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TODAY'S UPSC CSE CURRENT AFFAIRS 16/08/2023

Matangini Hazra and Kanaklata Barua

The President of India paid tribute to the known and unsung heroes of India’s freedom struggle. Among them are Matangini Hazra and Kanaklata Barua, remarkable women who made indelible contributions to the movement. Matangini Hazra, a brave soul from West Bengal, led protests, courted arrests, and ultimately laid down her life in 1942, fighting British oppression. Kanaklata Barua, an iconic figure from Assam, unfurled the Tricolour amidst adversity in 1942 and became one of the youngest martyrs. Their sacrifices epitomize the spirit of the freedom movement. This article sheds light on their extraordinary lives, their resilience, and the enduring impact they’ve left on the pages of history.

Who were Matangini Hazra and Kanaklata Barua, and what roles did they play in India’s freedom struggle?

Matangini Hazra was a fearless freedom fighter from West Bengal who participated in various movements, including the Quit India Movement. Kanaklata Barua, on the other hand, was a young revolutionary from Assam who led a procession to hoist the Tricolour during the Quit India Movement. Both women exhibited remarkable courage and dedication to the cause of Indian independence.

How did Matangini Hazra’s early life shape her journey as a freedom fighter?

Born in a poor family and married at a young age, Matangini Hazra faced challenges that strengthened her resolve. After her husband’s death, she devoted herself to social causes and eventually became an active participant in the freedom movement, aligning with Mahatma Gandhi’s principles.

What significant incidents mark Matangini Hazra’s involvement in the freedom struggle?

Matangini Hazra’s active role in the Civil Disobedience Movement, participation in the Salt March, and her instrumental role in the Quit India Movement highlight her commitment. Her ultimate sacrifice while leading a procession to seize a police station demonstrated her unyielding spirit.

How did Matangini Hazra and Kanaklata Barua leave a lasting impact on India’s history?

Matangini Hazra’s sacrifice earned her the status of a martyr and led to the establishment of a local government in Medinipur. Streets, schools, and neighborhoods are named after her. Kanaklata Barua’s legacy lives on through the Coast Guard vessel named in her honor, symbolizing her enduring contribution to Assam’s history.

What do Matangini Hazra and Kanaklata Barua represent in the context of women’s participation in the freedom movement?

Both women exemplify the significant roles women played in the freedom movement. Their courage, leadership, and sacrifices shattered stereotypes, inspiring more women to join the cause. Their stories stand as a testament to the vital contributions of women in India’s struggle for independence.


India’s first Solar Mission Aditya L1 to be launched soon

Mission Overview

  • Halo Orbit Placement: Aditya-L1 is designed to be positioned in a halo orbit around the L1 Lagrange point, ensuring a stable vantage point for continuous solar observations.

  • Launch and Deployment: The mission will be launched using the ISRO PSLV rocket from the Sathish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR (SDSC SHAR) in Sriharikota. The spacecraft will initially be placed in a low Earth orbit, which will then be transformed into an elliptical orbit before reaching L1 using on-board propulsion.

  • Cruise Phase and Halo Orbit: As the spacecraft journeys towards L1, it will exit Earth’s gravitational sphere of influence, marking the commencement of the cruise phase. Once at L1, it will enter a vast halo orbit around the Lagrange point.

Mission Objectives

  • Solar Upper Atmospheric Dynamics: Aditya-L1’s primary objective is to study the dynamic behavior of the Sun’s upper atmosphere, including the chromosphere and corona. The mission seeks to understand processes like chromospheric and coronal heating, and the initiation of solar eruptive events.

  • Space Weather Impact: By observing solar activities and their impact on space weather in real-time, the mission aims to contribute to the understanding of solar events like coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and their influence on Earth’s space environment.

  • Particle and Plasma Environment: Aditya-L1 will provide valuable data on particle dynamics from the Sun, contributing to the study of solar wind, particle propagation, and the partially ionized plasma in the solar atmosphere.

Payloads and Scientific Instruments

  • VELC (Visible Emission Line Coronagraph): This payload will focus on studying the corona through imaging and spectroscopy, along with observing coronal mass ejections.

  • SUIT (Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope): SUIT will capture images of the photosphere and chromosphere, measuring solar irradiance variations and facilitating narrow and broadband imaging.

  • SoLEXS (Solar Low Energy X-ray Spectrometer) and HEL1OS (High Energy L1 Orbiting X-ray Spectrometer): These payloads will study X-ray flares over a wide energy range, providing insights into the Sun’s X-ray emissions.

  • ASPEX (Aditya Solar wind Particle Experiment) and PAPA (Plasma Analyser Package For Aditya): These instruments will analyze electrons, protons, and energetic ions in the solar wind, helping understand the solar particle environment.

  • Advanced Tri-axial High Resolution Digital Magnetometers: This payload will examine the interplanetary magnetic field at L1, revealing crucial information about solar magnetic dynamics.

Tutcetus rayanensis

Why is the discovery of the Tutcetus rayanensis fossil significant for understanding whale evolution?

The Tutcetus rayanensis fossil offers a glimpse into the transitional phase of whales from land to sea, providing valuable information about their evolution from land-dwelling animals to fully aquatic creatures.

What characteristics of the Tutcetus rayanensis fossil suggest it belonged to a whale transitioning to a marine lifestyle?

The fossil’s flippers, strong tails, and remnants of hind limbs resembling legs suggest the Tutcetus rayanensis was in the process of adapting to life in the sea, marking a critical phase in whale evolution.

What is the connection between the newly discovered fossil and the ancient whale species that might have been the largest ever?

The recent discoveries of both the Tutcetus rayanensis and the potentially largest ancient whale species provide insights into the diversity and adaptations of whales throughout their evolutionary history.

How did scientists determine the approximate age and size of the Tutcetus rayanensis fossil?

Scientists estimated the age and size of the fossil based on its physical attributes, particularly its weight and length. These estimates help reconstruct the creature’s appearance and behavior.

What do the primitive features of Tutcetus rayanensis reveal about its evolutionary stage?

Tutcetus rayanensis exhibits primitive traits that place it at an early stage of the transition from land to sea. This indicates that it was one of the earliest examples of fully aquatic whales.

How does the discovery of the Tutcetus rayanensis fossil contribute to our understanding of prehistoric environmental conditions?

The smaller size of Tutcetus rayanensis might be linked to global warming during the period, revealing potential impacts of ancient climate changes on the evolution and size of marine life.

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