USS Quiros (PG-40)

USS "Quiros" (PG-40), previously designated Gunboat No. 40, was a United States Navy gunboat in commission from 1900 to 1904, from 1904 to 1908, and from 1910 to 1923, seeing service in the Philippines and China. Prior to her U.S. Navy service, she was in commission in the Spanish Navy from 1896 to 1898 as Quirós, seeing service during the Philippine Revolution and the Spanish–American War.
Construction and commissioning.
"Quirós" was constructed as a schooner-rigged, composite gunboat for the Spanish Navy by the Hong Kong and Whampoa Dock Company in Hong Kong. She was laid down in June 1894, launched in early 1895, and commissioned into Spanish Navy service in 1896.
Service history.
Spanish Navy.
Upon commissioning in 1896, "Quirós" deployed to the Philippine Islands, where she took part in operations against Filipino insurgents during the Philippine Revolution. During the Spanish–American War of April–August 1898, United States Army forces captured her at Manila. After the war, Spain ceded the Philippines to the United States, and the Spanish Navy considered steaming her from the Philippines to Spain, but decided against it after assessing the voyage as both cost-prohibitive and likely to fail. Spain sold her to the United States on 21 February 1900.
U.S. Navy.
The U.S. Navy commissioned the gunboat at Cavite Navy Yard in the Philippines as USS "Quiros" (Gunboat No. 40) on 14 March 1900 with Lieutenant P. J. Werlich in command. Assigned to duty supporting the U.S. Army in the Philippine–American War, "Quiros" operated along the east coast of Luzon, carrying troops, providing fire support, blockading rebel villages, and making hydrographic surveys. She then switched to patrolling the Ulgan station, operating off the coast of Samar in cooperation with U.S. Army forces until 6 October 1901. She retired to Cavite for repairs from 25 February to 7 May 1902 and then proceeded to Zamboanga patrol station, where she cruised for a number of months, carrying U.S. Army troops and United States Marines on various missions. She was reported on 31 December 1903 to have gone aground on the Pearl Banks in the Sulu Sea off Borneo, but was reported on 15 January 1904 to have been refloated with minimal damage. She returned to Cavite and was decommissioned on 29 January 1904.
"Quiros" was recommissioned on 2 September 1904, and following service with the Philippine Squadron sailed for China, arriving at Shanghai on 3 August 1905. Operating along the China coast as far as Chefoo, she then took up duties on the Yangtze Patrol, patrolling the Yangtze River, making a number of upriver trips to Hankow and one voyage as far as Ichang, inland, in May 1907. On 27 February 1908, she departed China for Cavite, arriving there on 8 March 1908 and decommissioning there on 11 March 1908.
"Quiros" recommissioned on 11 October 1910 and operated on patrol in Philippine waters for the next year. She departed the Philippines on 11 November 1911 bound for Amoy, China, then proceeded to Shanghai, where she again took up duties on the Yangtze Patrol. "Quiros" remained on Chinese river service for the rest of her career, carrying stores, supplying naval armed guards to river merchantmen, inspecting provinces, and protecting U.S. lives and property in China's interior. "Quiros" was interned at Shanghai on 5 May 1917 after the U.S. entry into World War I due to China's neutrality in the war, but an international agreement on the protection of nationals in China allowed her to resume patrolling in August 1917.
On 17 July 1920, when the U.S. Navy established its modern system of hull classification symbols, "Quiros" received the hull number "PG-40." She was decommissioned at Shanghai on 10 August 1923 and was used as a target until sunk by U.S. Navy destroyer gunfire off the coast of China on 16 October 1923.


Narathu (disambiguation)

Narathu () was a Burmese royal title of kings, and may refer to:


Saw Binnya

Saw Binnya (, ; died 1541) was viceroy of Martaban (Mottama) from c. 1510s to 1539, and the self-proclaimed king of the rump Hanthawaddy Kingdom from 1539 to 1541. First appointed viceroy of Martaban, one of the three provinces of the Mon-speaking kingdom, by King Binnya Ran II, Saw Binnya ruled the province like a sovereign during the reign of King Takayutpi, his brother-in-law. Under his leadership, the port of Martaban became an international entrepôt, and grew tremendously wealthy. He was able to build up a formidable military of his own, replete with Portuguese mercenaries and arms. But his refusal to contribute to Takayutpi's war effort against Toungoo Dynasty greatly facilitated Toungoo's conquest of Pegu in 1538–1539, and ultimately resulted in the downfall of his own fiefdom in 1541. He was subsequently executed.
Ruler of Martaban.
Saw Binnya was appointed viceroy of the province of Martaban, one of the three provinces of Hanthawaddy, by King Binnya Ran II, c. 1510s. (He was already viceroy in 1519 when he signed a commercial treaty with the Portuguese, who spelled his name as "Chau Bainha". He was probably of high Hanthawaddy royalty, since only the most senior princes were appointed viceroy.) When Takayutpi became king in 1526, by the tradition of having blood ties with the sovereign, Saw Binnya took Takayutpi's eldest younger sister Princess Tala Kamu as his chief queen. Despite the initial gesture, he did not respect the 15-year-old king, who proved to be utterly disinterested in governing and spent his time in "frivolous amusements with bad companions".
In the following years, Saw Binnya scarcely acknowledged his overlord at Pegu, and ruled "the 32 districts of Martaban" (roughly, present-day Mon State and southern Kayin State) like a sovereign. His deputy Binnya U, governor of Moulmein (Mawlamyaing), was also married to a sister of Takayutpi but nonetheless was more loyal to him than the high king. Saw Binnya conducted his own trade and foreign relations. Under his leadership, Martaban became an entrepôt, and according to the accounts of Portuguese explorers, grew tremendously wealthy. Using the trade wealth, he was able to assemble a formidable military which by 1540 employed expensive Portuguese mercenaries, their firearms and warships.
He essentially declared independence from Pegu in 1534 by refusing to contribute to Takayutpi's war effort against Toungoo Dynasty as vassals were obligated to do. Takayutpi, not an able king, could not organize any retaliatory action against Toungoo or Martaban. In the following years, Saw Binnya was content to look on as Toungoo forces raided deeper and deeper into Lower Burma. He did not anticipate any immediate danger to his own realm as Toungoo without any foreign weapons repeatedly failed to take the Hanthawaddy capital Pegu (Bago), which was defended by foreign mercenaries. When Toungoo finally took Pegu in late 1538, Takayutpi so distrusted Saw Binnya that he chose to retreat to Prome Kingdom, another state, rather than to Martaban.
War with Toungoo.
Takayutpi died in early 1539 in exile, and Saw Binnya at once proclaimed himself king. He did not seem concerned by the arrival of the kingdom of Toungoo at his doorstep. In 1540, he received an ultimatum from King Tabinshwehti of Toungoo to submit in exchange for amnesty but he was unimpressed. He reckoned that Toungoo had gained Pegu only through a ruse against an incompetent ruler like Takayutpi, and that when Pegu's defenses were led by capable leaders, Toungoo could not take Pegu for four years. He believed that his Portuguese-backed military under his leadership could withstand any attack Toungoo could muster. He had already heavily fortified the city with high walls that could withstand even Portuguese cannon; deployed seven Portuguese warships to guard the harbor; and enlisted foreign mercenaries led by Paulo de Seixas to lead the defenses. He rejected the ultimatum.
Saw Binnya's confidence was not completely unfounded. In fact, the Toungoo command after the conquest of Pegu deliberated an attack on Martaban that would have begun in November 1539 but decided against it, citing the city's strong defenses. Instead, Toungoo prepared for war against Martaban throughout 1539 and 1540. By November 1540, Tabinshwehti had assembled a 13,000-strong force including 700 Portuguese troops who brought their muskets and cannon. In the meantime, Saw Binnya's defensive plans were frustrated by the governor of Moulmein's decision to stay out of the fight. (Binnya U also received Tabinshwehti's ultimatum. He did not submit to the Toungoo king but responded that he would stay out of the fight.) Abandoned by his vassals, Saw Binnya was now in a similar situation as the predicament he himself put Takayutpi in just a few years earlier.
In November 1540, Toungoo forces invaded, and quickly surrounded the city. Martaban's well-prepared defenses kept the besiegers at bay for months. However, mass starvation eventually set inside the city. Saw Binnya finally offered to surrender provided that he be allowed to remain viceroy in exchange for an annual tribute of 30,000 viss (48,987.9 kg) of silver bullion and other valuable presents. Tabinshwehti rejected the offer, demanding an unconditional surrender instead. Saw Binnya then asked for safe-conduct out of the city for himself and his entire family, together with his treasures. It too was rejected by the Burmese king. In desperation, Saw Binnya appealed to the Portuguese viceroy at Goa for assistance, offering to become a vassal of Goa, in addition to an outright gift of half the amount of his treasury. The Portuguese were interested. A Portuguese captain listed the treasure as consisting of two shiploads of gold and silver, and 26 chests of precious stones. In addition, gold to be looted from the city's pagodas would fill 4 ships. But the Portuguese also feared the vengeance of Tabinshwehti, the new power in Lower Burma, and "wavered between greed and prudence". At the same time, Saw Binnya offered a large bribe to João Caeiro, the leader of Portuguese mercenaries fighting for Toungoo, to help him and his family escape. Caeiro seriously considered the overly generous offer but ultimately declined the offer as his deputies found out the proposal and threatened to report the matter to Tabinshwehti.
Death.
In May 1541, after a seven-month siege, Toungoo naval forces led by Adm. Smim Payu broke through the seven Portuguese ships at the harbor, and the city's defenses were breached. Inside the city, Saw Binnya, described as athletic and brave, led his forces atop a war elephant against the invaders. He is said to have fought off several one-on-one combats on elephant-back. He was finally defeated in combat by Commander Nanda Kyawthu, and was arrested. The viceroy remained chivalrous to the end. He congratulated Nanda Kyawthu for his victory, and gave the Toungoo commander presents from his treasury. Tabinshwehti congratulated Saw Binnya for his bravery and chivalry but did not forgive him. The Toungoo king ordered the execution of the viceroy, his family and all the "gallant defenders" of the city. The mass execution had the desired effect: The remaining vassals of Martaban down to the Siamese border duly submitted to Toungoo.


Balavarman

Balavarman was successor and son of Samudravarman; ruled Kamarupa for the period 398–422.
Reign.
He was known for great amount of physical strength as reflected in his name and courage. His soldiers are always on front against enemy. Balavarman fought wars with Samudra Gupta, in spite of relationship.
Family.
His wife's name is Ratnavati who gave birth to Kalyanavarman. He arranged Svayamvara for his daughter Amritaprabha, which are attended by princes of different countries of Aryavarta. Rajtarangini of Kalhana gives detail accounts of this event. Princess eventually accepted prince of Kashmir Meghavahana as her groom. Amritaprabha established numerous Buddhist monasteries in Kashmir.


Osman I of the Maldives

Sultan Osmaan I Sri sundhura Mahaa radhun was the Sultan of the Maldives in 1388. He ruled the country for 6 months and 15 days. Sultan Osmaan was also the last sultan to ascend the throne of the Maldives from the Lunar Dynasty, ending the 227 years of Lunar Dynasty rule since the Maldives converted to Islam from Buddhism.
Sultan Osmaan I was forced to abdicate and banished to Kolhumadulu Atoll Guraidhoo, where he would die. His tomb was found in 1922.


