President of Patriots Forum, D.C. Nath was superannuated in January, 1995, as the Special Director, Intelligence Bureau, D.C. Nath (IPS-1960) was associated with the International Institute of Security and Safety Management (IISSM), headquartered in New Delhi, for over 14 years, first as the Executive President & CEO and then as the President & Director General, between February, 1997 and March, 2011. The author of a highly acclaimed book, Intelligence Imperatives for India, Mr. Nath earned high plaudits from all around for two of his very significant presentations on: “Revisiting the Future of India” (2005, London) and “Lessons from India for the War On Terrorism” (2007, USA). He is the only one in the field, combining the experiences of a police officer with specialization in intelligence and strategic analysis and an industrial security expert par excellence. More Bio on D. C. Nath…
News Research & Analysis Files-
Makara Sankranti, 15 January 2015. Pilgrims pray at Gangasagar << News analysis file 1
OPINION>>>>
January 16, 2015
Dear Friends,
Subject: Scientific India—Makar Sankranti, Celebrated On January 15, 2015.
India, to many foreigners is a land of charms, mythical stories, sadhus and what not. Nay, a good many western-educated Indians also like to belittle their country, its past, poverty and caste and present-day communalism. None of these groups can visualise, much less can fathom, that the markings of old Indian civilisation are all based on science and science alone. We assert this strongly even at the cost of being labelled parochial or biased.
Leaving aside many examples, we today present to our friends and friends of friends, who are receiving our mails and have often been gracious in responding also, a marvellous piece on an all-India festival, known as “Makar Sankranti”. As even a cursory reading of the attached mail will show, this is actually a pure scientific phenomenon but so well known to commoner Indians also, cutting across the length and breadth of the country. The biggest manifestation takes place in an island at the mouth of the Bay of Bengal, namely, “Sagar Dwip” of the “mythical king Sagar Raja” and the great sage, “Kapil Muni”. Devotees from all over go for a dip at that place at some auspicious moment, strictly worked out on the basis of some astronomical calculation. There is no myth involved whatsoever.
Friends, all these and more have been spelt out in the attached mail, titled, “Makara Sankranti, 15 January 2015. Pilgrims pray at Gangasagar.” While the longish mail, full of scientific explanations is attached for record for our progeny and reading and re-reading at the leisure, he crux of the explanation is reproduced below for ready understanding.
Quote (.)
Makara Sankranti – Why we celebrate it
Jan 15, 2015
Hari & Hema
http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.in/2015/01/makara-sankranti-15-january-2015.html
Equinoxes and Solstices
As the earth keeps going around the sun, there are certain points in the orbit, when due to the angle of the earth’s tilt, the days and nights either become equal (equinoxes) or day is longest in the Northern hemisphere (summer solstice) or night is longest in Northern hemisphere (winter solstice).
This occurs due to the tilt of the earth’s axis by 23.5 degree.
Seen from the earth, it gives us a perception that the sun is moving northwards and southwards every 6 months between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn which are latitudes at 23.5 degrees north and south of the equator, respectively.
Uttarayanam
The perceived, northern movement of the sun from Tropic of Capricorn to Tropic of Cancer is called Uttarayanam in India.
Uttar meaning North and Ayana, the journey. It is the day when Sun starts its Northward journey. We celebrate this day as Makara Sankranti.
Unquote (.)
Friends, we would request let this knowledge be shared with the non-believers, mostly among our own countrymen.
Vandemataram,
Your sevak,
D.C. Nath
(Former Spl. Director, IB)
(President, Patriots’ Forum)
Source: Patriot Forum
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