Category History & Events

One of Mumbai’s oldest and most iconic church has made headline by announcing plans to become a recycle hub. Let us find out more about it.

St. Michael Church commonly known as Mahim Church – is one of Mumbai’s oldest and most iconic places of worship. Built in 1534, when the city was under the control of the Portuguese, the church now serves about 10,000 people in the Mahim area.

St. Michael’s is more than a sacred place for Catholics. Its special prayer services every Wednesday, called ‘novenas,’ draw people of various faiths who come to seek favours from the divine (e.g. cure for a sick relative, a good job, etc.) Many of the novena devotees bring floral garlands, candles, or other offerings. The candle wax and flowers are recycled.

The church, in fact, has become a recycling hub for a wide variety of wastes: plastic, tetra pak containers, electronics and other items. The Green Cell of the church, in partnership with other local organizations, helps with the recycling. In 2021, St. Michael Church made headlines by announcing plans to become the first place of worship to achieve carbon neutrality in two years. Of considerable importance is the 2 cubic-meter biogas unit set up on the terrace of the church building that is run on flower waste. This is the only biogas unit run on flower waste in the city. Mumbai produces an estimated 200 tons of this waste, most of which winds up in landfills. The church’s weekly feed of 35-50 kg of flowers into the biogas unit is tiny compared to the waste in the city, but it has shown the path for adding value to waste recycling.

Fertiliser production

The biogas that the unit produces is equivalent to three LPG cylinders per year (worth Rs 4.500). However, the real value to the church is not the gas, but the liquid slurry that oozes out of the biogas unit. The slurry arry is used to fertilise over a hundred plants in the church compound.

“We receive a lot of flowers as offerings. Especially on Wednesdays, when around 50,000 people come for novena prayers. Earlier, the flowers used to go to the trash cans and get added to the waste piles in landfills,” says a church spokesman. “We thought of doing something in which the flower wastes could be used to help the environment and so we decided to install a biogas plant,” he adds.

Good example

The Mahim Church’s good example could be followed by other places of worship. Collectively, they can provide an excellent platform for effecting a change in thinking and followed up by action among the millions of devotees. For example, the Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple in Tirupati Andhra Pradesh generates about seven tones of floral waste, 30-50 tones of food waste, and three tonnes of animal waste from the goshala, daily. It has been estimated that if all of these organic wastes are converted into compressed biogas, this could power some 100 local buses that carry devotees from Tirupati to Tirumala, where the temple is located, a distance of 18 kilometers. The temple authorities have begun to turn cow dung and food wastes into biogas and compost as a first step. In future, they might be able to turn biogas into compressed gas for motor vehicles.

ITC Limited, one of India’s corporate giants headquartered in Kolkata, has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Tamil Nadu government to provide technical assistance to temples in waste management. As part of its ‘Green Temple Initiative’, ITC is helping 182 temples in the state to turn their flower waste into organic manure. Additionally, around 400 kg of cow dung from goshalas are turned into biogas to fuel the kitchens that prepare prasadam. This also helps the temples remain clean. A management team from ITC visited the Mahim Church to study its waste management system.

Hopefully, other corporate houses will start similar initiatives, as part of their corporate social responsibility, to assist other places of worship in addressing the challenge of managing the growing waste in the country.

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Queen Elizabeth II was the first British sovereign to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee (70 years of service) recently. She is currently the world’s longest reigning monarch, having ascended the throne on February 6, 1952. However, the Queen still has some way to go to achieve the longest recorded reign-that of Louis XIV of France, also known as Louis the Great. Louis XIV was King of France for 72 years and 110 days, from 1643 to until his demise in 1715.

Elizabeth I – the last Tudor monarch – was born at Greenwich on 7 September 1533, the daughter of Henry VIII and his second wife, Anne Boleyn. Her early life was full of uncertainties, and her chances of succeeding to the throne seemed very slight once her half-brother Edward was born in 1537. She was then third in line behind her Roman Catholic half-sister, Princess Mary. Roman Catholics, indeed, always considered her illegitimate and she only narrowly escaped execution in the wake of a failed rebellion against Queen Mary in 1554.

