Who was Sant Kabir, the extraordinary poet-saint of the Bhakti movement?
Why In News: The President inaugurated the Sant Kabir Academy and Research Centre Swadesh Darshan Yojana and paid tribute to the Bhakti saint, Kabir at Maghar (Uttar Pradesh).
Kabir and the Bhakti movement
• The Bhakti movement, which began in the 7th century in South India, had begun to spread across north India in the 14th and the 15th centuries.
• The movement was characterized by popular poet-saints who sang devotional songs to God in vernacular languages, with many preaching for the abolishing the Varna system and some kind of Hindu-Muslim unity.
• They emphasized an intense emotional attachment with God.
• Many of the saints of the Bhakti movement came from the ranks of the lower to middle artisanal classes.
o Kabir was a ‘low caste’ weaver (Julaha), Raidas was a leather worker and Dadu a cotton carder.
• Their radical dissent against orthodoxy and rejection of caste made these poet-saints extremely popular among the masses and their ideology of egalitarianism spread across India.
About Sant Kabir?
• He was born in Varanasi and lived between the years 1398 and 1448, or till the year 1518 according to popular belief.
• He was from a community of ‘lower caste’ weavers of the Julaha caste, a group that had recently converted to Islam.
• Sant Kabir was a prominent member of was the Nirguni tradition ‘One school within the Bhakti movement‘
• In this tradition, God was understood to be a universal and formless being.
• Kabir’s compositions can be classified into three literary forms –
o dohas (short two liners),
o ramanas (rhymed 4 liners),
o padas (verses) and sabdas (words) – compositions of varying length
Historical and legendary accounts of Kabir
• He learned the art of weaving, likely studied meditative and devotional practices under the guidance of a Hindu guru and grew to become an eminent teacher and poet-singer.
• Kabir’s beliefs were deeply radical, and he was known for his intense and outspoken voice which he used to attack the dominant religions and entrenched caste systems of the time.
• He composed his verses orally and is generally assumed to be illiterate.
• Some believe that Kabir was born to a Brahmin widow, who placed him in a basket and set him afloat on a pond, after which he was rescued and adopted by a Muslim couple.
• In another myth, he was immaculately conceived by his mother and emerged from the palm of her hand.
• He is also believed to be (but not on strong historical grounds) a disciple of the famous guru Ramananda, a 14th century Vaishnava poet-saint.
Kabir’s critique of religion and caste
• Kabir is in modern times portrayed as a figure that synthesized Islam and Hinduism.
• He did not only target the rituals and practices of both Hinduism and Islam, but also dismissed the sacred authority of their religious books, the Vedas and the Quran.
• Kabir did use the name Rama in his poems, but he clarified that he was not referring to the avatar of Vishnu, but a formless and general Hindu name for the divine.
• Instead of God being an external entity that resided in temples or mosques, Kabir argued that God existed inside everyone.
“Why look for me anywhere else, my friend, When I’m here, in your possession…He is the very breath of our breaths.”
• He, like the other prominent saints of his time, argued that it was only through bhakti, intense love or devotion to God could one attain salvation.
• He sought to eradicate caste distinctions and attempted to create an egalitarian society, by stressing the notion that a Bhakt (devotee) was neither a Brahmin nor an ‘untouchable’ but just a Bhakt.
Kabir’s legacy
• Kabir’s own humble origins and his radical message of egalitarianism fostered a community of his followers called the Kabir Panth. A sect in northern and central India, many of their members are from the Dalit community.
• Historians estimate that it was established in India between 1600 and 1650, one or two centuries after his death.
• Today, the sect exists as a large and distinct community, with various sects under different spiritual leaders.
The Bijak contains works attributed to Kabir
• Today, most of the followers continue to reject idol worship and are discouraged from praying at Hindu temples
• Among the 5,00,000 indentured labourers that were taken out of the country by the British in the 19th to 20th centuries, many were and continue to be members of the Kabir Panth.
• Several of Kabir’s verses and songs form a vital part of the Guru Granth Sahib.
