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Earlier this year, I committed to taking more photos and improving my skills as a photographer. In support of this effort, I headed out to Ikea and bought a few dinnerware items to help with my food-related photography. A new dish combined with some blackberries I have in my fridge resulted in this simple image.
I will be the first to admit that it is over-processed, but the blue/green tinge that came about with some experimentation seemed to fit the photo better than the natural colors.
Spring break has been a week committed to cleaning and organizing everything at the restaurant. At the slow periods, the managers called us to take things out of the second room (known as the RISER ROOM) and put it with the rest of the normal supplies. The only bad thing is that most of what's in the RISER ROOM is roughly 2 years old and needs some cleaning. If we couldn't use the stuff in the RISER ROOM, then it needed to be dumped. I would say the ratio of kept to dumped items was 54:46.
Olympus XA, Kodak Tri-X 400 @ 800, Rodinal /w Sodium Ascorbate & Borax, 300 ml Paterson tank
Stand Development (90 min)
-1:100
-pre-wash to set up developer
-30 sec initial agitation with 15 rotary agitations every 30 min
-stop bath wash to set up fixer
-Photographer's Formulary TF-4
-1:3
30 sec rotary agitations for 4 min
open lid and wash while setting up hanging rack
Often described as Britain's first supercar (a little late, Italy beat us to that like 5 years earlier!), but the Aston Martin V8 and the derivative Vantage helped keep the company afloat during those dark years of bankruptcy and recovery, even though it almost committed corporate suicide by developing the overly complicated Lagonda!
The original Aston Martin V8 was a coupé manufactured from 1969 to 1989, built to replace the Aston Martin DBS, a more angular car that killed off the DB6, and by extension the iconic design that had eminated through the James Bond DB5. As with all traditional Aston Martins, it was entirely handbuilt, with each car requiring 1,200 manhours to finish. Aston Martin's customers had been clamouring for an eight-cylinder car for years, so Aston Martin designed a larger car. The engine was not ready, however, so in 1967 the company released the DBS with the straight-six Vantage engine from the DB6. Two years later, Tadek Marek's V8 was ready, and Aston released the DBS V8. With the demise of the straight-six Vantage in 1973, the DBS V8, now restyled and called simply the Aston Martin V8, became the company's mainstream car for nearly two decades. It was retired in favour of the Virage in 1989.
The Aston Martin V8 Vantage on the other hand took the original bodyshell of this 60's sports coupé, and completely re-engineered it to create something that was not of this earth! The first series had 375hp, and series specific details such as a blanked bonnet vent and a separate rear spoiler, of which 38 of these were built.
The Vantage name had previously been used on a number of high-performance versions of Aston Martin cars, but this was a separate model. Although based on the Aston Martin V8, numerous detail changes added up to a unique driving experience. One of the most noticeable features was the closed-off hood bulge rather than the open scoop found on the normal V8. The grille area was also closed off, with twin driving lights inserted and a spoiler added to the bootlid.
Upon its introduction in 1977, the car's incredible speed and power was taken up with acclaim, and, as mentioned, was dubbed 'Britain's first supercar', with a top speed of 170 mph top speed. Its engine was shared with the Lagonda, but it used high-performance camshafts, increased compression ratio, larger inlet valves and bigger carburettors mounted on new manifolds for increased output. Straight-line performance was the best of the day, with acceleration from 0–60 mph in 5.3 seconds, one-tenth of a second quicker than the Ferrari Daytona.
The Oscar India version, introduced in late 1978, featured an integrated tea-tray spoiler and smoother bonnet bulge. Inside, a black leather-covered dash replaced the previous walnut. The wooden dashboard did find its way back into the Vantage during the eighties, giving a more luxurious appearance. The Oscar India version also received a slight increase in power, to 390hp. This line was produced, with some running changes, until 1989. From 1986 the engine had 403hp.
1986 saw the introduction of X-Pack was a further upgrade, with Cosworth pistons and Nimrod racing-type heads producing 403hp. A big bore after-market option was also available from Works Service, with 50mm carbs and straight-through exhaust system giving 432hp, the same engine as fitted to the limited-edition V8 Zagato. 16-inch wheels were also now fitted. A 450hp 6.3L version was also available from Aston Martin, and independent manufacturers offered a 7L version just to up the ante.
In 1986, the Vantage had its roof cut off into what would become the convertible Vantage Volante, basically identical. In 1987 The Prince of Wales took delivery of a Vantage Volante, but at his request without the production car's wider wheelarches, front air dam and side skirts. This became known as the 'Prince of Wales Spec' (or POW) and around another 26 such cars were built by the factory.
The Prince was obviously very specific about his motorcars!
304 Series 2 Vantage coupés were built, including 131 X-Packs and 192 Volantes. Volante's are often considered the most desirable of the Aston Martin V8 Vantage range. In all, 534 V8 Vantages were constructed during its 12 year production run, with the car being replaced in 1989 by the Aston Martin Virage, as well as a new generation V8 Vantage which remained somewhat faithful to the original design of the 60's (if not a little more bulky) and was the last Aston Martin design to incorporate a traditional style before changing to the style laid down by the DB7 in 1993.
However, the Vantage did find its way into movie fame as the first Aston Martin used in a James Bond movie since the DBS used in On Her Majesty's Secret Service in 1969. In 1987's 'The Living Daylights' (the first film to star Timothy Dalton as 007), Bond was treated to Q-Branch's Aston Martin V8 Vantage, complete with missiles, lasers to separate pesky Lada's from their chassis, and a heads-up display to assist in warding off evildoers. It also came with a 'Winter Pack', which included skis, a rocket propulsion and spiked tyres for better grip. The car however met an unfortunate demise after getting stuck in a snowdrift, forcing Bond to activate the self-destruct, engulfing the car in a fiery explosion. But at least everyone's favourite secret agent had finally been reunited with his faithful Aston Martin once again!
There is some slight incongruity with the film though, as at the beginning of the movie, the car is a convertible Volante, yet for the rest of the movie it's a hardtop regular Vantage. This confused me somewhat, or perhaps whilst Bond had the car shipped he had a roof welded on in the meantime!
Today there are a fair number of Vantages roaming the countryside, their popular design, pedigree Bond Car status and sheer raw power keeping them truly afloat. In fact, these cars are much more prominent than the Virage that replaced it, of which you barely see any!
Carol Todd & Princess Snowflake youtu.be/IZVl_C020p8
Elise Estrada Wonder Woman youtu.be/EjWWzGouIeU
The Amanda Todd Memorial Service was held at the Red Robinson Theatre in Coquitlam, BC Canada on Nov 18, 2012. The event was a celebration of her life by friends and families of the teenager who committed suicide shortly after making a 9-minute Youtube video using flash cards detailing her tormented existence of being cyber-bullied, blackmailed and emotionally and even physically abused both online and in real-life. Amanda died in October, 2012. She would have been 16 years old on Nov 27, 2012. The video had since then gathered millions of views on Youtube.
The celebration began at 1:30Pm and lasted a little over two hours. While a pastor delivered a sermon, friends of Amanda and a teacher went on stage one after the other (sometimes in a group), each gave a short speech to express their love, sadness and sympathy towards the teenager. Many whipped tears as they spoke. The last two persons to give dedications were also two of the most important people in Amanda’s life, her parents Norm and Carol Todd. Norm and carol had been divorced with Amanda living with her mom up until the time of the teenager’s suicide.
Princess Snowflake was what Amanda liked her mum to call her. Mother didn’t understand why snowflake at first, so she looked up an urban dictionary and found out that what Amanda referred to was the uniqueness of each snowflake that falls from heaven to earth.
In an emotional 18-minute speech, Carol Todd spoke of her life with her daughter, how they have enriched each other. Even the mother admitted she has learned from the daughter who departed way too soon. Carol told of a story about a month before Amanda killed herself. They were walking along a street and Amanda saw a penny on the ground. She flipped the coin over, made a wish and then moved on. When her mother asked her why she didn’t keep the coin, she said someone else might do as she did and the coin would then become a good luck charm. The mother would now take her daughter’s lesson to heart and would do the same when she encounters a coin on the ground.
There were three musical performances by Cole Armour, Michaela Slinger and Singer/Songwriter Elise Estrada who went on stage and sang her single “Wonder Woman” live at the Red Robinson Theatre and dedicated it to Amanda Todd as well.
Carol Todd’s dedication was full of examples like this that were intimate stories of their lives together. There were joy, humor and laughter among her speech as well, but the ex-Mrs. Todd frequently whipped tears from her eyes and professed to have known which type of Kleenex was the softest.
Mr. Todd’s speech was more subdued and he kept his head bowed down most of the time. A day earlier, he had a tattoo done to his left arm with two words ‘Stay Strong’. Amanda was inspired by Demi Lovato, an American pop singer, X-Factor judge and anti-bullying advocate who had a ‘Stay Strong’ tattoo with each word itched on her left and right wrist. Norm and Amanda were supposed to have the tattoo done together, but Norm kept his end of the bargain after his daughter had gone.
After all dedications were over, a Todd family video recording of Amanda belting out a Hillary Duff song 'Someone Watching Over Me' was played on the large overhead projection screen for the audience to see. Amanda had desired to become a popular singer and have the world appreciate her talent, but it was only in death that she became famous. To wrap everything up, a slide-show presentation followed which was composed of a montage of family photos of Amanda, her parents and her brother accompanied by music and as well.
The media was kept at bay and were restricted to two small backroom booths capable of holding about 15 people each. Those shooting photos and videos found themselves too far back to get any more intimate shots. A mid-section row or two reserved for photographers would have been much appreciated in this writer’s view. Members of the press are a well-behaved bunch and do know how to show respect and honor privacy.
The celebration was held inside a show theater that is part of a casino complex, not exactly a church or funeral home. Those in the media who generated awareness and will likely continue to do so for the Amanda Todd legacy should have been given more consideration in making their jobs easier.
After the celebration inside the 1,074 seat theater was over, everyone was invited to an outside tent for coffee, cupcakes and other refreshment. Man-made snowflakes surrounded the tent paid tribute to the one whose cut-short life was celebrated on that day.
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[Text, Photos & Videos by Ray Van Eng | www.vancouver21.com ]
Ray Van Eng is an award-winning photographer, screenwriter, journalist, Internet publisher and movie/video producer. One of his videos is currently on view at the Hava Nagila Exhibit, Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust in New York City.
Varous Artists
Wednesday 6 - Friday 8 November, Check listing for times
Various Locations
Various Locations
Street Talks is a series of quickfire public talks, part of the Re@ct: Social Change Art Technology Symposium. Rather than your typical poster session, these talks will take place on the streets of Dundee in various locations. Free speech is essential to political and social change – these artists are quite literally taking it to the streets to share their creative practices.
Luisa Charles & Elke Reinhuber –Wednesday 6th November, 2pm, Slessor Gardens
Luisa Charles – discusses the intersections of disability and design, and how novel bespoke design practices could offer a solution to designing for all needs, where universal design could not. These design ideologies, that include co-design, individual centred design, mass customisation, and mass personalisation, are exemplified by case studies from pop culture design media, such as the Fixperts and BBC’s Big Life Fix. She analyses the social, technological, and economical shifts that are required for these practices to become mainstream, and the capability of bespoke design to cause enough disruption within the design economy to create a shift in capitalism.
Elke Reinhuber – The Urban Beautician moved recently from the speckless city state of Singapore, where she already developed her retirement plans, across the South China Sea, to protest-ridden Hong Kong. There, she observed how much effort the cleaners put up to keep these megapolises scrubbed and tidy. As they are frequently overlooked, the Urban Beautician captured some of them during their relentless daily routine. While they have adapted themselves to their particular duties, their skills are hardly ever honoured or even acknowledged. Paying homage to their Sisyphean challenge, they can be positioned now anywhere through Augmented Reality and venerated as perpetualised sculptures of our everyday heroes.The Urban Beautician tries to improve neglected details in our urban environment with interventions in public space and performances to camera. Since more than a decade she cares for things most people are oblivious to.
Ibarieze Abani and Daisy Abbott & Anders Zanichkowsky – Thursday 7th November, 1:30pm, Albert Square, by McManus Gallery Steps
Ibarieze Abani and Daisy Abbott – Transmedia storytelling uses multiple delivery channels to convey a narrative in order to provide a more immersive entertainment experience (Jenkins, 2009). Transmedia activism can be very broadly defined as using storytelling to “effect social change by engaging multiple stakeholders on multiple platforms to collaborate toward appropriate, community-led social action” (Srivastava, 2009). Activism depends on participation and collaboration within a community to avoid unsustainable or inappropriate top-down interventions. A similar concept, transmedia mobilization, uses transmedia storytelling to engage “the social base of a movement in participatory media making practices across multiple platforms” (Constanza-Chock, 2013) and also requires interaction from diverse voices from within the community.
Anders Zanichkowsky –“I Am in Your Hands: Smartphones and the erotics of the future”Social media artist and queer anarchist Anders Zanichkowsky will present excerpts and reflections from his current Grindr project, “Queen of Hearts,” as well as other recent projects reading Tarot cards on hookup apps and go-go dancing for a remote audience on Instagram. During this talk, Anders will use the same social media platforms that are the subject of his presentation, inviting you into the theory behind the work, and into the work itself. Equal parts cultural criticism, performance art, and experimental public speaking, this street talk will level the hierarchy of physical presence over virtual appearance, and scandalously suggest how thirst traps and sexting with strangers can indeed point us towards a radical future of queer intimacy and counterculture.
Mohammad Namazi & Matteo Preabianca – Friday 8th November, 1:30pm, Wellgate Centre, Victoria Road entrance
Mohammad Namazi – An Archive of Audio Disobedience, intervenes into the public realm, and collaborates with individuals, to construct a live-event. The event manifests through utilising a net-based sound archive, capable of involving participants in a collective form of sound-action, -publication, -demonstration, -performance, and -play.
The archive comprises various audio effects, sound segments, words, and computer-generated speeches – to stage a critical symphony, rooted in and derived from, socio-political concerns.
Matteo Preabianca – Mantra Marx is the eighth album for the NonMiPiaceIlCirco! Project. NonMiPiaceIlCirco! is a musical project that has been on since 2004, the year of the first album. Since then, the line-up has been in a constant change, with Matteo Preabianca the only member from the beginning. So they took The Capital from the shelf to read again. But who remembers it, especially young people? Let’s get rid of guitars and songs to give a didactic approach to the music. 25 tracks, one for each of the First Book’s 25 chapters. They use the lyrics as Hinduist mantras, where repetition is the key for a deep understanding of our life, and Marx as well. Its music, besides being lo-fi and badly made, is just an excuse. The lyrics are a summarized version of the aforementioned book, spoken by 25 different Mandarin native voices, completely unaware of the reason behind the recording. Still time to die as a Marxist(?). Developed and recorded in China.
About the Artists
Daisy Abbott is an interdisciplinary researcher and research developer based in the School of Simulation and Visualisation at The Glasgow School of Art. Daisy’s current research focusses on game-based learning, 3D visualisation, and issues surrounding digital interaction, documentation, preservation, and interpretation in the arts and humanities. She also collaborates with artists on works aiming to explore the nature of digital interactivity and digital art.
Luisa Charles is an interaction designer, multidisciplinary artist, and filmmaker. Having been exhibited in the Science Museum, Science Gallery London, London Design Festival, and various film festivals, amongst others, her work spans many themes across science and technology, social politics, and personal narratives. She specialises in installation design and physical computing, experience design, fabrication, and videography, and her work often comes under the umbrella of speculative and critical design. Her work focuses heavily on research processes, and forms itself organically through investigation and experimentation.
Ibarieze Abani is a recent Masters graduate in Serious Games and Virtual Reality at the Glasgow School of Art, where she has carried out projects about cultural heritage, gender inequality, transmedia storytelling and climate policy. She is an advocate of the capabilities of interactive digital media as a tool for opening up dialogues surrounding large scale themes such as climate justice, social justice and intersectionality. She has a keen interest in working with people using digital media to make meaningful and tangible differences on a societal scale.
Mohammad Namazi (b. 1981. Tehran) is an artist, educator and researcher based in London. Mohammad works through means of de-construction, collaboration, process, unlearning, and telematics systems within social and cultural realms. The studio operates as a research-lab for inter-disciplinary projects that can span video, sound, liveevents, graphics, photography, sculptural structures, and internet-based projects. He received his doctorate from UAL research in 2019, and currently teaches as visiting lecturer at Wimbledon, and Chelsea College of Arts. Mohammad is a member of research cluster Critical Practice.
Matteo Preabianca- Music and Languages…Music and Languages? How come? Matteo starts playing violin when he was a child, but he did not like it, especially when he tried to beat it on the table. It did not make any good sound. So, better drumming, right? Meanwhile playing and spending a lot his mum’s money to buy records he realised even speaking other languages was not so bad. Especially when he invented his own. Step by step, he turned into a music and languages teacher.
Elke Reinhuber is not your average artist, because she became a specialist on choice, decision making and counterfactual thoughts in media arts. Currently, Reinhuber teaches and researches at the School of Creative Media, CityU Hing Kong and is affiliated with the School of Art, Design and Media at NTU in Singapore. In her artistic practice, she investigates on the correlation between decisions and emotions and explores different strategies of visualisation and presentation, working with immersive environments, mixed reality, imaging technologies and performance. In addition, her alter ego, the ‘Urban Beautician’ is pursuing a life which Elke didn’t follow.
Anders Zanickowsky is an American artist and activist who uses platforms like Grindr and Instagram as actual sites for performances about desire, uncertainty, and vulnerability. He is committed to José Esteban Muñoz’s concept of queer futurity in which artists refuse the oppressive confines of the present and reach instead towards what can only be imagined. He has an MFA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (2019) and was a resident with The Arctic Circle program in Svalbard (2016). Since 2008 he has worked in movements for housing justice, prison abolition, and HIV/AIDS.
Photography by Kathryn Rattray
Varanasi, also known as Benares, or Kashi is an Indian city on the banks of the Ganga in Uttar Pradesh, 320 kilometres south-east of the state capital, Lucknow. It is the holiest of the seven sacred cities (Sapta Puri) in Hinduism, and Jainism, and played an important role in the development of Buddhism. Some Hindus believe that death at Varanasi brings salvation. It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Varanasi is also known as the favourite city of the Hindu deity Lord Shiva as it has been mentioned in the Rigveda that this city in older times was known as Kashi or "Shiv ki Nagri".
The Kashi Naresh (Maharaja of Kashi) is the chief cultural patron of Varanasi, and an essential part of all religious celebrations. The culture of Varanasi is closely associated with the Ganges. The city has been a cultural centre of North India for several thousand years, and has a history that is older than most of the major world religions. The Benares Gharana form of Hindustani classical music was developed in Varanasi, and many prominent Indian philosophers, poets, writers, and musicians live or have lived in Varanasi. Gautama Buddha gave his first sermon at Sarnath, located near Varanasi.
Varanasi is the spiritual capital of India. It is often referred to as "the holy city of India", "the religious capital of India", "the city of Shiva", and "the city of learning". Scholarly books have been written in the city, including the Ramcharitmanas of Tulsidas. Today, there is a temple of his namesake in the city, the Tulsi Manas Mandir. The current temples and religious institutions in the city are dated to the 18th century. One of the largest residential universities of Asia, the Banaras Hindu University (BHU), is located here.
ETYMOLOGY
The name Varanasi possibly originates from the names of the two rivers: Varuna, still flowing in Varanasi, and Asi, a small stream near Assi Ghat. The old city does lie on the north shores of Ganges River bounded by its two tributaries Varuna and Asi. Another speculation is that the city derives its name from the river Varuna, which was called Varanasi in olden times.[11] This is generally disregarded by historians. Through the ages, Varanasi has been known by many names including Kāśī or Kashi (used by pilgrims dating from Buddha's days), Kāśikā (the shining one), Avimukta ("never forsaken" by Shiva), Ānandavana (the forest of bliss), and Rudravāsa (the place where Rudra/Śiva resides).
In the Rigveda, the city is referred to as Kāśī or Kashi, the luminous city as an eminent seat of learning. The name Kāśī is also mentioned in the Skanda Purana. In one verse, Shiva says, "The three worlds form one city of mine, and Kāśī is my royal palace therein." The name Kashi may be translated as "City of Light".
HISTORY
According to legend, Varanasi was founded by the God Shiva. The Pandavas, the heroes of the Hindu epic Mahabharata are also stated to have visited the city in search of Shiva to atone for their sins of fratricide and Brāhmanahatya that they had committed during the climactic Kurukshetra war. It is regarded as one of seven holy cities which can provide Moksha:
The earliest known archaeological evidence suggests that settlement around Varanasi in the Ganga valley (the seat of Vedic religion and philosophy) began in the 11th or 12th century BC, placing it among the world's oldest continually inhabited cities. These archaeological remains suggest that the Varanasi area was populated by Vedic people. However, the Atharvaveda (the oldest known text referencing the city), which dates to approximately the same period, suggests that the area was populated by indigenous tribes. It is possible that archaeological evidence of these previous inhabitants has yet to be discovered. Recent excavations at Aktha and Ramnagar, two sites very near to Varanasi, show them to be from 1800 BC, suggesting Varanasi started to be inhabited by that time too. Varanasi was also home to Parshva, the 23rd Jain Tirthankara and the earliest Tirthankara accepted as a historical figure in the 8th century BC.
Varanasi grew as an important industrial centre, famous for its muslin and silk fabrics, perfumes, ivory works, and sculpture. During the time of Gautama Buddha (born circa 567 BC), Varanasi was the capital of the Kingdom of Kashi. Buddha is believed to have founded Buddhism here around 528 BC when he gave his first sermon, "Turning the Wheel of Law", at nearby Sarnath. The celebrated Chinese traveller Xuanzang, who visited the city around 635 AD, attested that the city was a centre of religious and artistic activities, and that it extended for about 5 kilometres along the western bank of the Ganges. When Xuanzang, also known as Hiuen Tsiang, visited Varanasi in the 7th century, he named it "Polonisse" and wrote that the city had some 30 temples with about 30 monks. The city's religious importance continued to grow in the 8th century, when Adi Shankara established the worship of Shiva as an official sect of Varanasi.
In ancient times, Varanasi was connected by a road starting from Taxila and ending at Pataliputra during the Mauryan Empire. In 1194, the city succumbed to Turkish Muslim rule under Qutb-ud-din Aibak, who ordered the destruction of some one thousand temples in the city. The city went into decline over some three centuries of Muslim occupation, although new temples were erected in the 13th century after the Afghan invasion. Feroz Shah ordered further destruction of Hindu temples in the Varanasi area in 1376. The Afghan ruler Sikander Lodi continued the suppression of Hinduism in the city and destroyed most of the remaining older temples in 1496. Despite the Muslim rule, Varanasi remained the centre of activity for intellectuals and theologians during the Middle Ages, which further contributed to its reputation as a cultural centre of religion and education. Several major figures of the Bhakti movement were born in Varanasi, including Kabir who was born here in 1389 and hailed as "the most outstanding of the saint-poets of Bhakti cult (devotion) and mysticism of 15th-Century India"; and Ravidas, a 15th-century socio-religious reformer, mystic, poet, traveller, and spiritual figure, who was born and lived in the city and employed in the tannery industry. Similarly, numerous eminent scholars and preachers visited the city from across India and south Asia. Guru Nanak Dev visited Varanasi for Shivratri in 1507, a trip that played a large role in the founding of Sikhism.
