Category Archives: General

What is PIN Code? When it started?

14 Wednesday Aug 2013

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PIN means Postal Index Number. PIN is used to identify the exact location of the Post Office to which address a letter is posted or is sent from. This helps the Postman to deliver the mail to the correct address.
There are nine PIN zones in India, including eight regional zones and one functional zone (for the Indian Army). The first digit of the PIN code indicates the region. The second digit indicates the sub-region, and the third digit indicates the sorting district within the region. The final three digits are assigned to individual post offices.
The PIN code system was started on 15th August 1972. The Department of Posts are very strict that all mails should clearly mention the PIN code so that the same can be delivered to the correct address with out delay.

Greetings on Independence Day!

14 Wednesday Aug 2013

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Tomorrow, 15th August 2013, is the 66th Anniversary of the Independence Day. It was on 15th August 1947 India won Independence from the British imperialism, which ruled India for about two centuries. The British rulers exploited and looted India to the maximum and took away thousands of valuables and riches. It was only through sustained struggles by the people of India that compelled them to leave India. The post- II World War, which left Britain and other imperialist rulers weak and vulnerable and the rise of the Soviet power all together compelled India to leave, but they manipulated and divided India in to two.
Freedom is fundamental right of the countrymen. India has grown amongst the world nations and also advanced. But at the same time the poverty continues high, while the rich becomes richer. All the Five Year Plans and other development programmes have benefitted the higher ups.
A change for the better should come. Not only political freedom, but freedom from hunger and other wants also should become real. On this Independence Day, let us pledge to improve the hard condition of those have-nots.

A young comrade who was jailed in the 1960 Strike.

14 Wednesday Aug 2013

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1960 Strike of the Central Government employees was really historic. It was the first of the big strikes in India after Independence. It is difficult for the new generation to understand how inhumanly and brutally the five days strike was suppressed by the Government declaring it as ‘Civil Rebellion’. It was to crush the strike that the government promulgated the ‘Essential Service Maintenance Ordinance’ for the first time. Thousands were arrested and jailed, including those outsiders who supported the strike. Tens of thousands were dismissed, suspended and terminated. Heavy punishments were imposed after conducting shabby Rule 14 proceedings. Transfers were in lakhs. Independent India has never seen such state brutality before. Employees were treated as enemies of the country.
I had my own hard experience. Though less than two years of service, when the strike took place from 11th July 1960, I was the local leader of the telecom employees at Kannur, Kerala, where I was posted. We were mostly juniors, many of whom were later entrants than me with 3 to 6 months service. Once the strike started, we were all compelled to go underground to escape arrest.
But despite all precautions, many were arrested, for participation in the strike. The police wanted me to arrest being the local office-bearer of the union. But, instead, they arrested Com.M.N.N.Namboodiri, who was only having about three to six months service’ on the misunderstanding that it was me. He was presented before the Magistrate. When the Magistrate found out that he was not V.A.N.Namboodiri, he offered him to release and attend the office. But the young man told the court that he was on strike on the call of the union and he was not going back for duty unless the union says so. The Magistrate got angry and immediately issued judgement punishing him for six months rigorous imprisonment and he was sent to jail. He was in jail for about 15 days. By the time, the strike was over and he was released on bail.
The young brave comrade was reinstated later, passed ESP examination and got promotion and went to Bombay. He retired from Trichur as DE. On 30th June 1996, the day I retired, I got a call from him informing that he has also retired on the same day.
When I came to Trichur, after much difficulty his number was found out, and called him on his land-line. He was glad to speak to me. We spoke for some time, remembered the good times, enquired about health etc. When asked him why has no mobile free connection which he is entitled, he said there was no necessity and hence not taken. Fair enough.
So after about 18 years since retirement, I got the chance to speak him again, though could not meet. I will meet certainly meet him next time I come to Trichur, the comrade who went to jail, instead of me, who was brave enough to face jail sentence for going on strike.
Now some of our employees are worried about loss of salary for going on strike, but thousands of employees like Com. MNN Namboodiri did not even fear imprisonment for implementing the call of the union.
These are the shining examples of courage and commitment to the cause!

