Sehar

Sehar ("English: The morning") is a 2005 Indian crime drama film directed by Kabeer Kaushik, starring Arshad Warsi and Mahima Chaudhry in the lead roles with Sushant Singh and Pankaj Kapur in supporting roles. Based on real-life incidents and individuals, the film depicts organized crime in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India, and how the State Police worked to tackle it. It shows the turbulent journey of Ajay Kumar, a newly appointed 31-year-old SSP of Lucknow, played by Arshad Warsi, instrumental in bringing together a group of committed police officers under the aegis of Special Task Force. The force, given with a single agenda, succeeds in challenging the might of organized crime in the Uttar Pradesh. In the process, what unfolds is the ever-changing dynamics of Uttar Pradesh's "Siyaasat": railway contracts, Inter-Services Intelligence involvement, politician-Mafia-police-builder nexus, pro-activism of criminal gangs, sophisticated yet rigid red tape and criminalization of university students.
The movie is loosely based on the encounter of the notorious criminal Shiv Prakash Shukla (alias Shri Prakash Shukla) who was eliminated by the newly formed Special Task Force of the Uttar Pradesh Police. He was not only a dreaded gangster but also a connection between the underworld and the politicians.
This movie was released along with director Shoojit Sircar's Yahaan on 25 July 2005. However, business for both movies were highly affected due to heavy flood in Mumbai on 26 July 2005. Therefore, both the movies flopped at box office. Although, both the movies have special mention of good performance and good story.
Sehar was one of the films featured in Avijit Ghosh's book, "40 Retakes: Bollywood Classics You May Have Missed."
Plot.
The film begins with Professor Tiwari (Pankaj Kapur) being interviewed about police encounters and bids to eradicate organised crime from Lucknow and its surrounding areas. It then showcases Ajay Kumar (Arshad Warsi). Since he was young, Ajay has been traumatised by the death of his army officer father, who killed himself when accused of being a deserter, leaving his widow Prabha (Suhasini Mulay) to bring up Ajay on her own. Ajay studies hard and successfully becomes an Indian Police Service officer with the title of Senior Superintendent of Police of Lucknow. Due to his honesty, he gets transferred to various states in India, around 14 times in eight years. At his new posting in Uttar Pradesh, he comes to terms with a new criminal boss and ruthless killer, Gajraj Singh (Sushant Singh). Meanwhile, he falls in love with his childhood friend Anamika Kant (Mahima Chaudhry), with his mother subsequently deciding to get them married. Ajay engineers the setting up of a Special Task Force to deal with Gajraj. However, he also runs into problems as Gajraj is politically well-connected. Gajraj continues to elude the Task Force, using more modern technology such as the use of cell phones. But the Task Force recovers and is able to monitor Gajraj's cell phones with the help of Prof. Tiwari. They find out that Gajraj is planning to contest the elections and if he wins, no police officer of any rank, even the Task Force, would then dare to arrest him or even consider him a suspect, which may well result in the Task Force being mere paper tigers. They have a final confrontation inside a train which leaves from Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station. All the officers in the Task Force as well as members of Gajraj's gang kill each other in the fight, leaving Prof. Tiwari as the only witness.
Critical reception.
Sehar was featured in Avijit Ghosh's book, "40 Retakes: Bollywood Classics You May Have Missed".


Tekari

Tekari is a city and a municipality in Gaya district in the Indian state of Bihar and was the centre of erstwhile Tekari Raj. Maharaja Gopalsaran was the king of this area in British times. The fort is still there. It is a place of tourist's interest.
Etymology.
In South Bihar, the representative of several communities was the Tekari family, whose great estate, Tekari Raj, in Gaya, dates back to the early 18th century.
In the Mughal period, Tekari evolved as a rich estate, protected by Bhumihar kings, who were a part of the Mughal Empire.
The royal emblem of the Kingdom of Tekari was a pigeon attacking over an eagle sat on the perch of a tree. Pundits concluded, "this jungle of tetris (tetri, a kind of tree) is the place where the fort should be made," and declared it very lucky. Tetri, vis-à-vis Tekari. (Tekari used to be a popular place name during the Muslim period). It perhaps indicated a place office for local administration and tax collection and residence of local chief. It may also have been a market place.
Maharaja Hit Narayan Singh of Tekari was said to have been "a man of a religious turn of mind... who became an ascetic and left his vast property in the hands of his wife" shortly after inheriting a lion's share of the estate in the 1840s.
Demographics.
 India census, Tekari had a population of 17,615. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Tekari has an average literacy rate of 66%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 74%, and female literacy is 57%. In Tekari, 17% of the population is under 6 years of age.


Yazakumar

Yazakumar ( ; ; 1078–11??) was the titular governor of north Arakan during the reign of his father King Kyansittha of the Pagan Dynasty of Myanmar (Burma). He is best known for the Myazedi inscription of 1113, which he donated in his father's honor. The stone inscription has scholarly significance because it allowed the deciphering of the Pyu language.
Biography.
Early life.
Yazakumar was born to Thanbula and Kyansittha circa 1078 at Kyaungbyu. Kyansittha was a former general of the Pagan army who had been sent to exile by his father King Anawrahta for his affair with Anawrahta's young queen Manisanda. In 1077, Anawrahta died, and Kyansittha was recalled to the capital by Saw Lu to run the kingdom. Thanbula was pregnant with Yazakumar remained at Kyaungbyu. At Pagan, Kyansittha was sent into exile again—this time to Dala (modern Yangon) for renewing his affair with Manisanda.
In 1084, Kyansittha ascended to the Pagan throne but had forgotten about his wife and child at Kyaungbyu. When Thanbula found out that Kyansittha was king, she brought their son to Pagan, along with the ring that Kyansittha had given her as proof. The king was surprised to see them. Kyansittha had already word that his grandson Alaungsithu would be king because he thought he had no son. A remorseful Kyansittha made Yazakumar the titular head of north Arakan and seven hill districts.
Myazedi inscription.
Though passed over for the throne, Yazakumar never showed any disappointment. He spent his life with donating his inheritance for his mother's merit. He donated many temples in honor of his parents. He commissioned the Myazedi inscription as his father lay dying in bed. The inscription dated 1113 was written in four languages: Pyu, Burmese, Mon, and Pali, which all tell the story of Yazakumar and his father Kyansittha. The primary importance of the Myazedi inscription is that it allowed for the deciphering of the written Pyu.


Alauddin Mahmud Syah I

Sultan Alauddin Mahmud Syah I (died 1781) was the twenty-fifth sultan of Aceh in northern Sumatra. He ruled from 1760 to 1781, although his reign was twice interrupted by usurpers (1764-1765, 1773).
Troubled enthronement.
Known in his youth as Tuanku Raja or Pocut Bangta, he was the son of the preceding Sultan Alauddin Johan Syah and a lady from the Asahan Sultanate. His father encountered internal opposition towards the end of his reign and died in August 1760. Tuanku Raja was proclaimed sultan under the name Alauddin Mahmud Syah. However, not all the regions heeded his claim. People from the XXII Mukims (one of the three regions or "sagis" of Aceh) held the prestigious Baiturrahman Grand Mosque in the capital and opposed the new sultan. They were eventually driven out by force. It was only in December 1760 that all the three "sagis" agreed to acknowledge Alauddin Mahmud Syah. The most influential person at the court was Mantri Makota Raja, a scion of the sultan's family of Siak Sri Indrapura who handled affairs on behalf of the young ruler. According to the account of the British navigator Thomas Forrest the sultan's relationship with the "orang kayas" (grandees) was poor during his first years. The sultan tried to control trade and circumcise the powers of the "orang kaya". This had worked during the heyday of the sultanate in the seventeenth century, but at this time it created internal instability. On the other hand he had ambitions to expand the influence of Aceh along the west coast which had once belonged to the sultanate. Events in the mid-eighteenth century also gave an upswing to Aceh's economic role: The British were established in the Sumatran ports Natal and Tapanuli in 1751 and 1756 in order to support the pepper trade of Bengkulu. The French also sought good relations with Aceh. The period therefore saw an increasing number of European ships and traders visiting the coast of Aceh. The ships often purchased pepper and other local products in local ports rather than via the capital Kutaraja.
First expulsion.
Disturbances broke out in 1763. The background was the inner tensions in the sultanate; the ruler tried to control commercial activities in the various parts of his kingdom without having the bureaucratic apparatus to implement this, which enraged the chiefs. The uprising led to the expulsion of Alauddin Mahmud Syah in the following year. Mantri Makota Raja was made sultan under the name Badr ul-Alam Syah. Alauddin Mahmud Syah escaped to Kota Musapi by the coast where he was assisted by a cleric, qadi Malik ul-Adil. With the help of the qadi he attacked Badr ul-Alam Syah and managed to kill him in August 1765. The sultan was thus restored in his dignity, although his position was considerably weakened. His elder son Muhammad was later on married to the daughter of Badr ul-Alam Syah, apparently as an attempt of reconciliation between the political factions of Aceh.
Second expulsion.
Alauddin Mahmud Syah remained undisturbed in his governance for some years. The British negotiated about trading conditions in 1767, 1771 and 1772-73, and found the sultan to be a weak and capricious type. Meanwhile the Acehnese "panglima laut" (sea commander) continued to expand the influence of the sultanate on the northern west coast. Some port towns were blockaded and the Dutch garrison in Barus was attacked in 1771. However, the inner cohesion of the state was once again declining. When Thomas Forrest returned to Aceh in 1772 he found an agitated situation. As he reported, discontent groups of people sometimes appeared threateningly outside the palace compound in the night. At this time the palace was guarded by a corps of sepoys under an Indian from Cuddalore, which had been provided by the British in Madras. In April 1773 the XXII Mukims and XXV Mukims rose against him. In his stead an official called Raja Udahna Lela was placed on the throne under the name Sultan Sulaiman Syah. However, he only lasted for two months before Alauddin Mahmud Syah returned with his adherents and expelled the usurper. After this he remained in power until his death in June 1781. There were suspicions that he may have been poisoned. The sultan left two sons, Tuanku Muhammad and Tuanku Cut, of which the former succeeded him as Alauddin Muhammad Syah.