In the 16th century, Varanasi experienced a cultural revival under the Muslim Mughal emperor Akbar who invested in the city, and built two large temples dedicated to Shiva and Vishnu. The Raja of Poona established the Annapurnamandir and the 200 metres Akbari Bridge was also completed during this period. The earliest tourists began arriving in the city during the 16th century. In 1665, the French traveller Jean Baptiste Tavernier described the architectural beauty of the Vindu Madhava temple on the side of the Ganges. The road infrastructure was also improved during this period and extended from Kolkata to Peshawar by Emperor Sher Shah Suri; later during the British Raj it came to be known as the famous Grand Trunk Road. In 1656, emperor Aurangzeb ordered the destruction of many temples and the building of mosques, causing the city to experience a temporary setback. However, after Aurangazeb's death, most of India was ruled by a confederacy of pro-Hindu kings. Much of modern Varanasi was built during this time by the Rajput and Maratha kings, especially during the 18th century, and most of the important buildings in the city today date to this period. The kings continued to be important through much of the British rule (1775–1947 AD), including the Maharaja of Benares, or Kashi Naresh. The kingdom of Benares was given official status by the Mughals in 1737, and continued as a dynasty-governed area until Indian independence in 1947, during the reign of Dr. Vibhuti Narayan Singh. In the 18th century, Muhammad Shah ordered the construction of an observatory on the Ganges, attached to Man Mandir Ghat, designed to discover imperfections in the calendar in order to revise existing astronomical tables. Tourism in the city began to flourish in the 18th century. In 1791, under the rule of the British Governor-General Warren Hastings, Jonathan Duncan founded a Sanskrit College in Varanasi. In 1867, the establishment of the Varanasi Municipal Board led to significant improvements in the city.
In 1897, Mark Twain, the renowned Indophile, said of Varanasi, "Benares is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend, and looks twice as old as all of them put together." In 1910, the British made Varanasi a new Indian state, with Ramanagar as its headquarters but with no jurisdiction over the city of Varanasi itself. Kashi Naresh still resides in the Ramnagar Fort which is situated to the east of Varanasi, across the Ganges. Ramnagar Fort and its museum are the repository of the history of the kings of Varanasi. Since the 18th century, the fort has been the home of Kashi Naresh, deeply revered by the local people. He is the religious head and some devout inhabitants consider him to be the incarnation of Shiva. He is also the chief cultural patron and an essential part of all religious celebrations.
A massacre by British troops, of the Indian troops stationed here and of the population of the city, took place during the early stages of the Indian Rebellion of 1857. Annie Besant worked in Varanasi to promote theosophy and founded the Central Hindu College which later became a foundation for the creation of Banaras Hindu University as a secular university in 1916. Her purpose in founding the Central Hindu College in Varanasi was that she "wanted to bring men of all religions together under the ideal of brotherhood in order to promote Indian cultural values and to remove ill-will among different sections of the Indian population."
Varanasi was ceded to the Union of India on 15 October 1948. After the death of Dr. Vibhuti Narayan Singh in 2000, his son Anant Narayan Singh became the figurehead king, responsible for upholding the traditional duties of a Kashi Naresh.
MAIN SIGHTS
Varanasi's "Old City", the quarter near the banks of the Ganga river, has crowded narrow winding lanes flanked by road-side shops and scores of Hindu temples. As atmospheric as it is confusing, Varanasi's labyrinthine Old City has a rich culture, attracting many travellers and tourists. The main residential areas of Varanasi (especially for the middle and upper classes) are situated in regions far from the ghats; they are more spacious and less polluted.
Museums in and around Varanasi include Jantar Mantar, Sarnath Museum, Bharat Kala Bhawan and Ramnagar Fort.
JANTAR MANTAR
The Jantar Mantar observatory (1737) is located above the ghats on the Ganges, much above the high water level in the Ganges next to the Manmandir Ghat, near to Dasaswamedh Ghat and adjoining the palace of Raja Jai Singh of Jaipur. Compared to the observatories at Jaipur and Delhi, it is less well equipped but has a unique equatorial sundial which is functional and allows measurements to be monitored and recorded by one person.
RAMNAGAR FORT
The Ramnagar Fort located near the Ganges River on its eastern bank, opposite to the Tulsi Ghat, was built in the 18th century by Kashi Naresh Raja Balwant Singh with creamy chunar sandstone. It is in a typically Mughal style of architecture with carved balconies, open courtyards, and scenic pavilions. At present the fort is not in good repair. The fort and its museum are the repository of the history of the kings of Benares. It has been the home of the Kashi Naresh since the 18th century. The current king and the resident of the fort is Anant Narayan Singh who is also known as the Maharaja of Varanasi even though this royal title has been abolished since 1971. Labeled "an eccentric museum", it has a rare collection of American vintage cars, sedan chairs (bejeweled), an impressive weaponry hall and a rare astrological clock. In addition, manuscripts, especially religious writings, are housed in the Saraswati Bhawan. Also included is a precious handwritten manuscript by Goswami Tulsidas. Many books illustrated in the Mughal miniature style, with beautifully designed covers are also part of the collections. Because of its scenic location on the banks of the Ganges, it is frequently used as an outdoor shooting location for films. The film titled Banaras is one of the popular movies shot here. However, only a part of the fort is open for public viewing as the rest of the area is the residence of the Kashi Naresh and his family. It is 14 kilometres from Varanasi.
GHATS
Ghats are embankments made in steps of stone slabs along the river bank where pilgrims perform ritual ablutions. Ghats in Varanasi are an integral complement to the concept of divinity represented in physical, metaphysical and supernatural elements. All the ghats are locations on "the divine cosmic road", indicative of "its manifest transcendental dimension" Varanasi has at least 84 ghats. Steps in the ghats lead to the banks of River Ganges, including the Dashashwamedh Ghat, the Manikarnika Ghat, the Panchganga Ghat and the Harishchandra Ghat (where Hindus cremate their dead). Many ghats are associated with legends and several are now privately owned.
Many of the ghats were built when the city was under Maratha control. Marathas, Shindes (Scindias), Holkars, Bhonsles, and Peshwas stand out as patrons of present-day Varanasi. Most of the ghats are bathing ghats, while others are used as cremation sites. A morning boat ride on the Ganges across the ghats is a popular visitor attraction. The extensive stretches of ghats enhance the river front with a multitude of shrines, temples and palaces built "tier on tier above the water’s edge".
The Dashashwamedh Ghat is the main and probably the oldest ghat of Varansi located on the Ganges, close to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. It is believed that Brahma created it to welcome Shiva and sacrificed ten horses during the Dasa -Ashwamedha yajna performed here. Above the ghat and close to it, there are also temples dedicated to Sulatankesvara, Brahmesvara, Varahesvara, Abhaya Vinayaka, Ganga (the Ganges), and Bandi Devi which are part of important pilgrimage journeys. A group of priests perform "Agni Pooja" (Worship to Fire) daily in the evening at this ghat as a dedication to Shiva, Ganga, Surya (Sun), Agni (Fire), and the whole universe. Special aartis are held on Tuesdays and on religious festivals.
The Manikarnika Ghat is the Mahasmasana (meaning: "great cremation ground") and is the primary site for Hindu cremation in the city. Adjoining the ghat, there are raised platforms that are used for death anniversary rituals. It is said that an ear-ring (Manikarnika) of Shiva or his wife Sati fell here. According to a myth related to the Tarakesvara Temple, a Shiva temple at the ghat, Shiva whispers the Taraka mantra ("Prayer of the crossing") in the ear of the dead. Fourth-century Gupta period inscriptions mention this ghat. However, the current ghat as a permanent riverside embankment was built in 1302 and has been renovated at least three times.
TEMPLES
Among the estimated 23000 temples in Varanasi, the most worshiped are: the Kashi Vishwanath Temple of Shiva; the Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple; and the Durga Temple known for the band of monkeys that reside in the large trees nearby.
Located on the outskirts of the Ganges, the Kashi Vishwanath Temple – dedicated to Varanasi's presiding deity Shiva (Vishwanath – "Lord of the world") – is an important Hindu temple and one of the 12 Jyotirlinga Shiva temples. It is believed that a single view of Vishwanath Jyotirlinga is worth more than that of other jyotirlingas. The temple has been destroyed and rebuilt a number of times. The Gyanvapi Mosque, which is adjacent to the temple, is the original site of the temple. The temple, as it exists now, also called Golden Temple, was built in 1780 by Queen Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore. The two pinnacles of the temple are covered in gold, donated in 1839 by Ranjit Singh, the ruler of the Punjab and the remaining dome is also planned to be gold plated by the Ministry of Culture & Religious Affairs of Uttar Pradesh. On 28 January 1983, the temple was taken over by the government of Uttar Pradesh and its management was transferred to a trust with then Kashi Naresh, Vibhuti Narayan Singh, as president and an executive committee with a Divisional Commissioner as chairman. Numerous rituals, prayers and aratis are held daily, starting from 2:30 am till 11:00 pm.
The Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple is one of the sacred temples of the Hindu god Hanuman situated by the Assi River, on the way to the Durga and New Vishwanath temples within the Banaras Hindu University campus. The present temple structure was built in early 1900s by the educationist and freedom fighter, Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya, the founder of Banaras Hindu University. It is believed the temple was built on the very spot where the medieval Hindu saint Tulsidas had a vision of Hanuman. Thousands flock to the temple on Tuesdays and Saturdays, weekdays associated with Hanuman. On 7 March 2006, in a terrorist attack one of the three explosions hit the temple while the Aarti was in progress when numerous devotees and people attending a wedding were present and many were injured. However, normal worship was resumed the next day with devotees visiting the temple and reciting hymns of Hanuman Chalisa (authored by Tulidas) and Sundarkand (a booklet of these hymns is provided free of charge in the temple). After the terrorist incident, a permanent police post was set up inside the temple.
There are two temples named "Durga" in Varanasi, Durga Mandir (built about 500 years ago), and Durga Kund (built in the 18th century). Thousands of Hindu devotees visit Durga Kund during Navratri to worship the goddess Durga. The temple, built in Nagara architectural style, has multi-tiered spires[96] and is stained red with ochre, representing the red colour of Durga. The building has a rectangular tank of water called the Durga Kund ("Kund" meaning a pond or pool). Every year on the occasion of Nag Panchami, the act of depicting the god Vishnu reclining on the serpent Shesha is recreated in the Kund.
While the Annapurna Temple, located close to the Kashi Vishwanath temple, is dedicated to Annapurna, the goddess of food, the Sankatha Temple close to the Sindhia Ghat is dedicated to Sankatha, the goddess of remedy. The Sankatha temple has a large sculpture of a lion and a nine temple cluster dedicated to the nine planets.
Kalabhairav Temple, an ancient temple located near the Head Post Office at Visheshar Ganj, is dedicated to Kala-Bhairava, the guardian (Kotwal) of Varanasi. The Mrithyunjay Mahadev Temple, dedicated to Shiva, is situated on the way to Daranagar to Kalbhairav temple. A well near the temple has some religious significance as its water source is believed to be fed from several underground streams, having curative powers.
The New Vishwanath Temple located in the campus of Banaras Hindu University is a modern temple which was planned by Pandit Malviya and built by the Birlas. The Tulsi Manas Temple, nearby the Durga Temple, is a modern temple dedicated to the god Rama. It is built at the place where Tulsidas authored the Ramcharitmanas, which narrates the life of Rama. Many verses from this epic are inscribed on the temple walls.
The Bharat Mata Temple, dedicated to the national personification of India, was inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi in 1936. It has relief maps of India carved in marble. Babu Shiv Prasad Gupta and Durga Prasad Khatri, leading numismatists, antiquarians and nationalist leaders, donated funds for its construction.
RELIGION
HINDUISM
Varanasi is one of the holiest cities and centres of pilgrimage for Hindus of all denominations. It is one of the seven Hindu holiest cities (Sapta Puri), considered the giver of salvation (moksha). Over 50,000 Brahmins live in Varanasi, providing religious services to the masses. Hindus believe that bathing in the Ganges remits sins and that dying in Kashi ensures release of a person's soul from the cycle of its transmigrations. Thus, many Hindus arrive here for dying.
As the home to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple Jyotirlinga, it is very sacred for Shaivism. Varanasi is also a Shakti Peetha, where the temple to goddess Vishalakshi stands, believed to be the spot where the goddess Sati's earrings fell. Hindus of the Shakti sect make a pilgrimage to the city because they regard the River Ganges itself to be the Goddess Shakti. Adi Shankara wrote his commentaries on Hinduism here, leading to the great Hindu revival.
In 2001, Hindus made up approximately 84% of the population of Varanasi District.
ISLAM
Varanasi is one of the holiest cities and centres of pilgrimage for Hindus of all denominations. It is one of the seven Hindu holiest cities (Sapta Puri), considered the giver of salvation (moksha). Over 50,000 Brahmins live in Varanasi, providing religious services to the masses. Hindus believe that bathing in the Ganges remits sins and that dying in Kashi ensures release of a person's soul from the cycle of its transmigrations. Thus, many Hindus arrive here for dying.
As the home to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple Jyotirlinga, it is very sacred for Shaivism. Varanasi is also a Shakti Peetha, where the temple to goddess Vishalakshi stands, believed to be the spot where the goddess Sati's earrings fell. Hindus of the Shakti sect make a pilgrimage to the city because they regard the River Ganges itself to be the Goddess Shakti. Adi Shankara wrote his commentaries on Hinduism here, leading to the great Hindu revival.
In 2001, Hindus made up approximately 84% of the population of Varanasi District.
OTHERS
At the 2001 census, persons of other religions or no religion made up 0.4% of the population of Varanasi District.
Varanasi is a pilgrimage site for Jains along with Hindus and Buddhists. It is believed to be the birthplace of Suparshvanath, Shreyansanath, and Parshva, who are respectively the seventh, eleventh, and twenty-third Jain Tirthankars and as such Varanasi is a holy city for Jains. Shree Parshvanath Digambar Jain Tirth Kshetra (Digambar Jain Temple) is situated in Bhelupur, Varanasi. This temple is of great religious importance to the Jain Religion.
Sarnath, a suburb of Varanasi, is a place of Buddhist pilgrimage. It is the site of the deer park where Siddhartha Gautama of Nepal is said to have given his first sermon about the basic principles of Buddhism. The Dhamek Stupa is one of the few pre-Ashokan stupas still in existence, though only its foundation remains. Also remaining is the Chaukhandi Stupa commemorating the spot where Buddha met his first disciples in the 5th century. An octagonal tower was built later there.
Guru Nanak Dev visited Varanasi for Shivratri in 1507 and had an encounter which with other events forms the basis for the story of the founding of Sikhism. Varanasi also hosts the Roman Catholic Diocese of Varanasi, and has an insignificant Jewish expatriate community. Varanasi is home to numerous tribal faiths which are not easily classified.
Dalits are 13% of population Of Varanasi city. Most dalits are followers of Guru Ravidass. So Shri Guru Ravidass Janam Asthan is important place of pilgrimage for Ravidasis from all around India.
RELIGIOUS FESTIVALS
On Mahashivaratri (February) – which is dedicated to Shiva – a procession of Shiva proceeds from the Mahamrityunjaya Temple to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple.
Dhrupad Mela is a five-day musical festival devoted to dhrupad style held at Tulsi Ghat in February–March.
The Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple celebrates Hanuman Jayanti (March–April), the birthday of Hanuman with great fervour. A special puja, aarti, and a public procession is organized. Starting in 1923, the temple organizes a five-day classical music and dance concert festival titled Sankat Mochan Sangeet Samaroh in this period, when iconic artists from all parts of India are invited to perform.
The Ramlila of Ramnagar is a dramatic enactment of Rama's legend, as told in Ramacharitamanasa. The plays, sponsored by Kashi Naresh, are performed in Ramnagar every evening for 31 days. On the last day, the festivities reach a crescendo as Rama vanquishes the demon king Ravana. Kashi Naresh Udit Narayan Singh started this tradition around 1830.
Bharat Milap celebrates the meeting of Rama and his younger brother Bharata after the return of the former after 14 years of exile. It is celebrated during October–November, a day after the festival of Vijayadashami. Kashi Naresh attends this festival in his regal attire resplendent in regal finery. The festival attracts a large number of devotees.
Nag Nathaiya, celebrated on the fourth lunar day of the dark fortnight of the Hindu month of Kartik (October–November), that commemorates the victory of the god Krishna over the serpent Kaliya. On this occasion, a large Kadamba tree (Neolamarckia cadamba) branch is planted on the banks of the Ganges so that a boy acting the role of Krishna can jump into the river on to the effigy representing Kaliya. He stands over the effigy in a dancing pose playing the flute; the effigy and the boy standing on it is given a swirl in front of the audience. People watch the display standing on the banks of the river or from boats.
Ganga Mahotsav is a five-day music festival organized by the Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department, held in November–December culminating a day before Kartik Poornima (Dev Deepawali). On Kartik Poornima also called the Ganges festival, the Ganges is venerated by arti offered by thousands of pilgrims who release lighted lamps to float in the river from the ghats.
Annually Jashne-Eid Miladunnabi is celebrated on the day of Barawafat in huge numbers by Muslims in a huge rally coming from all the parts of the city and meeting up at Beniya Bagh.
WIKIPEDIA
Well I tried to do some Portraits of this group this year, and I did them in B&W as it fits their motif. This is my first time doing a portrait session like this, so I am grateful for the chance to do this.
Strobist info:
ISO 200
f 4
Shutter 1/10th
Ambient light to the right, a Canon 480 EXII flash to the left with a Firefly Softbox fired using a Hahnel Trigger.
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At the beginning of the Vietnam War, there was little interest in a dedicated counterinsurgency (COIN) aircraft. The USAF was too committed to an all-jet, nuclear-capable force, while the US Army was satisfied with its helicopter fleet; the Navy concentrated on its carriers, and while the Marines were mildly interested, they lacked funding.
Vietnam was to change that. Horrendous losses among US Army UH-1s was to lead to a rethinking of helicopter doctrine, and pointed up the lack of a dedicated COIN aircraft. The USAF found itself depending on World War II-era A-26K Invaders, former US Navy A-1 Skyraiders, and converted trainers like the T-28 Trojan. The USAF also found itself in the market for a better forward air control (FAC) aircraft, due to the high loss rate of its O-1 Birddogs and O-2 Skymasters. Finally, the US Navy needed something to better cover its Mobile River Force units in the Mekong Delta, which could not always depend on USAF air support. In 1963, all three services issued a requirement for a new light design capable of performing as both a COIN and FAC aircraft. North American's NA-300 was selected in 1964 and designated OV-10A Bronco.
The OV-10 design drew heavily on independent research done at the China Lake research establishment, which in turn was inspired by the World War II P-38 Lightning fighter. The P-38 used a central "gondola" fuselage to concentrate all of its firepower along the centerline, which made for better accuracy; the OV-10 would do the same. As in the P-38, the engines were contained in twin booms that stretched back to the tail. The Bronco's four machine gun armament was placed in sponsons on either side of the fuselage, while ordnance was carried beneath the sponsons. To satisfy the USAF's requirements for a FAC aircraft, the two-man crew flew underneath a large, spacious canopy that gave them superb visibility. Because the Marines wanted an aircraft that could carry a Recon team, the fuselage was extended and, if the rear seat was removed, five paratroopers could be squeezed into the back, or two stretchers.
When the OV-10 arrived in Vietnam in 1968, there was a fear that the Bronco would be the jack of all trades and master of none. In fact, it proved to be excellent in all of its roles. As a FAC, it was a huge improvement over the slower O-1 and O-2; as a COIN aircraft, it was also a good aircraft, though it could not carry the same amount of ordnance as an A-1. The Navy equipped one squadron with OV-10As as VAL-4--nicknamed the "Black Ponies" for their dark green camouflage--and these were used extensively over the Mekong Delta. There were problems with the design: the airframe was actually too heavy for the engines, which left it underpowered, and ditching was invariably fatal for the pilot, as his seat tended to hurl forward into the instrument panel. Nonetheless, the Bronco turned in a sterling performance in Southeast Asia.
Though the Navy transferred its surviving Black Ponies to the Marines after the end of American involvement in Vietnam, the USAF and Marines would keep theirs for the next 20 years. For the 1970s and 1980s, the OV-10 replaced all other FAC designs in USAF service, aside from a handful of OA-37B Dragonfly squadrons. The Marines also kept their OV-10s and further refined the design by adding all-weather capability in the long-nosed OV-10D variant.
By the First Gulf War in 1991, the OV-10 was starting to show its age. The USAF began retiring its fleet even before Desert Storm; the Bronco was considered to be too slow to survive a modern air defense environment. Though the Marines used some of their OV-10Ds, the loss of two aircraft also led the USMC to retire their Broncos after war's end. Both services chose jets as replacements--the USAF with modified OA-10A Thunderbolt IIs, and the Marines with two-seat all-weather F/A-18Ds.
OV-10s were also a mild export success, going to seven other countries, mainly in the COIN role. Most have since been retired in favor of newer designs, though the Philippines still has a large and active OV-10 force. The type enjoyed a brief renaissance in 2015 when two former Marine OV-10Ds were taken up by the USAF for use against ISIS forces in Iraq, to see if the design was still viable. Though the OV-10s performed well, the USAF is not likely to put it back into production. 360 were built, and at least 25 are on display in museums aside from the aircraft that are still operational.
Though painted as a Marine OV-10A, this aircraft is actually 67-4615. Virtually nothing can be found about this aircraft's military career, other than it was one of the aircraft selected for the Pave Nail program in 1970, in which OV-10s were fitted with laser designators for use over the Ho Chi Minh Trail: Nail FACs would paint targets for F-4s equipped with laser-guided bombs. As the Pave Nail OV-10s served with the 23rd Tactical Air Support Squadron at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, 67-4615 likely served with that squadron, making this aircraft a Vietnam veteran.
After Vietnam, 67-4615 probably stayed with the 23rd TASS back to Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, where it may have remained; another possibility is that it served in West Germany with the 601st Tactical Air Support Wing at Sembach, where many of the USAF's OV-10s ended up. It was retired with the rest of the USAF's Broncos in 1991, and in 1993 was transferred to the Bureau of Land Management to coordinate forest firefighting efforts and survey BLM lands. In 2013, 67-4615 was grounded permanently and donated to the Estrella Warbirds Museum in Paso Robles, California.
When Estrella got 67-4615, it was repainted in 1980s-era USMC colors of dark green over white, but by 2022 it had been repainted again, this time as a OV-10A serving with VMO-2 during Operation Desert Storm. VMO-2, which successfully used their OV-10s as FACs despite a heavy Iraqi antiaircraft fire threat, had painted their Broncos in this two shades of brown and tan desert scheme. We saw this aircraft in June 2023.
Resolving relationship conflict can be tricky so you may find a little expert advice on why we hate disagreement, and how to live with it handy.
