Celebrating Albert Einstein on His Birth Anniversary: A Tribute to the Genius, and Inspiration for India

On 14th March, the world unites to celebrate the birth anniversary of one of the greatest minds in human history—Albert Einstein. Born in 1879 in Ulm, Germany, Einstein’s life and legacy continue to inspire generations across the globe. For Indians, this day holds a special resonance, not only because of Einstein’s monumental contributions to science but also due to his profound connections with Indian luminaries, his fallibility as a reminder to embrace mistakes, and the timeless lessons his life—and those he influenced—offers to a society grappling with the fear of failure and adversity.

Albert Einstein’s early life was far from the picture of a prodigy destined for greatness. As a child, he was slow to speak, leading some to mistakenly label him as intellectually challenged. However, his insatiable curiosity and unconventional thinking set him apart. After completing his education, Einstein struggled to find academic positions and eventually took up a humble job as a patent clerk in Bern, Switzerland, in 1902. Far from being a setback, this role provided him with the solitude and time to ponder the mysteries of the universe.

The year 1905, often hailed as Einstein’s *annus mirabilis* (miracle year), saw him publish five groundbreaking papers that revolutionized physics. Among these were his theory of special relativity, which introduced the iconic equation *E=mc²*, and his paper on the photoelectric effect, which later earned him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921. He also published on Brownian motion, confirming the atomic theory, and two other lesser-known but equally significant works. A decade later, in 1915, Einstein unveiled his magnum opus—the theory of general relativity—redefining our understanding of gravity and the fabric of spacetime.

The Cosmological Constant: A Lesson in Fallibility

Even a genius like Einstein was not immune to mistakes, and his story offers a powerful lesson for us all. While formulating general relativity, Einstein introduced what he called the “cosmological constant” into his equations to support the then-prevailing belief in a static universe. However, when Edwin Hubble’s observations later revealed that the universe was expanding, Einstein famously called this inclusion his “biggest blunder.” This admission of fallibility, beautifully captured in Eric Lerner’s book *The Brilliant Blunder*, underscores a universal truth: even the greatest minds err, and mistakes are stepping stones to growth.

In India, where societal pressure often equates failure with shame, Einstein’s story is a beacon of hope. Our youth face immense stress to succeed in academics, careers, and life, with failure often leading to despair and, tragically, even suicide. Einstein’s “blunder” reminds us that setbacks are not the end but opportunities to learn and innovate. As educators, parents, and policymakers, we must instill this mindset in our children, encouraging them to embrace failures as part of the journey to success.

Einstein, Eddington, and the Validation of General Relativity

Einstein’s theory of general relativity might have remained a theoretical marvel without the pivotal role played by the British astrophysicist Arthur Eddington. In 1919, during a total solar eclipse, Eddington led an expedition to observe the bending of starlight around the Sun—a key prediction of general relativity. His measurements confirmed Einstein’s theory, catapulting it to global fame and establishing Einstein as a scientific icon. Eddington’s endorsement was instrumental in bridging the gap between theoretical physics and empirical validation, especially at a time when Europe was recovering from the divisiveness of World War I. This collaboration between a German scientist and a British astronomer symbolized the unifying power of science, transcending national boundaries.

Eddington’s Contrasting Treatment of Chandrasekhar: A Tale of Resilience

However, while Eddington played a commendable role in Einstein’s rise, his interactions with the young Indian astrophysicist Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar reveal a starkly different side. In the 1930s, Chandrasekhar, then a budding scholar at Cambridge, sent an advance copy of his groundbreaking work on the “Chandrasekhar limit”—a theory describing the maximum mass of a stable white dwarf star and the phenomenon of stellar degeneracy—to Eddington for feedback. Chandrasekhar was set to present this at the Royal Astronomical Society, hoping for constructive input from the renowned scientist. Yet, Eddington remained silent before the presentation, only to publicly ridicule Chandrasekhar’s findings during the event. This harsh criticism left the young Indian scientist humiliated in front of his peers.

The repercussions were profound. Feeling unsupported in England, Chandrasekhar eventually moved to the United States, where he continued his work in relative obscurity for decades. It wasn’t until the 1980s—nearly five decades later—that his contributions were fully recognized, earning him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1983. Had Eddington supported Chandrasekhar with the same enthusiasm he showed Einstein, Chandrasekhar might have been one of the youngest Nobel laureates in history.

This disparity raises uncomfortable questions about potential biases. Was Eddington’s dismissal of Chandrasekhar influenced by racial or cultural prejudice against a young, dark-skinned Indian scientist in a predominantly Western academic circle? While historical evidence is inconclusive, and Eddington’s motivations remain debated, the contrast in his treatment of Einstein and Chandrasekhar invites reflection. Regardless of the reasons, Chandrasekhar’s response to this adversity offers a profound lesson for us all.