Pinagbayanan excavation

The Pinagbayanan Excavation is an archaeological site excavated by the University of the Philippines - Archaeological Studies Program (UP-ASP) in San Juan, Batangas.The site was worked on numerous times through the years 2008 to 2012, during which the remains of an old church, two stone houses, and a number of stone features indicating the previous location of a town during the Spanish colonial period in the Philippines were found. The study was meant to investigate the material history of the church, from its construction to its abandonment, and to compare it to the other stone structures in the area and to the architecture of other churches from the same time period. It was also meant to provide archaeological evidence relating to the settlement history of San Juan.
Brief background.
In 1890, the town of San Juan was relocated 7 kilometers inland due to flooding. The area they left behind was called Pinagbayanan, where the remains of old stone structures were found through a survey. The old method of town building used by the Spanish colonizers in the Philippines was to create a central plaza, a communal space for activities, around which all of the main structures such as the town hall and the church would be placed. The residences and other buildings would then be built outwards from this center, with the houses of the wealthy usually being situated closer to the plaza. This method was a means of "reduccion". "Reduccion" refers to the concentration of the colonized people within a single area to ease the policing and the process of conversion to Christianity.
Excavated materials.
The materials excavated in the area include the old church, two stone houses located southeast of the church, the location of a limestone kiln, a set of adobe pavers, a "tarangkahan" and a "koloong".
Old church.
Excavation revealed that the pillars, first recorded in 2008, belong to an old church, on account of the presence of a buttress on one of the pillars, characteristic of churches at the time, and evidence of marks on some pillars meant to hold arches. The areas where the altar and the nave would have been situated were also found, though no belfry was discovered. It was speculated to have been constructed by Agustinian Recollects, who were responsible for the construction of the church currently in use further inland. The construction methods used include "buhos", which is the pouring of lime mortar and aggregate matter between the blocks of volcanic tuff used as construction material, and the use of masonry walls. No artifacts were found deep enough in the soil to imply use or habitation of the structure, and no square nails (typical of roof construction at the time) were found. Many parts were also absent of any evidence of walling, indicating that the structure was abandoned before construction could be completed. Some flood deposits were also found in the soil layer where the surface would have been at the time of construction, implying that flooding may have hampered construction, and accounting for the atypical shape of the church, which may have been attempts to modify the structure as necessary to counteract the floods.
Stone houses.
Two stone houses, excavated from 2009 to 2011 were found 140 meters southeast of the church structure. These are thought to belong to the local elite before the town moved further inland to avoid flooding. Unlike the church, there were no significant amount of flood deposits found in the stone houses, which may indicate habitation in the sense that these flood deposits must have been swept out of the house.
Other structures.
Other structures found include a circular presence next to the church, once thought to be the belfry, but later revealed to be a limestone kiln. An assortment of adobe pavers in an "L" shape were also found some distance from the structure. There was also a "koloong", a sort of water source, found nearby.
Glass Artifacts.
The UP-ASP (Batch 2010-2011) excavation from April to May 2011 supervised by Dr. Grace Barretto-Tesoro was located at the Spanish-era stone house in San Juan, Batangas where ceramic shards, metal fragments, glass vessels, and glass shards were collected. In the midden contexts of the pit, 328 glass shard artefacts had been recovered, providing enough specimens to be studied for understanding the history of the place.
The glass shards recovered in the Pinagbayanan excavation were found to be composed of Silica (SiO2), Sodium oxide (Na2O), and Calcium oxide (CaO). The experimental analysis of the glass shards began by sorting them according to their color and then by the context they were found, in order to determine the spatial and temporal distribution of the glass in the site that could help in fitting the parts back together. Next, to identify the function of the glass shards found, guide books to bottle were consulted such as (Digger Odell Publications 2001; Dust of the Bottle 2011; Grossmann 2002; Harris 2006; Historic Glass Bottle Identification and Information Website; Keane 2008; Lindsey 2010; Lorrain 1968; Macfarlane and Martin 2004; Polak 2005, 2007; Schroy 2007, 2008;The Bottle Guide; Wine Bottle). For more accurate information about the glass fragments, the UP-ASP checked the documents at the National Archives of the Philippines and the Bote't Dyaryo Museum at Escolta in Manila in 2011 for references. The next step of the experiment was to classify the artefacts into three divisions which is flat glass, message on bottle, lippy finish, touching base, and whole bottles, and to analyze each to gather more information about the glass artefacts.
Analysis determined that the glass shards were medicine bottle, ink bottle, wine bottle, and flat glass. The UP-ASP also found out that these bottles functioned as vessels for imported contents like medicine, pornade, and shoe polish, and most of it contained a foreign product, Palanca liquor. The dating experiment conducted shows that the estimated age of the glass shards places them from 1870 or in the latter half of the 19th century. By the help of the historical research, the UP-ASP concluded that the Spanish-era stone house in San Juan, Batangas was built after 1881. Moreover, the presence of medicinal bottles implies that people might have acted in preventing and countering diseases which were widespread in the 19th century.


Duchy of Surabaya

The Duchy of Surabaya (Indonesian and Javanese: ) was a Javanese principality centered in Surabaya, on the northeastern coast of Java (in today's East Java, Indonesia), that existed as an independent polity from to 1625. It became independent following the disintegration of the Demak Sultanate, and by the beginning of the 17thcentury had become the leading power in east Java and the most important port on Java's northeastern coast. Subsequently, it entered into decades of conflict with the Mataram Sultanate that ended in the victory of Mataram and the fall of Surabaya in 1625.
History.
The Portuguese writer Tomé Pires mentioned that a Muslim lord was in power in Surabaya in 1513 though likely a vassal of the Hindu–Buddhist Majapahit. At that time, Surabaya was already a major trading port, owing to its location on the River Brantas delta and on the trade route between Malacca and the Spice Islands via the Java Sea. During the decline of Majapahit, the lord of Surabaya resisted the rise of the Demak Sultanate, and only submitted to its rule in 1530. Surabaya became independent after the death of Sultan Trenggana of Demak in 1546. There is a dearth of historical records about the duchy in the second half of the 16thcentury. In 1589 Surabaya led other east Javanese principalities in opposing the Pajang Sultanate, Demak's successor state, in Japan (today's Mojokerto), thereby stopping Pajang's eastward expansion. Javanese historians said that a holy man, a descendant of Sunan Giri, convinced the opposing sides to return without a battle. Dutch historian H. J. de Graaf wrote that in the second half of 16thcentury, the court of Surabaya became a centre of culture and Islamic Old Javanese literature, as opposed to the "upstart" central Javanese courts such as the Pajang and Mataram Sultanates.
In the early years of the 17th century, Surabaya, allied with Pasuruan, expanded its influence throughout eastern Java. It became the most powerful state in east Java, rivalling the Mataram Sultanate in central Java. By 1622 it was in control of Gresik and Sedayu in eastern Java. It was also the overlord of Sukadana and Banjarmasin in southern Borneo. More doubtful reports said it might have also extended its influence to Pasuruan and Blambangan (both in the eastern salient of Java), the Brantas valley region, and Wirasaba. Surabaya formed and led an alliance of eastern Javanese principalities, primarily in response to the growing power of Mataram. Other than Surabaya and its subordinate areas, the alliance also included Tuban, Malang, Kediri, Lasem, all in eastern Java, as well as Madura off the northern coast.
The Dutch East Indies Company (known by its Dutch acronym, VOC) established a trading post in Gresik, under Surabaya's control, in 1602. Dutch writers wrote about Surabaya's expanding influence. In 1620 Dutch writers described Surabaya as a rich and powerful state with a field army of 30,000 men. The city measured in circumference, surrounded by a canal and protected with cannon.
Conflict with Mataram and decline.
As both Mataram and Surabaya expanded their territories and influence, they began to compete for hegemony in east and central Java. In 1590, Mataram, under the rule of Panembahan Senopati, attacked and took Madiun, which were supported by Surabayan auxiliaries. Mataram and Surabaya backed rival pretenders In a war of succession in Kediri. The Surabaya-backed faction won in 1591, and the loser fled to Mataram. In 1598 and 1599 Mataram unsuccessfully attacked Tuban, a member of the Surabaya alliance. In 1610 Mataram began conducting raids on Surabaya itself, destroying its rice crops and sacking Gresik in 1613. Dutch writers reporting from the trading post of Gresik wrote of the frequent Mataram–Surabaya conflicts in the early 17thcentury. The Dutch post was closed in 1615 as the conflict intensified.
In 1613 Hanyakrakusuma (, later titled "Sultan Agung", "the Great Sultan", and referred to as such in literature) rose to the throne of Mataram. He began a campaign that would ultimately result in the fall of Surabaya. In 1614 Agung invaded several allies of Surabaya, notably including Wirasaba. Surabaya and its allies then counterattacked and invaded Mataram, but were defeated in Siwalan, near Pajang, in January 1616. Subsequently, Mataram gradually conquered members of Surabaya's alliance, notably Tuban in 1619.
In 1620 Mataram attacked the city of Surabaya itself. Because of a combination of geographic, logistical, and climatic factors, Mataram was not able to launch a direct assault on Surabaya, or maintain a continued siege on the city. Instead, Mataram periodically attacked Surabaya during the dry seasons, laying sieges, destroying crops, and pillaging harvests from the surrounding areas. The final siege took place in 1625. Mataram forces dammed the river Brantas, limiting the city's water supply, and spoiled the remaining water supply using dead animals. With the city starved and riddled with disease, Jayalengkara, the duke of Surabaya, decided to surrender. He was allowed to stay in Surabaya as Agung's vassal, but the elderly duke died soon afterward.
The decline of Surabaya and other coastal towns in northeastern Java contributed to the decline of Javanese trade in the following period, and the rise of the Sultanate of Makassar in Sulawesi as a major centre of the spice trade in Nusantara.
Economy.
With an economy oriented toward trade, Surabaya became a major trading port by the early 16thcentury. Its ships were seen throughout Nusantara, as far west as Malacca and as far east as the Spice Islands. It owed its importance to its location on the international trade route between those two points. In addition, its location on the delta of the Brantas river connected it with inland agricultural areas. The upriver communities supplied it with rice, both as food for Surabayans and as a trading commodity for Surabayan merchants. Surabaya supplied the inland communities with trade goods such as clothing, jewelry, and porcelain. Most other port towns on the northeastern coast of Java, such as Demak and Tuban, were allied with Surabaya before they fell under Mataram control. The VOC had a trading post in Gresik, a port town under Surabaya's control, from 1602 to 1615. At this time, the VOC's territorial control in Java was limited to Batavia (today's Jakarta).
Rulers.
The rulers of Surabaya had the rank of "adipati", usually translated to English as a duke. The rulers became Muslim from at least 1513, when Surabaya was still subordinate to the Hindu-Buddhist Majapahit. The dukes of Surabaya claimed to be descendants of Sunan Ampel (1401–1481), one of the nine saints ("wali songo") credited with the spread of Islam in Java. However, deGraaf wrote that there was no evidence for this claim although he considered it likely that the ruling family were distantly related to Sunan Ampel. The last duke of Surabaya was Jayalengkara (), who at the fall of Surabaya in 1625 was already blind and aged. His son, Pangeran Pekik, was forced to live in Mataram after Mataram's victory. He later married Sultan Agung's sister, and according to deGraaf, "did much to civilize the Court" of Mataram.


