UNESCO World Heritage Sites in West Bengal

West Bengal, located in eastern India, is home to several UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The state's rich cultural and historical legacy has left behind a trail of exquisite monuments, temples, and natural wonders. These sites, recognized by UNESCO, have become major tourist attractions for travelers from across the world.

Let's take a closer look at some of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in West Bengal.

• Darjeeling Himalayan Railway: Also known as the "Toy Train," the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is a 78 km long narrow-gauge railway that connects Darjeeling with the plains. The train runs through breathtaking landscapes, lush green tea gardens, and offers panoramic views of the Himalayan range. It is also recognized as the first hill passenger railway in India, built between 1879 and 1881. In 1999, UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site, recognizing its engineering feat and cultural significance.
• Sundarbans National Park: The Sundarbans National Park is the largest delta in the world, situated on the Bay of Bengal. The park is home to the Royal Bengal Tiger, saltwater crocodiles, and numerous bird species. The Sundarbans has a unique ecosystem, and the mangrove forests are crucial for the region's environmental balance. The park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 and has since become a popular tourist destination.
• Victoria Memorial: The Victoria Memorial is an iconic landmark of Kolkata and a symbol of the British Raj's grandeur. Built between 1906 and 1921, the memorial is dedicated to Queen Victoria, who ruled over India during the British Raj. The building's architecture is a blend of Indo-Saracenic, Byzantine, and Islamic styles, making it one of the finest examples of colonial-era architecture in India. The memorial houses a museum that displays a vast collection of paintings, artifacts, and memorabilia from the British era. In 2003, UNESCO recognized the Victoria Memorial as a World Heritage Site, acknowledging its cultural and historical significance.
• Bishnupur Temples: The town of Bishnupur, located in the Bankura district of West Bengal, is renowned for its terracotta temples. The temples were built by the Malla kings between the 17th and 18th centuries and showcase unique architectural styles. The temples' walls are adorned with intricate terracotta designs depicting scenes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata. The Bishnupur Temples are a testament to the rich cultural heritage of West Bengal and were recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1997.
• The Great Banyan Tree: Located in the Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanical Garden in Howrah, the Great Banyan Tree is one of the largest trees in the world. The tree is over 250 years old and has an area of over 14,000 square meters. The Great Banyan Tree is a popular tourist attraction and a living monument to the region's natural heritage. In 2014, UNESCO recognized the Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden as a World Heritage Site, highlighting the garden's biodiversity and conservation efforts.
• The Shantiniketan: Shantiniketan is a small town in the Birbhum district of West Bengal, famous for its association with Rabindranath Tagore, the Nobel Laureate poet, and writer. Tagore founded Visva-Bharati University in 1921, which became a center for Indian art, culture, and philosophy. The town has several buildings that showcase unique architectural styles and is surrounded by lush greenery. In 2010, UNESCO declared Shantiniketan a World Heritage Site, recognizing its cultural significance.
• Hazarduari Palace: Hazarduari Palace is a magnificent palace located in Murshidabad, West Bengal. Built-in the 19th century by Nawab Nazim Humayun Jah of Bengal, the palace has 1000 doors (Hazaar-dwari) and is a testament to the region's architectural brilliance. The palace now houses a museum that showcases artifacts, paintings, and weapons from the Nawabi era. In 1983, UNESCO recognized Hazarduari Palace as a World Heritage Site, acknowledging its historical and cultural importance.

In conclusion, West Bengal is a treasure trove of UNESCO World Heritage Sites that reflect the region's rich cultural and natural heritage. From the iconic Victoria Memorial to the lush mangrove forests of the Sundarbans, these sites offer a glimpse into the past and present of the region. The recognition of these sites by UNESCO is a testament to their cultural, historical, and environmental significance and has helped put West Bengal on the global map of tourism.

Artificial synapse developed for brain-like computing

Scientists have used scandium nitride (ScN), a semiconducting material with supreme stability and Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (CMOS) compatibility, to develop brain-like computing. This invention can provide a new material for stable, CMOS-compatible optoelectronic synaptic functionalities at a relatively lower energy cost and hence has the potential to be translated into an industrial product.