Certainly, you’ve heard the phrase before, perhaps so often that it’s ceased to have much meaning to you. But the fact is that in a...
howdoidate.com/relationships/a-surprising-way-to-handle-r...
Always committed to improving health and safety in the workplace, we have implemented a Safety Dojo in each of our three factories. This is a schooling area dedicated to instructing our employees on good safety practices to help prevent accidents and illnesses.
Above is the Dojo set up in 2010 in the Mjölby factory in Sweden. To date, all of our forklift production sites have one and the concept is spreading across our network and even reaching outside of Toyota Material Handling Europe, too.
Read more:
Toyota Material Handling Europe’s Continuous Commitment to Health and Safety
Rudolf Hess "The Last Man in Spandau" committed suicide in Spandau Prison 17 Aug 87 (or see various conspiracy theories!). He was conveyed to the British Military Hospital in Berlin, fortuitously opposite my flat. While he was in the BMH there was of course intense press interest and equally, a huge security operation. I had to take the photos covertly as "rubbernecking" was definitely frowned upon. His body was moved out of the BMH to be flown out of the city in a big operation involving a dummy convoy to fool the paparazzi. Here CO 2 RMP arrives in his Opel Omega staff car to oversee the operation to move Hess out.
An entire floor of the BMH was dedicated to Rudolf Hess on the off chance he would need treatment. This meant that pressing the button for the second floor in the lift was futile, it would not stop there.
The British in Berlin had been waiting for years for Hess to die, not out of any malice, but because Spandau Prison was, after his death, always going to be demolished and a smart NAAFI and leisure centre built there. By the time of his death however, plans were scaled down and the leisure centre never materialised. We did get a smart new shopping mall though, the Britannia Centre. A competition was organised to pick the name, but by the second week, it was announced that no more entries for "Hessco's" were going to be accepted, and it was definitely NOT going to be picked!
In a dystopian 1984, Winston Smith endures a squalid existence in the totalitarian superstate of Oceania under the constant surveillance of the Thought Police. The story takes place in London, the capital city of the territory of Airstrip One (formerly "either England or Britain").
Winston works in a small office cubicle at the Ministry of Truth, rewriting history in accordance with the dictates of the Party and its supreme figurehead, Big Brother. A man haunted by painful memories and restless desires, Winston is an everyman who keeps a secret diary of his private thoughts, thus creating evidence of his thoughtcrime — the crime of independent thought, contrary to the dictates and aims of the Party.
His life takes a fatal turn when he is accosted by a fellow Outer Party worker — a mysterious, bold-looking girl named Julia — and they begin an illicit affair. Their first meeting takes place in the remote countryside where they exchange subversive ideas before having sex. Shortly after, Winston rents a room above a pawn shop (in the supposedly safe proletarian area) where they continue their liaison. Julia — a sensual, free-spirited young woman — procures contraband food and clothing on the black market, and for a brief few months they secretly meet and enjoy an idyllic life of relative freedom and contentment together.
It comes to an end one evening, with the sudden raid of the Thought Police. They are both arrested and it's revealed that there is a telescreen hidden behind a picture on the wall in their room, and that the proprietor of the pawn shop, Mr. Charrington, is a covert agent of the Thought Police. Winston and Julia are taken away to be detained, questioned and brutally "rehabilitated", separately. Winston is brought to the Ministry of Love, where O'Brien, a high-ranking member of the Inner Party whom Winston had previously believed to be a fellow thoughtcriminal and agent of the resistance movement led by the archenemy of the Party, Emmanuel Goldstein, systematically tortured him.
O'Brien instructs Winston about the state's true purpose and schools him in a kind of catechism on the principles of doublethink — the practice of holding two contradictory thoughts in the mind simultaneously. For his final rehabilitation, Winston is brought to Room 101, where O'Brien tells him he will be subjected to the "worst thing in the world", designed specifically around Smith's personal phobias. When confronted with this unbearable horror — which turns out to be a cage filled with wild rats — Winston's psychological resistance finally and irretrievably breaks down, and he hysterically repudiates his allegiance to Julia. Now completely subjugated and purged of any rebellious thoughts, impulses, or personal attachments, Winston is restored to physical health and released.
In the final scene, Winston returns to the Chestnut Tree Café, where he had previously seen the rehabilitated thoughtcriminals Jones, Aaronson and Rutherford (themselves once prominent but later disgraced members of the Inner Party) who have since been "vaporized" and rendered unpersons. While sitting at the chess table, Winston is approached by Julia, who was similarly "rehabilitated". They share a bottle of Victory Gin and impassively exchange a few words about how they have betrayed each other. After she leaves, Winston watches a broadcast of himself on the large telescreen confessing his "crimes" against the state and imploring forgiveness of the populace.
Upon hearing a news report declaring the Oceanian army's utter rout of the enemy (Eurasian)'s forces in North Africa, Winston looks at the still image of Big Brother that appears on the telescreen, then turns away and almost silently says "I love you" - a phrase that he and Julia repeatedly used during their relationship, indicating the possibility that he still loves Julia. However, he could also be declaring his love for Big Brother instead. The novel unambiguously ends with the words: "He loved Big Brother," whereas the movie seems to deliberately allow for either interpretation. Earlier, during Winston's conversation with Julia in the rented room, he stated that "if they can make me change my feelings, they can stop me from loving you, that would be real betrayal". In the final scene, the "real betrayal" has therefore either been committed or averted, depending on whether the "you" that Winston loves is Big Brother or Julia.
At Repsol, our vision is to be an innovative company that is building a better future through the
development of smart energy solutions. We are working together with talent and enthusiasm.
To learn more about our commitment to social responsibility, visit www.repsolusa.com.
En Repsol, nuestra visión es ser una empresa innovadora que está construyendo un futuro mejor a través del desarrollo de soluciones energeticas inteligentes. Estamos trabajando juntos talento y entusiasmo .
Para conocer más sobre nuestro compromiso con la responsabilidad social , visite www.repsolusa.com
Committed trolleybus operators like Walsall often snapped up good secondhand vehicles as other undertakings closed their systems. Thus, GFU693 moved from Grimsby-Cleethorpes to Walsall in 1960, when it was ten years old. A BUT 9611T with a Northern Coachbuilders H28/26R body when it arrived in Walsall, two years later it was lengthened to 30 ft. and re-seated as H39/30F. This style of Northern Coachbuilders body outwardly resembled the products of Eastern Coachworks. The bus was photographed in Walsall Bus Station in September 1968.
At Planet Woman Health Centre we are committed to helping incorporate fitness into your life. We are a women's only gym catering to all levels of fitness in a friendly, comfortable & safe environment. The facilities hosts a 2,000 square foot sprung hardwood floor for group fitness, steam room, Internet access, massage chair & child minding to name a few. Located on the second floor of the Garden City Plaza, you'll enjoy the view from the outdoor patio or simply stay inside to enjoy the natural lighting. Group fitness classes, including Yoga & Pilates, are part of all memberships.
Personal trainers are onsite to answer your questions or work with you more closely on individual goals.
Our focus is on fitness in a non intimidating setting. We are confident that women of all shapes & sizes will feel completely comfortable. Our friendly & knowledgeable staff will take the time to ensure that you maximize you workouts & fitness regime, whatever they may be.
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Is the troublesome scourge of gender discrimination and gender inequality now being committed by Trudeau's Liberals when they select applicants and fill top Governmental positions in Canada ? 'Baby it can be Cold Outside' if you happen to be of the wrong gender in this Government ?
Concerns growing over the large gender disproportion now seen in prominent and powerful top Government of Canada positions ? Is the newly created Minister of Gender Equality aware of this gender inequality ?
Women now hold most of the top Liberal Government positions in Canada ? These now include the Trudeau Cabinet Ministers of : Finance, Defence, Foreign affairs, Internal Revenue, Indian Affairs, Trade, Employment, Agriculture, Public Services, Tourism, health and addictions, Families, Language, Seniors, Fisheries, Sports, Rural Economic Development, Small business, as well as the President of the Treasury Board, Clerk of the Privy Council, the Governor-General of Canada, Commissioner of Lobbying Nancy Bélanger, the Deputy and Acting Prime Minister of Canada, Head of the RCMP (now resigned), the Head of the CBC Catherine Tait , the President of the Liberal Party of Canada, the Ethics commissioner, Leader of the House of Commons Karina Gould, Government whip Ruby Sahotak, Auditor General Karen Hogan, Trudeau's chief of staff and his Parliamentary Secretary, Jody Thomas, National Security and Intelligence Advisor to the P M, the Commissioner Lobbying of Canada, The President of Hockey Canada, the new ambassador to China replacing John McCallum, Ambassador to the U.S.A. Kirsten Hillman, new head of the CBC Marie-Philippe Bouchard. There are numerous other lesser-known Cabinet and Senate positions held by the female gender, including the Minister of Gender Equality herself Marci Ien.
Favouritism based on a Soldier's gender may be playing a pivotal role in promotions and in the winning of positions and postings as they become available in different branches of the Armed Forces due to attrition, retirement, transfers, or firings based on scandal ?
Jul 10, 2025 - The first ever female COD head of the military Lt.-Gen. Jennie Carignan appoints the first ever female head of the Air Force Lieutenant-General Jamie Speiser-Blanchet as the new commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) from the current Commander Lieutenant-General Eric Kenny. www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/news/2025/07...
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news clippings,
Jun 28, 2024 - PM Trudeau appoints the first ever female head of the military. Lt.-Gen. Jennie Carignan is the first woman to serve as top commander of Canadian military.
www.cbc.ca/news/politics/carignan-new-chief-defence-1.724...
www.cbc.ca/news/politics/jennie-carignan-named-chief-of-t...
www.defensenews.com/global/the-americas/2024/07/19/first-...
Jun 30th, 2018 - Liberal leader of the House of Commons Karina Gould breastfeeds baby in parliament,
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/jun/21/karina-gould...
July 28th 2023 - Anita Anand is ousted as the Defence Minister : After focusing more on gender issues than on the defence of the nation, armed forces moral is way down ? Slogans like 'Brothers in Arms' or female insignias on F-18's no longer considered appropriate ?
www.reddit.com/r/canada/comments/15c8bun/anita_anand_oust...
Ottawa Parliament Hill - At an official ceremony on Parliament Hill , Marci Ien. and Justin Trudeau centre the pride flag and raise it higher than the Canadian red maple leaf flag ? www.youtube.com/watch?v=16u4HWY6BWw
Attention Minister of Gender Equality Marci Ien :
While millions are spent and dozens of women's shelters are created for the female gender, but male victims of abuse or ordered to leave in a domestic incident must sleep in park benches, churches or cars with nowhere to go because the hostels are full of immigrants and male transients ?
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/safe-haven-s...
Attention, Minister of Gender Equality Marci Ien ;
Males suffer Most apparent opioid toxicity deaths (72%)
health-infobase.canada.ca/substance-related-harms/opioids...
Attention, Minister of Gender Equality Marci Ien ;
Many housewives (and major spenders) are being discriminated against when not allowed to receive full GST rebate checks because of unfair 1 check per household rules ? Many are Seniors,,
www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/50876147926/in/photost...
Attention, Minister of Gender Equality Marci Ien ;
Females are now living longer ? Canada's overall mortality rate was on the increase from 2020 to 2021 ? Life expectancy gender inequality now being shown as life expectancy declines for men but increases for women ?
www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/230828/dq230828b-...
Attention, Minister of Gender Equality ?
Nov 11th, 2023 - Is discrimination shown in Remembrance Day ceremonies ? The Liberal Government has ordered the Canadian Military not to use or recite any Christian prayers like the Lord's Prayer at this years Remembrance Day ceremonies ?
www.msn.com/en-ca/news/world/gunter-we-will-always-pray-f...
These nice ladies want prison sentences handed down to those that dare to differ from their own personal individual beliefs calling them deniers and haters ?
No one is denying the existence of residential schools. And so why are people like Leah Gazan (NDP) , Lindsay Mathyssen (NDP), Nahanni Fontaine (NDP) and Kimberley Murray (Liberal Government investigator) still so disatisfied and why are they trying to force their own personal viewpoint on everyone else ? Why do they want you to think the same way that they think, believe in the way that they believe, and be forced into accepting their individual ego-driven, self-centred and self-serving narrative ( that they get paid to do ) as being the truth or else you will be called a hater denier and sent to jail for up to life in prison under their newly enacted Bill C-63 law ?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZU7NEzs3Gk
Sept 5th, 2024 - Justin Trudeau may be stacking the Senate ,
thebridgehead.ca/2024/09/05/trudeau-is-stacking-the-senat...
Attention, Minister of Gender Equality ! 2024 Paris Olympics - Was female gender bias evident in CBC's coverage of 2024 Paris Olympics ? CBC seems to favor the female athletes with full game coverage of events while male athletes receive only limited coverage and short clips ?
www.cbc.ca/mediacentre/program/olympic-games-paris-2024
Attention, Minister of Gender Equality :
Jun 13, 2025 - Men may not be OK, report on premature deaths in Canada suggests suicide, cancer, coronary heart disease and accidents are some of the causes www.cbc.ca/news/health/movember-mental-health-1.7561076
Timmies showing employee racial profiling, what happened to Equity and diversity ? 6 out of the 6 employees in the Tim Hortons Kentville workplace are from the same India Pakistan region and race ?
www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/54605482350/in/dateposted
www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/54604303327/in/photost...
Grey Cup Nov 17th, 2024 - CBC showing male gender discrimination in its Sports programming ? Everyone else is here, but where's CBC ? Does CBC ignore the Canadian Grey Cup because it is a sport played by males and mostly followed by males ? www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/54147303159/in/album-7...
Attention, Minister of Gender Equality : Why leave the men out ? Many men left to sleep in cars or on park benches ? Numerous shelters for the ladies but none for men ? A residence in north Toronto in one of the rare places in Canada where abused men and fathers with children can find emergency shelter, nationalpost.com/feature/male-victims-of-domestic-abuse
The United States is firmly committed to supporting Ukraine as it works to establish security and stability, respond to humanitarian and reconstruction needs, conduct democratic elections and carry out constitutional reforms, restore its economy, and combat corruption. Along with our international partners, including the IMF, the United States is committed to supporting Ukraine’s reform agenda while also ensuring that Ukrainians are able to determine their future without intimidation or outside coercion.
In pursuit of these objectives, the U.S. government has provided approximately $291 million in assistance to Ukraine this year as well as a $1 billion loan guarantee. This includes the President’s announcement today of a new package of assistance totaling $53 million, of which:
· More than $7 million will be directed to international relief organizations to provide humanitarian aid to those affected by the conflict in Ukraine’s east.
· $46 million in security assistance will support Ukraine’s military and border guards. This is in addition to the $70 million in security assistance we have previously announced.
The President has also asked U.S. Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker to lead a U.S. Government delegation to Ukraine September 26-27 to meet with senior Ukrainian government and business leaders and discuss Ukrainian economic reform efforts and the steps that the government needs to take in the short- and medium-term to strengthen its business climate and build an economy that attracts private capital.
The U.S. government will continue to work with Congress to identify additional opportunities for U.S. assistance to Ukraine. For example, the Administration has requested from Congress an additional $45 million in FY 2015 as part of the President’s European Reassurance Initiative that would help build Ukraine’s capacity to provide for its own defense and increase interoperability with U.S. and Western forces.
Examples of U.S. assistance to Ukraine in response to the crisis include the following:
Humanitarian Assistance and Reconstruction
· The U.S. government is contributing to the work in Ukraine of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and the UN Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA).
· These contributions are supporting Ukrainian efforts to ensure adequate reception of internally displaced persons (IDP) as well as to facilitate IDP returns when security conditions allow, including through the provision of food, cash, hygiene kits, medicines, and domestic and winter items. We are also supporting efforts to address the humanitarian needs of vulnerable populations in Luhansk and Donetsk through support for emergency activities including the procurement and distribution of safe drinking water and relief commodities.
· The U.S. government is also providing immediate support for economic recovery, small infrastructure repair, and restoration of public services in conflict-affected areas in the east.
Security Sector Capacity Building and Reform
· With today’s announcement, the U.S. government has committed to providing $116 million in equipment and training to Ukraine’s security forces to help Ukraine better monitor and secure its border, operate more safely and effectively, and preserve and enforce its territorial integrity. Ukraine’s security forces include their Armed Forces, National Guard, and State Border Guard Service.
· This assistance includes the provision of body armor, helmets, vehicles, night and thermal vision devices, heavy engineering equipment, advanced radios, patrol boats, rations, tents, counter-mortar radars, uniforms, and other related items.
· The United States has also begun a process led by U.S. European Command and Department of Defense civilian and military experts to work with Ukraine to improve its capacity to provide for its own defense and set the stage for longer-term defense cooperation. This includes medical advisory and security assistance advisory teams.
National Unity, Democracy, Human Rights, and Media
· The United States has contributed funding and personnel to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s (OSCE) Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) that is monitoring and providing daily reporting, particularly in the conflict regions in the east.
· During Ukraine’s May presidential election, U.S. assistance supported the work of international and domestic election observers as well as efforts to strengthen election administration, voter education, election security, and independent media. The United States is providing similar assistance for pre-term parliamentary elections scheduled for October 26.
· U.S. assistance is also supporting Ukrainian efforts to promote an inclusive process of constitutional reform that will help Ukraine meet European standards and drive the process of decentralization.
· The U.S. government is supporting civil society organizations to engage in public outreach, participate in the government reform process, and monitor and defend human rights.
· We are also providing assistance to boost the capacity of independent media outlets to provide unbiased information and to increase access to information in all parts of Ukraine. In mid-October, the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) will launch a daily, 30-minute Russian language television news program that will be a joint production of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and the Voice of America. The program will be shown on television affiliates in Ukraine, as well as in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Moldova, Georgia, and possibly other countries. BBG will seek to make the program available to Russian-speaking news-seekers worldwide via digital platforms.
Economic Stabilization, Reform, and Growth
· In May, Ukraine closed on its offering of a $1 billion sovereign bond, guaranteed by the United States. With the support of the proceeds raised by the loan guarantee, Ukraine is implementing a new social protection program to compensate vulnerable households for increases in gas and heating tariffs, which will reach 30 percent of the population. The U.S. loan guarantee was part of a coordinated international effort to ensure Ukraine has the resources it needs, which will provide $27 billion to Ukraine as it implements its IMF program.
· Immediately following Ukraine’s change in government in March, the U.S. government deployed advisors to help stabilize the financial sector and implement key reforms in partnership with the Ukrainian Finance Ministry and National Bank. These advisors are supporting a range of reforms related to issues such as banking supervision, public sector debt management, infrastructure finance, and taxation.
· U.S. assistance also is supporting policy changes that will lay the groundwork for growth in important sectors of the Ukrainian economy. For example, we are helping Ukrainian authorities to carry out reforms that will boost private sector investment in agriculture, improve access to credit and capital investment for farmers, and streamline agricultural sector regulation.
· The United States is also contributing to international programs, including through the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), to support increased access to finance for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and to help Ukraine implement the reforms it needs to attract international investment.
Energy Security
· We are sending a team of experts to help the Ukrainian government to meet its energy needs this winter.
· The U.S. government also is working with other international donors to help Ukraine develop strategies to ensure that energy subsidy programs are targeting the most vulnerable Ukrainians and to increase end-use energy efficiency, including among households and in the industrial sector.
· We also are supporting Ukrainian efforts to enhance its own energy production, including through technical assistance to help restructure Ukraine’s national oil and gas company, Naftogaz, and through the introduction of new technologies to boost yields at existing and new conventional and unconventional oil and gas fields in Ukraine.
Trade Diversification and Promotion
· The U.S. government is providing training and technical assistance to build Ukraine’s expertise on World Trade Organization (WTO) obligations and rights and how to meet WTO food safety standards.
· The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is convening the U.S.-Ukraine Trade and Investment Council to support Ukraine’s efforts to boost bilateral trade and investment and combat intellectual property theft.
· U.S. assistance is supporting efforts to help SMEs access new international markets. This includes plans for a U.S.-Ukraine agribusiness trade mission to promote two-way trade between our countries.
Anti-Corruption
· The United States is working closely with Ukrainian authorities and others in the international community to help recover stolen assets, including through joint investigative activities as well as support for evidence collection and processing activities.
· We are also helping Ukrainian officials develop laws and regulations that will establish anti-corruption institutions within the government and enable authorities to combat corruption more effectively. Through support for expanded e-governance and procurement reform we are also working with Ukrainian authorities to limit opportunities for corruption.
· We are also contributing to international efforts, including through the OECD and the EBRD, to deter foreign bribery and improve Ukraine’s business climate.
###
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
September 18, 2014
St Baldricks Brevard at The Avenue Viera by commercial photographer Rich Johnson of Spectacle Photo. Dedicated to the St. Baldrick's Foundation Events on the Space Coast of FL and raising awareness for Childhood Cancer. The St. Baldrick's Foundation is a volunteer-driven charity committed to funding the most promising research to find cures for childhood cancers and give survivors long and healthy lives.
To make reparations for the judicial murder committed in 1795 under Emperor Franz I, to the courageous confessor of the idea of freedom Magistrate Martin Josef Prandstätter and his associates this stone dedicates the association of the social-democratically organized employees and servants of the City of Vienna. Erected in 1923 under the Mayor Jakob Reumann.
Zur Sühne für den Justizmord, begangen im Jahr 1795 unter Kaiser Franz I, an dem mutigen Bekenner der Freiheitsidee Magistratsrat Martin Josef Prandstätter und seinen Genossen widmete diesen Stein die Vereinigung der sozialdemokratisch organisierten Angestellten und Bediensteten der Stadt Wien. Errichtet im Jahre 1923 unter dem Bürgermeister Jakob Reumann.
Town Hall Square (Vienna)
The inner part of the town square
Street sign town square
The Town Hall Square is located in the first District of Vienna, Inner City. It is named after the erected here (new) Vienna City Hall. Due to its size, design and architecture of the buildings bordering the square it is considered one of the most important places in the center of Vienna.
History
Vienna City Hall , View from 1891
In the area of today's town square was once the Josefstädterstraße Glacis, held as a free field of fire meadows before the walls of Vienna, and later the parade and parade ground of the Imperial Army. During the construction of the Ringstrasse from 1858 this military site remained untouched for some time until the army after long efforts of Mayor Cajetan Felder had abstained and the expansion of the city funds could develop a Baulinienplan (building line plan) for the area. During this time, other locations were considered for the Hall.
Now the Town Hall Square, the largest square in the recessed ring road zone was provided. The northern and southern part of the square shaped city gardener Rudolf Siebeck 1872/1873 as City Hall Park, the central square of the axis Town Hall-Burgtheater, was kept free. 1873, the foundation was laid for the construction of the New Town Hall. 1874, work began on the Town Hall at the former Franzensring opposite the Burgtheater and the south of the square adjacent parliament building (north side front: Town Square 6). From 1877 to the new main building of the University of Vienna (southern side front: Town Square 5 ) built. Are installed on the three sides of the square five blocks with nine home numbers (No. 1 to No. 9), the fourth side is bordered by the ring.