Freedom at Midnight

Freedom at Midnight (1975) is a non-fiction book by Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre about the events around the Indian independence movement and partition. It details the last year of the British Raj, from 1947 to 1948, beginning with the appointment of Lord Mountbatten of Burma as the last viceroy of British India, and ending with the death and funeral of Mahatma Gandhi.
The book is told in a casual style, similar to the authors' previous works, "Is Paris Burning?" and "O Jerusalem!".
Content.
The book provides a detailed account of the last year of the British Raj; the reactions of princely states towards independence, including descriptions of the colourful and extravagant lifestyles of the Indian princes; the partition of British India (into India and Pakistan) on religious grounds; and the bloodshed that followed.
There is a description of Shimla, the British summertime capital in the Himalayas, and how supplies were carried up steep mountains by porters each year. Also covered in detail are the events leading to the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, as well as the life and motives of Jawaharlal Nehru and Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
Regarding partition, the book—providing maps of Punjab, Bengal, and Kashmir—relates that the crucial maps setting the boundary separating India and Pakistan were drawn that year by Cyril Radcliffe, who had not visited India before being appointed as the chairman of the Boundary Commission. The book depicts the fury of both Hindus and Muslims, misled by their communal leaders, during the partition; and the biggest mass slaughter in the history of India, as millions of people were uprooted by the partition and tried to migrate by train, oxcart, and on foot to new places designated for their particular religious group. Many migrants fell victim to bandits and religious extremists of both dominant religions. One incident quoted describes a canal in Lahore that ran with blood and floating bodies.
Background.
The authors interviewed many who were there during the events, including a focus on Lord Mountbatten of Burma. They subsequently wrote a book based in particular upon their research on the British officer, titled "Mountbatten and the Partition of India", containing interviews with Mountbatten, and a selection of papers that were in his possession.
Response.
"Freedom at Midnight" aroused controversy for its portrayal of the British expatriates, the native rulers of India, and members of India's first cabinet. James Cameron described it as the result of deep research into events often neglected by other historians.
This book was one of the inspirations for the 2017 film "Viceroy's House".


Hill Fort Palace

Hill Fort Palace, also known as Ritz Hotel is a royal palace located in "Naubhat Pahad", Hyderabad, Telangana. The property is now owned by Government of Telangana, Telangana State Tourism Development Corporation
History.
It was built in 1915 by Nizamat Jung, who served as chief justice in the government of Nizam, India. His stay in the palace was for 15 years. The architecture is in style of Trinity College, Cambridge.
In 1929, after he went on Haj he wanted to live a simpler life so it was purchased by Asaf Jah VII for his son Prince Moazzam Jah, and it was then designated as the official residence of the chairman of the City Improvement Board.
In 1955, it was taken over by Indian government after Operation Polo. It was leased to a star hotel, The Ritz Hotel Company on lease in the 1980. The hotel was operating till the late 1997.
Today, it is dilapidated and in urgent need of restoration.
Location.
The palace is located in the heart of the city near "Naubat Pahad" spread over 6 acres.


Dalem Bekung

Dalem Bekung, also known as "Pamayun", was a king of Bali who is traditionally dated in the second half of the 16th century. He belonged to a dynasty of kings who were descended from Majapahit on Java, and reigned from their palace (puri) in Gelgel.
Intrigues and rebellions.
The main source for his reign is the Babad Dalem, a chronicle from the 18th century. He was the son of the successful king Dalem Baturenggong, and came to the throne when still a minor. His uncle Dewa Anggungan wished to usurp kingship, and was supported by the nobleman Batan Jeruk who took Dalem Bekung and his brother Seganing into custody. He was immediately opposed by the majority of the grandees of the kingdom and the two infant princes were rescued. Batan Jeruk fled and was killed by loyalist soldiers. His kinsmen later founded the Karangasem kingdom in East Bali.
Dewa Anggungan was spared but lost his caste status as Ksatria. The Batan Jeruk rebellion is dated in 1556 or 1558 in Balinese texts. When old enough to reign in his own name, Dalem Bekung proved to be an inactive and cowardly ruler, which led to a loss of royal prestige and discipline among the grandees. He left the affairs of state to his chief minister Nginte. In this period the famous Brahmin sage Nirartha, who had entertained a profound impact on the religious elite culture on Bali, died.
A conflict between the noblemen Kiyayi Pande and Gusti Talabah escalated into a full-scale rebellion where Kiyayi Pande mounted a desperate attack on the troops of the king. In the end he was defeated and killed with utmost effort, an event dated in 1578 by various texts. After this event Dalem Bekung had to leave the Gelgel palace. Late versions of the Babad Dalem assert that his brother Dalem Seganing took over as king in his stead at this point.
Defeat by the Javanese.
Towards the end of Dalem Bekung's life, a military expedition was organized to support the East Javanese kingdom of Blambangan against Pasuruan, a port and kingdom on the north coast of Java. The expedition, which was led by the nobleman Jelantik, sailed to Panarukan in East Java, and marched into the land of Pasuruan. However, it met with a shattering defeat and Jelantik was killed. Some time after this calamity, Dalem Bekung died. His name is in fact a nickname, meaning 'the childless'. His brother Dalem Seganing either took the throne or continued to reign.
When the first Dutch expedition, under Cornelis de Houtman, visited Bali in 1597, they met a king who might have been either Dalem Bekung or Dalem Seganing. The king was described as a heavily built, stout man of about 40–50 years. The Dutchmen provided lively accounts of the royal splendours they saw on Bali, which accord rather well with the descriptions in the later Balinese chronicles. At the time of their visit, a large Balinese expedition was prepared in order to assist the still Hindu kingdom of Blambangan against the Muslim Pasuruan. A later Dutch account indicates that the expedition was fruitless, since Blambangan fell to Pasuruan in c. 1597. It has been argued that this must be the Jelantik expedition mentioned in the Babad Dalem. Another hypothesis places Dalem Bekung's reign much later, in the 1630s.


Kuahuqiao site

The Kuahuqiao site () is an early Neolithic site of Kuahuqiao culture (跨湖桥文化 Kuahuqiao Wenhua) near Xianghu village, Xiaoshan District, in suburban Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China. It was first discovered in the early 1970s during the construction of a local brick factory, which destroyed a large part of the site. But the professional excavations first started in 1990.
The site is located near the place where the Qiantang River flows into Hangzhou Bay, and it has a history of 8,000 years. Rising sea levels may have suddenly deluged the area around 7,550 years ago.
Excavations.
Archaeologist Yan Wenming (严文明) has researched the site since the beginning. He uncovered a community of wooden dwellings that was constructed on stilts over the marshy wetlands.
Large quantities of stoneware, unglazed pottery, sophisticated painted pottery, jade artifacts, and other cultural relics were found. Villagers made pottery with wild rice as a bonding material. Many wooden, stone and pottery utensils were also unearthed from the site.
According to Yan Wenming,
"The culture of Kuahuqiao is very unique. It can hardly be compared to any other ancient cultures discovered in the province, and we found it difficult to put it into the cultural chronology within our knowledge."
In 2001, a second excavation was also carried out. In the same year, Kuahuqiao culture was recognised as one of top 10 most important archaeological discoveries of the year in China.
Kuahuqiao has been entered in the official list of the Monuments of the People's Republic of China since 2006.
Discoveries.
During latest excavations, numerous well-preserved organic remains were found. They indicate that rice, dogs and pigs had already been domesticated by villagers. Thus, it was established that paddy rice cultivation was already practised in China dating back 7,700 years. This evidence was well-dated, and may be the earliest evidence for rice cultivation. It was found by a team led by Cheng Zong of Durham University in UK.
According to Gary Crawford, of the University of Toronto at Mississauga, this new evidence is "an important contribution to understanding agricultural origins in the rice regions of East Asia."
A very early dugout canoe was revealed; this demonstrates the earliest technology for constructing this type of watercraft in China, and perhaps the world.
The earliest domesticated peach was found here. The second oldest remains of peach have been found at Neolithic Tianluoshan site, also in Zhejiang Province.


Narayanapala (Kamboja)

Narayanapala is also the name of the second Kamboja ruler of Bengal (later half of 10th century AD). He was elder son of Rajyapala Kamboj, the founder of the Kamboja Dynasty of Bengal and succeeded him to the throne after his death.


Santa Cruz Church (Manila)

The Our Lady of the Pillar Parish Church, commonly known as the Santa Cruz Church and also designated as the Archdiocesan Shrine of the Blessed Sacrament, is a baroque Roman Catholic parish church in the district of Santa Cruz, Manila, Philippines. It was built when the "arrabal" (suburb) of Santa Cruz was established by the Jesuits in the early 17th century. The church had undergone many repairs and reconstruction, with the last reconstruction done in the 1950s. It is the first Mission and Mother house of Filipino Sacramentinos, making it as the center of Congregation Activities and events
The church façade is topped with a statue of Our Lady of the Pillar, the patroness of the church, whose feast is held every 3rd Sunday of October. On 7 December 2017 Pope Francis granted the Canonical coronation of the venerated image. The current parish priest is Fr. Rudsend P. Paragas, SSS.
On June 3, 2018, as part of the Church-wide celebrations of Corpus Christi, it was officially raised to an Archdiocesan Shrine by the decree of the Archbishop of Manila, Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, in the Archdiocese-wide holiday mass held in the church.
Architecture.
The Jesuits built the first Catholic church in the area where the present Santa Cruz Parish stands on June 20, 1619. The original church design was made of stone and wood. The Jesuits enshrined the image of Our Lady of Pilar in 1643 to serve the predominantly Chinese residents in the area. The first church was made of stone and wood was built in the 17th century. On June 3, 1863 an earthquake destroyed the church. Fr. Agustin de Mendoza began reconstruction work on the church in 1868.
The church facade is characteristically Baroque with Ionic piers vertically dividing the first two levels in three parts. Three semicircular arch doorways form as main entrance to the church. A Celtic-like window flanked by small semicircular windows is found at the center of the second level. Forming as the pediment, the topmost level has its raking cornice in undulating liens emanating from the broken pediment found above the statued niche. The domed belfry rises on the right in six levels.
The original structure of the church was twice damaged by earthquakes and then completely destroyed during the Battle of Manila. The present building of the church, reconstructed in 1957, was designed to reflect the Spanish baroque style that Resembles, Architectural style of Spanish missions in California. Art Deco and Romanesque influences the Interior of the Church.
=Notable priest(s)=
Saint
Blessed
References.
Notes
Bibliography