The traditional computers have physically separated memory storage and processing units. As a result, it takes enormous energy and time to transfer data between these units during an operation. On the contrary, the human brain is a supreme biological computer that is smaller and more efficient due to the presence of a synapse (the connection between two neurons) that plays the role of both processor and memory storage unit. In the current era of artificial intelligence, the brain-like computing approach can help meet the escalating computational demands. The development of neuromorphic hardware aims at mimicking a biological synapse that monitors and remembers the signal generated by the stimuli. Scientists have been trying to create an artificial synaptic device that does not suffer from RC delays, exhibits large bandwidth, consumes low energy, and is stable, scalable, and CMOS-compatible.

A team of scientists at Bengaluru’s Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, who were working on nitride-based materials have used their background for developing hardware for neuromorphic computing. They used ScN to develop a device mimicking a synapse that controls the signal transmission as well as remembers the signal.

This work by Dheemahi Rao and team demonstrate an artificial optoelectronic synapse with ScN thin films that can mimic synaptic functionalities like short-term memory, long-term memory, the transition from short-term to long-term memory, learning–forgetting, frequency selective optical filtering, frequency-dependent potentiation and depression, Hebbian learning, and logic-gate operations.

A team of scientists at Bengaluru’s Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, who were working on nitride-based materials have used their background for developing hardware for neuromorphic computing. They used ScN to develop a device mimicking a synapse that controls the signal transmission as well as remembers the signal. This work by Dheemahi Rao and team demonstrates an artificial optoelectronic synapse with ScN thin films that can mimic synaptic functionalities like short-term memory, long-term memory, the transition from short-term to long-term memory, learning–forgetting, frequency selective optical filtering, frequency-dependent potentiation and depression, Hebbian learning, and logic-gate operations.

Compared to the existing materials used to demonstrate optoelectronic synapse, ScN is more stable, CMOS compatible, and can be seamlessly integrated with existing Si technology. It can act as a platform for both excitatory and inhibitory functions. The industrial processing techniques of ScN are similar to the existing semiconductor fabrication infrastructure. Response to the optical stimuli also has the advantage of possible integration with photonic circuits known for higher speed and broader bandwidth than electronic circuits.

What is HAARP?

HAARP (High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program) is a research program funded by the U.S. military and several other organizations. It was established to study the Earth's upper atmosphere and ionosphere, with the goal of understanding their effects on communication and navigation systems. The program used a high-frequency radio transmitter located in Gakona, Alaska, to generate and study powerful radio waves in the upper atmosphere. The facility has since been decommissioned and is no longer in operation.

HAARP has been the subject of various conspiracy theories, which claim that it was used for purposes such as weather control, mind control, and earthquakes. However, these claims are not supported by scientific evidence and have been widely discredited by the scientific community.

Padma Awards 2023

Padma Awards - one of the highest civilian Awards of the country, are conferred in three categories, namely, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. The Awards are given in various disciplines/ fields of activities, viz.- art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil service, etc. ‘Padma Vibhushan’ is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service; ‘Padma Bhushan’ for distinguished service of high order and ‘Padma Shri’ for distinguished service in any field. The awards are announced on the occasion of Republic Day every year.

These Awards are conferred by the President of India at ceremonial functions which are held at Rashtrapati Bhawan usually around March/ April every year. For the year 2023, the President has approved conferment of 106 Padma Awards including 3 duo cases (in a duo case, the Award is counted as one) as per list below. The list comprises 6 Padma Vibhushan, 9 Padma Bhushan and 91 Padma Shri Awards. 19 of the awardees are women and the list also includes 2 persons from the category of Foreigners/NRI/PIO/OCI and 7 Posthumous awardees.

Read Complete Winner's List

Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar-2023

The Government of India under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has instituted an annual award known as Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar to recognize and honour the invaluable contribution and selfless service rendered by individuals and organizations in India in the field of disaster management. The award is announced every year on 23rd January, the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. The award carries a cash prize of Rs. 51 lahk and a certificate in the case of an institution and Rs. 5 lahk and a certificate in the case of an individual. Under the guidance of the Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah, the country has significantly improved its disaster management practices, preparedness, mitigation, and response mechanisms resulting in a significant reduction in casualties during natural calamities.

For the award of the year 2023, nominations were solicited from 1st July 2022 onwards. The award scheme for the year 2023 was given wide publicity through print, electronic and social media. In response to the award scheme, 274 valid nominations were received from institutions and individuals.