Despite the public ridicule, Chandrasekhar maintained a dignified respect for Eddington throughout his life, never letting bitterness overshadow his admiration for the older scientist’s contributions. This resilience and grace under pressure are qualities we can all learn from, especially in India, where public criticism or failure can often lead to despair. Chandrasekhar’s journey teaches us to move forward with determination, even in the face of rejection, and to hold onto dignity and respect for others, even those who wrong us.

Einstein and India: A Legacy of Collaboration and Inspiration

Einstein’s connection with India runs deep, marked by his admiration for Indian thinkers and his collaboration with Indian scientists. One of the most notable partnerships was with Satyendra Nath Bose, the brilliant Indian physicist who sent Einstein his groundbreaking paper on quantum statistics in 1924. Recognizing its significance, Einstein translated and refined Bose’s work, leading to the publication of their joint findings. This collaboration gave rise to the concept of “bosons”—particles that obey Bose-Einstein statistics—and later inspired the discovery of the Bose-Einstein Condensate, which earned scientists a Nobel Prize in 2001. Bose’s name lives on in the annals of physics, thanks in part to Einstein’s generosity and foresight.

Einstein’s interactions with India extended beyond science. In 1930, he met Rabindranath Tagore at Princeton, engaging in a profound dialogue on the nature of reality, truth, and human consciousness. Their exchange, documented as a meeting of science and spirituality, remains a testament to the shared quest for knowledge that transcends borders. Einstein’s admiration for Indian thought also found expression in his words for Mahatma Gandhi. Upon Gandhi’s passing in 1948, Einstein wrote, “Generations to come will scarce believe that such a man as this one ever in flesh and blood walked upon this Earth.” These words resonate deeply with Indians, reflecting Einstein’s reverence for peace and non-violence—values Gandhi embodied.

Peacenik in Turbulent Times

Einstein’s commitment to peace was unwavering, even during the darkest chapters of the 20th century. Despite his contributions to theoretical physics paving the way for nuclear technology, he was a vocal critic of nuclear weapons during and after World War II. As one of the signatories of the Russell-Einstein Manifesto in 1955, he called for the abolition of nuclear arms and urged humanity to seek peaceful resolutions to conflict. This aspect of Einstein’s legacy holds immense relevance today, as the world grapples with geopolitical tensions and the ethical dilemmas of scientific advancement.

 The Quantum Debate and the International Year of Quantum Science

This year, as we celebrate the International Year of Quantum Science and Quantum Computing, it’s fitting to reflect on Einstein’s complex relationship with quantum mechanics. While he played a foundational role in its development through his work on the photoelectric effect, Einstein famously disagreed with its probabilistic nature, encapsulated in his oft-quoted remark, “God does not play dice with the universe.” His debates with Niels Bohr and other quantum advocates remain legendary, highlighting the diversity of thought that drives scientific progress. For India, a nation investing in quantum technology, Einstein’s skepticism serves as a reminder to question, debate, and innovate fearlessly.

A Message for  Indians on Einstein’s Birth Anniversary

As we commemorate Albert Einstein’s birth anniversary, let us draw inspiration from his life—and from those connected to him, like Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar. Einstein’s journey reminds us that even the greatest minds stumble, as seen in his “cosmological blunder,” while Chandrasekhar’s resilience teaches us to rise above ridicule and rejection with dignity. For Indian students, professionals, and dreamers, these stories offer a powerful message: failure and adversity are not the end but part of the journey to greatness.

Einstein’s admiration for Indian thought, his collaboration with S.N. Bose, his reverence for Gandhi and Tagore, and his indirect connection to Chandrasekhar through Eddington remind us of the bridges that connect India to the global pursuit of knowledge and peace. On this special day, let us honor Einstein not just as a scientist but as a symbol of curiosity, humility, and the courage to stand for what is right. Let us also honor Chandrasekhar’s legacy by encouraging our youth to persevere through setbacks, maintain respect even in the face of unfair criticism, and chase their dreams with unwavering determination. Even a genius like Einstein showed us that the path to greatness is paved with brilliant blunders—and even a young scholar like Chandrasekhar showed us that true greatness lies in rising above adversity with grace.

India Trounces Pak in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025

India Trounces Pak in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 - Time to Recall a Period when the two arch-rivals Cooperated to jointly host the World Cup - Reliance Cup 1987.