Rohilla dynasty

The Rohilla Dynasty is an Indo-Afghan dynasty of Arab origin that ruled over much of North-West South Asia in the form of Rohilkhand, Kumaon, and later until 1947, the Princely State of Rampur. At the height of their power the dynasty jointly ruled over the Kingdom of Rohilkhand and the Kingdom of Kumaon, held suzairnty over the Kingdom of Garhwhal, and held the Imperial viceroyalty of Punjab an area comparable in size to Germany, Denmark and Austria. The head of the dynasty in the form of the Nawab of Rohilkhand, held several Kings subservient to himself, and is sometimes referred to as the Indo-Afghan Emperor while his domains are referred to as the Indo-Afghan Empire. Though nominally under the suzernaity of the Indian Emperors, with their borders reaching the edge of Delhi and Agra, the dynasty had almost complete control over the affairs of the Indian Emperors. The Dynasty is a senior branch of the ancient Barha Dynasty, which itself is best known for being de facto rulers over much of South Asia at the start of the 18th Century, as well as being agnates to the 15th Century Emperors of India.
History.
The dynasty rose to prominence with the first Nawab of Rohilkhand, Nawab Ali Mohammad Khan. It is a branch of one of the influential Barha Dynasties best known as "de facto" rulers of South Asia in the early 18th Century and agnates of the 15th Century Emperors of India.
The dynasty descends in the male line from the fourth Rashidun Caliph, Ali, through his younger son Hussain who married Shahrbanu, herself a daughter of the Sassanian Emperor of Persia, Yazdegard III. Due to Ali's status as an Adnanite, the dynasty can trace its ancestry to the Biblical Prophet Abraham through his eldest son Ishmael.
As a boy, Ali Muhammad Khan was adopted by the chief of the Barech Tribe, Sardar Daud Khan Rohilla. The term "Rohilla" refers to Pashtun settlers of India and was adopted by the family in consequence to their election as chiefs of the Rohilla.
He was a member of the Barha Dynasty by birth.
The Barha dynasty arrived from Arabia, where constant rebellions against various Caliphs had led to heavy persecution. Barha dynasty founder Abul Farah al Wasti and his four sons entered the military service of Sultan Muhammad of Ghor and received twelve fiefdoms in Punjab, then a part of the Ghor Empire, as a reward. Thus the dynasty became quickly established as Nobles of the Sword in ancient India, a status they held under several different empires. They held a particularly high status under the Sultanate of Delhi. The Chief of the Barha, who was also the Diwan of the empire, was granted the fiefdom of Saharanpur due to his relationship with the imperial family. They also enjoyed prominent positions under the reign of the Sur. They eventually defected during the last days in the reign of Sikander Sur of the Sur Empire, to Emperor Akbar of the Mughal Empire in the course of the siege of Mankot.
The Barha dynasty, with the Rohilla branch, maintains a unique status as the only dynasty to participate in all three Battles of Panipat, seminal battles that shaped Indian History. They fought under the Lodi in the First Battle. In the Second Battle they gained victory under Bairam Khan, and finally in the Third Battle, the sons of Nawab Ali Muhammad Khan Rohilla fought with Ahmed Shah Abidali against the Maratha.
By the time of Emperor Aurangzeb, the Barha dynasty was firmly regarded as "Old Nobility" and held the premier realms of Ajmer and Dakhin, which were usually reserved for members of the Imperial Family.
Formation.
Ali Mohammed Khan attracted many Afghan adventurers by virtue of his great reputation and became the most powerful man in Katehir. Conscious of his own power and the failing state of the Mughal Empire, he neglected Imperial mandates and irregularly paid tax to the central government. Using the income from his lands to raise troops, purchase artillery and military stores and curry favour with political persons of interest. He used the same tactic to gain favour with the lower rungs of society. By his invasion of Nadir Shah in 1739 he strengthened his position with many Afghans joining him. By 1740 he was officially recognised by the Emperor Muhammad Shah as governor. For the subsequent five years, his authority was unchallenged.
In 1745 a quarrel arose between Ali Mohammed and Safdar Jang the Subedar of Oudh. Ali's retainers seized the property of servants belonging to Safdar. Safdar was already jealous at Ali's growing power. He went to Emperor Muhammad Shah, and through him ordered the return of the confiscated property as well as the arrest of the Rohillas in charge of the confiscation. After Ali's refusal, Safdar led an Imperial expedition together with the Emperor. Ali's men deserted and he was captured and taken to Delhi.
He was treated respectfully by the Emperor, in large part due to his influence among his many adherents. Ali was propitiated by an appointment as Governor of Sirhind (the area between Jummuna and Sutlej).
In 1748 an invasion by Ahmed Shah Abidali allowed Ali the opportunity to return to Katehir and re-establish his rule. Upon his return, he was rejoined by most of his men and became virtually independent in his control of Rohilkhand. To ensure loyalty almost all positions of power were given to Afghan and several including Najib-ad-daula received land grants.
Second generation.
On his deathbed, Ali Mohammad anointed his foster uncle Rehmat Khan as "Hafiz" (protector) of Rohilkhand and Dundi Khan as Chief of Army. He had already planned the division of his realm among his sons and received Rehmat Khan and Dundi Khan's solemn oaths that they would execute his will and protect the interests of his children. A council was created of the Rohilla Chiefs in part to keep a check on Rehmat Khan and Dundi Khan and to provide a government that would safeguard Rohilkhand from invasion. All carried out solemn promises to carry out their duty, but they all reneged and sought to establish their own autonomy. This led to a confederation-like structure of government with the Nawab of Rohilkhand at its head and the Rohilla Chiefs in charge of individual Rohilla States answering to him especially in regards to military engagements.
Ali's realm was divided in such a way so as to create discord. Nawab Abdullah Khan and Nawab Murtaza Khan were given shared rule over Badaun. Nawab Alah Yar Khan and Nawab Saadullah Khan were given shared rule over Moradabad, Nawab Faizullah Khan was given rule over Rampur and Nawab Muhammad Yar Khan was given rule over Barielly. In 1754 Hafiz Rehmat Khan orchestrated an argument within the royal family and used it as a pretext to usurp the power and wealth of the orphans. Disgusted, Muhammad Yar Khan along with his older brother Abdullah Khan and younger brother Allah Yar Khan left for Oojanee. Nawab Alah Yar Khan died of consumption, Nawab Murtaza Khan left for Secunderabad where he passed away. Nawab Saadullah Khan was appointed Nawab of Rohilkhand. Later, Nawab Abdullah Khan and Nawab Muhammad Yar Khan were granted land again. Nawab Muhammad Yar Khan was given rule over Aonla and his court at Tandah was famed for poets such as Qaim and Mushafi.
Relations with the British.
The dynasty was highly regarded by the British for their "determined bravery". The Rohilla Wars were the most costly for the British against any Indian Kingdom. The ensuing guerrilla war forced the British to grant the Rohillas a Princely State wheresoever they willed, leading to the creation of Rampur. Their bravery, tolerance and progressive rule gained them admiration. They were called upon by the British for aid in the Anglo-French Wars. Burke described the Rohillas as "the bravest, the most honourable and generous" and the Nawab of Rampur became the first Indian Sovereign to meet Queen Victoria along with several other European Monarchs.


Damajadasri I

Damajadasri I was a ruler of the Western Kshatrapas dynasty. His reign saw the decline of dynasty after his dominions were conquered by the Satavahanas and saw the rise of the Abhiras in the south and Malavas in the north. He is also known as Damaysada, Damazada or Damaghsada. Jha and Rajgor considers Damajadasri and Damazada different persons.


Gonka I

Gonka I was a Telugu king and the first of Velanati Chodas who ruled from 1076 to 1108.
Gonka I ruled as a vassal to Kulottunga I of Chalukya Cholas of Gangaikonda Cholapuram, and his son Mammadi Varma, viceroy of Vengi. He fought as general in the battles against Kalyani Chalukyas and also against refractory vassals, Kalinga and Chakrakuta, who joined with Kalyani Chalukyas. He assumed the title Chola Mula Stambha(The pillar of Chola empire). His kingdom included the region from Gundlakamma in south to Tripurantakam in West.


Ponhea Yat

Ponhea Yat ( ; 1394–1463), also known as Barom Reachea II ( ; , ), was the last king of the Khmer Empire.
He dispatched Kun Si-li Ren-nong-la to visit China.
Ponhea Yat complained to the Yongle Emperor in 1408 and 1414 of raids by the Champa King Jaya Simhavarman V.
He was forced to flee Yasodharapura in 1431 as indefensible against the Siamese, resettling first in Basan (Srey Santhor), and after that it became flooded, to Chaktomuk (now part of Phnom Penh).
In Phnom Penh, the king ordered the land to be built up to protect it from flooding, and a palace to be built. During his reign King Ponhea Yat also ordered the construction of six Buddhist monasteries around the city, and his remains are housed in a stupa behind the Wat Phnom.
King Ponhea Yat was succeeded on his death by his first son Noreay Reachea, who reigned until 1469 and who was succeeded in turn by Ponhea Yat's second son, Srey Reachea.


Subdivisions of British India

For administrative purposes British India was subdivided into the following units:
Political units.
While British India did administratively not include the princely states, which remained nominally outside the British Raj,under the administration of their own rulers, the relationship of the British with these states was managed by:
Still, the British authorities recurred to the doctrine of lapse when they decided to interfere in the internal matters of a princely state.


