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General Knowledge Pt.- IX

 

Where was mahatma gandhi on independence day?

Even as India celebrated her hard won freedom on August 15, 1947, Mahatma Gandhi, who had played such a sterling role in the movement, was in Kolkata. Saddened by the Partition of the country, he spent the day fasting and in prayer. This was in stark contrast with the celebrations in Delhi where Nehru gave his Tryst with Destiny’ speech as Indians rejoiced in their new-found Independence.

Which is the largest cantilever bridge in the world?

A cantilever bridge is formed by two projecting beams or trusses joined in the centre by a connecting member and supported on piers and anchored by counter-balancing members. The Quebec Bridge in Canada is considered the world’s largest cantilever bridge. It crosses the lower Saint Lawrence river west of Quebec city The bridge is a riveted steel truss structure and is 987 metres long, 29 metres wide and 104 metres high. It presently accommodates three highway lines, one rail line and one pedestrian walkway. It once carried a streetcar line. Each cantilever span is 170 metres long.

When did g-8 come into existence?

The G-8 (Group of 8 nations) officially came into existence only in 1998 although the concept of major industrial democracies meeting annually to discuss and solve economic and political concerns has existed since 1975. At that time, it was the G-6 (the US; the UK, Japan, Italy, Germany and France) that formed the international community at the first summit in Rambouillet, France. Canada joined in the 1976 summit in Puerto Rico. In 1998, the Birmingham Summit saw full Russian participation. Since 1991, the USSR and then Russia participated in post summit dialogues with the G-7.

When was the first disneyland set up?

The first Disneyland was set up July 15, 1955 in Anaheim, California, USA The opening was attended by 28 154 persons and 90 million people watched it on television. The themepark was the brainchild of Walt Disney famous for his creation of Mickey Mouse and gang. Disney acquired 160 acres of orange groves and walnut trees in Anaheim, south of Los Angeles. Its construction began on July 21, 1954 and cost around $17 million.

When did mickey mouse make her debut?

Mickey Mouse’s girlfriend, Minnie, made her film debut, along with Mickey, in ‘Steamboat Willie’ on November 18, 1928. That date is recognised as her official birthday. Along with Mickey, who shares her birthday, and Donald Duck, she is one of the only three Disney characters with an officially recognized birthday. A popular character, Minnie did not have her own cartoon series, but appeared in 73 cartoons with Mickey Mouse and Pluto.

Which is renoir’s most famous painting?

‘Bal au Moulin de la Galette, Montmartre’ (Dance at Le Moulin de la Galette), an open-air scene of a popular dance garden on the Butte Montmartre — painted in 1876 — is one of the most famous paintings of Pierre Auguste Renoir. ‘Bathers’ (Les Baigneuses), painted in 1918, which is in the collection of The Barnes Foundation, Merion, Pennsylvania is another famous painting by this French painter. He was originally associated with the Impressionist movement and his early works were typically Impressionist snapshots of real life. By the mid-1880s, he had broken with the movement to apply a more disciplined, formal technique to portraits and figure paintings.

Though pizzas are round in shape, why are they packed in square boxes?

Pizzas, or most things irrespective of their shape, are packed in square boxes because: i) Easy to manufacture square boxes; ii) Easier and speedier handling, packing and unpacking; iii) Wastage during manufacture is less as curving round boxes would result in loss of material on the edges; iv) In storing square boxes in stacks, they occupy optimum space and can be , placed efficiently and v) Carrying and serving a pile of pizzas in square boxes is more easier.

How many types of cheese are produced all over the world? Which is the most popular?

Cheeses can be distinguished based on: i) country of origin; ii) kind of milk used (raw, skimmed or pasteurised); iii) texture (hard, semi-hard, semi-soft or soft) and iv) the animal from which the milk is derived (cow, goat, sheep, buffalo, horse or camel). As the number of cheese-making countries is very large, the above classification system gives rise to at least a few thousand varieties. The most popular is Cheddar. It’s made from cow’s milk, is hard or semi-hard in texture, and the colour varies from white and pale yellow to yellowish orange.

What is the origin of the word loophole’?

Loophole comes from the Dutch word ‘liupen’, meaning ‘to peer’. Loopholes were a vertical slit or opening in the wall of a fortification such as a castle, allowing a defender to look out or shoot while remaining protected. Metaphorically, therefore, the word means a gap, omission, and error, ambiguity that one can exploit.

What is the silk route?

The Silk Route is an ancient trade route built in 8th century B.C. linking China with Central Asia and the Mediterranean region. It is 4,000 miles long and originates from Sian. With the Great Wall of China to the northwest, it bypasses the Takia Makan Desert, climbs the Pamirs (mountains), crosses Afghanistan, and goes on to the Levant. It carried goods between the two great civilisations of Rome and China. Silk came westward, while wool, gold, and silver went east. As silk was the major item being transported, it was called the Silk Route.

Which is blink technology?

It’s the contact less payment technology for credit cards. It’s just like a regular credit card in many ways with the account holder’s name and account number on the front of the card. On the reverse is a magnetic strip containing the account information, so the card can be used where regular credit cards can be used. The key difference is inside the card. Embedded within is a small Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) microchip. When the chip is close enough to the right kind of terminal, it can get information from the chip (in this case, account number and name). Instead of swiping the magnetic strip on the card through a standard reader, cardholders simply hold their card a few inches from the blink terminal. The card never leaves the cardholder’s hand.

Which was the tallest hand-built sand sculpture?

It was a sand sculpture of a big tent, with a horse carousel, that stood at 28 ft 71/4 inches high. Using about 240 tones of sand, it was created during The South’s Largest Children’s Festival in Georgia’s Stone Mountain Park, US on July 24, 1998 after 100 man-hours by Team Sandtastic. The team’s sculpture entered the Guinness Book of World Records. The tallest indoor sand castle was made at New York State Fairgrounds between August 21 and September 7,1998 with a height of 33 ft 5 inches.

Why is the head of the german government called a chancellor and not a prime minister?

Chancellor is the official title used by people whose civilisations have directly or indirectly risen out of the Roman Empire. The title is borne by officers of various degrees of dignity. The head of government in Germany is also called kanzler (chancellor) but the name of the office today is bundeskanzler (Federal chancellor). This position is equivalent to that of a Prime Minister and is elected by the German Parliament.

How did new orleans get its name?

New Orleans is the largest city in the state of Louisiana. It’s famous for, among other things, its Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest. It was founded in 1718 and at this point of time, Philip II, Duke of Orleans (a city in France, about 200 km south-west of Paris) was the ruler of France. In his honour, New Orleans got its name.

Who invented the t-shirt?

During World War I, US soldiers, sweating in their woollen uniforms, noticed the light cotton undershirts worn by European soldiers. Since they were much more comfortable, they quickly became popular among the Americans, and because of their design, they were named T-shirts. During World War II, the T-shirt became standard issue underwear in both the US Army and Navy after WW II, the T-shirt started appearing without a shirt covering it.

Who was the last emperor?

The last emperor of China was Henry P’u Yi, pronounced Too yee His name is variously spelled P’u-i, Puyi, Pu-Yi, or Buyi. P’u Yi was a member of the Ch’ing (or Qing) Dynasty — a Manchu. The Manchu were originally nomads from Manchuria, northeast of China. They conquered China in 1644, but kept themselves largely separated from the Chinese. They retained their own language and fashions, lived apart and married other Manchus. For a long time, the Chinese weren’t even permitted to settle in the Manchu homeland.

What do the suffixes gmbh and spa (added to some european companies) stand for?

GmbH stands for Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung in German and SpA stands for Societa per Azioni in Italian. Both are representative of companies with limited liability for stockholders. It is similar to a Limited Liability Company (LLC) in the US.

What is the origin of the term ‘hollywood’?

Hollywood is a district of Los Angeles. Due to its fame and identity as a major center of movie studios and stars, ‘Hollywood’ is often used to refer to the American motion picture industry. Daeida Wilcox, who met a woman who spoke of, coined it her country home in Ohio named after a Dutch settlement called Hollywood. She bestowed the name to the family ranch in Southern California. Harvey Wilcox, Daeida’s husband, drew up a grid map for a town, which he filed with the county recorder’s office on February 1, 1887, the first official appearance of the name ‘Hollywood’.

What is the cow parade festival?

The Cow Parade Festival is the world’s largest public art event showcasing life-size sculptures of cows in different cities. Numerous artists, designers and others are invited to paint their own designs on these sculptures, which/are then displayed in parks, squares and streets. After the event, many of the sculptures are auctioned and a substantial portion of the proceeds goes to charity.

Who is a history sheeter?

The answer (May says the term does not find place in dictionaries yet. However, I’d like to point out that it’s included in the Oxford English Dictionary, 11th edition and gives the meaning as (of Indian origin), ‘a person with a criminal record’.

When was the london eye opened?

The London Eye was inaugurated on December 31,1999 by British Prime Minister Tony Blair, although it was not actually open to the public until March 2000 due to technical problems. The Eye (sometimes called the Millennium Wheel) is the largest observation wheel in the world and stands 135 metres high on the south bank of the Thames in London, England. It carries 32 sealed air-conditioned capsules attached to its external circumference. One capsule can accommodate up to 25 persons. It provides a 30-minute slow-moving passage over London. It is designed by architects David Marks and Julia Barfield and operated by Tussauds Group.

Who was the first playback singer in indian cinema?

It’s WM Khan. The first Indian talkie ‘Alam Ara’ was made by Ardeshir M Irani, on March 14,1931. It was a Parsi theatre piece adaptation retaining the play’s songs. This gave Indian cinema its first singer WM Khan and achieved success in Sri Lanka and Myanmar. For the song recordings, only a harmonium and tabia were used out of the camera range and the singer sang into a hidden microphone. The fakir song by WM Khan – ‘De De Khuda ke Naam Par Pyaare’ – became extremely popular.

Why are black cat commandos called so?

Black Cat Commandos are called so because of their black uniforms including the headgear. They are reckoned to be one of the best anti-terrorist outfits in the world. It is a highly specialised specific operation unit armed with sophisticated weapons meant to storm hideouts to neutralize enemy threats. The National Security Guards members are trained to react swiftly in a combat situation.

Who is a neo-luddite?

In 18th century England, Ned Ludd led a movement to destroy manufacturing machinery in the belief that its use led to a fall in employment. A Neo-Luddite is a person who opposes technology, especially the use of computers in the work place.

Why is the tabia superior to the western drum?

Indian percussion instruments, tabla, pakhavaj or mridangam are more versatile than the drums used by Western musicians. The drums offer only the beat while a variety of musical notes is produced using the Indian instruments. The late Prof. C. V. Raman, a Nobel Prize winner, gave an explanation for this phenomenon. The obvious difference between the tabla and the drum is that the tabla is coated with a black paste to make a circular mask. The loading of the vibrating membrane explains why Indian percussion instruments are versatile.

Who designed the electronic logic circuit?

In 1939 Bruno Rossi, an Italian cosmic ray physicist, while detecting nuclear ray radiation, designed the electronic logic circuit. He called it the coincidence circuit. The electronic logic forms the ‘intelligence5 of every digital machine, including the computer.

What is a venturimeter?

It is a simple contraption made of mercury filled U-tube to measure the flow of liquids. Venturimeters have now been replaced by compact digital flow meters.

Why is the all weather” all terrain vehicle called a jeep?

Even in the deep interiors of India, a jeep is a handy vehicle to maneuver on the difficult mud tracks. The engineers of the Allied Army conceived the jeep during the World War-11. They called it GP or simply the General Purpose vehicle that can be used to carry troops, guns and even smaller field guns. The term GP slowly metamorphosed into jeep.

What is a fugu?

Fugu is a fish that is eaten as a delicacy in Japan after the removal of its skin and certain organs that contain poisons. In fact, chefs have to obtain a license from the government before being able to use the fish in recipes.

What are simple machines?

Modern day machines are based on a few simple gadgets. They are: Lever, pulley, inclined slope, and wheel and axle. Incidentally, the clock is called the mother of all machines.

Who is the inventor of modern-day roads?

The idea of building roads and pavements using layers of broken stones and tar was conceived by a Scottish engineer, J. L. Mc Adam. Hence, roads built in this manner are called macadamized roads.

Who invented lego?

Construction games often simulate children’s imagination and inventiveness. The most popular building game is Lego. Kirk Christiasen invented this.

Where did the chewing gunur riginally come from?

The chewing gum is made from the sap of a tree, the sapodilla, found in the forests of Guatemala. The sap is boiled to make it elastic before adding various flowers.

Why are denim trousers called ‘jeans’?

In 1851 Levi Strauss, a German, arrived in California with rolls of rugged canvas like cloth. The original purpose was to make tents for miners. The miners insisted on rugged outfits instead. Similar cloth was called ‘Genoa’ which got its name from the Italian city from where it originated. The term was later Americanized and called ‘Jeans’.

How many grads make a full circle?

Grad is the ‘metric’ equivalent of angular measure. A right angle has a measure of 90 degrees or 100 grads. This implies that a full circle is made of 400 grads. In other words, a grad is nine-tenth of a degree.

What is a funicular railway?