Larijan (district)

Larijan was the name of a district that encompassed the entire area covered by the Lar River in Mazandaran, a region on the Caspian coast of northern Iran. The mythical Iranian king Fereydun was said to have been born in a village in Larijan.


Cesar Lacson Locsin Ancestral House

The Cesar Lacson Locsin Ancestral House is a heritage house known to be the home of El Ideal Bakery, the oldest bakery along Rizal and Eusebio Streets, National Highway, Silay, Negros Occidental, Philippines. The bakery is known for its "guapple" pie (a combination of guava and apple pie) and several other local delicacies and sweets.
History.
Around the 1920s, Cesar Lacson Locsin and his sisters, Julianita "Nitang" Locsin-Gamboa included, started baking breads and cookies in their lone brick oven within the confines of their two-storey home.
During the glory days of Silay, El Ideal served to cater to the gastronomic needs of gamblers who were often glued to their favorite pastime.
Then time came when the sisters had to leave the bakeshop to the hands of Locsin as the sole owner. Locsin-Gamboa, on her part, had to focus on raising a family and had to sell her share to her brother. Locsin took on the responsibility of running El Ideal and eventually passed the management to his daughter, Alice Locsin-Villanueva, in the 1950s. Locsin-Villanueva developed El Ideal by installing another brick oven, adding a restaurant that occupied the whole ground floor of the ancestral house, and expanding its product line that included refreshments. Now, Locsin's granddaughter Maritess Villanueva-Sanchez with her husband Henry Sanchez and son Mark took over the business.
But El Ideal was not without challenges. In 1977, there was a move to widen Rizal St., which would mean taking down heritage structures, such as the Cesar Lacson Locsin Ancestral House. But the residents of Silay expressed their desire to protect these old buildings. A petition was submitted and the plan never pushed through. Such demolition would have chopped off a portion of the refreshment parlor and part of the kitchen.
The Cesar Lacson Locsin Ancestral House is now protected from such threats through its stature as a heritage structure through a declaration by the National Historical Institute pursuant to board resolution no. 3 dated 6 April 1993.
Art and architecture.
An Antillan structure, the Cesar Lacson Locsin Ancestral House adheres to the classic "bahay na bato" standards wherein the lower portion is made of concrete while the upper floor is made of wood. The windows are made of glass panes and the upper level windows have iron grills.


Arakanese chronicle


History of Larkana

Larkana or Larkano is the fourth largest city located in the Northwest of Sindh Province, Pakistan. It is located in Larkana District and is a thickly populated city which is growing rapidly. In August 2000, Larkana celebrated its hundredth year of existence.
History.
Abbasiya is the old name of Larkana. Larkana was renowned for its production of cloth in those days. Its product of cloth was shifted from Mohen-Jo-Daro to the rest of countries via water ways, in the meantime, the same cloth was used for mummification in Egypt. Thus credit for unparalleled technological advancement of Mohen-Jo-Daro goes to its trade of cloth. Aryans had come to Sindh in 2234 B.C. and settled in different part of Sindh, and while crossing Larkana, reached Bhanbhoor. Jhokar-jo-Daro is proof of Aryan visit. Different people came in Sindh but non could eliminate the tradition of Aryans till teachings of Gotam Bodh spread in 480's B.C whose proof is found in Moen-jo-Daro that was a center of worship for Buddhism. Sikandar (i-e Alexander) attacked Sindh in 330 B.C. His forces had crossed little known village as Mahota. It was named by his forces as Maota in Greek. After Greeks Sindh was ruled by Gupta dynasty from 320 CE to 525 CE. Thus, Chandias were rewarded heavily for their contribution. It was in this period that Larkana was named as Chandka. However, after demise of Jam Nizamuddin, Shah Beg Argon started ruling over Sindh. Larkano city is purely result of Construction of Canal “Ghaar Wah”. In the late 16th century, Kalhora started their rule. In their rule, Shah Baharo was a ruler of Larkano in Kalhora period Sindhi language rose to its peak, especially in the period of Mian Sarfaraz Ahmed Khan Kalhoro Sahb. After end of Kalhora rule, period of Talpur came and Nawab Wali Mohammad Khan was made Governor of Larkano
In 1843 the English occupied Sindh and divided Sindh in three parts namely Karachi, Hyderabad and Shikarpur. Larkana was the part of Shikarpur and Dadu was part of Larkana. In 1930 Dadu was made a separate district and Larkana got its present shape during Historic movement for Pakistan. Larkanians took active role in movement of Khilafat and Higrat so on the whole Larkana is always been the centre of political activity in Sindh.
Historic background.
Larkana is first mentioned in the "Tuhfatulakram", a book written in Kalhora period. Even in this book, nothing is told about the origin of the city. Larkana is discussed in later histories like "Tareekh Taza Navai Muarka", "Lab-Tareekh-e-Sindh", and in travelogues of foreign travellers. In histories of pre-Kalhora period, such as "Chach Nama", "Aeen-e-Akbari", "Tareekh-e-Masoomi", and "Tareekh-e-Mazhar Shah Jahani", nothing is found about this city. This reveals that Larkana exerted its political, cultural, and economic importance during the period of Kalhoras. This city possibly did not exist before this period or, if existed, was a small village of no importance.
(Translated from "Larkana Tareekh je Aaeene men" by Dr. Abdul Majeed Sindhi (Memon))
link Commercial and Official Website
British Times (1843 to 1947)
British after conquering Sindh started irrigation canals and Larkana got a lot of importance. British made Larkana the headquarters of Larkana District and Larkana Taluka. For some time Larkana and rest of Sindh was part of the Bombay Presidency of British India. The city lay on the route of the North-Western Railway, and the population according to the 1901 census of India was 14,543.
The Imperial Gazetteer of India reads
The country surrounding Lārkāna is fertile and populous, and perhaps the finest tract in the whole of the province: The spacious walks, well laid-out gardens, and luxuriant foliage, have gained for Lārkāna the title of the 'Eden of Sind.' It is one of the most important grain marts of Sind, and is famous for a variety of rice called sugdāsi. There is a large local traffic in metals, cloth, and leather. The principal manufactures are cloth of mixed silk and cotton, coarse cotton cloth, metal vessels, and leathern goods. The town contains a dispensary, an Anglo-vernacular school attended by 80 pupils, and a vernacular school with three branches, attended altogether by 379 pupils.
Role of the city.
Larkana is the most important settlement in the Western Upper Sindh. Being the hometown of many politicians, it exercises a country-wide influence. Being divisional headquarters, Larkana is also a major administrative center. Recently the city has been elevated to the status of division headquarters. On this basis it is expected that its importance will further increase.
Regarding Services, Larkana is characterised as a major center rendering a variety of services to a rich agriculture hinterland. Information collected by PEPAC in 1985 indicated a ratio of about 33 inhabitants per shop in Larkana, a figure which if compared to the national standards infers that a considerable percentage of the customers come from outside the city. The catchment population of Larkana for commercial services is estimated today at some 0.75 million people. In spite of its importance as an administrative and service center, Larkana never managed to become up to now a center of 'export oriented ' industrial activities. According to the 1981 census population figures, Larkana (with 123,000 inhabitants at that time), ranked 5th in the Sindh Province and 23rd in Pakistan.
Larkana is performing high order functions in the health and education sectors. The beneficiaries of these services originate not only from within the district but from the entire Sindh province. Likewise in health, specialised services are available with the Chandka Medical College and Sheikh Zaid Hospitals where 50% of the patients in 1985 were from places outside the Larkana environs.
Chandka Medical College (CMC) now Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University
Chandka Medical College (CMC), was built by former Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto for the people of Larkana, it was inaugurated on 20 April 1973 as 4th medical college of the Sindh. Second Batch of 250 students was admitted in 1974. due to shortage of accommodation as a result of increasing number of admissions, one, four story, girls hostel & two boys hostels were constructed. Now it has six boys hostels and two girls which can accommodates about 1100 students.
The Chandka Medical College, is recognized by Pakistan Medical & Dental Council (PMDC). The College of Physicians & Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP) has also established its regional center at CMC Larkana. CPSP, has started conducting FCPS-I, FCPS-II and MCPS Examination CMC, Larkana center since 1999. the results (Passing Percentage) of candidates appearing theory examinations is comparable with other centers of the country.
The Chandka Medical College is upgraded to a medical university, Shaheed Mohtrama Benazir Bhutto Medical University (SMBBMU) on 12 April 2008, due to the efforts taken by Professor Surgeon Dr. Sikandar Ali Shaikh, who was principal of CMC at that time and later became the first Vice Chancellor of the SMBBMU. Dr. Sikandar Ali Shaikh retired in 2011. As of Oct 2012, Dr Akbar Hyder Soomro is the VC of SMBBMU and Dr. Asadullah Mahar is the principal of the Medical College.
Location.
Larkana city is the headquarters of Larkana District. Centrally located with respect to the district, Larkana lies on 27o33' 39.60"north latitude and 68o12'27.00" east longitude (coordinates of Lahori Regulator on Rice Canal in Larkana). To see the satellite map of Larkana, click here; Lahori Regulator will be at exact centre of the map. Sukkur is at a distance of about 85 km in east. Other important towns in vicinity of Larkana are Miro Khan and Naudero. The district shares its western boundaries with Baluchistan Province.
Population.
Population of Larkana is increasing rapidly, main reason of which is movement of people from villages to the city. In 1891, population of Larkana was merely 12019 (6643 males and 5376 females). In 1941, population was 28084 (10760 Hindu males, 4411 Muslim males, 9507 Hindu females, and 3406 Muslim females). Area of Municipal Committee was in 1941.
Year Population
1891 12019
1901 14543
1911 16097
1931 24698
1941 28084
1951 32745
1961 48231
1971 71893
1981 123410
Year Population
1951 33414
1961 48008
1972 71893
1981 123890
1990 180000
2000 254000*
2010 345000*
Male-Female Population Ratio
Year % of Males % of Females Male/Female Ratio
1972 53.8 46.2 1.16
1985 53.5 46.5 1.15
1990 52.5 47.5 1.11
2000 51.5 48.5 1.06
2010 50.0 50.0 1.00.
Sources: 1972 and 1981 Census Figures.
Geography.
The district is bounded on the north by Balochistan Province, on the east by Shikarpur and Khairpur districts and part of Nausheroferoz district, to the south, is bounded by the Dadu District and to the west by the Kohistan area of the Khirthar range, which separates it side, adjoining the Shikarpur, Khairpur and Nausheroferoz district. Geographically, the district is divided into three parts viz, the Kohistan Tract, Central Canal Irrigation Tract and the Eastern Tract. The Western portion of the district comprising western parts of Shahdadkot, Kamber and the Warah Talukas consists of the Kohistan area. A range of limestone hills and mountains referred to by the old writers as the “Hallar”, but generally known as the Khirthar range, extends along the whole western boundary of the district, with a breadth of 19 to 21 kilometers in a straight line.
The Khirthar range consists of an ascending series of ridges, running generally north to south with broad, flat valleys in between. These ridges are locally distinguished by different names, for example, the first line of hills is known as “Kakrio” (broken), the next as “Karo”(Black), and the third as “Pinaro” (Saffron coloured). The highest ridge of the range at its northern extremity is about 1,500 meters above the sea-level. The most elevated peak known as “Kute-ji-Kabar” (dog's tomb) is 2064 meters above the sea-level.
The entire area of this district within the protective bounds (one on the western side to prevent hill torrents in rainy season and the other on the eastern side of the district to protect the canal irrigated area from rivers (floods) is irrigated by a network of canals viz. the Rice Canal, Dadu Canal, Warah Canal, Khirthar Canal and Saifullah Magsi Canal. The area irrigated by these canals is .
The total area under forests is about 25532 hectares. Some of the important forests are Salihani, Agani, Nauabad, Amrote, Keti Chandka, Khuhra, Madeji, Khokhar, Tajudero, Visar, Adamji, Sharifpur, Dasu, Behman, Hassan Wahan, Gajidero, Abrepota, Beli Gaji, Bagi, Shahbeg, Gangherko and Tatri.
Communications.
There is a network of metal led and katcha roads all over the district. All the taluka headquarters are connected with the district headquarters either by road or by rail.
The Pakistan Railways runs through the district from north to south. Larkana itself is a railway junction.
Festivals.
Four main festivals are held annually in Larkana district, one in the honour of Pirsher at Taluka Larkana, other in memory of Mian Ghulam Siddique at Shahdadkot, the 3rd at Mirokhan Taluka in the name of Hakimshah Pat Waro and 4th fair is organized at Kambar Taluka in the memory of Mian Shahal Muhammad Kalhoro.
Culture, custom and traditions.
Majority of the population of the District is Muslim. The culture life of the Muslims is greatly influenced by the Islamic way of life. The pirs and murshids are held in high esteem and confidence amongst the Muslim particularly bym the illiterate masses of the rural areas. Urs ceremonies of pirs are regularly held at their shrines. The Hindus also hold great confidence in Thakurs and Brahmans. The Brahmans usually perform spiritual rites of Hindus on special occasions.
The languages mostly spoken in this District are Sindhi, Brohi, Balochi, Siraiki and Urdu. However, Urdu is understood by a great majority of the population. Tablas, Dholaks, sarangis, alogozas changs and mutes are the main musical instruments and are played on the occasions of marriages, betrothal, Eids and melas. Songs of different kinds are sung by men as well as women on such occasions. Gharas (pitcher) are also used to make musical-rhythm. Both men and women dance jhumar is a popular dance in this area. Women do not dance in public in front of a male audience.
Markets and shopping centers & shops.
new nazar mahlla larkana