Ghazi Abdul Rahman Al Gosaibi

Ghazi Abdul Rahman Al Gosaibi (; 3 March 1940 – 15 August 2010) was a Saudi politician, diplomat, technocrat, poet, and novelist. He was an intellectual and a member of the Al Gosaibi family that is one of the oldest and richest trading families of Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. Al Gosaibi was considered among Saudi Arabia's topmost technocrats since the mid-1970s. "The Majalla" called him the "Godfather of Renovation" while Saudi journalist Othman Al Omeir argued that he was "the only great man in Saudi Arabia."
Early life and education.
Al Gosaibi was born on 3 March 1940 to one of the richest families of the Kingdom in Hofuf located in Al Ahsa province. The family was of Najdi origin. His mother was from the Kateb family of Mecca who died when he was aged nine months and he was raised by his grandmother.
He received primary and secondary education in Bahrain which was a British protectorate during that time. He attended the University of Cairo and received a degree in law in 1961. Later, he moved to the United States and graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in international relations in 1964. He later completed his PhD in law at University College London in 1970; his PhD thesis was about the Yemen crisis which took place from 1962 to 1967.
Career.
Al Gosaibi began his career working as a lecturer at King Saud University in 1965. He held various positions, including associate professor, dean of the faculty of commerce and head of the department of political science. In 1965, he served as a legal consultant to the Saudi reconciliation committee; the job was related to negotiating with the Egyptian forces in Yemen. He also served as the director general of Saudi Railways Organization in 1970, chairman of Jubail Petrochemical Company (Sadaf) and Yanbu Petrochemical Company (Yanpet), member on Public Investment Fund, Supreme Manpower Council, and Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu.
Al Gosaibi was one of the technocrats in the 1970s who were chosen by the Saudi government for assigning public positions and posts. In October 1975, King Khalid appointed him the minister of industry and electricity, and he held the position until 1983. In 1976 he proposed the creation of a joint-stock state-controlled firm that could serve as a catalyst for the industrialization of Saudi Arabia. Later that year the Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) was created and Al Gosaibi was named its chairman. He also served as the minister of health from 1983 to 1984. He was removed from office without any explanation in 1984. Then he served as the ambassador to Bahrain (1984-1992), and was subsequently appointed the Saudi ambassador to the United Kingdom and Ireland in 1992. Al Gosaibi replaced Nasser Almanquor as ambassador to the United Kingdom and Ireland following the latter's removal due to his support for the fatwa (religious decree) asking for the death of British writer Salman Rushdie. In 1999, Al Gosaibi nominated himself to serve for the post of director general of UNESCO. However, he was not elected, and Japanese diplomat Koichiro Matsuura became the director general. In the election, Matsuura won 34 votes, Al Gosaibi 13. Al Gosaibi's term as Saudi ambassador to the United Kingdom and Ireland ended in September 2002.
Next Al Gosaibi was appointed minister of water and electricity in mid-September 2002 when the ministry of agriculture and water was divided into two independent ministerial bodies. His tenure lasted until April 2004. During this period, Al Gosaibi was also appointed a board member of Saudi Aramco and served in the post until October 2004. King Fahd appointed him as the minister of labor on 13 April 2004 following the split of the labor and social affairs ministry into two. He contributed to the national strategy of Saudization into practice and motivated private firms to employ a greater proportion of Saudi nationals. He served in the post until his death in 2010, and was succeeded by Adel Fakeih in the post.
Al Gosaibi was a member of the honorary committee of Painting & Patronage from 2000 to 2010. He also actively participated in the organization of its first and second programmes held in London in 2000 and Riyadh in 2001, respectively.
Dismissals.
Al Gosaibi, while serving as minister of health, was dismissed in 1984. He had openly asked for and supported the transparent tendering for regional hospitals. This criticism of Al Gosaibi targeted Saudi Oger, owned by late Rafik Hariri, who had been closely associated with King Fahd. Since Al Gosaibi was not able to meet with King Fahd, he wrote a poem for the King, entitled "A Pen Bought and Sold". The poem, which was published on the front page of "Al Jazirah", indirectly accused the ruling elites, including Prince Sultan, minister of defence, of corruption. King Fahd fired him after reading the poem.
Al Gosaibi was also removed from his post as ambassador to the United Kingdom and Ireland in 2002 due to his poem, a short verse entitled "You Are the Martyrs", published in "Al Hayat" in mid-April, supposedly praising a Palestinian female suicide bomber. The poem was allegedly dedicated to a Palestinian teenager, Ayat Akhras who blew herself up on 29 March 2002 in the Kiryat HaYovel supermarket in Jerusalem, resulting in the death of two Israelis. Al Gosaibi described her as the "bride of the heavens" who "stands up to the criminal" and "kisses death with a smile." The poem also included critical views about the United States and the Arab political and intellectual elite, who, for Al Gosaibi, did not assume any responsibility with regard to the Palestinian conflict. Before his removal from his post by the Saudi government, Al Gosaibi had faced censure from the British government because of the aforementioned poem.
Views.
Al Gosaibi, as the minister of industry and electricity, stated in 1980 that American foreign policy was "self-doubt, isolative, and had a tendency to abdicate." He also criticised the approach by US media to Saudi Arabia. During his tenure as Saudi ambassador to the United Kingdom and Ireland, he described Osama bin Laden as "a human monster" in the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 attacks in the BBC's HARDtalk interview. In 2002, he argued that the suicide bombers "died to honor God's word." In response to the criticisms from Jewish groups over his poem, "You Are the Martyrs", he defended his position and accused Israel of "committing war crimes." He also expressed his support for a two-state solution for the Palestinian conflict and the Saudi government-backed Arab peace initiative. During the same period, he said: "the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza is worse than anything Europe experienced under Nazi Germany."
He was an apparent critic of the Saudi conservative society. He was an ally of King Abdullah in regard to his reform initiatives and is known for his liberal religious views. He was against terrorism and extremism and called for democratic reform in the Kingdom, although he argued that it needed to be a very gradual process. He was labeled by radicals as "a Westerner, infidel, secular and a hypocrite", and experienced a systematic and intense ideological campaign against him. More specifically, Osama bin Laden called him in a taped message in 2006 a liberal fifth columnist.
During his tenure as minister of labor, Al Gosaibi supported the idea that Saudi women should be offered more job opportunities. He stated that Saudis were only interested in high-paying, easy jobs. He served hamburgers in 2008 for three hours at a Jeddah fast food restaurant, a job usually performed by non-Saudi workers. Later in a press conference, he told Saudi youth that this type of work was not dishonorable. He warned against increasing racism among Saudis towards the millions of foreign workers in Saudi Arabia in 2008. However, when a significant financial crisis affected all countries, in January 2009 he warned Saudi firms against exploiting the crisis as a reason for terminating Saudi nationals and suggested them to terminate foreign workers in the country.
Literary works and other writings.
Al Gosaibi was one of the best-selling writers in the Arab world and also, was a significant diplomat-poet. He published nearly 40 books, most of which were the collections of his poems, which provide "images of a simpler, desert culture." His novels were mostly based on the topic of corruption, Arab alienation, love, taboos and the condition of the Arab states. In "Freedom Apartment" or "An Apartment Called Freedom" (1994), one of his most known novels, the theme is about the lives of four Bahrainis who left their homes for university education in Cairo in the 1960s. The novel also reflects his own experience in Cairo. Another novel, "Sab'ah" (2003), is a satire and "depicts the Arab reality through seven characters who have different ideas and works, and are flirting with the same woman." "A Love Story" (2002) narrates the life of a novelist who is dying in a hospital bed, dreaming about the memories of his past love affair with a married woman.
Al Gosaibi also published non-fiction books, including an autobiography, entitled "Yes, (Saudi) Minister! A lifetime in Administration" (1999) and "The Gulf Crisis" that offers an insider's account of the Arab reaction to Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait. In addition, he wrote essays, focusing on the relations between the Arab and western world.
Some of his books, including "An Apartment Called Freedom", were banned for a long time in Saudi Arabia. The reason for the ban was that his works were often critical of ruling regimes in the region and included a satirical representation of social and political mores. At the beginning of August 2010, just two weeks before his death, this ban was lifted due to his contributions to the country.
His novels in Arabic are as follows:
Two of his novels were translated into English:
In 1989, one of Al Gosaibi's poetry books was also translated into English by Anne Fairbairn in Australia, titled as "Feathers and the Horizon".
Personal life.
Al Gosaibi married to a German woman who was raised in Bahrain. They had four children; one daughter and three sons.
Death and funeral.
Al Gosaibi underwent a surgery at Riyadh's King Faisal Specialist Hospital in the late July 2010. He died of colon cancer at the age of 70 on 15 August 2010. The funeral prayer for him was performed at Imam Turki Mosque, and acting Riyadh governor, Prince Sattam attended the funeral. He was buried in Al Oud cemetery in Riyadh on the same day, 15 August 2010. His family also held another funeral service for him in Bahrain.
Legacy.
Asahrqia Chamber began to offer the Ghazi Al Gosaibi Award for the promising small and medium size companies, particularly in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. The award is given biannually. In April 2013, Al Waleed bin Talal Foundation-Global, headed by Prince Al Waleed, bought the house of Ghazi Al Gosaibi in Manama in Bahrain to renovate it.
Awards.
In 2017 the Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association posthumously recognized Al Gosaibi as a pioneer in petrochemicals and chemicals and awarded him with the GPCA Legacy Award.


Bobbili

Bobbili is a town in Vizianagaram district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.
Geography.
Bobbili is located at . It has an average elevation of 103 metres (337 feet).
History.
The town of Bobbili was founded during the 17th century by Pedda Rayudu, the 15th descendant of the Rajah of Venkatagiri. However, with time, the town became known as "Pebbuli", then "Bebbuli" and finally "Bobbili".
Battle of Bobbili.
The battle of Bobbili in 1757, is one of the significant episodes in the history of the state of Andhra Pradesh. Vizianagaram kings won the war with the help of French General Marquis de Bussy.
Demographics.
 Census of India, the town had a population of . The total population constitute, males, females and children in the age group of 0–6 years. The average literacy rate stands at 76.66% with literates, higher than the national average of 74%.
Education.
The primary and secondary school education is imparted by government, aided and private schools, under the "School Education Department" of the state. The medium of instruction followed by different schools are English, Telugu.
Bobbili is known for its quality education.
An age old college in the form of Rajah R.S.R.K. Ranga Rao College (1962)
and even older school in the form of Samsthanam High School (1864)
Governance.
Parliamentary and assembly constituencies
Bobbili is a parliamentary constituency in Indian Lok Sabha.
It had 9,70,612 voters during the elections, held during April–May 2004 for the 14th Lok Sabha. Since 2009 Bobbili Parliamentary Constituency no longer exists and is replaced with Vizianagaram Parliamentary constituency. Bobbili is an assembly constituency in Andhra Pradesh. There are 1,20,173 registered voters in this constituency in 1999 elections.
Industries.
Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation has set up Industrial Development area at Bobbili in 2008. Nearly 200 units will be set up in an area of over 1,000 acres of land. The state government has spent about Rs. 20 crore is on infrastructure like roads, water supply, power transmission including a 33 kV sub-station. The major projects in the pipeline include B.K. Steels, Vizag Profiles and Ferro Alloys. The Growth Centre has a potential to employ 10,000 people directly and a few thousands indirectly through the ancillary industries.
Transport.
Bobbili Railway junction is in Visakhapatnam division of East Coast Railway zone. It is at Mallampeta (which is named after the goddess Mallamma). It is on the Vizianagaram-Raipur railway line. There is a broad-gauge railway line between Bobbili and Salur.


Wahi Annuar

Wahi Annuar was a Malayan communist. He took to the forests at the beginning of the Malayan emergency. He was a leader in the MRLA 10th Malay Regiment. However, he surrendered to the British in February 1950.