In course of time the name of the place changed four times. In 1870 he was created as Town Hall Square, renamed in 1907 after the incumbent Christian Social mayor in Dr.-Karl -Lueger -Platz. The dominant Red Vienna since 1919, this appeared to be inappropriate, as Lueger in Vienna had prevented the universal and equal male suffrage, in 1907 introduced at state level. Therefore, the of a private committee donated Luegerdenkmal under the rule of mayor Karl Seitz was not, as intended by the Committee, in the town square erected but built in 1926 on a previously unnamed square corner Wollzeile/Stubenring and this place in the same year Dr.-Karl-Lueger-Platz named. The town square was returned to its original name . In 1938, the place was again renewed to Adolf Hitler Platz, what was reversed in 1945.
Christmas Market at City Hall
The large space between City Hall and the Burgtheater was used by all the rulers for political rallies. Since 1921, with its current form dates back to 1929 and was interrupted from 1933 to 1945, it is the traditional final rally of the Vienna SPÖ Maiaufmarsches (May-Procession) on 1 In May at the Town Hall Square. In addition, the space is exploited for most of the year for cultural and social events. The most important of them since 1975, the Christmas market in November and December, the Vienna Ice Dream in January and February, the opening of the Vienna Festival in May and open-air cinema screenings with classical music in July and August. The Life Ball at Vienna City Hall refers also to the town square. Traditionally, a since 1959 every year from one of the states erected large Christmas tree as a gift to the federal capital.
Location and characteristics
The Town Hall Square is located between the extended Grillparzerstraße to the north, the University Ring to the east, the extended Stadiongasse in the south and the extended Reichsratsstrasse in the West. Except the ring on which there are no buildings on this street, bear the buildings that are on the place in the wake of these streets, house numbers of the town square. Stadiongasse and Grillparzerstraße end before the court, the Reichsratsstrasse is interrupted by the court.
About two- thirds of the space area of 40,000 m² are taken from the City Hall park, which is divided by a blocked to traffic, very wide access road between the Burgtheater and the Rathaus, which offers space for events, into a northern and southern half. The town square is lined by some of the most important monumental Ringstrassen-Zone in historicist style. In the square itself is a large number of monuments and statues. Thus, the town square is one of the most representative places in Vienna.
The tram lines 1 and D operate on the ring road and have at the City Hall Square opposite the Burg Theatre and at the corner of Parliament stops. Coming from the south and from the ring turning, operates tram line 2 on the southern edge of the town square to Stadiongasse. The individual passes through traffic heading north on the eastern edge of the square on the ring road in the opposite direction behind the Town Hall on the two-line (Zweierlinie). Cycling trails pass off on the ring road and at the Grillparzerstraße and Stadiongasse. Behind the town hall runs the subway line U2 to the City Hall with the subway station as shuttle to City Hall and City Hall Square.
Building
City hall
The central building in the middle of the west side of the town square is the City Hall, built in 1873-1883 by Friedrich von Schmidt, New Town Hall, Town Hall called only since about 1970. The powerful, dominating the square building was designed by the Dutch Gothic models. It should express the political power of the strengthened bourgeosie against the monarch and the aristocracy.
The City Council has at the Town Hall no main entrance or direct access to the arcade court, they are located on the side fronts of Felderstraße and Lichtenfelsgasse, another entrance is at the rear front at the Friedrich-Schmidt-Platz. The town hall itself is essentially the so-called People's Hall on the ground floor of the town hall via a staircase outdoors is accessible (inputs centered under the town hall tower and left and right). The People's Hall is occasionally used for exhibitions. The outlet is located at the corner of Felderstraße to City Hall basement.
Arcade, Town Hall Square 2-4
Foyer with ceiling painting Apotheosis of Vindobona, Town Hall Square 4
No. 2, 3 and 4: Arcade Shops
The block north of City Hall was built in 1880-1883 by Franz von Neumann. Plan requirement was to equip the buildings (such as on the west side of the Imperial Parliament Street, in the course of which they are) at the town square with arcades. Held in the old German style, houses have remarkable corner projections made with domes. At the central projection there are respectively balconies on herma. The attic floor is decorated with stucco relief female figures. The rib-vaulted arcades are painted with grotesques by Franz and Carl Jobst and equipped with cast iron lanterns. Particularly important are the foyers on No. 4 (and at the back of the block on the Ebendorferstraße 4). Frieze reliefs show the allegories of commerce, the arts and commerce. A large ceiling painting depicts the apotheosis of Vindobona. Lanterns and railings are made of wrought iron.
No. 5: University of Vienna, Main Building
Town Hall Square and front side of the university 's main building in 1900
The Town Hall Square side facing the front of the main university building today (2007 )
On the north side of the town square is the front side of the main building of the University of Vienna. The main work of the late phase of the strict historicism was built in 1873-1884 by Heinrich von Ferstel. The 29-axle side facade is broken repeatedly by risalits as well as by half and full columns. Statues of Anton Schmidgruber and Franz Koch standing in relation to the philosophical faculty. The building has no open entrance here .
No. 6: Parliament
On the south side of the town square is the side front of the parliament building, which was built as Reichsratsgebäude for Cisleithania. It is the most important work of the architect Theophil von Hansen, the latter founded 1871-1883 by ancient Greek models. At the Town Hall Square, the Parliament has a covered side entrance, originally a carriage way.
No. 7, 8 and 9 houses with arcades
Dome on the corner risalt, Town Hall Square 7
South of the Town Hall is located one block of houses with arcades, built 1877/1878 of City Hall architect Friedrich von Schmidt and Franz Neumann in old German forms. These were the first houses with arcades of City Hall district. Dominant are domes on corner risalit and central dome, bay windows, balconies, putti frieze and statues of Venus and Mars on the facade. In the rib-vaulted arcades are embedded gates with half column portals and acroterion figures. The lobbies are decorated with stucco ceilings, among other rich and grotesque painting. At No. 8 is located under the arcades the in City Hall circles famous café and pastry shop Sluka.
City Hall Park
At the request of Mayor Felder the City Hall Park was created as a complementary recreation area in the Ring Road zone. It is a strictly historicist Park, which was created as the city park of city gardener Rudolf Siebeck. The green area is north and south of a link road from the Burgtheater on the Ring to the City Hall laid out, which extends space-like in front of City Hall. In each of the two parts is a Rondeau Park with fountains, which are intended to highlight the two Viennese spring water lines and were financed by the builder Antonio Gabrielli.
Orientation plan
Under the old trees of the park there are five trees that are designated as natural monuments in Vienna. A lime in the southern part of the park was planted on the occasion of the 50th anniversary jubilee of Emperor Franz Joseph I in 1898, an oak tree, also in the southern part of the park in 1906 for the then incumbent mayor Karl Lueger. Winding paths lead through the two parts of the park. The garden fence is original historicist. In the northern part of the park is a large children's play area. A 1890 in the southern part of the park built weather house, destroyed during the Second World War, was renewed in 1955 with mosaics of Mary Biljan-Bilger. The modern toilet facilities were designed by Luigi Blau.
Monuments
Waldmüllerdenkmal (Monument) by Josef Engelhart, 1913
The Town Hall Square is home of a number of monuments, they are described here from the ring road starting.
(Locked) Access from the Burgtheater to City Hall
At the beginning of this approach is, turning off the ring road, left the monument to Theodor Körner, mayor, then President of the Second Republic, by Hilde Uray, bronze statue, 1963,
right of the monument to Karl Seitz, first head of state of the First Republic, then mayor in Red Vienna, by Gottfried Buchberger, bronze statue, 1962.
Directly between the two parts of the park in 1902 eight stone monuments of significant figures in the history of Vienna were placed four at each park side facing each other. They had been established in 1867 on the balustrades of the former Elizabeth Bridge over the river (Wienfluss) on Karlsplatz. When in 1897 the bridge was demolished in this area because of the light rail construction and the resulting vaulting of the Wienfluss, the eight monuments first have been put along the then still in the incision extending new light rail line on the Karlsplatz, where they but heavily by the soot of steam locomotives polluted monuments were popularly called eight chimney sweepers. Therefore, they were transferred to the town square later:
left ( south side):
Margrave Henry II Jasomirgott from the House of Babenberg, by Franz Melnitzky
Duke Rudolf the founder of the House of Habsburg, of Josef Gasser
Ernst Rüdiger von Starhemberg, defender of Vienna (second Turkish siege), by Johann Baptist Fessler
Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach, Baroque architect, Josef Cesar
right (north side):
Duke Leopold the Glorious from the House of Babenberg, by Johann Preleuthner
Niklas Graf Salm, defender of Vienna (first siege of Vienna), by Matthias Purkartshofer
Archbishop Charles Leopold of Kollonitsch, spiritual leader of Vienna (second Turkish siege), Vincenz Pilz
Joseph of Sonnenfels, judicial and administrative reformer of Maria Theresa, by Hanns Gasser (replaced in the Nazi era in 1939 by a statue of the composer Christoph Willibald Gluck, re-erected after 1945)
Next to the town hall (tower), outside of the southern part of the park: replica of the Vienna City Hall man at the top of City Hall tower in scale 1: 1, by Fritz Tiefenthaler, 1985
Southern part of the city hall park (towards Parliament)
At the corner of Park Ring/Parliament, addressed to the ring: Karl Renner, the first Chancellor of the First and first president of the Second Republic, portrait head of Alfred Hrdlicka on monument structure of Josef Krawina, 1965-1967
Josef Popper-Lynkeus, social ethicist, stone bust of Hugo Taglang, 1926. As artists and represented were Jews , the bust was removed in the Nazi regime in 1938, restored in 1951 according to the plaster model.
Johann Strauss (father ) and Joseph Lanner, statues of Franz Seifert, 1905, Art Nouveau, the bronze sculptures stand in front of a curved wall with marble reliefs of ball scenes and a poem by Edward von Bauernfeld. This concept and the architecture created Robert Oerley .
Northern part of the city hall park (towards the University)
Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller, marble monument of Josef Engelhart, 1913 , Art Nouveau
Ernst Mach, physicist, of Heinz Peteri, 1926
Adolf Schärf, vice chancellor, then president of the Second Republic, bronze bust of Alfred Hrdlicka, 1985
The most recent monument in the park, built in 1993, commemorates the wartime destruction of Vienna in 1945 and was by Hubert Wilfan under the title Yesterday - Today created from stone.
de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rathausplatz_(Wien)#Geschichte
Story and photos by Lee, Seung-bin
DAEGU GARRISON — An essential element of the Army structure that simply cannot be forgotten or ignored is security.
Along those same lines, the importance of military security is something that bears serious scrutiny. Here in the Southeast Hub, the Directorate of Emergency Services makes every effort to ensure the members of the U.S. Army Garrison Daegu community live, work and play in a safe and secure environment.
According to Garrison DES Operations Officer Stephen McQuerry,
DES is able to accomplish its mission because of the dedicated individuals that make up its ranks.
“Our organization consists of military police officers, K9 patrols, firefighters, security officers, and contract security guards—G4 personnel. It takes a lot of people working together to make sure the installations are secure.”
As seen by their around the clock performance, DES takes a non-stop and proactive approach to providing emergency services across the Southeast Hub. In even easier terms that means they are not only out and about working with those they serve, but dedicated to finding ways to identify and prevent issues—rather than merely responding to incidents.
“Our role is very important in helping keep our community safe,” McQuerry said. “We want all those who live, work, and play on Garrison installations to feel that they are. So, we are continuously reinforcing regulations to ensure that everything is safe on our installations.
“There are many concerns that are involved in the area of security. We are not only concerned about what is secure within our gates, but we also have to be on top of matters concerning unauthorized personnel trying to access the installation.”
McQuerry pointed out that potential security threats come in a number of ways. However, he addressed specifically, the issues of lost I.D. cards, and photography on post.
“Another concern we have involves people outside the post who are taking pictures of our installation, and may be doing so with the intent to cause harm to our community.”
Despite the ongoing attempts to educate people about the importance of security, there is no sign of letting up. In other words, incidents big and small continue to challenge DES readiness and efficiency. This was demonstrated just recently when a young Korean National attempted to rush through Camp Walker’s Gate 4, and with an increase in I.D. cards being reported as lost or stolen. These issues, according to DES, are issues of grave concern because of the risks they pose.
“Basically, lost I.D. cards are very major concerns for us,” said McQuerry. “If we lose our I.D. card then we are leaving our posts and our installations very vulnerable. Somebody can get the I.D. card and getting access to our installation and they can potentially harm people in our community, or cause damage in some other way, to our installations.”
However great the challenge, DES is committed to providing the USAG Daegu community with the best possible security. That determination was clearly expressed during the transition to a new security guard system.
“Soldier security guards were, and continue to be very effective as we transition to the G4 security guard system,” McQuerry said. “Throughout this process, Soldiers played a key role in ensuring business was not disrupted and our installations remained secure.
“Remember that security is everybody’s business. It is not just military police’s, it is not just security guard’s, but everybody has a role in security. If you secure your little piece and the things that are around you, it will be a great contribution to security as a whole. Any time that you can, remind people to look around, notice and report anything suspicious. This is important for security. If you know somebody who is taking pictures of our installations and asking about our installation –questions like who works here, how many people here, how many vehicles we have-- you should report this to the military police (764-4141) immediately.
TobaccoDays (TD) is committed to showing you; the pipe-maker, the pipe collector, the pipe hobbyist – the pipe world from a different perspective. Every topic covered on TD aims to make you think different. Aims to make you see different. Anything & everything that we can bundle up together and have the final outcome alter an existing attitude on the subject covered, is considered a wonderful day here at TD.
Today I launch a new series which has the aim to highlight the beautiful & varied texture on our beloved pipes. Yes, we hold our pipes, caress them, enjoy them & smoke them day in and day out. Do we ever miss some of the small details though? Can we look at them any deeper? Of course we can.
To assist that process, I went out and hired a professional photographer (high-speed camera, strobe lights, big set-up & all) and took macro pictures of pipes to focus on their surface, their texture. The next phase of the project required me to find a way to express the beauty of the pipe’s surface. Since I lack any skill in the photo shop arena, I went out and hired a professional graphic designer and together we art-directed the project and took it to it’s final stages. The question of – How do we show the beauty of the pipe’s surface & make sure that we ‘really see it’ was the one thing guiding this project. While the pipe’s surrounding’s are definitely photo-shopped, the actual surface of the pipe remains 100% untouched. You are looking at the actual pipe surface of a Dunhill Patent pipe made in 1917, as it looks in reality. This was part of the project’s point. To show the surface, unchanged, in order to highlight it’s ‘interest factor’ that much more.
What I love about this image is that you can see the so-called birth of the sandblasting process. This was right around the time when those pioneers at the Dunhill factory first began to use sandblasting as a technique to apply texture to the briar's surface.
Yeah i'm pretty committed to having a shave now...well not all of...designer stubble is win.
And yes I also realise I did a very similar shot to this yesterday but I had to double check yesterdays photo wasn't a fluke and I could replicate this success...turns out I can :)
Having just had a bath I feel all clean and squeaky (especially now i've shaved properly) so i'm going to enjoy my day off with some movies I think.
P.S. do you know how remoralising it is to photoshop snot out of the your own nose...>.< bad times.
Strobist Info: 550ex with strobies orb behind camera. Triggered by sync cable. Direct flash. ETTL
BC is committed to maintaining leadership on climate change and clean energy by ensuring the cleanest LNG
facilities in the world. As part of the LNG in BC conference, panel of international experts discussed the impact LNG will have on reducing global
emissions.
The Honourable Mary Polak, Minister of Environment, was the moderator. Also seen here is Richard Muller, Author/Professor of Physics, Berkeley, University of California.
The second annual international LNG in BC conference provides an opportunity to develop responsible government policy and industry best practices.
READ MORE: engage.gov.bc.ca/lnginbc/lng-conference/
“When I eventually decided to move to Leeds, I went to look at a place in Recreation Place. I had two kids at the time. It was perfectly nice inside, but the landlord wouldn’t rent me the place. Saying the area was not suitable for me and my kids. He offered me a place elsewhere, in better surroundings and I ended up living there. This was a ‘Sliding Doors’ moment in my life where I still got to see the other side.
Coincidentally, when my ex-husband moved to Leeds he got a house on this very road. We later had an incident on this road which ended in assault and for the first time I decided to be honest about the co-dependent abuse. This road metaphorically represents the line between habitual and recreational drug use - placed at recreation. It is where my lines were drawn.
I am of no fixed identity. My identity has altered throughout my life. I started life as Heather, but I never fit into the persona. I went through a period where I wanted to stop my ex from taking drugs. I convinced myself that if I took them then he’d see how bad it was and stop. It didn’t work and I took it too far. To me, Heather died of a drug overdose. She was a part of me which was never meant to be. And I made my peace with her.”
Part 2/3 - Committed to Myself (Recreation Place)
Just the other day I was talking about how we are living in the timeline where the Misfits reunion shows are a reality and now my wish list for bands to reunite has dropped down to only 2 requests: Operation Ivy and Mr. Bungle.
Just got my tickets for the February 2020 Mr. Bungle show in San Francisco!
There’s a lot to be said about Mr. Bungle but I think the teachable moment is that they had the single best response to a band feud in rock history.
Mike Patton was only 12 years old when joined Faith No More and was going through a rebellious phase like most boys his age whose body was going through changes they didn’t understand. Long hair, shit-terrorist, Mike Patton was going through a Justin Bieber phase where he was acting out and doing a lot of shit talking, shitting in hotel hair dryers, and blatantly stealing Anthony Kiedis sweet Red Hot Chili Pepper dance moves. You can clearly see Patton hijacking, without permission or consent, Mr. Kiedis Intellectual Property (sweet dance moves) in several of the early The Real Thing videos.
You don’t just steal another man’s dance moves.
That’s an unspoken Bro code.
You broke the code, Patton.
This feud is pretty well documented and escalated in a 1999 Halloween show where Mr. Bungle dressed up as the Red Hot Chili Peppers and did an entire set mocking them, their mannerisms & dance moves, while playing their songs.
If you really want to diss another artist forget about the response song.
Just play their songs live and do it better than them.
Put your response lyrics into their song and sing it better than them.
And then steal their dance moves.
Once you mock another person’s dance moves you are mocking their soul.
Single best response to a feud in all of rock history.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sT0WSwgHLc&t=172s
I also love live bootleg audio/videos from the days before smartphones. You had to be committed, clever, and resourceful to record a show in those days.
8.31.19 UPDATE: While performing in Italy as Mondo Cane (Patton + a forty-some-member orchestra & backing band) performed the Mr. Bungle song Retrovertigo
www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNvxuEbQn44&fbclid=IwAR3elbQa...
What a beautifully epic, vulnerable + haunting, timeless song.
Retrovertigo is from the brilliant album California, which is Mr. Bungle’s Paul’s Boutique.
All killer. No filler. California was so creative and light years ahead of its time. A priceless record.
But instead of playing their best record start to finish on the upcoming reunion shows, Mr. Bungle is doing The Raging Wrath of the Easter Bunny.
Their first demo tape when they were all 5-6 years old and were a speed death metal band.
Yeah. Not their best.
Because Mike Patton is really good at making music & business decisions that really confuses his fan base.
And because Mike Patton is also the P. T. Barnum of rock and roll.
None of those songs made it on to any of the records when MB signed to Warner Brothers.
They still own that and can release old/new material on their own imprint just like the last Faith No More record.
Cunning, that Mike Patton.
Love the hair!
I vote that we go with a Gandalf Coolio look for the reunion shows in 2020.
Locally committed -- Council Plan 2017/18 half-year performance report (December 2017) -- Coventry City Council
.... You have committed the biggest error by opening this photo. That means that during Halloween`s scary night you are going to suffer...That was your choice, not mine... Now u need to choose btw 3 options:
1. U'll be fixed to a wall (in good cases with ropes, bad cases with nails) and the devil will try a small ball all the way from the roof to the head. The rope would go back and forth hitting your forehead until it reaches your brain--after many months--and u will die finally. Are u satisfied?
2. What about the thumbscrew? Your hands will be placed in the device and the torturer will crush your fingers slowly, very slowly....cha cha cha...
3. The last one: U'll be locked inside a coffin made of brass. Your feet will be creatively fixed to the ground. The coffin will be placed vertically on top of a fire where it will be left for many hours until the brass will turn "red hot".
Don`t worry too much, u will continue living until all your blood will be drained out of your poor body very slowly.....
TRICK OR TREAT:)
the tooth fairy and her friends Karius and Baktus
Dental platesare like adoptive-teeth...or like becoming hats.
Ok I admit that I somehow have a strange fairy/elf/manikin-fetish
but I am committed to this and proud about it...
and you have to confess that my Version of the tooth fairy is a Badass-Bitch and you love it, right?! <3
Therefore my last work for my exams Ends
and I have to take leave of my friends Karius (not enough sleep) and Baktus (even less sleep).
'cause teeth come and go...with pain.
Photography, Model, Make up, Hat, Equipment, Make up: AMELY ROSE
O.U.T.F.I.T:
tooth hat: SELFMADE
wig:https://www.etsy.com/shop/Cloud9Jewels
Make up: www.limecrime.com/
shoes: Vivienne Westwood
Dress: No Name
Zahnfee und ihre Freunde Karius und Baktus
Zahnprothesen sind wie Adoptivzähne...oder auch wie schicke Hüte.
Ok ja ich gebe es zu ich habe irgendwie einen Fee/Elfen/Kleine Männchen-Fetisch
aber ich stehe dazu und bin irgendwie stolz drauf...
und ihr müsst es zugeben meine Version der Zahnfee ist doch eine Badass-Bitch and you love it <3
Somit geht auch meine letzte Arbeit für meine Eignungsprüfung zu Ende
und ich muss mich von meinen imaginären Freunden Karius (wenig Schlaf) und Baktus (noch weniger Schlaf) verabschieden. Denn Zähne kommen und gehen...mit Schmerzen
Фотографии, модель, макияж, Хат, оборудование, составляют: Амели РОЗА
Зубные протезы зубов приспособлены к зубам ... и даже элегантные шляпы.
Итак, я признаю, что я немного fetyszką феи / эльфы / Малый фигурки, но я стою за этой слабости, и я немного горжусь этим ...
и я должен признать, что мой фотографический версия сказки волшебной детей-гвоздики является хорошее сочетание hardkorowo-гигиенических <3
Эти фотографии идет równierz моего последнего теста профессиональным навыкам, экзамен школьных СМИ до конца. И я должен попрощаться с моими воображаемыми друзьями: Кариус (немного сна) и Baktusem (даже меньше сна). Поскольку зубы приходят и уходят ... боль, которая вызывает zakłucenia сон.
Фотографии, модель, макияж, шляпы, аппаратные средства, косметику: Амели РОЗА
Foto, Model, Make up, Hut, Equipment, make up: AMELY ROSE
Protezy zębów są jak zaadoptowane zęby... a nawet jak elegancki kapelusze.
Ok, tak muszę przyznać, że jestem trochę fetyszką wróżek / elfów / Małych figurek ale stoję za tą słabością i jestem trochę dumna z tego ...
i trzeba przyznać, że moja fotograficzna wersja bajki Wróżka-Dziecięcych-Ząbków jest dobrą mieszanką hardkorowo-higienicznym <3
Tymi zdjęciami idzie równierz moja ostatnia praca-test umiejętności, egzamin do szkoły medialnej, do końca. I muszę pożegnać się z moim zmyślonych przyjaciółmi: Kariusem (mało snu) i Baktusem (nawet jeszcze mniej snu). Ponieważ zęby przychodzą i odchodzą ... z bólami czyli powodują zakłucenia snu.