Funicular railway is a train pulled by the tension in a rope. Normally the ascending and descending coaches counterbalance. Funicular railways are used in mining and quarrying applications.

What is the angle of banking?

Whenever a vehicle takes a turn, there are two forces working on it. One is the centripetal force that works towards the center of the circle. A pseudoforce called the centrifugal force balances this force. It is possible that the vehicle may deviate from its circular motion. In order to avoid a possible accident, the outer curve of the road is elevated in relation to the inner curve. This elevation is called the ‘angle of banking’.

There is more to guts than you think. Say what.

Physicists continue to search for a theory of everything — a theory that would connect all four fundamental forces in nature: namely, gravity, strong nuclear, week interaction and electromagnetic forces. While the weak interaction and electromagnetic forces have been unified, the next logical step is to link them with the strong nuclear force. The theories that attempt such unification are called Grand Unified Theories (GUTs).

Is the unit ‘calorie’ used by the dietician the same as that used by the physicist?

No. A ‘calorie’ as defined by the physicist is the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of one gram of water by one degree centigrade. One calorie of food is the equivalent of 1,000 calories of heat. The dietician’s unit is described as one kcal.

What are tachyons?

Tachyons are hypothetical particles — at least, not yet discovered — that move faster than the speed of light.

How are expert systems helpful?

The application of artificial intelligence in computer-based systems used to tackle a real life situation results in an expert system. A computer expert and a domain specialist devise an expert system. For example, a medical expert system installed on an off-shore drilling platform or remote area is made with the help of a medical practitioner.

What are the main functions of a karta in the hindu undivided family? Can he marry outside his community? And if he does, can he continues to; perform his duties as a karta?

KARTA is like the Managing Director. Just as the Managing Director has all the powers on behalf of the company, the karta has the right to sell, purchase, and invest the money belonging to the Hindu Undivided family and to take all such actions as he deems to be in the interests of the family. It is as if he has the General Power of Attorney on behalf of all the other members of the Hindu Undivided Family. He can marry out side his caste, but if he marries a non-Hindu, he ceases to be the karta. If he marries a person of his own community, but enters into marriage under the Special Marriages Act (what is referred to as registered marriage), he ceases to be the karta. If he marries outside his caste (not community) but the marriage is solemnised according to the traditional Hindu rites or even according to Arya Samaj rites, he can remain the karta.

What do the words ‘book post’ written on postal envelopes mean?

ON some categories sent by mail, some concession is provided. Thus you can send printed books to a friend at a concessional rate. You can send even handwritten stories for being published in The Indian-Express at a concessional rate. But you must remember not to send a letter along with such a contribution. You have to write: ‘Matter for Press Book Post’.

What is the hawala racket? How did it work?

MANY people have often asked me this question. I have been hesitating to reply because most of my readers are young. Hawala literally means charge or custody. Hawala racket is bound to be there in a society shackled with far too many laws that are being enforced by an overwhelmingly corrupt bureaucracy and police and a highly inefficient judicial system. When an ordinary citizen visits a government office or even the Municipal Corporation, he cannot make the employees there do the job (for which they are paid handsome salaries) unless he pays bribes. To be able to pay such hefty bribes, the businessman, in particular, needs unaccounted (black) money. If you want a little black money, you can get it by asking the garage owner, who repairs your car, to provide you bills for good and services that are not provided. He will ask for 10 per cent or 20 cent of the bill as commission. You immediately will have some unaccounted (black) money. Now imagine a transaction like transfer of property worth lakhs. Unless the businessman is prepared to wait for years together, he will not be able to get the office of the Registrar of Properties to register the transfer without paying thousands of rupees. From where can the businessman get the money? From paying fake bills against some commission. Hawala is the word used for such illegal transactions, involving mainly other countries. Hawala money comes handy to pay the huge bribes to people in very high positions. All such hawala transactions raise the cost of living because the businessmen will have to recover the money paid for fake bills, from the goods and the services that his company renders.

What are the seven wonders of the world?

I request readers not to ask questions for which answers can be easily found in good books of general knowledge or children’s encyclopedias. However, the answer to the above question is: Pyramids of Egypt, 2. Hanging Gardens of Babylon, 3. Statue of Zeus at Olympia, 4. Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, 5. Mausoleum of Halicamassus, 6. Colossus of Rhodes and 7. Pharaohs of Alexandria. Of these only the pyramids are substantially in existence today.

What is the difference between new delhi and delhi?

THE Red Fort was built by Shah Jahan and on its completion in 1638; he shifted the capital from Agra to Delhi. It is the area within the gates known as Delhi Gate, Turkman Gate and Ajmer Gate in the south and Kashmir Gate and Mori Gate in the north. In the north west was the Kabul Gate and below it, the Lahore Gate. Of these gates, only the Kashmir, Ajmer, Turkman and Delhi gates (or their vestiges) survive till this day. Inside old Delhi are the areas now known as Daryaganj, Chandni Chowk, Jami Masjid, the Royal Palace, etc. The work began on the construction of New Delhi in 1913, but it remained suspended during the First World War (1914 to 1918). New Delhi was formally inaugurated on February 15, 1931. A number of sites and buildings, now as Raj Path, Jan Path, Kasturba Candhi Marg, Connaught Place, Mandir Defence Colony, South Extension, Irapati Bhavan, North Block, South etc. are all parts of New Delhi.

When were the epics, the ramayana and the mahabharata written? Who ruled our country at that time?

SANSKRIT is the language in which the Ramayana and the Mahabharata were composed. The language of the Vedas is slightly different and seems to have been the spoken language, much before the Ramayana. Rig Veda was the earliest Veda to have been composed. It is at least 3,000 years old. Atharva Veda, according to some scholars, could have been composed only about 2,500 years ago. The Ramayana and the MahabJirata, like the Vedas, have come down us through oral tradition. The language which the Ramayana is composed suggests that if was perhaps written only about 2,500 to 3,000 years ago Ramayana is the adi-kavya, the first poem. But the incidents described in the Mahahabharata have led many scholars to believe that the period described in it was prior to describe in the Ramayana. There are differences among scholars even about the period of the Ramayana. Many feel that the Bala Kanda, the first chapter of the Ramayana, which describes the childhood days of the princes and Uttara Kanda, the chapter, which describes the days after the coronation of Rama are both later additions. As far as the person who ruled our country during the time the epics were written, it is anybody’s guess.

It is said at times that someone is in the seventh heaven. What does it mean?

According to scholars, around 2nd century B.C., heaven came to be regarded by the Jews as a place where the good people resurrected from the dead would dwell with Yahweh (the God of Israelites). Christianity and Islam too consider heaven to be the destination of those who believe in Christ and Allan respectively. In the Mahabharata, it is I said, those who follow the path of truth and righteousness find a place in heaven. The wicked ones go to hell; Yudhishthira was ushered into the heaven (Swarg). Among the Hindus, the concepts of heaven (Swarg) and hell (Nark) are to be found at length in the Puranas. There is reference to seven heavens, one above the other. The seventh heaven is the highest. By the time of Tulsidas, the concept of seven heavens was common among the masses. When someone is said to be in the seventh heaven, it is conveyed that he is enjoying unalloyed happiness.

What is mind? What is soul?

A hundred pages would not be enough to answer, even in brief, this question. It has haunted man from the dawn of civilisation. The “existence of mind is experienced in such occurrences as sensations, emotions, perceptions, desires, memory, traits of personality, etc. Materialists hold the vie^ that there is, nothing but matter and concepts like soul and even mind, independent of matter are false. Plato was the first person in the West to hold the view that matter and mind were two separate entities. The word he used was psyche, which has been translated as soul (and not as mind) in most writings. Rene Descartes, the philosopher argued that mind and matter are two separate and distinct sorts of substances. Hindus (Including Jains, Buddhists and Sikhs) hold the view that the soul is indestructible and survives the death of the body. Jews, Christians and Muslims may not believe in rebirth, but they too believe that soul has independent existence and it survives the death of the body.What is the relationship of the mind to the body and the soul? There are no clear definitions anywhere. In Vedic literature (Taittiriya Upanishad), Bhrigu first comes to the conclusion that food is iman (the Ultimate Reality). Then he realizes that more important than body and food is the life-breath. Then he realises that more important still is the mind. More important than the mind is intellect and beyond the intellect is Atman. Thus the Upanishad refers to the existence of body mind, intellect and Atman, in Kathopanishad, Nachiketa, is told that subtler than the body is the mind. Subtler still is the intellect and subtler than the intellect is Brahman (Atman).

Why does our prime minister hoist the national flag from the ramparts of the red fort, and not from india gate on independence day?

SUBHAS Chandra Bose, who led the Indian National Army (Azad Hind Fauz) from Singapore, introduced the slogan, ‘Chalo Delhi’. And he exhorted his men to hoist the flag of independent India on the Red Fort, which has been symbolic of central power for many centuries. Hence the importance of hoisting the National flags on the Red Fort.

What is meant by a box office hit?

IN the early days, in all cinema theatres, for comfortable viewing, there used to be boxes, which offer had only two seats or four seats ii each of them. If the tickets when sold, including the tickets for the boxes, it was said that the film was box office hit. Now boxes are not to be seen in cinema theatres, but the phrase has remained.

Why is cape town in south africa also known as the cape of good hope?

CAPE of Good Hope is situated on the southern extremity of the African continent. The name Cape of Good Hope is used today to mean the entire Cape province But originally it was applied to the promontory, about 45 km south of Cape Town. Portuguese navigator Bartolomeu Dias gave the name. He had referred to it as Cabo da Boa Esperanca, meaning ‘cape of good hope’. It was from around this area that the ships used to get food for onward journey. Perhaps this was the reason why Bartolomeu used the adjective good.

In christian grave yards, we often see the letters inri. What do they stand for?

INRI stands for Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum, which means Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.

Who are gypsies? From where do they come?

Gypsies are a nomadic race. They rarely remain at one place for long. They are known by various names. The word Gypsy, used in Britain is derived from Egyptian. The British believed they came from Egypt. The French refer to the, Gypsies as Bohemians. In Holland and Denmark, they are called Gitanos (perhaps from Egyptian). In Europe, Gypsies are famous for the crystal ball they carry and the forecasts they make. A few international Congresses of Gypsies have been held since 1960: It is now relieved that they all originated in India and migrated in waves, particularly since about 1000 AD. They veiled via Persia to Egypt and Europe. In Europe they refer to themselves as Roma and their language as Romany. In India, they are called various names like Banjaras, Lamans, Labanas, Lambaris, Vanjaris, etc. They claim that their main occupation throughout history was to transport goods from one place to another, particularly for armies on the march. They are good as artisans. Many Banjara groups these, days lead a settled life. The late Shri Vasantrao Naik, the former chief minister of Maharashtra was a Banjara, Another former CM, Sudhakar Rao Naik, also belongs to this commumty.

Why do some people become terrorists?

BEFORE I answer this question would like you to remember that Psychology is not an exact science. The reply given by me need not be acceptable to many others. I have interacted with literally thousands of youngsters. My understanding of the human mind, particularly the mind of teenagers, has made me believe that only those can learn to love, help and give, who have a high level of self-esteem and who feel secure. And who can develop self-esteem? Those who have accepted themselves with all their plus and minus points. Many youngsters find it difficult to accept themselves, when their parents do not accept them for what they are and expect them to achieve results which the youngsters are not capable of. This makes the youngsters feel insecure. Moreover, our education system is highly competitive and breeds insecurity. All around us, our youngsters see corruption of the kind, that has never been witnessed before. As a result, many lose faith in receiving fair and just treatment. This makes them insecure. Just as marshes breed mosquitoes, insecurity breeds violence as well as escapism (alcohol addiction etc.). I would like to add that not only real insecurity, but also even the perception of insecurity could have the same negative results. Those who perceive they are insecure also turn violent. And our shortsighted political leaders are great at imparting insecurity to their listeners.

Which is the most expensive hotel in the world?

The world’s most expensive is The Mansion at the MGM Grand — the $5,000 price tag is simply for the room. Meals and alcohol are charged separately. What guests get for their money is plenty of space — the villas range from 2,400 to 12,000 sq.ft. — as well as original Picassos on the walls, and the prestige that comes with being able to afford a room there.

Why are all buildings in jaipur pink in colour?

When Maharaja Jai Singh II ascended the throne in 1699, he shifted the capital from the rugged hills of Amber to the present city He appointed the architect Vidyadhar Bhattacharya to give shape to his plans and ideas to lay out the new city The pink colour of the city was not in these plans but in 1863 Jaipur dressed itself pink to welcome Prince Albert, the consort of Queen Victoria. This is how the colour became an integral part of the city, and is today popularly referred to as The Pink City’.

What’s the origin of the term french leave?

French leave primarily means taking leave without permission from work or duty. Some believe it is meant to convey the act of leisurely desertion from a military unit. Being away on leave from one’s post or duties has its roots in the 17th century and does not so much have its origins in cowardice but in a French custom of leaving a party without saying goodbye and/ or thanking the hosts.

What is the origin of the buffet systym?