The India-Pakistan cricket rivalry is one of the most intense in sports, deeply rooted in historical, political, and cultural tensions. Matches like the one that ended yesterday in Dubai on Sunday, February 23, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, where India comprehensively defeated Pakistan in the group game of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, often transcend the game, becoming symbolic battlegrounds for national pride. 

This was India’s second win in two group games and Pakistan’s second defeat in as many games. Pakistan, who are not just the hosts of the event, but also the defending champions, were at the receiving end of the ridicule in the trending social media messages and will need plenty of things to go in their favour for them to qualify for the semis. Incidentally, Kohli played a masterful innings on the way to his 51st ODI half-century. Kohli became the fastest batter to score 14,000 ODI runs as he reached the landmark against Pakistan on Sunday. 

 While the passion of fans for India Pakistan cricket clash is natural, the spread of vituperative comments and counter comments - bordering on hatred - through media and social media is a concerning trend. The genesis for the animosity between the two neighbours, extending even to the sporting area, more particularly Cricket matches, traces its history to the partition time and a period just before the partition of India, and the subsequent decades of conflict, territorial disputes, and mutual distrust. This animosity leads amplification of emotions and the media in both countries often frame the cricket match between India and Pakistan as a "war cry" rather than a sporting event, invoking nationalist sentiments and the result is there for everyone to see on social media.

 In the era of digital media, which preys on sensationalism, people use social media platforms to prioritize clicks/views over nuance, using provocative headlines, memes, or exaggerated narratives to exploit rivalry and ensure that such narratives go viral and start trending. This is what happened in yesterday's match which India won comprehensively. The social media echo chambers and the algorithms used in these social media platforms - which help such echo chambers - promote polarizing content, rewarding outrage. The resultant toxic comments, trolling, and misinformation spread rapidly, drowning out rational discourse. Adding to the issue is Cricket as a sport is intertwined with identity in both nations and therefore, defeat on the cricket field is made to be a blow to national honour, prompting hostile reactions, and trending in the media. 

This vituperative narrative reminds me of a time in history when India and Pakistan - the two arch rivals - joined hands to host the Reliance World Cup in 1987, and in the process helped the Indian sub-continent, more particularly the BCCI, which administers cricket in India, to be the most powerful cricketing nation in the world. This is evidenced in the ongoing ICC Championship where the BCCI had the last laugh in ensuring that all the matches where India features in the tournament are played on neutral ground, notwithstanding the fact Pakistan is hosting this ICC Championship tournament.

Around four decades ago, post the 1983 Prudential World Cup which India won, the Indian and Pakistani cricket teams and the political leaders and administrators of the game of cricket joined hands to break the monopoly of England on the game of cricket by snatching the Prudential Cricket World Cup and hosting the tournament jointly as Reliance World Cup in India and Pakistan in 1987. Here is a brief tale of this extraordinary camaraderie between the two arch rivals, and how this story unfolded.

The 1983 Prudential World Cup was won by India led by their Captain Kapil Dev, defeating the favourites, West Indies. India, the underdogs, who were never expected to go beyond the group games played exceptionally winning the tournament to a euphoric and heroic welcome back home. India winning the Prudential World Cup in 1983 helped the game of cricket, which was already a darling of the masses in the subcontinent, to excite the business and political class, who used the game to further their interests and also that of the game thus helping Indian cricket administrators – BCCI – to have their clout to be the world leaders in cricket administration. 

While a majority of Indians are well informed about the game of cricket, their cricketing heroes, ICC Cricket World Cup in all its formats- including our World Cup victories in 1983 and 2011, and 2023 - but not many are aware of what has made India to be an undisputed global leader in the cricket administration. Therefore, I am writing this post not about the India Pakistan Match, which ended yesterday with an emphatic win by the Indian team, but about the robust foundations that went into making India a predominant force in international cricket administration and paying respect to those extraordinary people - Politicians and businessmen and women - who helped India to be the undisputed leader of International Cricket administration - NKP Salve, Mrs Indiara Gandhi, Dhirubhai Ambani, Reliance Industries Ltd, and the cricket administration and the political class in Pakistan. 

The Cricket World Cup, including the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy, a flagship event of the International Cricket Council (ICC), is one of the world's most-watched sporting events. The participation of tens of millions of Indians and several hundreds of thousands of overseas Indians as spectators, the companies who sponsor the game, and the men who manage and influence this game is what makes these tournaments - including the ongoing quadrennial ICC Champions Trophy 2025 - so very special. The Cricket World Cup, in all its formats, is now hosted on a rotation basis by different cricket-playing nations, once every four years or so including the Champions Trophy. 