Poonjar dynasty

Poonjar dynasty (Malayalam:പൂഞ്ഞാർ രാജവംശം) (Tamil:பூஞ்சார் பேரரசு) was one of the royal dynasties in medieval Kerala descended from the Pandya kings of Madurai. History has it that Manavikrama Kulasekara Perumal, a Pandya king as the sole founder of the dynasty. It was a minor principality in the central Travancore region which covered the parts of present-day Dindigul, Cumbum, Kudallor, Bodinayakkanur, Vandiperiyar, Peerumedu
and Kannan Devan hills.
Manavikrama Kulasekara Perumal.
In , Kulothunga Chola, a famed Chola king entered in a battle with Manavikrama Kulasekara Perumal, who was a Pandya king. Kulothunga's first attempt to defeat him went unsuccessful but, his next attempt became successful which resulted in the failure of Manavikrama. Upon the failure, Manavikrama appointed his brother Maravarman Sreebhallava as the raja of Pandya kingdom and left Madurai with his family and some trusted servants. Later, he settled in Gudalloor region with his family and administered from there. When he came to know about the availability of land at cheap rates in Kerala, he shifted to Thekkumkoor via Kumily, Periyar, Kolahalamedu and Vagamon. He also carried out the idols of Madhura Meenakshi, their "kuladevatha" (tutelary deity) and Sundareswarar (Shiva) which was used in the chariot festival in Madurai Meenakshi temple. These idols were later installed in the Poonjar Meenakshi temple on the banks of Meenachil river.
Owning Poonjar.
Upon the journey to Thekkumkur, Manavikrama and his troops were unexpectedly attacked by some robbers near Vandiperiyar. But a mahout with an elephant suddenly appeared and defeated those thieves within no time. He gave a stick and the elephant to the king and warned him to leave the place. After the strange incidents at Vandiperiyar, Manavikrama reached Ettumanoor temple and stayed there. At night, some robbers tried to plunder the temple assets which was bravely resisted by the raja and his servants. Before shifting to Poonjar, Manavikrama and his family initially settled in Kanjirappally and built a shrine for goddess Meenakshi there. After procuring lands from the Thekkumkoor rajas, Manavikrama and his family moved to the palace in Poonjar where the Koyikkal rulers ruled. He was well aware about the incidents at Vandiperiyar and believed that Lord Ayyappa himself came to his rescue in the form of a mahout. In returns, a separate idol of Ayyappa was installed in the Poonjar Dharma Sastha temple. Another temple for Ayyappa was constructed at Vandiperiyar where the raja was rescued by a mahout (believed to be Lord Ayyappa) from an unexpected attack of thieves.
Expansion of Poonjar kingdom.
After acquiring Poonjar from Thekkumkoor rajas, Manavikrama procured Manjamala and Periyar regions in 594, Elamala region of Chengamanadu Devaswom in C.E 364 and the Kannanthevannoor region from Keezhmalainadu Kothavarmman Kovilathikarikal in C.E 427. The Cumbum, Koodallur, Uthamapalayam, Dindigul and Bodinayakkanur regions in Tamilakam were also the parts of Poonjar kingdom. As Edappally raja married the daughter of Manavikrama, regions including Kochi also came under the possession of Poonjar. Poonjar kingdom expanded its extend which reached up to the Palani hills in present Tamil nadu. By , the area of Poonjar kingdom was about .
Decline.
After , there were no inheritors in Ponnjar royal family. Hence the members of "Sarkara kovilakom" in Ponnani taluk were adopted. Later, a raja of this dynasty married a princess of Vadakkukkoor palace. During the Digvijaya of Marthandavarma, Poonjar sided with Venad against Vadakkumkoor. The battle resulted in the merging of Vadakkumkoor in Venad. The kingdom of Poonjar couldn't resist the attacks of Hyderali in C.E 932 and in order to sustain their kingdom, Poonjar had to pay 75,000 gold coins and 7 elephants to the Mysore sultan. Cumbum, Koodallur regions were conquered under Hyderali's attacks in C.E 934. Dharmaraja with a sympathy towards Poonjar provided 5,000 Nair soldiers to recapture the areas obtained by Hyderali but it wasn't a fruitful task. As per the instructions of Dhiwan Keshavapilla, force of Poonjar attacked Cumbum and Koodallur regions in which they attained victory and helped them to recapture these regions. After the demise of Tippu Sultan, English East India Company raised their voice for the ownership of Kannandevan hills and many Pandya nadus. Upon acquiring the ownership rights of these regions, Anjanadu and Kannandevan hills were given to Poonjar kingdom. When time passed, many regions under Poonjar were given in lease to Travancore including Anjunadu, Elamala and Periyar regions. The vast Poonjar kingdom finally shrunk to just 87 km2.
Prominent Members.
The royal family has many prominent members. Most notable among them is Col. G.V. Raja who is considered as the most eminent promoter of sports in Kerala and the first person to identify the potential of developing the state into a hub of tourism.
Recently a statue was unveiled of his older brother PR Rama Varma Raja a prolific personality who during his lifetime was based from Alakode, Kerala.
Another important person was the late P Kerala Varma, a change-maker, social activist, and tantrik scholar. He stood for elections multiple times the notable one being against the late chief minister K. Karunakaran in 1998.
Gopa Varma, another member of the royal family has been a pioneer in promoting adventure sports and sustainable tourism in Kerala. He has been pivotal in the promotion of paragliding as a popular sport in Kerala.
Poonjar palace.
The Poonjar palace, about 600 years old, is built in the traditional architectural styles of ancient Chera and Pandya Kingdoms is a privileged historic destination. Wood being the most used construction component due to the availability of forest woods in the eastern side of Kottayam and Idukki districts. Other components used were granite stone blocks, laterite tiles and clay tiles of larger and medium sizes. The ancient architectural styles of Kerala can be seen anywhere here. The temple like structure gives the palace itself a holy look. The floors and interior parts are quite unique in their design and outlook. There is also a temple inside the palace built according to the "Vastu shastra" laws. Marvelous statutes of various Hindu deities are placed in various parts of palace. The furniture made of teak, sandal wood and rose wood. These uniqueness of Poonjar palace attracts many visitors. A museum is also housed inside the palace which preserves many rock cut lamps, sculptures and antiques. The Kerala state department of archaeology keeps the palace as a heritage site and a historic monument.
Temples under Poonjar dynasty.
Attractions at the palace.
Poonjar palace preserves a unique exquisite collection of various materials which remain in good condition.


Battle of Porto Novo

The Battle of Porto Novo was fought on 1 July 1781 between forces of the Kingdom of Mysore and British East India Company in the place called Porto Novo (now known as Parangipettai) on the Indian subcontinent, during the Second Anglo-Mysore War. The British force, numbering more than 8,000 under the command of Sir Eyre Coote defeated a force estimated at 40,000 under the command of Hyder Ali.


Tomb of the Jibei King

The Tomb of the Jibei King () is a tomb from the time of the Western Han Dynasty in Changqing District of Jinan, Shandong Province, China. It is also known as the Han Dynasty Tomb of Shuangru Mountain (). The tomb is thought to have been the burial site of Liu Kuan (), the last king of Jibei who ruled from 97–85BC during the time of the Emperor Wu of Han of the Western Han Dynasty. The tomb was a major archaeological find since it had been untouched by grave robbers. Its discovery was ranked among the top ten Chinese archaeological finds of 1996 by Chinese National Office for Cultural Artefacts.
The City of Lu (thought to have been located near modern Luchengwa in Jinan City about five kilometers north of the tomb) served as the capital of the Kingdom of Jibei as well as a cultural and economic center during the time of the Han Dynasty. Liu Kuan, the last king of Jibei was forced to commit suicide for having an affair with his widowed step mother and for cursing the emperor during a sacrifice. The tomb of the King of Jibei was carved into a limestone cliff and covered a total area of 1,500 square meters. It was excavated during the years 1995 and 1997 by archaeologists of Shandong University. More than 2000 artifacts - bronze objects, jade objects, lacquer wares, iron artifacts, ceramics, and gold objects were recovered from the site. Among the jade artifacts, a jade mask made of 18 pieces, jade swords, and jade headrests are particularly noteworthy. Gold artifacts include about 20 gold ingots (so-called "gold cakes", ) as well as pieces belonging to chariots. The discovered artifacts reflect the wealth of the city during this period. If the identification of the tomb as the burial place of Liu Kuan is correct,
he had been granted a royal burial despite his disgrace. However, the jade burial suit which was customary for wealthy aristocrats of the period may have been denied to him as a result.
The artifacts have been relocated to the Museum of Changqing District () in the town of Changqing and the Shandong Museum in Jinan.
The tomb has been listed as a monument of the People's Republic of China with resolution number 5–168. The archaeological name of the site is "Shuangrushan Han Tomb Number 1" as a second tomb from the same period is located nearby.