Elizabeth succeeded to the throne on her half-sister’s death in November 1558. She was very well-educated (fluent in five languages), and had inherited intelligence, determination and shrewdness from both parents. Her 45-year reign is generally considered one of the most glorious in English history. During it a secure Church of England was established. Its doctrines were laid down in the 39 Articles of 1563, a compromise between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism. Elizabeth herself refused to ‘make windows into men’s souls … there is only one Jesus Christ and all the rest is a dispute over trifles’; she asked for outward uniformity. Most of her subjects accepted the compromise as the basis of their faith, and her church settlement probably saved England from religious wars like those which France suffered in the second half of the 16th century.

Although autocratic and capricious, Elizabeth had astute political judgement and chose her ministers well; these included William Cecil, later Lord Burghley (Secretary of State), Sir Christopher Hatton (Lord Chancellor) and Sir Francis Walsingham (in charge of intelligence and also a Secretary of State).

Overall, Elizabeth’s administration consisted of some 600 officials administering the great offices of state, and a similar number dealing with the Crown lands (which funded the administrative costs). Social and economic regulation and law and order remained in the hands of the sheriffs at local level, supported by unpaid justices of the peace.

 Elizabeth’s reign was one of considerable danger and difficulty for many, with threats of invasion from Spain through Ireland, and from France through Scotland. Much of northern England was in rebellion in 1569-70. A papal bull of 1570 specifically released Elizabeth’s subjects from their allegiance, and she passed harsh laws against Roman Catholics after plots against her life were discovered.

As a likely successor to Elizabeth, Mary spent 19 years as Elizabeth’s prisoner because Mary was the focus for rebellion and possible assassination plots, such as the Babington Plot of 1586.

During Elizabeth’s long reign, the nation also suffered from high prices and severe economic depression, especially in the countryside, during the 1590s. The war against Spain was not very successful after the Armada had been beaten and, together with other campaigns, it was very costly.

Despite the combination of financial strains and prolonged war after 1588, Parliament was not summoned more often. There were only 16 sittings of the Commons during Elizabeth’s reign, five of which were in the period 1588-1601. Although Elizabeth freely used her power to veto legislation, she avoided confrontation and did not attempt to define Parliament’s constitutional position and rights.

Overall, Elizabeth’s always shrewd and, when necessary, decisive leadership brought successes during a period of great danger both at home and abroad. She died at Richmond Palace on 24 March 1603, having become a legend in her lifetime. The date of her accession was a national holiday for two hundred years.

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The journey from Dilmun to the British

 Bahrain declared nationhood in 1971, shedding the yoke of colonial rule-first by the Portuguese and then by the British. Before all that. Bahrain- along with Kuwait and Saudi Arabia-was the centre for the Dilmun civilization, a contemporary of the Indus Valley Civilization.

Bahrain established itself as a monarchy in 1971, following independence. Sheikh Isa ibn Salman Al Khalifah was the first Emir (ruler or commander) of the country. In 1999, Sheikh Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifah became the Emir. In 2002, he led the country’s transition into a constitutional monarchy

In 2011, during the Arab Spring, Bahrain also witnessed a public uprising. The uprising called for more political freedom and an end to the monarchy. But it was crushed through military intervention, with support from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The country enjoys the status of being a non-NATO US. ally.

A nation that turned adversity into advantage

Located in the Persian Gulf. Bahrain is an archipelago comprising 33 islands. Its name comes from the Arabic al-Bahrayn meaning two seas. It refers to the two sources of water in the country – the freshwater springs and the surrounding seas. The springs played an important role in the development of pearl oysters.

Over 90% of Bahrain is desert. The freshwater springs, which once provided drinking water for the country, stopped flowing in the 1980s. The country has very little arable land. Interestingly, the country also has little oil wealth. Despite all of these adversities, the tiny island nation managed to develop into a major economy.

Bahrain is among the five most water-stressed countries in the world. To overcome shortage, the country invested in desalination technology in the early 1980s, when it was still in its nascent stages. Close to 60% of the country’s drinking water needs are met by desalination plants.

As most of the desert land is uncultivable, the country forged trade ties with several nations, including India. Today, 90% of food consumed in Bahrain is imported. It has also taken advantage of the sea to become a major fishing hub.

Popular spots

Al Fateh is the grand mosque in Bahrain that is capable of accommodating 7000 people, and is one of the largest mosques in the world. It was built in 1988, with marble, glass, and teak wood. The dome of the mosque is made of fibreglass so that devotees can see all the heavenly glory from there. Bab-Al-Bahrain is one of the most beautiful markets in Manama having several stalls selling veggies and fruits, clothes, and crafts, and gold and pearls. Opened in 1949, the historical building is designed by the British advisor to the emir, Charles Belgrave.