A buffet is a meal-serving system where patrons serve themselves. It’s a popular method of feeding large numbers of people with minimal staff. The term originally referred to the sideboard where the food was served, but eventually became applied to the form the buffet became popular in the English-speaking world in the second half of the nineteenth century the 16th-century French term buffet applied to the display itself and to the furniture on which it was mounted, often draped with rich textiles, but more often as the century advanced an elaborately carved cupboard surmounted by tiers of Shelves. In England, such a buffet was called a court cupboard.

What is the origin of the term copycat?

The term copycat (also written as copy-cat or copy cat) refers to the tendency of humans to duplicate the behaviour of others, as expressed in the saying, ‘monkey see, monkey do’. The expression may have originated from observing the habits of kittens that learned by imitating the behaviour of their mother. Copycat has been in recorded use since at least 1896, in Sarah Orne Jewett The Country of Pointed Firs’ but the expression could be many decades older.

Which is the largest island in the world?

Greenland, officially called Kalaallit Nunaat, is the largest island in the world. Its area is 2,175,600 sq km, of which 81% is ice-capped. It was discovered by the Norwegian navigator Eric the Red in 10 A.D. It is surrounded by the Arctic Ocean to the north; the Greenland Sea to the east; the Denmark Strait to the southeast, the Atlantic Ocean to the south; and Davis Strait and Baffin Bay to the west. The capital of Greenland is Nuuk.

What are navratnas?

Navratnas was the group of nine intelligent people during the rule of Akbar and Chandragupta Maurya. In recent times, Navratna is the group of nine public sector units (PSUs) making a profit. These include ONGC, NTPC, HPCL, BPCL, IOC, SAIL, GAIL and BHEL.

Who holds the record of lighting highest number of candles at a time?

The largest flaming candle image took place at the Serena Hotel in Faisalabad Pakistan when 48 people lit 8 154 candles to create the Sandoz logo on December 31 2003

Why are the florida keys called so?

The Florida Keys is a group of islands in state of Florida in southeast of the United States. The Keys extend from the peninsula near Miami, run south and then curve west to Key West, and out to the uninhabited Dry Tortugas. They are in the Florida Straits. The word ‘key’ is probably derived from the Spanish ‘cayo’, with its roots in Taino, the language of the original inhabitants of the Caribbean.

Which is the only six-faced clock tower in the world?

The Victoria Tower, built by Hartley in 1848 at the entrance to Salisbury Dock. It has a unique six-faced clock with a bell, which was used to signal high tides and ring out other warnings. Jesse Hartley (1780-1860) designed and built the Albert Dock and its warehouses. At that time he was surveyor to the Liverpool Dock Trustees and by far the highest-paid salaried engineer in the country.

What is a cooling-off period?

A cooling-off period is the period of time that you are allowed, after signing an agreement, to cancel without incurring a financial penalty Under the Distance Selling Regulations 2000 you have the right to change your mind and cancel an order within seven working days, although some services and goods are not covered by these regulations. If you do decide to cancel, then you should put this in writing. A telephone call is not sufficient unless both you and the trader agree otherwise.

What is the significance of hiri moale festival?

The Hiri Moale Festival is celebrated in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. This is a celebration of the traditional Hiri trade that existed from precolonial times until some 60 or 70 years ago, where the Motu people near Port Moresby would create the large multi-hull lagatoi canoes with their crab-claw sails, and sail westwards into the Gulf of Papua to trade clay pots for sago. It is now the major festival, commemorating as it does trading and cultural links, and friendship between people.

Who holds the record of lighting highest number of candles at a time?

The largest flaming candle image took place at the Kankaria Lake, Ahmedabad, on March 25,2001 when members of the general public and volunteers of the National Council for Civil Liberties (NCCL), an Ahmedabad-based NGO, lit 20,000 candles in presence of Sunder Singh Bandhari, the then governor of Gujarat. They were paying homage to over 20,000 people killed in the earthquake that rocked Gujarat on January 26,2001.

Why is it easier for a fat person to swim fast in water?

In the human body, bones are heavier than water, but the fat is much lighter; that is why those who are obese (fat) can be more at ease in water.

Who invented the atm?

Don Wetzel invented the first successful and modern ATM in the US. However, he was not the first inventor. In 1939, Luther George Simjian started patenting an earlier and not-so-successful version. Don Wetzel was the co-patentee and chief conceptualist of the automated teller machine. The other two inventors were Tom Barnes (chief mechanical engineer) and George Chastain (electrical engineer). It ^took $5 million to develop it. A working

What is wimax connectivity?

WiMax stands for Wireless Interoperability Microwave Access. A faster version of Wi-Fi, WiMax is a wireless technology that offers a faster broadband connection at longer distances of up to 50 kms. The radius of WiMax coverage is measured in square kilometers unlike Wi-Fi, which is easured in square metres.

Which is the biggest prison in the world?

Leaving out Russian gulags, most of which have been disbanded, Chinese labour camps for which figures are not available, and Indian prisons like Tihar which hold more people than their authorized capacity, the biggest prison in the world is the State Prison of Southern Michigan in prototype was ready in 1969 and the first working ATM was installed in New York.

When is international car-free day celebrated?

International car-free day is celebrated on September 22 on which humans deplete the ozone layer a little less. More than 100 million people in about 1,500 cities celebrate it. Motorists forsake their gas guzzlers and lessen their contribution to global warming. It is aimed at getting commuters out of using their cars and considering environmentally sounder alternatives.

Who are true yogis? How can we identify yogis in society?

Krishna has defined a yogi in many ways in the Gita. At one place he says: One who excels in his work is a yogi (Yagah karmasu Kaushalam). At another place he says: One who maintains equanimity of mind in happiness and unhappiness, in victory and defeat and in profit and loss is a yogi. But the common people use the word yogi to describe a person who performs yogic asanas or pranayam.

What is the meaning of the letters isi written on many products? What is the full form of isi?

ISI stands for the Indian Standards Institution, with its head office in Delhi. Only those products, which meet the specifications laid down by ^he Indian Standards Institution, are permitted to use the ISI mark.

What is meant by street?

Wall street is a street in Manhattan, New York, which has been the centre of financial activities for a number of years. The stock exchange is also situated there. In Mumbai, Dalal Street has been the hub of financial activities and the Bomaby Stock Exchange is situated there. So when it is reported that Dalal Street is jubilant, it means those engaged in commercial activities feel jubilant.

What does rappelling mean?

Rappelling or abseiling is the process of descending a fixed rope. Rappelling can be done with gear like Figure 8 ring, GI steel carabineers or without any gears but just with a rope tied around the body with different knot techniques. Rappelling is used in a number of situations. Rock climbers use it to return to the base; military or police use it to raid buildings from helicopters, and rescue teams use it to access places which are flooded or on fire.

What is “fourth generation warfare”?

Fourth generation warfare’s goal is collapsing the enemy internally rather physically destroying him. Targets will include such things as the population’s support for the war and the enemy’s culture. Correct identification of enemy strategic centers of gravity is very important. Fourth generation warfare seems likely to be widely dispersed and largely undefined; the distinction between war and peace will be blurred to the vanishing point. It will be non-linear, possibly to the point of having no definable battlefields or fronts. The distinction between “civilian” and “military” may disappear.

Who won the first nobel prize for literature?

Sully Prodhomme, the French poet and essayist, was the first recipient of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1901. His works have a lyrical quality and melancholy world view. One of his major works is a 4,000-line epic poem/Le Bonheur’. He delved into the philosophy of poetry, and favoured a style that was calm and impersonal in character. He was the first in the long list of illustrious writers who have this prize, the latest being British playwright Harold Pinter.

Who coined the term ‘six degrees of separation’?

‘Six degrees of separation’ refers to a theory whereby a person can be connected to any random person in the whole world through just five or six intermediary persons. The concept was first mentioned in ‘Chains’, a 1929 short story by Hungarian Frigyes Karinthy. Later, American sociologist Stanley Milgram conducted experiments to prove this theory, which he termed ‘the small world problem’. His findings were published in ‘Psychology Today’, wherein the term ‘six degrees of separation’ was first coined. The phrase became popular after playwright John Guare wrote an eponymous play in 1990.

What does the french term ‘beur’ mean?

Beur is a variation of the French term ‘arabe’, meaning Arab. It is used to refer to second-generation Algerian immigrants. Although they are French by nationality, they haven’t been wholly integrated to mainstream French society. They experience a peculiar problem of not belonging either to Algeria or to France, and are confined to the periphery of French cities. Unemployment is very high in this community. Recently, their problems were brought to the forefront when two boys were electrocuted when fleeing from the police. This sparked largescale riots in Paris for many days.

Which was the world’s first newspaper and when was it started?

Since the essence of a newspaper is the regular publishing of information of recent events, the credit goes to Rome for publishing the first news paper. A daily was published there from 59 BC which was called Act Diurna. Copies were written by hand and hung in prominent places in the city as well in the provinces of Italy. The gazzette recorded important political as well social events. However Niewe Tijdinghen, pub-lished from 1605 from Antwerp, Belgium, is considered the first newspaper by many. It contained miscellaneous information.

What is the difference between a cafe and a restaurant?

THE word ‘restaurant5 has its origin in the French language. It is a place where food as well as snacks are served. Cafe was a word coined by the Americans to mean a place where coffee was served. Today, it means a place where drinks as well as light refreshments are served.

I understand that according to the hindu calendar this year is 1921. After which god is this calendar named?

SHAUVAHANA was a great king (not a god) who defeated the Shakas and routed their army. It is believed that the Shalivahana era is reckoned from the year he ascended the throne (in 78AD)

Why do we need money? Why can’t we trade and get what we want against what we give?

Long, long ago, our ancestors obtained whatever they wanted by a system called barter. The farmer, who grew cotton would go to the market and get food grains or cloth SSpf the value equivalent to the cotton he had given. Wealth was rtfeasured in the Vedic period by the number of cows a man owned. But the barter system has many disadvantages. You may have cotton to sell. But if there is no one who wants cotton in your village, but you must have cloth, how can you get it? You will have to go to the next village. If you go to the market with your cow and want to buy a cot, how will you pay for it? The cow may be worth three cots. Can you cut the cow into three?” That is why barter gave way to money-gold coins, copper coins and silver coins. Teeth, cigarettes and sea shells also have been used as money. Money is something acceptable as a medium of exchange for goods and Services.

What are the legal rights of a married daughter in her father’s property? What are the legal rights of a married daughter in the ancestral property?

According to the Hindu Succession Act, married daughters and unmarried daughters have an equal right in their father’s ancestral property (ancestral property which has become the father’s personal property) along with their brothers. That means the daughter has as much right as the son in the personal property of the father which he has inherited from his ancestors. As regards the father’s own property, which he has earned or acquired, he has a right to distribute it in any proportion, among his daughters (married or unmarried) and sons. The father can leave behind a will to make his intentions clear. But when the father does not leave behind any will, the daughters have as much right as the sons on the personal property of the father, both ancestral and earned.

How should we address a woman, whose marital status is not known? What word is the most appropriate – miss, ms or mrs.?

If you are addressing a letter, just use Ms. Even when you are addressing in person, rest assured no one would take offence, if you address as Miss.

What does the term ‘screen slave’ mean?

Screen slaves refers to people who are abnormally addicted to the computer. For example, screen slaves would communicate via e-mail with people sitting right next to them. The screen slave culture, which is particularly rampant in offices the world over, is adding to the sedentary lifestyle of white collar workers, thereby increasing related disorders such as obesity, heart disease and Repetitive Stress Injury.

What is more important — value education or academic education? What are values?

Academic education helps you to enter into a profession or get a job in a private company or in the government. Even if you wish to be a farmer, academic education helps you to do better than others. But without value education you cannot be happy. You will not be able to get along with others at your office, in your family or in the neighborhood. Our ancestors defined education (yidya) as that which librates a person from the bond of ‘me and mine’ and enable him/her to work for the good and welfare of others also Sa vidya ya vimuktaye. In a society, society, people would want to money, goods and other benefits, without putting in commensurate work. This is what a thief would want to do. Most people in a society, deprived of value education, tend to be thieves in this broad sense. In such a society, a clerk in the taluka office or the Municipal Corporation, would not work unless he gets bribes. In other words, the clerk is a thief. The bribe paid by a citizen or a trader cannot come from nothing. They, in turn, will have to “steal” from other segments. The trader will underweigh the goods or charge more for what he sells. Thus he steals from his customers. The teacher would steal from the parents of his students by not doing his job well, except in coaching classes. The policemen would steal from those who come to lodge complaints. Since many would be busy stealing rather than producing wealth such a society cannot prosper. Verrier Elwin, a great anthropoligist, studied closely many tribal societies and came to certain conclusions. Tribes which told stories to their children in which wickedness triumphed over goodness, became . weaker and poorer. When Moses gave the Ten Comrnandments, they served to provide values to the Jewish society. What Jesus said during the Sermon on the Mount and elsewhere, served to provide values to Christians. Ramayana and Mahabharata and the code of Manu have provided role models and described values that need to be cherished by the Hindus. Manu says that a righteous person (1) is Courageous (2) ever willing to forgive (3) does not give in to self-indulgence (4) does not covet what does not belong to him (5) is meticulously clean (6.) has full control of his senses (7) has’the wisdom to know the right from the wrong (8) is learned (9) truthful (10) and does not lose his temper

Which is the longest ropeway in the world?

