Day: February 23, 2023

Second World War(1939- 1945)

World War II was a global conflict that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It was the deadliest conflict in human history, with an estimated 50-85 million fatalities worldwide, including civilians and military personnel. The war was fought between two main alliances: the Axis powers, consisting of Germany, Italy, and Japan; and the Allied powers, consisting of the United States, Great Britain, France, and the Soviet Union, among others.

The war began on September 1, 1939, when Germany invaded Poland. Britain and France, who had guaranteed Poland’s security, declared war on Germany on September 3. The early years of the war were marked by German victories in Europe and the rapid expansion of the Axis powers, including the invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941.

The tide of the war began to turn in favor of the Allies in 1942, with significant victories in North Africa and the Soviet Union. In 1944, Allied forces landed in Normandy and began the liberation of Western Europe. The war in Europe ended on May 8, 1945, when Germany surrendered.

The war in the Pacific continued until August 15, 1945, when Japan announced its surrender after atomic bombs were dropped on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the United States.

The aftermath of the war led to significant changes in the political and social landscape of the world, including the formation of the United Nations and the beginning of the Cold War between the Western powers and the Soviet Union.


Source – Wikipedia

Causes of World War II:

1. The Treaty of Versailles (1919): The treaty of Versailles had in itself the germs of the Second World War. The Germany was very badly treated. She was forced to sign the treaty at the point of a bayonet, in a spirit of revenge. To tear away the treaty of Versailles, Hitler joined hands with Mussolini of Italy.

2. Nationalist Movements of Germany & Italy: The rise of the national movement in Germany & Italy added fuel to the fire. Although Hitler tried to assure the world that he meant peace, he could not conceal his ambition for long. He embarked on a career of aggression which ultimately lead to war. The same was the case with Mussolini who had established his dictatorship in Italy in 1922.

3. Conflict of Ideology between Dictatorship & Democracy: Countries like Germany, Italy & Japan represented the ideology of dictatorship while Great Britain, France & USA represented the ideology of democracy. Mussolini described the conflict between the two ideology thus: ‘The struggle between the two worlds can permit no compromise. Either we or they’

4. Inefficiency of League of Nations: Unfortunately, when hostility was growing between the two camps there was no effective international organization which could bring the leaders of the two camps on a common platform and bring about a reconciliation between them. The League of Nations was practically dead.

5. Colonial & Commercial Rivalry: The colonial and commercial rivalry between England and France on one side, and Germany and Italy on the other brought them in conflict with each other.

6. Aggressiveness of Berlin-Rome-Tokyo Axis : Hitler had became very aggressive. He annexed the Saar Valley, occupied Rhineland and Austria captured Czechoslovakia etc. Mussolini attacked Abyssinia (Ethiopia) Japan attached China. This aggressive mood of the Fascist Power got its fullest expression when they formed an Axis providing for mutual aid in the international sphere.

7. Immediate Cause: The immediate cause of the war was the refuse of Poland to Surrender. Germany gave an ultimatum to Poland regarding : (i) surrender the port of Dazing, (ii) the right of establishing a rail link between Germany and East Prussia through the Polish corridor. These two demands were rejected by Poland. So Germany invaded Poland on Sept. 1, 1939. Britain and France as they were under treaty obligations to aid Poland, declared war against Germany on Sept. 3, 1393.

Is education worth it?

From a past few weeks I was curious to know whether education is really worth it or not. If yes then why literacy rate is growing but at the same time unemployment too.Their are lots of knowledge,information and opportunities and people also but they still criticise about unemployment. And this is because we have a quantity in education but some where we have loosed the quality. We have jobs to do but mostly people are underemployed or unemployed. Population growth is one of the main reason of it we have less opportunities compared to people being appeared, less resources more people ,less money with large families. And still in India lots of people are not getting this point that we don’t have enough resources and just simply giving birth to a child is very disasterous event in present time and then complaining about government it is completely unfair. People should learn to take responsibility and government also needs to take strict action .

Is education worth it?

