Photo taken from Narayan Samajpati's garden.
We have planted in the front of our house and expect it will blossom
in the next rainy season.
Calcutta has been reeling under heat –waves. Two persons died
yesterday when the mercury crossed the 40-degree mark for the fourth
time in six days. The discomfort index was 66 degrees Celsius.
Thursday was bad, with the maximum and minimum temperatures four
degrees above normal, the discomfort index 11 degrees above normal.
One must have to know about the Presidency College, Calcutta if one
wants to know the history of Bengal Renaissance and the emerging of
modern India. Almost all the great Bengalis studied or taught in this
great institution.
It is the oldest and most prestigious colleges of India. It was
established as Hindu College, on January 20, 1817 in Calcutta. Raja
Ram Mohan Roy, the great social reformer, headed its foundation
committee. It was later renamed as Presidency College in 1855. It was
placed under the control of the University of Calcutta in 1857.
Presidency College was one of the first colleges in India to admit
female students with the first girl student attending class in 1897.
Considered as Harvard of India, Presidency College has undergraduate
and graduate degrees in natural sciences, humanities and social
sciences.
All my Flickr friends perhaps know these flowers. I do not know
whether the plant is Bengal's own but I know that to every Bengali in
West Bengal and Bangladesh is a favourite.
Traditionally and historically, the Madagascar periwinkle has been
used by many folk healers in many different cultures, for treating a
variety of ailments much before the present day modern researchers
studied and confirmed the plants varied and valuable healing
properties. For example, this plant was used by the folk healers of
the India, in treating wasp stings by a topical application of the
juice from crushed leaves.
In France, the epithet "sorcerer's violet" has been given to the rosy
periwinkle. The origin of this name is with regard to the historical
use of the plant in the charms and love potions of medieval Europe.
The power of exercising evil spirits was also attributed to the plant
by Europeans in the old days. For example, the rosy periwinkle was
used by medieval Europeans in their floral garlands to ensure the
protection of the bearer from sudden harm. The Italians called the
rosy periwinkle, the flower of death and placed garlands made from the
plant on the grave stones of infants. The use of the plant and its
cultural connotations changed over time, and the periwinkle was
considered to be an emblem of friendship by the French during the era
of the enlightenment in Europe.
Catharanthus roseus
[Spiritual significance-Integral Progress in Matter
Matter awakens to consciousness.]
Tipu Sultan (1750-1799) was the de-facto ruler of the Kingdom of
Mysore. He is better known as the 'Tiger of Mysore'. His full name was
Sultan Fateh Ali Tippu and he was born on 20th November, 1750 at
Devanahalli, in present-day Kolar district, near Bangalore, India. He
is the eldest son of Hyder Ali.
Tipu Sultan was a farsighted person who could foresee East India
Company's design to get entrenched in India. He therefore negotiated
with the French for help and also sought assistance from the Amir of
Afghanistan and the Sultan of Turkey. The British were scared of
Tipu's growing strength and after their defeat in 1783 they formed an
alliance with the Nizam of Hyderabad and Marhattas. The French,
however, deserted Tipu after the signing of the Treaty of Versailles.
The British availed the chance with the help of the Nizam and the
Marathas, and started the third Anglo-Mysore war in 1790.
As long as the British fought alone, Tipu always defeated them. But he
could not come over their diplomacy, conspiracy and intrigue. Thus he
was defeated in his capital, Seringapatam, and was forced to sign a
humiliating treaty on March 22, 1792. As a result he had to concede
half of his kingdom and pay an indemnity of 33 million rupees to the
British and their allies. The alliance between the adversaries was
soon broken and in 1795 the British, after defeating the Nizam, once
again turned their attention towards Mysore. After the treaty at
Seringapatam, Tipu Sultan did not waste his time and made extensive
preparations against the British. He had rebuilt his war machine in
the shortest possible time with the help of the French. The British
regarded it as a violation of the treaty. This led to the start of the
fourth Anglo-Mysore war in 1798 with the help of the Nizam. The French
were unable to provide the needed support to Tipu Sultan. Tipu Sultan
retreated to his capital and continued fighting till he breathed his
last in May 1799. Tipu Sultan is buried at a mausoleum that he himself
had built, along with his father Haider Ali and his mother Fatima
Begum.
Kodai is very chilly now. The best time to visit Kodaikanal is in May.
But in Madurai-just 120 km from Kodaikanal -it is very hot now in
March.
Here in India especially in Bengal spring is for a short period.
It is beautiful to the eyes but not pleasant to the skin for the arrogant sun.
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis 'Waimaea'
Chinese hibiscus, Hawaiian hibiscus, Rose- of-China