Zdjęcia, model, make up, kapelusz, sprzęt, makijaż: Amely ROSE
Foto, Model, Make up, Hut, Equipment, make up
We need to change the mindset'
(The interview by T.S. SUBRAMANIAN on Front line 26 August-8 September 2006)
Interview with Sumith Nakandala, former Deputy High Commissioner of Sri Lanka.
SUMITH NAKANDALA, now Sri Lanka's Ambassador to Nepal.
AMARALAL SUMITH NAKANDALA, former Deputy High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in Chennai, is a man committed to pluralism in society. He swears by the multi-ethnic, multi-lingual and multi-religious character of the island-nation. This world outlook was evident when he went beyond his brief and helped the Tamil refugees who wanted to return to Sri Lanka. After the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) signed a ceasefire agreement in February 2002, he took the initiative to speed up the issuing of birth certificates, marriage certificates, travel documents and so on. This made him hugely popular among the refugees.
Nakandala, who was posted as Deputy High Commissioner in November 2001, gave a new orientation to consular work by organising lectures by eminent Sri Lankans in archaeology, a subject in which he has a keen interest, besides film festivals, dance programmes and music concerts. In fact, his four-and-a-half-year stay in Chennai was a period of busy cultural activity at the High Commission.
Nakandala, 46, is now Sri Lanka's Ambassador to Nepal. He has a post-graduate diploma in International Relations and Development from the Institute of Social Studies in The Hague in The Netherlands and is a graduate in agriculture from the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.
Nakandala spoke to Frontline on June 30, on the eve of his departure to Kathmandu. Excerpts:
The Sri Lankan government decided yesterday to make knowledge of Tamil and Sinhala compulsory for new recruits to public service at all levels. According to D.E.W. Gunasekara, Minister for Constitutional Affairs and National Integration, faithful implementation of the dual language policy could resolve 50 per cent of the problems Sri Lanka is facing. Do you think this is a late realisation by Colombo?
This is an important question. This should have been done long ago. It is unfortunate that we are implementing this dual language policy 50 years after bringing in the Sinhala Only Act in 1956. The Minister is 100 per cent right. I appreciate his courageous move because Sri Lanka is a multi-lingual, multi-ethnic and multi-religious entity. The language policy should start from the school level up.
We can still rectify the damage already done. We should provide opportunities to students to learn not only Sinhala, Tamil and English but also another language, such as Hindi or Malayalam.
In the last few weeks, there have been several incidents of the Sri Lanka Navy firing on Indian fishermen. This issue has festered for long.
I am perturbed by these shooting incidents and it is an unfortunate situation because fishermen are doing only fishing. The fact is that Indian fishermen cross the international boundary, enter Sri Lankan waters and fish there. You never saw this kind of incident happening during the ceasefire agreement, during peace talks. Why are they happening now? There are prohibition zones.
No-go zones?
The LTTE has been masquerading as innocent fishermen and a number of incidents have taken place. The Sri Lanka Navy is a responsible Navy and it exercises maximum restraint.
We know that firing on unarmed innocent fishermen is not acceptable. What is important here is to understand the security environment in which the Sri Lanka Navy is called upon to perform its legitimate duties for [protecting] the territory and people of Sri Lanka. We need to find a practicable solution to the problems faced by Indian fishermen, especially in the Palk Bay area.
From January this year, refugees from Sri Lanka have started coming back to Tamil Nadu. After the ceasefire agreement in February 2002, a number of refugees returned to Sri Lanka. You also helped them - by issuing them birth certificates, wedding certificates and visas. You gave a new orientation to consular work. What made you do this?
It is simple. They are part of Sri Lankan society. I am not worried about the reasons why they took refuge here. As the representative of the Government of Sri Lanka in south India, it is my duty to look after every Sri Lankan citizen trading, staying, studying and visiting this part of India. It is an inalienable responsibility of a Foreign Service Officer.
In fact, the refugees were facing a lot of problems. Those who were born in Tamil Nadu after 1983 did not have birth certificates. I started this consular work [of issuing birth certificates]. All this consular work has a financial component. You have to pay some money to get your birth certificate. You have to pay money to register your birth under the Citizenship Act.
But refugees do not have money to pay for these certificates.
That is what I am saying... . If refugee-parents apply for the birth certificate of their child born here after 1983, they have to pay Rs.6,000. That is a huge amount. If you don't register the birth within a year, you have to pay a penalty for every succeeding year. I made a representation to the Sri Lankan government and it responded magnanimously. I raised this question with the then Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe. I told him to make a special waiver for the refugees in Tamil Nadu. He took it up immediately. There were two people who were involved in this whole exercise - Ranil Wickremesinghe and Milinda Moraguda, then Minister for Science and Technology who was part of the negotiating team of the Sri Lankan government.
I considered doing the consular facilities for refugees as part of the peace-building process. I was proved right because I was able to re-establish the confidence of the Sri Lankan refugees [in the state]. That is why they came here [to my office]. I also went to their camps, met them, registered their births and accepted their travel document forms. They saw a big difference in this - the state coming to their doorstep. What I did here was making peace and simultaneously creating a constituency for peace. Here, I must acknowledge the excellent support given by the then Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, her officials, the Government of India, the Ministry of External Affairs and the Home Ministry. All these agencies were helpful in facilitating all consular work. In parallel, I was making another internal adjustment. I had to change the mindset in the Mission here. I said every refugee should be facilitated. They should not be questioned. The big problem was that the refugees did not have birth certificates.
What the Tamil Nadu government did was to issue identity cards to refugees. That made a great difference. Whether they had birth certificates or not, their names and dates of birth were included in the refugee-identity cards. In parallel with the Tamil Nadu government, the OFERR [Organisation for Eelam Refugees' Rehabilitation] headed by S.C. Chandrahasan did a lot of work. I started working with them as far as the refugees were concerned.
I knew there would be obstacles. I overcame these difficulties, thanks to the stakeholders in the process.
You organised several cultural programmes during your tenure as Deputy High Commissioner for south India. You organised the Vesak commemoration lectures, which featured top archaeologists and academics from Sri Lanka. (Vesak is the day on which the Buddha attained enlightenment.) What motivated you?
A career foreign service officer should carry out his duties with a passion, a passion for humanity. We are not here merely to carry out instructions from our home country/headquarters. Consular work is in the book. I gave a new life [to consular work]...
I realised during my previous tenure in New Delhi and from my own reading on India that India is a phenomenon. It is a huge civilisational process. That made me think seriously about the shared culture between Sri Lanka and India, not only with Tamil Nadu, but with the whole of India. After all, Buddhism, the majority religion in Sri Lanka, came from India. The culture, music, dance, language and the way of life are shared between Sri Lanka and the rest of Indian subcontinent.
As [eminent Sri Lankan archaeologist] Sriran Deraniyagala aptly put it, 7,000 years before the present, a landmass existed between southern India and northern Sri Lanka. It [the landmass] is now called Adam's Bridge. It was a visible landmark. That was how people went up and down. We have Asian elephants. The flora and fauna found in the Western Ghats of India are found in the central highlands of Sri Lanka. It [India and Sri Lanka] was one entity.
When I talk of shared cultures, it is my duty, as the representative of the Sri Lankan government here, to bring some of these salient features of such a culture to the doorstep of our friends in Tamil Nadu. The Vesak commemoration lectures were different. I gave a new intellectual orientation to the lecture series. I realised it was important to keep pluralism in mind.
Political pluralism, cultural pluralism and religious pluralism are important elements in the Buddha's central philosophical thesis. Pluralism is a very important yardstick in measuring today's world and society. A country may have all the resources, but if it does not abide by pluralism the international community will not respect it. The most important element is pluralism. So I wanted these lectures to be held on Vesak day, in May, as our own homage to the Buddha.
I have heard that as a student during the July 1983 anti-Tamil riots, you protected Tamil students.
It [protecting other human beings] is not a surprise because this quality is embedded in every human being. This [pluralism] concept has been articulated by all religions. The Gita does not say anywhere that you can persecute human beings. Buddhism, Christianity, Islam and Judaism, all religions advocate this. In my case, the concept of peace was articulated by my father and teachers. I had wonderful teachers from grade one to 12, in the university and during my graduation at The Hague. I am eternally grateful to them. I will certainly uphold my commitment to pluralism, to a society where human beings are allowed to live in harmony, without fear and without persecution.
What happened in the university?
In the University of Peradeniya 50 per cent of the students were Sinhalese and the rest were Tamils. We shared our meals and had a wonderful stay. Then came the 1983 riots and for the first time, there were riots within the university. We were there to protect these people [Tamils]. There were excellent professors from the Tamil community. They had transcended all these petty boundaries. They too were harassed during this period; some of them left Sri Lanka. Members of the departments of Agriculture, Engineering, Arts and Medicine got together and constituted peace committees. I was also part of that set-up to prevent anti-Tamil riots in the university.
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse swears by the unitary set-up. A perceptive political analyst observed that no state could survive in the 21st century without a federal set-up. Do you think Rajapakse is treading the right path?
The question is not whether it is unitary, federal or whatever. President Rajapakse has clearly said that he would go for maximum devolution of power. Federal is not the word. It is sharing of power, devolution. To that extent, the Government of Sri Lanka is absolutely clear that this question will be solved. I have no doubt about that.
The unfortunate thing here is that people are trying to put tags - federal, unitary, undivided and so on. The question today is to approach the problem in a balanced way. President Rajapakse has appointed a constitutional advisory committee comprising eminent lawyers from Sri Lanka. They will take cognisance of all proposals presented so far by the government and other parties and make recommendations to the government with a view to solving the problem.
The late J.N. Dixit, who was India's High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, once told me that unless the mindset of the Sinhalese towards the Tamils changed, the Tamil problem could not be solved.
We need to change the mindset. It should be a conscious effort by the people. That is why I started talking about shared cultures. Archaeological and anthropological findings can be certainly used to resolve conflicts... When you go down history, the early Iron Age, the Pre-historic Age and so on, [you will find] that these differences have been made by the people. The differences between the Sinhalese and the Tamils were made. We, therefore, need to change that mindset. The mindset for a progressive discourse should be cultivated by the people.
I am sure, we in Sri Lanka need to make conscious efforts to change the mindset. I also relate this issue to the first question you asked me - Gunasekara's new approach to the language policy. I am not for bilingualism. I am for multi-lingualism because Sri Lanka is a multi-lingual, multi-ethnic and multi-religious entity. The mindset of the Sinhalese will change towards the Tamils and that of the Tamils towards the Sinhalese. In fact, the Sinhalese are a sophisticated lot, like the Tamils in Sri Lanka. If you read the history of the past 100 years, you will find enough examples of these two communities living in harmony. I am sure the mindset will change.
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At the beginning of the Vietnam War, there was little interest in a dedicated counterinsurgency (COIN) aircraft. The USAF was too committed to an all-jet, nuclear-capable force, while the US Army was satisfied with its helicopter fleet; the Navy concentrated on its carriers, and while the Marines were mildly interested, they lacked funding.
Vietnam was to change that. Horrendous losses among US Army UH-1s was to lead to a rethinking of helicopter doctrine, and pointed up the lack of a dedicated COIN aircraft. The USAF found itself depending on World War II-era A-26K Invaders, former US Navy A-1 Skyraiders, and converted trainers like the T-28 Trojan. The USAF also found itself in the market for a better forward air control (FAC) aircraft, due to the high loss rate of its O-1 Birddogs and O-2 Skymasters. Finally, the US Navy needed something to better cover its Mobile River Force units in the Mekong Delta, which could not always depend on USAF air support. In 1963, all three services issued a requirement for a new light design capable of performing as both a COIN and FAC aircraft. North American's NA-300 was selected in 1964 and designated OV-10A Bronco.
The OV-10 design drew heavily on independent research done at the China Lake research establishment, which in turn was inspired by the World War II P-38 Lightning fighter. The P-38 used a central "gondola" fuselage to concentrate all of its firepower along the centerline, which made for better accuracy; the OV-10 would do the same. As in the P-38, the engines were contained in twin booms that stretched back to the tail. The Bronco's four machine gun armament was placed in sponsons on either side of the fuselage, while ordnance was carried beneath the sponsons. To satisfy the USAF's requirements for a FAC aircraft, the two-man crew flew underneath a large, spacious canopy that gave them superb visibility. Because the Marines wanted an aircraft that could carry a Recon team, the fuselage was extended and, if the rear seat was removed, five paratroopers could be squeezed into the back, or two stretchers.
When the OV-10 arrived in Vietnam in 1968, there was a fear that the Bronco would be the jack of all trades and master of none. In fact, it proved to be excellent in all of its roles. As a FAC, it was a huge improvement over the slower O-1 and O-2; as a COIN aircraft, it was also a good aircraft, though it could not carry the same amount of ordnance as an A-1. The Navy equipped one squadron with OV-10As as VAL-4--nicknamed the "Black Ponies" for their dark green camouflage--and these were used extensively over the Mekong Delta. There were problems with the design: the airframe was actually too heavy for the engines, which left it underpowered, and ditching was invariably fatal for the pilot, as his seat tended to hurl forward into the instrument panel. Nonetheless, the Bronco turned in a sterling performance in Southeast Asia.
Though the Navy transferred its surviving Black Ponies to the Marines after the end of American involvement in Vietnam, the USAF and Marines would keep theirs for the next 20 years. For the 1970s and 1980s, the OV-10 replaced all other FAC designs in USAF service, aside from a handful of OA-37B Dragonfly squadrons. The Marines also kept their OV-10s and further refined the design by adding all-weather capability in the long-nosed OV-10D variant.
By the First Gulf War in 1991, the OV-10 was starting to show its age. The USAF began retiring its fleet even before Desert Storm; the Bronco was considered to be too slow to survive a modern air defense environment. Though the Marines used some of their OV-10Ds, the loss of two aircraft also led the USMC to retire their Broncos after war's end. Both services chose jets as replacements--the USAF with modified OA-10A Thunderbolt IIs, and the Marines with two-seat all-weather F/A-18Ds.
OV-10s were also a mild export success, going to seven other countries, mainly in the COIN role. Most have since been retired in favor of newer designs, though the Philippines still has a large and active OV-10 force. The type enjoyed a brief renaissance in 2015 when two former Marine OV-10Ds were taken up by the USAF for use against ISIS forces in Iraq, to see if the design was still viable. Though the OV-10s performed well, the USAF is not likely to put it back into production. 360 were built, and at least 25 are on display in museums aside from the aircraft that are still operational.
67-4675, like most OV-10s, was delivered straight from the factory to the war zone, assigned in 1969 to the 504th Tactical Air Support Group at Da Nang. It would remain at Da Nang through the last years of the war until it was moved to the 56th Special Operations Wing at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand. 67-4675 left Southeast Asia in 1974 for colder climes with the 51st Composite Wing at Osan, South Korea, but returned home in 1976 to the 507th TACW at Shaw AFB, South Carolina. It was not to remain in the States for long, however: in 1978, 67-4675 was transferred to the 601st TACW at Sembach, West Germany (where I probably saw it as a kid, as Dad was assigned to Sembach at the same time). In 1984, it returned to the US for the final time and was assigned to 67-4675's final unit, the 602nd TACW at George AFB, California.
67-4675 was retired in 1991, but its career was not quite over. In 2004, it was used as a ground test airframe for upgrading Colombian Air Force OV-10s. Once that was complete, given its globe-trotting career, 67-4675 was donated to the Hill Aerospace Museum in 2006.
When 67-4675 initially arrived at Hill, it was still painted in the final camouflage scheme of the USAF's OV-10 fleet, Europe One gray and green. It has since been completely restored to the overall light gray it would have carried in Vietnam. When my family arrived at Sembach, the 601st TACW's OV-10s were still painted gray, so this is how I initially remember seeing them.
Chittorgarh Fort (Hindi/Rajasthani: चित्तौड दुर्ग Chittorgarh Durg) is the largest fort in India and the grandest in the state of Rajasthan. It is a World Heritage Site. The fort, plainly known as Chittor, was the capital of Mewar and is today situated several kilometres south of Bhilwara. It was initially ruled by Guhilot and later by Sisodias, the Suryavanshi clans of Chattari Rajputs, from the 7th century, until it was finally abandoned in 1568 after the siege by Emperor Akbar in 1567. It sprawls majestically over a hill 180 m in height spread over an area of 280 ha above the plains of the valley drained by the Berach River. The fort precinct with an evocative history is studded with a series of historical palaces, gates, temples and two prominent commemoration towers. These monumental ruins have inspired the imagination of tourists and writers for centuries.
The fort was sacked three times between the 15th and 16th centuries; in 1303 Allauddin Khilji defeated Rana Ratan Singh, in 1535 Bahadur Shah, the Sultan of Gujarat defeated Bikramjeet Singh and in 1567 Emperor Akbar defeated Maharana Udai Singh II who left the fort and founded Udaipur. Each time the men fought bravely rushing out of the fort walls charging the enemy but lost every time. Following these defeats, Jauhar was committed thrice by more than 13,000 ladies and children of the Rajput heroes who laid their lives in battles at Chittorgarh Fort, first led by Rani Padmini wife of Rana Rattan Singh who was killed in the battle in 1303, and later by Rani Karnavati in 1537 AD.
Thus, the fort represents the quintessence of tribute to the nationalism, courage, medieval chivalry and sacrifice exhibited by the Mewar rulers of Sisodia and their kinsmen and women and children, between the 7th and 16th centuries. The rulers, their soldiers, the women folk of royalty and the commoners considered death as a better option than dishonor in the face of surrender to the foreign invading armies.
GEOGRAPHY
Chittorgarh, located in the southern part of the state of Rajasthan, 233 km from Ajmer, midway between Delhi and Mumbai on the National Highway 8 (India) in the road network of Golden Quadrilateral. Chittorgarh is situated where National Highways No. 76 & 79 intersect.
The fort rises abruptly above the surrounding plains and is spread over an area of 2.8 km2. The highest elevation at the fort is 1,075 m. It is situated on the left bank of the Berach river (a tributary of the Banas River) and is linked to the new town of Chittorgarh (known as the 'Lower Town') developed in the plains after 1568 AD when the fort was deserted in light of introduction of artillery in the 16th century, and therefore the capital was shifted to more secure Udaipur, located on the eastern flank of Aravalli hill range. Mughal Emperor Akbar attacked and sacked this fort which was but one of the 84 forts of Mewar,but the capital was shifted to Aravalli hills where heavy artillery & cavalry were not effective. A winding hill road of more than 1 km length from the new town leads to the west end main gate, called Ram Pol, of the fort. Within the fort, a circular road provides access to all the gates and monuments located within the fort walls.
The fort that once boasted of 84 water bodies has only 22 of them now. These water bodies are fed by natural catchment and rainfall, and have a combined storage of 4 billion litres that could meet the water needs of an army of 50,000. The supply could last for four years. These water bodies are in the form of ponds, wells and step wells.
HISTORY
Chittorgarh Fort is considered to be the largest fort of India in terms of area. It is stated that the fort was constructed by the Mauryans during the 7th century AD and hence derives its name after the Mauryan ruler, Chitrangada Mori, as inscribed on coins of the period. Historical records show Chittorgarh fort as the capital of Mewar for 834 years. It was established in 734 AD by Bappa Rawal, founder ruler in the hierarchy of the Sisodia rulers of Mewar. It is also said that the fort was gifted to Bappa Rawal as part of Solanki princess’s dowry in the 8th century. The fort was looted and destroyed at the hands of Emperor Akbar in 1568 AD and subsequently never resettled but only refurbished in 1905 AD. Three important battles were fought for control of the fort; in 1303, Ala-ud-din Khilji besieged the fort; in 1535, Sultan of Gujarat Bahadur Shah besieged the fort; and in 1568, Mughal Emperor Akbar attacked the fort. Not that there were only defeats at the fort. Excluding the periods of siege, the fort had always remained in possession of the Sisodias of the Guhilot (or Gehlot/Guhila) clan of Rajputs, who descended from Bappa Rawal. There were also success stories of establishment of the fort and its reconstruction after every siege, before it was finally abandoned in 1568, all of which are narrated.
Chittor is cited in the Mahabharat epic. It is said that Bhima, the second of the Pandava brothers of Epic Mahabaharata fame, known for his mighty strength gave a powerful hit with his fist to the ground that resulted in water springing up to form a large reservoir. It is called Bhimlat kund, an artificial tank named after Bhima. Folk legend also mentions that Bhima started building the fort.
BAPPA RAWAL
The earliest history linked to the Bappa Rawal's fort is that of the Huna Kingdom of Sialkot (of Mihir Kula 515-540 AD) that was destroyed by Yashodharman. This was subsequently seized by a new dynasty of kshatriyas called Tak or Taxaka. According to historians, the Taxak Mori were the lords of Chittor from a very early period. After a few generations, the Guhilots supplanted them. From 725 to 735 AD, there were numerous defenders who appear to have considered the cause of Chittor their own, the Tak from Asirgarh. This race appears to have retained possession of Asirgarh for at least two centuries after this event and one of its chieftain Bappa Rawal was the most conspicuous leader in the lineage of Prithvi Raj. In the poems of Chandar he is called the "Standard, bearer, Tak of Asir."
SIEGE OF 1303
Ala ud din Khilji, Sultan of Delhi, rallied his forces against Mewar, in 1303 AD. The Chittorgarh fort was till then considered impregnable and grand, atop a natural hill. But his immediate reason for invading the fort was his obsessive desire to capture Rani Padmini, the unrivalled beautiful queen of Rana Ratan Singh and take her into his harem. The Rana, out of politeness, allowed the Khilji to view Padmini through a set of mirrors. But this viewing of Padmini further fired Khilji’s desire to possess her. After the viewing, as a gesture of courtesy, when the Rana accompanied the Sultan to the outer gate, he was treacherously captured. Khilji conveyed to the queen that the Rana would be released only if she agreed to join his harem. But the queen had other plans. She agreed to go to his camp if permitted to go in a Royal style with an entourage, in strict secrecy. Instead of her going, she sent 700 well armed soldiers disguised in litters and they rescued the Rana and took him to the fort. But Khilji chased them to the fort where a fierce battle ensued at the outer gate of the fort in which the Rajput soldiers were overpowered and the Rana was killed. Khilji won the battle on August 26, 1303. Soon thereafter, instead of surrendering to the Sultan, the royal Rajput ladies led by Rani Padmini preferred to die through the Rajput’s ultimate tragic rite of Jauhar (self immolation on a pyre). In revenge, Khilji killed thirty thousand Hindus. He entrusted the fort to his son Khizr Khan to rule and renamed the fort as 'Khizrabad'. He also showered gifts on his son by way of
a red canopy, a robe embroidered with gold and two standards one green and the other black and threw upon him rubies and emeralds.
He returned to Delhi after the fierce battle at the fort.