A meeting with a senior comrade.

14 Wednesday Aug 2013

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It was a rare opportunity to meet an old comrade, who led the movement for a long period and had to face much victimisation during his service in DOT.
When I had gone to attend the National Convention on “Revival of BSNL” at Trichur, Kerala, I utilised the opportunity to meet Com. M.R.Chandran, a committed comrade and leader of the P&T workers. After the Convention, I went to his residence, which was near the Railway Station. He was waiting for me at the road side. We walked to his home.
Com.M.R.C., as he is fondly called, entered P&T in 1956 and retired in 1994. He participated in the 1960 strike, was suspended and later was transferred to the high ranges. He narrated to me the difficulties he had to face during the period, which I will post later. During the 1968 and all the strikes and activities afterwards, he took a leading role. He mainly focussed his work in the then Line- Staff Union.
Now he is actively participating in the Pensioners Movement, both in CGPA and AIBDPA. Despite certain health problems, he is very active at the Pensioners front. We chatted for about an hour on the pensioners’ issues and other connected matters. His wife brought tea and biscuits which I enjoyed.
He accompanied me till the Railway Station and bade good-bye. I hope that he will continue his union activities for many more years. Thank you Com. MRC.

Red Salute to Khudiram Bose on his 124 Martyrdom Day

10 Saturday Aug 2013

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Khudiram Bose was one of the first martyrs of Indian youth who started revolutionary activities and engaged in bomb-throwing against British imperialists. Inspired by the leaders of the freedom movement, at a very young age he was attracted towards revolutionary activities. He was born on 3rd December 1889 and was hanged on 11th August 1889, at the young age of 18.

He was charged with bombing a vehicle supposed to be that of the British magistrate. The occupants were killed, but the Magistrate was not in it. While trying to escape he was caught and the trial went on for about three years. The best Indian advocates argued for his defence, but the British officers had already decided that he should not be allowed to live.

He was hanged on 11th August 1889. The young revolutionary faced death with a smile on his face. He knew that the fire he has started will grow and one day India will be free.

It became true. After the martyrdom of Khudiram, more and more young men were attracted to revolutionary movement and many British magistrates and officers who were cruel and inhuman were killed. Many of these young men also became martyrs.

My Red Salute to the memory of Khudiram Bose, who sacrificed his life for the country at the young age of only 18.

Nagasaki observes 68th Anniversary of Atomic bombing

09 Friday Aug 2013

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Tokyo, Aug 9 Nagasaki today marked the 68th anniversary of the atomic bombing by the United States during World War II that turned the Japanese city into an inferno.

Tens of thousands gathered to remember the more than 70,000 people who died instantly in the blast, or of the after-effects in the months and years after the bombing, which hit Nagasaki at 0732 IST.

Bells tolled as ageing survivors, relatives, government officials and foreign delegates observed a moment of silence at the time of detonation.

The bombing of Nagasaki came three days after the first-ever atomic blast at Hiroshima, which claimed about 140,000 lives in all. Hiroshima held its own remembrance ceremonies earlier this week.

An envoy from India, a nuclear power which is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, was attending the ceremony for the first time, a Nagasaki official said.

The ceremony is held near the spot where the US military dropped its plutonium bomb, nicknamed “Fat Man”, on August 9, 1945, in the final chapter of the war.

Historians have long been at odds over whether the twin attacks brought a speedier end to the war by forcing Japan’s surrender and preventing many more casualties in a land invasion planned for later in the year.

Many atomic bomb survivors, known as “hibakusha” in Japanese, oppose both military and civilian use of nuclear power, pointing to the tens of thousands who were killed instantly in the blasts and the many more who later died from radiation sickness and cancer.

Anti-nuclear sentiment has run high in Japan following the 2011 atomic disaster at Fukushima, with most of the country’s reactors switched off.

3000 posts published!

07 Wednesday Aug 2013

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On this day 3000 posts have been so far posted after the starting of my blog. 1894 comments have so far been received and most of them have been replied.
The maximum visitors on a day was 2,321.

My hearty welcome and thanks for all well-Wishers!

