What is the historical context of the Bhagavad Gita

The Bhagavad Gita is set within the Mahabharata, an ancient Indian epic traditionally attributed to the sage Vyasa. It is believed to have been composed around 3100 BCE, during the Dvapara Yuga, a period in Hindu cosmology. The Gita is part of the Bhishma Parva (Book of Bhishma) in the Mahabharata and unfolds on the battlefield of Kurukshetra.

The historical context revolves around a dynastic conflict between two royal families: the Pandavas and the Kauravas, both descendants of the Kuru dynasty. The Pandavas, led by Arjuna, sought to reclaim their rightful share of the kingdom, while the Kauravas, led by Duryodhana, refused to yield even a small portion of land. This dispute escalated into a full-scale war.

The Gita begins with Arjuna experiencing a moral and emotional crisis as he faces the prospect of fighting his own relatives, teachers, and friends. Lord Krishna, serving as his charioteer, delivers profound teachings on duty, righteousness, and the nature of life and death, guiding Arjuna to fulfill his dharma (duty) as a warrior.

The Gita's teachings transcend its historical setting, offering timeless wisdom on ethics, spirituality, and self-realization. Its influence has extended far beyond India, inspiring thinkers and philosophers worldwide.

Sudha Murty, who is she?

                                         

 Sudha Murty was born on August 19, 1950, in Shiggaon, North Karnataka. Brought up in a family that places immense value on education, she imbibed her love for books and learning very early in life. She grew up hearing stories from the Mahabharata and the Ramayana from her grandparents. This became her introduction to the world of stories.

When she was twelve, her grandfather asked her what she would do first if given a pair of wings? She replied promptly, “I will fly to the library in the neighbouring village and read all the books available there.”

Sudha Murty has always been a natural storyteller. At school she was the class monitor. When the teachers were absent, (which was often) she stepped into the role of a storyteller, keeping the class engaged. At the young age of 10 she discovered the power of stories that bind us all together. She attributes her passion for telling stories to those early years.

Sudha Murty was the only female (in her class) in the engineering college in Hubli-Dharwad in Karnataka. She pushed through resistance, bias, and outright discrimination and received a Gold Medal from the Institution of Engineers, India for securing the highest marks across all engineering universities in Karnataka and a silver medal from the Chief Minister of Karnataka. She went on to excel in her Masters from IISc with a distinction.

Sudha Murty is well known as the first female engineer at TELCO (now TATA Motors). She applied in response to a call for graduates from IISc. The flier specifically mentioned that female candidates need not apply. Overcome by the unfairness of the situation and determined to right this wrong, she wrote directly to JRD Tata, questioning the policy.

In her letter to him, she wrote,

“Sir, JRD Tata, when the country was not independent at that time your group started chemicals, locomotives, and the iron and steel industry. You are always ahead of time. In this society, there are 50–50% men and women. If women don’t get an education and job opportunities, then society or a country never rises, and this is one mistake of your company (for not allowing women students to apply for the job at TELCO, Pune).”

She was invited for an interview and was the first woman to be selected.

Her experience at TELCO has had a lasting impact on her life. One particular interaction with JRD Tata shaped her philanthropic outlook and initiatives. “No one owns money; you are just the trustee of it. Money keeps changing hands. If you succeed in life, try to return it to the society that has been kind to you.” These words of advice given by JRD Tata when she left TELCO have always motivated and inspired her to share with those in immediate need.

Sudha Murty founded the Infosys Foundation in 1996. As the chairperson of the foundation, she has established numerous schools, hospitals, and orphanages across India impacting the lives of thousands of individuals. Her foremost contribution to women’s empowerment has been her extensive work with the Devadasi community. She retired from the foundation in 2021.

She is also the co-founder of the Murty Trust, committed to reviving Indian art, culture and heritage, restoring nature, and encouraging science & research in India.

Sudha Murty is the recipient of several noteworthy awards for her social work. She has received, among other honours, two Padma Awards from the Government of India. The Padma Shri was awarded to her in 2006 for her social work through the Infosys Foundation. She was conferred the Padma Bhushan in 2023 for her outstanding contribution to the field of social work and literature.

Sudha Murty is a curious learner, eager to learn from people, books, and experiences. A self-proclaimed indulgent reader, she is always making room for more books in her ever-expanding library. She is a history buff, especially Indian history, and spends a lot of her time reading up on it and interacting with experts. 

She has always been a passionate go-getter, carving her path despite the obstacles along the way. She has a pragmatic outlook, questioning existing practices and norms. She believes in not just doing the right thing, but doing it right. 

Sudha Murty is married to Infosys co-founder N. R. Narayana Murthy.^[24] They married when she was employed as an engineer at TELCO in Pune.^[25] The couple have two children, including fashion designer Akshata Murty, who is married to former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Rishi Sunak.

Her siblings include Dr. Sunanda Kulkarni, Caltech astrophysicist Shrinivas Kulkarni and Jaishree Deshpande (wife of Gururaj Deshpande) who co-founded the Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation at MIT.

Ramayana what happened in the story?

                                                

       

        The Ramayana is a classic epic from ancient India that tells the story of Prince Rama of Ayodhya. Here's a brief overview of the main events:

Bala Kanda (Book of Childhood): The story begins with King Dasharatha of Ayodhya, who has no sons. After performing a sacred fire ritual, his three wives give birth to four sons: Rama (born to Kausalya), Bharata (born to Kaikeyi), and Lakshmana and Shatrughna (twins born to Sumitra). The princes grow up under the tutelage of the sage Vishwamitra, with Rama displaying exceptional virtue and strength. He marries Sita, the beautiful princess of Mithila, after winning a contest of strength.

