1151 Current Affairs (American Elections-Bernie Sanders), Lathi charges against women of Amaravati Capital Region, Supreme Court Justice Shri Gupta's observations on Freedom of Expression), Vyasa Mahabhagavata, Shringara Satakam, English GrammarVyasa Mahabharata

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MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS TEST No.

Here is a 10 Multiple Choice Question Test on your favorite subject. Some Qs are actual Examination Questions, ABRIDGED & EDITED for brevity, and to facilitate easier comprehension. Actual Exam. Qs were lengthy and circumlocutive. Qs can be answered online, and score can be checked by clicking ~showprogress~ box at the end of any Q. There are minus marks of 0.25 (quarter mark) for each wrong answer. If any Qs are left out, there will be no change in score. ==Answers and explanations== for each Q can also be checked by moving your mouse on the word `mouse` at the end of each Q. You can try and retry any number of times.

1) COMPUTER LANGUAGES: Mr. Guido van Rossum is Conceiver of
a`Java b`PHP c`Python d`SQL --

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2) COMPUTERS: In UTF-8, utf=:
a`Uniform Transformation Format b`Uniform Transition Format c`Unicode Transformation Format d`Unicode Transition Format --

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3) 19c INDIAN HISTORY: 'You will be nearer to Heaven through football than through the study of the Gita', is said to be a quote of
a`Gandhiji b`Patel c`Narendra Modi d`Swami Vivekananda --

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4) JAPANESE CULTURE: The word 'KATANA' is associated with
a`dwarfing of plants b`flower arrangements c`paper cutting d`martial arts --

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5) INDIAN GEOGRAPHY: SABARMATI RIVER originates in
a`Gujarat b`Rajasthan c`Madhya Pradesh d`Uttar Pradesh --

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6) 20c. INDIAN HISTORY: SABARMATI ASHRAM (also called Satyagraha Ashram) which Donald Trump visited in 2020, was founded in
a`1914 b`1915 c`1916 d`1917 --

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7) WORLD GEOGRAPHY: TROPIC OF CAPRICORN does not pass through:
a`Namibia b`South Africa c`Botswana d`Tanzania --

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8) ENVIRONMENTAL GEOGRAPHY: Sambhar Salt Lake, India's largest inland salt lake is in ___:
a`Gujarat b`Rajasthan c`Tamil Nadu d`Andhra Pradesh --

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9) ENVIRONMENTAL GEOGRAPHY: Largest saltwater lake of Asia. Chilika lake is in ___:
a`Gujarat b`Rajasthan c`Odisa d`Andhra Pradesh --

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10) ZOOLOGY: FLYING FOXES are resemble ___:
a`kites b`bats c`vultures d`storks --

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11) PHYSICS: Kerosene Lamps work on ___ action through flat wicks.
a`solvent b`adsorption c`capillary d`all --

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12) PHYSICS: A Washing machine uses ___Principle.
a`centrifugation b`sublimation c`osmosis d`diffusion --

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13) ENGLISH, AND INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION: "Mr. Bernie Sanders, along with Elizabeth Warren, has embraced policies that are popular on the left and nowhere else: a ban on fracking. (New York Times)". 'Fracking' is a term used in the context of:
a`illegal immigration b`shale oil production c`healthcare insurance d`gun control --

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14) ENGLISH: "Art of peeling off voters- those in the middle or those who aren't ideological- may be the most important skill in politics. It doesn't require a mushy centrist policy agenda, either. (New York Times) ". In the context of this sentence, identify the word which is the nearest in meaning to the word 'mushy':
a`soft b`hard c`vague d`wary --

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15) CURRENT AFFAIRS OF BUDGETING 2020-21: India's Fiscal Deficit target, for the FY 2020-21 projected by Ms. Nirmala Sitaraman, Finance Minister is:
a`2.3% b`3.5% c`5.5% d`8% --

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TODAY'S highlights:

Mr. Bernie Sanders should visit India to spread the Message of Socialism:

1. Here is a Link to a New York Times (nytimes.com) article, titled: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/23/opinion/bernie-sanders-trump-2020.html: 'Bernie Sanders Is Making a Big Mistake' by the Opinion Columnist David Leonhardt.
2. Well, I have a different set of views about what Mr. David Leonhardt wrote, but I respect his views. Interested Readers of mine can read them.