The longest ropeway currently in use is in Lapland — 13.163 kms long between Ortrask and Menstrask in Norsjo. The longest-ever ropeway was the Eritrean Ropeway running for 71.8 kms from near Massawa to the southern end of Asmara. However, this ropeway was rendered non-operational by the British removing the engines shortly after their victory at Keren in World War II.

What’s the origin of the terms ‘throwing the hat over the windmill’?

Throwing the hat over the windmill’ has its origin in Cervantes’ story on Don Quixote, a 13th century legendary knight He mistakes windmills for his enemies and throws his hat over them as a token of challenge, challenging them to a fight. All this he does in a crazed state of mind.

Who came up with the idea of insurance?

While the concept of insurance has existed since Babylonian times, the modern day avatar of insurance can be traced back to London fire of 1666. After this accident, Nicholas Barbos set up an office to insure buildings. The first insurance company was set up in 1732 in Charles Town, South Carolina, USA. Benjamin Franklin is credited with standardizing the concept of insurance by founding the Philadelphia Contribution of Insurance of Houses by loss of fire, in 1752.

What is a south american cowgiri called?

South American cowgirls are called gauchas, while the cowboys are known as gauchos. Their Australians counterparts are called jackeroos and jillaroos.

When was the bikini invented?

Parisian engineer Louis Reard invented the bikini in 1946. It was named after the Bikini Atoll, where nuclear weapon tests were carried out, because it was expected to cause a surge of excitement just like the atomic bomb. Reard followed in the footsteps of Jacques Heim who had introduced the world’s smallest bathing suit, the ‘Atome’. Reard split the Atome’ smaller, but no model was prepared to wear it. He then hired Micheline Bernardini, a nude dancer from the Casino de Paris. In 1957, Brigitte Bardot’s bikini in And God Created Woman’ created a stir and suddenly all the women wanted to wear it. Liz Hurley, not particularly averse to posing in bikinis until recently, turned her back on it after she turned forty.

What are the advantages of a credit card over a debit card?

Though the basic purpose of both the plastic cards is saving you from the burden and risk of carrying cash, they are used a bit differently for making pay ments. There are two main advantages a credit card has over a debit card. One, you can spend within a specified limit even if your bank balance doesn’t carry sufficient balance at that point of time. Two, if used thoughtfully, credit card enables you to avail of interest free credit up to 45 to 50 days.

What is the origin of the word ‘honeymoon’?

Some believe that the honeymoon originated as an ancient Babylonian practice that involved drinking mead, a honey based alcoholic drink, for a lunar month after a marriage. The first literary reference to the word honeymoon was in 1552 in Richard Huloet’s Abecedarium Anglico Latinum’. It held that the word honeymoon was a sardonic reference to the inevitable waning of love like a phase of the moon.

Why is a mafia gangster called a don?

The mafia as a criminal institution originated in Sicily, Italy. The word ‘Don’ in Italian means boss. So the leader of a mafia gang came to be known as a don. Synonyms for don include Capo Crimini, which means super boss in Italian.

Why do banks insist on customers giving their mother’s maiden name?

This is one of the security measures taken by banks to verify a customer’s identity. Today, Internet banking, phone banking and multi-purpose ATMs are used to conduct money transactions. All of them depend on entering passwords. If any miscreant finds out someone’s user ID or debit/credit card, she may try to misuse it and may even try to generate a fresh set of passwords or change the address, etc. To prevent this, security measures are taken while such a request is being made and mother’s maiden name is one of them. It is believed that usually only very close people are aware of such information and a stranger would not be able to furnish it. Combined with other confirmatory questions like date of birth, exact address, etc., this provides a reasonable level of security.

What is the difference between a call centre and a bpo organisation?

A Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) organisation is responsible for performing a process or a part of a process of another business organisation; outsourcing is done to save on costs or gain in productivity. A call centre performs that part of a client’s business which involves handling telephone calls. A call centre, for example, might handle customer complaints coming in over a telephone. Thus, a call centre can be considered a BPO organisation. The converse is, however, not true because there exist BPO organisations, such as medical transcription agencies, which handle their business through websites and do not process any telephone calls on behalf of their clients.

What is the world cup skeleton race?

This involves reclining on y6W stomach on a bobsled chute and riding it on snow. It involves several intricacies including shifting body weight to tackle difficult pathways and so on. In fact, skeleton racing was the first sliding sport in the Olympics. Lincoln De Witt, Kazuhiro Koshi and Ursi Wallser are some well-known skeleton racers. The world cup series of skeleton races was established in 1985. Teams from all over the world participate in the event.

Why is prometheus associated with fire?

Prometheus was the son of lapetus (one of the Titans). Zeus ordered Prometheus and his brother Epimetheus to make creatures to inhabit the earth. Prometheus created man, but was sorry for his creations, as he watched them shiver in the cold winter nights. But Zeus was against the idea of granting fire to humans. Prometheus climbed Olympus and stole fire from the hearth of Zeus. He carried the fire back in the stalk of a fennel plant. Zeus punished Prometheus for a few centuries where he was chained to a rock and an eagle ate his liver everyday each night, the liver of Prometheus is renewed and put back.

Which js the world’s biggest airport?

The King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia is the world’s biggest airport with an area of 81 square miles. The second biggest airport is the Denver International Airport, which covers 53 square,miles. The race is currently on between Dubai and Beijing to build the world’s biggest airport.

What is the difference between a porch and a portico?

A porch is an extension of the floor, either on the front or back entrance of a residence. It may be covered with an inclined roof and have light frame walls extending from the main structure. Porches are generally used to have a comfortable pause at the entrance. Portico is a type of porch supported by regular arrangement of columns, leading to a large building.

What is the law of diminishing returns?

Implied by Thomas Malthus in his ‘Essay on the Principle of Population’ (1798), the law of diminishing returns first came under examination during the discussions in England on free trade and the Corn Laws. It is also called the law of decreasing returns and the law of variable proportions. Law of Diminishing Returns states that if one factor of production is increased while the others remain constant, the overall returns will relatively decrease after a certain point.

Why was mahatma gandhi not honoured with a nobel peace prize?

Gandhiji was nominated for the Nobel peace prize five times (1937,38,39,47, and 48), and was short listed three times (1937,47, and 48). However, due to lack of direct contact and familiarity with Gandhiji, some of the Nobel committee members voted against him, thus causing a big omission on the part of the awards committee. In 1937, some members recognized his greatness, whereas the others felt he was inconsistent in his pacifism and was too much of a nationalist and an ordinary politician. In 1947, the committee was more favourably disposed to Gandhiji, but thought it odd to select him for the prize when India and Pakistan were engaged in a bitter separation and conflict. In 1948, after the assassination of Gandhiji, the committee almost finalised selecting Gandhiji for the award, but held back their decision, as several advisors of the committee felt that the Nobel prize cannot be given to anybody posthumously When in 1989, Dalai Lama was chosen for the award, the committee stated that the award was in part a tribute to the memory of Mahatma Gandhi.

On deodorant bottles, why is it specified to spray from a distance of 15 cms or 6 inches?

The deodorant cans are pressurised cans which eject the spray of deodorant from a single point source. Consequently, the spray diverges and spreads widely as it moves away from the source of ejection. Thus if the can is held too close to the skin then very less area of skin gets sprayed with too much of deodorant, making the process wasteful; while if the can is held at a distance of more than 15 cm the concentration of deodorant over the skin becomes too less and this renders it ineffective. A distance of 15 cm ensures that just the right amount of deodorant is sprayed over the unit surface area of skin thus making it most effective.

Why is the dragon associated with china?

While there are several stories related to the origin of the dragon’s association in China, one such story links its origin to an ancient emperor Huang Di. Legend has it that Emperor Huang Di’s coat of arms was a snake. Also, everytime he conquered a tribe, he incorporated the vanquished region’s emblem in his kingdom. So the motif of the dragon, with the body of a snake, tail of a fish, antlers of a deer, face of a quilin, talons of an eagle and eyes of a demon, is nothing but a pastiche of all the emblems amassed by Huang Di. Also, since Huang Di is an ancestor of the Chinese, the people of China are known as the ‘descendants of the dragon’.

What is the origin of the idiom ‘the 4 stork brought the baby home’?

In folklore, the movements of at stork are said to be indicative of what is likely to happen in future, different types of movements associated with different kinds of events. In several western counties it is believed that if a stork is seen on the roof of a house, a baby birth is likely to occur in that house soon, and hence the belief that babies are brought by storks. The above belief was supposed to have originated in some Dutch villages, where an increase in population led to an in crease in houses; which in turn led to an increase in babies, and at the same time an increase in storks because of more nest able roofs. This phenomenon led to the wrong conclusion that the more the storks in a place, the more the babies.

What is baaz?

Baaz is to India, what Rita and Katrina are to the US. It is the cyclone that ravaged several villages and towns in Tamil Nadu last month, and even washed out the much awaited ODI between India and South Africa in Chennai. As the state began recuperating from the floods, the weather department once warned that the Baaz would hit the coasts of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh on Dec 1,2005, as the cyclone was proceeding in the west-northwest direction. It finally hit Chennai on December 2.

Why is the heart associated with emotions even though it has nothing to do with it?

Even though emotions are centred in the brain, a strong rush of emotion such as fear, anger or love pumps adrenalin to the heart. This accelerates the heart beat. So, prior to the advancements in science, the heart was thought to be responsible for emotions.

Why does k represent black in the colour combination cmyk?

CMYK stands for cyan, magenta, yellow, and key or black. These are the four colors of ink used in the traditional method of printing hardcopies of images, called offset printing. The black is referred to as K denoting key, a shorthand for the printing term key plate. This plate impresses the artistic detail of an image, usually in black ink. CMYK is a color mixing system that depends on chemical pigments to achieve the desired hues.

Why is a sting operation called so?

A sting operation most likely owes its etymological origin to the bee. Typically, a sting operation involves an investigative agency such as the police or the media, who lure a criminal to commit a crime in order to trap them red-handed. They might pose as a criminal themselves, and thereby set up a trap in terms of an alluring offer, often known as a honey trap. Once the target takes the bait, the trappers “sting” them by way of arrest or publication, the way a bee would sting someone who tries to take honey from a beehive.

What is the difference between sauce and ketchup?

Traditionally, in the US, tomato ketchup was prepared with tomatoes, sugar, vinegar/ acetic acid and spices. It is used as a dressing or table condiment to be consumed with chips, burgers, etc. Ketchup is cold and is never heated as a rule. Tomato sauce, on the other hand, is made from tomatoes, oil, meat or vegetable stock and spices. Vinegar is not usually used. Sauces are generally served hot. Most manufacturers insist that ketchup is made with spices, onions and garlic while sauce is generally made without spices.

In which countries do rodeos take place?

Although a rodeo is mainly thought of as a distinctly North American phenomenon, it enjoys success in other counties too Countries with a significant ranching and livestock culture also develo

About the Author

Dr. Ashok Kumar Sharma, M.A.(History); Certificate in Taxidermy(Madras); Certifate in Library Science (TOPPER-ML Sukhadia Uni. Udaipur,(Rajasthan) INDIA. Hobby: Cricket; Postal Stamp Collection and Collection of Quotations since 1981.

Archivematica: Creating a Comprehensive Digital Preservation System

New York City Klezmer

Features World Premiere Of ‘Holes In My Shoes’

The Gold Bracelet, a film by director Kavi Raz, chronicles how the events of 9/11 disrupt the happy wedding times of an Indian family living in Los Angeles. The film has inspired audiences and filmmakers alike at numerous top film festivals including Method Fest, The Newport Beach Film Festival, and Cinequest. Replica Tiffany Jewelry

 

“We’re thrilled to open the festival with The Gold Bracelet,” said Tom Carruthers, founder of the Connecticut Film Festival. “The caliber of independent films we’re showing during the week sets the bar for this brand- new, statewide festival. We’re looking forward to our debut, and getting feedback from attendees to make next year’s bigger and better.”

 

More than 70 independent feature films, short films, student films and documentaries will screen at various venues in Bethel, New Haven, New Milford, Litchfield, Norwalk, Westport, Waterbury and Stamford. In addition, the festival features workshops, panels and parties. Fake Tiffany jewelry

 

The festival’s Artistic Director, Jean Tait, tiffany cufflinkscufflinks this week that the slate of films includes the world premiere of Holes in My Shoes, a 90-minute feature documentary about Connecticut resident Jack Beers.

 

Beers is almost 100 years old, and the film takes viewers back to his poverty-stricken Lower East Side boyhood as “New York City’s Strongest Boy” performing to packed audiences, to the present time where he’s now riding a stationary bike 3 miles per day, driving, pruning trees, performing feats of strength, and more.

 

“Holes in My Shoes is a magical film by David Wachs, and audiences will absolutely fall in love with its subject,” said Tait. “The fact that he’s almost 100 is an accomplishment in itself, yet the way he has done it is so colorful and amazing — from his strongman days, to working as an ironworker who erected the famous Radio City Music Hall marquee, to specifically helping to shorten World War II at the Manhattan Project, to erecting the famous Empire State Building spire.”