From a past few weeks I was curious to know whether education is really worth it or not. If yes then why literacy rate is growing but at the same time unemployment too.Their are lots of knowledge,information and opportunities and people also but they still criticise about unemployment. And this is because we have a quantity in education but some where we have loosed the quality. We have jobs to do but mostly people are underemployed or unemployed. Population growth is one of the main reason of it we have less opportunities compared to people being appeared, less resources more people ,less money with large families. And still in India lots of people are not getting this point that we don’t have enough resources and just simply giving birth to a child is very disasterous event in present time and then complaining about government it is completely unfair. People should learn to take responsibility and government also needs to take strict action .

A Genius IAS officer also a Great Poet of Odisha

Pradeep Biswal is a former senior member of the Indian Administrative Service and an illustrious bilingual poet publishing both in English and Odia and his many poems have been translated into many Indian languages. He has authored seven anthologies of poetry in Odia. In addition, he has published two volumes- collections of poems in English. Also, his two collections of poems have been translated in Hindi. His many poems have been published in many Indian languages, also these have been published by National Book Trust, Sahitya Akademi, and Odisha Sahitya Academy. On many occasions, he represented the Odia Poetry conference at the national level and received a Fellowship in Literature from the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Department of Culture in 1995. 

Recently I had the opportunity to read his two publications i.e., collection of poems (written by Pradeep Biswal.  One was “A House Within An Anthology of Poems” published in 2018 published by Authorspress, New Delhi, and another one was “Pilgrimage to Ayodhya: A Timeless Journey” published by AABS Publishing House, Kolkata (2019). Both volumes have ISBN. In the case of first publication altogether 38 poems have been included. And the second volume has included 42 poems. All are lucidly written in English and easy to understand both content and meaning. Some have focussed on nature; some have touched lives, emotional feelings, spiritual evocativeness, etc. From both volumes, I am presenting a few lines from some poems for the benefit of readers albeit all (a total of 80) are worthy to read.

From the publication “A House Within: An Anthology of Poems” a few lines from some poems, I am presenting. In the poem “The Wild Flower”, the last two lines depict many things.

                                 “A mere tiny flower

                                 It contains the whole universe”, a beautiful meaning hidden in the poem.

In another poem “When the Braid was Kept Open” a few lines may be mentioned here which contain wonderful meaning.

                                                “Like the princess

                                                   From the paradise

                                                   She was beaming

                                                  With a radiant smile

                                                 The world laid bare

                                                  At her feet”

In the poem “The Lost Smile” these few lines mean its content.

                           “I don’t know

                            When I lost it

                           But it’s lost anyway.

                           Never ask me To Smile again

                           It may look

                           Something else

                          Other than a smile”

In the poem Monorona’s Eyebrows, the poet has beautifully presented the importance of

eyebrows when he writes,

                               “Eyebrows could

                               Communicate in a flash

                               And disappear”

The poem “In Mourning” is a touchy one everyone on this earth will not survive as death is inevitable.  In the poem “When we met”, the poet feels that “Life is juxtaposed”.  In the poem “Where are You Now?” the poet has beautifully written,

             “Come Bharat

              Come sometime

             We have many more

             To discuss” In this poem “Where are You Now?” Biswal’s patriotic feelings have been reflected. All other poems viz., ’Dream Within”, The War Never Ends”, “Life in Recluse”, “Between Us”, “To My Son”, ‘Yayati”, “Lost Spring”, “The Liftman”, ‘The Void”, “Silence” etc., have been presented brilliantly keeping its essence in own ways.

Pradeep Biswal’s second poetry collection in English is “Pilgrimage to Ayodhya”, A timeless journey” which consists of 42 poems. All are excellent and carry wonderful/touchy meanings which can be understood from each poem’s title. Nature, love, patriotic feelings, Nero-like king’s behaviour importance of stone indicating human behaviour, etc. may be found in this volume.  

In the poem “One Un-Starry Night” the poet makes an effort to romanticise a deep sense of loss and longing.

             “In the midnight’s parlour

              Full of broken promises

              Like the bitten wings of an airy bird

              I still crave for your tender touch

              The naked curves of your body

              Someday somewhere else.”

The meaning and expression in the poem “Invitation” are clear.

                  “Please descend the

                    stairs of the sky;

                   Let all anxieties

                  meet their dead end.”