• In the Sikh tradition he is seen to have influenced Guru Nanak, for Hindus he is a Vaishnavite (devotees of Vishnu), and is revered by Muslims as a Sufi saint.
Tamil Nadu sculptures recovered from Australia, US
Why in News:
Ten antiquities retrieved from Australia and the united States were handed over to the Government of Tamil Nadu in Delhi last week.
Some of the returned antiquities:
Dvarapala:
o This stone sculpture belongs to the Vijayanagar dynasty dating to the 15th-16th century.
o He is holding a gada in one hand and has another leg raised up to the level of his knee.
o The sculpture was burgled from Moondreeswaramudayar Temple, Tiruneveli in1994.
Nataraja:
o This image of Nataraja, a depiction of Shiva, in his divine cosmic dance form, is in tribhanga posture, standing on the lotus pedestal.
o Possibly, ananda tandava or the Dance of Bliss is portrayed here.
o The sculpture was burgled from the strong room of Punnainallur Arulmigu Mariyamman Temple, Thanjavur, in 2018.
Kankalamurti:
o It is depicted as a fearsome aspect of Lord Shiva and Bhairava.
o The sculpture is four-armed, holding ayudhas such as damaru and trishula in the upper hands and a bowl and a trefoil shaped object, as a treat for the playful fawn, in the lower right hand.
o It was stolen from Narasinganadhar Swamy Temple, Tirunelveli in 1985.
Nandikeshvara:
o This bronze image of Nandikeshvara is shown standing in tribhanga posture with folded arms, holding an axe and a
fawn in the upper arms, with his forearms in namaskara mudra.
o This sculpture was stolen from Narasinganadhar Swamy Temple, Tirunelveli, in 1985.
Four-armed Vishnu:
o Belongs to the later Chola period.
o The sculpture has Lord Vishnu standing on a padma pedestal holding attributes such as shankha and chakra in two hands; while the lower right hand is in abhaya mudra.
o It was stolen from Arulmigu Varadharaja Perumal Temple, Ariyalur, in 2008.
Goddess Parvati:
o The image depicts a Chola-period sculpture.
o She is shown holding a lotus in the left hand whereas the right is hanging down near her kati.
o This sculpture was also stolen from Arulmigu Varadharaja Perumal Temple, Ariyalur in 2008.
• Standing child Sambandar:
o Sambandar, the popular 7th-century child saint, is one of the Muvar, the three principal saints of South India.
o The legend goes that after receiving a bowl of milk from Goddess Uma, the infant Sambandar devoted his life to composing hymns in praise of Lord Shiva.
o The sculpture displays the saint’s childlike quality, while also empowering him with the maturity and authority of a spiritual leader.
o It was stolen from Sayavaneeswarar Temple, Nagapattinam, between 1965 and 1975.
Ethanol blending
Why in news?
India has achieved the target of 10% ethanol blend¬ing in petrol, five months ahead of schedule. The 10% blending target was to be achieved in November 2022.
This will led to a reduction of 27 lakh tonnes of carbon emissions and saved fo¬ reign exchange worth ₹41,000 crore. Farmers earned ₹40,600 crore in the past eight years due to increase in ethanol blend¬ing, Mr. Modi said at an event organised by the Isha Foundation.
National biofuel policy 2018
• The Policy categorises biofuels as “Basic Biofuels” viz. First Generation (1G) bioethanol & biodiesel and “Advanced Biofuels” – Second Generation (2G) ethanol, Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) to drop-in fuels, Third Generation (3G) biofuels, bio-CNG etc. to enable extension of appropriate financial and fiscal incentives under each category.
• The Policy expands the scope of raw material for ethanol production by allowing use of Sugarcane Juice, Sugar containing materials like Sugar Beet, Sweet Sorghum, Starch containing materials like Corn, Cassava, Damaged food grains like wheat, broken rice, Rotten Potatoes, unfit for human consumption for ethanol production.
• Farmers are at a risk of not getting an appropriate price for their produce during the surplus production phase. Taking this into account, the Policy allows use of surplus food grains for production of ethanol for blending with petrol with the approval of National Biofuel Coordination Committee.