3. Today (23rd Feb. 2020) Mr. Donald Trump, the reigning President, visited India, and has been received by the Hon. PMOI Shri Narendra Modi with great fanfare. Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation and the Gujarat Government are reported to have spent about Rs. one billion, on the arrangements for hosting Mr. Trump at Ahmedabad, and for beautifying and refurbishing his Motorcade Path from Ahmedabad Airport to the Motera Stadium where he has addressed a Huge gathering. It has also been reported that a wall has been built to mask the slums from Mr. Trump's view, on the road from Ahmedabad to Gandhinagar.


4. Many critics view that Mr. Trump's visit to India at this juncture is intended to gather votes from NRIs and PIOs, in the ensuing American Presidential Elections 2020, through a Public Relations Exercise.


5. I wish that, irrespective of whether Mr. Bernie Sanders wins Democratic Party's Nomination, and /or ultimately the Presidential Contest, Mr. Bernie Sanders should visit India to spread the message of Socialism. I wish that the two major Communist Parties of India i.e. CPI and CPIM should invite Mr. Bernie Sanders to India, and talk to Indian Audiences about Socialism, making it clear to him that Communist Parties in India do not have enough moneys to accord him a welcome on par with the Reception extended to Mr. Trump. Funds of State and Central Governments were spent for hosting Mr. Trump. Except Kerala Government, Communist Parties are not in power in any other State. And Kerala Government has an ethical obligation to spend Public Moneys on receiptions. Hence, Mr. Bernie Sanders should not expect big Receiptions in India, but he can be assured of friendliness and warmth.


6. Even if he is elected as Prez to replace Mr. Trump, Mr. Bernie Sanders cannot really initiate radical reforms. In ybrao-a-donkey's personal view, for initiating radical reforms to establish Socialism / Marxism / Communism, needs at least two Communist /Socialist Parties. That is both the Ruling Party and the main Opposition party should be Socialists, and they should have a common goal of installing Socialism. Having two dominant Communist / Socialist Parties will be a distant dream both in USA and India.


7. If there is only a single Communist /Socialist Party which is elected to Power, and the Opposition consists of the Capitalists or their supporters , then the Ruling Party cannot initiate drastic reforms such as Removal of Private Property. Such an attempt can only lead to a Civil War in the country.



8. DECCAN CHRONICLE DOT COM'S EDITORIAL ABOUT SYCOPHANCY IN JUDICIARY IS WORTH READING:



9. Here is the link to this Editorial dated 24.02.2020 : https://www.deccanchronicle.com/opinion/dc-comment/240220/judges-praise-of-pm-height-of-sycophancy.html. The context was, an International Conference titled 'Judiciary in a Changing World', attended by Judges from 20 countries.


10. Some of the phrases used by the 3rd Seniormost Justice Shri Arun Kumar Mishra are interesting.



11. "...an internationally acclaimed visionary...".



12. 
    
    "...versatile genius who thinks globally and acts locally...".


13. 
    
    "...inspiring speech which would act as a catalyst in initiating the deliberations and setting the agenda for the conference..."


14. DeccanChronicle's observation about a few recent cases adjudicated by the Supreme Court is worth noting:



15. "...In the annals of India’s judiciary, the Supreme Court has keeled before the executive in the past (as during the Emergency) and is perceived to be doing so to this day. The Ayodhya case, the Judge Loya case, silence on habeas corpus matters pertaining to Kashmir, and the manner of handling the Rafale issue, have left much to be desired, and raised questions. However, it is hard to recall words that parallel Justice Mishra’s in praise of the PM. ...".