RANA HAMMIR & SUCCESSORS
Khizr Khan’s rule at the fort lasted till 1311 AD and due to the pressure of Rajputs he was forced to entrust power to the Sonigra chief Maldeva who held the fort for 7 years. Hammir Singh, usurped control of the fort from Maldeva by “treachery and intrigue” and Chittor once again regained its past glory. Hammir, before his death in 1364 AD, had converted Mewar into a fairly large and prosperous kingdom. The dynasty (and clan) fathered by him came to be known by the name Sisodia after the village where he was born. His son Ketra Singh succeeded him and ruled with honour and power. Ketra Singh’s son Lakha who ascended the throne in 1382 AD also won several wars. His famous grandson Rana Kumbha came to the throne in 1433 AD and by that time the Muslim rulers of Malwa and Gujarat had acquired considerable clout and were keen to usurp the powerful Mewar state.
RANA KUMBHA & CLAN
There was resurgence during the reign of Rana Kumbha in the 15th century. Rana Kumbha, also known as Maharana Kumbhakarna, son of Rana Mokal, ruled Mewar between 1433 AD and 1468 AD. He is credited with building up the Mewar kingdom assiduously as a force to reckon with. He built 32 forts (84 fortresses formed the defense of Mewar) including one in his own name, called Kumbalgarh. But his end came in 1468 AD at the hands of his own son Rana Udaysimha (Uday Singh I) who assassinated him to gain the throne of Mewar. This patricide was not appreciated by the people of Mewar and consequently his brother Rana Raimal assumed the reins of power in 1473. After his death in May 1509, Sangram Singh (also known as Rana Sanga), his youngest son, became the ruler of Mewar, which brought in a new phase in the history of Mewar. Rana Sanga, with support from Medini Rai (a Rajput chief of Alwar), fought a valiant battle against Mughal emperor Babar at Khanwa in 1527. He ushered in a period of prestige to Chittor by defeating the rulers of Gujarat and also effectively interfered in the matters of Idar. He also won small areas of the Delhi territory. In the ensuing battle with Ibrahim Lodi, Rana won and acquired some districts of Malwa. He also defeated the combined might of Sultan Muzaffar of Gujarat and the Sultan of Malwa. By 1525 AD, Rana Sanga had developed Chittor and Mewar, by virtue of great intellect, valour and his sword, into a formidable military state. But in a decisive battle that was fought against Babar on March 16, 1527, the Rajput army of Rana Sanga suffered a terrible defeat and Sanga escaped to one of his fortresses. But soon thereafter in another attack on the Chanderi fort the valiant Rana Sanga died and with his death the Rajput confederacy collapsed.
SIEGE OF 1534
Bahadur Shah who came to the throne in 1526 AD as the Sultan of Gujarat besieged the Chittorgarh fort in 1534. The fort was sacked and, once again the medieval dictates of chivalry determined the outcome. Following the defeat of the Rana, it is said 13,000 Rajput women committed jauhar (self immolation on the funeral pyre) and 3,200 Rajput warriors rushed out of the fort to fight and die.
SIEGE OF 1567
The final Siege of Chittorgarh came 33 years later, in 1567, when the Mughal Emperor Akbar invaded the fort. Akbar wanted to conquer Mewar, which was being ably ruled by Rana Uday Singh II, a fine prince of Mewar. To establish himself as the supreme lord of Northern India, he wanted to capture the renowned fortress of Chittor, as a precursor to conquering the whole of India. Shakti Singh, son of the Rana who had quarreled with his father, had run away and approached Akbar when the later had camped at Dholpur preparing to attack Malwa. During one of these meetings, in August 1567, Shakti Singh came to know from a remark made in jest by emperor Akbar that he was intending to wage war against Chittor. Akbar had told Shakti Singh in jest that since his father had not submitted himself before him like other princes and chieftains of the region he would attack him. Startled by this revelation, Shakti Singh quietly rushed back to Chittor and informed his father of the impending invasion by Akbar. Akbar was furious with the departure of Shakti Singh and decided to attack Mewar to humble the arrogance of the Ranas. In September 1567, the emperor left for Chittor, and on October 20, 1567, camped in the vast plains outside the fort. In the meantime, Rana Udai Singh, on the advice of his council of advisors, decided to go away from Chittor to the hills of Udaipur. Jaimal and Patta, two brave army chieftains of Mewar, were left behind to defend the fort along with 8,000 Rajput warriors under their command. Akbar laid siege to the fortress. The Rajput army fought valiantly and Akbar himself had narrowly escaped death. In this grave situation, Akbar had prayed for divine help for achieving victory and vowed to visit the shrine of the sufi saint Khwaja at Ajmer. The battle continued till February 23, 1568. On that day Jaymal was seriously wounded but he continued to fight with support from Patta. Jayamal ordered jauhar to be performed when many beautiful princesses of Mewar and noble matrons committed self-immolation at the funeral pyre. Next day the gates of the fort were opened and Rajput soldiers rushed out bravely to fight the enemies. Jayamal and Patta who fought bravely were at last killed in action. One figure estimates that 30,000 soldiers were killed in action. Akbar immediately repaired himself to Ajmer to perform his religious vow.
RETURN OF THE FORT TO MEWAR
But in 1616, Jehangir returned Chittor fort to the Rajputs, when Maharana Amar Singh was the chief of Mewar. However, the fort was not resettled though it was refurbished several centuries later in 1905 during British Raj.
PRECINCTS
The fort which is roughly in the shape of a fish has a circumference of 13 km with a maximum width of 3 km and it covers an area of 700 acres. The fort is approached through a zig zag and difficult ascent of more than 1 km from the plains, after crossing over a bridge made in limestone. The bridge spans the Gambhiri River and is supported by ten arches (one has a curved shape while the balance have pointed arches). Apart from the two tall towers, which dominate the majestic fortifications, the sprawling fort has a plethora of palaces and temples (many of them in ruins) within its precincts.
The 305 hectares component site, with a buffer zone of 427 hectares, encompasses the fortified stronghold of Chittorgarh, a spacious fort located on an isolated rocky plateau of approximately 2 km length and 155m width.
It is surrounded by a perimeter wall 4.5 kilometres long, beyond which a 45° hill slope makes it almost inaccessible to enemies. The ascent to the fort passes through seven gateways built by the Mewar ruler Rana Kumbha (1433- 1468) of the Sisodia clan. These gates are called, from the base to the hill top, the Paidal Pol, Bhairon Pol, Hanuman Pol, Ganesh Pol, Jorla Pol, Laxman Pol, and Ram Pol, the final and main gate.
The fort complex comprises 65 historic built structures, among them 4 palace complexes, 19 main temples, 4 memorials and 20 functional water bodies. These can be divided into two major construction phases. The first hill fort with one main entrance was established in the 5th century and successively fortified until the 12th century. Its remains are mostly visible on the western edges of the plateau. The second, more significant defence structure was constructed in the 15th century during the reign of the Sisodia Rajputs, when the royal entrance was relocated and fortified with seven gates, and the medieval fortification wall was built on an earlier wall construction from the 13th century.
Besides the palace complex, located on the highest and most secure terrain in the west of the fort, many of the other significant structures, such as the Kumbha Shyam Temple, the Mira Bai Temple, the Adi Varah Temple, the Shringar Chauri Temple, and the Vijay Stambh memorial were constructed in this second phase. Compared to the later additions of Sisodian rulers during the 19th and 20th centuries, the predominant construction phase illustrates a comparatively pure Rajput style combined with minimal eclecticism, such as the vaulted substructures which were borrowed from Sultanate architecture. The 4.5 km walls with integrated circular enforcements are constructed from dressed stone masonry in lime mortar and rise 500m above the plain. With the help of the seven massive stone gates, partly flanked by hexagonal or octagonal towers, the access to the fort is restricted to a narrow pathway which climbs up the steep hill through successive, ever narrower defence passages. The seventh and final gate leads directly into the palace area, which integrates a variety of residential and official structures. Rana Kumbha Mahal, the palace of Rana Kumbha, is a large Rajput domestic structure and now incorporates the Kanwar Pade Ka Mahal (the palace of the heir) and the later palace of the poetess Mira Bai (1498-1546). The palace area was further expanded in later centuries, when additional structures, such as the Ratan Singh Palace (1528–31) or the Fateh Prakash, also named Badal Mahal (1885-1930), were added. Although the majority of temple structures represent the Hindu faith, most prominently the Kalikamata Temple (8th century), the Kshemankari Temple (825-850) the Kumbha Shyam Temple (1448) or the Adbuthnath Temple (15th- 16th century), the hill fort also contains Jain temples, such as Shringar Chauri (1448) and Sat Bis Devri (mid-15th century) Also the two tower memorials, Kirti Stambh (13th-14th century) and Vijay Stambha (1433-1468), are Jain monuments. They stand out with their respective heights of 24m and 37m, which ensure their visibility from most locations of the fort complex. Finally, the fort compound is home to a contemporary municipal ward of approximately 3,000 inhabitants, which is located near Ratan Singh Tank at the northern end of the property.
GATES
The fort has total seven gates (in local language, gate is called Pol), namely the Padan Pol, Bhairon Pol, Hanuman Pol, Ganesh Pol, Jodla Pol, Laxman Pol and the main gate named the Ram Pol (Lord Rama's Gate). All the gateways to the fort have been built as massive stone structures with secure fortifications for military defense. The doors of the gates with pointed arches are reinforced to fend off elephants and cannon shots. The top of the gates have notched parapets for archers to shoot at the enemy army. A circular road within the fort links all the gates and provides access to the numerous monuments (ruined palaces and 130 temples) in the fort.
During the second siege, Prince Bagh Singh died at the Padan Pol in 1535 AD. Prince Jaimal of Badnore and his clansman Kalla were killed by Akbar at a location between the Bhairon Pol and Hanuman Pol in the last siege of the fort in 1567 (Kalla carried the wounded Jaimal out to fight). Chhatris, with the roof supported by corbeled arches, have been built to commemorate the spots of their sacrifice. Their statues have also been erected, at the orders of Emperor Akbar, to commemorate their valiant deaths. At each gate, cenotaphs of Jaimal (in the form of a statue of a Rajput warrior on horseback) and Patta have also been constructed. At Ram Pol, the entrance gate to the fort, a Chaatri was built in memory of the 15 year old Patta of Kelwa, who had lost his father in battle, and saw the sword yielding mother and wife on the battle field who fought valiantly and died at this gate. He led the saffron robed Rajput warriors, who all died fighting for Mewar’s honour. Suraj Pol (Sun Gate) provides entry to the eastern wall of the fort. On the right of Suraj Pol is the Darikhana or Sabha (council chamber) behind which lie a Ganesha temple and the zenana (living quarters for women). A massive water reservoir is located towards the left of Suraj Pol. There is also a peculiar gate, called the Jorla Pol (Joined Gate), which consists of two gates joined together. The upper arch of Jorla Pol is connected to the base of Lakshman Pol. It is said that this feature has not been noticed anywhere else in India. The Lokota Bari is the gate at the fort’s northern tip, while a small opening that was used to hurl criminals into the abyss is seen at the southern end.
VIJAY STAMBHA
The Vijay Stambha (Tower of Victory) or Jaya Stambha, called the symbol of Chittor and a particularly bold expression of triumph, was erected by Rana Kumbha between 1458 and 1468 to commemorate his victory over Mahmud Shah I Khalji, the Sultan of Malwa, in 1440 AD. Built over a period of ten years, it raises 37.2 metres over a 4.4 m2 base in nine stories accessed through a narrow circular staircase of 157 steps (the interior is also carved) up to the 8th floor, from where there is good view of the plains and the new town of Chittor. The dome, which was a later addition, was damaged by lightning and repaired during the 19th century. The Stamba is now illuminated during the evenings and gives a beautiful view of Chittor from the top.
KIRTI STAMBHA
Kirti Stambha (Tower of Fame) is a 22 metres high tower built on a 9.1 m base with 4.6 m at the top, is adorned with Jain sculptures on the outside and is older (probably 12th century) and smaller than the Victory Tower. Built by a Bagherwal Jain merchant Jijaji Rathod, it is dedicated to Adinath, the first Jain tirthankar (revered Jain teacher). In the lowest floor of the tower, figures of the various tirthankars of the Jain pantheon are seen in special niches formed to house them. These are digambara monuments. A narrow stairway with 54 steps leads through the six storeys to the top. The top pavilion that was added in the 15th century has 12 columns.
RANA KUMBHA PALACE
At the entrance gate near the Vijaya Stamba, Rana Kumbha's palace (in ruins), the oldest monument, is located. The palace included elephant and horse stables and a temple to Lord Shiva. Maharana Udai Singh, the founder of Udaipur, was born here; the popular folk lore linked to his birth is that his maid Panna DaiPanna Dhai saved him by substituting her son in his place as a decoy, which resulted in her son getting killed by Banbir. The prince was spirited away in a fruit basket. The palace is built with plastered stone. The remarkable feature of the palace is its splendid series of canopied balconies. Entry to the palace is through Suraj Pol that leads into a courtyard. Rani Meera, the famous poetess saint, also lived in this palace. This is also the palace where Rani Padmini, consigned herself to the funeral pyre in one of the underground cellars, as an act of jauhar along with many other women. The Nau Lakha Bandar (literal meaning: nine lakh treasury) building, the royal treasury of Chittor was also located close by. Now, across from the palace is a museum and archeological office. The Singa Chowri temple is also nearby.
FATEH PRAKASH PALACE
Located near Rana Khumba palace, built by Rana Fateh Singh, the precincts have modern houses and a small museum. A school for local children (about 5,000 villagers live within the fort) is also nearby.
GAUMUKH RESERVOIR
A spring feeds the tank from a carved cow’s mouth in the cliff. This pool was the main source of water at the fort during the numerous sieges.
PADMINI´S PALACE
Padmini's Palace or Rani Padmini's Palace is a white building and a three storied structure (a 19th-century reconstruction of the original). It is located in the southern part of the fort. Chhatris (pavilions) crown the palace roofs and a water moat surrounds the palace. This style of palace became the forerunner of other palaces built in the state with the concept of Jal Mahal (palace surrounded by water). It is at this Palace where Alauddin was permitted to glimpse the mirror image of Rani Padmini, wife of Maharana Rattan Singh. It is widely believed that this glimpse of Padmini's beauty besotted him and convinced him to destroy Chittor in order to possess her. Maharana Rattan Singh was killed and Rani Padmini committed Jauhar. Rani Padmini's beauty has been compared to that of Cleopatra and her life story is an eternal legend in the history of Chittor. The bronze gates to this pavilion were removed and transported to Agra by Akbar.
OTHER SIGHTS
Close to Kirti Sthamba is the Meera Temple, or the Meerabai Temple. Rana Khumba built it in an ornate Indo–Aryan architectural style. It is associated with the mystic saint-poet Mirabai who was an ardent devotee of Lord Krishna and dedicated her entire life to His worship. She composed and sang lyrical bhajans called Meera Bhajans. The popular legend associated with her is that with blessings of Krishna, she survived after consuming poison sent to her by her evil brother-in-law. The larger temple in the same compound is the Kumbha Shyam Temple (Varaha Temple). The pinnacle of the temple is in pyramid shape. A picture of Meerabai praying before Krishna has now been installed in the temple.
Across from Padmini’s Palace is the Kalika Mata Temple. Originally, a Sun Temple dated to the 8th century dedicated to Surya (the Sun God) was destroyed in the 14th century. It was rebuilt as a Kali temple.
Another temple on the west side of the fort is the ancient Goddess Tulja Bhavani Temple built to worship Goddess Tulja Bhavani is considered sacred. The Tope Khana (cannon foundry) is located next to this temple in a courtyard, where a few old cannons are still seen.
JAUHAR MELA
The fort and the city of Chittorgarh host the biggest Rajput festival called the "Jauhar Mela". It takes place annually on the anniversary of one of the jauhars, but no specific name has been given to it. It is generally believed that it commemorates Padmini’s jauhar, which is most famous. This festival is held primarily to commemorate the bravery of Rajput ancestors and all three jauhars which happened at Chittorgarh Fort. A huge number of Rajputs, which include the descendants of most of the princely families, hold a procession to celebrate the Jauhar. It has also become a forum to air one's views on the current political situation in the country.
Godmanchester, Huntingdon
As a warning
to the young of both sexes
This stone is erected by public subscription
over the remains of MARY ANN WEEMS
who at an early age became acquainted
with THOMAS WEEMS formerly of this Parish
this connextion terminating in a compulsory
Marriage occasioned him soon to desert her
and wishing to be Married to another Woman
he filled up the measure of his iniquity
by resolving to murder his Wife
which he barbarously perpetrated at Wendy
on their Journey to London toward which place
he had induced her to go under the mask
of reconciliation May the 7th 1819
He was taken within a few hours after
the crime was committed, tried and
subsequently executed at Cambridge
on the 7th of August in the same Year
Ere Crime you perpetrate survey this Stone
Learn hence the God of Justice sleeps not on his Throne
But marks the Sinner with unerring Eye
The suffering Victim hears and makes the Guilty die
A shocking murder was committed on the body of a female on Friday se'nnight, in the parish of Wendy, a little after 10 o'clock, which was discovered in a most singular manner.
About a year ago, a man named Thomas Weems was married to the deceased at the parish church of Goldington, in Bedfordshire; but it being a match of compulsion by the parish officers, she having
previously sworn a child to him, he left her immediately after the completion of the ceremony, and returned to his place, leaving her to go home to her friends, which she did, and it afterwards turned out that she was not in a state of pregnancy. On Monday the 3rd of May instant, he left Edmonton, where he had got a situation, for the purpose of going to Godmanchester, where his wife resided, whom he had never lived with, to prevail on her to go and live with him at Edmonton.
On his road from Caxton towards Godmanchester, he fell in with a return chaise and got into it to ride to Godmanchester, and there was a man in the chaise known to Weems. In the course of conversation, Weems stated to the man, that he was going to Godmanchester to get his wife to go and live with him at Edmonton; but that there was a girl at Edmonton he was acquainted with, a very nice girl, whom he liked much better than his wife, and should much like to marry her. On the man saying that was impossible, he being a married man, Weems replied, that "when he had got his wife at Edmonton, he should soon be able to get rid of her.'' Weems remained with his wife at Godmanchester till Friday, when they both left that place early in the morning to walk to Edmonton.
They walked from Godmanchester to the spot where the murder was committed, being about 16 miles, without resting. When they arrived at the fatal spot, they stopped; the woman being tired, laid herself down on the grass by the road side, about a mile from Arlington. While they were resting here, a woman named Susannah Bird, of Wendy, who was going to Royston, saw the deceased sitting on the ground on the right hand side, near Mr. Russell's fields, and Weems was on the other side, opposite his wife. Directly after she had passed, she saw both Weems and his wife go lo Russell's field; they stood looking about, and appeared as if they were noticing her, and she kept looking back at them. When she got to lord Hardwicke's white gates, she lost sight of them all at once, and then kept on her way to Royston. As she was returning from Royston, she met the same man near Royston with a bundle, whom she had before observed. She asked him what he had done with the young woman he had with him in the morning? He said, “I left her behind; she is about spun up. I cannot get her any further, so I left her to get on by the coach”.
Susannah Bird then came on, met the coach, and looked for the young woman, but could not see her outside or inside. She says something struck her that the man (Weems) had done something wrong to the woman, that he had killed her; she went on, and saw a person hoeing in Mr. Wilkinson's field, to whom she told the circumstances, and said to him that "she would go to the next field (being the place where she saw them in the morning), and see if she could discover what betided the young woman.''
She passed through the gate where she saw Weems and his wife go in, and immediately discovered the young woman lying in the ditch, her face nearly flat to the ground, her shawl over her face, and her bonnet on the shawl: her body was covered all over with grass, which was strewed over her by hands full; only a foot and one of her fingers could be seen; there were marks on the grass by the ditch, as if there had been great struggling and rolling about, and there was the trace of a man's foot from the place where the grass was tumbled about, to the spot where the body lay. She called to the man in Mr. Wilkinson's field; he came; they removed the grass, and on examining the body, her garter was found round her neck tied very tight; she had the fellow garter on her left leg; she was quite dead, and black in the face.
Pursuit was immediately made after the supposed murderer, who was apprehended in a waggon. Information of the body being found was sent to the coroner for the county; he arrived at eight o'clock in the evening, and he had scarcely finished swearing the jury before a chaise arrived, in which was Weems.
The jury sat till between one and two o'clock on Saturday morning, and, after taking a body of evidence, they returned a verdict of Wilful Murder against Thomas Weems, the husband of the deceased, who was committed upon the coroner's warrant to the county gaol to take his trial at the next assizes. We understand the prisoner has made a full confession, and described the means by which he perpetrated the horrid deed.
Henry Thomas Cockburn of Bonaly, Lord Cockburn, was a Scottish lawyer, judge, literary figure and committed conservationist for the City he loved.
A well-respected figure of the time, his legacy lives on today in many forms, from streets names after him to the Cockburn Association, founded in his memory to protect the amenity of this city and campaign for its improvement.
In this portrait he is seen with Bonaly Tower on the right of the image and the distinctive external stair and tower doorway used by Robert Adamson and David Octavius Hill to pose the family photograph in the early 1840s.
Cockburn as born on 26 October 1779 with the Old Parish Register giving his place of birth as Hope Park in Edinburgh, where his parents had a house. He died at the age of 75 at his estate in Bonaly in the Pentland Hills on 26 April 1854.
His father was Archibald Cockburn – a keen Tory, lawyer, Judge – and Sheriff of Midlothian before taking on the mantle of Baron of the Court of Exchequer. His mother Janet Rannie was connected by marriage with the influential Lord Melville (her sister was Henry Dundas’s first wife), making Cockburn the nephew of one of the most powerful individuals in Scotland at the time. ( My family tree contains an important marriage of a MacBean daughter to the Dundas dynasty).
One of 9 siblings, with three sisters and 5 brothers. His brother was John Cockburn FRSE (d.1862) was a wine merchant and founder of Cockburn’s of Leith. Henry married Elizabeth Macdowall and went on to have five daughters and six sons.
In the popular magazine of the day, the Edinburgh Review, he was described as: “rather below the middle height, firm, wiry and muscular, inured to active exercise of all kinds, a good swimmer, an accomplished skater, an intense lover of the fresh breezes of heaven.” He was immensely popular with his peers and respected by most who met him.
Cockburn was educated at the Royal High School (1787) in Infirmary Street at the High School Yards to the south of the Old Town under the harsh guidance of the Rector, Dr Alexander Adam. He later described his time there as “spending nine years learning two dead languages”.
From 1793, he attended the University of Edinburgh and was particularly influenced by the Professor of Moral Philosophy, Dugald Stewart. A keen member of the Debating Club with Francis Jeffrey (a life-long friend), Henry Broughman and Horner. He met Walter Scott at this time, and the two grew to be close friends and political opponents.
Cockburn lived in a time when the spirit of the Age of the Enlightenment had permeated through all sectors of Edinburgh life. There were wide-sweeping proposals for new development in the town he loved so much, not least of which was the building of the New Town, north of the Nor’ Loch and the Old Town. Development here had started 10 years before his birth but his entry into University coincided with the completion of Charlotte Square, Robert Adam’s masterpiece of civic design regarded as the finest neo-classical square in Europe. He was, of course, later to move to the Square taking up residence at no.14.