Left Parties Protest attack on opposition parties in WB

07 Wednesday Aug 2013

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New Delhi, Aug 7 : Left parties today staged a protest in Parliament complex over alleged attacks on opposition parties in West Bengal by ruling Trinamool Congress, which said it reflected their “frustation” at their “marginalisation” in the state.

Holding placards saying ‘Save democracy in Bengal’ and ‘Stop attacks on women and SCs/STs’ in the state, members of CPI(M), CPI, RSP and Forward Bloc staged a noisy demonstration at the main gate of Parliament.

When Lok Sabha assembled, the slogan-shouting members stormed the Well over the issue, which led to three adjournments. In Rajya Sabha, Left members including Sitaram Yechury tried to raise the issue amidst din.

68th year of Hiroshima Bombing. Peace Rallies in Japan.

06 Tuesday Aug 2013

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HIROSHIMA, Japan, Aug. 6 Hiroshima marked the 68th anniversary of the western Japanese city’s atomic bombing on Tuesday morning with representatives from 70 countries and the European Union, calling for a world order based on trust and dialogue.

The annual memorial ceremony, held at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park in the city center, was attended by some 50,000 people including war survivors, bereaved family members and Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Among them were also representatives from foreign countries and the European Union, including 32 ambassadors to Japan such as U.S. Ambassador John Roos.

All attendees offered a silent prayer at 8:15 a.m. local time, the time the bomb was dropped in 1945.

After the prayer, Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui made this year’ s peace declaration, stating that the atomic bomb, which indiscriminately stole the lives of innocent people, is the ultimate inhumane weapon and an absolute evil.

He stressed that even as the survivor’s average age surpasses 78, they, who have overcome such terrible pain and sorrow, still hope for the world to share their longing for peace and to choose the right path.

The mayor then admonished policymakers of the world for their belief that they can continue to maintain national security by saber-rattling, urging them to shift to a system of security based on trust and dialogue without being trapped in the past.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe spoke after the mayor’s speech, stating that the deaths caused by the nuclear attack were too terrible for the Japanese to describe, and that they, the Japanese people, have a responsibility to abolish nuclear weapons and to pass on their personal experience of terror caused by the bombing of Hiroshima.

Abe also promised in the morning to further increase his efforts to promote international disarmament and non-proliferation while firmly maintaining Japan’s Three Non-Nuclear Principles of not possessing, not producing and not permitting the introduction of nuclear weapons into its soil.

After the memorial event, a 37-year-old father, working as a public servant in neighboring Okayama Prefecture, told Xinhua that he attended the ceremony with his sons because he thought people in his generation must play a key role in memorizing the tragedy and the lesson of peace today, 68 years after the blast.

Many memorial events are scheduled throughout the day including a ceremony in which more than 10,000 paper lanterns are floated down a river next to Hiroshima Memorial.

The bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by US

05 Monday Aug 2013

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On 6th August 1945, the US dropped Atom Bomb on Hiroshima and on 9th on Nagasaki, two big cities of Japan, which completely destroyed the two cities and killed lakhs of innocent civilian people. More people were maimed, disabled and affected by radiation for their entire lives. There are still thousands of people who are suffering by the radiation.
The bombing was not to win the II World War. The war had already won. The axis forces of Nazi Germany, Japan and Italy have already been defeated. The allied forces of Britain, USSR and US had captured the capital of Germany, Berlin, Fascist Mussolini was defeated and Japan was already going to surrender.
The bombing was to declare to the world that US has got the atomic bomb. It was to warn the USSR, that US is the NO.1 power. It was also to find out how much loss could be made by the new atom bombs. For the above luxury, tens of thousands had to sacrifice their lives.
Imperialism is cruel. And that is what US imperialism has shown. The peace loving world will never forgive the US for this inhuman act. They join together at Hiroshima and Nagasaki on 6th and 9th August every year and pay homage to those killed and also take oath to work to ensure that Hiroshima and Nagasaki is not repeated. This year Com. P.Abhimanyu, General Secretary, BSNLEU also is attending the function at Hiroshima and Nagasaki.