OCTOBER 2020 TEACHER REFERENCE PRESENTATION CLASS 7 onwards TABLE OF CONTENTS OCTOBER 2020 CLASS 7 onwards

Pick of the Month Gap Profiles Global Updates

❖ Indian Air Force ❖ Pranab Mukherjee ❖ Fastest Human calculator

❖ no more

Discover India Around the World ❖ S. S. Kalpana Chawla ❖ Cheraw Dance ❖ Petra Snippets

❖ Discovery of star galaxy Born This Month Gappenings ❖ 2020 International Booker Prize ❖ 2020 US Open Indian Air Force Pick of the Month

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is the air wing of the Armed Forces of India. Also known as ‘Bharatiya Vayu Sena’, the IAF is among the largest air forces in the world. Its motto is ‘Touch the Sky with Glory’.

The headquarters of the Indian Air Force is located in New Delhi. The Chief of Air Staff, an Air Chief Marshal, commands the Indian Air Force. Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria is the current Chief of the Air Staff.

IAF Flag

The IAF flag is blue in colour, containing the Indian National Flag in the first quadrant and a roundel, consisting of the colours of the Indian National Flag. A roundel is a circular logo on the Indian Air Force planes and flag. Indian Air Force Pick of the Month

Brief History of IAF

The Indian Air Force was officially established on 8 October, 1932, during the British rule in India. King George VI conferred the prefix ‘Royal’, in 1945. Thereafter, the IAF was referred to as the Royal Indian Air Force. However, when India became Republic in 1950, the prefix ‘Royal’ was removed.

IAF’s Role

The IAF, which is one of the most powerful armed forces in the world, has gone through extreme modernisation and expansion over the decades. The IAF has fought numerous wars shielding India against its neighbours and safeguarding the country and its people from all threats, along with the support of the other branches of the armed forces, the Indian Army and the Indian Navy. The IAF’s key role is to keep the Indian aerospace resistant to attacks and manage aerial warfare during conflict. Indian Air Force Pick of the Month

IAF role during natural disasters

The Indian Air Force plays a pivotal role during natural calamities like earthquakes, floods, etc. Their duties include evacuation by airlifting, search and rescue operations and airdropping relief supplies such as food and medicines. IAF’s Fleet

The IAF aircraft fleet consists of combat aircraft, transport carriers and choppers. Some of the current fighter aircraft are Sukhoi 30MKI, Mirage 2000, Jaguar, LCA Tejas, MiG-21, and MiG-27, to name a few. The IAF formally inducted the Rafale jets, produced by French aerospace major Dassault Aviation, in September 2020. The Rafale jets, known for their precision strikes, are India’s first major acquisition of fighter planes in over 2 decades after the Sukhoi jets were imported from Russia. The Rafale jet is capable of carrying a range of potent weapons. Indian Air Force Pick of the Month

IAF’s Aerobatic teams

The ‘Surya Kiran’ (meaning ‘Sun Rays’) is an aerobatics demonstration team of the IAF, that is known for its dazzling and thrilling air formations. The ‘Sarang’ meaning ‘peacock’, is the helicopter display team of the IAF.

Did You Know: Indian Air Force ❖ Indian Air Force Day is observed on 8 October, annually. It is celebrated at various airbases across India and showcases air display by various aircrafts during the Air Force Day Parade. ❖ Its motto, ‘Nabham Sparsham Deeptam’ has been taken from the eleventh chapter of the Bhagavad Gita, the discourse given by Lord Krishna to Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, during the Great War of Mahabharata. ❖ The IAF’s ‘Operation Rahat’, was a rescue operation mission to evacuate civilians affected by the 2013 North India floods. It is believed to be the biggest civilian rescue operation in the world carried out by any air force using helicopters. ❖ Apart from conflicts, the IAF has been an active participant in United Nations Peacekeeping missions. ❖ The IAF has a base in Tajikistan named Farkhor Air Base. This is IAF’s first air base outside India. ❖ The ‘Marshal of the Indian Air Force’ is the highest achievable rank in the IAF and is conferred as an honorary recognition. ❖ The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Air Force. Indian Air Force Pick of the Month

What is the ‘Garud Commando Force’ of the Indian Air Force?