Following is a summary of the outstanding work of the winners of the 2023 Award in the field of Disaster Management:

• Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA), was established in 1999 in the aftermath of the Super Cyclone. OSDMA embarked on multiple initiatives including raising of the Odisha Disaster Response Action Force (ODRAF), Multi-hazard Early Warning Service (MHEWS) framework, and a cutting-edge technology-enabled web/smartphone-based platform called "SATARK" (System for Assessing, Tracking, and Alerting Disaster Risk Information based on Dynamic Risk Knowledge). OSDMA provided effective response during various cyclones, Hudhud (2014), Fani (2019), Amphan (2020) and Odisha floods (2020). OSDMA conducted disaster preparedness initiatives in building community resilience in 381 tsunami-prone villages/wards and 879 multi-purpose cyclone/ flood shelters located within 1.5 km from coastline.
• Lunglei Fire Station, Mizoram, responded efficiently and effectively to a massive forest fire which was reported on 24 April 2021 in the uninhabited forest areas that surrounded Lunglei town and spread to more than 10 village council areas. Lunglei Fire Station personnel assisted by local civilians worked continuously for more than 32 hours during which they motivated and provided on the spot training to residents. Due to the valiant, brazen, and prompt efforts of Fire & Emergency staff in the putting out the flames, there was no loss to life and property and the spread of fire to other parts of the State was prevented.

Mukesh Ambani ranks 2nd on world’s top CEOs list

Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani has ranked second on Brand Finance’s list of the world’s top CEOs. "Brand Finance's Brand Guardianship Index 2023 saw the rise of Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, and Mukesh Ambani of Reliance Industries Ltd to 1st and 2nd position respectively. The Brand Guardianship Index, released annually by brand valuation consultancy Brand Finance, celebrates CEOs who balance the needs of commercial success with long-term brand building and personal reputation management.

Mukesh Ambani has overtaken the likes of Microsoft’s Satya Nadella and Google’s Sundar Pichai to rank first among Indian and Indian-origin CEOs on the Brand Guardianship Index 2023.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang topped the list of the world’s best CEOs for overseeing the company’s advancement into the next era of computing through focus on artificial intelligence, digital biology, climate sciences, and autonomous vehicles and robotics.

Both Huang and Ambani have overtaken Satya Nadella, who slipped to third place after ranking first in 2022. The fourth spot on the Brand Guardianship Index 2023 went to Adobe’s Shantanu Narayen, while Google CEO Sundar Pichai ranked fifth.

Golden Globe Awards 2023

The 80th annual Golden Globe Awards have taken place in Los Angeles, with The Banshees of Inisherin leading the winners.

Golden Globe Awards 2023 for Film

Best film, drama: "The Fabelmans"

Best film, musical or comedy: "The Banshees of Inisherin"

Best director: Steven Spielberg, "The Fabelmans"

Best actor, drama: Austin Butler, "Elvis"

Best actress, drama: Cate Blanchett, "Tar"

Best actor, musical or comedy: Colin Farrell, "The Banshees of Inisherin"

Best actress, musical or comedy: Michelle Yeoh, "Everything Everywhere All at Once"

Best supporting actor: Ke Huy Quan, "Everything Everywhere All at Once"

Best supporting actress: Angela Bassett, "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever"

Best screenplay: Martin McDonagh, "The Banshees of Inisherin"

Best music, original score: Justin Hurwitz, "Babylon"

Best music, original song: "Naatu Naatu" from "RRR"

Best non-English language film: "Argentina, 1985"

Best animated feature: "Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio"

Golden Globe Awards 2023 for TV

Best drama series: "House of the Dragon"

Best drama actor: Kevin Costner, "Yellowstone"

Best drama actress: Zendaya, "Euphoria"

Best musical or comedy series: "Abbott Elementary"

Best musical or comedy actor: Jeremy Allen White, "The Bear"

Best musical or comedy actress: Quinta Brunson, "Abbott Elementary"

Best supporting actor, television: Tyler James Williams, "Abbott Elementary"

Best supporting actress, television: Julia Garner, "Ozark"

Best limited series or TV movie: "The White Lotus"

Best limited series or TV movie actor: Evan Peters, "Dahmer - Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story"

Best limited series or TV movie actress: Amanda Seyfried, "The Dropout"

Best limited series supporting actor: Paul Walter Hauser, "Black Bird"

Best limited series supporting actress: Jennifer Coolidge, "The White Lotus"