ICC Championship Trophy traces its history to the first edition of the game played under the name of Benson Hedges World Championship of Cricket, 1985. India won this trophy. Thereafter, this tournament has evolved to become a quadrennial tournament involving the top eight ranked ICC teams, and the last tournament was held in 2017, which was won by Pakistan. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 edition of the ICC Champions Trophy could not be organised. 

The World Cup Cricket began in 1975. The first three versions of the Cricket World Cups - The Prudential World Cups (named after the sponsors) - were hosted only by England in 1975, 1979, and 1983. Until then England alone was believed to be capable of organising huge resources to stage an event of such magnitude. The first three World Cup matches consisted of 60, six-ball, overs per team, played during the daytime in traditional form, with the players wearing cricket whites and using red cricket balls. The power dynamics of the game of cricket were mostly with England who were unwittingly supported by their arch-cricketing adversary the Australians, while other teams including India were mostly bystanders. The fourth World Cup in 1987 changed all of this for good and ever since India has been a dominant player in administering and controlling the game of Cricket, courtesy of Pakistan, who helped India dethrone the dominant England in administering the game. 

The Reliance World Cup 1987 marked the first step towards altering international cricket's power dynamics and gave birth to a rotation system for hosting the World Cups, every four years. The Indian Cricket administrators, led by Mr NKP Salve, buoyed by India winning the 1983 Prudential World Cup, emboldened their bid for the staging rights for the 1987 World Cup, jointly with Pakistan. It is interesting to note that both India and Pakistan, which are viewed as arch rivals - not just on the cricketing grounds but even otherwise - joined hands in ensuring the cricket monopoly that England had in hosting World Cup matches changed forever. 

Moving the World Cup away from England was not so simple, since it involved one of the most complicated negotiations, unprecedented financial resources, and political manoeuvring not just between India and Pakistan but also with the other cricket-playing nations, the ICC, leaders, politicians, cricket administrators and businessmen. It was the combined spirit and efforts of businessman Dhirubhai Ambani, Cricket administrator and politician N K P Salve, and former Prime Ministers Mrs Indira Gandhi and Mr Rajiv Gandhi among others who made this impossible-looking task possible.

Most unfortunately, the contributions of these leaders who helped India to be the world leader in cricket administration have not adequately been acknowledged by the cricket-loving fans in India. The above Indian leader supported by many other cricket aficionados, showed how politicians, professionals, and industrialists can join hands and help to shape the world through the medium of sports including bridging the political divide and other fissures that existed between India and Pakistan. 

Today, when India has compelled ICC and the Pakistan Cricket Board to accept their demand to play the ICC Champions Trophy, in Dubai not in Pakistan, the host country's chosen venue, we must remember and remind ourselves that this dominance of the BCCI in world cricket administration is borne out from the early support and cooperation and collaboration that India got from Pakistan. India and Pakistan had joined hands to build a better relationship and had ensured that cricket domination by England ended with the passage of power to the Indian subcontinent. This was an outcome of the efforts by NKP Salve who kick-started the efforts to end the dominance of England on world cricket. 

The efforts of NKP Salve for breaking the monopoly that England had on cricket administration and hosting the Cricket World Cup in India started with one phone call from the PMO to Dhirubhai Ambani on one of those monsoon mornings in Mumbai, way back in 1983. Dhirubhai Ambani was asked to urgently meet Mrs Gandhi, the then PM of India, within a couple of days. Dhirubhai did not know the reasons for the urgency of the meeting nor did he want to know, all he wanted was to take the earliest flight to meet the PM. The very next day he landed in Delhi and was at Mrs Indira Gandhi’s residence, at 10 Janpath to meet the prime minister. N K P Salve, the then president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), was also asked by the PMO to be present for the meeting. Salve was then a cabinet minister in Mrs Gandhi’s cabinet and was very highly rated by her for his integrity and commitment, both as a Minister and as a lawyer politician. Salve had sounded Mrs Indira Gandhi about his plans for shifting the World Cup Cricket from England to India. 

Mrs Indira Gandhi came straight to the point and asked Dhirubhai Ambani whether he would financially support the initiative of her government to try and bring the Cricket World Cup to India, which to her was a national prestige. Dhirubhai Ambani, having heard the PM, realised that the image and prestige of India were at stake and with no hesitation whatsoever, agreed to bear “all the financial liabilities” associated with the event without even bothering to understand what the financial scope of this commitment was. He nodded in agreement and uttered, “Madam, yes, I would be too happy to give a blank cheque to cover the entire cost of the tournament since it is for a national cause.” Dhirubhai, the grand visionary that he was, had immediately realised that the Indian honour was at stake and for him, this in itself was reason enough to offer a blank cheque to the PM. 