In 1800, Cockburn entered the Faculty of Advocates which signalled the start of a distinguished legal career, becoming Lord Advocate Depute in 1806. He served as Solicitor General for Scotland between 1830 and 1834 before taking a seat on the Scottish bench as Lord Cockburn. He excelled at criminal cases and played a part if some celebrated cases. He was the defence lawyer for Helen McDougal, Burke’s wife, in the trial for the Burke and Hare murders, and won her acquittal.
Cockburn held strong Whig principles which was not the party of his relatives and at time when it held out few inducements to men ambitious of success.
Although Cockburn contributed regularly to the Edinburgh Review, the extent of his literary career was not fully appreciated until his 70th birthday on the publication of his biography of his lifelong friend, Lord Jeffrey.
His chief literary work, the Memorials of his Time appeared posthumously in 1856. His published work continued with his Journal 1831-44, published in 1874. These constitute an autobiography of the writer interspersed with notices of manners, public events, and sketches of his contemporaries, of great interest and value. In 1888, his paper Trials for Sedition in Scotland was published.
His book, Circuit Journeys was also published in 1888 and is a fascinating and insightful account of his times as a Circuit Judge, travelling the length and breadth of Scotland dispensing the Queen’s justice.
The preface, written in March 1838, Cockburn notes that it will be his “fate to perform these journeys being a Criminal Judge as long as I am fit for anything.” Such journeys were not without their hazards. He wrote of an incident in 1849 when a mail coach on the Edinburgh-Inverness route with the Clerk of the Court together with two Counsel overturned in the swollen River Moy – “The clerk’s papers all went downstream, but were recovered, though well steeped.”
September 1839, he visited the Abbey of Dundrennan, a “beautiful and interesting mass. But every other feeling is superseded by one’s horror and indignation at the state in which it is kept.” He goes on – “No excretion can do justice to the careless or selfish insensibility that can obstinately persevere in the daily perpetration of such atrocity. My excellent and esteemed host, in whose house I now am, and on whose ground this abbey stands, is the chief delinquent. And the value of the case is that he is a most liberal and right-minded gentleman, because this shows that the mischief proceeds from no positively improper object but from that absence of right feeling which, on such subjects seems to be nearly universal among Scotch proprietors. They gaze on the glorious ruins of noble buildings, over which time and history delights to linger and which give their estates all the dignity that they possess, with exactly the same emotion that the cattle do, to which these impressive edifices are generally consigned. It is a humiliating national scandal.”
Hidden within the pages of the Circuit Journeys are reminders of the horrible cases to which Cockburn had to preside. In 1840, in Glasgow, he wrote of the case of a poor child, scarcely 8 years old – a climbing boy as they were described then – who was forced by threats to go up 38 new chimneys successively without any food or rest. He died in the 38th. The charge of culpable homicide; the sentence was imprisonment although Cockburn felt that transportation was a more suitable punishment.
We can see part of Cockburn’s character and reflection following the Spring North Circuit of 1844. He writes from his home in Bonaly on a comfortable Sunday evening reflecting on dispensing the Queen’s justice in Perth. Putting aside the cases of a female fire raiser and a mad murderer noting that these were the only interesting cases out of 44, we writes, “of the mob of thieves, about a dozen had been already convicted in the Judiciary, and purified by long incarceration. I fear that it may now be deemed certain that thieves, especially the young, cannot be reformed by being shut up in a box.”
In September 1849, some 34 years before the celebrated Napier Commission into the Highland Clearances, Cockburn described one notable case heard in Knockomie of rioting, etc by four respectable men from North Uist, who were resisting a Highland clearing. His description shows the clear dilemma for Justices in exercising their duties. In accepting that the warrants of eviction had been legally and properly served, the Court established that no means of shelter or transport was provided leaving some 300 people with “nothing but the bare ground to take shelter in, or rather the hard, wet beach, to lie down upon.” The jury solved the difficulty by finding the men guilty but pleaded for the utmost leniency and mercy for the Court. In accepting this “well-considered recommendation”, Cockburn noted “the popular feeling is so strong against these (as I think necessary, but) odious operations, that I was afraid of an acquittal, which would have been unjust and mischievous. On the other hand, even the law has no sympathy with the exercises of legal rights in a cruel way.”
Cockburn’s conservation leanings again to the fore when writing in April 1845, he exclaims – “The country is an asylum of railway lunatics ……… And anyone who puts in a word for the preservation of scenery, or relics, or sacred haunts, is set down as a beast, hostile to the “poor man’s rights”, “modern improvement” and the “march of intellect”.”
Cockburn’s interest in the City of his birth found numerous channels but it is one publication that it can be best seen. In 1849, he wrote A Letter to the Lord Provost on the Best Ways of Spoiling the Beauty of Edinburgh in which he outlined his concerns and his passions for Edinburgh. It is more of a campaigning pamphlet than book, within which he said, “Edinburgh is not exempt from the doom that makes everything spoilable.” - - - - And how right he was.
Chittorgarh Fort (Hindi/Rajasthani: चित्तौड दुर्ग Chittorgarh Durg) is the largest fort in India and the grandest in the state of Rajasthan. It is a World Heritage Site. The fort, plainly known as Chittor, was the capital of Mewar and is today situated several kilometres south of Bhilwara. It was initially ruled by Guhilot and later by Sisodias, the Suryavanshi clans of Chattari Rajputs, from the 7th century, until it was finally abandoned in 1568 after the siege by Emperor Akbar in 1567. It sprawls majestically over a hill 180 m in height spread over an area of 280 ha above the plains of the valley drained by the Berach River. The fort precinct with an evocative history is studded with a series of historical palaces, gates, temples and two prominent commemoration towers. These monumental ruins have inspired the imagination of tourists and writers for centuries.
The fort was sacked three times between the 15th and 16th centuries; in 1303 Allauddin Khilji defeated Rana Ratan Singh, in 1535 Bahadur Shah, the Sultan of Gujarat defeated Bikramjeet Singh and in 1567 Emperor Akbar defeated Maharana Udai Singh II who left the fort and founded Udaipur. Each time the men fought bravely rushing out of the fort walls charging the enemy but lost every time. Following these defeats, Jauhar was committed thrice by more than 13,000 ladies and children of the Rajput heroes who laid their lives in battles at Chittorgarh Fort, first led by Rani Padmini wife of Rana Rattan Singh who was killed in the battle in 1303, and later by Rani Karnavati in 1537 AD.
Thus, the fort represents the quintessence of tribute to the nationalism, courage, medieval chivalry and sacrifice exhibited by the Mewar rulers of Sisodia and their kinsmen and women and children, between the 7th and 16th centuries. The rulers, their soldiers, the women folk of royalty and the commoners considered death as a better option than dishonor in the face of surrender to the foreign invading armies.
GEOGRAPHY
Chittorgarh, located in the southern part of the state of Rajasthan, 233 km from Ajmer, midway between Delhi and Mumbai on the National Highway 8 (India) in the road network of Golden Quadrilateral. Chittorgarh is situated where National Highways No. 76 & 79 intersect.
The fort rises abruptly above the surrounding plains and is spread over an area of 2.8 km2. The highest elevation at the fort is 1,075 m. It is situated on the left bank of the Berach river (a tributary of the Banas River) and is linked to the new town of Chittorgarh (known as the 'Lower Town') developed in the plains after 1568 AD when the fort was deserted in light of introduction of artillery in the 16th century, and therefore the capital was shifted to more secure Udaipur, located on the eastern flank of Aravalli hill range. Mughal Emperor Akbar attacked and sacked this fort which was but one of the 84 forts of Mewar,but the capital was shifted to Aravalli hills where heavy artillery & cavalry were not effective. A winding hill road of more than 1 km length from the new town leads to the west end main gate, called Ram Pol, of the fort. Within the fort, a circular road provides access to all the gates and monuments located within the fort walls.
The fort that once boasted of 84 water bodies has only 22 of them now. These water bodies are fed by natural catchment and rainfall, and have a combined storage of 4 billion litres that could meet the water needs of an army of 50,000. The supply could last for four years. These water bodies are in the form of ponds, wells and step wells.
HISTORY
Chittorgarh Fort is considered to be the largest fort of India in terms of area. It is stated that the fort was constructed by the Mauryans during the 7th century AD and hence derives its name after the Mauryan ruler, Chitrangada Mori, as inscribed on coins of the period. Historical records show Chittorgarh fort as the capital of Mewar for 834 years. It was established in 734 AD by Bappa Rawal, founder ruler in the hierarchy of the Sisodia rulers of Mewar. It is also said that the fort was gifted to Bappa Rawal as part of Solanki princess’s dowry in the 8th century. The fort was looted and destroyed at the hands of Emperor Akbar in 1568 AD and subsequently never resettled but only refurbished in 1905 AD. Three important battles were fought for control of the fort; in 1303, Ala-ud-din Khilji besieged the fort; in 1535, Sultan of Gujarat Bahadur Shah besieged the fort; and in 1568, Mughal Emperor Akbar attacked the fort. Not that there were only defeats at the fort. Excluding the periods of siege, the fort had always remained in possession of the Sisodias of the Guhilot (or Gehlot/Guhila) clan of Rajputs, who descended from Bappa Rawal. There were also success stories of establishment of the fort and its reconstruction after every siege, before it was finally abandoned in 1568, all of which are narrated.
Chittor is cited in the Mahabharat epic. It is said that Bhima, the second of the Pandava brothers of Epic Mahabaharata fame, known for his mighty strength gave a powerful hit with his fist to the ground that resulted in water springing up to form a large reservoir. It is called Bhimlat kund, an artificial tank named after Bhima. Folk legend also mentions that Bhima started building the fort.
BAPPA RAWAL
The earliest history linked to the Bappa Rawal's fort is that of the Huna Kingdom of Sialkot (of Mihir Kula 515-540 AD) that was destroyed by Yashodharman. This was subsequently seized by a new dynasty of kshatriyas called Tak or Taxaka. According to historians, the Taxak Mori were the lords of Chittor from a very early period. After a few generations, the Guhilots supplanted them. From 725 to 735 AD, there were numerous defenders who appear to have considered the cause of Chittor their own, the Tak from Asirgarh. This race appears to have retained possession of Asirgarh for at least two centuries after this event and one of its chieftain Bappa Rawal was the most conspicuous leader in the lineage of Prithvi Raj. In the poems of Chandar he is called the "Standard, bearer, Tak of Asir."
SIEGE OF 1303
Ala ud din Khilji, Sultan of Delhi, rallied his forces against Mewar, in 1303 AD. The Chittorgarh fort was till then considered impregnable and grand, atop a natural hill. But his immediate reason for invading the fort was his obsessive desire to capture Rani Padmini, the unrivalled beautiful queen of Rana Ratan Singh and take her into his harem. The Rana, out of politeness, allowed the Khilji to view Padmini through a set of mirrors. But this viewing of Padmini further fired Khilji’s desire to possess her. After the viewing, as a gesture of courtesy, when the Rana accompanied the Sultan to the outer gate, he was treacherously captured. Khilji conveyed to the queen that the Rana would be released only if she agreed to join his harem. But the queen had other plans. She agreed to go to his camp if permitted to go in a Royal style with an entourage, in strict secrecy. Instead of her going, she sent 700 well armed soldiers disguised in litters and they rescued the Rana and took him to the fort. But Khilji chased them to the fort where a fierce battle ensued at the outer gate of the fort in which the Rajput soldiers were overpowered and the Rana was killed. Khilji won the battle on August 26, 1303. Soon thereafter, instead of surrendering to the Sultan, the royal Rajput ladies led by Rani Padmini preferred to die through the Rajput’s ultimate tragic rite of Jauhar (self immolation on a pyre). In revenge, Khilji killed thirty thousand Hindus. He entrusted the fort to his son Khizr Khan to rule and renamed the fort as 'Khizrabad'. He also showered gifts on his son by way of
a red canopy, a robe embroidered with gold and two standards one green and the other black and threw upon him rubies and emeralds.
He returned to Delhi after the fierce battle at the fort.
RANA HAMMIR & SUCCESSORS
Khizr Khan’s rule at the fort lasted till 1311 AD and due to the pressure of Rajputs he was forced to entrust power to the Sonigra chief Maldeva who held the fort for 7 years. Hammir Singh, usurped control of the fort from Maldeva by “treachery and intrigue” and Chittor once again regained its past glory. Hammir, before his death in 1364 AD, had converted Mewar into a fairly large and prosperous kingdom. The dynasty (and clan) fathered by him came to be known by the name Sisodia after the village where he was born. His son Ketra Singh succeeded him and ruled with honour and power. Ketra Singh’s son Lakha who ascended the throne in 1382 AD also won several wars. His famous grandson Rana Kumbha came to the throne in 1433 AD and by that time the Muslim rulers of Malwa and Gujarat had acquired considerable clout and were keen to usurp the powerful Mewar state.
RANA KUMBHA & CLAN
There was resurgence during the reign of Rana Kumbha in the 15th century. Rana Kumbha, also known as Maharana Kumbhakarna, son of Rana Mokal, ruled Mewar between 1433 AD and 1468 AD. He is credited with building up the Mewar kingdom assiduously as a force to reckon with. He built 32 forts (84 fortresses formed the defense of Mewar) including one in his own name, called Kumbalgarh. But his end came in 1468 AD at the hands of his own son Rana Udaysimha (Uday Singh I) who assassinated him to gain the throne of Mewar. This patricide was not appreciated by the people of Mewar and consequently his brother Rana Raimal assumed the reins of power in 1473. After his death in May 1509, Sangram Singh (also known as Rana Sanga), his youngest son, became the ruler of Mewar, which brought in a new phase in the history of Mewar. Rana Sanga, with support from Medini Rai (a Rajput chief of Alwar), fought a valiant battle against Mughal emperor Babar at Khanwa in 1527. He ushered in a period of prestige to Chittor by defeating the rulers of Gujarat and also effectively interfered in the matters of Idar. He also won small areas of the Delhi territory. In the ensuing battle with Ibrahim Lodi, Rana won and acquired some districts of Malwa. He also defeated the combined might of Sultan Muzaffar of Gujarat and the Sultan of Malwa. By 1525 AD, Rana Sanga had developed Chittor and Mewar, by virtue of great intellect, valour and his sword, into a formidable military state. But in a decisive battle that was fought against Babar on March 16, 1527, the Rajput army of Rana Sanga suffered a terrible defeat and Sanga escaped to one of his fortresses. But soon thereafter in another attack on the Chanderi fort the valiant Rana Sanga died and with his death the Rajput confederacy collapsed.
SIEGE OF 1534
Bahadur Shah who came to the throne in 1526 AD as the Sultan of Gujarat besieged the Chittorgarh fort in 1534. The fort was sacked and, once again the medieval dictates of chivalry determined the outcome. Following the defeat of the Rana, it is said 13,000 Rajput women committed jauhar (self immolation on the funeral pyre) and 3,200 Rajput warriors rushed out of the fort to fight and die.
SIEGE OF 1567
The final Siege of Chittorgarh came 33 years later, in 1567, when the Mughal Emperor Akbar invaded the fort. Akbar wanted to conquer Mewar, which was being ably ruled by Rana Uday Singh II, a fine prince of Mewar. To establish himself as the supreme lord of Northern India, he wanted to capture the renowned fortress of Chittor, as a precursor to conquering the whole of India. Shakti Singh, son of the Rana who had quarreled with his father, had run away and approached Akbar when the later had camped at Dholpur preparing to attack Malwa. During one of these meetings, in August 1567, Shakti Singh came to know from a remark made in jest by emperor Akbar that he was intending to wage war against Chittor. Akbar had told Shakti Singh in jest that since his father had not submitted himself before him like other princes and chieftains of the region he would attack him. Startled by this revelation, Shakti Singh quietly rushed back to Chittor and informed his father of the impending invasion by Akbar. Akbar was furious with the departure of Shakti Singh and decided to attack Mewar to humble the arrogance of the Ranas. In September 1567, the emperor left for Chittor, and on October 20, 1567, camped in the vast plains outside the fort. In the meantime, Rana Udai Singh, on the advice of his council of advisors, decided to go away from Chittor to the hills of Udaipur. Jaimal and Patta, two brave army chieftains of Mewar, were left behind to defend the fort along with 8,000 Rajput warriors under their command. Akbar laid siege to the fortress. The Rajput army fought valiantly and Akbar himself had narrowly escaped death. In this grave situation, Akbar had prayed for divine help for achieving victory and vowed to visit the shrine of the sufi saint Khwaja at Ajmer. The battle continued till February 23, 1568. On that day Jaymal was seriously wounded but he continued to fight with support from Patta. Jayamal ordered jauhar to be performed when many beautiful princesses of Mewar and noble matrons committed self-immolation at the funeral pyre. Next day the gates of the fort were opened and Rajput soldiers rushed out bravely to fight the enemies. Jayamal and Patta who fought bravely were at last killed in action. One figure estimates that 30,000 soldiers were killed in action. Akbar immediately repaired himself to Ajmer to perform his religious vow.
RETURN OF THE FORT TO MEWAR
But in 1616, Jehangir returned Chittor fort to the Rajputs, when Maharana Amar Singh was the chief of Mewar. However, the fort was not resettled though it was refurbished several centuries later in 1905 during British Raj.
PRECINCTS
The fort which is roughly in the shape of a fish has a circumference of 13 km with a maximum width of 3 km and it covers an area of 700 acres. The fort is approached through a zig zag and difficult ascent of more than 1 km from the plains, after crossing over a bridge made in limestone. The bridge spans the Gambhiri River and is supported by ten arches (one has a curved shape while the balance have pointed arches). Apart from the two tall towers, which dominate the majestic fortifications, the sprawling fort has a plethora of palaces and temples (many of them in ruins) within its precincts.
The 305 hectares component site, with a buffer zone of 427 hectares, encompasses the fortified stronghold of Chittorgarh, a spacious fort located on an isolated rocky plateau of approximately 2 km length and 155m width.
It is surrounded by a perimeter wall 4.5 kilometres long, beyond which a 45° hill slope makes it almost inaccessible to enemies. The ascent to the fort passes through seven gateways built by the Mewar ruler Rana Kumbha (1433- 1468) of the Sisodia clan. These gates are called, from the base to the hill top, the Paidal Pol, Bhairon Pol, Hanuman Pol, Ganesh Pol, Jorla Pol, Laxman Pol, and Ram Pol, the final and main gate.
The fort complex comprises 65 historic built structures, among them 4 palace complexes, 19 main temples, 4 memorials and 20 functional water bodies. These can be divided into two major construction phases. The first hill fort with one main entrance was established in the 5th century and successively fortified until the 12th century. Its remains are mostly visible on the western edges of the plateau. The second, more significant defence structure was constructed in the 15th century during the reign of the Sisodia Rajputs, when the royal entrance was relocated and fortified with seven gates, and the medieval fortification wall was built on an earlier wall construction from the 13th century.
Besides the palace complex, located on the highest and most secure terrain in the west of the fort, many of the other significant structures, such as the Kumbha Shyam Temple, the Mira Bai Temple, the Adi Varah Temple, the Shringar Chauri Temple, and the Vijay Stambh memorial were constructed in this second phase. Compared to the later additions of Sisodian rulers during the 19th and 20th centuries, the predominant construction phase illustrates a comparatively pure Rajput style combined with minimal eclecticism, such as the vaulted substructures which were borrowed from Sultanate architecture. The 4.5 km walls with integrated circular enforcements are constructed from dressed stone masonry in lime mortar and rise 500m above the plain. With the help of the seven massive stone gates, partly flanked by hexagonal or octagonal towers, the access to the fort is restricted to a narrow pathway which climbs up the steep hill through successive, ever narrower defence passages. The seventh and final gate leads directly into the palace area, which integrates a variety of residential and official structures. Rana Kumbha Mahal, the palace of Rana Kumbha, is a large Rajput domestic structure and now incorporates the Kanwar Pade Ka Mahal (the palace of the heir) and the later palace of the poetess Mira Bai (1498-1546). The palace area was further expanded in later centuries, when additional structures, such as the Ratan Singh Palace (1528–31) or the Fateh Prakash, also named Badal Mahal (1885-1930), were added. Although the majority of temple structures represent the Hindu faith, most prominently the Kalikamata Temple (8th century), the Kshemankari Temple (825-850) the Kumbha Shyam Temple (1448) or the Adbuthnath Temple (15th- 16th century), the hill fort also contains Jain temples, such as Shringar Chauri (1448) and Sat Bis Devri (mid-15th century) Also the two tower memorials, Kirti Stambh (13th-14th century) and Vijay Stambha (1433-1468), are Jain monuments. They stand out with their respective heights of 24m and 37m, which ensure their visibility from most locations of the fort complex. Finally, the fort compound is home to a contemporary municipal ward of approximately 3,000 inhabitants, which is located near Ratan Singh Tank at the northern end of the property.
GATES
The fort has total seven gates (in local language, gate is called Pol), namely the Padan Pol, Bhairon Pol, Hanuman Pol, Ganesh Pol, Jodla Pol, Laxman Pol and the main gate named the Ram Pol (Lord Rama's Gate). All the gateways to the fort have been built as massive stone structures with secure fortifications for military defense. The doors of the gates with pointed arches are reinforced to fend off elephants and cannon shots. The top of the gates have notched parapets for archers to shoot at the enemy army. A circular road within the fort links all the gates and provides access to the numerous monuments (ruined palaces and 130 temples) in the fort.
During the second siege, Prince Bagh Singh died at the Padan Pol in 1535 AD. Prince Jaimal of Badnore and his clansman Kalla were killed by Akbar at a location between the Bhairon Pol and Hanuman Pol in the last siege of the fort in 1567 (Kalla carried the wounded Jaimal out to fight). Chhatris, with the roof supported by corbeled arches, have been built to commemorate the spots of their sacrifice. Their statues have also been erected, at the orders of Emperor Akbar, to commemorate their valiant deaths. At each gate, cenotaphs of Jaimal (in the form of a statue of a Rajput warrior on horseback) and Patta have also been constructed. At Ram Pol, the entrance gate to the fort, a Chaatri was built in memory of the 15 year old Patta of Kelwa, who had lost his father in battle, and saw the sword yielding mother and wife on the battle field who fought valiantly and died at this gate. He led the saffron robed Rajput warriors, who all died fighting for Mewar’s honour. Suraj Pol (Sun Gate) provides entry to the eastern wall of the fort. On the right of Suraj Pol is the Darikhana or Sabha (council chamber) behind which lie a Ganesha temple and the zenana (living quarters for women). A massive water reservoir is located towards the left of Suraj Pol. There is also a peculiar gate, called the Jorla Pol (Joined Gate), which consists of two gates joined together. The upper arch of Jorla Pol is connected to the base of Lakshman Pol. It is said that this feature has not been noticed anywhere else in India. The Lokota Bari is the gate at the fort’s northern tip, while a small opening that was used to hurl criminals into the abyss is seen at the southern end.