• With a thrust on Advanced Biofuels, the Policy indicates a viability gap funding scheme for 2G ethanol Bio refineries of Rs.5000 crore in 6 years in addition to additional tax incentives, higher purchase price as compared to 1G biofuels.
• The Policy encourages setting up of supply chain mechanisms for biodiesel production from non-edible oilseeds, Used Cooking Oil, short gestation crops.
• Roles and responsibilities of all the concerned Ministries/Departments with respect to biofuels has been captured in the Policy document to synergise efforts.
Recent amendments in National biofuel policy 2018
The following are the main amendments approved to the National Policy on Biofuels:
• To allow more feedstocks for production of biofuels,
• To advance the ethanol blending target of 20% blending of ethanol in petrol to ESY 2025-26 from 2030,
• To promote the production of biofuels in the country, under the Make in India program, by units located in Special Economic Zones (SEZ)/ Export Oriented Units (EoUs),
• To add new members to the NBCC(National Biofuel Coordination Committee),
• To grant permission for export of biofuels in specific cases,
• To delete/amend certain phrases in the Policy in line with decisions taken during the meetings of the National Biofuel Coordination Committee.
About NBCC
National Biofuel Coordination Committee (NBCC) Chaired by Minister PNG and representatives from 14 other ministries and departments has been constituted to provide overall coordination, taking decision on matters specified in the policy for the committee, effective end to end implementation and monitoring of biofuel program in the country.
Expected benefits:
• Reduce Import Dependency: One crore lit of E10 saves Rs.28 crore of forex at current rates. The ethanol supply year 2017-18 is likely to see a supply of around 150 crore litres of ethanol which will result in savings of over Rs.4000 crore of forex.
• Cleaner Environment: One crore lit of E-10 saves around 20,000 ton of CO2 emissions. For the ethanol supply year 2017-18, there will be lesser emissions of CO2 to the tune of 30 lakh ton. By reducing crop burning & conversion of agricultural residues/wastes to biofuels there will be further reduction in GreenHouse Gas emissions.
• Health benefits: Prolonged reuse of Cooking Oil for preparing food, particularly in deep-frying is a potential health hazard and can lead to many diseases. Used Cooking Oil is a potential feedstock for biodiesel and its use for making biodiesel will prevent diversion of used cooking oil in the food industry.
• MSW Management: It is estimated that, annually 62 MMT of Municipal Solid Waste gets generated in India. There are technologies available which can convert waste/plastic, MSW to drop in fuels. One ton of such waste has the potential to provide around 20% of drop in fuels.
• Infrastructural Investment in Rural Areas: It is estimated that, one 100klpd bio refinery will require around Rs.800 crore capital investment. At present Oil Marketing Companies are in the process of setting up twelve 2G bio refineries with an investment of around Rs.10,000 crore. Further addition of 2G bio refineries across the Country will spur infrastructural investment in the rural areas.
• Employment Generation: One 100klpd 2G bio refinery can contribute 1200 jobs in Plant Operations, Village Level Entrepreneurs and Supply Chain Management.
• Additional Income to Farmers: By adopting 2G technologies, agricultural residues/waste which otherwise are burnt by the farmers can be converted to ethanol and can fetch a price for these waste if a market is developed for the same. Also, farmers are at a risk of not getting an appropriate price for their produce during the surplus production phase. Thus conversion of surplus grains and agricultural biomass can help in price stabilization.
First Fishing cat census
Why in news
The Chilika Lake, Asia’s largest brackish water lagoon, has 176 fishing cats, according to a census done by the Chilika Development Authority (CDA) in collaboration with the Fishing Cat Project (TFCP).
About fishing cats
Twice the size of a house cat, the fishing cat is what its name stands for a cat with adept fishing skills, and therefore an agile swimmer as well. It looks somewhat like a leopard, with black markings spots and stripes running all over its body, and its paws are partially webbed to help propel it through the water and for prowling on muddy, marshy land.
The globally threatened cats are found in wetlands in major South and Southeast Asian river basins starting from the Indus in Pakistan till the Mekong in Vietnam and in Sri Lanka and Java. They are found in 10 Asian countries but have stayed undetected in Vietnam and Java since the last decade or so.