But then what prompted Mrs Gandhi to stake her claim for hosting the 1987 World Cup Cricket in India? Well, it is an interesting story, which began at Lord’s on the 25th of June 1983, the day when Kapil’s men made history. The Indian team - the underdogs in the tournament with a ridiculously low possibility of winning any single match, let alone the tournament, had miraculously reached the finals and were to play the defending champions, the indomitable rampaging West Indies, led by their legendary captain Clive Lloyd at the Lord’s. India had defeated the hosts, England, in the semi-final, to reach the finals. 

N K P Salve, the president of the BCCI, had requested the authorities at Lord’s to provide two tickets for the final, which were meant for Mr. Siddhartha Shankar Ray, the Indian High Commissioner to the US at the time, and his wife Maya. Most shockingly, the authorities at Lord’s had turned down the request of the BCCI president. He was not even provided the priced tickets let alone the complimentary VIP passes to watch the finals. This was too embarrassing even for Salve, an epitome of gentlemanliness. 

The president of the Cricket Board of one of the finalist teams could not offer even two tickets to an Indian ambassador. It was at this instance that Salve, perhaps, decided not to take this insult to his country lying down. As luck would have it, the Indian team won the 1983 Prudential World Cup and Salve lost no time in taking the Indian winning team on their return to New Delhi from Heathrow, to meet the prime minister, Mrs Gandhi and it was during this meeting that Salve narrated about his insult to the PM and expressed his interest to consider hosting the next edition of the world cup in India. Salve also informed the PM about his discussions of a joint bid for hosting this event with Pakistan, which he had with Pakistan's cricketing chief, Air Marshall Noor Khan. 

The political commitment to the game shown by Mrs Gandhi was ably supported by her Pakistani counterpart. With financial and political commitments in place, the ball was set rolling for luring the eight full members and 21 associate members of the ICC to agree to shift the World Cup from England to the Indian subcontinent. Every one of them including the players and cricketing boards was offered such an extraordinary financial allurement that it was just a matter of time before the English opposition was blown away and there was consensus in shifting the next World Cup to India. 

Most unfortunately, when everything had fallen in place, Mrs Gandhi was assassinated in October 1984 and there was huge uncertainty about the continued political and financial commitments. Mr. Rajiv Gandhi succeeded his mother to become the Prime Minister and continued his patronage of the efforts of Mr. NKP Salve and others in hosting the Cricket World Cup in India. Dhirubhai also attached top priority to this task and assigned the work of managing this mega event to his younger son Anil Ambani. Anil Ambani did an admirable job in professionally managing this entire event, including providing more than adequate financial resources for the tournament. NKP Salve was later made the Chairman of the India-Pakistan Joint Managing Committee for the Reliance Cup 1987. The massive success of that tournament saw the World Cup live up to its name as a world event played by teams from all the continents. The Reliance Cup also marked a step in the shifting of the cricket headquarters from Lord's London to Eden Gardens, Kolkata, culminating in the election of Jagmohan Dalmiya as the first Asian president of the ICC and the rest became history. 

The Reliance Cup was a major success with packed crowds thronging large stadiums and playing host to every single match, played in India and Pakistan. Both the host teams, India and Pakistan, performed exceptionally well with impressive performances in the group stage and ended up group toppers and qualified for the semi-finals. India lost in the Semi-finals to England, in a match that was played in Mumbai in front of a massive crowd. Pakistan too lost its semi-final match against Australia and in the finals played in front of a mammoth Eden Garden crowd of more than 100,000, the Australians defeated the English team to begin their dominance over the cricket World Cup. 

Ever since every single ICC World Cup has been a roaring success with a huge audience, mostly Indians, and unprecedented sponsors for whom the ICC World Cup including the T20 World Cup and so also the IPL are extremely important events from the advertising standpoint. 

Today, when we herald the Indian victory over its arch-rival Pakistan in the ICC Champions Trophy, it is time for us to look back and see how both India and Pakistan came together to break the monopoly of England and look forward to how they must come together to solve all their bilateral issues for the larger good of their citizens who are great ambassadors for the game of Cricket. 

On this solemn occasion, while wishing the Indian Cricket team all the very best for winning this coveted trophy, I feel we must remember and credit Mr. NKP Salve, Mrs. Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Anil and Dhirubhai Ambani, Reliance Industries and all other stakeholders including Pakistan who helped India become a global leader in cricket administration. We must also appreciate all these leaders for their extraordinary political and business leadership, shown for the game of Cricket, which to every Indian is nothing short of a religion. Let us also hope that both the Indian and Pakistani leaders make every possible effort to improve their relations not forgetting the famous statement of Atal Bihari Vajpayee who had said Geography can not be changed or altered. 

