analyzing Government Thoothukudi Medical College (Tamil Nadu).

Intake 150 students since 2013-14. Start year : 2000.

Break up of R (Reserved) and UR (Unreserved):

Year	R	R%	UR	UR%	Total
2013-14	146	96	6	4	152
2014-15	134	89	16	11	150
2015-16	141	92	12	8	153
2016-17	140	93	10	7	150
2017-18	133	89	17	11	150
2018-19	126	84	24	16	150
2019-20	124	83	26	17	150
2020-21	146	97	4	3	150
Total	1,090	90	115	10	1,205

Break up of Reserved (R):

R	2013-14	2014-15	2015-16	2016-17	2017-18	2018-19	2019-20	2020-21	Total
BC	59	57	63	69	57			57	362
OBC	8		5	8		98	95	10	224
SC	25	26	23	21	27	27	28	22	199
MBC/DNC			35	27	2			39	103
MBC	41	40		4	4				89
BCM	5	5	6	5	6			10	37
SCA	4	5	4	4	3			4	24
MBC / DNC					19				19
ST	2	1	2	2	3	1	1	3	15
MBC /DNC					9				9
OC	2		3		1			1	7
UR PH					1				1
BC					1				1
Total	146	134	141	140	133	126	124	146	1,090

Notes:

1. Since the intake allowed is 150 students per year. Can the institution take 152 (2013-14) and 153 (2015-16). Does this amounts to violation / allowed by Government rules?

2. There are few PH (Physically challenged) such as 2018-19 (1) and 2019-20 (2) 2017-18 (1)

3. Data is obtained from website: http://www.tmctkd.ac.in/tmctkd/index.jsp

4. If any error is observed. reader is requested to please inform and necessary changes will be carried out after verifying it.

Recommendation:

Importance of Economically Backward Class is far more important in Government Institutions. Physically challenged students should be always encouraged to pursue higher education. 

Reference screen shots:

2013-14

2016-17

2020-21

Data availability 2013-14 to 2020-21