Postal stamp in honour of Rani Chennabhairadevi released at Rashtrapati Bhavan
Speaking on the occasion, the President paid tributes to the legendary queen, stating that Rani Chennabhairadevi's courage, determination, and achievements should not only be written in golden letters but also etched in diamond. She praised the queen's unwavering fight to protect her kingdom, her inclusive and secular values, her deep sense of social responsibility, and her progressive administrative policies aimed at uplifting the marginalised. The President also congratulated the Department of Posts and Excellent Educational Institutions, Moodbidri, for organising and sponsoring the event.
Rajya Sabha MP Dr. D. Veerendra Heggade, in his welcome address described the queen as a visionary leader whose primary objective was not territorial expansion but the welfare and prosperity of her people. He emphasised that Rani Chennabhairadevi was a skilled trader who exported pepper, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, sandalwood, rice, jaggery, and areca nut to various parts of the world, thereby earning valuable foreign exchange for her kingdom.
Despite political rivalry, she maintained diplomatic ties with the Portuguese and was honoured with the title 'Raina Da Pimenta' (Queen of Pepper). Dr Heggade expressed pride in the national recognition being bestowed upon such a courageous woman.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
36 minutes ago
- Time of India
Indus Water Treaty Favoured Pakistan, Left India With Little Share: Lt Gen Vinod Khandare
Nagpur: Retired Lieutenant General Vinod Khandare, former Principal Advisor to the Union Ministry of Defence during Operation Sindoor , has termed the Indus Water Treaty of 1960 as "unfair and biased towards Pakistan ." Speaking at a Jansamvaad event organised by Janmanch NGO, Khandare stated that the political leadership of the time gave away significant control over India's river resources, leaving the country with a disproportionately small share of the Indus waters. "The Indus River, originating from the Himalayas, carries a large amount of silt and sludge that used to accumulate in our dams," he said. "We wanted to de-silt it for efficiency, but were told the treaty doesn't permit us. Despite this, we cleaned the river." Khandare pointed out that the river flows from Indian states like Punjab and Haryana into Pakistan's Punjab, significantly boosting their agriculture. "They reaped harvests, earned revenue, and used that very money to fund terrorism against us," he said, underscoring the strategic imbalance the treaty has created. He added that all that changed in 2016, after a team of experts were appointed to asses and review the pact. General Khandare also raised alarms over China's covert meteorological manipulation program. According to him, China's Department of Weather Modification, with over 37,000 personnel, has been closely studying Indian monsoon patterns. "We discovered one of their meteorological sensors in the Bay of Bengal," he revealed, adding that China intends to redirect rain clouds meant for the Indian subcontinent towards Tibet and Sichuan. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Search & compare rates from major search-engines, along with local, reputable engines. Hotel Deals | Search Ads Browse Now Undo The motive, he said, is to support Beijing's industrial shift from its eastern coastal belt to inland provinces. Touching upon India's evolving defence posture, Khandare highlighted Operation Sindoor as a turning point. "The military had full operational control without political interference, which enabled decisive surgical strikes and air operations like the one at Jabbar Top," he said. The operation targeted terrorist launchpads and training facilities in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, sending a strong message that no safe havens would be tolerated. Cyber warfare, he warned, is the new front. "Smartphones can now be weaponised. Cyberattacks, like the one that paralysed Estonia in 2008, can happen here too." He called for urgent investment in cyber resilience and civil defence, citing India's inadequate infrastructure—no public sirens in cities like Nagpur, and lack of shelters in urban areas, unlike Europe or Israel. "India's civil defence infrastructure remains alarmingly inadequate in the face of growing conventional and unconventional threats. Unlike countries like Israel, where every building has a shelter, or Europe, where metros are built underground for protection, Indian cities are ill-equipped. Nagpur, for example, lacks even basic sirens," Khandare said. General Vinod Khandare pointed out that while our armed forces may be battle-ready, the country lacks systems to protect its citizens in times of crisis or war. He further stressed the need for reforms in India's defence production. "With 41 ordnance factories underperforming, joint ventures and privatisation are no longer optional—they are essential," Khandare concluded by stating that only a self-reliant, strategically alert, and technologically equipped India can deter the evolving threats in a turbulent global order.
Deccan Herald
an hour ago
- Deccan Herald
India ready to share AI models with Global South: S Krishnan
The Indian government is open to sharing its AI models with the Global South after achieving reasonable capacity and scale, a senior government official said on Friday. While speaking at FICCI's conference Bhashantara 2025, Electronics and IT Secretary S Krishnan said that the development of technology for languages to help people communicate in a frictionless manner can lead to huge value addition to the economy. He said that the UN Under-Secretary-General, during a visit to India, had appreciated India's AI-related works. 'We had a discussion and then he said your model appears interesting. At a stage when you have adequate capacity both in terms of compute and in terms of the kind of models that you have, will you be willing to share this with the Global South? This is something that we have declared that we are open to doing and something that we will do,' Krishnan said. The Global South term refers to developing and less-developed countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America regions. The government has launched the Bhashini project for the development of AI-based language translation technology. Krishnan said most people in the country would prefer to communicate through voice as opposed to in writing. 'I think voice-based communication has a critical role to play and that is where India can truly lead. The minute you say it is voice, then it means that you have to pick it up in the language that they are most comfortable with and what they would like to speak in. This is clearly the challenge that there are a number of researchers, a number of innovators and others who are addressing nationwide,' he said. 'With more than 6 billion people globally not speaking English as their primary language and India home to 19,500 languages and dialects, data emphasised the vast commercial opportunities that lay ahead,' he said. Data said that website names in local scripts will ease communication for the vernacular masses.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Delhi HC rejects bail of suspected Isis member in arms case
NEW DELHI: Delhi HC has rejected the bail plea of a suspected Isis member accused of procuring arms and ammunition for the proscribed outfit and using social media to promote its objectives. In a recent order, a bench of justices Subramonium Prasad and Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar upheld a trial court detention order, stating it was not mechanical in nature. HC said accused Mohd Rizwan Ashraf could not be released due to the ongoing investigation, as releasing him and others at a crucial stage would impede the probe. "This court is satisfied that the trial court applied its mind to the grounds set forth. The trial court categorically observed the investigation progressed substantially during remand extensions granted by it and the investigation was not stagnant. Order of the trial court extended custody not as a matter of routine but based on credible material outlining the investigative steps requiring completion," the bench observed. Ashraf was arrested by NIA in 2023 under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) provisions. He challenged various orders of the trial court extending his custody, including on Feb 24, 2024, when his judicial custody was extended by 25 days. On the same day, the trial court dismissed his plea for default bail. Ashraf's counsel submitted the orders were passed by the trial court in a mechanical and perfunctory manner and did not indicate any individual assessment of his role. He argued NIA failed to demonstrate why Ashraf's continued detention was necessary for probe. However, HC said three accused persons, including Ashraf, were active ISIS and they were propagating the ideology of the organisation and trying to recruit youth for its objectives. "At the time when the remand orders were being considered, material was being unearthed to establish that the accused, including the appellant (Ashraf), were conducting recce at various Indian cities including, but not limited to, Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and Surat for terrorist activities," it pointed out, adding conspiracy was also being hatched in other countries. "A money trail from Maldives was also being investigated. Material on record indicates that investigation was also underway to find out about other associates of the accused," HC noted.