 Hopefully, our neighbour will realise that harbouring and promoting terror activities against India will only hasten the economic distress that they are passing through and that cooperating with India, the way they did earlier while organising the Reliance World Cup 1987, will help them in not only in improving cricket in Pakistan but also financially and politically.

3 February 2025, 100 Years of Railway Electrification in India: Nehru Science Centre Connection to this Legacy.

 

On 3rd February 1925, the Great Indian Peninsular Railway (GIPR) introduced the first electric locomotive for passenger transport in India, which was flagged off by Sir, Leslie Orme Wilson, the then Bombay Governor, in the presence of his wife and other distinguished invitees. Today, 3 February 2025, we commemorate the centenary of the electric rail transport in India. The train, comprising an electric locomotive and four coaches, ran from Victoria Terminus (now Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, CSMT) to Kurla, marking the beginning of railway electrification in India and laying the foundational stone for the commencement of EMU (Electric Multiple Unit) that are now a household name in the Mumbai suburban rail transportation.

Incidentally one of the first electric locomotives that ran in India during that period is in the collections of the Nehru Science Centre, Mumbai. The Electric Locomotive, shown in the picture, is called the WCP2 class locomotive, as seen from the 20024, loco number, which it sports. It was originally named Sir Roger Lumley. This locomotive was gifted by the Central Railways to the Nehru Science Centre in 1979. This electric locomotive was duly restored along with other locomotives in the collection of the centre during the Covid period.

The 20024 Sir Roger Lumley, locomotive, which stands tall at the Nehru Science Centre, duly conserved to its majestic best, was initially stored at the Kalyan loco shed from where it was shifted to Sion and from there to the Nehru Science Centre. The electric loco shed at Kalyan holds a unique record to its name. It was the first electric loco shed of Indian Railways. The Kalyan electric loco shed was established on 28 November 1928 under the GIPR. The electric loco shed at Kalyan during its journey of the last 97 years has maintained nearly 16 different types of electric locomotives. The loco shed has undertaken a long journey since its formation when it used to maintain electric locomotives EA/1 and EF/1, which had a horsepower of 2160 HP & 2230 HP respectively in 1928 and operated on 1500 Volts DC.

The Sir Roger Lumley electric locomotive in the collection of Nehru Science Centre most likely falls under the category of EA/1, the earliest type of locomotive, and has a horsepower of 2160. This locomotive was supplied by the Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Company and it was intended for high-speed service over the same routes as the freight locomotives. The engine has three pairs of driving wheels, a four-wheel bogie at one end and a pony axle at the other. It had Six 360 horsepower, 750-volt DC driving motors, which are mounted in tandem pairs over the three driving axles, each pair driving through an intermediate gear to a hollow gear wheel surrounding an axle, but carried in journals mounted on the locomotive frame. The form of drive employed gives a relatively high centre of gravity and good balance essential for an easy-riding locomotive at high speeds.

The body of the locomotive contains a driver's cabin at each end, the cabins being connected by a central corridor. Adjoining one of the driving cabs is a compartment containing auxiliary machinery such as vacuum pumps, air reservoirs, brake apparatus, and blowers for main motors. A central compartment contains various cam groups, etc., and a compartment at the other end holds the resistances and unit switches. The apparatus is mounted on frames placed on either side of the central corridor. All live parts are protected by interlocking doors to prevent access while the current is on.

One can see the two pantographs that are prominently visible on top of the locomotive. These two pantographs could be operated from either of the driver's cabins. The pantographs are mounted on a shield plate insulated from the pantographs and also from the main roof. The motor combinations in the locomotive were so arranged as to give one-third speed with all six motors in series, two-thirds speed with two circuits of three motors in series, and full speed with three circuits of two motors in series, all with full field. In addition, a field tapping was also used with any of the three combinations. All these arrangements of the six DC motors gave a power of 2160 HP to the locomotive, enabling the locomotive to be driven with a total of six running speeds. The National Rail Museum in New Delhi also has in its collection one such electric locomotive whose nameplates and number reveal the 20024, a number used during British Era, by the GIPR.

The genesis for the electrification of Indian railways in India began against the backdrop of post-World War I coal shortages and Bombay’s growing suburban traffic. The British-era GIPR, under Chief Electrical Engineer R.P. Smith, spearheaded the electrification project, inspired by Europe’s electrified networks. The initial 16-kilometer route from Bombay VT to Kurla was powered by a 1500V DC overhead system described above.