The ‘Garud Commando Force’, also known

as ‘Garud’, is a special forces unit of the You could start the topic by Indian Air Force. Founded in 2004, it has asking students to name the the longest training course among all the branches of the Indian Armed other Indian special forces. The Garud Forces and then divert the topic to the Indian Air Force that was personnels are trained to protect airfields formed on 8 October 1932. from enemy and terrorist attacks, carry

out hostage rescue operations, providing Highlight on some points about aid during natural calamities and special the IAF such as its role, the military operations. The unit derives its current chief, the fighter name from ‘Garuda’, a divine bird-like aircrafts and so on. creature from Hindu Mythology. Pranab Mukherjee Gap Profiles

Pranab Mukherjee was one of India’s renowned parliamentarians, who served as the country’s President. Early Life Pranab Mukherjee was born in 1935, in a village in West Bengal. His father was a freedom fighter and active in politics.

As a child, Pranab Mukherjee preferred outdoor games to being confined in a classroom. He spent his childhood in the village playing games, climbing trees, or running along with grazing herds of cows. In 1946, however, he was enrolled at the Kirnahar Shib Chandra High English School in Class V, which was 2.5 km from his house.

He had to walk barefoot, and during the monsoon swim across an overflowing river, to reach school. He completed his master’s in political science and history from the University of Calcutta (now Kolkata). He also earned a degree in law from the same university. He eventually followed in his father’s footsteps and ventured into politics. Pranab Mukherjee Gap Profiles

Political Career

He ventured into politics in 1969, when he became a member of the Rajya Sabha. The then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi recognised his potential and helped him join her party, the Indian National Congress (INC). He got his first ministerial post in Indira Gandhi’s cabinet, in 1973. This marked the beginning of a fruitful career. As a senior leader of the INC, he served on various ministerial posts. He has the rare distinction of having served as foreign, defence, commerce, and finance minister at different times over his long and illustrious political career. As a President

Mukherjee took over as the country’s 13th President on 25 July 2012. As the head of the state, he launched many initiatives and programmes. He was among the sharpest minds in his field, with an understanding of politics, economic policies as well as strategic issues. Pranab Mukherjee Gap Profiles

He was instrumental in spearheading critical decisions on a range of issues such as administrative reforms, Right to Information, Right to Employment, Food Security, energy security, Information Technology and telecommunication, to name a few. At the end of the 5-year tenure as President, in 2017, he did not run for re- elections. He ended a spectacular political career spanning over 5 decades with the post of President of India.

Laurels

He was bestowed with several prestigious honours including the Bharat Ratna, in 2019. In 2008, he was honoured with the Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian award of India. He was named ‘Finance Minister of the Year for Asia’ by ‘Emerging Markets’, the daily newspaper of record for the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), in 2010.

He was also bestowed with several honours from foreign countries including Bangladesh's second highest award for his valuable contribution to the country's liberation war, in 1971. Death

The veteran leader died in August 2020 after being ill for a long period of time. He was aged 84. Pranab Mukherjee Gap Profiles

Did You Know

❖ During his years in politics, Pranab Mukherjee was affectionately called ‘Pranab Da’. ❖ As a child, he was lovingly called ‘Poltu’ by family and friends. ❖ He worked as a teacher, a journalist, and a lawyer before joining politics. As an Assistant Professor of Political Science, he joined Vidyanagar College, Kolkata in 1963. And as a journalist, he also worked for Desher Dak (Call for Motherland). ❖ He was a powerful orator and an excellent negotiator. His sharp memory, quick wit and persuasive skills were widely respected. ❖ During his tenure as a President, the Rashtrapati Bhavan opened to the public as a tourist destination. ❖ He had the habit of writing diaries. He wrote it from the time he entered politics till the last days of his life. ❖ Other than politics, he was interested in reading, gardening, and listening to music-especially Rabindra Sangeet. ❖ He was awarded several honorary doctorates by various universities of the world. ❖ He did away with the colonial era words like ‘His Excellency’ used for addressing the President. ❖ He became the first Indian president to teach school children inside the Rashtrapati Bhavan. ❖ Av avid reader, he has also authored several books. Some of them are ‘The Turbulent Years’, ‘The Coalition Years’, and ‘Saga of Struggle and Sacrifice’, to name a few. Pranab Mukherjee Gap Profiles

