Current Affairs Awards Current Affairs Awards Prof CNR Rao becomes first Indian scientist elected to Chinese Academy of Science Eminent Scientist and Bharat Ratna awardee Prof CNR Raohas become the first Indian scientist to be elected as honorary foreign member of Chinese Academy of Science (CAS). CAS consists of several Nobel laureates and eminent scientists of the world. Prof. Rao was recently awarded the Bharat Ratna. In 2012, CAS had conferred on him the prestigious Award for International Scientific Cooperation. About C.N.R. Rao (Chintamani Nagesa Ramachandra Rao) An Indian scientist One of the world‟s foremost chemists in the field of Solid State, Structural and Materials Chemistry. His work on transition metal oxides led to basic understanding of novel phenomena and the relationship between materials properties and the structural chemistry of metal oxides. Currently, he heads the Scientific Advisory Council to the Prime Minister of India. Authored around 1500 research papers. Authored and edited 45 books. First Indian scientist to reach the h-index of 100. One of the earliest to synthesize two-dimensional oxide materials such as La2CuO4. His findings have resulted into a systematic study of compositionally controlled metal-insulator transitions. Such findings have immensely helped in fields such as colossal magneto resistance and high temperature superconductivity. His oxide semiconductors have uncommon promise. Made significant contributions to nano materials, apart from his work on hybrid materials. Elected to almost all scientific academies of the world including The Royal Society -London, National Academy of Science – USA, Pontifical Academy of Science, Japan Academy and Royal Spanish Academy of Sciences, among others. Conferred 60 Honoris Causa (Honorary Doctorates) by various universities across the globe. What is h-index (also called the Hirsch index or Hirsch number)? h-index (also called the Hirsch index or Hirsch number) is a tool that measures the productivity and impact of the published work of a scientist or scholar. Based on the set of the scientist‟s most cited papers and the number of citations that the individual has received in other publications. Physicist Jorge Hirsch was the first one to coin it in 2005. George Whitesides of Harvard University has an h-index of 169, which makes him the highest ranked living chemist. Waheeda Rehman to receive First Centanary Award at 44th IFFI November 20, 2013 Legendary actress Waheeda Rehman will be conferred with the first Centanary Award for the Indian Film Personality at the 44th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) to be held in Goa. The award has been instituted this year (2013) which consists of a trophy, a cash of Rs. 10 lakh and a citation. This award to Waheeda Rehman acknowledges the creative contribution of an artist who opted for roles which were much more than just the appealing shadow of the male actors of the times. About Waheeda Rehman: Born in Chengalpattu near Chennai in 1936 Started acting career with Tamil and Telugu movies. Her first film wasKaalam Maari Pochu along with Gemini Ganesan. Guru Dutt, her mentor, introduced her in Hindi movies as he offered her a role in film „C.I.D.‟ Waheeda Rehman & Guru Dutt served the audience with such marvels as ‘Pyasa’. ‘ Kaghaz Ke Phool’, ‘Saheb Bibi aur Ghulam’ and ‘ Chudhvin ka Chaand’. Preformed impressively with the other megastars like Dilip Kumar (Ram aur Shayam, Dil Diya Dard Liya), Raj Kapoor (Teesri Kasam) and Dev Anand (Guide). Gangadri Kommiri Page 1 Current Affairs Awards Gathered laurels for her roles in ‘Reshma aur Shera’, ‘Kabhie Kabhie’, ‘Khamoshi’, ‘Delhi-6’and ‘Rang De Basanti’. Became famous in media as the „Quintessential Beauty of Bollywood‟ Won the National Award for the Best Actor in 1971 for ‘Reshma Aur Shera’ and Filmfare Awards in 1966 for ‘Guide’ and in 1968 for‘Neel Kamal’. Honoured with Padma Shri in 1972 and with Padma Bhushan in 2011. „International Indian of the Decade‟ award to Lord Swaraj Paul November 17, 2013 Eminent NRI industrialist and educationist, Lord Swraj Paul was conferred with the ‘International Indian of the Decade’ award on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the publication of India Link International, a monthly magazine published from London. He was presented this award for his outstanding achievements in the fields of industry, education and philanthropy. Who is Lord Swaraj Paul? Swraj Paul (82) is an India-born, UK-based business baron, philanthropist, and Labour politician. Founded UK-based steel and engineering multinational companyCaparo which employs around 10,000 people worldwide principally in the UK, USA and India. In 1996, became a life peer, a member of the House of Lords, as a Labour memberwith the title Baron Paul, of Marylebone in the City of Westminster. 1983: Awarded Padma Bhushan by the Government of India 1999: Chancellor of the University of Wolverhampton 2000-2008: Member of the London Development Agency 2005-2008: Chaired the LDA Olympics Delivery Committee responsible for delivering the land and infrastructure for the London 2012 Olympic Games. 