Star Citizens

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Meet 90 Year Old Great Soul Who Dedicated His Life Serving the Society

Darshan Lal Jain (90) is a great soul who in spite of being born into a rich family never indulged in wealth, instead, he chose to dedicate his life to serving society. The nonagenarian has made significant contributions in varied spheres for the welfare of the society. Jain was born in an influential industrialist family of Yamunanagar district in Haryana.  From a very young age, he was sharp-minded and had a sense of patriotism. He was an ardent follower of Mahatma Gandhi. During British rule, he defied the khadi ban and was among the few students who wore khadi to school. At the tender age of 15, he participated in the Quit India Movement. Jain is a crusader of education and worked tirelessly for the education of girls and poor children. He set up numerous schools in Haryana and was the founder secretary of DAV College for Girls, Yamunanagar, the first girls’ college in the region that was set up in 1957. During Emergency, Jain was imprisoned for two years and declined to accept the offer of conditional release from the Central government. In 1999, Jain established the Saraswati Nadi Shodh Sansthan and launched a project to revive the Saraswati river. He worked relentlessly to bring back the glory of the holy river. Apart from this, he has also been working to establish the honour of our valiant kings and soldiers and freedom fighters. Although he was requested from many quarters to join politics he refused the offers and continued to work as a social worker. Even at the age of 90, he continues to work with a firm resolve. We can learn many lessons in compassion, dedication and hard work from his exemplary life. Image Source: TerseBOX

13 Sep 2019

Star Citizens

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First Indian made civilian aircraft Saras to take to sky soon

Having received a green signal from the government under the new regional connectivity policy, India’s first indigenous civil aircraft Saras is likely to take first flight in June, if everything goes as per plan. The Saras has been fitted with a modified engine and various  specifications have also been modified. It is a 14-seater plane. It’s first prototype had done its maiden flight on May 29, 2004. At that time, it was found that aircraft was overweight at 5,118kg compared to the design specifications of  4,125kg. The original design had specified  a payload of 1,232kg.  and maximum takeoff weight of 6,100kg. The new Saras will now have multi-role capabilities including light cargo transport, troop transport, aerial survey, reconnaissance, feeder line aircraft, executive aircraft as well as air ambulance. Saras aircraft has been handed to the Indian Air Force's (IAF) Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE) for test flights by Bengaluru-based developers National Aerospace Laboratory (NAL), as per Times of India reports. NAL Director Jitendra J Jadhav said, "The engine tests have already begun. The low-speed taxi and high-speed taxi trials are expected to be completed by the end of this month. After that, the ASTE will do the first flight most probably in the first week of June." The new Saras will certainly give boost to the government’s ambitious regional air connectivity plan under Udan scheme, when it clears airworthiness test flights and goes for commercial production

12 May 2017

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Saraswathi Rajamani- India's youngest spy

Its been more than half a century since India won its independence from Britishers and the heroic deeds of our brave freedom fighters are gradually fading away from public memory. Their stories take us back to an era filled with patriotism and the dedication to one's duty and nation. One such inspiring story is that of Saraswathi Rajamani, who at a very young age carried in her the fire to fight the Britishers which helped her get inducted into the Indian National Army's Intelligence Wing at a very young age of sixteen. Saraswathi Rajamani was born in Burma in a family of freedom fighters. Her father, who was an affluent miner from Trichy was a staunch supporter of the freedom struggle. In order to escape arrest by the British authorities, he had fled to Burma and settled there. Rajamani grew in a household where thoughts were very liberal. She carried the flame of India's freedom in her heart right from her childhood. Once when Mahatma Gandhi visited their house in Rangoon, he saw Rajamani alone in the garden honing her shooting skills. She told him that she wanted to gun down the Bririshers who were looting India. Gandhiji was shocked and explained how things could be tackled better in non violent ways, but Rajamani remained determined.  As she grew up, she was drawn to Subash Chandra Bose's Indian National Army. Netaji's powerful words kindled in her a fervour to fight for her country. Once, when Bose visited Rangoon to collect funds and recruit members for the INA, Rajamani donated all her jewellery. This came to the notice of Bose who arrived at her residence to return the jewellery. Rajamani was firm in her decision and refused to take back the ornaments. Bose was impressed and stated that Laksmi ( Goddess of Wealth) comes and goes, but not Sarawathi(Goddess of Knowledge). That day Bose named her Saraswathi and she came to be known as Sarawathi Rajamani. He recruited Rajamani and four of her friends as spies in the Intelligence Wing of the Indian National Army (INA). Disguised as young boys, the girls started working as errand boys at British military camps and officers’ houses. As covert agents behind enemy lines, they were responsible for intercepting government orders and military intelligence from the British officers and handing these over to INA. They masqueraded as boys for two years to gather information of the British movements. When one of the girls got caught, Rajamani was determined to rescue her. She dressed up as a dancing girl, drugged the officers in the prison and escaped with her colleague. She was hit on her leg with a bullet while fleeing which made her permanently limp. Rajamani was proud of her limp as it reminded her of the exciting days in the INA. Netaji was delighted about Rajamani's brave escape. Her proud moment came when she was given a medal by the Japanese Emperor himself. She was also given the rank of Lieutenant in INA’s Rani of Jhansi Brigade. Her work in the army ended when Netaji disbanded the INA after Britishers won the World War II. The family unfortunately had to lead a life of penury on returning to India.  Rajamani lives a lonely life in Chennai, yet her spirit to help her countrymen is still very strong. When Chennai was struck by a tsunami, she donated her meagre  monthly pension that she receives as a freedom fighter to the relief fund. She visits tailor shops to collect scraps and pieces of cloth which she uses to stitch clothes that she then donates to orphanages and old age homes. A big salute to this brave and fearless woman who is an inspiration to many.  

25 Apr 2017

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