Loharu State

Loharu State was one of the princely states of India during the period of the British Raj. It was part of the Punjab States Agency and was a nine-gun salute state.
Loharu State encompassed an area of , and was situated in the south-east corner of the undivided Punjab province, between the district of Hissar and the Rajputana Agency. In 1901, the state had a population of 15,229 people, of whom 2,175 resided in the town of Loharu. From 1803 to 1835, the territory of Loharu State also included an Ferozepur Jhirka enclave within the area directly administered by the British raj, Outer limits of the state were defined by the peripheral towns of Loharu, Bahal, Isharwal, Kairu, Jui Khurd and Badhra.
The "haveli" of 'Nawab of Loharu', known as "Mahal Sara", lies in Gali Qasim Jan in Ballimaran, where his son-in-law, noted poet Mirza Ghalib stayed for a few years, whose own Ghalib ki Haveli lies a few yard away. Now the "gali", which houses the Mahal Sara, is known as "Kothi Nawab Loharu" lane in Ballimaran mohalla of Chandni Chowk area in Old Delhi.
History.
Loharu town, the seat of the state's administration town got its name from the "Lohars" (local blacksmiths) who were employed in the minting of coins for the erstwhile Jaipur State. The princely state of Loharu was founded by Ahmad Baksh Khan in 1803 when he received the town of Loharu, (along with the "pargana" of 'Firozepur Jirka' (now in Nuh district), from the Lord Lake of British East India Company as a reward for his services against the Jat rulers of Bharatpur.
Ahmad Baksh Khan was succeeded by his eldest son, Sams-ud-din Khan [Samsudin Ahmad Khan], in 1827; his reign did not last long: in 1835 he was executed by the British Raj for being involved in the conspiracy to kill the British Resident to Delhi, Sir William Frazer, Noted Urdu poet Daagh Dehlvi was a son of Nawab Samsuddin Khan. subsequently the pargana of Firozepur was taken away by the British and the state of Loharu was given to his brothers, Amin-ud-din and Zia-ud-din Khan. Both were themselves kept under surveillance after the Indian Rebellion of 1857 for some time, before being released and their positions restored.
Alauddin Ahmed Khan succeeded his father Amin-ud-din Khan in 1869 and received the title of Nawab. Alauddin's son, Amir-ud-din Ahmad Khan (1859–1937), after managing the state on his father's behalf, succeed him in 1884, though from 1893 to 1903, he remained administrator and adviser of the state of Maler Kotla during this time, the state was being handled by his younger brother, Bashiruddin Ahmed Khan. In 1903, Amir- ud-din Ahmad Khan also received the K.C.S.I honour from the British Government and after 1 January 1903 was allowed a 9 gun personal salute. He later became a member of the Viceroy of India's legislative council.
In 1920, he abdicated to his second son, Aizzuddin Ahmad Khan, though he died early in 1926, leaving the state to his son, Amin ud-din Ahmad Khan (1911–1983) - the last Nawab. However, since the new Nawab was still young, Amirud-din Ahmad Khan stepped in and took care of the state till 1931.
After the Independence of India in 1947, the state acceded to the Union of India and many of the ruling family and the city's Muslim inhabitants re-settled in Lahore, Pakistan, though the Nawab and his direct descendants (except for the eldest daughter of Nawab Aminuddin Ahmed, Mahbano Begum who lives in Islamabad), stayed on, in India.
Notable members of the Loharu dynasty.
The ruling family of Loharu was linked by blood or marriage to several important Muslim personalities of the 19th century, including:
Courtiers.
Jaglan Zail of Bidhwan was adjacent to the Loharu State.
Mir Muhammad Khan, was a fine vocalist in the court of Maharaja Loharu, a descendant of Mir Allahbux who a famous vocalists and the court-musician of Raja Nahar Singh of Ballabhgarh State.


Vira Bahu II of Gampola

Vira Bahu II was King of Gampola who ruled from 1391/2 to 1397. He succeeded Bhuvanaikabahu V and was succeeded by Vira Alakesvara. He may have been succeeded two of his sons in the year 1397.