 

Both the director and subject of the film, Jack Beers, now 96, will be tiffany money clipsclips the film’s premiere, to be held on Saturday, October 7 at 5 p.m. at The Saugatuck Elementary School at 70 Riverside Avenue in Westport, with a Q&A session, and a wine reception following with Klezmer music. Tiffany Rings

About the Author

Metropolitan Klezmer plays Eisenberg’s NYC!

New York City Gdp 2008

Madagascar

History

Main article: History of Madagascar

As part of East Gondwana, the territory of Madagascar split from Africa approximately 160 million years ago; the island of Madagascar was created when it separated from the Indian subcontinent 80 to 100 million years ago. Most archaeologists estimate that the human settlement of Madagascar happened between 200 and 500 A.D., when seafarers from southeast Asia (probably from Borneo or the southern Celebes) arrived in outrigger sailing canoes. Bantu settlers probably crossed the Mozambique Channel to Madagascar at about the same time or shortly afterwards. However, Malagasy tradition and ethnographic evidence suggests that they may have been preceded by the Mikea hunter gatherers. The Anteimoro who established a kingdom in Southern Madagascar in the Middle Ages trace their origin to migrants from Somalia.

The written history of Madagascar begins in the 7th century, when Muslims established trading posts along the northwest coast. During the Middle Ages, the island’s kings began to extend their power through trade with their Indian Ocean neighbours, notably Arab, Persian and Somali traders who connected Madagascar with East Africa, the Middle East and India.

Large chiefdoms began to dominate considerable areas of the island. Among these were the Sakalava chiefdoms of the Menabe, centred in what is now the town of Morondava, and of Boina, centred in what is now the provincial capital of Mahajanga (Majunga). The influence of the Sakalava extended across what are now the provinces of Antsiranana, Mahajanga and Toliara. Madagascar served as an important transoceanic trading port for the east African coast that gave Africa a trade route to the Silk Road, and served simultaneously as a port for incoming ships.

The wealth created in Madagascar through trade created a state system ruled by powerful regional monarchs known as the Maroserana. These monarchs adopted the cultural traditions of subjects in their territories and expanded their kingdoms. They took on divine status, and new nobility and artisan classes were created. Madagascar functioned in the East African Middle Ages as a contact port for the other Swahili seaport city-states such as Sofala, Kilwa, Mombasa and Zanzibar.

European contact began in the year 1500, when the Portuguese sea captain Diogo Dias sighted the island after his ship separated from a fleet going to India. The Portuguese continued trading with the islanders and named the island So Loureno (St. Lawrence). In 1666, Franois Caron, the Director General of the newly formed French East India Company, sailed to Madagascar. The Company failed to establish a colony on Madagascar but established ports on the nearby islands of Bourbon and Ile-de-France (today’s Runion and Mauritius). In the late 17th century, the French established trading posts along the east coast.

The most famous pirate utopia is that of Captain Misson and his pirate crew, who allegedly founded the free colony of Libertatia in northern Madagascar in the late 17th century. From about 1774 to 1824, Madagascar was a favourite haunt for pirates, including Americans, one of whom brought Malagasy rice to South Carolina. Many European sailors were shipwrecked on the coasts of the island, among them Robert Drury, whose journal is one of the few written depictions of life in southern Madagascar during the 18th century. Sailors sometimes called Madagascar “Island of the Moon”.

Andrianampoinimerina

(1795-1819)

Radama I

(1810-1828)

Ranavalona I

(1828-1861)

Radama II

(1861-1863)

Rasoherina

(1863-1868)

Ranavalona II

(1868-1883)

Ranavalona III

(1883-1897)

Beginning in the 1790s, Merina rulers succeeded in establishing hegemony over most of the island, including the coast. In 1817, the Merina ruler and the British governor of Mauritius concluded a treaty abolishing the slave trade, which had been important in Madagascar’s economy. In return, the island received British military and financial assistance. British influence remained strong for several decades, during which the Merina court was converted to Presbyterianism, Congregationalism and Anglicanism.

With the domination of the Indian Ocean by the Royal Navy and the end of the Arab slave trade, the western Sakalava lost their power to the emerging Merina state. The Betsimisaraka of the east coast also unified, but this union soon faltered.

Queen Ranavalona I “the Cruel” (r. 1828-61) issued a royal edict prohibiting the practice of Christianity in Madagascar. By some estimates, 150,000 Christians died during the reign of Ranavalona. The island grew more isolated, and commerce with other nations came to a standstill.

France invaded Madagascar in 1883, in what became known as the first Franco-Hova War seeking to restore property that had been confiscated from French citizens. (Hova is one of three Merina classes: andriana aristocracy, hova common people, andevo slaves. The term hova was wrongly used by the French to mean Merina.) At the war’s end, Madagascar ceded Antsiranana (Diego Suarez) on the northern coast to France and paid 560,000 francs to the heirs of Joseph-Franois Lambert. In 1890, the British accepted the full formal imposition of a French protectorate.

In 1895, a French flying column landed in Mahajanga (Majunga) and marched to the capital, Antananarivo, where the city’s defenders quickly surrendered. Twenty French soldiers died fighting and 6,000 died of malaria and other diseases before the second Franco-Hova War ended.

After the conclusion of hostilities, in 1896 France annexed Madagascar. The 103-year-old Merina monarchy ended with the royal family being sent into exile in Algeria.

During World War II, Malagasy troops fought in France, Morocco, and Syria. Some leaders in Nazi Germany proposed deporting all of Europe’s Jews to Madagascar (the Madagascar Plan), but nothing came of this. After France fell to Germany, the Vichy government administered Madagascar. During the Battle of Madagascar, British troops occupied the island in 1942 to preclude its seizure by the Japanese, after which the Free French took over.

In 1947, with French prestige at low ebb, the Malagasy Uprising broke out. It was suppressed after over a year of bitter fighting, with 8,000 to 90,000 people killed. The French later established reformed institutions in 1956 under the Loi Cadre (Overseas Reform Act), and Madagascar moved peacefully towards independence. The Malagasy Republic was proclaimed on October 14, 1958, as an autonomous state within the French Community. A period of provisional government ended with the adoption of a constitution in 1959 and full independence on June 26, 1960. In 2006 the country experienced an attempted coup.

Politics

Main articles: Government of Madagascar and Politics of Madagascar

Although the present head of State has self-proclaimed himself, Madagascar is usually a semi-presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the Prime Minister of Madagascar is head of government, and of a pluriform[disambiguation needed] multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the Senate and the National Assembly. The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.

The political situation in Madagascar has been marked by struggle for control. After Madagascar gained independence from France in 1960, assassinations, military coups and disputed elections featured prominently.

Didier Ratsiraka took power in a military coup in 1975 and ruled until 2001, with a short break when he was ousted in the early 1990s. When Marc Ravalomanana and Ratsiraka both claimed victory after presidential elections in December 2001, Ratsiraka’s supporters tried to blockade the capital, Antananarivo, which was pro-Ravalomanana. After eight months of sporadic violence with considerable economic disruption, a recount in April 2002 led the High Constitutional Court to pronounce Ravalomanana president, but it was not until July that Ratsiraka fled to France and Ravalomanana gained control of the country.

Internal conflict in Madagascar had been minimal in the years that followed and since 2002, Ravalomanana and his party, Tiako-I-Madagasikara (TIM), have dominated political life. In an attempt to restrict the power and influence of the president, the prime minister and the 150-seat parliament have been given greater power in recent years.

Tension since was generally associated with elections. A presidential election took place in December 2006 with some protests over worsening standards of living, despite a government drive to eradicate poverty. Calls by a retired army general in November 2006 for Ravalomanana to step down were said to have been ‘misinterpreted’ as a coup attempt.

2009 Malagasy protests

Main article: 2009 Malagasy protests

The latest, and ongoing, spate of violence pitted then-President Marc Ravalomanana against Andry Rajoelina, former mayor of the capital, Antananarivo. Since the power tussle started on 26 January, more than 170 people were killed. Rajoelina mobilized his supporters to take to the streets of Antananarivo to demand Ravalomanana’s ousting on the grounds of his alleged “autocratic” style of government.

Ravalomanana’s resignation

After losing support of the military and under intense pressure from Rajoelina, President Ravalomanana resigned on 17 March 2009. Ravalomanana assigned his powers to a military council loyal to himself headed by Vice-Admiral Hyppolite Ramaroson. The military called the move by Ravalomanana a “ploy” and said that it would support Rajoelina as leader. Rajoelina had already declared himself the new leader a month earlier and has since assumed the role of acting President. He has appointed Monja Roindefo as Prime Minister. Rajoelina announced that elections would be held in two years and that the constitution would be amended.

The European Union, amongst other international entities, has refused to recognize the new government, due to it being installed by force. The African Union, which proceeded to suspend Madagascar’s membership on 20 March and the Southern Africa Development Community both criticized the forced resignation of Ravalomanana. United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s spokesperson said he is “gravely concerned about the evolving developments in Madagascar”.

Provinces and regions

Main articles: Provinces of Madagascar and Regions of Madagascar

Madagascar is currently divided into six autonomous provinces (faritany mizakatena), and subdivided into 22 regions (faritra), the latter created in 2004. The regions will be the highest subdivision level when the provinces are dissolved in accordance with the results of the 4 April 2007 referendum, which means by 4 October 2009.

Antananarivo (1)

Analamanga

Bongolava

Itasy

Vakinankaratra

Antsiranana (2)

Diana

Sava

Fianarantsoa (3)

Amoron’i Mania

Atsimo-Atsinanana

Haute-Matsiatra

Ihorombe

Vatovavy-Fitovinany

Mahajanga (4)

Betsiboka

Boeny

Melaky

Sofia

Toamasina (5)

Alaotra Mangoro

Analanjirofo

Atsinanana

Toliara (6)

Androy

Anosy

Atsimo-Andrefana

Menabe

The regions are further subdivided into 116 districts, 1,548 communes, and 16,969 fokontany. The major cities have a special status as “commune urbaine”, at the same level as the districts.

Geography

Main article: Geography of Madagascar

Isalo National Park

At 587,000 square kilometres (227,000 sq mi), Madagascar is the world’s 46th-largest country and the fourth largest island. It is slightly bigger than France, and is one of 11 distinct physiographic provinces of the South African Platform physiographic division.

Towards the east, a steep escarpment leads from the central highlands down into a ribbon of rain forest with a narrow coastal further east. The Canal des Pangalanes is a chain of natural and man-made lakes connected by canals that runs parallel to the east coast for some 460 km (286 mi) (about two-thirds of the island). The descent from the central highlands toward the west is more gradual, with remnants of deciduous forest and savanna-like plains (which in the south and southwest, are quite dry and host spiny desert and baobabs). On the west coast are many protected harbours, but silting is a major problem caused by sediment from the high levels of erosion inland.

Along the crest of this ridge lie the central highlands, a plateau region ranging in altitude from 2,450 to 4,400 ft (747 to 1,341 m) above sea level. The central highlands are characterised by terraced, rice-growing valleys lying between barren hills. Here, the red laterite soil that covers much of the island has been exposed by erosion, showing clearly why the country is often referred to as the “Red Island”.

The island’s highest peak, Maromokotro, at 2,876 metres (9,440 ft), is found in the Tsaratanana Massif, located in the far north of the country. The Ankaratra Massif is in the central area south of the capital Antananarivo and hosts the third highest mountain on the island, Tsiafajavona, with an altitude of 2,642 metres (8,670 ft). Further south is the Andringitra massif which has several peaks over 2,400 metres (7,900 ft) including the second and fourth highest peaks, Pic Imarivolanitra, more widely known as Pic Boby (2,658 metres/8,720 feet), and Pic Bory (2,630 metres/8,600 feet). Other peaks in the massif include Pic Soaindra (2,620 metres/8,600 feet) and Pic Ivangomena (2,556 metres/8,390 feet). This massif also contains the Andringitra Reserve. On very rare occasions, this region experiences snow in winter due to its high altitude.

There are two seasons: a hot, rainy season from November to April, and a cooler, dry season from May to October. South-eastern trade winds predominate, and the island occasionally experiences cyclones.

Ecology

Main articles: Fauna of Madagascar, Ecoregions of Madagascar, and Agroecology in Madagascar

Tsingy in Madagascar

Madagascar’s long isolation from the neighboring continents has resulted in a unique mix of plants and animals, many found nowhere else in the world; some ecologists refer to Madagascar as the “eighth continent”. Of the 10,000 plants native to Madagascar, 90% are found nowhere else in the world. Madagascar’s varied fauna and flora are endangered by human activity, as a third of its native vegetation has disappeared since the 1970s, and only 18% remains intact. Since the arrival of humans 2000 years ago, Madagascar has lost more than 90% of its original forest. The elephant birds, which were giant ratites native to Madagascar, have been extinct since at least the 17th century. Aepyornis was the world’s largest bird, believed to have been over 3 metres (10 ft) tall.

Most lemurs are listed as endangered or threatened species. Many species have gone extinct in the last centuries, mainly due to habitat destruction and hunting.