Ayodhya Kanda (Book of Ayodhya): Dasharatha decides to make Rama his heir apparent. However, his youngest wife, Kaikeyi, under the influence of her wicked maid Manthara, demands that Bharata be crowned king and Rama be exiled to the forest for fourteen years. Bound by his promise, Dasharatha reluctantly fulfills her wish, and Rama, along with his devoted wife Sita and loyal brother Lakshmana, goes into exile. Dasharatha dies of grief soon after Rama's departure. Bharata, who is away at the time, is deeply saddened by these events and refuses to accept the throne. He goes to the forest to bring Rama back, but Rama insists on honoring his father's vow. Bharata returns to Ayodhya and rules as Rama's regent, keeping Rama's sandals on the throne as a symbol of his authority.

Aranya Kanda (Book of the Forest): Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana live peacefully in the forest for several years. During this time, they encounter various sages and face challenges from demons. The demoness Surpanakha, Ravana's sister, is humiliated by Lakshmana when she tries to seduce Rama. Enraged, she reports this to her brother Ravana, the powerful ten-headed king of Lanka.

Kishkindha Kanda (Book of Kishkindha): Ravana, seeking revenge, sends the demon Maricha to trick Rama and Lakshmana. Maricha disguises himself as a golden deer, and Sita, captivated by its beauty, asks Rama to capture it. While Rama is away hunting the deer, Ravana, disguised as a mendicant, abducts Sita and takes her away to Lanka in his flying chariot. Rama and Lakshmana return to find Sita missing and begin a frantic search for her. They meet Hanuman, the devoted monkey general, and Sugriva, the exiled monkey king. Rama helps Sugriva regain his kingdom from his brother Vali, and in return, Sugriva pledges his army to help Rama find Sita.

Sundara Kanda (Book of Beauty): Hanuman takes a leap across the ocean to Lanka in search of Sita. He finds her imprisoned in Ravana's Ashoka Vatika (garden). Hanuman reassures Sita, conveys Rama's message, and wreaks havoc in Lanka before returning to Rama with news of Sita's whereabouts.

Yuddha Kanda (Book of War): Rama, Lakshmana, and the Vanara (monkey) army, led by Hanuman and Sugriva, build a bridge across the sea to Lanka. A fierce battle ensues between Rama's army and Ravana's demon forces. Many heroes are killed on both sides. Lakshmana is severely wounded but is healed by Hanuman, who brings the Sanjeevani herb from the Himalayas. Finally, Rama confronts and kills Ravana in a climactic battle. Sita is rescued and reunited with Rama.

Uttara Kanda (Later Book): After their return to Ayodhya, Rama and Sita are crowned. However, due to public gossip questioning Sita's purity during her captivity, Rama reluctantly banishes her to the forest. In the forest, Sita gives birth to twin sons, Lava and Kusha, who are raised by the sage Valmiki. Years later, Rama encounters his sons, recognizes them, and is eventually reunited with Sita. However, unable to bear the accusations any longer, Sita calls upon Mother Earth to receive her, and the earth opens up to take her. Heartbroken, Rama eventually departs from the world and returns to his divine abode.

This is a simplified summary of the Ramayana, and each of these "Kandas" contains many intricate sub-stories and teachings. 

               

                    

MAHABHARATHA all volumes

The Mahabharata is one of the longest epic poems in the world, with over 100,000 verses. It is roughly ten times the length of the Iliad and the Odyssey combined.

The Mahabharata is believed to have been written between 400 BCE and 400 CE, although
the events it describes are said to have taken place much earlier.

The Mahabharata tells the story of a dynastic struggle for the throne of the ancient Indian kingdom of Hastinapur, between the Pandavas and the Kauravas, two branches of the same royal family.

The Mahabharata is not just a story, but also contains philosophical and spiritual teachings. It is often referred to as the “fifth Veda” and is considered to be one of the most important works of Hinduism.

The Bhagavad Gita, one of the most famous and revered texts of Hinduism, is a part of the Mahabharata. It is a conversation between the warrior Arjuna and his charioteer Krishna, in which Krishna expounds on the nature of reality, the soul, and the ultimate goal of human life.

The Mahabharata includes many supernatural elements, including gods, demons, and magical weapons. One of the most famous of these is the Brahmastra, a weapon so powerful that it can destroy entire armies and even the world.

The Mahabharata is known for its complex characters, many of whom are neither entirely good nor entirely evil. The most famous of these is probably Karna, a heroic warrior who fights on the side of the Kauravas despite being the son of Kunti, one of the mothers of the Pandavas.

The Mahabharata has been adapted into many different forms over the years, including plays, movies, and television shows. It has also been retold in different languages, including English, French, and Russian.

The Mahabharata has had a significant influence on Indian culture, inspiring many works of art, literature, and music. It is also often used as a source of moral and ethical teachings.

Despite its length and complexity, the Mahabharata is still widely read and studied today, both in India and around the world. It continues to inspire and challenge readers with its timeless themes of duty, loyalty, and the struggle between good and evil.

The Mahābhārata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India revered as Smriti texts in Hinduism, the other being the Rāmāyaṇa. It narrates the events and aftermath of the Kurukshetra War, a war of succession between two groups of princely cousins, the Kauravas and the Pāṇḍavas.

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THE WIZARD OF OZ

 The WIZARD OF OF OZ

The wizard of oz is a book in which a girl named Dorothy was playing with her pet dog Toto and a tornado came and blew her to the mysterical land of oz she made a remarkable journey through the forests and the city and reached her home.

READ THE ACTUAL BOOK TO KNOW MORE.