What number was believed to be lucky to former President of India,

Pranab Mukherjee? Use this story to educate Former President Pranab Mukherjee the kids on some interesting believed the number ‘13’ to be lucky for him. He was facts about late President of elected to the Lok Sabha for the first time on 13 May, India, Pranab Mukherjee. he got married on 13 July, he resided at ‘13 Talkatora Road’ in New Delhi, his office was in Parliament’s room number 13 and he went on to become the 13th President of India. Fastest Human Global Update Computer

India’s Neelakanta Bhanu Prakash won gold in the 2020 Mental Calculation World Championship at Mind Sports Olympiad 2020 earning the title ‘World’s Fastest Human Calculator’. He also made history as the first Indian to win a gold medal at such an event. His speed of calculation was so extraordinary that judges made him solve more calculations to confirm his accuracy. The event, which was held online this year saw, close to 30 competitors, under different age groups from 13 countries.

Bhanu Prakash has broken records that were previously held by acclaimed mathematicians such as America’s Scott Flansburg and India’s Shakuntala Devi.

The Mental Calculation World Championship, or Mind Sports Olympiad (MSO) is a prestigious international competition for games of mental skill and mind sports which is held in London every year. Fastest Human Global Update Computer The Number Prodigy

Born in 1999, Bhanu Prakash is originally from Hyderabad. A student of mathematics, he is currently studying at Delhi University’s St. Stephen College. He has been a mathematical wiz kid from early childhood. Over the years, he has acquired a superhuman ability in doing complex mathematical calculations at unimaginable speeds. At the age of 13, he started representing India at various international competitions and has many records and achievements to his credit. Bhanu’s Vision

Bhanu’s goal is to eradicate math phobia prevalent among the students. He hopes to start a mathematics initiative - Vision Math, that will reach out to millions of Indian children and instil love for the subject in them.

In 2018, he founded ‘Exploring Infinities’, an educational organisation that aims to make math fun, challenging, interesting and immersive, by tracking cognitive ability development through arithmetic games. He wants to inspire youngsters to harness their brain’s infinite potentials by using mathematics as a tool. Fastest Human Global Update Computer Did You Know

❖ Bhanu’s interest in number calculation began at the age of 5, when a major accident injured his brain. As the doctors stressed on mental engagement as part of recovery post-surgery, he Ask the kids to tell you what they started doing mental calculation to keep his brain engaged. This know about Shakuntala Devi, who proved to be a life-changing experience for him. was nicknamed the ‘Human ❖ He currently holds four world records and 50 Limca Records for Computer’. You can later inform being the 'fastest human calculator' in the world. them about a 21-year-old boy from Hyderabad, who has broken ❖ As a motivational speaker, he is invited by various institutions Shakuntala Devi’s record. across the world to talk about developing human brain's efficiency using mathematics as a tool. Read out some of his achievements and talk about his vision in life. ❖ He is inspired by the great Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan and other ancient Indian mathematical geniuses. ❖ Besides his love for numbers, he also likes watching TV, reading books, travelling, storytelling and playing cricket. Joe Ruby no more Global Update

American animator Joe Ruby, who co-created the iconic animated series ‘Scooby-Doo’, is no more. He died at the age of 87, in . He gave the world some of animation’s most treasured characters.