The eastern, or windward side of the island is home to tropical rainforests, while the western and southern sides, which lie in the rain shadow of the central highlands, are home to tropical dry forests, thorn forests, and deserts and xeric shrublands. Madagascar’s dry deciduous rain forest has been preserved generally better than the eastern rainforests or the high central plateau, presumably due to historically low population densities. Madagascar has several national parks.

The Indri is 1 of 99 recognized species and subspecies of lemur found only in Madagascar.

Extensive deforestation has taken place in parts of the country, some due to mining operations. Slash-and-burn activity, locally called tavy, has occurred in the eastern and western dry forests as well as on the central high plateau, reducing certain forest habitat and applying pressure to some endangered species. Slash-and-burn is a method sometimes used by shifting cultivators to create short-term yields from marginal soils. When practiced repeatedly without intervening fallow periods, the nutrient-poor soils may be exhausted or eroded to an unproductive state. The resulting increased surface runoff from burned lands has caused significant erosion and resulting high sedimentation to western rivers.

As a part of conservation efforts, the Wildlife Conservation Society has recently opened a Madagascar! exhibit at the Bronx Zoo. The New York Academy of Sciences recently published a Podcast about the Madagascar! exhibit, which details the fauna and flora of Madagascar and what types of projects the WCS is involved with in the country. The Podcast can be listened to here

Madagascar is represented in the FIPS 10-4 geographical encoding standard by the symbol MA.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Madagascar

Antananarivo is the political and economic capital of Madagascar

Agriculture, including fishing and forestry, is a mainstay of the economy. Major exports are coffee, vanilla (Madagascar is the world’s largest producer and exporter of vanilla), sugarcane, cloves, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), beans, bananas, peanuts and livestock products. Vanilla has historically been of particular importance, and when in 1985 Coca-cola switched to New Coke which involved less vanilla, Madagascar’s economy took a marked downturn, but returned to previous levels after the return of Coke Classic.

Structural reforms began in the late 1980s, initially under pressure from international financial institutions, notably the World Bank. An initial privatization program (19881993) and the development of an export processing zone (EPZ) regime in the early 1990s were key milestones in this effort. A period of significant stagnation from 1991 to 1996 was followed by five years of solid economic growth and accelerating foreign investment, driven by a second wave of privatizations[citation needed] and EPZ development. Although structural reforms advanced, governance remained weak and perceived corruption in Madagascar was extremely high. During the period of solid growth from 1997 to 2001, poverty levels remained stubbornly high, especially in rural areas. A six-month political crisis triggered by a dispute over the outcome of the presidential elections held in December 2001 virtually halted economic activity in much of the country in the first half of 2002. Real GDP dropped 12.7% for the year 2002, inflows of foreign investment dropped sharply, and the crisis tarnished Madagascar’s budding reputation as an AGOA standout and a promising place to invest. After the crisis, the economy rebounded with GDP growth of over 10% in 2003. Currency depreciation and rising inflation in 2004 have hampered economic performance, but growth for the year reached 5.3%, with inflation reaching around 25% at the end of the year. In 2005 inflation was brought under control by tight monetary policy of raising the Taux Directeur (central bank rate) to 16% and tightening reserve requirements for banks. Thus growth was expected to reach around 6.5% in 2005.

Following the 2002 political crisis, the government attempted to set a new course and build confidence, in coordination with international financial institutions and donors. Madagascar developed a recovery plan in collaboration with the private sector and donors and presented it at a “Friends of Madagascar” conference organized by the World Bank in Paris in July 2002. Donor countries demonstrated their confidence in the new government by pledging $1 billion in assistance over five years. The Malagasy Government identified road infrastructure as its principle priority and underlined its commitment to public-private partnership by establishing a joint public-private sector steering committee.

Rice paddies in Madagascar

In 2000, Madagascar embarked on the preparation of a Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative. The boards of the IMF and World Bank agreed in December 2000 that the country had reached the decision point for debt relief under the HIPC Initiative and defined a set of conditions for Madagascar to reach the completion point. In October 2004, the boards of the IMF and the World Bank determined that Madagascar had reached the completion point under the enhanced HIPC Initiative.

The Madagascar-U.S. Business Council was formed as a collaboration between the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Malagasian artisan producers in Madagascar in 2002. The U.S.-Madagascar Business Council was formed in the United States in May 2003, and the two organisations continue to explore ways to work for the benefit of both groups.

The government of President Ravalomanana is aggressively seeking foreign investment and is tackling many of the obstacles to such investment, including combating corruption, reforming land-ownership laws, encouraging study of American and European business techniques, and active pursuit of foreign investors. President Ravalomanana rose to prominence through his agro-foods TIKO company, and is known for attempting to apply many of the lessons learned in the world of business to running the government. Some recent concerns have arisen about the conflict of interest between his policies and the activities of his firms. Most notable among them the preferential treatment for rice imports initiated by the government in late 2004 when responding to a production shortfall in the country.

Madagascar’s sources of growth are tourism; textile and light manufacturing exports (notably through the EPZs); agricultural products; and mining. Madagascar is the world’s leading producer of vanilla and accounts for about half the world’s export market. Tourism targets the niche eco-tourism market, capitalizing on Madagascar’s unique biodiversity, unspoiled natural habitats, national parks and lemur species. Exports from the EPZs, located around Antananarivo and Antsirabe, comprise the majority of garment manufacture, targeting the US market under AGOA and the European markets under the Everything But Arms (EBA) agreement. Agricultural exports consist of low-volume high-value products like vanilla, litchies and essential oils. A small but growing part of the economy is based on mining of ilmenite, with investments emerging in recent years, particularly near Tulear and Fort Dauphin. Mining corporation Rio Tinto Group expects to begin operations near Fort Dauphin in 2008, following several years of infrastructure preparation. The mining project is highly controversial, with Friends of the Earth and other environmental organizations filing reports to detail their concerns about effects on the local environment and communities.

Autoclave enters Madagascar, 2008, as part of new mining operation

Several major projects are underway in the mining and oil and gas sectors that, if successful, will give a significant boost to the Malagasy economy.

In the mining sector, these include the development of coal at Sakoa and nickel near Tamatave. In oil, Madagascar Oil is developing the massive onshore heavy oil field at Tsimiroro and ultra heavy oil field at Bemolanga.

Foreign relations

Main article: Foreign relations of Madagascar

Madagascar was historically perceived as being on the margin of mainstream African affairs despite being a founding member of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), which was founded in 1963. President Albert Zafy, taking office in 1993, expressed his desire for diplomatic relations with all countries. Early in his tenure, he established formal ties with South Korea and sent emissaries to Morocco.

Starting in 1997, globalisation encouraged the government and President Ratsiraka to adhere to market-oriented policies and to engage world markets. External relations reflect this trend, although Madagascar’s physical isolation and strong traditional insular orientation have limited its activity in regional economic organizations and relations with its East African neighbours. It enjoys closer and generally good relations with its Indian Ocean neighbours Mauritius, Runion and Comoros. Active relationships with Europe, especially France, Germany, and Switzerland, as well as with Britain, Russia, Japan, India and China have been strong since independence. More recently, President Ravalomanana has cultivated strong links with the United States, and Madagascar was the first country to benefit from the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA). Madagascar is also a member of the International Criminal Court with a Bilateral Immunity Agreement of protection for the US-military (as covered under Article 98).

The OAU dissolved in 2002 and was replaced by the African Union. Madagascar was not permitted to attend the first African Union summit due to the dispute over the results of the election in December 2001, but rejoined the African Union in July 2003 after a 14-month hiatus triggered by the 2002 political crisis. However, Madagascar was suspended again by the African Union in March 2009 due to the ongoing political crisis.

During his presidency, Marc Ravalomanana traveled widely promoting Madagascar abroad and consciously sought to strengthen relations with Anglophone countries as a means of balancing traditionally strong French influence. He also cultivated strong ties with China during his tenure.

In November 2004, after an absence of almost 30 years, Madagascar re-opened its embassy in London. On 15 December 2004 the Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, announced the closure of the British embassy in Antananarivo to save 250,000 a year. He also announced an end to the government’s aid to Madagascar, the DFID-funded Small Grants Scheme. The embassy closed in August 2005 despite petitions and protests from African heads of state, a European commissioner, the Malagasy Senate, many British companies, 30 or so NGOs operating in Madagascar, and members of the public.[citation needed]

The British Embassy was previously closed (also for financial reasons) from 1975 to 1980. The Anglo-Malagasy Society are campaigning to have it re-opened.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Madagascar

Antananarivo, Madagascar

Madagascar’s population is predominantly of mixed Austronesian (i.e.South-East Asian/Pacific Islander) and African origin. Those who are visibly Austronesian in appearance and culture are the minority, found mostly in the highland regions. Recent research suggests that the island was uninhabited until Austronesian seafarers arrived about 1,500 to 2,000 years ago. Recent DNA research shows that the Malagasy people are approximately of half Austronesian and half East African descent, although some Arab, Indian and European influence is present along the coast. Malagasy language shares some 90% of its basic vocabulary with the Ma’anyan language from the region of the Barito River in southern Borneo.

Subsequent migrations from the East Indies and Africa consolidated this original mixture, and 36 separate tribal groups emerged. Austronesian features are most predominant in the Merina (3 million) ; the coastal people (called ctiers) are of more clearly African origin. The largest coastal groups are the Betsimisaraka (1.5 million) and the Tsimihety and Sakalava (700,000 each). The Vezo live in the southwest. Two of the southern tribes are the Antandroy and the Antanosy. Other tribes include Tankarana (northern tip), Sihanaka and Bezanozano (east), Tanala (south-east), An-Taimoro, Tambahoaka, Zafisoro, An-Taisaka and Timanambondro (south-east coast), and Mahafaly and Bara (south-west). Chinese and Indian minorities also exist, as well as Europeans, mostly French. The number of Comorans residing in Madagascar was drastically reduced after anti-Comoran rioting in Mahajanga in 1976.

During the French colonial administration (18951960) and some time after independence, people were officially classified in ethnic groups. This practice was abandoned in the first census (1975) after independence, so any recent classification and figures for ethnic groups is an unofficial estimate. There is for instance no mention of ethnicity or religion in the national identity cards. Also, territorial divisions (provinces, regions) do not follow any ethnic division lines, despite an attempt by the colonial administration in the early 20th century. Ethnic divisions continue, and may cause violence, but their role is limited in today’s society. Ethnic tensions in Madagascar often produce violent conflict between the Merina highlanders and coastal peoples. Regional political parties are also rare, although some parties receive most of their support in certain areas.

Only two general censuses, 1975 and 1993, have been carried out after independence.

In 1993 (last census) there were 18,497 foreign residents on Madagascar, or 0.15% of the population.

Health

The fertility rate is at about 5 children per woman. There are about 29 physicians per 100,000 persons. Infant mortality was at 74 per 1,000 live births in 2005. Life expectancy at birth was at 58.4 in the early 21st century. Expenditure on health was 29 US$ (PPP) in 2004.

Language

Main article: Languages of Madagascar

The Malagasy language is of Malayo-Polynesian origin and is generally spoken throughout the island. Madagascar is a francophone country, and French is spoken among the educated population of this former French colony. English, although still rare, is becoming more widely spoken, and in 2003, the government began a pilot project of introducing the teaching of English into the primary grades of 44 schools, with hopes of taking the project nationwide. Many Peace Corps volunteers are serving to further this effort and train teachers.

In the first Constitution of 1958, Malagasy and French were named the official languages of the Malagasy Republic.

No official languages were recorded in the Constitution of 1992. Instead, Malagasy was named the national language; however, many sources still claimed that Malagasy and French were official languages, as they were de facto. In April 2000, a citizen brought a legal case on the grounds that the publication of official documents in the French language only was unconstitutional. The High Constitutional Court observed in its decision that, in the absence of a language law, French still had the character of an official language.

In the Constitution of 2007, Malagasy remains the national language while official languages are reintroduced: Malagasy, French, and English. The motivation for the inclusion of English is partly to improve relations with the neighbouring countries where English is used and to encourage foreign direct investment.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Madagascar

Malagasy culture reflects a blend of Southeast Asian, Arab, African and European influences. Houses in Madagascar are typically four-sided with a peaked roof, in a style commonly seen in Southeast Asia, rather than the circular style of hut construction more commonly found in Eastern Africa. Rice forms the basis of every meal in most parts of the country as in Asia. The dishes prepared to accompany the rice vary depending on local availability of food products and are known as laoka.

Arab influence

Arab immigrants were few in number compared to the Indonesians and Bantus, but they left a lasting impression. The Malagasy names for seasons, months, days, and coins are Arabic in origin, as is the practice of circumcision, the communal grain pool, and different forms of salutation. The Arab magicians, known as the ombiasy, established themselves in the courts of many Malagasy tribal kingdoms. Arab immigrants imposed the patriarchal system of family and clan rule on Madagascar. Previous to the Arabs, the Malagasies practiced the Polynesian matriarchal system whereby rights of privilege and property are conferred equally on men and women.

Education

A significant proportion of the adult population are illiterate. The female youth literacy rate is below the male youth literacy rate. Public expenditure on education was at 16.4 % of total government expenditure in the 2000-2007 period. Public current expenditure on primary education per pupil is at about US$ 57 (PPP). Madagascar has several universities.