2006: Chancellor of the University of Westminster 2008: Became first Indian-born Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords 2009: Appointed to the Privy Council. Awarded with 15 honorary degrees by universities in the UK, India, USA and Switzerland including the Corporate Leadership Award from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Bharat Ratna for scientist Prof. C.N.R.Rao Prof. C.N.R. Rao, the man behind India‟s maiden Mars mission, to be conferred with the prestigious Bharat Ratna Award, India‟s highest civilian award. Sachin Tendulkar chosen for the prestigious Bharat Ratna November 16, 2013 Sachin Tendulkar chosen for the prestigious Bharat Ratna (India‟s highest civilian award). Thus Tendulkar will be the first sportsperson ever to be honoured with Bharat Ratna. Tendulkar retired from all forms of cricket as the most successful batsman with 15,921 runs in 200 Tests and 18,426 runs in 463 matches in ODIs. He was the first batsman to get a double hundred in ODIs. His career of 24 years made him an inspiration for an entire nation. The eligibility criteria of the Bharat Ratna award was revised in 2012 to accommodate sportspersons as well. This was done especially on continuous demands for Tendulkar to be conferred the honour for a long time. Tendulkar became a Rajya Sabha member in 2012. This year, Bharat Ratna is being given to Tendulkar along with Professor C.N.R.Rao, the man behind India‟s maiden Mars mission. Gangadri Kommiri Page 2 Current Affairs Awards The Bharat Ratna is being conferred after a long gap with classical vocalist Pandit Bhimsen Joshi being the last recipient in 2008. Sushmita Sen conferred with Mother Teresa Memorial International Award for Social Justice 2013 October 30, 2013 NGO the Harmony Foundation honored former Miss Universe Sushmita Sen with the Mother Teresa Memorial International Award 2013 for her efforts towards achieving social justice in Mumbai. Along with Sushmita Sen, seven individuals and an association, India Rescue Mission, were also awarded the Mother Teresa Memorial International Award for Social Justice 2013 for their contributions in the field of human rights and community development. List of Awardees of Mother Teresa Memorial International Award for Social Justice 2013 : Sushmita Sen: Social Activist and Bollywood actress Dr Sudarshan Hanumappa: Tribal rights‟ activist Diep Saeeda: Lahore-based human rights activist Cedric Prakash: Social Activist Sindhutai Sapkal: Mother of Orphans Arunachalam Muruganantham: Social Activist India Rescue Mission: An association for human rights Maulana Mehmood Madani: Social activist Sam Childers: Rescuer of young boys and girls from Sudan France confers top civilian honor on Anjali Gopalan October 29, 2013 France conferred its highest civilian award ‘Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur’on social worker and founder of NGO Naz Foundation Anjali Gopalan for her work on transgenders and HIV positive patients. Who is Anjali Gopalan? Anjali Gopalan (56) is an Indian Human Rights and Animal Rights activist, founder and executive director of The Naz Foundation (India) Trust, an NGO dedicated to the fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic in India mainly focused on women and children. She started her carrer as a social worker and worked on issues related to HIV/AIDS and marginalized communities in New York, United States. The Naz Foundation was founded by her in 1994 which has since then brought positive changes the lives of transgenders, homosexuals and those with HIV positive. Finally Suu Kyi receives 1990 Sakharov prize Myanmar‟s pro-democracy activist and parliamentarian Aung San Suu Kyi finally collected the EU democracy prize that had been awarded 23 years ago while she was under house arrest. The Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought, named after Soviet dissident Andrei Sakharov, has been awarded annually by the European Parliament since 1988. About Aung San Suu Kyi Aung San Suu Kyi is a Burmese opposition politician and chairperson of the National League for Democracy (NLD) in Burma. In 1988, she got caught up in Myanmar‟s pro-democracy protests when she returned to care for her ailing mother after years of living and studying abroad. In 1990, she contested general election as the leader of the NLD and won 59% of the national votes and 81% (392 of 485) of the seats in Parliament. She remained under house arrest in Burma for almost 15 of the 21 years from 1989 until her most recent release in November 2010, becoming one of the world‟s most prominent political prisoners. Suu Kyi was awarded the Rafto Prize and the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought in 1990 and the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991. Presently, Suu Kyi is a member of parliament after the 2010 elections brought to power pro-reforms President Thein Sein.