Gebang

Gebang () is an 8th-century Hindu temple located on the outskirts of Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The temple is located at Gebang hamlet, Wedomartani village, Ngemplak, Sleman Regency, Special Region of Yogyakarta. The temple was built during the Medang Kingdom.
There is no assuring historical backgrounds or inscription records concerning the temple. However the high proportional of the temple feet indicate that the temple was built in old period of Medang Mataram kingdom, c. 730 to 800.
Discovery.
In November 1936, a villager discovered a Ganesha statue. The Art and Archaeological Services ("Oudheid Dienst") led an excavation and discovered that the Ganesha statue was the part of a small stone building. The archaeological excavation was conducted that year and discovered a temple ruin, the andesite stones that parts of the roof and the base is appeared to be intact. Besides the parts of the building, the excavation also yielded some artifacts such as potteries, statuettes, stone box (peripih), and lingam. The temple is named "Gebang" as the name of the village. During its discovery, the temple wall and roof collapsed, however the base was still intact. The temple ruin was buried under Mount Merapi volcanic lahar sediments. The temple was reconstructed by Van Romondt in 1937 to 1939.
Structure.
Gebang temple displayed Hindu temple features. The square base is measured 5.25 x 5.25 metres, and the temple is 7.75 metres in height. There is no entrance stairs, or probably one was made from organic wooden material that already decayed. The temple faces east with entrance located on the eastern side. On each side of the portal there are two niches which were filled with statues of Nandiswara on the right side. In November 1989 the head of Nandiswara was stolen. The left niche probably hosted a Mahakala statue as the counterpart of Nandiswara, however there was no Mahakala statue ever discovered here. In the inner chamber there is a Yoni placed in the center of the room.
On the outer wall there are three niches on the north, south, and east sides of the temple. The north and south niches are empty, however on the west side there is a Ganesha statue sitting on a yoni with a spout. Compared to other Hindu temples in Yogyakarta vicinity, Gebang temple has a unique architectural style; on the roof, small heads of divinity appear from a window frame and male divine bodies (devata) seated in the small niches. This divinity head is called "kudu". Similar roof ornament styles depicting heads of the gods also appeared on the roof of Bima temple in Dieng temples, Dieng Plateau, Central Java. The top of the temple is crowned with ratna. On the temple yard there are four pseudo-lingam on its four corners.


Borongan Cathedral

Borongan Cathedral, or the Cathedral Parish of the Nativity of Our Lady (), is a Roman Catholic cathedral church located near the mouth of the Loom River, in the city of Borongan, Eastern Samar, Philippines. It is the seat of the Diocese of Borongan.
History.
Father Francisco Diez built the original church in 1710 in honor of the Blessed Virgin of Nativity. Franciscan priests transferred the church administration in 1768 to the Jesuits. In 1773, it was consumed by fire. It was rebuilt and enlarged under the direction of Father Roque de Osma in 1781. A round bell tower was added in 1853 by Father Juan Navarette. The design of the church was made in the shape of a cross by Father Antonio Sanchez in 1873. In 1887, Father Arsenio Figueroa changed the roof and was replaced with a sink or metal. In 1939, Franciscan priests transferred the administration of the church to its first Filipino parish priest, Father Francisco Palomeras, who added a second floor to the bell tower. In 1950, the third floor was built by Padre Potenciano Ortega.
In 1961, it became the seat and the cathedral of the Borongan Diocese. In 1962, it underwent a major transformation and expansion by the Reverend Vicente P. Reyes, D.D., the first bishop of Borongan. The only part of the old church that remains until today is the circular bell tower. In 1998, the NHI installed the historical marker of the cathedral.


Kanchanpur District

Kanchanpur District ( ), a part of Sudurpashchim Province in the Terai plain, is one of seventy seven districts of Nepal. The district, with Bhimdatta as its district headquarters, covers an area of and had a population of 134,868 in 2001 and 171,304 in 2011. It is located in south-western of Nepal. It is bordered by Kailali district in the east, Dadeldhura district in the north and with India in the south and west.
Before the reunification of Nepal by Gorkha King PN Shah, this district was the part of Doti Kingdom. Nepal lost it to the East India Company after the Anglo-Nepalese war (1814-1816) between the then Kingdom of Nepal and the East India Company followed by territorial concessions of Sugauli Treaty. Later on after the treaty of 1860, Nepal recovered this land along with Kailali, Banke and Bardiya. Its first headquarters was Belauri Municipality and the current headquarter Mahendranagr was declared in 2019 B.S.
The majority of population is ethnic Tharu community and minor groups are the peoples that have migrated from the northern hilly region. The district is renowned for Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve and the long multispan suspension bridge over Mahakali River.
Jhilmila Lake, Bedkot Lake, Bandatal, Shovatal and Vishnu Temple, Ranital are the other tourist attractions.
Geography.
It expands from 28 degree 38 minutes to 29 degree 28 minutes Northern latitudes and 80 degree 03 minutes to 80 degree 33 minutes Eastern Longitudes. It is situated at the end of westmost part of province and country on the corner of south-west. Geographically it is on the terai but the northern part of the district has some higher altitudes of elevation. The highest elevation of the district is 1528m and lowest is 176m. Main rivers of the region are Mahakali, Jobuda, Chaudhar, Mohana, Syali, Banhara, Sanbora and Doda
Demographics.
At the time of the 2011 Nepal census, Kanchanpur District had a population of 451,248. Of these, 39.7% spoke Doteli, 25.4% Tharu, 16.1% Nepali, 5.2% Baitadeli, 4.0% Bajhangi, 2.3% Achhami, 1.6% Magar, 1.5% Bajureli, 1.3% Tamang and 1.1% Darchuleli as their first language. The largest ethnic group is Khas/Chhetri make 35% of total population, The Second largest ethnic group is Tharu makes 21% of total dist population, and Khas/Thakuri makes 15% of population. Bahun and sanyasi/giri makes 13% of total population and khas dalit makes 11% of total population.. Tamangs make 3% of population. And Magars make 2% of population.
Divisions.
Kanchanpur district is divided into 7 municipalities and 2 rural municipalities:
Communication and media.
Websites, Online News Portal, FM Stations and News Papers of Kanchanpur District


Mariano Ramos Ancestral House

The Mariano Ramos Ancestral House is the home of the late Mariano Ramos , first appointed "Presidente Municipal" of Bacolod, Philippines. It was built in the 1930s and its architecture is a combination of Castilian and Tuscan and comprises three storeys including the tower room, known as the "torre" and it is beside the Dizon-Ramos Museum.
During World War II, Bacolod City was occupied by the Japanese forces on May 21, 1942 under the command of Lieutenant General Takeshi Kono, the Japanese commanding officer of the 77th Infantry Brigade, 102nd Division. The House of Don Mariano Ramos, being the tallest building in the city, was seized by the Japanese, and used it as the watchtower over the city. His family was forced to retreat at the Municipal of Murcia, where they spent most of their time during the war era. The city was liberated by joint Filipino and American forces on May 29, 1945. It took time to rebuild the city after liberation Don Mariano were saved from destruction by the retreating Japanese forces
Prominence in the 1930s.
On a short stretch of Burgos Street, once known as "Millionaires' Row", still stands several grand houses belonging to some of the richest and landed families of Bacolod City. The Ramos house, considered one of the most prominent of these houses, is the house built by the Ramos family patriarch Don Mariano Ramos, the first Municipal President or Mayor of Bacolod City.
In 1935, he commissioned a certain Architect Mendoza of Manila to design and build a house for him in the Castilian and Tuscan style.
The most prominent feature of the house is the three-storey octagonal tower that gave the owners a panoramic view of the city and the surrounding landscape. At the rear portion of the house is a rounded balcony adjacent to the master bedroom.
Don Mariano Ramos loved to entertain. Many elegant parties were held here attended by the "crème de la crème" () of Bacolod society and visited by both local and national government officials. One such guest was Mariano's close friend and classmate, Philippine President Manuel L. Quezon.
Legendary in those days were his twenty or more cars of different makes chauffeured by Spanish "mestizo" and Filipino drivers.
Present day.
Today, the house of Don Mariano Ramos is cherished by the descendants of his eldest son, Romulo V. Ramos.


United Nations Security Council Resolution 774

United Nations Security Council resolution 774, adopted unanimously on 26 August 1992, after reaffirming all previous resolutions on Cyprus, the Council noted that while some progress had been made in negotiations between the two communities on Cyprus, there had still been some difficulties in fully implementing Resolution 750 (1992).
The Council reaffirmed that the Cyprus dispute must be settled on the basis of a single State of Cyprus with a single sovereignty and citizenship, a bi-communal and bi-zonal federation, which would exclude union in part of whole with any other country, or secession. It endorsed the "Set of Ideas" and territorial adjustments as a basis for a framework agreement, though agreed with the Secretary-General that the idea had yet to be fully developed.
The resolution urged the Republic of Cyprus and Northern Cyprus to continue talks at the United Nations Headquarters when they meet face-to-face with the Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali on 26 October 1992. Following a satisfactory conclusion to the talks, the Council reaffirmed its position that a high level conference with the leaders of the two communities and with the leaders of Greece and Turkey should take place to conclude an overall agreement, expressing the expectation that an agreement would be concluded in 1992 and implemented in 1993.
Resolution 774 also stated that the current status quo was unacceptable and that if future negotiations should fail, called on the Secretary-General to identify reasons for the failure and to recommend to the Council further causes of action to resolve the dispute. The resolution also confirmed the continuance of the Treaty of Guarantee signed in 1960.


Surendra Bikram Shah

Surendra Bikram Shah () (1829–1881) was King of Nepal between 1847 and 1881. He became king after Prime Minister Jung Bahadur Rana forced the abdication of Surendra's father, Rajendra Bikram Shah. Surendra wielded little real power, with Jang Bahadur Rana effectively ruling the country during Surendra's reign.
Early life.
Surendra was the son of King Rajendra and his first wife, Queen Samrajya. He was born the crown prince of Nepal and was relatively unpopular.
Name Surendra means "Chief of Deities".
Prince regent.
Surendra's stepmother, Queen Rajya Lakshmi, was ambitious to have her son, Prince Ranendra, sit on the throne. However, Jung Bahadur, who was ambitious and wanted power, might have cooperated with Rajya Lakshmi for his own motive. After the Kot massacre, in which Jung Bahadur managed to eliminate a large number of nobles, Jung Bahadur turned against the queen, who in turn plotted to kill him (though the plot failed). Thinking Queen Rajya Lakshmi might be a threat to him, Jung Bahadur, who had become the prime minister, exiled Rajya Lakshmi to Varanasi. King Rajendra also accompanied her to Varanasi. Before leaving, he made Surendra the prince regent. However, later Jung Bahadur Rana forced the abdication of King Rajendra, and then Surendra was made the king.
Life as the king.
King Surendra was like a prisoner in his own palace: with the exception of his immediate family, nobody could visit him without the permission of Jung Bahadur Rana. The king was only allowed to read literature. Frustrated at all these, the king wanted to abdicate in favor of his eldest son Trailokya, but the Rana prime minister did not allow it.
Surendra was allowed to meet his father, the ex-king Rajendra, once every month. Rajendra continued to live under house arrest until his death.
In 1856, King Surendra issued a sanad- which formalized the dominance and political leadership of the Kunwar family- the family of Jung Bahadur Rana. The king and his descendants could use the honorific title of 'Shri' five times with their names, while the members of the Kunwar family used the title thrice- placing the Kunwar family in a rank that was second only to the royal family. While Surendra remained the king (Maharajadhiraja), he had little power; Jung Bahadur Rana ruled the country.
Surendra's son, General and Crown Prince Trailokya Bir Bikram Shah Deva married three of Jung Bahadur Rana's daughters, Tara Rajya Lakhsmi Devi, Lalit Rajeshwori Rajya Lakshmi Devi and Hiranyagarbha Kumari Devi. Trilokya died in 1878, and Trilokya's son Prithvi Bir Bikram Shah became heir to the throne.
Death.
Surendra died in 1881. His grandson Prithvi succeeded him as the king of Nepal.