 His patriotic fervour has been reflected in the two poems, viz., “Bharat Varsh:1” and “Bharat Varsh: 2”. In both poems, after portraying Bharat (India) poet has concluded that “It’s my Bharat Varsh” i.e., my beloved country India.

King Nero’s character has been lucidly presented in the poem “Nero Isn’t Dead”. In the poem “Youth, Money & Power” the reality of life has been portrayed.  According to the poet,

           “Youth, money & power

            Stay for a short while

            With you

             But to realise this

             You need

             Years of penance”

Similarly, in the poem “The Clouds” the behaviour of the clouds relating to human lives wonderfully has been depicted.

In “Do You Know?”  poem, addressing the unknown listener, who could be a friend or any other or the entire human race, someone says that everyone fights war and may be wounded from the war. But all cannot win or lose the war but that does not prevent him from being a war veteran. So, the poet has presented

                                           “Do you know

                                             Like you I am a war veteran”

The poet has presented a symbolic journey that the soul embarks upon to achieve illumination in “The Pilgrimage to Ayodhya”, also the sublime smile on Ramlala’s face has an inspirational effect.

 In the poem “Monalisa’s Smile” the poet tries to probe into the retreat of human consciousness hidden under the enigmatic smile.

“I don’t know

What they felt

About you

But I see

Shadows of deprivation

And shallow dreams

For ages

Turning into a volcano

And lurking behind

Your synthetic smile”

All poems in this volume have been wonderfully presented with intrinsic meaning. Some of them are – “I Know It Well”, “Me Too”, “Fatima On The Facebook”, “The Kunduli Girl”, “Metamorphosis”, “You”, “Last Night”, “Sunflower” etc. some names which can be mentioned here.

After reading both volumes (38 and 42 poems), I congratulate from the core of my heart to him as a bureaucrat by profession and a poet by passion who lived about four decades in the realm of poetry. His collections of poetries are in Odia and English also translations in other languages are assets to Indians. 

Dr Shankar Chatterjee, Hyderabad

A Genius IAS officer also a Great Poet of Odisha

Pradeep Biswal is a former senior member of the Indian Administrative Service and an illustrious bilingual poet publishing both in English and Odia and his many poems have been translated into many Indian languages. He has authored seven anthologies of poetry in Odia. In addition, he has published two volumes- collections of poems in English. Also, his two collections of poems have been translated in Hindi. His many poems have been published in many Indian languages, also these have been published by National Book Trust, Sahitya Akademi, and Odisha Sahitya Academy. On many occasions, he represented the Odia Poetry conference at the national level and received a Fellowship in Literature from the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Department of Culture in 1995. 

Recently I had the opportunity to read his two publications i.e., collection of poems (written by Pradeep Biswal.  One was “A House Within An Anthology of Poems” published in 2018 published by Authorspress, New Delhi, and another one was “Pilgrimage to Ayodhya: A Timeless Journey” published by AABS Publishing House, Kolkata (2019). Both volumes have ISBN. In the case of first publication altogether 38 poems have been included. And the second volume has included 42 poems. All are lucidly written in English and easy to understand both content and meaning. Some have focussed on nature; some have touched lives, emotional feelings, spiritual evocativeness, etc. From both volumes, I am presenting a few lines from some poems for the benefit of readers albeit all (a total of 80) are worthy to read.

From the publication “A House Within: An Anthology of Poems” a few lines from some poems, I am presenting. In the poem “The Wild Flower”, the last two lines depict many things.

                                 “A mere tiny flower

                                 It contains the whole universe”, a beautiful meaning hidden in the poem.

In another poem “When the Braid was Kept Open” a few lines may be mentioned here which contain wonderful meaning.

                                                “Like the princess

                                                   From the paradise

                                                   She was beaming

                                                  With a radiant smile

                                                 The world laid bare

                                                  At her feet”

In the poem “The Lost Smile” these few lines mean its content.

                           “I don’t know

                            When I lost it

                           But it’s lost anyway.