VIJAY STAMBHA
The Vijay Stambha (Tower of Victory) or Jaya Stambha, called the symbol of Chittor and a particularly bold expression of triumph, was erected by Rana Kumbha between 1458 and 1468 to commemorate his victory over Mahmud Shah I Khalji, the Sultan of Malwa, in 1440 AD. Built over a period of ten years, it raises 37.2 metres over a 4.4 m2 base in nine stories accessed through a narrow circular staircase of 157 steps (the interior is also carved) up to the 8th floor, from where there is good view of the plains and the new town of Chittor. The dome, which was a later addition, was damaged by lightning and repaired during the 19th century. The Stamba is now illuminated during the evenings and gives a beautiful view of Chittor from the top.
KIRTI STAMBHA
Kirti Stambha (Tower of Fame) is a 22 metres high tower built on a 9.1 m base with 4.6 m at the top, is adorned with Jain sculptures on the outside and is older (probably 12th century) and smaller than the Victory Tower. Built by a Bagherwal Jain merchant Jijaji Rathod, it is dedicated to Adinath, the first Jain tirthankar (revered Jain teacher). In the lowest floor of the tower, figures of the various tirthankars of the Jain pantheon are seen in special niches formed to house them. These are digambara monuments. A narrow stairway with 54 steps leads through the six storeys to the top. The top pavilion that was added in the 15th century has 12 columns.
RANA KUMBHA PALACE
At the entrance gate near the Vijaya Stamba, Rana Kumbha's palace (in ruins), the oldest monument, is located. The palace included elephant and horse stables and a temple to Lord Shiva. Maharana Udai Singh, the founder of Udaipur, was born here; the popular folk lore linked to his birth is that his maid Panna DaiPanna Dhai saved him by substituting her son in his place as a decoy, which resulted in her son getting killed by Banbir. The prince was spirited away in a fruit basket. The palace is built with plastered stone. The remarkable feature of the palace is its splendid series of canopied balconies. Entry to the palace is through Suraj Pol that leads into a courtyard. Rani Meera, the famous poetess saint, also lived in this palace. This is also the palace where Rani Padmini, consigned herself to the funeral pyre in one of the underground cellars, as an act of jauhar along with many other women. The Nau Lakha Bandar (literal meaning: nine lakh treasury) building, the royal treasury of Chittor was also located close by. Now, across from the palace is a museum and archeological office. The Singa Chowri temple is also nearby.
FATEH PRAKASH PALACE
Located near Rana Khumba palace, built by Rana Fateh Singh, the precincts have modern houses and a small museum. A school for local children (about 5,000 villagers live within the fort) is also nearby.
GAUMUKH RESERVOIR
A spring feeds the tank from a carved cow’s mouth in the cliff. This pool was the main source of water at the fort during the numerous sieges.
PADMINI´S PALACE
Padmini's Palace or Rani Padmini's Palace is a white building and a three storied structure (a 19th-century reconstruction of the original). It is located in the southern part of the fort. Chhatris (pavilions) crown the palace roofs and a water moat surrounds the palace. This style of palace became the forerunner of other palaces built in the state with the concept of Jal Mahal (palace surrounded by water). It is at this Palace where Alauddin was permitted to glimpse the mirror image of Rani Padmini, wife of Maharana Rattan Singh. It is widely believed that this glimpse of Padmini's beauty besotted him and convinced him to destroy Chittor in order to possess her. Maharana Rattan Singh was killed and Rani Padmini committed Jauhar. Rani Padmini's beauty has been compared to that of Cleopatra and her life story is an eternal legend in the history of Chittor. The bronze gates to this pavilion were removed and transported to Agra by Akbar.
OTHER SIGHTS
Close to Kirti Sthamba is the Meera Temple, or the Meerabai Temple. Rana Khumba built it in an ornate Indo–Aryan architectural style. It is associated with the mystic saint-poet Mirabai who was an ardent devotee of Lord Krishna and dedicated her entire life to His worship. She composed and sang lyrical bhajans called Meera Bhajans. The popular legend associated with her is that with blessings of Krishna, she survived after consuming poison sent to her by her evil brother-in-law. The larger temple in the same compound is the Kumbha Shyam Temple (Varaha Temple). The pinnacle of the temple is in pyramid shape. A picture of Meerabai praying before Krishna has now been installed in the temple.
Across from Padmini’s Palace is the Kalika Mata Temple. Originally, a Sun Temple dated to the 8th century dedicated to Surya (the Sun God) was destroyed in the 14th century. It was rebuilt as a Kali temple.
Another temple on the west side of the fort is the ancient Goddess Tulja Bhavani Temple built to worship Goddess Tulja Bhavani is considered sacred. The Tope Khana (cannon foundry) is located next to this temple in a courtyard, where a few old cannons are still seen.
JAUHAR MELA
The fort and the city of Chittorgarh host the biggest Rajput festival called the "Jauhar Mela". It takes place annually on the anniversary of one of the jauhars, but no specific name has been given to it. It is generally believed that it commemorates Padmini’s jauhar, which is most famous. This festival is held primarily to commemorate the bravery of Rajput ancestors and all three jauhars which happened at Chittorgarh Fort. A huge number of Rajputs, which include the descendants of most of the princely families, hold a procession to celebrate the Jauhar. It has also become a forum to air one's views on the current political situation in the country.
PRESIDIO OF MONTEREY, Calif. -- The COVID-19 pandemic has created many operational challenges for the military. However, service members, DoD civilians and military families across the globe have adapted to overcome the challenges to stay ready and support the whole-of-government response.
While many service members and DoD civilians who work at the Presidio of Monterey and Defense Language Institute are teleworking – essential employees report to work daily to carry on the mission. Employees are strictly following CDC and DoD guidance of social distancing and face coverings to protect themselves and those around them.
The health and safety of all employees, regardless if they are essential employees or teleworking, is the command’s highest priority.
Our service members and DoD civilians are committed to mission success and remain trained and ready to defend the nation.
Photo by Joseph Kumzak, Presidio of Monterey Public Affairs
Tibet Foundation
Tibet Foundation Earthquake Appeal 2008
Update: 17 July 2008
Tibet Foundation has so far sent £24,000 to schools in the disaster
area inside Tibet.
This is around RMB 325,000 Chinese Yuan or $ 48,000 US Dollars.
There remains an urgent need for long term rehabilitation work
particularly in schools.
Our second stage target is to raise £50,000 for rehabilitation and
relief work in the Tibetan areas in which we have been working since
1993 through our Aid to Tibet programme.
Our current identified priorities remain for community level
interventions where we can make a real difference through local
action.
Donate Now:
www.justgiving.com/tibetearthquake
Other Ways to Donate:
www.tibet-foundation.org/tf/donate.php
One of the best ways of helping is to set up a standing order:
www.tibet-foundation.org/tf/forms/generic_tf_boform.pdf
Money Distributed so Far
We have supported schools with food and blankets to a total of £9,000.
We have committed £13,000 to furniture and equipment for schools.
We have supported an orphanage with an immediate grant of £2,000 for
children with special needs. This has doubled its numbers to over 100
needy children and we will make a series of small grants to schools
and longer term education sponsorships for children in the earthquake
areas.
The Ark - Longkang Orphanage has 43 children aged 3-12. They are of
Tibetan background, with mental and physical special needs. Some
minor, some more serious.
They have one doctor and rely on their own resources, with a lot of
volunteer, labour, materials and benefit in kind support from local
communities. It is located 2 miles north of Jiuzhaigou National Park.
The plan is to take in another 60 young people with special needs from
the Quake area in the next weeks.
However there isn't the capacity long term to house and feed over 100
children, especially given the extra needs of these young people.
Therefore this is likely to be for the short term (less than 1 year).
Although there is currently a great deal of uncertainty in the
aftermath of this huge disaster.
Contributions have come in from our supporters and many Tibetans from
across the world.
We are very grateful for this and are committed to working to help the
vulnerable who will bear the consequences of this terrible natural
disaster.
My sincere appreciation for your generosity,
Karma Hardy
Director
karma.hardy@tibet-foundation.org
Switchboard +44 207 930 6001
Previous Updates:
www.tibet-foundation.org/news/newsitem.php?NewsStory=130
www.tibet-foundation.org/news/newsitem.php?NewsStory=129
www.tibet-foundation.org/news/newsitem.php?NewsStory=128
www.tibet-foundation.org/news/newsitem.php?NewsStory=131
One of the best ways of helping is to set up a standing order to Tibet
Foundation, please contact the office to find out the best way to do
this or click on the link below and print out the form and return it
to us.
www.tibet-foundation.org/tf/forms/generic_tf_boform.pdf
Tibet Foundation is a registered UK charity founded and managed by
Tibetans to work both in exile and inside ethnic Tibetan areas in
China.
The area in which we have been working is Kandze is all within 300km
of the epicentre of the earthquake near Yingxiu.
Kandze is the name given both to the region (Kandze Autonomous
Prefecture) and a county (Kandze County) in the north west of Sichuan
Tibet Foundation is continuing to approach other funders and we
welcome the opportunity to discuss our appeal and would like to make
the offer of being available by email, telephone and meeting in
person.
The 12th May 7.9 earthquake hit the Sichuan Aba Tibetan and Qiang
Autonomous Prefecture in Wenchuan County and affected more than half
of China and beyond to neighbouring countries.
The epicentre was in Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture.
Aba is also known as the Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture.
Aba Tibetan Prefecture has been affected mainly in terms of
infrastructure, roads, bridges and transport hubs in the region.
Tibetan areas adjacent to Wenchuan (which in Tibetan language is
called "Lung Kuo") were badly affected by the quake. But Wenchuan and
the surrounding towns and cities are mainly Han Chinese. The Tibetan
areas lie further afield. For that reason, the damage may prove to be
less extensive there than closer to the epicentre. As Tibetan homes
tend to be traditionally made of wood, they are better able to
withstand quake damage. Although the effects of the quake were felt
very powerfully above 3000m, the damage was greatest in the zone of
500m to 1000m with the higher population.
Fax +44 207 930 6002
office@tibet-foundation.org
Tibet Foundation (Charity No. 292400).
2 St. James's Market. London SW1Y 4SB
The Baymont Inn & Suites is committed to providing you with top notch lodging at amazing prices. Beautiful rooms. Beautiful prices. For beautiful people like you. Start your visit to Des Moines the right way by checking into the Baymont Inn and Suites of Des Moines! Your stay is welcomed by an immaculate lobby for you and your guests, followed by exceptional customer service by our hosts. Post check-in, you may be interested in relaxing at the wonderful indoor pool that also features a great hot tub and fitness facility. Towels are always made available for you and your guests located inside the pool area!
Within the vicinity, there are several restaurants for you to enjoy. Iowa Beef Steakhouse is only a half mile from the hotel. This restaurant was voted #1 for the Finest Steak House In Des Moines in 2005. The other restaurants near the hotel are: Bonanza Buffet, Plaza Mexico, Country Kitchen, and Village Inn.
Venues such as the Civic Center, Hoyt Sherman Auditorium, Wells Fargo Arena, and Des Moines playhouse are all within 7 miles of this hotel. You can view all upcoming events by going to www.eventful.com!!!
"Great King Sized Jacuzzi Suite"
Jackie W. - Past Guest
"Best Continental Breakfast"
Past Guest
Amenities
•Complimentary HOT deluxe breakfast
•Complimentary USA Today
•Complimentary Wireless Internet
•Free Local Calls
•Business Services - Fax, Print, Email
•ATM
•Vending Machine
•Indoor Pool
•Hot Tub
•Exercise Room
•In Room Microwave
•In Room Refrigerator
•In Room Hairdryer
•In Room Iron and Board
•In Room Coffee Pot
•Large Work Desks
•Cable Television With Premium Channels
Meeting Facilities
•Two Large Meeting Facilities
•Meeting Room Can Accommodate 130 People
•On Site Catering Service/Garden Courtyard/Hospitality Room Available/Audio & Visual Equipment Included
Check out the beautiful jacuzzi suites while you are here! These are for 21 and up. Anyone under 21 must be accompanied by parent or guardian.
Baymont Inn presents eight different Jacuzzi Suites for guest enjoyment. During Valentine's weekend, the suites start to book from December. The guest may choose from 8 different styles. As of March 2009, the following styles are available:
•Luxury
•Japanese
•Canopy Bed
•Floral
Each suite features a 2-person hot tub with power jets. You will also find in-room amenities such as coffee pot, iron, microwave, refrigerator, and hairdryer! In the morning, please enjoy complimentary hot breakfast served from 6-9 am. We look forward to meeting you!
4685 Northeast 14th Street, Des Moines, IA 50313
Phone (515) 265-4777
Fax (515) 262-7469
Americans committed to keep moving forward turned out in record numbers to vote for President Obama’s re-election; but we won’t be able to truly go forward until Congress stops playing the sabotage games and do what is best for “the whole team” a.k.a All Americans across the board!
I am still exasperated that so called educated and wealthy and even unclassified others who can't see that the only way to do well as a country is to -- work together undivided.”
“I'm encouraging everyone to stay involved with the political process and pay close attention to the forthcoming Mid-team elections which are equally important and very much needed to close the deal.”~ Bryan O'Quinn
At Planet Woman Health Centre we are committed to helping incorporate fitness into your life. We are a women's only gym catering to all levels of fitness in a friendly, comfortable & safe environment. The facilities hosts a 2,000 square foot sprung hardwood floor for group fitness, steam room, Internet access, massage chair & child minding to name a few. Located on the second floor of the Garden City Plaza, you'll enjoy the view from the outdoor patio or simply stay inside to enjoy the natural lighting. Group fitness classes, including Yoga & Pilates, are part of all memberships.
Personal trainers are onsite to answer your questions or work with you more closely on individual goals.
Our focus is on fitness in a non intimidating setting. We are confident that women of all shapes & sizes will feel completely comfortable. Our friendly & knowledgeable staff will take the time to ensure that you maximize you workouts & fitness regime, whatever they may be.
At Planet Woman Health Centre we are committed to helping incorporate fitness into your life. We are a women's only gym catering to all levels of fitness in a friendly, comfortable & safe environment. The facilities hosts a 2,000 square foot sprung hardwood floor for group fitness, steam room, Internet access, massage chair & child minding to name a few. Located on the second floor of the Garden City Plaza, you'll enjoy the view from the outdoor patio or simply stay inside to enjoy the natural lighting. Group fitness classes, including Yoga & Pilates, are part of all memberships.
Personal trainers are onsite to answer your questions or work with you more closely on individual goals.
Our focus is on fitness in a non intimidating setting. We are confident that women of all shapes & sizes will feel completely comfortable. Our friendly & knowledgeable staff will take the time to ensure that you maximize you workouts & fitness regime, whatever they may be.
Copyright held by: Pickering And Inglis, 24-26 Bothwell Street, Glasgow, Lanarkshire G2 6PA
Common Foreign & Security Policy Dateline: 01/05/00
The founders of the European Community were committed to a peaceful, democratic Europe; they were adamant that the mistakes that led to two World Wars should never be made again.
It was with these principles in mind that the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) entered into force with the Maastricht Treaty in 1993.
What is CFSP?
Following the end of the Cold War, as superpower influence gradually receded in Europe, it became necessary for European member states to take more responsibility for their own security.
The experience of the Cold War had thwarted several previous attempts at European cooperation in this field, but it had also made it apparent that, in international affairs, the only successful action would be collective action.In creating the European Union, the Maastricht Treaty introduced a new three-pillar structure, combining the Community - based on the three original Treaties: EEC, Euratom and ECSC (Pillar I) - with two new pillars:
Cooperation in Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) and the Common Foreign and Security Policy.
CFSP provides for the eventual framing of a common defence policy which, in the words of the Maastricht Treaty, "might in time lead to a common defence".It is based on intergovernmental decision-making and has been left almost entirely outside of the Community legal framework.
The EU institutions currently have a very limited scope for participation.
However, in other aspects of EU external relations, the other institutions do have a role.
The Commission is responsible for negotiations on international trade matters and the Agenda 2000 programme of reform in Central and Eastern Europe.
The European Parliament has a Committee for Foreign Affairs and Security and also has the right of assent to international treaties and future enlargement of the EU.
Co-ordination of the different EU institutions in the field of foreign affairs is therefore important and on occasion difficult to manage.
It was agreed at Maastricht that CFSP should operate through non-binding instruments such as common statements, declarations and demarches, and through two legally binding instruments:
CommonPositions to provide the framework within which the EU and its member states act collectively and Joint Actions to provide the means to do so.
The Yugoslav crisis and the road to Amsterdam
The war in former Yugoslavia made it clear that the Union needed to be able to act to avert disaster and not merely react after the event.
It also exposed the weakness of uncoordinated reactions by member state governments.It was acknowledged that there was an urgent need for reform if CFSP was to function effectively.
The Amsterdam Treaty of 1997 provided a focal figure for the development of CFSP in the person of the High Representative, a position currently filled by Javier Solana, former Secretary General of NATO.
A much needed Policy Planning and Early Warning Unit was also established so that the EU might be sufficiently prepared for rapidly escalating crises such as in Kosovo.
Most importantly, the Treaty introduced a new legally binding instrument for making policy, the Common Strategy, which was designed to focus on areas where member states have important interests in common.
The European Council has so far agreed Common Strategies on Russia, Ukraine, the western Balkans and the Mediterranean region (including the Middle East Peace Process).
The objectives of these Common Strategies have been to foster peace and security in Europe, encourage the development of democratic and legitimate institutions, and ultimately to prepare some of the countries involved for eventual succession to the Union itself.
How are CFSP decisions taken?
The Common Positions, Joint Actions and Common Strategies of the Common Foreign and Security Policy are decided exclusively by unanimity.
However, under the Amsterdam Treaty, any CommonPositions and Joint Actions arising from an established Common Strategy can be decided by Qualified Majority if all member states agree with this in principle.CFSP is not an inflexible body of regulation: national interests are ultimately safeguarded in that any single member state can block a CFSP joint action, if it strongly disapproves of it.
Moreover, the option of constructive abstention allows a member state that does not wish to take part in a joint action to stand aside whilst allowing other members of the EU to proceed unanimously.
That member state's only obligation is then to ensure that its national policy does not actively contradict the EU joint strategy.
As far as the EU member states' commitment to NATO is concerned, the first guiding principle of the Cologne European Council in 1999 is unequivocal in its intention: NATO constitutes and will continue to constitute the key to collective security in Europe.
The EU's only motive in giving itself the independent means for collective action is to be able to respond to security issues that lie outside of Alliance's remit.
In this spirit, all decisions under CFSP will be formulated in close partnership with NATO.An opportunity for Britain
The British government fully supports an effective EU foreign policy and recognises the advantages of speaking with one voice on international affairs.
This is because the added political weight implied by participation in CFSP and the extra resources available within it will undeniably give Britain greater influence internationally.
After all, the UK's pivotal position in maintaining the cohesion of the Alliance during the Kosovo campaign would not have been possible without its new standing in the EU.
While Britain has made clear its commitment to playing an active role in formulating the Common Foreign and Security Policy, it should also be recognised that CFSP presents Britain with an opportunity to take a lead in Europe.
Our unique relationship with so many parts of the world places Britain in a particularly good position to shape and influence EU foreign policy-making.
In fact, several other EU member states are already looking to British participation to give CFSP the weight it needs to work effectively.
Leadership in such an influential area of EU policy would undoubtedly improve Britain's long-suffering profile in European affairs.
How can CFSP be improved?
It is clear that the structure is in place for a highly effective foreign and security policy at the European level.What is now lacking is some kind of declaration of the collective goals of the member states.
The introduction of the Common Strategy at Amsterdam has gone some way to resolving this problem, but the collective aims therein focus narrowly on individual regions and do not allow an overarching perspective of what CFSP is trying to achieve.
The underlying principles of CFSP should be made clear if the project is to have any credibility with EU citizens.
Another focus for reform concerns the protection of the fundamental rights of citizens.
Even purely for the purposes of accountability, there should be some legal means of ensuring that these rights are protected in the decisions made under CFSP.
While it is acknowledged that foreign policy and defence are fields of policy rather than of law, it is arguable the European Court of Justice should have jurisdiction in some aspects of CFSP, at least where the fundamental rights of individuals are affected.
It is hoped that the introduction of a European Charter of Fundamental Rights will foster progress on this issue.
Ultimately, a more effective Common Foreign and Security Policy depends on institutional reform.
The European Parliament has praised the use of qualified majority voting in CFSP decision-making as a framework for rapid and effective response to international crises.
A more proactive policy on QMV would act to streamline the functioning of CFSP yet further.Moreover, while the intergovernmental nature of CFSP denies the EU institutions a role in decision-making, more should be done to keep the Commission and the Parliament abreast of developments in CFSP, as is their right under the Treaties.
Since the Council has been severely criticised for failing to live up to its promises in this respect, it is advisable that the jurisdiction of the ECJ be extended to ensure the fulfilment of Treaty procedures and obligations.
Is EU enlargement possible?
Dateline: 16/03/98The sad truth about the question of the enlargement of the European Union is that not many people in the UK care much about it.
This is because not many people have thought about it that much - there are other things to worry about.
There is a general sense, of course, that the EU ought to include the whole of Europe rather than just those areas within three hours' train journey from Brussels.
If you look at Europe on a map, that is the shape you see.
But there is more to enlargement, much more, than merely the idea that it ought to happen.
The benefits of a larger EU are well-known but still worth restating: a wider area of peace and security; enlarged markets and increased prosperity; greater opportunities for all our people.
It is the cost that will eventually cause people to think twice.
The Common Agricultural Policy cannot be extended to the countries of central and eastern Europe - already it is the largest single item in the EU budget and there are many small farmers in the applicant states.
The EU's foreign policy stance toward the United States, the Mediterranean and Russia will need to be developed, to bring more coherence to what is too often an unclear muddle.
And the decision-making institutions in Brussels will become more like a supranational parliamentary system, and less dependent on national vetoes and messy intergovernmental compromise.
The people in the EU who will oppose these reforms have not yet realised that enlargement will necessarily require them.
But when they do, we will have a fight on our hands.
There are many good reasons for implementing these reforms even within an EU of 15, regardless of the queue of new members waiting to join.
But many of the most committed advocates of these reforms (among whom I think I may include myself) realise that they can only be brought about on the basis of what else they will make possible, rather than simply being accepted as a good thing in their own right.
Enlargement is therefore an opportunity for those who wish to see deepening, and not a threat.However, there is a more important obstacle in the road towards enlargement than that posed by its opponents.
This is the distraction posed by the creation of the European single currency.
The introduction of the euro will have such far-reaching effects on the whole of Europe that it is essential to ensure that the project is a success.
This is absorbing every political and business attention - the rest of the European agenda is a distant second place.
When the single currency has been introduced, and is seen to be working successfully, however, the European Union will be transformed.
There will be a new burst of energy for growth and reform, comparable to but exceeding the excitement of the late 1980s.
This new enthusiasm will extend in every aspect of the European agenda, including the question of enlargement.
The old objections to reform will weaken in the face of a new drive and motivation throughout our continent.In the first decade of the new century, the divide imposed by Yalta will be removed from the maps.
For our children, it will be no more than a historical curiosity, like the Holy Roman Empire or the Viking invasions.
It happened here once, but not any more.
European Movement euromove.org.uk