Mumbai (Bombay then), which boasts of the first electric rail passenger transport in India, incidentally also has the unique distinction of operating the first passenger train services in India. This train service ran from Mumbai (Bombay then) to Thane on April 16, 1853. Mumbai therefore has the rare honour of witnessing the first steam locomotive train service and so also the first electric locomotive train service in India. Incidentally, the rich rail history of the Indian Railways is exemplified by the monumental architectural edifice - the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) building. The CSMT building is individually listed as a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO. This 19th-century majestic building is now the headquarters of the Central Railway. It was formerly known as the Victoria Terminus (VT), in honour of the then-reigning British Queen Victoria, and it continues to be the most famous architectural landmark of Mumbai. The VT building also served as the headquarters of the GIPR, the predecessor of the Indian Railway.

The electric locomotive displayed at Nehru Science Centre has an interesting history of how this massive 112-tonne black beauty engine was transported and housed to Worli. This Sir Roger Lumley 20024 GIPR locomotive was originally stored at the Kalyan loco shed from where it was shifted to Sion and from there to the Nehru Science Centre, Worli. The electric loco shed at Kalyan holds a unique record to its name as the first electric loco shed of Indian Railways. The Kalyan electric loco shed was established on 28 November 1928 under the Great Indian Peninsula Railway (GIPR). The electric loco shed at Kalyan during its journey of the last 97 years has maintained nearly 16 different types of electric locomotives.

The Kalyan locomotive shed has undertaken a long journey since its formation when it used to maintain electric locomotives WPC 2 and WPC 1, EA/1, and EF/1, engines which had a horsepower of 2160 HP & 2230 HP respectively and were operated on 1500 Volts DC. The 20024 GIPR electric locomotive was transported from the Sion railway yard, on that historic night - 13 December 1979, to the Science Park of Nehru Science Centre, Worli. The Times of India, which briefly covered the transport of the engine from Sion to Worli, in its 14th, December 1979 edition quoted ‘A 50-year-old locomotive, stated to be one of the first electric engines in India, will be handed over to the Nehru Science Centre at a ceremony by the Central Railway at 11:00 a.m. on December 14, 1979’. The report added that ‘the locomotive, weighing a massive 100 plus tonnes, was put on a trailer on the night of 13th December, using a very cumbersome and complicated operation of loading the massive engine onto the trolley of the lorry, for road transportation from Sion railway station to the Science Centre.

This historic journey of the massive black locomotive began just after midnight on 13th December from Sion. The electric engine sitting on a special trailer travelled via Bandra, Mahim, and Dadar to reach the Science Centre in Worli on the early morning of 14th December 1979. It travelled through some of the most congested routes in the city. The Times of India report, which quoted Mr. N. R. Naidu, an engineer of the Central Railway, reveals that this electric locomotive was one of the oldest electric railway engines, which was operational in Bombay (Mumbai now). This locomotive after its retirement in the 1960s had been kept at the Kalyan locomotive shed for 15 years and was occasionally used for small jobs, before being gifted to the Nehru Science Centre. The report also adds that the complicated process of the transportation of this engine from Sion station to Nehru Science Centre in Worli was undertaken by a company called National Transport Services and this process was directly overseen by its proprietor Mr. Viay Papriwala. The report also included the name of the driver - Mr Brijal, who drove the trolley to transport the engine from Sion to Worli. The report ends by stating that Mr Papriwala was perhaps the proudest man when the engine reached the Science Centre the next morning on 14th December 1979.

Another report, which covered this historic journey of the black beauty from Sion station to Worli, says that not many people witnessed the transportation of the giant electric engine. It adds ‘Perhaps only a few pavement-dwellers, who were about to retire for the night, witnessed this unusual drama and will remember it in the days to come’. The report says ‘All of a sudden they saw a strange sight in the distance, breaking the silence and emptiness of the area, slowly move past them and gradually fade out of sight: a nearly 100-year-old railway engine, weighing 112 tonnes, on a trailer’. The report adds that a few passing motorists at night were bewildered, amused, and confused when they caught sight of the engine being transported on the trolley.

If the transportation was a challenge so was the preparation that went into loading the locomotive from the Sion Railway shed onto the Lorry. One report which covered the loading of the engine onto the trolley, says ‘Every day, several men, some bare-bodied and some in vests, sweated it out in the hot sun to lift the engine and place it on the trailer’. Very carefully they put “sleepers” below the loco and gradually lifted it with the help of jacks. Each time it moved up, they felt a sense of relief as though the entire job had, at last, been done. They patted each other and sang songs with a feeling of satisfaction. The report adds that ‘hundreds of people watched the drama of the loading of the engine and many of them took photographs”. Several trains passed by and many of them stopped at Sion station but neither the passengers nor the train staff seemed to know what was happening. Even in the neighbouring building, the favourite topic of discussion seemed to have been the mysterious drama of the black engine getting loaded onto the trolley. The loading of the engine onto the trolley took three days and several men worked for more than ten hours a day to complete the task.