Mongolian horse

The Mongol horse (Mongolian Адуу, "aduu": "horse" or "mori"; or as a herd, "ado") is the native horse breed of Mongolia. The breed is purported to be largely unchanged since the time of Genghis Khan. Nomads living in the traditional Mongol fashion still hold more than 3 million animals, which outnumber the country's human population. In Mongolia, the horses live outdoors all year, dealing with temperatures from in summer down to in winter, and they graze and search for food on their own. The mare's milk is processed into the national beverage "airag." Some animals are slaughtered for meat. Other than that, they serve as riding and transport animals; they are used both for the daily work of the nomads and in horse racing.
Mongol horses were a key factor supporting the 13th-century conquests of the Mongol Empire.
Characteristics.
Mongol horses are of a stocky build, with relatively short but strong legs and a large head. They weigh about 500 to 600 lbs. and range in size from high. Their cannon bone external circumference is about . They have a slight resemblance to Przewalski's horse and were once believed to have originated from that subspecies. However, that theory was disproven in 2011 by genetic testing. The question whether Przewalski's horse is an ancestor of any domestic horse is still being debated, though it can interbreed with domesticated horses to hybridize and produce fertile offspring. Of the caballine equines, "E. ferus," only "E. ferus ferus," also known as the European wild horse or "tarpan," shares ancestry with the modern domestic horse.
The mane and tail of the Mongol horse are very long. Their strands are often used for braiding ropes; the tail hair can be used for violin bows. Mongolian horses have great stamina; although they have small bodies, they can gallop for 10 km without a break. When pulling a cart, a team of four Mongol horses can draw a load of 4400 lbs for 50–60 km a day. Because the horses are allowed to live much the same as wild horses, they require little in the way of hoof care. The hooves are left untrimmed and unshod, and few farriers are in the country. Mongol horses have hard, strong hooves and seldom have foot problems. Sometimes, horses will be branded.
Horses from different regions of Mongolia are considered to have different traits. Desert horses are said to have larger feet than average ("like camel's feet"). Mountain horses are short and particularly strong. Steppe horses are the tallest, fastest variety of Mongol horses. Specifically, the eastern Khentii Province and Sükhbaatar Province steppe provinces are widely considered to produce the fastest horses in the country. Darkhad horses are known for their strength. A Darkhad horse weighing only 250 kg can carry a load of 300 kg—the equivalent of carrying another horse on its back. On a broader level, some Mongolian provinces are considered to be more suitable for horse rearing than others. The eastern steppe provinces are informally known as the "horse provinces" because of their suitability for horse breeding. The northern mountain provinces are considered "cow provinces", though horses are reared there, as well.
A wide variety of horse colorations are seen. People in the different regions of Mongolia favor different colors of horses and breed accordingly. The Darkhad ethnic group prefers white horses, while the Nyamgavaa prefer dun, bay, or black horses and shun white-colored animals. Some horses are bred for the preferences of foreign markets. Elizabeth Kendall, travelling through southern Mongolia in 1911, wrote, "I was struck by the number of white and grey ponies, and was told that horses are bred chiefly for the market in China, and this is the Chinese preference." She also observed that the northern Mongolian herds near Tuerin seemed to consist mainly of black and chestnut horses.
Herdsmen breed horses primarily for color and speed, but also for conformation, disposition, and lineage. In Mongolia, conformation is not stressed so strongly as it is in Western culture. However, a few traits are preferred in a horse. When walking, a horse should leave hind footprints that fall upon or outside the fore footprints. A desirable animal should also have a large head, thick bones, a large barrel, thick legs, be tall (but not so tall as to impede winter survival), possess a thick coat for cold resistance, have a thick mane and tail, and a Roman nose; the latter is considered important because dish-faced horses are considered to have difficulty grazing.
Giovanni de Carpini was one of the first Westerners to describe Mongol horses, observing, "...[they] are not very great in stature, but exceedingly strong, and maintained with little provender."
Mongol horses are frugal, hardy, somewhat wily, and tread safely in rough terrain. In Mongolia, most animals are kept roaming free, and only a small number of riding animals are caught and tethered. A nomad's herd of horses hangs out around the family's dwelling, typically grazing several kilometres away. The herd is allowed to choose its own pasturage with little interference from the owners. They may disappear for days at a time, and eventually the owners go out to look for them. Once a horse has become familiar with carrying a rider, it will be calm, friendly, and very reliable. Because nature provides so well for Mongol horses, they cost little to nothing to raise. They are a practical necessity of everyday life, in which a substantial portion of the population still lives as nomads. Herdsmen regard their horses as both a form of wealth and a source of the daily necessities: transportation, food, and drink.
The horses typically eat nothing but grass and require very little water, a trait useful for survival in environments like the Gobi desert. A horse may drink only once a day. In the winter, Mongol horses paw up the snow to eat the grass underneath. For water, they eat snow.
During the winter and early spring, horses lose about 30% of their body weight. They must regain this weight during summer and fall so as to survive another year. During particularly hard winters ("zuds"), horses may starve to death en masse or die of exposure. Herdsmen can do little to save their herds in such conditions. In the bitter winter of 2009 - 2010, 188,270 Mongol horses perished. Despite their life in semi-feral conditions, most horses live to be 20 – 40 years old.
The horse is believed to have been first domesticated somewhere in the Eurasian Steppe. Never have all the horses in Mongolia been domesticated at once; rather, wild and domesticated horses coexisted and interbred, so verifiably "true" wild blood no longer exists in the Mongol horses of today. However, although not considered true wild horses in the same sense as Przewalski's horse, some feral Mongolian horses browse the steppe alongside their semiferal domesticated kin. Unlike the mustangs that roam the West in the United States, which are categorized as a non-native species, feral Mongol horses are living in the same manner and place as where their ancestors had run and lived for hundreds of thousands of years. Occasionally, the nomads capture feral horses to add to their herds.
History.
The split between Przewalski's horse and "E. ferus caballus" is estimated to have occurred 120,000– 240,000 years ago, long before domestication. The Mongolian horse is theorized to be the founding stock for many other horse breeds in Asia, including the Tuvinian, Akhaltekin, Yunan, Japanese and Cheju. A comparison of Mongol horses, Japanese horses, and Arab Anglo/Thoroughbred horses found that Mongol horses had the highest genetic diversity, with a heterozygosity ranging from 0.75 to 0.77. Compared to low heterozygosity values for Thoroughbreds (0.461), Arabians (0.478) and the bottlenecked Przewalski's horse (0.474), the genetic diversity of the Mongol horses is exceptional.
A 1918 census of Mongolian animals found 1,500,000 horses. The origins of the Mongolian breed are hard to determine. Nomads of the central Asian steppes have been documented as riding horses since 2000 BC. Tests have shown, that among all horse breeds, Mongol horses feature the largest genetic variety, followed by the Tuwinian horses. This indicates that it is a very archaic breed suffering little human-induced selection. The data also indicate that many other breeds descend from the Mongol horses.
Crossbreeding.
Recently, breeders have begun importing expensive foreign racehorse breeds like Arabians and Thoroughbreds with the goal of breeding them to native stock to produce faster horses, but these relatively fragile breeds are unable to survive on the steppe like Mongolian horses can; if left unsheltered, such horses inevitably freeze to death or starve. So, breeders have focused on created crossbreeds between foreign horses and native Mongolian stock. The ultimate goal is to produce a race horse that has one-quarter foreign blood and three-quarters Mongolian blood; this proportion is believed to create a horse hardy enough to survive in Mongolia and combine the Mongolian horse's stamina and endurance with foreign speed to produce a new breed with the best qualities of both.
One of the drawbacks to breeding such crosses is that the foreign stallion is much larger than the smaller Mongolian mare. This results in large foals that can be difficult for the small mares to birth. Since Mongolian mares typically give birth on their own without human supervision—and seldom have problems doing so—breeders have little experience on how to deal with the birthing problems that result due to the size of the crossed foals. To reduce birthing problems, a foreign mare could be bred to a native stallion to avoid the large foal problem, but in practice this reduces the numbers of crossbreed foals that can be produced each year. In one breeding season, a foreign stallion can impregnate 10 native mares and produce 10 crossed foals, but a foreign mare can only be impregnated by a native stallion once and produce one crossed foal.
Japan.
Mongol horses have been theorized to be the founding stock for Japan's native horse breeds. Breeds such as the Misaki, Taishu, Tokara, Kiso, Yonaguni, Noma, Hokkaido, and Miyako are believed to be the descendants of distant Mongolian ancestors.
Northern Europe and Iceland.
Genetic analyses have revealed links between the Mongolian horse and breeds in Iceland, Scandinavia, Central Europe, and the British Isles. The Mongol horses are believed to have been originally imported from Russia by Swedish traders; this imported Mongol stock subsequently became the basis for the Norwegian Fjord horse and a variety of other Scandinavian breeds, including the Nordland. One of these breeds was eventually exported to Iceland by settlers, producing the modern day Icelandic horse, which bears a strong resemblance to the Mongol horse and lives in much the same way, foraging freely off the land during all seasons. The Exmoor, Scottish Highland, Shetland, and Connemara pony breeds have also been found to be related to the Icelandic horse, suggesting that all these northern European breeds had ancestors that grazed on the steppe of Mongolia.
As warhorses.
Mongol horses are best known for their role as the war steeds of Genghis Khan. The Mongol soldier relied on his horses to provide him with food, drink, transportation, armor, shoes, ornamentation, bowstring, rope, fire, sport, music, hunting, entertainment, spiritual power, and in case of his death, a mount to ride in the afterlife. Mongol horses made excellent warhorses because of their hardiness, stamina, self-sufficiency, and ability to forage on their own. The main disadvantage of the Mongol horse as a war steed was that it was slower than some of the other breeds it faced on the battlefield. Soldiers preferred to ride lactating mares because they could use them as milk animals. In times of desperation, they would also slit a minor vein in their horse's neck and drain some blood into a cup. This they would drink either "plain" or mixed with milk or water. A Mongol warrior's horse would come at his whistle and follow him around, dog-like. Each warrior would bring a small herd of horses with him (three to five being average, but up to 20) as remounts. They alternated horses so that they always rode a fresh horse.
Racing, riding, and tack.
Horse racing is one of the "three manly arts". Horse racing is the second-most popular event in Mongolia, after traditional wrestling. Mongolian races are long, up to 30 km, and can involve thousands of horses. The native horses have excellent endurance. Though foreign breeds are faster than Mongolian horses, they are usually exhausted by the end of the run, while the Mongolian horses still have wind. Nevertheless, horses have died of exhaustion during the Naadam race on occasion.
In Mongolia, racing is a people's sport where everyone participates. Each family selects the best horse from their herd and takes it to the fair to race. However, in recent years, the introduction of fast foreign crossbreeds has changed the sport. Only the richest breeder can afford to buy and raise a Thoroughbred/Mongolian mix, and such horses tend to win races. This has led to complaints that ordinary people no longer have a chance to win, and that racing has become the province of the elite. Racing horses with a child in the saddle run in full gallop over 35 km at a time. Children are used instead of adults because they are lighter. Mongolians are not so much concerned with the skill and experience of a jockey as the ability of the horse.
Mongolian nomads have long been considered to be some of the best horsemen in the world. During the time of Genghis Khan, Mongol horse archers were capable of feats such as sliding down the side of their horses to shield their bodies from enemy arrows, while simultaneously holding their bows under the horses' chins and returning fire, all at full gallop. The education of a modern Mongolian horseman begins in childhood. Parents place their children on a horse and hold them there before they can even hang on without assistance. By age 6, children can ride in races; by age 10, they are learning to make their own tack. Materials such as books on horse training or medical care are uncommon and seldom used. Information is passed down orally from parent to child.
A variety of rules for how tack and horses should be handled are known. For example, it was taboo to use the whip as a prop or to touch an arrow to the whip; such crimes were punishable by death. In Genghis Khan's time, strict rules dictated the way horses were to be used on campaign. The Khan instructed his general Subutai, "See to it that your men keep their crupper hanging loose on their mounts and the bit of their bridle out of the mouth, except when you allow them to hunt. That way they won't be able to gallop off at their whim [tiring out the horses unnecessarily]. Having established these rules--see to it you seize and beat any man who breaks them. ... Any man...who ignores this decree, cut off his head where he stands."
Mongolian tack differs from Western tack in being made almost completely of rawhide and using knots instead of metal connectors. Tack design follows a "one size fits all" approach, with saddles, halters, and bits all produced in a single size. Mongolian tack is very light compared to western tack. The modern Mongolian riding saddle is tall, with a wooden frame and several decorated metal disks that stand out from the sides. It has a high pommel and cantle and short stirrups. Riders frequently stand in the stirrups while riding.
The Mongolian saddle, both medieval and modern, has short stirrups rather like those used on modern race horses. The design of the stirrups makes it possible for the rider to control the horse with his legs, leaving his hands free for tasks like archery or holding a catch-pole.
Cultural context.
The Mongols have many stories and songs about horses. Legendary horses include magical flying steeds, beloved horses that visit in dreams, and a rich body of folklore about equine protagonists. The horse has long played a role as a sacred animal, and Mongols have a variety of spiritual beliefs regarding them. The mane is believed to contain a horse's spirit and strength; for this reason, the mane of stallions is always left uncut. Mare's milk has been used in ceremonies of purification, prayer, and blessing since antiquity. In modern times, it continues to be used in a variety of ceremonies associated with racing. Historically, horses were sacrificed on special occasions; 40 horses were sacrificed at the funeral of Genghis Khan. When a horse is killed, a variety of rituals may be followed to honor the remains. Horses are believed to have spirits that can help or hurt their owner after death. When a deceased horse's spirit is content, the owner's herd will flourish; if not, then the herd will fail.
Of the five kinds of herd animals typically recognized in Mongolia (horses, camels, oxen/yaks, sheep, and goats), horses are seen to have the highest prestige. A nomad with many horses is considered wealthy. Mongolians do not give their horses names; rather, they identify them by their color, markings, scars, and brands. Over 500 words in the Mongolian language describe the traits of horses.
Mongolian horses are valued for their milk, meat, and hair. In the summer, mares are milked six times a day, once every two hours. A mare produces an average of 0.11 lbs of milk each time, with a yearly production of 662 lbs total. The milk is used to make the ubiquitous fermented drinks of Mongolia, "airag" and "kumis". Horse meat is considered the healthiest, most delicious kind of meat. Each 600-lb Mongol horse yields about 240 lb of meat. The horse's hair can be used for a number of products, including rope, fiddle strings, and a variety of ornaments. Horse dung is used for camp fuel.


Casa Villavicencio

The Casa Villavicencio or Casa V is an old Spanish Colonial Era house in Taal, Batangas, Philippines. Built in 1850, the house was given to Don Eulalio Villavicencio upon the death of his parents. In 1919, Governor General Francis B. Harrison slept in the house as a guest of Sen. Vicente Ilustre, son-in-law of Doña Gliceria, to inaugurate the electric plant in Taal.
History.
In 1850, the parents of Don Eulalio Villavicencio, from their 1820s home behind the Casa Tribunal (now the Municipal Building), decided to build a new house with no adjoining neighbors. The new house stood to what is now the G. Marella Street corner Del Castillo. The house later went to Don Eulalio upon the death of his parents who moved to the older but larger dwelling to accommodate his large family. In January 1892, upon the visit of Juan and Antonio Luna to raise fund for the Propaganda Movement, the couple donated a sum of P18,000. In gratitude, Juan Luna gifted the couple with portraits.
In 1896, Eulalio was arrested for illegal complicity in the Katipunan and was imprisoned for two years in Fort Santiago. Eulalio died shortly after his release due to the privation suffered during his incarceration. Because of the death of her husband, Doña Gliceria, became a more rabid nationalist to the extent of holding clandestine meetings in the house with revolutionary leaders of Batangas. She also organized the Batalyong Maluya to fight the Spaniards. With her considerable resources, Doña Gliceria provided food and arms to the revolutionaries. She also generously donated Bulusan, one her stem ships, to the newly proclaimed Malolos Republic. Converted into a war vessel, it became the first ship of the fledgling Philippine Navy.
During the Philippine–American War, she actively supported the guerrillas under General Malvar. The Americans kept close watch on her to the extent of posting guards in the adjoining Villavicencio-Marella House.
In 1919. Governor General Francis B. Harrison slept in the house as a guest of Se. Vicente Ilustre, son-in-law of Doña Gliceria. to inaugurate he electric plant in Taal, the first town in the Batangas province to have electricity. In anticipation of the visit, black-and-white Machuca tiles were laid in the "zaguan". The original painted canvas ceilings of the formal rooms upstairs were removed and replaced with stamped tin imported from the United States. The walls of the "caida" and the "sala" we re-stretchered with new canvass and painted with Art Nouveau motifs by Emilio Alvero. The lot along Del Castillo Street was fences with wrought-iron grilles ad landscaped. A fountain featuring a giant clam shell graced the center of the garden.
The house like most dwellings in Taal, survived the Japanese Occupation relatively unscathed, except for the loss of the floorboards of the large "comedor" or the dining room that ran the whole width of the house. Since the family all lived in Manina after World War II, the house was not lived for almost half a century.
Upon partition of the communal property in 1990, the house went to the heirs of Don Sixto Villavicencio, Don Eulalio's son. Edgrado Villavicencio, Don Sixto's only son, inherited the house and began restoring it. When the monument of Doña Gliceria Marella de Villavicencio was erected by the National Historical Institute, the garden was raised to street level and the fountain was buried under the landfill. The covered bridged that used to connect the old house and wedding gift house, which had become dangerously decrepit was demolished.
The house is presently owned and managed by Edgardo's son, Ernesto Villacicencio with his wife Maris Rosario Benedicto.
Architecture and style.
The house typical three-bayed "bahay na bato", its ground-floor walls of adobe blocks support an upper story of carved acanthus consoles of "molave"seemingy support the windows sills. The "Ventanilla" or "little windows" beneath the window sill are a typical of the 1850s. The ogee arches carved on the doors were inspired on the facade of Bauan Church, where it first appeared in Batangas. The doors of the central bay lead to a short flight of stairs to the "meseta" or landing with its doors opening to the "entresuelo" or mezzanine chamber that had capiz windows opening to the "zaguan" and a window on the street side with a wrought iron rejas na buntis. From the meseta, a flight of "balayong" stairs led to the wide "caida" with its panoramic view of Balayan Bay.
The hardwood floors of the upper floors, the elaborately carved and gilded foliated transoms over the double doors carved with ogee panels in the formal rooms and walls and ceilings stretched with handpainted canvas are typical of the 1850s Taal houses.