Joe Ruby, along with , created ‘Scooby-Doo’, in 1969. It continues to entertain audience worldwide, even to this day. Joe Ruby no more Global Update

Joe Ruby’s Life in brief

Born in Los Angeles in 1933, Joe Ruby was an avid comic book fan since childhood and was drawing cartoons since high school. After completing his initial years of education, he joined the U.S. Navy and later turned to animation in the 1950s. He started his television career at Walt Disney Productions, and later joined leading TV animation studio ‘Hanna-Barbera’, where he met Ken Spears. Both were employed as sound editors and later as writers.

While at Hanna-Barbera, Ruby and Ken Spears created the beloved kids show ‘Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!’. The first few episodes of the series were written and story-edited by them. They are also known for creating other memorable characters such as ‘Dynomutt, Dog Wonder’ and ‘’.

Years later, they launched their own studio Ruby-Spears Productions under which they backed animation classics such as ‘’, ‘Superman’ and ‘Alvin and the Chipmunks’, to name a few. Joe Ruby no more Global Update

Did You Know: Scooby-Doo series

❖ The animated series 'Scooby-Doo' tells the story of a group of teenagers and their talking Great Dane, Scooby-Doo. They all Kids are familiar with the travel around in a vehicle called the Mystery Machine, trying to animated Scooby-Doo series, solve ghost mysteries. but it is unlikely for them to ❖ The human characters in the series are Shaggy Rogers, Fred know about its creators. Jones, Velma Dinkley, and Daphne Blake. ❖ Scooby’s full name is Scoobert-Doo. His catchphrase is ‘Scooby- Inform the kids about the Dooby-Doo!’. demise of on Joe Ruby, who co-created Scooby-Doo. ❖ The success of Scooby-Doo series inspired several related works including two Hollywood live action films. ❖ The series held the Guinness World Record for having the most episodes of any animated television series ever produced. S.S. Kalpana Chawla Global Update

Northrop Grumman, an American global aerospace and defence technology company, has named its latest cargo spacecraft as ‘S.S. Kalpana Chawla’ in memory of late astronaut Kalpana Chawla. Chawla was selected in honour of her key contributions to human spaceflight. She created history at NASA when she became the first woman of Indian origin to go to space.

According to the company, it is their tradition to name its cargo spacecrafts after individuals who have made notable contributions to human spaceflight.

Scheduled to be launched atop a Northrop Grumman Antares rocket from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia, U.S.A., in end September 2020, the NG-14 Cygnus spacecraft is expected to carry approximately 3,629 kg of cargo to the International Space Station. S.S. Kalpana Chawla Global Update

Kalpana Chawla

Born in 1961 in Haryana, Chawla earned her Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautical engineering from Punjab Engineering College. She later moved to the United States for higher studies. She passed with flying colours obtaining a Ph.D in aerospace engineering. She later became a citizen of USA.

She started her career at NASA in 1988. During her first spaceflight in 1996, she was a mission specialist and operated Space Shuttle Columbia's robotic arm. She returned to space in 2003, aboard Columbia, which was her second and final mission. It was a 16-day flight, during which the crew members completed several experiments in space. Unfortunately, Space Shuttle Columbia burnt down while re-entering the Earth’s atmosphere, causing the death of the entire crew. S.S. Kalpana Chawla Global Update

Did You Know

❖ The spacecraft is not the first time that Chawla has been honoured for her contribution to space. In 2003, India’s first meteorological satellite was renamed ‘Kalpana-1’ in her memory. Update the kids on the latest honour bestowed on Indian- ❖ NASA has named a supercomputer after Chawla. born American astronaut, late ❖ On planet Mars, a chain of seven hills dubbed the ‘Columbia Hills’ Kalpana Chawla. are named after the seven crew members of the Space Shuttle

Columbia that burnt down while re-entering the Earth’s Talk about her life in brief and atmosphere. her legacy. Discovery of Star Snippets Galaxy

In a landmark achievement in space missions, Indian astronomers have discovered one of the farthest star galaxies in the universe.

The galaxy, called AUDFs01, is located 9.3 billion light-years away from Earth.