                           Never ask me To Smile again

                           It may look

                           Something else

                          Other than a smile”

In the poem Monorona’s Eyebrows, the poet has beautifully presented the importance of

eyebrows when he writes,

                               “Eyebrows could

                               Communicate in a flash

                               And disappear”

The poem “In Mourning” is a touchy one everyone on this earth will not survive as death is inevitable.  In the poem “When we met”, the poet feels that “Life is juxtaposed”.  In the poem “Where are You Now?” the poet has beautifully written,

             “Come Bharat

              Come sometime

             We have many more

             To discuss” In this poem “Where are You Now?” Biswal’s patriotic feelings have been reflected. All other poems viz., ’Dream Within”, The War Never Ends”, “Life in Recluse”, “Between Us”, “To My Son”, ‘Yayati”, “Lost Spring”, “The Liftman”, ‘The Void”, “Silence” etc., have been presented brilliantly keeping its essence in own ways.

Pradeep Biswal’s second poetry collection in English is “Pilgrimage to Ayodhya”, A timeless journey” which consists of 42 poems. All are excellent and carry wonderful/touchy meanings which can be understood from each poem’s title. Nature, love, patriotic feelings, Nero-like king’s behaviour importance of stone indicating human behaviour, etc. may be found in this volume.  

In the poem “One Un-Starry Night” the poet makes an effort to romanticise a deep sense of loss and longing.

             “In the midnight’s parlour

              Full of broken promises

              Like the bitten wings of an airy bird

              I still crave for your tender touch

              The naked curves of your body

              Someday somewhere else.”

The meaning and expression in the poem “Invitation” are clear.

                  “Please descend the

                    stairs of the sky;

                   Let all anxieties

                  meet their dead end.”

 His patriotic fervour has been reflected in the two poems, viz., “Bharat Varsh:1” and “Bharat Varsh: 2”. In both poems, after portraying Bharat (India) poet has concluded that “It’s my Bharat Varsh” i.e., my beloved country India.

King Nero’s character has been lucidly presented in the poem “Nero Isn’t Dead”. In the poem “Youth, Money & Power” the reality of life has been portrayed.  According to the poet,

           “Youth, money & power

            Stay for a short while

            With you

             But to realise this

             You need

             Years of penance”

Similarly, in the poem “The Clouds” the behaviour of the clouds relating to human lives wonderfully has been depicted.

In “Do You Know?”  poem, addressing the unknown listener, who could be a friend or any other or the entire human race, someone says that everyone fights war and may be wounded from the war. But all cannot win or lose the war but that does not prevent him from being a war veteran. So, the poet has presented

                                           “Do you know

                                             Like you I am a war veteran”

The poet has presented a symbolic journey that the soul embarks upon to achieve illumination in “The Pilgrimage to Ayodhya”, also the sublime smile on Ramlala’s face has an inspirational effect.

 In the poem “Monalisa’s Smile” the poet tries to probe into the retreat of human consciousness hidden under the enigmatic smile.

“I don’t know

What they felt

About you

But I see

Shadows of deprivation

And shallow dreams

For ages

Turning into a volcano

And lurking behind

Your synthetic smile”

All poems in this volume have been wonderfully presented with intrinsic meaning. Some of them are – “I Know It Well”, “Me Too”, “Fatima On The Facebook”, “The Kunduli Girl”, “Metamorphosis”, “You”, “Last Night”, “Sunflower” etc. some names which can be mentioned here.

After reading both volumes (38 and 42 poems), I congratulate from the core of my heart to him as a bureaucrat by profession and a poet by passion who lived about four decades in the realm of poetry. His collections of poetries are in Odia and English also translations in other languages are assets to Indians. 

Dr Shankar Chatterjee, Hyderabad

Bronze Age Civilization

The Bronze Age was a period of human history that began around 3000 BCE and lasted until around 1200 BCE. During this time, many civilizations emerged and developed in various parts of the world. Some of the most well-known Bronze Age civilizations include:

  1. Mesopotamian Civilization: The Oldest Civilization of the world Mesopotamia means land between the rivers. Mesopotamia is the land that developed in the region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers is often referred to as the cradle of civilization.

  2. Egyptian Civilization: The civilization that developed along the Nile River in northeastern Africa is one of the most famous Bronze Age civilizations. The ancient Egyptians developed a sophisticated system of writing, art, architecture, religion, and government that influenced later cultures.