Kalahandi State

Kalahandi State, also known as Karond State, was one of the princely states of India during the period of the British Raj. It was recognized as a state in 1874 and had its capital in Bhawanipatna. Its last ruler signed the accession to the Indian Union on 1 January 1948.
History.
Kalahandi was the largest of the 26 Feudatory states of Odisha. According to local tradition, the state originated with Raja Raghunath Sai of the Naga dynasty of Eastern India, beginning to rule the Kalahandi area in 1005 CE. As per the traditional records preserved in Kalahandi Darbar, the Nagas succeeded the Gangas in Kalahandi when the last Ganga Governor of Kalahandi, Jagannath Deo's only daughter was married to Raghunath Sai, a prince of the Naga clan. However, historians have disputed the early date for the establishment of Naga dynasty rule in Kalahandi but most agree the Nagas succeeded the Gangas as the feudatories in the region during the 15th century taking advantage of the weakness of the central authority as the power of the Eastern Ganga dynasty started to decline in Odisha. Hence the state's coat of arms had two cobras facing each other. and the presiding deity of the dynasty is Goddess Manikeswari.
In August 1947 Kalahandi became part of the Eastern States Union, an entity that was formed in Rajpur and that gathered most of the princely states of Orissa and Chhattisgarh. The Eastern States Union was dissolved in 1948.
The formerly princely state's territory is now within Kalahandi District.
Rulers.
The rulers of Kalahandi princely state were granted a hereditary salute of 9 guns by the British.


Binnya Dala

Binnya Dala ( ; also spelled Banya Dala; died December 1774) was the last king of Restored Kingdom of Hanthawaddy, who reigned from 1747 to 1757. He was a key leader in the revival of the Mon-speaking kingdom in 1740, which successfully revolted against the rule of Toungoo dynasty. Though Smim Htaw Buddhaketi was the king, it was Binnya Dala who was the prime minister that wielded power. After the nominal king abdicated in 1747, Binnya Dala, a local Mon nobleman with a Burman given name of Aung Hla ( ), was elected king of the Mon-speaking kingdom.
Binnya Dala continued the war against the Toungoo dynasty, launching a full-scale invasion of Upper Burma in 1750, and capturing the capital of Ava in April 1752. Binnya Dala mistakenly thought Upper Burma had been won, and withdrew two-thirds of the invasion force back to Pegu, leaving just a third for what he considered a mop-up operation. The remaining Hanthawaddy forces soon faced serious resistance put up by Alaungpaya who had just founded a new dynasty called Konbaung to challenge the invaders. By December 1753, all of Hanthawaddy forces had been driven out of Upper Burma.
Binnya Dala launched another full-scale invasion in March 1754. The invasion went well at first, laying siege to Ava and advancing deep into upcountry but ultimately faltered, driven back with heavy losses. Following the defeat, the leadership of Hanthawaddy escalated its "self-defeating" policies of ethnic polarization in the south. It executed all Avan captives, including the last king of Toungoo, and began requiring all Burmans in the south to wear an earring with a stamp of the Pegu heir-apparent and to cut their hair in Mon fashion as a sign of loyalty.
After the failed invasion, Binnya Dala and Hanthawaddy forces were on the defensive. Alaungpaya captured the Irrawaddy delta in May 1755, the French defended port of Thanlyin in July 1756, and finally the capital Pegu in May 1757. Binnya Dala was captured and imprisoned. He lived under house arrest for over 17 years. In December 1774, King Hsinbyushin, the second son of Alaungpaya, ordered the execution of the captive king after a Mon rebellion in 1773 had tried to restore the captive king.
Background.
Pegu (Bago) had been in a wretched state of devastation after the relocation of the capital of the Restored Taungoo Dynasty from Pegu to Ava (Inwa) by Thalun in 1634. It was a pitiful shadow of its once magnificent bustling metropolis. Pegu lost its usefulness as a seaport through silting of the Pegu River. The choice then was between Syriam (Thanlyin) and Ava as the capital. From the economic point of view, Syriam would have been a better choice where trading with the outside world could be effectively maintained. But Thalun chose Ava in favor of tradition and isolation. The united kingdom of Burmese and Mons which Tabinshwehti and Bayinnaung cherished no longer existed, instead Hanthawaddy was treated as an occupied territory,
The Mon Revolt.
In 1740, during the reign of Mahadhammaraza Dipadi of the Restored Taungoo Dynasty, the Gwe Shan at Okpo together with Mon deportees drove the Burmese from Madaya taking advantage of the chaos created from the incessant ransacking by the Manipur horsemen which the Ava court seemed powerless to control. Also seizing the opportunity, the Burmese governor of Pegu, Maung Tha Aung, proclaimed himself king of Pegu, He marched up to Syriam, but his troops mutinied and killed him. The king in Ava sent his uncle, Minyae Aung Naing to Pegu to restore order but the citizens of Pegu rose up in arms and murdered him and his detachment. The people then elected a former Gwe Shan monk and proclaimed him king of the Restored Hanthawaddy Kingdom with a title of Smin Htaw Buddhaketi. He was popular but an ineffectual leader reluctant to take charge of the government or command of the army and spent most of his time searching for a white elephant in the jungles.
The Rise of Binnya Dala.
Binnya Dala (Burmese given name: Aung Hla) was reported to have come from Chiang Mai with a herd of elephants. Smin Htaw Buddhaketi appointed him master of the elephants. He rose to the position of prime minister and was the power behind the puppet king. By 1745, Hanthawaddy had successfully established itself in Lower Burma occupying the border towns, Pyay and Taungoo. In 1746, Smin Htaw Buddhaketi abdicated the throne and the ministers proclaimed Binnya Dala as the king. His younger brother was made heir apparent with the title of Upayaza (Uparaja). Binnya Dala declared that the empire of Bayinnaung would again be restored with all its magnificence, prosperity and grandeur and vowed his intention to make the king of Ava and other neighboring kings subordinate to the sovereign of Hanthawaddy. He made Talaban as his commander-in-chief. Mon chronicles recorded that Smin Htaw Buddhaketi was a proficient astrologer and reading his own horoscope, he saw an omen of disaster. In a self-sacrificing spirit, he abdicated the throne, hoping that a leader with good fortune might be able to lead the Hanthawaddy people their destiny.
Binnya Dala assembled a large army of sixty thousand men and a flotilla of war boats to protect the hundreds of boats carrying the provisions needed for the expedition. He procured firearms, cannons and ammunition from European traders and privateers. He brought into service renegade Dutch and native Portuguese.
The full-scale invasion of Upper Burma commenced in the rainy season of 1751. Early in 1752, Binnya Dala invested Ava. Gwe Shans came down from Madaya and joined the invading forces. Ava felled and Mahadhammaraza Dipadi, the last king of the Restored Taungoo Dynasty was captured with all his family, except two sons who managed to escape to Siam.
After capturing Ava and thinking the conquest was completed, Binnya Dala returned to Pegu, taking with him the captured king and his family. He left Upayaza and Talaban to govern Ava and to exact an oath of allegiance from the Burmese officials, nobles and gentries. Many village headmen submitted and meekly accepted the proscribed oath. This was the high-water mark of the Restored Hanthawaddy Kingdom.
The Rise of Aluangpaya.
The resistance came from a kyedaing, or hereditary chief, named Aung Zeya from Moksobo who persuaded 46 nearby villages to join him in resistance. One of the Hanthawaddy officer sent a detachment of fifty men to the vicinity of Moksobo and summoned Aung Zeya to appear and take the oath. He came with about twenty men but surprised the detachment and wiped them out. A stronger detachment was then sent and Aung Zeya ambushed them in the jungle and defeated them with a great loss. Aung Zeya then proclaimed himself king and took the name, Alaungpaya (the Embryo Buddha) and founded the Konbaung Dynasty. He renamed Moksobo to Shwebo and fortified the village with stockades and a moat.
Upayaza underestimated the importance of the resistance headed by a petty village officer and made the biggest blunder of the Hanthawaddy Kingdom. He immaturely decided to return to Pegu taking with him twenty thousand men and greater part of the flotilla leaving Talaban to complete the pacification around Shwebo. The rationale for deploying the forces from Ava to Pegu was the perceived Siamese threat arising out of the recent annexation of Upper Tenasserim (Tanintharyi). The existential threat was Upper Burma, not Siam, who was only interested in an opportunistic land grab at that time.
Talaban knew it was necessary to crush the incipient rebellion and led a strong party towards the stronghold but was unable to breach it without the cannons. He withdrew with great losses. Binnya Dala recalled Talaban and replaced him with Taungoo Ngwegunhmu. But the replacement did not change the situation and Hanthawaddy suffered one defeat after another. In the meantime, Alaungpaya was able to raise a large army and consolidated most of Upper Burma by driving the Habthawaddy forces and their ally Gwe Shan. In January 1754, Alaungpaya's seventeen-year-old second son, Hsinbyushin, invested and captured Ava. The commander of Hanthawaddy forces and his men were, however, able to escape to Pegu during the night.
The Fall of Binnya Dala.
In March 1754, Binnya Dala, finally, sent his entire army headed by Upayaza and Talaban to Upper Burma. They defeated Konbaung forces led by Alaungpaya's sons, Naungdawgyi and Hsinbyushin at Myingyan. One Hanthawaddy army chased Naungdawgyi to Kyaukmyaung near Shwebo. Another chased Hsinbyushin back into Ava. Alaungpaya then counterattacked Myingyan with a heavy force and the Hanthawaddy forces suffered many casualties. Hsinbyushin also broke the siege at Ava. Upayaza retreated towards Pyay and fled by boats to Pegu. Talaban was again left to rally the army and remain before Pyay.
Binnya Dala decided to take Pyay and sent an army headed by his another brother and a son-in-law together with Talaban to besiege the city. Before the army marched out, the imprisoned king of Taungoo, Mahadhammaraza Dipadi, and other captives were put to death, on the pretense they were implicated in a conspiracy. This ill-conceived act was another policy blunder. It removed the one trump card Hanthawaddy had to put back a weaker king on a throne in rivalry to Alaungpaya. The action also pushed the deposed king's loyalists into Alaungpaya's camp. Also, the regional war was turning more and more into an ethnic conflict.
Hanthawaddy forces besieged Pyay in January 1755. Alaungpaya personally led Konbaung army to relieve the city, capturing many firearms, cannons and ammunition and many prisoners of war. Alaugpaya then swept southward with his grand army receiving submission from Taungoo, Hinthada, Myaungmya, Pathein and Thandwe. Then driving through Danubyu, he drove the Hanthawaddy forces out of Dagon, which he renamed it as Yangon (the End of Strife),
Battle of Syriam.
The Hanthawaddy forces retreated and concentrated in a well-fortified Syriam. They were assisted by a brilliant Frenchman, the Sieur de Bruno. Sieur de Bruno came to Pegu in 1751 as a resident agent of Joseph Francois Duplex, the governor-general of Pondicherry (French India) with an ambitious plan to extend French influence in Burma. Bruno succeeded in obtaining a treaty of friendship from Binnya Dala, promising French military aid in return for trade concessions. Alarmed, the English occupied Negrais Island. The chief of the Negrais settlement was Mr. Brooke. Both the French and English East India Companies had factories in Syriam. Both the French and English were equally keen to back the winning side and clandestine negotiations were held frequently between the respective company agents and the belligerents for supply of firearms, cannons, ammunition and active fire support.
In the rainy season of 1755, Alaungpaya left Yangon to handle the northern Shan threats to the capital, leaving the bulk of his army in Yangoon fully entrenched. The Hanthawaddy forces consisting of two French ships, an armed sailing vessel belonging to Binnya Dala and 200 war-boats attacked Konbaung forces at Yangon. When the French ships came into cannon shot, they commenced firing and muskets were fired from Hanthawaddy war-boats on the Konbaung fleet. The Konbaung fleet took shelter in the creek protected by the fire from mangrove and a battery of a few pieces of ship cannons erected in the temporary works on the banks of the river. At the forceful urging of Upayaza to the captains, the private English ships, Hunter and Elizabeth and East India Company ship Ascot commenced fire on the Konbaung fleet. Faced with the withering fire from unexpected foes, the Konbaung forces were obliged to abandon their boats and take shelter in the grove. Reluctant to face the close quarter fire from the grove, the Hanthawaddy forces declined to attempt to capture the Konbaung fleet and instead retreated to Syriam. Had the Hanthawaddy forces pursued the critical opportunity with a little more resolution they might have been able to tip the scale in their favor.
In the meantime, Brooke was advancing his negotiations with Alaungpaya by delegating Captain Baker and Lieutenant North with presents and instructions to conclude a treaty of amity and alliance. Alaungpaya agreed for the English to stay at Negrais but instead of signing any treaty with East India Company, the king sent a letter on a gold leaf, ornamented with precious stones, directly to King George II. King George II completely ignored it.
Hanthawaddy forces made another attempt on Yangon heights and the fortified mangrove. They were again assisted by the Ascot and two private English ships. The English claimed they were forced to participate. Hanthawaddy forces by water consisted of three English and one French ships and 300 war-boats. 10,000 men marched by land. The Konbaung forces concocted an ingenious maneuver: they fastened a number of boats, filled them with combustible materials and floated down these fire-boats down the spring-tide towards the enemy ships lying at anchor. The ships were obliged to weigh anchor and retreat. The French ship narrowly escaped destruction. That brilliant action effectively removed the European ships for that tide and prevented any cooperation with the land forces. The land forces were easily repulsed and they all retreated to Syriam.
Alaungpaya arrived back in Yangon in the beginning of 1756 and immediately attacked Syriam employing a band of 93 specially chosen volunteers who scaled the walls at night and opened the strong wooden gates. Only 20 of the volunteers survived the assault. Most of the Mon officers managed to escape but the Europeans were made prisoners. A vast supply of war material was captured.
Two days after the fall of Syriam, two French relief ships, Galetee and the Fleury, laden with troops, arms, ammunition and food arrived from Pondicherry. A small boat sent by them to ask for a pilot was captured by Konbaung's men. Alaungpaya compelled the captured Bruno to write to the captains to proceed up the river. They did and ran aground and found themselves surrounded by Konbaung's war-boats. On board the ships were two hundred French officers and soldiers who were press-ganged into Konbaung army. The haul included thirty-five ship's guns, five field guns and over a thousand muskets. Bruno and his staff were executed.
Battle of Pegu.
Konbaung army marched from Syriam to Pegu in September 1756 and another army marched south from Taungoo. The combined armies together with the flotilla laid siege to Pegu reducing the citizens by famine to unbearable misery. Binnya Dala decided to send his only unmarried daughter as a peace offering. Talaban, who was betrothed to the princess, protested vehemently and offered to lead a band of six hundred chosen warriors to either raise the siege and pressure an honorable peace or perish in the attempt. But the council and Upayaza supported Binnya Dala's preposition of submission. During the night, Talaban, his family and a devoted band of his followers on elephants and horses forced their way through the besieging lines and escaped to Sittaung. The princess was sent on a palanquin escorted by Upayaza and surrounded by a hundred maiden. Upayaza was detained as a hostage and the princess was consigned to the guardians of the female apartments. For several days, the hostilities were suspended. But Alaungpaya was infiltrating secret agents and arms into the city. They were discovered and were put to death. The hostilities resumed. In 1757, Konbaung forces made a night assault at one of the gates and the defenders fled allowing the besiegers to rush in. The city was given up for plunder and many leading men were put to death. Thousands of men, women and children were sold as slaves. The city walls and the twenty gates, built by Tabinshwehti and Bayinnaung two hundred years ago, were razed to the ground.
Aftermath.
Alaungpaya proceeded to bring into subjection eastward area between Pegu and the borders with Siam. He caught up with Talaban in Mottama. When Talaban learnt the approach of Konbaung forces, he fled into the woods, leaving behind his family and many of his devoted followers. Alaungpaya seized all his family and followers and threatened to execute them. Talaban voluntarily surrendered and when brought into the royal presence pleaded for the release of his family and friends in exchange for his life. Struck by such an instance of magnanimity, Alaungpaya generously forgave Talaban and ordered the captives freed. He afterwards assigned Talaban to a distinguished station in his own service. Talaban served the duties faithfully during the reign of Alaungpaya.
In 1774, Alaungpaya's second son, Hsinbyushin (1763–1776), made a state procession down the Ayawaddy to Yangon. There, he ordered Binnya Dala, who had been in captivity for 17 years, to be charged with exciting the Mon people in their 1773 rebellion. Binnya Dalla was declared guilty and publicly executed.