The Fishing Cat Project (TFCP)
The Fishing Cat Project (TFCP) is the world’s longest running research and conservation project on fishing cats and has been functional since 2010. It is currently functioning in two states of India – West Bengal and Odisha.
Protection Status:
IUCN Red list: Endangered
Wildlife Protection Act: Schedule I
NOTE: In 2012, the fishing cat was declared as the State Animal of West Bengal.
INTERPOL
Why in news
The 90th Interpol General Assembly is to be held in the national capital later this year.
About INTERPOL
International Criminal Police Organization(INTERPOL) is an inter-governmental organization. It has 195 member countries, and helps police in all of them to work together to make the world a safer place. To do this, it enables them to share and access data on crimes and criminals, and offer a range of technical and operational support. The CBI is the designated nodal body for the Interpol in India.
Headquarter: Lyon, France.
Related news
Operation Pangea XIV: The operation coordinated by INTERPOL involved police, customs and health regulatory authorities from 92 countries(Including India). It resulted in 113,020 web links including websites and online marketplaces being closed down or removed, the highest number since the first Operation Pangea in 2008.
Jan Samarth Portal
Why in news
The Prime Minister launched the Jan Samarth Portal, a national portal for credit-linked government schemes. It was launched in the ‘Iconic Week Celebrations’ of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Corporate Affairs at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The week (June 6-11) is being celebrated as part of the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ (AKAM).
About Jan Samarth Portal
• Jan Samarth Portal is a one-stop digital portal linking government credit schemes.
• It is a first of its kind platform which directly connects beneficiaries to lenders.
• The main purpose of the portal is to encourage inclusive growth and development of various sectors by guiding and providing them with the right type of government benefits through simple and easy digital processes.
• The portal ensures end-to-end coverage of all the linked schemes.
Benefits of Jan Samarth portal
• It provides single window facility for 13 Government Schemes application submission and 125+ MLIs (including all Public Sector Banks) to choose from.
• Real time checks with CBDT, GST, UDYAM, NeSL, UIDAI, CIBIL etc ensures faster loan processing.
• The portal will facilitate credit under Government Schemes under Agriculture, Livelihood, and Education categories.
• 13 Government schemes are already on Jan Samarth portal and more will be onboarded.
• The portal will check eligibility, give in principle sanction and send the application to the selected Bank.
• It will also keep the beneficiaries updated at each stage of the journey.
• Multiple visits to Bank branches not required.
• This portal will improve the lives of students, farmers, businessmen, MSME entrepreneurs and will help them in realizing their dreams.
Agni-4 Missile
Why in news
A successful training launch of an Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile, Agni-4, was carried out on June 06, 2022 from APJ Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha.
About Agni-4 missile
Agni-IV is the fourth in the Agni series of missiles, earlier known as Agni II prime, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation(DRDO). The missile is a two-stage weapon system and is road mobile. It can hit a target at more than 4,000 kms and cover many cities of China. It is also capable of carrying nuclear warheads.
Significance of this test
• With the objective of maintaining operational readiness, India successfully tested Agni-4 intermediate range ballistic missile (IRBM).
• Thislaunch validated all operational parameters as also the reliability of the system. The successful test reaffirms India’s policy of having a ‘Credible Minimum Deterrence’ Capability.
• The latest test came in the backdrop of the persisting stand-offs between the armies of India and China at the Line of Actual Control(LAC)in Eastern Ladakh for the last two years. At present, more than 50,000 troops each from both sides are in a face-off at some friction points.
Agni-P Missile
Agni-P is a new generation advanced variant of the Agni class of missiles. It is a two-stage canisterised solid propellant ballistic missile with dual redundant navigation and guidance system that can be launched from rail and road and stored for a longer period. It can be transported across the length and breadth of the country, as per requirements. Canisterisation of missiles reduces the time required to launch the missile while improving its storage and mobility. In 2021, India successfully test-fired the nuclear-capable strategic Agni Prime Missile which has the capability to hit targets between 1,000 to 2,000 kms.