Cyclone

A cyclone is an area of closed, circular fluid motion rotating in the same direction as the Earth. This
is usually characterized by inward spiraling winds that rotate counter clockwise in the Northern
Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere of the Earth. Most large-scale cyclonic
circulations are centered on areas of low atmospheric pressure. Cyclones have been seen outside
earth on Planets like Mars/ Neptune as well.

Cyclone Catarina, March 26, 2004

Earthquake

An earthquake (also known as a quake, tremor or temblor) is the result of a sudden release of
energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. Earthquakes are measured with a
Seismometer, a device which also records is also called a seismograph. The Moment Magnitude, of
an eartquake is conventionally reported – A magnitude 3 is mostly imperceptible and magnitude 7
causing Serious damage over large areas. Depth of the earthquake also matters. The more shallow
the earthquakes, the more the damage to the structures if all else are equal.
The damage after 1 week of earthquake, Peru 2007

Floods
A flood is an overflow of an expanse of water that submerges land. The flood is also defined as a
temporary covering by water of land not normally covered by water. If a waterbody like Lake, River
swells and causes the surrounding land to be covered with water, it is said to be a flood. Flood can cause
damage to homes, businesses and also to lives.

Floods in India, 2009

Drought
A drought is an extended period of months/years when a region is impacted by lack of adequate water
supply. The droughts have a substantial impact on the ecosystem and agriculture in that region.
Droughts can persist for several years, even a short intense draught can cause significant damage to the
region’s ecosystem and the economy.

Drought affected village, UP

 Freedom Fighters

Veer Savarkar
Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, commonly known as Swantantra Veer Savarkar was a fearless freedom fighter, Social
reformer, Writer, Dramatist, Poet, Historian, Political leader and Philosopher.

Jhansi Rani
Rani Lakshmi Bai, the fiery queen of Jhansi, also known as the Rani of Jhansi, one of the great Nationalist Heroines
was a symbol of resistance to the British Raj. At a young age, the talented Jhansi, completed her Military training
and was a successful Horse Rider, Gun Shooter and Sword Fighter. Lord Dalhousie, tried to annex Jhansi into the
British fold after her husband died but Rani fought against the British and during the battle with the British she lost
her life at the young age of 23.

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

Gandhiji was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian Independence movement.
He pioneered Satyagraha – a nonviolent struggle for Freedom. He played a significant role in getting freedom for
India and led the masses against the British. He established his ashram at Sabarmati and Gujarat. He is also
considered a pioneer businessman because of the way defined customer, business and a self sufficient India.
Lokmanya Tilak
Bal Gangadhar Tilak is considered as Father of Indian National Movement. Bal Gangadhar Tilak was a multifaceted
personality. He was a social reformer, freedom fighter, national leader, and a scholar of Indian history, sanskrit,
hinduism, mathematics and astronomy. Bal Gangadhar Tilak was popularly called as Lokmanya (Beloved of the
people). During freedom struggle, his slogan “Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it” inspired millions of
Indians.

Pandit Nehru

Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of independent India was born at Allahabad on 14
November 1889. From the age of 15 to 23 Jawaharlal studied in England at Harrow, Cambridge and the Inner
Temple returning to India in 1912. He fought for India’s freedom along with Tilak and Gandhiji.

Jawaharlal Nehru remained the Prime Minister of India for 17 long years and can rightly be called the
architect of modern India. With the foresight of a statesman he created institutions like Planning Commission,
National Science Laboratories and laid the foundation of a vast public sector for developing infrastructure for
industrial growth.

He used to love children and was fondly called Chacha Nehru.

 Personalities who have influenced me

Mother Teresa
Mother Teresa was one of the great servants of humanity. She was an Albanian Catholic nun who came to India
and founded the Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata. During her long service she converted over 5 million Indians to
Christianity. She Started the Missionaries of Charity in 1950 and received Nobel Prize in 1979 and the Bharat Ratna
in 1980.

Edison
Thomas Alva Edison, was a Scientist, an American inventor, scientist and businessman who developed many
devices and greatly influenced life around the world. Devices he developed included the phonograph, motion
picture camera, electric light bulb etc. He is considered the most prolific inventors with over 1093 patents to his
name.

Raja RamMohan Roy

Raja RamMohan Roy has come to be called the “Maker of Modern India”. Without giving up what was a good and
noble past, he laid the foundations for a great future. He put an end to the horrible custom of burning the living
wife with the dead husband. He spent his money on a college to promote these studies.
Homi Bhabha
Homi Bhabha is one of the pioneers in the field of science in Modern India. He is the architect of Nuclear Science in
Modern India. His far-sightedness, powers of organization and the encouragement and guidance of young
scientists received from him these built up on an invaluable asset for India. He was a painter and worshipped the
beauty of the Nature.

Jyotirao Phule
Mahatma Jotiba Govindrao Phule was an activist, thinker, social reformer, writer, philosopher, theologist, scholar,
editor and revolutionary from Maharashtra. He and his wife Savitribhai Phule were pioneer of women’s education
in India. He has a visible influence in the fields like education, agriculture, caste system, women upliftment and
removal of untouchability. He formed the Satya Shodak Samaj to liberate Bahujans, Shudras and Ati Shudras and
prevent them from being exploited.