16. I often appreciate in silence within my conscience and consciousness, the quality of Editorials of DeccanChronicle, because the Editor(he-she) writes exactly in the manner I wish[ed] to write in my blogs. Owing to paucity of time, while I still brood over the News item, DC's Editor will pour out profusely as if he has transcended into my mind and grasped its gyrations and vibrations. Not only in the case of Justice Arun Kumar Mishra's speech, but earlier also this transcendence of Editor into my mind happened. Today, I am writing this eulogy to the Editor openly, although it may appear as though I am also engaging myself in sycophancy. DC's Editors save my time, and effort. Why rediscovering Rome? Why reinventing Wheel? Giving a Link will become adequate.


17. However, I just think of a chance to test my hypothesis . Today, there is a News item in DC, 1st page. It is about views expressed by Supreme Court Justice Deepak Gupta. Title: "Dissent isn't anti-national". Venue: Indian Law Institute. Date 24.02.2020 . Context: A function organised by Supreme Court Bar Association, New Delhi. While what he spoke at this Inaugural Function sounded so sweet to my ears like Ghantasala's or KLSaigal's song, my mind lingers around a doubt: 'Did he really intend those sweet things?', or was he singing "E rOTi daggara A rOTi pATa" (Telugu proverb: Singing that song which is required at that particular Grinding Stone).


18. Anecdote for this Telugu proverb: In good old days when there were no rice and flour mills, people used to pound paddy and grains, using pestles in a grinding stone called 'rOlu'. At each grinding stone, pounding the paddy/grains with pestles, there used to be three or four men/women/both, singing folk songs, to reduce their monotony and tiredness. During festival season, simultaneous pounding may be going in different houses, on different grinding stones, with different rOlu songs. A person going to friends'/relatives' homes , if he finds some pounding going on, may join the rOlu songs and take up the refrains/choruses. A person visiting friends' and relatives' homes will also become a versatile genius in singing rOlu songs. Mr. Narendra Modi praising Indian Judiciary, Supreme Court Judge praising Mr. Narendra Modi, Mr. Narendra Modi trumpeting for Trump, and Trump trumpeting for Modi, will also fall in that category. If Trump goes to Pakisthan, he will sing a rOlu song which will please Imran Khan. Ordinarily Trump's trumpeting will be limited only to Heads of UK and EU countries, and vice versa.


19. Back to Justice Deepak Gupta's pearls of Wisdom showering from His mind:



20. "...Criticising the government is not the same as criticising the country and those dissenting peacefully against the government cannot be dubbed as anti-nationals..."



21. "...A citizen has the right to get together (with other citizens) and protest but in a peaceful manner. The government is not always right. We all make mistakes. The government has no right to stifle a protest unless it has turned violent. ...".


22. "...Today in this country dissent is seen as anti-national. Government and country are two different things. Dissent must be encouraged. ...".


23. "...Discouraging dissent has a chilling effect on free speech...".


24. "...dissent was at the core of Mahatma Gandhi's civil disobedience movement. Discouraging dissent also harms democracy ...".


25. "...A free country is one in which there is freedom of speech and governance by rule of law as opposed to the 'whims of a few'. ..".


26. "...Majoritarianism is the very anti-thesis of democracy. ..."


27. "...If some party gets 51% votes does that mean that the other 49% should not speak for 5 years?..."


28. "...A government in a democracy is for everyone, so each person should have a voice, a role to play in a democracy...".


29. "...The right to dissent was a valuable part of democracy not because the preamble enshrines freedom of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship, but because it is a basic human right. ..."

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TODAY'S untrivia:

WHEN WILL THE POLICE BRUTALITIES ON AMARAVATI WOMEN WILL STOP? CAN'T INDIAN MPs BEHAVE IN A MORE CIVILISED MANNER?:

1. Ever since Mr. Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy , the Chief Minister of Residual Andhra Pradesh State , mooted the idea of three Capitals for the Residual Andhra Pradesh State, the farmers and women of the Amaravati Capital Region's 29 villages are forced to follow a peaceful agitational path, having formed a JAC (Joint Action Committee).
2. Some YSRC Party leaders call the agitating Farmers and Women as 'Paid Artists'. There is little truth in that. But, some of the State's Police Officials also seem to believe it. Consequently, Police using large number of Constables, HCs, ASIs, and SIs DISPROPORTIONATELY LARGER WHEN COMPARED TO THE number of farmers and women participating in the agitation, has become noticeable. While the Police beat farmers and women with Lathis mercilessly, the YSRC Party Leaders and their followers seem to be instigating the Police.