  3. Indus Valley Civilization: This Bronze Age civilization developed in the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent around 2500 BCE. The Indus Valley Civilization was known for its advanced urban planning, including a complex system of drainage and water management.

  4. Chinese Civilization: The Shang Dynasty was a Bronze Age civilization that developed in China around 1600 BCE. The Shang Dynasty is known for its sophisticated system of writing, bronze metallurgy, and art.

Source – flagfen.com

Mesopotamian Civilization:

The Mesopotamian civilization emerged in the region that is now Iraq around 4000 BCE and lasted until the 6th century BCE. It is known as one of the earliest civilizations in the world, and its contributions to human history are numerous.

The Mesopotamians developed a system of writing called cuneiform, which involved pressing a reed stylus into clay tablets to create wedge-shaped marks. This system allowed for the recording of laws, contracts, and other important documents, making it possible to keep records and communicate across long distances.

The potter’s wheel was perhaps first used in Mesopotamia. They also developed the first written legal code, the Code of Hammurabi, which established a set of laws and punishments for crimes. They had discovered the Pythagoras Theorem and could also calculate the length of day and night.

Overall, the Mesopotamians were a highly influential civilization, and their innovations and achievements continue to shape the world today.

Egyptian Civilization:


The Egyptian civilization emerged along the Nile River and hence, Egypt is called the ‘Gift of the Nile’. The Old Kingdom is also called as the ‘Age of the Pyramids’. The Egyptians built impressive structures, including the pyramids, temples, and palaces. These structures were designed to honor the pharaohs, who were considered to be divine rulers.

The Egyptians had a complex religion, which included a pantheon of gods and goddesses, each of whom controlled different aspects of the natural world. They believed in the afterlife and developed elaborate burial practices, including the construction of tombs and the preservation of bodies through mummification.

The Egyptians also made significant contributions to mathematics and science, including the development of geometry, astronomy, and medicine. They developed a decimal system of numeration. The crowing achievement of the Egyptians was the Solar Calendar.

Overall, the Egyptian civilization was one of the most influential and long-lasting in human history, leaving behind a rich legacy of art, architecture, literature, and culture that continues to inspire us today.

Indus Valley Civilization:

The Indus Valley Civilization (also known as the Harappan Civilization) was an ancient civilization that flourished in the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent from approximately 2600 BCE to 1900 BCE. It was named after the Indus River, which flows through the region.

The Indus Valley Civilization was one of the world’s earliest urban civilizations, and it had a highly sophisticated culture with a well-developed system of writing, impressive architecture, and advanced agricultural techniques. The cities of the Indus Valley Civilization were also notable for their efficient drainage systems, which were among the most advanced of their time.

Some of the major cities of the Indus Valley Civilization included Harappa, Mohenjo-Daro, and Dholavira, which were all located in present-day Pakistan. The civilization also had extensive trade networks that reached as far as Mesopotamia, Central Asia, and the Persian Gulf.

Despite its significant achievements, much about the Indus Valley Civilization remains a mystery, as the script used by the civilization has yet to be fully deciphered, and there is still much debate about the reasons for its decline and ultimate collapse.

Chinese Civilization:


Chinese civilization is one of the world’s oldest, dating back to around 2100 BCE. The civilization emerged in the Yellow River Valley of China and has contributed immensely to the world in fields such as philosophy, art, science, and technology.

The early Chinese civilization was characterized by a series of dynasties, which were ruled by emperors and marked by significant achievements in technology, art, and literature. The Shang Dynasty (1600 BCE-1046 BCE) was known for its bronze casting, oracle bone inscriptions, and advanced agriculture.

The Chinese civilization is also known for its significant contributions to philosophy, including the teachings of Confucius, Taoism, and Buddhism. Confucianism emphasizes the importance of moral values and ethics, while Taoism emphasizes the importance of harmony and balance in nature. Buddhism was introduced to China in the 1st century CE and became an influential religion in the country.

In the field of science and technology, the ancient Chinese civilization made significant contributions in areas such as astronomy, mathematics, medicine, and engineering. The Chinese were among the first to develop gunpowder, paper, printing, and the compass, which had a significant impact on the world.

Overall, Chinese civilization has had a profound impact on the world, with its contributions in various fields shaping the course of human history.