It was discovered by India’s first Multi-Wavelength Space Observatory called ‘AstroSat’ which detected extreme UV light from the galaxy. 2020 International Snippets Booker Price

A 29-year-old Dutch writer (Marieke Lucas Rijneveld) has become the youngest author to win the International Booker Prize this year.

His won it for his debut novel ‘The Discomfort of Evening’, which was translated by Michele Hutchison.

Under the rules of the award, the prize money will be split equally between the author and translator, giving both equal recognitions.

The International Booker Prize is awarded every year to a book of fiction in any language that is translated into English and published in the U.K. or Ireland. The award, which is separate from the main Booker Prize, aims to encourage more publishing and reading of quality fiction from around the world. 2020 US Open Snippets

Japan’s Naomi Osaka has won the Women’s Singles title at the 2020 US Open. She defeated Victoria Azarenka of Belarus in the final match.

This is her second US Open title and third overall Grand Slam title.

By winning her maiden Grand Slam title at the 2018 US Open, she became the first Japanese player to win a Grand Slam title.

The United States Open Tennis Championships (US Open), played in New York, is one of the Grand Slam tennis tournaments played annually. It is the fourth and final Grand Slam tournament. Cheraw Dance Discover India

The Cheraw dance is one of the most popular folk dances of Mizoram, which is being practised for ages. The traditional dance, which is characterised by the use of bamboo staves (sticks), has become an integral part of almost every festival in Mizoram.

The Cheraw dance is a combination of beautiful rhythm, skill and synchronisation. It comprises of male dancers, who sit on the ground facing each other, holding pairs of bamboo stave each. The bamboo poles, held horizontally, are supported by two other bamboos that are placed on the ground, for support.

When the male performers clap the bamboos rhythmically, young girls with utmost skill and concentration, dance gracefully by stepping alternatively in and out of the bamboos. They form complex patterns with their steps. The tapping of the bamboo poles provides the rhythm for the dance. Cheraw Dance Discover India

Origin

Little is known about the origin of Cheraw. It is believed that the forefathers of Mizo people had brought this dance form when they migrated from far-east Asian region to the current Mizoram region.

It is said that during the ancient time, the dance was performed to ensure a safe passage for the soul of a mother who died at childbirth. Cheraw Dance Discover India Did You Know ❖ The dance is popularly known as the ‘bamboo dance’, as bamboos are used in the performance. ❖ It is very vibrant, with dancers wearing traditional dresses and headgear. ❖ Originally a funeral dance, it is now performed at all festive occasions in Mizoram. ❖ It is performed with great precision and skill as dancers must move quickly to avoid getting their foot caught in between the fast-moving poles. ❖ Traditionally, gongs and drums accompany the dance. However, nowadays modern music has also been incorporated. ❖ The dance movements are inspired by nature such as the swaying of trees or flight of birds, etc. ❖ The dance gained international recognition when it was showcased in London for the first time on the International Dance Day, in 2019. ❖ A Guinness World Record for ‘Largest Bamboo Dance’ was set by Cheraw dancers of Mizoram, in 2010. This record was later broken in 2018, by bamboo dancers from China. Cheraw Dance Discover India

What is the Tinikling dance?

The Tinikling dance is a popular bamboo dance from the Philippines. NamedIt is said after that the the Tikling namebirds 'Amazon' that are was native given to by Spanishthe region, explorer the dance named imitates Francisco the movementOrellana, who of wasthese the birds first as European they walk to between sail down grass the stems, Amazon runRiver. over In tree1542, branches, while on or his dodge expedition, bamboo he traps and his men ran into a tribe of enormous fierce set by rice farmers. Dancers gracefully move their women warriors in the area. He compared them tolegs the between Amazons, large the bamboo warrior poles, women similar from to Greek the Cherawmythology dance of Mizoram,and named except it after with them. a few variations. Similar bamboo dances are also performed by the tribes of several Southeast Asian countries like China, Malaysia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand, etc. Petra Around The World

Petra is an ancient city located in Jordan between the Dead sea and the Sea. The city lies in a small desert valley completely surrounded by towering sandstone cliffs. Famous for its archaeological sites, the city is a popular tourist attraction and in 1985, was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Brief History

More than 2,000 years ago, an Arabic tribe called the Nabataeans established Petra. The city eventually became a bustling location for trade and commerce. A number of buildings and monuments were built.