Cuisine

Main article: Cuisine of Madagascar

Music

Main article: Music of Madagascar

Madagascar has a distinctive and rich musical heritage. The early Austronesian settlers brought with them the predecessor to the bamboo tube zither known as the valiha as well as other instruments that would form the basis for traditional Malagasy music. The influence of Africans is evident in certain drumming and polyharmonic singing styles, while the tendency toward minor chords along the coasts reflects an Arab musical influence. European pirates likewise contributed to Malagasy musical traditions, importing the guitar, accordion, piano and the instruments used in hiragasy performance including the violin, trumpet and clarinet.

Mythology

Main article: Malagasy mythology

The country has a rich oratory tradition in the form of hainteny, kabary and ohabolana. An epic poem, the Ibonia, has been handed down over the centuries in several different forms across the island and showcases the lively and highly developed oral traditions of Madagascar.

Hainteny

Main article: hainteny

The zebu, or humped cattle, occupies an important place in traditional Malagasy culture. The animal can take on sacred importance and constitutes the wealth of the owner, a tradition originating on the African mainland. Cattle rustling, originally a rite of passage for young men in the plains areas of Madagascar where the largest herds of cattle are kept, has become a dangerous and sometimes deadly criminal enterprise as herdsmen in the Southwest attempt to defend their cattle with traditional spears against increasingly armed professional rustlers. Where African influences are strongest, as in the Southern region around Tulear, wealth and social status are measured in cattle, and the zebu can outnumber the inhabitants by two or three to one. Zebu are a popular motif on aloalo, the carved wooden poles that decorate tombs among some tribes in the southwestern part of the country.

Andrianampoinimerina (circa 17451810) united the Merina kingdom, moving his capital from Ambohimanga to Antananarivo and building his royal palace, or rova, on a strategic location on the highest hilltop overlooking the city. A number of cultural traditions, including the kabary and the hiragasy, were popularized during the period of his administration.

Religion

Main article: Religion in Madagascar

Traditional religion

Main article: Malagasy mythology

Approximately 50% of the country’s population practice traditional religion, which tends to emphasize links between the living and the dead. The Merina in the highlands particularly tend to hold tightly to this practice. They believe that the dead join their ancestors in the ranks of divinity and that ancestors are intensely concerned with the fate of their living descendants. The Merina and Betsileo reburial practice of famadihana, or “turning over the dead”, celebrates this spiritual communion. In this ritual, relatives’ remains are removed from the family tomb, rewrapped in new silk shrouds, and returned to the tomb following festive ceremonies in their honor where sometimes the bodies are lifted and carried high above the celebrants heads with singing and dancing before returning them to the tomb.

Traditionally, the Malagasy hold their ancestors in high esteem and many believe they continue to intervene in events on Earth after their death. A powerful individual may establish a fady (taboo) in his or her lifetime that all their descendents or those of community members will be required to respect well after their death, meaning that when traveling in Madagascar it is advisable to seek out village elders or authorities and inquire into local fady in order not to inadvertently transgress and offend the local population. This veneration of ancestors has also lead to the tradition of tomb building and the famadihana, a practice whereby a deceased family member’s remains may be taken from the tomb to be periodically re-wrapped in fresh silk shrouds before being replaced in the tomb. The event is an occasion to celebrate the loved one’s memory, reunite with family and community, and enjoy a festive atmosphere. Residents of surrounding villages are often invited to attend the party, where food and rum are often served and a hiragasy troupe or other musical entertainment is typically present.

Christianity

Main article: Roman Catholicism in Madagascar

See also: Ranavalona I#Christian persecution

Roman Catholic cathedral in Antsirabe.

Today about 45% of the Malagasy are Christian, divided almost evenly between Catholics and Protestants. Many incorporate the cult of the dead with their other religious beliefs and bless their dead at church before proceeding with the traditional burial rites. They also may invite a Christian minister to attend a famadihana. Many of the Christian churches are influential in politics. The best example of this is the Malagasy Council of Churches (FFKM) comprising the four oldest and most prominent Christian denominations(Roman Catholic, Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar, Lutheran, and Anglican). In the 19th century under Queen Ranavalona I, there was infamous persecution and mass extermination of Christians.

Islam

Main article: Islam in Madagascar

Islam in Madagascar constitutes about 7% of the population. The Arab and Somali Muslim traders who first brought Islam in the Middle Ages had a deep influence on the west coast. For example, many Malagasy converted to Islam and the Malagasy language was, for the first time, transcribed into an alphabet, based on the Arabic alphabet, called Sorabe. Muslims are concentrated in the provinces of Mahajanga and Antsiranana (Diego Suarez). Muslims are divided between those of Malagasy ethnicity, Indians, Pakistanis and Comorians.

Hinduism

Main article: Hinduism in Madagascar

Hinduism in Madagascar began with Gujarati from the Saurashtra region of India as far back as 1900, when Madagascar was a French colony. Most Hindus in Madagascar speak Gujarati or Hindi.

International rankings

Organization

Survey

Ranking

Institute for Economics and Peace

Global Peace Index

72 out of 144

United Nations Development Programme

Human Development Index

145 out of 182

Transparency International

Corruption Perceptions Index

99 out of 180

World Economic Forum

Global Competitiveness Report

121 out of 133

See also

Main articles: Outline of Madagascar and Index of Madagascar-related articles

Military of Madagascar

Transport in Madagascar

Communications in Madagascar

Malagasy diplomatic missions

Firaisan’ny Skotisma eto Madagasikara

References

^ “Malagasy” is the correct form in English; Embassy of Madagascar, Washington D.C. “Madagascan” is used only for the island, not its people National Geographic Style Manual

^ Central Intelligence Agency (2009). “Madagascar”. The World Factbook. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ma.html. Retrieved January 9, 2010. 

^ a b c d “Madagascar”. International Monetary Fund. http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2009/02/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=2006&ey=2009&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=674&s=NGDPD,NGDPDPC,PPPGDP,PPPPC,LP&grp=0&a=&pr.x=54&pr.y=18. Retrieved 2009-10-01. 

^ Human Development Indices, Table 3: Human and income poverty, p. 35. Retrieved on 1 June 2009

^ BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Giant palm tree puzzles botanists

^ Malagasy languages, Encyclopdia Britannica

^ Migration from Kalimantan to Madagascar by O. C. Dahl

^ Archaeology, Language, and the African Past by Roger Blench

^ The African diaspora in the Indian Ocean By Shihan de S. Jayasuriya, Richard Pankhurst pg 82

^ “Background Note: Madagascar”. U.S. Department of State. http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5460.htm. Retrieved 2008-08-12. 

^ Cities of the Middle East and North Africa By Michael Dumper, Bruce E. Stanley, Janet L. Abu-Lughod pg 391

^ Kingdoms of Madagascar: Maroserana and Merina

^  ”Madagascar”. Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. 1913. http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Catholic_Encyclopedia_(1913)/Madagascar. 

^ Vincent, Rose (1990). The French in India: From Diamond Traders to Sanskrit Scholars. Popular Prakashan. ISBN 0-8613-2259-2. 

^ From MADAGASCAR to the MALAGASY REPUBLIC, by Raymond K. Kent pg 6571

^ Madagascar: An Historical and Descriptive Account of the Island and Its Former Dependencies by Samuel Pasfield Oliver., p. 6. (excerpted in Google Book Search)

^ Ranavalona I (Merina queen). Britannica Online Encyclopedia.

^ Keith Laidler. Female Caligula. Ranavalona, the Mad Queen of Madagascar. Wiley (2005) ISNB -13 978-0-470-02223-8 (HB). 

^ (French) 1947 L’insurrection Madagascar – Jean Fremigacci – Marianne[dead link]

^ a b IRIN Africa | Southern Africa | Madagascar | MADAGASCAR: ‘Violence could escalate’ | Governance Conflict | News Item

^ IRIN Africa | Southern Africa | Madagascar | MADAGASCAR: Former president sentenced to five years in prison | Governance | News Item

^ IRIN Africa | Southern Africa | Madagascar | MADAGASCAR: Hoping for fair, transparent, uncontroversial elections | Economy Governance Other | Feature

^ IRIN Africa | Southern Africa | Madagascar | MADAGASCAR: Appeal launched despite political uncertainty | Children Economy Food Security Governance Health & Nutrition Conflict …

^ a b Corbett, Christina; McGreal, Chris (18 March 2009). “Madagascar’s president resigns as rival claims power”. The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/mar/18/madagascar-marc-ravalomanana. 

^ a b c “Military backs Madagascar rival”. BBC News. 17 March 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7949596.stm. 

^ “Madagascan opposition takes over prime minister’s office”. Xinhua. 14 March 2009. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-03/14/content_11011120.htm. 

^ “Madagascar President Resigns”. Voice of America. http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-03-16-voa65.cfm. Retrieved 2009-03-17. 

^ African Union suspends Madagascar over ‘coup’ – Africa, World – The Independent

^ (UPDATE) Army puts Madagascar opposition leader in charge | Home >> Other Sections >> Breaking News

^ The Eighth Continent: Life, Death, and Discovery in the Lost World of Madagascar

^ a b “Science News: New Genus of Self-destructive Palm found in Madagascar”. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. http://www.kew.org/scihort/news/new_palm_genus.html. Retrieved 2008-01-30. 

^ Terrestrial Ecoregions — Madagascar subhumid forests (AT0118), National Geographic.

^ Davies, S. J. J. F. (2003)

^ Lemurs Hunted, Eaten Amid Civil Unrest, Group Says. National Geographic News. August 21, 2009.

^ Science & the City | Public Gateway to the New York Academy of Sciences

^ “Independent States in the World”. United States Department of State. 2008-03-20. http://www.state.gov/s/inr/rls/4250.htm. Retrieved 2008-05-24. 

^ Madagascar – Country Facts- Goway Travel Experiences

^ “Made in Madagascar: Exporting Handicrafts to the U.S. Market: a Project with the UN Public-Private Alliance for Rural Development; Final Report”, A Project with the UN Public-Private Alliance for Rural Development.

^ Madagascar – Mining: Heavy Minerals Mining

^ Rio Tinto’s Madagascar mining project

^ “Africa rejects Madagascar ‘coup’” bbc.co.uk 20 March 2009 Link accessed 20 March 2009

^ U.S. Library of Congress,”Madagascar – Minorities”

^ L’ethnicisation des rapports sociaux Madagascar

^ “Ethnic strife rocks Madagascar”. BBC News. May 14, 2002.

^ a b c d e f g http://hdrstats.undp.org/en/countries/data_sheets/cty_ds_MDG.html

^ “Le malgache et le franais sont les langues officielles de la Rpublique Malgache.” Constitution, Titre I, Art. 2; Constitutional Law 14 October 1958.

^ Haute Cour Constitutionnelle De Madagascar, Dcision n03-HCC/D2 Du 12 avril 2000

^ Madagascar adopts English as official language, ClickAfrique.com, 10 April 2007.

^ a b http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/madagascar_statistics.html

^ Madagascar and Africa III. The Anteimoro: A Theocracy in Southeastern Madagascar, by R. K. Kent The Journal of African History 1969 pg 62

^ “Vision of Humanity”. Vision of Humanity. http://www.visionofhumanity.org/gpi/home.php. Retrieved 2010-02-04. 

External links

Find more about Madagascar on Wikipedia’s sister projects:

Definitions from Wiktionary

Textbooks from Wikibooks

Quotations from Wikiquote

Source texts from Wikisource

Images and media from Commons

News stories from Wikinews

Learning resources from Wikiversity

Government

The Madagascar Government

National Assembly of Madagascar

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Madagascar

Embassies and Consulates

Canada Hungary Washington DC

Chief of State and Cabinet Members, from CIA

General information

Country Profile from BBC News

Madagascar entry at The World Factbook

Madagascar from UCB Libraries GovPubs

Madagascar at the Open Directory Project

Wikimedia Atlas of Madagascar

Madagascar travel guide from Wikitravel

News media

Madagascar Humanitarian news and analysis from IRIN United Nations

Madagascar news headline links from allAfrica.com

Ecology

Madagascar’s National Parks and Reserves official park website

Conservation International Madagascar overview pages

Madagascar Wildlife Conservation MWC is a Malagasy non-profit association, which organises and pursues community-based conservations projects

New York Academy of Sciences Conserving Madagascar Podcast by Helen Crowley

Madagascar conservation story

Journal Madagascar Conservation & Development

Miscellaneous

The Madagascar Project, Project set up to help Malagasy communities tackle the causes and effects of poverty

Old maps of Madagascar by CEGET library (CNRS, France)

Azafady UK charity and Malagasy NGO working in southeast Madagascar to alleviate poverty, improve well-being and protect beautiful unique environments with the help of its award winning volunteering programmes.

Shama Foundation of Madagascar charitable organization providing scholarships for underprivileged students in Madagascar

Opinions of La Haute Cour Constitutionelle du Madagascar

Blue Ventures award winning not-for-profit organisation dedicated to facilitating projects and expeditions that enhance global marine conservation and research. Based in Andavadoaka, South West coast of Madagascar.

