Sikh historians are unanimous in mentioning that Guru Tegh Bahadur was martyred for defending the freedom of conscience against the doings of a bigoted emperor Aurangzeb. The choice offered to him was between conversion to Islam or death. For the sake of freedom of conscience and pluralism in faith that all the Nanaks preached and upheld, he preferred death. The Guru Granth Sahib is a unique anthology of 5894 sacred writings of 36 holy men of the Indian Subcontinent. These include only the first five Sikh Gurus and the ninth Guru Tegh Bahadur. The largest number of hymns (2218) are from the pen of Guru Arjan, followed by Guru Nanak (974), Guru Amar Das (907), Guru Ram Das (679) and Guru Tegh Bahadur (115). The hymns of the second Guru Angad are 62.
Foot overbridge at Elphinstone
Army officials start ground work activities for the construction of Elphistone foot overbridge, in Mumbai on Thursday.
Twenty three people were killed in a stampede on the Elphinstone Road station foot overbridge (FOB) in September this year.
Joint press meet
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami (right) with Deputy CM O. Panneerselvam distributing sweets to partymen in Chennai on Thursday.
Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam on Thursday denied allegations, made by sidelined AIADMK leader T.T.V. Dhinakaran, that the AIADMK's proximity to the BJP had resulted in a favourable decision in the Two Leaves sumbol case. "No one is behind or in front of us. The Election Commission, not T.T.V. Dhinakaran, made this ruling. It was based on the facts before it," he said. Read more
Leaves falling from Chinars
Smoke rises from the burnt Chinar leaves in Srinagar on November 23, 2017.
Kashmiris collect dried leaves of the Chinars during autumn and half-burn them for use as charcoal for firepots to keep themselves warm in winter.
The shedding of Chinar leaves, locally known as Buen , marks the onset of autumn and sets off a process of change in the Valley every year, with people wearing woollens and changing their food habits to suit the weather.
AIADMK gets back 'two leaves'
AIADMK workers celebrate outside party headquarters soon after media reported that the Election Commission has alloted 'two leaves' symbol to the EPS-OPS faction.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami said on Thursday that the unified AIADMK had received the ‘two leaves’ symbol from the Election Commission of India. Speaking to mediapersons in Chennai, Mr. Palaniswami said that the EC has given a “good decision.”
Following the announcement, celebrations broke out in the AIADMK headquarters in Royapettah, Chennai.
India vs Sri Lanka second Test at Nagpur
Indian team head coach Ravi Shastri with captain Virat Kohli and others during a practice session on the eve of the second Test against Sri Lanka in Nagpur on Thursday.
Having drawn the first Test at Kolkata, India and Sri Lanka clash in the second Test at Nagpur on Friday. The first Test had its twists and turns on the last two days. Despite being dismissed cheaply in the first innings in Kolkata, India lived up to its No. 1 ranking and made Sri Lanka toil for a draw in the first Test.
Voice against trolls
Actor Prakash Raj addressing the media at Press Club, Bengaluru.
Actor Prakash Raj addressing the media at Press Club, Bengaluru.
Actor Prakash Raj met media persons in Bengaluru to voice his opinion against troll campaign against him for his comments against right-wing and political leaders. He recalled how late minister Mahadev Prasad's wife, Geetha, broke down in front of the media unable to bear the demeaning comments made against her in social media.
Uzbekistan President in South Korea
South Korean President Moon Jae-In (right) and Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev (left) walk towards a guard of honour during a welcoming ceremony at the presidential Blue House in Seoul on Thursday.
Uzbekistan President Shavkat Miziyoyev is on a three-day visit to South Korea to strengthen the bilateral relationship between Uzbekistan and South Korea.
Global Conference on Cyberspace (GCCS) 2017
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arriving at the inauguration of GCCS 2017 in New Delhi on Thursday.
Global Conference on Cyber Space (GCCS) is a prestigious global event where international leaders, policymakers, industry experts, think tanks, cyber wizards etc gather to deliberate on issues and challenges for optimally using cyber space.
Search continues
Ships and planes hunting for a missing Argentine submarine with 44 crew members will return to a previously search area after officials said Wednesday that a noise made a week ago in the South Atlantic could provide a clue to the vessel’s location.
The Argentina navy spokesman, Capt. Enrique Balbi, said the “hydro-acoustic anomaly” was determined by the United States and specialist agencies to have been produced Nov. 15, just hours after the final contact with the ARA San Juan and could have come from the sub.
Mnangagwa returns after Mugabe’s exit
A supporter of Zimbabwe's incoming leader Emmerson Mnangagwa holds his portrait while waiting for him to arrive at the Zanu PF Headquarters in Harare.
Zimbabwe's incoming president Emmerson Mnangagwa told adoring crowds in Harare on Wednesday that they were witnessing "unfolding full democracy" as he returned to take power after Robert Mugabe stepped down after 37 years in power.
It was his first public speech since Mugabe fired him on November 6 over a succession tussle with the former first lady, a move that prompted the military's intervention to force Mugabe from power, leading to his resignation on Tuesday.
Brighter nights means no more good night
This photo combo of images provided by NASA's Earth Observatory/Kyba, GFZ shows photographs of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, taken from the International Space Station on Dec. 23, 2010 (left) where residential areas are mainly lit by orange sodium lamps; and on Nov. 27, 2015 (right) where many areas on the outskirts are newly lit compared to 2010, and many neighborhoods have switched from orange sodium lamps to white LED lamps.
The world’s nights are getting alarmingly brighter bad news for all sorts of creatures, humans included.
A German-led team reported that light pollution is threatening darkness almost everywhere. Satellite observations during five Octobers show Earth’s artificially lit outdoor area grew by 2% a year from 2012 to 2016. So did nighttime brightness.
The biological impact from surging artificial light is also significant, according to the researchers. People’s sleep can be marred, which in turn can affect their health. The migration and reproduction of birds, fish, amphibians, insects and bats can be disrupted. Plants can have abnormally extended growing periods. And forget about seeing stars or the Milky Way, if the trend continues.
And the Ashes begins
England's opening batsmen Alastair Cook and Mark Stoneman walk onto the ground for the start of the first day of the first Ashes cricket test match.
England captain Joe Root won the toss and chose to bat first in the Ashes series opener against Australia.
England holds the Ashes after winning the 2015 series 3-2 at home, and has had the better of cricket’s oldest high-profile bilateral contests in the last decade with four wins in the last five series.
But the Australians swept England 5-0 in 2013-14 in the last Ashes series Down Under.