The Nabataeans developed the water conduit system, dams and reservoirs by skillfully collecting and preserving water. However, an earthquake damaged most of the buildings and water system forcing people to abandon Petra. The city gradually ceased to become a visiting point for merchants. Petra Around The World

Major Attractions

The Siq is the ancient main entrance to the magnificent city of Petra. It is a narrow gorge cut through the high mountains of sandstone by the action of rain and wind. Extending to about 1 km, the gorge is flanked by tall cliffs of various colours, with traces of ancient dams and water channels used by the native tribes to control the water supply into the city. At the other end of the Siq, the first amazing monument of Petra, the ‘Treasury’ is unveiled. Petra Around The World

Major Attractions

The Treasury, among Petra’s amazing architectures, is a huge monument carved out of pink rock.

The purpose of the Treasury is unclear: some archaeologists believed it to be a temple, while others thought it was a place to store documents. However, the most recent excavation here has unearthed a graveyard beneath the Treasury. Petra Around The World

Major Attractions

The Street of Facades, which has tall notable tombs, with large facades, leads into the heart of the city. Petra Around The World Did You Know

❖ Petra means ‘rock’ in Greek. ❖ The city is referred to as the ‘Rose City’ because of the colour of the stones used in its structures. It is also known as the ‘Lost City’, as it was hidden from the outside world for several centuries because of an earthquake, until its rediscovery in 1812. ❖ As the structures of Petra weakened over time, they fell prey to robbers and many treasures were stolen over the years. ❖ Petra has many monuments and sacred structures carved into stone cliffs. It has around 800 carved tombs which are collectively known as ‘Royal Tombs’. ❖ Petra was used as one of the locations in the American adventure film titled ‘Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade’. Apart from movies, the city has also inspired poets, musicians and comics like ‘The Adventures of Tintin’. ❖ Today, excavations are still in progress to discover the remains of the ancient city of Petra. Petra Around The World

What are the bullet marks seen on the façade of the Treasury at Petra?

The facade of the Treasury has a giant urn carved at the top. It bears several bullet marks, as the native tribes repeatedly fired bullets at the giant urn, hoping to find the hidden royal treasures. They believed that an Egyptian pharaoh on the run had hidden a treasure in the urn. In reality, the urn is one solid piece of stone. The tribes gave the Treasury an Arabic name (Al-Khazneh) meaning ‘Treasury of the Pharaoh’. Born This Month

03 Oct (1951) Kathryn D. Sullivan American astronaut Kathryn D. Sullivan is an American oceanographer and astronaut, who became the first American woman to walk in space, back in 1984. In June 2020, she became the first woman to dive to the Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench, the deepest part of the Earth's oceans.

11 Oct (1946) Dr. Vijay Pandurang Bhatkar Indian computer scientist Dr. Vijay Pandurang Bhatkar is a computer scientist, who is considered the ‘father of the Indian Supercomputer’. His initiative in supercomputing led to the development of India’s first indigenous supercomputer ‘Param’. Born This Month

24 Oct (1915) Bob Kane American comic book writer Bob Kane was an American comic book writer, animator and artist who co-created the DC Comics character, Batman.

30 Oct (1909) Homi Jehangir Bhabha Indian physicist

Homi Jehangir Bhabha was an Indian nuclear physicist. The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre is named in his honour. Gappenings

•In 2006, Pondicherry, a Union Oct 01 Territory of India, was renamed Puducherry.

In 2010, ‘Instagram’, the photo- sharing application was founded. Oct 06

In 1984, oceanographer and astronaut Kathryn D. Sullivan became the first Oct 11 U.S. woman to walk in space.