3. In January 2020, National Commission Team for Women visited Vijayawada, and one or two spots in Amarvati, without listening to the agitating women on the Actual Spot, made some notes into their scrap pads and went away. What corrective action they have initiated nobody knows.


4. The High Court of the Residual Andhra Pradesh State was also approached by the agitators for Relief. The High Court also took up the issue su moto, and issued some interim directions to the Police. Link for the News item: https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/andhra-pradesh/2020/jan/14/andhra-pradesh-high-court-upset-with-police-crackdown-on-amaravati-women-protesters-2089343.html.


5. High Court's directions as per the above News Report:



6. The AP High Court, which took suo-motu cognisance of the alleged police high-handedness against the women protesting the State government’s three-capital proposal in the Amaravati region, has taken a serious view of the issue and directed the advocate general to file a detailed counter.



7. A Bench comprising Chief Justice JK Maheswari and Justice M Satyanarayana Murthy issued interim directions to the respondents, including the State government and Police department, to protect the fundamental and human rights of individuals.


8. These interim directions were to allow the public to leave their residences to attend their avocation to eke out their livelihood, to permit the public to demonstrate peacefully, permit them to perform customary/traditional rituals to the village deity/goddess, and not to enter the houses of villagers to conduct searches, except by strictly adhering to procedure contemplated in the CrPC.

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TODAY'S BHARTRUHARI--Sringara Satakam (100 verses of Love & Lust):

■sringara SATAKAM OF BHARTRUHARI: WOMEN, exceed swans in Captivating Talents ♞:

♛008. YEtAs calad valaya samhati mEkhalOttha
JhankAra nUpura parAjita rAjahamsyaha
Kurvanti na manO vivaSam taruNyO
Vitrasta mugdha hariNI sadrusaih kaTAkshaih.♝

♛The poet wonders: These girls equalling timid young deer with their askant looks, will they not captivate the hearts of men? The poet describes the capabilities of the girls and finds that they have excelled the male swans by attracting the female swans. Here, the excellence of the girls is in their elegant movement producing the "kala kala" sounds of swans. The bangles, the waist-ornaments, and the ornaments of the legs make resonant 'gala gala' sounds.♝

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TODAY'S KARL MARX :

1. ■KARL MARX & ENGELS , The Communist Manifesto♞: La classe des ouvriers modernes, qui ne vivent qu'à la condition de trouver du travail, et qui n'en trouvent plus dès que leur travail cesse d'agrandir le capital. Les ouvriers, contraints de se vendre au jour le jour, sont une marchandise comme tout autre article de commerce ; ils subissent, par conséquent, toutes les vicissitudes de la concurrence, toutes fluctuations du marché. English : The class of modern workers, who live only on condition of finding work, and who do not find any more as soon as their work ceases to enlarge the capital. The workmen, forced to sell from day to day, are a commodity like any other article of commerce; they suffer, therefore, all the vicissitudes of competition, all fluctuations of the market.

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TODAY'S EPISODE FROM VYASA MAHABHARATA ENGL. TRANSL.: :

1. ■VYASA MAHABHARATA TRANSLATED BY GANGULI, BOOK3, BOOK OF FOREST/m03199.♞:


2. The Mahabharata, Book 3: Vana Parva: Markandeya-Samasya Parva. Context: Pandavas were in a forest exile. Sage MarkanDEya visited them. The Sage was preaching to Exiled King YudhishThira.
3. One should feed Brahmanas with care on occasions of Sraddhas [post-funeral worship of dead ancestors], although those among them that are cursed or fallen should be excluded.


4. They also should be carefully excluded that are either excessively fair or excessively black, that have diseased nails, that are lepers, that are deceitful, that are born in bastardy of widows or of women having husbands alive; and they also that support themselves by the profession of arms.