Sohawal State

Sohawal State was a princely state of the Bagelkhand Agency of the British Raj.
It was a relatively small Sanad state of about 552 km2 with a population of 32,216 inhabitants in 1901. Its capital was at Sohawal, a small town — 2,108 inhabitants in 1901 — located in modern Satna district of Madhya Pradesh.
The state was divided in two sections separated by territory belonging to Kothi State and in its northern side it formed little enclaves within neighbouring Panna State.
History.
Sohawal State was founded in the mid sixteenth century by a ruler named Fateh Singh. It had been originally much larger, but lost much territory within the first centuries of its existence.
Sohawal became a British protectorate initially subordinate to Panna State, but a separate "sanad" was granted to "Rais" Aman Singh in 1809. During the 1830 – 1833 period there was an interregnum in which Sohawal came under direct British administration.
The last ruler of Sohawal signed the instrument of accession to the Indian Union on 1 January 1950.
Rulers.
The rulers used the title of "Rais" and after 1911 they adopted the title "Raja".


Foreign aid to Indonesia

US$43 billion in International Monetary Fund (IMF) aid in 2004 was sent as foreign aid to Indonesia, and this assistance has traditionally been an important part of the central government's budget. From 1967 to 1991, most aid was coordinated through the Inter-Governmental Group on Indonesia (IGGI) founded and chaired by the Netherlands; since 1992, without the Netherlands, the organization has been known as the Consultative Group on Indonesia (CGI). Although Indonesia terminated its IMF aid program in December 2003, it still receives bilateral aid through the CGI, which pledged US$2.8 billion in grants and loans for 2004. Japan and the Asian Development Bank also have been key donors.
Multilateral aid.
2004 Indian Ocean earthquake.
The humanitarian response to the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake resulted in aid being given to Indonesia from many countries.
Bilateral aid.
China.
Being the second-largest donor of foreign aid to Indonesia after Singapore, China has also financed and developed multiple infrastructure projects in the country to create more growth in its economy, particularly in the utility, transportation, industry and tourism, with surging inflows of aid in recent years.
Australia.
Indonesia is the largest recipient of Australian aid, and Australia is the fourth-largest donor of foreign aid to Indonesia. Australian development aid to Indonesia traces back to 1953 with Indonesia's participation in the Colombo Plan, in addition to projects such as the Aeronautical Fixed Telecommunication Network, a project intended to address deficiencies in Indonesia's civil aviation system.
Japan.
Japan is one of the largest donors of development aid to Indonesia; this development aid is facilitated through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Among ASEAN countries, Indonesia is the Japan's largest recipient of aid.
United States.
USAID is a long-term partner in helping Indonesia tackle development challenges. In 2014, total aid for Indonesia from the United States amounted to $196,651,740, of which $149,639,762 was spearheaded by USAID. Majority of the aid was allocated towards governance, health and education.
Election Support.
Between May 2007 and October 2009, USAID contracted the International Foundation for Electoral Systems to implement a $2.45 million contract to support the National General Election Commission.


Mindon Min

Mindon Min (, ; 8 July 1808 – 1 October 1878) was the penultimate king of Burma (Myanmar) from 1853 to 1878. He was one of the most popular and revered kings of Burma. Under his half brother King Pagan, the Second Anglo-Burmese War in 1852 ended with the annexation of Lower Burma by the British Empire. Mindon and his younger brother Kanaung overthrew their half brother King Pagan. He spent most of his reign trying to defend the upper part of his country from British encroachments, and to modernize his kingdom.
Achievements.
King Mindon founded the last royal capital of Burma, Mandalay, in 1857. His younger brother Kanaung proved to be a great administrator and modernizer. During Mindon's reign, scholars were sent to France, Italy, the United States, and Great Britain, in order to learn about the tremendous progress achieved by the Industrial Revolution.
During Mindon's reign, the following reforms were undertaken: centralization of the kingdom's internal administration, introduction of a salary system for the bureaucracy (to dampen the authority and income of bureaucrats), fixed judicial fees, comprehensive penal laws, reorganization of the financial system, removal of trade barriers including custom duties, reform of the "thathameda" taxes (to increase direct taxation), and modernization of the kingdom's army and introduction of new police forces.
A Burmese manuscript (Or 13681) held by the British Library depicts "seven scenes of King Mindon’s donations at various places during the first four years of his reign (1853-57)," including a monastery, rest houses, and gifts for monks.
Mindon introduced the first machine-struck coins to Burma, and in 1871 also held the Fifth Buddhist council in Mandalay. He had already created the world's largest book in 1868, the Tipitaka, 729 pages of the Buddhist Pali Canon inscribed in marble and each stone slab housed in a small stupa at the Kuthodaw Pagoda at the foot of Mandalay Hill.
In 1871 Mindon also donated a new "hti" ('umbrella' or crown gilded and encrusted with precious diamonds and other gems) to the Shwedagon Pagoda, which is located in then British held Yangon, although he was not allowed to visit this most famous and venerated pagoda in the country.
On 15 August 1873, Mindon also enacted the Seventeen Articles, one of Southeast Asia's first indigenous press freedom laws.
In 1875, during a royal consecration ceremony, Mindon took on the title "Siripavaravijayanantayasa Paṇḍita Tribhavanadityadhipati Mahadhammarajadhiraja".
With the opening of the Suez Canal, Mindon assembled a flotilla of steamers to facilitate trade with the British.
His brother Kanaung is still remembered by the Burmese as an avid modernizer, who would go to the factories early on cold winter mornings with a blanket wrapped around, just to talk to the mechanics about how the machines ran. He was in charge of the Royal Army, as was customarily required of Burmese crown princes, and he imported and manufactured guns, cannons and shells.
Palace rebellion.
In 1866 two of Mindon's sons, Prince Myingun and Prince Myingundaing attempted a palace coup. Myingun claimed that the Crown Prince Kanaung was oppressive, and Kanaung was murdered during the revolt. Mindon escaped alive and the coup was crushed when Myingun fled in a steamer to British Burma. Rumours of British involvement are unsubstantiated, and no evidence exists showing their support for the revolt.
While Mindon was escaping the palace, he ran into a would-be assassin, Maung Paik Gyi, who lost his nerve and grovelled in front of the king. Mindon commanded him to carry him from the palace, which he promptly did.
Succession crisis.
The rebellion caused Mindon great reluctance in naming a successor to Kanaung for fear of civil war.
One of his queens, Hsinbyumashin, dominated the last days of King Mindon. It was an edict by Hsinbyumashin that ordered almost all possible heirs to the throne be killed, so that her daughter Supayalat and son-in-law Thibaw would become queen and king. Close royals of all ages and both genders were mercilessly executed, after being tricked that the dying king wanted to bid them farewell.
Thibaw, Mindon's son from a lesser queen, succeeded him after his death in 1878. King Thibaw was defeated by the British in the Third Anglo-Burmese War in November 1885 resulting in total annexation of Burma.


Nuris

Nuris () was a Palestinian Arab village in the District of Jenin. In 1945, Nuris had 570 inhabitants. It was depopulated during the 1948 War on 29 May 1948 under Operation Gideon. The Israeli moshav of Nurit was built on Nuris' village land in 1950.
Location.
Nuris was located in the Jezreel Valley, northeast of Jenin and southwest of the Jezreel Valley railway. It was linked by dirt roads to the villages of Zir'in and Al-Mazar.
There were several springs north of Nuris, most importantly the 'Ain Jalut, one of the largest in Palestine.
History.
Remains from the Bronze Age have been found here, as has pottery from the Byzantine era.
Nuris was referred to by the Crusaders as "Nurith." Nearby, the Mamluks defeated the Mongols in the Battle of Ain Jalut (1260).
Ottoman era.
In 1517, the village was included in the Ottoman Empire with the rest of Palestine, and in the 1596 tax-records it appeared part of the "nahiya" (subdistrict) of Jenin under the "liwa"' (district) of Lajjun, with a population of 16 Muslim households; an estimated 88 persons. They paid a fixed tax rate of 25% on a number of products, including wheat, barley, olives, and goats and beehives; a total of 7,500 akçe.
The village was captured and burned by Napoleon's troops, after the Battle of Mount Tabor in 1799.
Pierre Jacotin named the village "Noures" on his map from that campaign.
British traveller James Silk Buckingham visited the site in the early 19th century. Buckingham remarked that there were several other settlements in sight, "all inhabited by Mohammedans." In 1838 Edward Robinson noted Nuris during his travels in the region, located in the District of Jenin, also called "Haritheh esh-Shemaliyeh".
In 1882, the PEF's "Survey of Western Palestine" described the village as being small, situated on rocky ground, much hidden between the hills, about above a valley.
Nuris had an elementary school for boys, which was founded under the Ottomans in 1888, and a mosque. Some ancient ruins remained unexplored as of 1992.
British Mandate era.
In the 1922 census of Palestine, conducted by the British Mandate authorities, Nuris had a population of 364, all Muslims.
Part of the area was acquired by the Jewish community as part of the Sursock Purchase. In 1921, the village reportedly had 38 tenant families, and 224 people out of a total population of 364 (1922 census) cultivated 5,500 dunums out of a village area of 27,018. That year, the Sursock family sold some of the village lands to the Palestine Land Development Company.
A group of 35 young Jews began to farm the land, which became the core of Kibbutz Ein Harod.
Some of the villagers of Nuris received monetary compensation and left the village. Those who remained leased a block of land for a period of six years with the opportunity to purchase when the lease expired. They paid rental at 6% of the published sale offer on the land, but later, at the request of the farmers in Nuris, this was changed to one-fifth of the total yield in agricultural output of the land. After the original six-year lease was up, reports in 1928 showed that no villagers had bought the land leased to them. The leases were extended for three years while the ownership was transferred to the Jewish National Fund. In 1921 the average farmer cultivated 24 dunums, by 1929 this had drastically reduced to 4.4, although the population grew significantly.
In the 1931 census, Nuris had a population of 429 people and a recorded 106 houses were located in the village.
In the 1945 statistics, Nuris had 570 Muslim inhabitants with 163 houses, although the area was much smaller than it had been before 1920, with an area of 6256 dunums. The inhabitants, were mainly employed in cereal farming, although some land was allocated to irrigation and growing olives.
1948 War and aftermath.
On 19 April 1948, Palmach headquarters ordered the destruction of "enemy bases at Al-Mazar, Nuris and Zir'in". Israeli historian Benny Morris notes that destroying the villages was "part and parcel" of the Haganah operations at this time, however, he also writes that Nuris was not finally depopulated until the end of May.
Following the war the area was incorporated into the State of Israel. A moshav, Nurit, was established to the northwest of the village site in 1950.
Palestinian historian Walid Khalidi described the village in 1992: "The site, overgrown with pine and oak trees, is strewn with piles of stones. Part of the surrounding land is fenced in and is used as a grazing area, while another part is cultivated. Cactuses and olive and fig trees grow near the site."


