Rapid Fire
Rapid Fire Current Affairs
- 04 Jan 2023
- 4 min read
Savitribai Phule Birth Anniversary
Recently the Prime Minister of India paid homage to Savitribai Phule (1831-97) on her 191st birth anniversary. She was a 19th century social reformer who worked in the field of women education.
Along with her husband Jyotiba Phule, she established a school for girls, Shudras and Ati-Shudras in Poona (1848) and started Balhatya Pratibandhak Griha - home for the prevention of infanticide in their own house. She also established Mahila Seva Mandal in 1852 to raise awareness about women’s rights.
She published Kavya Phule in 1854 and Bavan Kashi Subodh Ratnakar in 1892. In 1873, the Phules set up the Satyashodhak Samaj to bring social equity. Phules were an extraordinary couple in India’s social & educational history.
Read More - Savitribai and Jyotiba Phule
Rani Velu Nachiyar
The Prime Minister of India has paid tributes to Rani Velu Nachiyar (3 Jan 1730 – 25 Dec 1796) on her birth anniversary. She was the first queen to fight against the British colonial power in India (and son of Nawab of Arcot) in 1780s.
Rani Velu Nachiyar, known by Tamils as Veeramangai, was the princess of Ramnad Kingdom of Ramanathapuram (TN). Along with proficiency in languages like French, English and Urdu, she was trained in martial arts like Valari, Silambam, horse riding and archery.
Upon her husband - Muthuvaduganathaperiya Udaiyathevar’s death, she succeeded him in 1780 as the Queen of Sivagangai (TN).
Read More - Women Heroes of India's Freedom Struggle
Asia Pacific Postal Union
India is all set to assume the leadership of Asian Pacific Postal Union (APPU). Vinaya Prakash Singh was elected as the Secretary General of the APPU for a tenure of 4 years (from Jan 2023). This is the first time an Indian is leading an international organization in the postal sector.
APPU, headquartered in Bangkok (Thailand), is an intergovernmental organization of 32-member countries of the Asian-Pacific region. It is the only Restricted Union of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) (a UN specialised agency) in this region. APPU aims to extend, facilitate and improve postal relations between member countries and to promote cooperation in the field of postal services.
The Asia Pacific region generates around half of the global mail volume and has around one-third of the global postal human resource.
Read More - Universal Postal Union
Lula Sworn in as Brazil’s President
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has been sworn in as the new president of Brazil replacing Jair Bolsonaro. This is the 3rd third time he has held the country's highest office (earlier - January 2003 - January 2011).
India’s relations with Brazil are about 5 centuries old, however a strategic partnership was established only in 2006. The two countries are common members to forums like BRICS, IBSA, G4 and G20 and have a pivotal role as leaders of the Global South or South-South cooperation. Recently the two countries also participated in 7th edition of IBSAMAR exercise.
Read More - India-Brazil Relations