Parakramabahu III of Dambadeniya

In the 14th century (from 1302 to 1310), Parakkamabahu III reigned as King of Dambadeniya, which is a medieval kingdom that existed from 1220–1354 and is now called Sri Lanka. He succeeded his uncle Bhuvanaikabahu I as King of Dambadeniya who was succeeded by Bhuvanaikabahu II.


NA-206 (Sukkur-I)

NA-206 (Sukkur-I) () is a constituency for the National Assembly of Pakistan.
Election 2002.
General elections were held on 10 Oct 2002.Abdul Mujeeb Pirzada of PPP won by 51,694 votes.
Election 2008.
General elections were held on 18 Feb 2008. Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah of PPP won by 93,394 votes.
Election 2013.
General elections were held on 11 May 2013. Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah of PPP won by 85,120 votes and became the member of National Assembly.
Election 2018.
General elections are scheduled to be held on 25 July 2018.


Iravukku Aayiram Kangal

Iravukku Aayiram Kangal () is a 2018 Indian Tamil-language action thriller film directed by Mu. Maran. The film features an ensemble cast including Arulnithi, Ajmal, Mahima Nambiar, Vidya Pradeep, Chaya Singh, and Suja Varunee, while Anandaraj, John Vijay, Lakshmy Ramakrishnan, and Aadukalam Naren play supporting roles. Sam CS composed the soundtrack. Axess Film Factory began production in March 2017. It was released in May 2018 and received good response from critics.
Plot.
Bharath (Arulnithi) is a taxi driver who is in love with Suseela (Mahima Nambiar), a nurse. He is a fan of writer Vyjayanthi (Lakshmy Ramakrishnan). Once, she rides in his taxi and notices a man and his bike. She tells Bharath that her late husband had the same bike and died, so she is investigating his death. One evening, when Suseela returns from a wedding in a cab, the driver misbehaves with her. Ganesh (Ajmal) saves her, and she thanks him. When they meet again, Ganesh tries to pursue her inappropriately. Ganesh also finds that Suseela is in love with Bharath and warns her to cut off all ties with him. Suseela then meets Bharath and tells him about the problems that Ganesh created, but they find her client Roopala (Chaya Singh) trying to drown herself. They save her, and she tells about her problems with her abusive husband Vasanth (John Vijay). Also, she inadvertently connected with Ganesh, who films her nude and blackmails her for money. Bharath notices that Ganesh owns the bike that Vyjayanthi had mentioned. Meanwhile, retired businessman Murugesan (Anandaraj) loses money and jewels because of Ganesh.
It is revealed that Ganesh is actually a conman who operates with Anitha (Vidya Pradeep) and Maya (Suja Varunee), and they cheat wealthy people and extort money from them. Murugesan follows Ganesh and finds his address with Narain's (Aadukalam Naren) help. Bharath also finds Ganesh's address and follows him to his house. A neighbor reports the men loitering near the house to the police. When the police arrives to investigate, they learn that Maya is murdered. Bharath is identified as a suspect. He assumes that Murugesan is the killer, but the latter reveals that she was dead before he went in the house. Murugesan also accidentally picked up the murder weapon in a panicked state and left his own gun there. Narain also reveals that he was a victim of Ganesh. Maya had befriended him online, and they were in a relationship when Ganesh threatened both of them at gunpoint and stole Narain's money and car, but the police found the car and returned it to Narain. Narain had been thinking that Maya disappeared from his life, but he saw her with Ganesh. Unable to bear Maya's betrayal, Narain goes to her house to kill her, but he found her dead.
Later, Bharath finds that Vasanth had an affair with Anitha. Ganesh filmed them together and blackmailed him for money. When Vasanth finds that Anitha was part of the scam, Ganesh beats him up. Ganesh blackmails Vasanth about his video with Anitha, but Vasanth does not care. Then, Ganesh blackmails Vasanth with Roopala's nude video, and he gives money. Bharath follows Vasanth, and a fight ensues where the latter kills Anitha and Ganesh. Bharath tells Vasanth that the entire plan to extort money from him was made by Roopala. She wanted to separate from Vasanth and get money from him, so she approached Anitha and Ganesh to help her make a video of Vasanth to blackmail him, and she would then pay them. Ganesh wanted to take the money for himself, so he and Anitha made a nude video of Roopala. Suddenly, Ganesh and Anitha plan to join together and leave Maya out. Maya comes to know of this, and when she threatens them, Ganesh kills her. Roopala and Vasanth are arrested, and Bharath marries Suseela.
A major twist arrives in the form of Vyjayanthi, who has been following Maya's murder. She calls Bharath, requesting his permission to write a book based on this event. Vyjayanthi narrates a changed plot where Ganesh films Suseela nude and threatens her to marry him. When Bharath comes to know of this and Roopala's video, he decides to confront Ganesh and erase both videos. Maya comes to know that Ganesh is after Suseela, so she threatens him to split the shares. If he does not, she will tell Anitha about Suseela. When Bharath and Suseela go to Ganesh's house to retrieve the videos, Maya tries to attack Bharath, but Suseela kills her. Bharath and Suseela erase the videos and leave the crime scene. Bharath finds that Murugesan had took the murder weapon, so he plants it in Ganesh's car and frames him for Maya's murder.
In the present, Bharath requests Vyjayanthi to find an alternative plot. Later, when he visits her, he finds her murdered, implying that her version of the story may be true. It is left to the audience as to who is Vyjayanthi's murderer.
Production.
Mu. Maran, an erstwhile assistant director to Raghava Lawrence and K. V. Anand, announced in February 2017 that his first directorial venture would be a crime thriller featuring Arulnithi. Titled "Iravukku Aayiram Kangal" after a song from "Kulamagal Radhai" (1963), Maran revealed that the film was based on real life incidents which he had read about in newspapers. While Arulnithi would portray a taxi driver, actress Mahima Nambiar was signed to play a nurse, after the director was impressed with her performance in "Kuttram 23" (2017). Actors Ajmal and Anandaraj also signed the project in March 2017, with filming starting during the month. Initially, Vishal Chandrasekhar was selected as music composer for this film as depicted on the teaser of the film. But in a turn of events, Sam CS replaces Vishal as the music director.
Soundtrack.
The songs and background score were handled by Sam CS and lyrics were written by the composer himself. The soundtrack consisted of three tracks and two themes having five songs in total, which received positive reviews from the critics praising the usage of new sounds and the tracks that suited the respective situations of the movie.
Release.
Production cost of the film was valued at 6 crore. The satellite rights of the film were sold to Sun TV (India). The movie received positive to mixed reviews from critics praising the story, screenplay and the performances of the cast. Thinkal Menon from The Times Of India rated the movie 3.5 out of 5 and wrote "The major attraction of the film is its two hours duration and its racy screenplay."