Foko-madagascar not-for-profit organization and Rising Voices grantee project dedicated to the use of ICT as a tool to promote sustainable development, especially combining human development and the protection of the environment.

WildMadagascar.org Overview, news, photos, cultural history. English and French

Madagascar Photos Madagascar

The Palmarium reserve, is situated on the East coast of Madagascar.

Keelonga, keelonga is an organisation dedicated to assisting rural primary schools with infrastructures and teachers

 

Articles Related to Madagascar

 

 Geographic locale

Lat. and Long. 1855 4731 / 18.917S 47.517E / -18.917; 47.517 (Antananarivo)

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Countries and territories of Africa

West Africa

Benin  Burkina Faso  Cape Verde  Cte d’Ivoire  The Gambia  Ghana  Guinea  Guinea-Bissau  Liberia  Mali  Mauritania  Niger  Nigeria  Senegal  Sierra Leone  Togo

North Africa

Algeria  Egypt  Libya  Mauritania  Morocco  Sudan  Tunisia

Central Africa

Angola  Burundi  Cameroon  Central African Republic  Chad  Democratic Republic of the Congo  Republic of the Congo  Equatorial Guinea  Gabon  Rwanda  So Tom and Prncipe

East Africa

Burundi  Comoros  Djibouti  Eritrea  Ethiopia  Kenya  Madagascar  Malawi  Mauritius  Mozambique  Seychelles  Somalia  Tanzania  Uganda  Zambia  Zimbabwe

Southern Africa

Botswana  Lesotho  Namibia  South Africa  Swaziland

 States with

limited recognition

Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic  Somaliland

 Partially in Africa

France (Runion)  Italy (Pantelleria)  Portugal (Madeira)  Spain (Canary Islands / Ceuta / Melilla / Plazas de soberana)  Yemen (Socotra)

 Dependencies

Iles Eparses (France)  Mayotte (France)  Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha (United Kingdom)

 Disputed areas

Western Sahara

v  d  e

Countries and territories bordering the Indian Ocean

Africa

Comoros  Djibouti  Egypt  Eritrea  Kenya  Madagascar  Mauritius  Mayotte  Mozambique  Runion  Seychelles  Somalia  South Africa  Sudan  Tanzania

Asia

Bahrain  Bangladesh  Burma  Christmas Island  Cocos (Keeling) Islands  India  Indonesia  Iran  Iraq  Israel  Jordan  Kuwait  Malaysia  Maldives  Oman  Pakistan  Qatar  Saudi Arabia  Sri Lanka  Thailand  United Arab Emirates  Yemen

Oceania

Australia  Christmas Island  Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Islands

Bahrain  British Indian Ocean Territory  Christmas Island  Cocos (Keeling) Islands  Comoros  Madagascar  Maldives  Mauritius  Mayotte  Runion  Seychelles  Sri Lanka

 

International membership

v  d  e

Southern African Development Community (SADC)

Member states

Angola  Botswana  Democratic Republic of the Congo  Lesotho  Madagascar  Malawi  Mauritius  Mozambique  Namibia  South Africa  Swaziland  Tanzania  Zambia  Zimbabwe

Leaders

Chairpersons: Levy Mwanawasa  Kgalema Motlanthe

Secretaries-General: Kaire Mbuende  Prega Ramsamy  Tomaz Salomo

See also

Southern African Development Coordination Conference  Southern African Customs Union  Common Monetary Area  Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa

v  d  e

African Union (AU)

Algeria  Angola  Benin  Botswana  Burkina Faso  Burundi  Cameroon  Cape Verde  Central African Republic  Chad  Comoros  Democratic Republic of the Congo  Republic of the Congo  Cte d’Ivoire  Djibouti  Egypt  Eritrea  Ethiopia  Equatorial Guinea  Gabon  The Gambia  Ghana  Guinea  Guinea-Bissau  Kenya  Lesotho  Liberia  Libya  Madagascar  Malawi  Mali  Mauritania  Mauritius  Mozambique  Namibia  Niger  Nigeria  Rwanda  Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic  So Tom and Prncipe  Senegal  Seychelles  Sierra Leone  Somalia  South Africa  Sudan  Swaziland  Tanzania  Togo  Tunisia  Uganda  Zambia  Zimbabwe

v  d  e

Portuguese Empire

North Africa 

15th century

14151640  Ceuta

14581550  Alccer Ceguer (El Qsar es Seghir)

14711550  Arzila (Asilah)

14711662  Tangier

14851550  Mazagan (El Jadida)

1487 middle 16th century  Ouadane

14881541  Safim (Safi)

16th century

15051769  Santa Cruz do Cabo de Gu (Agadir)

15061525  Mogador (Essaouira)

15061525  Aguz (Souira Guedima)

15061769  Mazagan (El Jadida)

15131541  Azamor (Azemmour)

15771589  Arzila (Asilah)

Sub-Saharan Africa 

15th century

14551633  Arguin

14701975  So Tom1

14741778  Annobn

14781778  Fernando Poo (Bioko)

14821637  Elmina (So Jorge da Mina)

14821642  Portuguese Gold Coast

14961550  Madagascar (part)

14981540  Mascarene Islands

16th century

15001630  Malindi

15001975  Prncipe1

15011975  Portuguese E. Africa (Mozambique)

15021659  St. Helena

15031698  Zanzibar

15051512  Quloa (Kilwa)

15061511  Socotra

15571578  Accra

15751975  Portuguese W. Africa (Angola)

15881974  Cacheu2

15931698  Mombassa (Mombasa)

17th century

16421975  Cape Verde

16451888  Ziguinchor

16801961  So Joo Baptista de Ajud

16871974  Bissau2

18th century

17281729  Mombassa (Mombasa)

17531975  So Tom and Prncipe

19th century

18791974  Portuguese Guinea

18851975  Portuguese Congo (Cabinda)

1 Part of So Tom and Prncipe from 1753.   2 Part of Portuguese Guinea from 1879.

Southwest Asia 

16th century

15061615  Gamru (Bandar-Abbas)

15071643  Sohar

15151622  Hormuz (Ormus)

15151648  Quriyat

1515?   Qalhat

15151650  Muscat

1515??   Barka

15151633? Julfar (Ras al-Khaimah)

15211602  Bahrain (Muharraq and Manama)

15211529?  Qatif

1521?1551? Tarut Island

15501551  Qatif

15881648  Matrah

17th century

1620?   Khor Fakkan

1621??   As Sib

16211622  Qeshm

1623?   Khasab

1623?   Libedia

1624?   Kalba

1624?   Madha

16241648  Dibba Al-Hisn

1624??   Bandar-e Kong

Indian subcontinent 

15th century

14981545  Laccadive Islands (Lakshadweep)

16th century

Portuguese India

   15001663  Cochim (Kochi)

   15021661  Quilon (Coulo/Kollam)

   15021663  Cannanore (Kannur)

   15071657  Negapatam (Nagapatnam)

   15101962  Goa

   15121525  Calicut (Kozhikode)

   15181619  Paliacate (Pulicat)

   15211740  Chaul

   15231662  Mylapore

   15281666  Chittagong

   15341601  Salsette Island

   15341661  Bombay (Mumbai)

   15351739  Baam (Vasai-Virar)

   15361662  Cranganore (Kodungallur)

   15401612  Surat

   15481658  Tuticorin (Thoothukudi)

   15591962  Daman and Diu

   15681659  Mangalore

   15791632  Hugli

   15981610  Masulipatnam (Machilipatnam)

15181521  Maldives

15181658  Portuguese Ceylon (Sri Lanka)

15581573  Maldives

17th century

Portuguese India

   16871749  Mylapore

18th century

Portuguese India

   17791954  Dadra and Nagar Haveli

East Asia and Oceania 

16th century

15111641  Portuguese Malacca

15121621  Banda Islands

15121621  Moluccas (Maluku Islands)

   15221575  Ternate

   15761605  Ambon

   15781650  Tidore

15121665  Makassar

15531999  Macau

15331545  Ningbo

15711639  Decima (Dejima, Nagasaki)

17th century

16421975  Portuguese Timor (East Timor)1

19th century

Macau

   18641999  Coloane

   18491999  Portas do Cerco

   18511999  Taipa

   18901999  Ilha Verde

20th century

Macau

   19381941  Lapa and Montanha (Hengqin)

1 1975 is the date of East Timor’s Declaration of Independence and subsequent invasion by Indonesia. In 2002, the independence of East Timor was recognized by Portugal and the rest of the world.

North America and the North Atlantic Ocean 

15th century

1420           Madeira

1432           Azores

16th century

15001579?  Terra Nova (Newfoundland)

15001579?  Labrador

15161579?  Nova Scotia

Central and South America 

16th century

15001822  Brazil

15361620  Barbados

17th century

16801777  Nova Colnia do Sacramento

19th century

18081822  Cisplatina (Uruguay)

Portuguese colonization of the Americas

Theory of Portuguese discovery of Australia

 

Languages

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Member states and observers of the Francophonie

Members

Albania  Andorra  Armenia  Belgium (French Community)  Benin  Bulgaria  Burkina Faso  Burundi  Cambodia  Cameroon  Canada (New Brunswick  Quebec)  Cape Verde  Central African Republic  Chad  Comoros  Cyprus1  Democratic Republic of the Congo  Republic of the Congo  Cte d’Ivoire  Djibouti  Dominica  Egypt  Equatorial Guinea  France (French Guiana  Guadeloupe  Martinique  St. Pierre and Miquelon)  Gabon  Ghana1  Greece  Guinea  Guinea-Bissau  Haiti  Laos  Luxembourg  Lebanon  Macedonia2  Madagascar  Mali  Mauritania  Mauritius  Moldova  Monaco  Morocco  Niger  Romania  Rwanda  St. Lucia  So Tom and Prncipe  Senegal  Seychelles  Switzerland  Togo  Tunisia  Vanuatu  Vietnam

Observers

Austria  Croatia  Czech Republic  Georgia  Hungary  Latvia  Lithuania  Mozambique  Poland  Serbia  Slovakia  Slovenia  Thailand  Ukraine

1 Associate member. 2 Provisionally referred to by the Francophonie as the “former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”; see Macedonia naming dispute.

v  d  e

Austronesian-speaking countries and territories

Formosan

Taiwan

Malayo-Polynesian

American Samoa  Brunei  Burma (Myanmar)  Cambodia  Christmas Island  Cocos (Keeling) Islands  Cook Islands  Easter Island  East Timor  Fiji  French Polynesia  Guam  Hainan  Indonesia  Kiribati  Madagascar  Malaysia  Marshall Islands  FS Micronesia  Nauru  New Caledonia  New Zealand  Niue  Northern Mariana Islands  Orchid Island  Palau  Papua New Guinea   Philippines  Samoa  Singapore  Solomon Islands  Sri Lanka  Suriname  Tokelau  Tonga  Tuvalu  United States (Hawaii)  Vanuatu  Vietnam  Wallis and Futuna

v  d  e

English-speaking world

Anglosphere

Dark blue: Countries and territories where English is spoken natively by a significant population.

Light blue: Countries where English is an official language but not widely spoken.

Click on the coloured regions to view the related article.

 

 

Regions where English is an official language and spoken by a significant population:

Africa

Nigeria  Mauritius  Saint Helena  South Africa

 Americas

Anguilla  Antigua and Barbuda  The Bahamas  Barbados  Belize  Bermuda  British Virgin Islands  Canada  Cayman Islands  Dominica  Falkland Islands  Grenada  Guyana  Jamaica  Montserrat  Netherlands Antilles (Saba, Saint Eustatius, Saint Maarten)   Saint Kitts and Nevis  Saint Lucia  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines  Trinidad and Tobago  Turks and Caicos Islands  United States  United States Virgin Islands

Asia

Hong Kong  Philippines  Singapore

Europe

Gibraltar  Guernsey  Isle of Man  Jersey  Malta  Republic of Ireland  United Kingdom

Oceania

Australia  Marshall Islands  Federated States of Micronesia  Nauru  New Zealand  Palau

 

Regions where English is an official language but not widely spoken:

Africa

Botswana  Cameroon  Ghana  Kenya  Lesotho  Liberia  Madagascar  Malawi  Namibia  Rwanda  Sierra Leone  Sudan  Swaziland  Tanzania  Uganda  Zambia  Zimbabwe

Americas

Puerto Rico

Asia

India  Malaysia  Pakistan

   Oceania

Fiji  Papua New Guinea  Solomon Islands

English Wiktionary

Categories: Madagascar | African countries | African Union member states | Countries of the Indian Ocean | East Africa | French-speaking countries | Island countries | Islands of Africa | Islands of Madagascar | Least Developed Countries | Malay-speaking countries and territories | Member states of La Francophonie | Physiographic provinces | Southern Africa | States and territories established in 1960Hidden categories: All articles with dead external links | Articles with dead external links from April 2009 | Wikipedia indefinitely semi-protected pages | Articles containing French language text | All articles with unsourced statements | Articles with unsourced statements from June 2008 | Articles with links needing disambiguation | Articles with unsourced statements from December 2007 | Articles with unsourced statements from August 2009
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