5. That Sraddha which is censurable, consumeth the performer thereof like fire consuming fuel.


6. If they that are to be employed in Sraddhas happen to be dumb, blind, or deaf, care should be taken to employ them along with Brahmanas conversant with the Vedas.


7. O Yudhishthira, listen now unto whom you shouldst give.


8. He that knoweth all the Vedas should give only to that able Brahmana who is competent to rescue both the giver and himself, for he, indeed, is to be regarded as able who can rescue both the giver and himself.


9. O son of Pritha, the sacred fires do not receive such gratification from libations of clarified butter, from offerings of flowers and sandal and other perfumed pastes as from the entertainment of guests.


10. Therefore, do you strive to entertain guests, O son of Pandu! O king, they that give unto guests water to wash their feet, butter to rub over their (tired) legs, light during the hours of darkness, food, and shelter, have not to go before Yama.


11. The removal (after worship) of the flowery offerings unto the gods, the removal of the remnants of a Brahmana's feast, waiting (upon a Brahmana) with perfumed pastes, and the massaging of a Brahmana's limbs, are, each of them, O foremost of kings, productive of greater merit than the gift of kine.


12. A person, without doubt, rescueth himself by the gift of a Kapila cow.


13. Therefore, should one give away a Kapila cow decked with ornaments unto Brahmanas.


14. O you of the Bharata race, one should give unto a person of good lineage and conversant with the Vedas; unto a person that is poor; unto one leading a domestic mode of life but burdened with wife and children; unto one that daily adoreth the sacred fire; and unto one that has done you no service.


15. you shouldst always give unto such persons but not to them that are in affluence.


16. What merit is there, O you foremost of the Bharata race, by giving unto one that is affluent? One cow must be given unto one Brahmana.


17. [paragraph continues] A single cow must not be given unto many.


18. For if the cow so given away (unto many) be sold, the giver's family is lost for three generations.


19. Such a gift would not assuredly rescue the giver nor the Brahmana that takes it.


20. He who giveth eighty Ratis of pure gold, earneth the merit of giving away a hundred pieces of gold for ever.


21. He that giveth away a strong bull capable also of drawing the plough, is certainly rescued from all difficulties and finally goeth to heaven.


22. He that giveth away land unto a learned Brahmana, has all his desires fulfilled.


23. The tired traveller, with weakened limbs and feet besmeared with dust, asks for the name of him that may give him food.


24. There are men who answer him by telling him the name.


25. That wise man who informs these toil-worn ones of the name of the person who may give them food, is, without doubt, regarded as equal in merit unto the giver himself of food.


26. Therefore, abstaining from other kinds of gift, give you food.


27. There is no merit (arising out of gifts) that is so great as that of giving food.


28. The man that according to the measure of his might gives well-cooked and pure food unto the Brahmanas, acquires, by that act of his, the companionship of Prajapati {Brahma).


29. There is nothing superior to food.


30. Therefore, food is regarded as the first and foremost of all things (to be given away).


31. It has been said that food itself is Prajapati.


32. And Prajapati is regarded as the Year.


33. And the Year is sacrifice.


34. And everything is established in sacrifice, for it is from sacrifice that all creatures, mobile and immobile, take their origin.


35. For this reason, it has been heard by us, food is the foremost of all things.


36. They that give away lakes and large pieces of water, and tanks and wells, and shelter and food and they that have sweet words for all, have not to hear the admonitions of Yama.

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I undertake English, Hindi, Telugu language Translations. My labor charges: Ind. Rs. 110 per input page. E-mail input files to y b h a s k at g m a i l .com. No need to phone. Some of the documents which I have translated earlier: Sale Deeds, Public Copies of Sale Deeds, Sale Agreements, Lease Agreements, Mortgage Deeds, Land Records such as pahani-chowfasla, 10-1Adangal, Legal Notices, Replies to Legal Notices, Court Decrees, Police FIRs, Inquest Reports, Market Brochures, Employee Standing Orders, Letters to Govt. Departments, Letters received from Govt. Departments, Birth Certificates, Death Certificates, Marks Lists, Ration Cards, Ration Card Name deletion Certificates, Adoption Agreements, Divorce Agreements etc. etc.

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