Zurvandukht

Zurvandukht was a daughter of Shapur II, a Sasanian king of Iran. She was named after Zurvan, a deity in Zoroastrianism.


Siri Naga II of Anuradhapura

Siri Naga II was King of Anuradhapura in the 3rd century, whose reign lasted from 245 to 247. He succeeded his uncle Abhaya Naga as King of Anuradhapura and was succeeded by his son Vijaya Kumara.


Liang Siyong

Liang Siyong (; 13 November 1904 2 April 1954) was a Chinese anthropologist and archaeologist. He was deputy director of the Institute of Archaeology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. One of the first scholars to introduce the discipline of archaeology to China, Liang is regarded as one of China's "first-generation archaeologists". He was the second son of the scholar Liang Qichao. Liang was married to Li Fuman, with whom he had one daughter. He died of a heart attack on 2 April 1954, at the age of 49.
Life and career.
Liang was born on 13 November 1904 in Macau, the fourth child and second son of journalist and scholar Liang Qichao. He had eight siblings four brothers (Sicheng, Sizhong, Sida, and Sili) and four sisters (Sishun, Sizhuang, Siyi, and Sining). He completed his primary education in Yokohama, where his family had been exiled to, and graduated from Tsinghua University in 1924. He was enrolled into Harvard University, at which he studied archaeology and picked up English. At the time, the archaeology field in China was virtually nonexistent, thus Liang is considered as one of the "first-generation archaeologists" who introduced the discipline to the country.
In 1930 he began research at the Yingjin River and was the first Chinese to publish a survey on it. Likewise, in 1931, he performed what is thought to be "one of China's first scientific excavations" at Qiqihar, which led to the unearthing of artefacts thousands of years old. In January of that year, Liang wed his cousin Li Fuman (李福曼). Three years Liang's junior, Li was also a Tsinghua graduate. Liang's line of work was strenuous and often he had to "spend hours in the water" for field work, while having to forgo proper meals too. Praised for his disciplined work ethic, Liang was known for not letting discomfort or illness hinder his job. This, however, was not without its consequences; in 1932, Liang fell ill in the wilderness but refused to seek medical help until he ran an unbearably high fever. It was later found out that he had serious respiratory infection.
Liang published a comprehensive report on the Chengziya site of the Longshan culture in 1934, titled "Chengziya site excavation report" (城子崖遺址發掘報告), which is regarded as one of his more notable publications as an archaeologist. His excavation of a tomb at Hougang (后岗) in the same year, as part of a project which had begun in 1928, provided groundbreaking evidence of "large burials anywhere at Yinxu". Liang continued investigations at Yinxu till 1937, uncovering several other tombs, artefacts and worshipping structures dating back to the Shang dynasty. Liang was the first deputy director of the Institute of Archaeology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, serving from 1948 until his death in 1954. He was succeeded by Yin Da.
Death and legacy.
While resuming the excavation of royal tombs at Anyang, Zhou contracted tuberculosis. He died on 2 April 1954 in Beijing, at age 49; the cause of death was a heart attack. He had been working on a report on animal remains found at the Anyang site. He was survived by Li and his only child Liang Baiyou (梁柏有), who likened her father to "Water Margin" character Shi Xiu, in reference to his determination and tirelessness. An anthology of his anthropological papers, titled "Papers on archaeology by Liang Siyong" (梁思永考古论文集), was published in 1959. In his 2015 book "In Manchuria: A Village Called Wasteland and the Transformation of Rural China", Michael Meyer writes of Liang with high esteem, underscoring his title of "father of Chinese archaeology", a label which had previously been reserved for Liang's peer Li Ji.


Salahuddin of Aceh

Sultan Salahuddin (died 25 November 1548) was the second sultan of Aceh, reigning from 1530 to c. 1537 or 1539. He was the eldest son of Sultan Ali Mughayat Syah, the founder of Aceh's power. He led a short and weak rule before being supplanted by his ambitious younger brother Alauddin al-Kahar.
Accession.
Salahuddin succeeded his father on the latter's death in August 1530. Sultan Ali Mughayar Syah was allegedly poisoned by his wife, Sitt Hur, but there is no indication of Salahuddin being involved in this. According to the "Hikayat Aceh", his mother had a strong hand in the government. She appointed an Agha as regent of the kingdom with the title Raja Bungsu. The sultan himself is described as an inept figure who did not care much about the governance. His brother Alauddin served as his deputy in Samudra Pasai which had been conquered by their father in 1524. There he gained a power base that would soon have dire consequences for the sultan.
Salahuddin's father sultan Ali had been engaged in a mortal combat against the Portuguese in Melaka. Hostilities paused temporarily after his death. However, in September 1537 an Acehnese fleet appeared before Melaka, carrying a standing regiment of circa 3,000 men. The Acehnese landed successfully but could not invest the fortress. After some ferocious fighting they had to withdraw with great losses after two days. Since the expedition is not mentioned in the local chronicles we can not be sure that Salahuddin was still the ruler at this time. From the account of Fernão Mendes Pinto it appears that his brother "Alaradim" (Alauddin) was already on the throne by 1539. The much later chronicle "Bustanus Salatin" (c. 1640) alleges that Salahuddin lived for nine years after his deposition until his death in 1548. It is thus somewhat unclear whether he was deposed before or after the launch of an unsuccessful attack on Melaka. Hoesein Djajadiningrat believed that the coup came first and the attack was led by Alauddin al-Kahar, while Denys Lombard places the coup two years after the attack, which he believes was led by Salahuddin himself.
Deposed from the sultanate.
What is clear is the way that Salahuddin's reign ended. Alauddin arrived to the capital from Samudra Pasai with an entourage of 200 men, ostensibly to visit his father's grave. When he arrived he found that conditions at the court were just as bad as he heard, and decided to stage a coup. He dispatched four trusted retainers to supposedly return to Samudra. However, at Peudada they turned back and reached the gate of the palace compound in the night. They told the palace guards that Samudra had been unexpectedly attacked by soldiers from Aru (approximately the later Deli). At the noise Raja Bungsu came outside and was taken along on the elephant of Alauddin. They went to Kota Batu where Alauddin's men promptly murdered the regent. Sultan Salahuddin and the queen mother were then put in confinement. Alauddin al-Kahar took the throne and led a successful reign until 1571. According to the inscription on his grave, Salahuddin died on 25 November 1548.


Sar Mashhad

Sar Mashhad (; also known as Sar Meshad) is a village in Dadin Rural District, Jereh and Baladeh District, Kazerun County, Fars Province, Iran. At the 2012 census, its population was 3,047, in 623 families.
The place is notable for being the site of a Sasanian rock relief made during the reign of king (shah) Bahram II (). The relief portrays him as a hunter who has slayed a lion whilst throwing his sword at another. His wife is holding his right hand in a signal of safeguard, whilst the high priest Kartir and another figure, most likely a prince, are watching. The scenery has been the subject of several symbolic and metaphorical meanings, thought it is most likely supposed to portray a simple royal display of braveness during a real-life hunt. An inscription of Kartir is underneath the relief.


Ishbara Qaghan

Ishbara Qaghan (, 沙缽略可汗/沙钵略可汗, Pinyin: "shābōlüè kěhàn", Wade-Giles: "sha-po-lüeh k'o-han", personal name: Sogdian: "nw’’r"; Chinese: 阿史那攝圖/阿史那摄图, pinyin "Āshǐnà Shètú"/"Niètú"; Wade-Giles "A-shih-na she-t'u"/"nie-t'u", from Middle Chinese: "ńźie-b'i̪uk" < "Ñebuk"/"Ñevuk" or "ńźie-b'uât" < "Ñebar"/"Ñevar") (before 540 – 587) was the first son of Issik Qaghan, grandson of Bumin Qaghan, and the sixth khagan of the Turkic Khaganate (581–587). His name is non-Turkic.
As prince.
He was appointed by Taspar khagan as lesser khagan in east.
Reign.
He was appointed to the throne after resignation of Amrak, by the high council as the legal resolution to the crisis created by his uncle Taspar Qaghan who had bequeathed the title of khagan to his nephew Talopien (son of Muqan Qaghan). This act violated the traditional system of inheritance from oldest brother to youngest brother and oldest son to youngest. Immediately after his appointment, the legal basis of his power was contested by the erstwhile heir Talopien, Jotan, and Tardu. This highly unstable situation quickly became a smoldering civil war, which the Sui Chinese took advantage of in every way possible to weaken the Göktürks.
Khagan married Princess Qianjin of Northern Zhou and accepted refugees from the Chen Dynasty, two moves that were undertaken to legitimize his authority. One of the envoys in his wife's escort was the spy/ambassador Zhangsun Sheng. He managed to become a friend of Ishbara, and spent many years with the Turks. His knowledge about the customs and institutions of the Gokturks was of great importance for the Sui Empire.
In order to end the civil war Ishbara finally acknowledged the Sui Dynasty as his overlord. In the end Ishbara succeeded in saving the khaganate, albeit at the price of losing his sovereignty. In 587, both Ishbara Qaghan and Apa Qaghan died.
Family.
He was married to his uncle's widows Princess Qianjin of Northern Zhou. Issue: