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By admin: April 18, 2024

International Day for Monuments and Sites - 18 April

Tags: Important Days

The International Day for Monuments and Sites (IDMS), also known as World Heritage Day, is observed across the world on 18 April every year.

An Overview of the News

• The purpose of the day is to promote awareness and appreciation of cultural heritage among local communities and individuals globally.

• The day encourages people to acknowledge the importance of cultural heritage in shaping their lives, identities, and communities.

The theme for IDMS 2024:

• Theme: "Disasters & Conflicts Through the Lens of the Venice Charter."

History of IDMS:

• IDMS was established in 1982 by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS).

• The establishment of IDMS was approved by UNESCO during its 22nd General Conference in 1983.

• IDMS was first celebrated in 1983 under the auspices of UNESCO.

About ICOMOS:

• Non-Governmental Organization: ICOMOS is a non-governmental organization dedicated to the protection and conservation of cultural heritage.

• Establishment: Established in 1965 after the adoption of the Charter of Venice.

Chairman: Teresa Patricio (Belgium)

Secretary General: Jorn Buisman (Netherlands)

Treasurer General: Cyril von Planta (Austria)

Headquarters: Paris, France

Indian wrestlers shine: Secure 9 medals in Asian Wrestling Championship 2024

Tags: Sports

Indian wrestlers achieved a remarkable feat at the Asian Wrestling Championships (Senior) 2024 held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan from April 11 to 16, 2024.

An Overview of the News

• Indian wrestlers won 9 medals, including 4 silver and 5 bronze medals.

Indian medal winner

Silver Medal Winner:

• Udit: Men's Freestyle 57 kg category.

• Radhika: Women's 68 kg category.

• Anju: Women's 53 kg category.

• Harshita: Women's 72 kg category.

Bronze medal winners:

• Abhimanyu: Men's Freestyle 70kg category.

• Vicky: Men's Freestyle 97 kg category.

• Shivani Pawar: Women's 50 kg category.

• Antim: Women's 65 kg category.

• Manisha: Women's 62 kg category.

Important point:

• Indian wrestlers have dominated the 57 kg freestyle category since 2020, with Ravi Dahiya winning gold in 2020, 2021 and 2022, and Aman Sehrawat winning gold in 2023.

Team Ranking:

• Teams were ranked based on their performance in three categories: men's freestyle, Greco-Roman and women's wrestling.

World Voice Day - 16 April

Tags: Important Days

World Voice Day (WVD) is a global campaign annually observed on 16 April to celebrate the phenomenon of voice and raise awareness about its significance.

An Overview of the News

• The day serves as a platform for recognizing and appreciating the human voice, as well as promoting preventive care measures for maintaining vocal health.

2024 Campaign Theme: "Resonate. Educate. Celebrate!"

• The theme for World Voice Day 2024, "Resonate. Educate. Celebrate!" was chosen by the Voice Committee of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS).

• This theme underscores the importance of various aspects of voice care and rehabilitation, emphasizing resonance, education, and celebration.

Background and Origins

• The concept of dedicating a day to celebrate the voice originated in Brazil in 1999, initiated by the Brazilian Society of Laryngology and Voice (SBLV).

• A multidisciplinary group, including physicians, speech-language pathologists, and singing voice therapists, established the Brazilian National Voice Day on April 16, 1999.

• In 2002, Professor Mario Andrea, a Portuguese laryngologist and then President of the European Laryngological Society, proposed the idea of making the Day a global event.

• The celebration officially became known as "World Voice Day" in 2002, with recognition from the AAO-HNS, led by the Speech, Voice, and Swallowing Disorders committee.

Renowned Carnatic Musician KG Jayan Passes Away at 89

Tags: Person in news

KG Jayan, a renowned Carnatic musician and Padma Shri awardee hailing from Kerala, passed away at 89 in Ernakulam district.

An Overview of the News

• Born on November 21, 1934, in Kottayam, Kerala, he commenced his Carnatic music journey at the age of 9, mentored by eminent figures like the Alathur Brothers and Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar.

Musical Career:

• Formed the renowned duo "Jaya-Vijaya" along with his brother, K.G. Vijayan.

• Composed over 1,000 songs and contributed music to Tamil and Malayalam films.

• Known for their devotional songs dedicated to Lord Ayyappa, including "Sreekovil Nadathurannu" and "Hariharasuthane".

Notable Works:

• Compositions such as "Ayyanu Thunayay", "Mamala Vaazhum", and "Sreekovil Nada Thurannu" are timeless.

• Their music featured in popular films like "Bhoomiyile", "Malakhamar", and "Sneham".

Award:

• In 2013, I.K.G. Jayan received the Harivarasanam Award, a joint recognition by the Kerala Government and the Travancore Devaswom Board.

• In 1991, he was bestowed with the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award, an annual honor conferred by the Kerala Government.

• Recognized for his contributions to the arts, K.G. Jayan was awarded the Padma Shri in 2019, India's fourth highest civilian honor.

New Endangered Balsam Species Discovered in Kerala's Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve

Tags: Science and Technology

A new species of the genus Impatiens (family Balsaminaceae), named "Impatiens neo-uncinata," was discovered in the Agasthyamala biosphere reserve, Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala, during a floristic survey.

An Overview of the News

• The discovery was documented in the scientific journal Phytotaxa.

• "Impatiens neo-uncinata" shares morphological similarities with Impatiens uncinata but varies in flower size, basal and distal lobes, dorsal petal, and pollen.

• It features snowy white flowers with red stripes and relatively large blooms.

• The new species has only been observed in a single locality at elevations ranging from 1,000 to 1,250 meters and is classified as Endangered according to IUCN criteria.

• The genus Impatiens encompasses over 1000 species found in tropical and sub-tropical regions.

About Kerala

• Kerala, situated on India's Malabar Coast, boasts nearly 600km of Arabian Sea coastline.

• Famous for its palm-fringed beaches and intricate network of backwaters.

Capital - Thiruvananthapuram

Chief Minister - Pinarayi Vijayan

Districts - 14

Demonyms - Keralite, Malayali