Sunan Bungkul

Sunan Bungkul, whose real name is Ki Ageng Supo or Mpu Supo, was a nobleman from the time of Majapahit Kingdom, who after converting to Islam used the name Ki Ageng Mahmuddin. He was one of the spreaders of Islam in the late 15th century in the Majapahit Kingdom. He is the son-in-law of Sunan Ampel, although some say he is the father-in-law of Raden Paku, who is better known as Sunan Giri. He is estimated to have lived during the Sunan Ampel period of 1400-1481 M. He had a daughter named Dewi Wardah. His tomb is directly behind Taman Bungkul Surabaya.
Folk Tales.
One of the tales circulating about Sunun Bungkul revolves marrying off his child but could not find the right man for the marriage. He then organized a contest to find a match. Whoever could pick from the pomegranate tree growing in his garden would wed his daughter, Dewi Wardah. Many men tried but none succeeded in picking a pomegranate from the tree, some even dying in the process. One day, Raden Paku, who is also known as Sunan Giri, walked through Sunan Bungkul's garden. As he arrived at the pomegranate tree, a pomegranate fell from the tree. Raden Paku took it and handed it to Sunan Ampel, his teacher at the pesantren.
Sunan Ampel said to Raden Paku, "Blessed are you, because soon you will be the in-law of Ki Ageng Supo through an arranged marriage with his daughter, Dewi Wardah". Raden Paku responded with confusion as he was supposed to be married to the daughter of Kanjeng Sunan. Raden Paku then explained Ki Ageng Supo's contest and stated that it must be Raden Paku's destiny to have two wives, Dewi Wardah and Dewi Murtosiah.
Another tale tells a different version wherein Ki Ageng Supo accidentally picked a pomegranate and it washed away in the river Kalimas. The pomegranate flowed north until it reached the Ngemplak split, where the river is divided into two. The left branched towards Ujung and the right flowing into the Pegirikan river. The pomegranate floated and drifted towards the right. One morning, a santri of Sunan Ampel found the pomegranate while taking a bath in the river and handed it over to Sunan Ampel. The following day, Ki Ageng Supo traced the riverbanks and located the place where many students were bathing in the river. He was certain that this was where the pomegranate was found by one of his students. When asking if anyone found a pomegranate, Raden Paku confessed he was the one who found it, and was subsequently married to Dewi Wardah.


Sovabazar Raj

The Sovabazar Raj family, seated at Sovabazar Palace were the Zamindars of Shobhabazar. The clan begins with a Maharaja Naba Krishna Deb Bahadur left behind two sons, adopted son Raja Gopimohan Deb (1768) and his own son Raja Raj Krishna Deb. Raja Gopimohan Deb was founder director of Hindu College and founder of famous Dharma Sabha. He offered much precious gold and silver to Maa Kali of Kalighat. A very well known scholar in Hindi, Parsi, and English. His son was Radhakanta Deb, whereas Raja Rajkrishna Deb (1782–1823) had eight sons.
The Zamindari consisted more than half of Sutanuti and thousands of acres of lands in several districts of Bengal (now parts of West Bengal and Bangladesh).


Bhuvanaikabahu III of Dambadeniya

Bhuvanaikabahu III (a.k.a. Vanni Buvaneka Bahu) was King of Dambadeniya in the 14th century, who reigned in the year 1325/6. He succeeded Parakkamabahu IV as King of Dambadeniya and was succeeded by Vijayabahu V.


Mohammad Reza Beg

Mohammad Reza Beg (Persian: محمدرضا بیگ, in French-language sources; "Méhémet Riza Beg"), was the Safavid mayor ("kalantar") of Erivan (Iravan), and the ambassador to France during the reign of king Sultan Husayn (1694-1722). He led the embassy to Louis XIV of 1715.
Biography.
Mohammad Reza Beg was the mayor of Erivan and a high-ranking official to the governor of the Erivan province, when, upon the governments initiative, he was sent in embassy to France, in March 1714. He had to cross Constantinople in the neighboring Ottoman Empire, in the guise of a pilgrim, as the former was often at war with Safavid Iran, and relations were unstable. Being still imprisoned, he was released thanks to the French ambassador in Constantinople, Pierre des Alleurs and his "astute dragoman" Etienne Padery, before being conveyed to Marseille (which he reached on October 23, 1714) and Versailles, where he was lavishly received and with great pomp. On August 13, 1715, he reached a new Treaty with the Louis XIV's government, which, included a more favourable provision regarding the French trade. As another result of the diplomatic mission, a permanent Persian consulate was established in Marseille, the main French Mediterranean port for the trade with the East, soon staffed by Hagopdjan de Deritchan.
On 19 February 1715, at 11 AM, Mohammad Reza Beg made his entry into the Château de Versailles on horseback with his large retinue, accompanied by the presenter of ambassadors and the lieutenant of the king’s armies. Crowds reportedly filled the avenue de Paris and the courtyards to attend the arrival of the ambassador and his retinue. The courtiers crowded into the Hall of Mirrors, where four tiers of seats had been set up for them. The Hall of Mirrors was packed, with many foreigners present. At the back, Louis XIV on his throne was surrounded by the future Louis XV and his governess, Madame de Ventadour, the Duc d’Orléans Philippe II, and other royal princes. The painter Antoine Coypel and Boze, Secretary of the Academy of Inscriptions, stood below the platform to record the event.
Mohammad Reza Beg entered the Hall of Mirrors, accompanied by an interpreter. Reportedly pretending to understand French, he said he was unhappy with the translation. After a long audience, he attended the dinner given in his honour. He left Versailles after visiting the young Louis XV, whom he reportedly liked He was received for the last time by the king during his reign on 13 August.
On 12 September 1715, he disembarked at Le Havre and returned to Persia via Muscovy. He reached Erivan in May 1717.
Influences in literature.
During the time he spent in Paris, however, feverish speculation ran rife about this exotic personage, his unpaid bills, his lavish but exotic lifestyle, the possibilities of amours, all concentrated in a pot-boiler romance of the beautiful but repeatedly kidnapped Georgian, Amanzolide, by M. d'Hostelfort, "Amanzolide, nouvelle historique et galante, qui contient les aventures secrètes de Mehemed-Riza-Beg, ambassadeur du Sophi de Perse à la cour de Louis le Grand en 1715". (Paris: P. Huet, 1716). It was quickly translated into English, as "Amanzolide, story of the life, the amours and the secret adventures of Mehemed-Riza-Beg, Persian ambassador to the court of Louis the Great in 1715" a true "turquerie", or fanciful Eastern imagining, which did not discriminate too finely between Ottoman Turkey and Safavid Persia.
More permanent literary results were embodied in Montesquieu's "Lettres Persanes" (1725), in which a satiric critique of French society was placed in the pen of an imagined Persian "homme de bonne volonté", a "man of good will".
The "Memoirs" of Saint-Simon for the year record contemporary court gossip that the ambassador was in fact an ordinary merchant from Persian lands, perhaps sent by "the governor of his province with business to transact in France" and put up as an ambassador by Pontchartrain, minister for trade and much else, essentially in a successful attempt to cheer up the aged king. He says of the ambassador "there seemed to be nothing genuine about him, and his behaviour was as disgraceful as his wretched suite and miserable presents. Moreover he produced neither credentials nor instructions from the King of Persia or his ministers".


Limban Mibaya

Thiri Thu Sandar Dewi, commonly known as Limban Mibaya (), was a queen of the fourth rank of King Mindon during the Konbaung dynasty.
Life and family.
Limban Mibaya was born to Tharbyu (also Minyon), mayor of Kanaung and Myanaung and his second wife Thakhingyi. She was the elder sister of Thetpan Mibaya.
Her father's first wife gave birth to Khin The, and so Limban Mibaya and the Queen of the Northern Palace were half-sisters (shared same father).
When her father died, her mother married an officer of Kyaukpadaung and gave birth to Tharazein Mibaya, Maung Lay Nge, and Maung Thudaw. Thus, Limban Mibaya and Tharazein Mibaya were also half-sisters (shared same mother).
Life in palace.
Limban Mibaya became a kollotaw of Prince Mindon, at the age of 16. When King Mindon ascended the throne, she became a fourth-rank queen and received the appanage of Limban.
Limban Mibaya died in 1893, and buried at Wingabar mound of Ngahtatgyi Buddha Temple.
Issues.
King Mindon and Limban Mibaya had four sons and a daughter, but second and third sons did not survive– only Salin Supaya, Kyapin Prince and Thiri Thu Dhammaraja Yanaung Prince were alive.
Her eldest daughter, Salin Supaya, was the Tabindaing Princess (chief queen designate) during the reign of King Mindon.
As the saying goes "Son Kyapin, daughter Salin," children of Limban Mibaya were the favorites of King Mindon.


Karalliyadde Bandara

Karalliyadde Banḍāra was King of Kandy, who ruled from 1552 to 1582. During his reign Banḍāra publicly embraced Catholicism, brought to the island by the Portuguese. He and his infant daughter princess Kusumāsana Devi fled the kingdom with his retinue. The princess was later baptized by the Portuguese and called Dona Catarina. He succeeded his father Jayavira Bandara as king and was succeeded by his daughter Kusumasana Devi.