on the history of flags

The history of the national flag in India

"Gandhi’s charkha goes hi-fi!"

Gandhi's charkha goes hi-fi!

NEW DELHI, Nov 25: Light, action and entertainment! The hand-cranked spinning wheel, popularised by the father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi, has now been given an electronic tweak to transform it into a hi-tech gadget that not only produces yarn but also light a bulb on demand and is can even power a transistor radio.

Called the 'e-charkha,' the invention by a Bangalore-based engineer is an ordinary charkha fitted with a battery and connected to a LED light. The energy produced by the charkha while it is being spun is used to charge the battery attached to the bottom of the spinning wheel and the power thus generated can power up a LED light used in home lamps.

The maintenance-free lead battery fixed to the charkha functions as an inverter, and charges itself from the energy generated when the charkha is spun.

"The big spinning wheel is connected to a generator and using the charkha for approximately two hours can generate enough power to light up an LED bulb, or to play a small transistor radio for around 6 to 7 hours," says Hiremath, an engineer who has patented the invention.

Launched formally by the President, Pratibha Devisingh Patil at the function in the capital recently the gadget has won approval of the Khadi and Village Industries Commission, which is planning to induct two lakh pieces across Khadhi weaving centres across the county.

The engineer, whose company Flexitron, has patented the invention says, "In remote areas of the country, uninterrupted and regular electricity is still a dream. The charkhas will help boost the income of the weavers in rural and far-flung areas as well as break the monotony that they are accustomed to. They can listen to the radio while they spin." (PTI)

a charkha ( Spinning Wheel) in an Australian Museum.

http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/collection/database/?irn=11412

contemporary Maoism and the question of choice

yesterday i was watching NDTV and Times Now's debates on recent killing of policemen by Maoists. It was irritating yet interesting to see how after each episode of such mass killings news anchor conduct the debate in similar fashion. In the panel on both the channels one common presence was of Dilip Simion. On Times Now, Kumar sanjay singh and Manoranjan Mohanti both spoke well but they were clearly lacking the smartness that was required in such tv debates. Dilip Simion was impressive and knew how to forcefully convince the anchor. I saw him on the tv second time. On both occasions he condemned any kinds of violence something that hs become the catchphrase of middle class intellectuals. One cant question this stand. However, the problem lies in the fact that this is nothing but another utopian rhetoric. We all kow that neither state nor anti-state forces(most of them) can adopt non-violence techniques. yet, we speak in the language of non-violence. Are we condemned to repeat this language because we love human life. We love non-violence as political strategy or way of life. But, is it not a ritual to repeat this language? are we not condemned to do so? This leads to the question of choice. rather the language of choice.
While panelists were speaking the NDTV displaced a map of ''red corridor'' and quickly the very large portion of indian map was coloured in red. Is this struggle really against the state or is it against government? Looking at it in historical terms we may draw similar maps and colour red may bear similar spread no matter which historical juncture we may place the map. The only difference ( and which may be a crucial one) would be in the definitions of state and anti-state actors at different historical contexts.
In a human society, non violence is highest form of desire the question is what kind of pragmatic moves should we make to achieve this desire even partially. We also need to ask whether non-violence is a viable choice in non-peasant societies? Similarly, governance do need exercise of power, authority and violence.