The economic boom

Bahrain is among the top 20 richest countries in the world. Currently, the Bahraini Dinar is the second-highest-valued currency unit in the world. One Bahraini Dinar is worth over 220 Indian Rupees. But that tag did not come easily.

The country did not have oil reserves, but the country took up contracts for oil processing and refining from its neighbours, which provided a big business boost. It soon diversified into other areas as well – the biggest being banking and financial sectors. Bahrain’s capital Manama is one of the fastest growing financial centres in the world.

Another backbone of the country’s economy, for centuries, is the pearl industry. Bahrain is the first country in the world to ban cultured or artificial pearls. This has been a big boost for its pure pearl market. It is believed that the nutrients carried by Bahrain’s springs into the sea gave its pearl oysters a unique environment to produce high quality gems.

The pearls are prised from seabed oysters by divers. It is said that making a single string pearl necklace could take up to five years as the pearls have to be sourced from divers in batches. A larger necklace could take even 10 years to make and would cost around *20 lakh.

There are about 3,50,000 Indian nationals in Bahrain, making them the largest expatriate group in the country. Immigration of Indians to Bahrain started right from the time of Dilmun civilization and continued through the British period. While early immigrants were traders, the current generation of Indians in Bahrain work as doctors, engineers, chartered accountants, bankers, managers, and other professionals.

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On October 28, 1971. Great Britain officially entered the space race. becoming the sixth country to place a satellite into orbit using their own launch vehicle While the Prospero satellite had been successfully launched, the project responsible for it had been scrapped months earlier. A.S.Ganesh takes a look at a cancelled mission that still succeeded….

What were you doing when Chandrayaan 3 created history by landing near the south pole of the moon? This is one question that you might keep encountering throughout your lifetime. It is human nature to link associate and talk about what we as individuals were doing when something historic pans out.

These things however, are also a by-product of how we are made to feel about a particular event. For even when something historic takes place, it might not always create waves if there isn’t enough hype around it. The successful launch of the Prospero satellite is one such event.

The second half of the 20th Century was an exciting time in the space race. While the US. and the Soviet Union were at the forefront, the UK was only third to them in the field of rocket technology. Despite having a workable satellite launch programme and plans for human-based missions, it all came apart for Great Britain in a matter of years.

No fanfare

Britain became the sixth nation to place a satellite into orbit with a carrier rocket developed indigenously on October 28, 1971. Unlike the frenzy surrounding the success of Chandrayaan-3, there was little fanfare associated with it.

Even if we are to account for the half a century in between and the way in which news is disseminated with today’s technology and social media, what happened with Prospero would still be found wanting. While the American and Soviet space programmes of the time were being celebrated, Prospero’s successful launch was a low-key affair.

Black Arrow project

Regardless of how it was received. Prospero’s launch was a triumph. The scientists and engineers at the Royal Aircraft Establishment had been involved with the British space programme from late in the 1950s and all their skills had been invested on this satellite.

The Black Arrow project programme was a continuation of the U.K.’s missile defence programme. The first attempt to launch a satellite (X-2) was a failure in September 1970 as the second stage of the rocket failed to pressurise. With this literally being their last chance, the team based at the launch site in Woomera, Australia did everything with extreme caution. The Black Arrow rocket was launched on October 28, 1971 from Woomera and within minutes the Prospero satellite, manufactured by the British Aircraft Corporation and Marconi, was placed successfully in a polar orbit.

Joy and regret

 The joy that the success brought was mixed with sadness for all those involved because the British government had cancelled the Black Arrow project three months earlier owing to escalating costs and funding coming to a standstill. The government had agreed upon one final launch attempt which resulted in Prospero’s success. With the government distancing itself from the project, there was little about the mission for the consumption of the public. It took two days for the news of the successful launch to reach the U.K. and even then it did not make it to the front page of most newspapers.

Transmits for decades

The 66 kg Prospero was a tiny device designed to test systems for future launches (that never came about) and carried a single scientific instrument. While the tape recorders it carried stopped functioning in 1973. Prospero transmitted a signal for over two decades and continues to orbit the Earth Just before the age of the commercial satellites began, the British government pulled the plug after having decided that space was largely a waste of money. Prospero is not only the first, but remains so far the only British satellite launched on a British-built rocket.

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On September 17, 1911, Calbraith Perry Rodgers took off from Sheepshead Bay in Long Island, New York. On December 10, 1911, he landed in Long Beach, California and completed the world’s first transcontinental flight. A.S.Ganesh takes a look at aviation pioneer Rodgers and his pathbreaking flight…

The aviation industry has transformed the way we think about travel. Getting from one point of Earth to another has never been so easy. If we come to think of the fact that the Wright brothers had their first successful flight only at the start of the 20th Century, it puts into perspective the tremendous growth over the last century or SO.

There were a number of firsts in those early days of aviation as the world of air travel was literally begging to be unlocked. There were aviation pioneers and daredevils who managed these firsts, and sometimes they were rolled into one. One of those was an American who became the first to fly solo across the US.. Calbraith Perry Rodgers.

Rich family history                                                                                                                        

Rodgers was born in Pittsburgh on January 12, 1879 into a family with a rich history of the U.S. Navy service. There were generations of adventurers that bore the name “Perry” and “Rodgers” who had achieved success across different fields – be it victory over a British Naval fleet or establishing trade between Japan and America through sheer persistence.

Rodgers was named after his father, a captain in the U.S. Army, who had died five months before his birth. He grew up with his mother Maria Wightman Rodgers and his grandparents and was drawn to all things mechanical from a very young age. At six however, he had a severe bout of scarlet fever, leaving him nearly deaf and ineligible for military service.

Desire for adventure

 While the deafness meant that he lacked interest in academics, he was always interested in physical activities and excelled at it. He didn’t let his deafness deter his desire for adventure, and spent a lot of his early adulthood sailing and racing cars and horses.

For someone who became the first to fly solo across the U.S. in 1911, Rodgers was introduced to flying only that year! John Rodgers, Calbraith’s cousin who would go on to become a naval aviation pioneer and set the record of longest non-stop flight hu caanlane of 3 205 km. in1925, told him that “for speed, you can’t beat flying!”

Rodgers immediately made a trip to Dayton, Ohio and was instantly hooked after doing some basic aeronautics exploration.

Like a fish to water

Within a week after starting his classes at the school, Rodgers requested permission for a solo flight. Since he was denied owing to lack of training, Rodgers went on to purchase his own training plane. Rodgers made his first solo flight on June 12 and by August 7, he passed the flying examination to become the 49th licensed aviator in the world.

Spurred on by his success, Rodgers began to take an interest in competing for the Hearst Prize. Publisher and newspaper giant William Randolph Hearst offered a $50,000 prize for the first person to completely fly across the U.S. in fewer than 30 days.

Orville questions decision

Rodgers purchased a lightweight, four-cylinder, 35-horsepower Model EX biplane from the Wright Company on September 10. When Rodgers had told Orville of his intention to compete for the Hearst Prize, the latter questioned his decision and doubted any plane of that time to travel so far.

Rodgers, however, pressed on. He sought a corporate sponsor to help him financially and got it from Armour Meat-Packing Co., which was promoting Vin Fiz, its new grape soda. Rodgers’ biplane thus served as a flying billboard for the product and was dubbed The Vin Fiz.

With the objective of reaching the Pacific Ocean in 30 days, Rodgers set out from Sheepshead Bay in Long Island on September 17. With a train to follow his progress and carry all things required for repair and maintenance, Rodgers had charted out his course from start to finish with a target of 250 miles a day.

While the first landing went without incident, there were plenty after that right from the second take-off. In addition to technical and mechanical obstacles, the weather too played spoilsport. Lack of reliable weather forecasting to go along with his impaired hearing meant that he couldn’t make informed decisions, be it for navigation or those in relation to take-off and landing times.

Popular with public by the time he reached Chicago on October 8, it was clear to him that the 30-day goal was impossible to achieve. He had, however, caught the imagination of the American public by now, and was determined to successfully finish his trip. After 15 crash landings and nearly 70 rough take-offs and landings, Rodgers landed in Long Beach, California on December 10 and taxied his plane into the Pacific Ocean.

While Rodgers’ in-flight time was just three days, 10 hours and four minutes, his total flying trip spanned across 49 days with plenty more spent on the ground for various reasons. He became an instant celebrity having achieved this feat, but died just five months later in a plane crash during an exhibition flight after striking one of a flock of birds.

In addition to being the first human to fly across the North American continent, Rodgers flight is significant as it introduced commercial air travel and advertising and also helped the aviation industry capture the interest of the society at large. Rodgers’ Vin Fiz is on display at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C.

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