One report says that at the end of three days, they saw the fruit of their endless efforts: the engine was firmly placed on the trailer. The report, which covered the loading operation says ‘the workers felt as though they had climbed a peak after several days’. The loading task was quite tedious since it was the first time that such a massive Electric railway engine was to be transported by road. From the Central Railway side, one Mr. N. R. Naidu supervised this operation.

The restored electric locomotive, which was opened on 26 January 2021, is on display at the Nehru Science Centre. It looks majestic and giving it company is another beauty - a narrow-gauge steam engine, which too was restored to its pristine elegance during the COVID period. Mumbaikars can spare some time to see this black beauty Electric Locomotive.

Images : Courtesy Nehru Science Centre and Central Railways

Commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the Election Commission of India and National Voters Day.

 

On this significant day, January 25, 2025, we mark two important milestones: The 75th anniversary of the founding of the Election Commission of India (ECI), which was founded on 25 January 1950 and the 14^th National Voters Day, declared o 25 January 2011, to commemorate the diamond jubilee of the founding of Election of India. These commemorations not only celebrate the rich legacy of the ECI but also highlight the enduring spirit of democracy of India, where every citizen is empowered with the right to vote.

The elections in India, more particularly the parliamentary elections, are considered as the greatest of global spectacle that herald the extraordinary democratic traditions of independent India. Last year 18^th Parliamentary elections were successfully completed by the Election Commission of India which uses technology and faceless hundreds of thousands of foot soldiers of the Election Commission of India who work tirelessly towards making the Himalayan task of conducting elections in India grand success time after time and election after elections. Democracy in India has gained from strength to strength, ever since the foundation of the Election Commission of India, and has made much progress over the decades. When we attained independence and declared ourselves Republic on 26 January 1950, our erstwhile rulers the British and the rest of the world were highly cynical about our survival, let alone our democracy. From the first elections in 1951-52 to the recent 18th parliamentary election in 2024, India has come a long way and our democracy has grown from strength and the world now treats Indian democracy as a triumphant role model. As we cherish the much lauded Indian Democracy, which we cherish so dearly, today is a special day for us to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Election Commission of India, which helps us in conducting free and fair elections in India. 

The Founding of the Election Commission

The Election Commission of India was established on January 25, 1950, a day before India formally became a Republic – 26 January 1950). This autonomous constitutional authority was tasked with overseeing free and fair elections, a cornerstone of democracy. As the guardian of the electoral process, the ECI has upheld the principle of universal adult suffrage, ensuring that every eligible Indian, irrespective of caste, creed, gender, or economic status, has a voice in shaping the nation’s future.

Central to the beauty and vibrancy of the Indian democracy are the Indian electorates - the rich and mighty, the powerful and powerless, the poor and the insignificant, the lettered and unlettered, sheltered and unsheltered, the males, females and the transgender’s, the believers and non-believers, Hindus, Muslims, Parsis, Sikhs, Christians, Jains, Buddhists, religious and non-religious, young, middle aged, old and the very old - all standing as equals, each rubbing shoulders with one another, in the true spirit of equality and humanity first, who make our democracy thrive by using the universal adult suffrage, which we enjoy by virtue of our Constitution.

 The first Chief Election Commissioner of India, Sukumar Sen, was a visionary who played a pivotal role in conducting India’s first general election in 1951-52. This was a Herculean task, given the scale, diversity, and logistical challenges that ECI faced. With over 173 million voters, of whom a significant majority were illiterate, the first election was a testament to the ECI’s commitment to inclusivity and innovation.

One can appreciate the magnitude of the challenge that the Election Commission of India and the founder Chief Election Commissioner, Mr Sukumar Sen, faced when they had to undertake this mission in a country which was left behind in dire straits - as articulated by Shashi Tharoor in his book, Era of Darkness: The British Empire in India –  after centuries of colonial rule and exploitation by the British. Therefore, it was no wonder that there was no optimism in the future for Indian democracy when we attained independence.   

What the odds were for Election Commission of India for making India succeed as a thriving democracy, when we attained independence, can best be seen when we juxtapose Indian democracy as a start-up company in 1947 and the Election Commission as its CEO. Not even the most adventurous and risk taking venture capitalists would have considered investing in the Indian democracy and the ECI. More so since there were many dooms day predictions made by the British, an evidence of which can be best seen from the last British commander in chief of the Indian Army, Gen. Claude Auchinleck. He wrote “The Sikhs may try to set up a separate regime. I think they probably will and that will be only a start of a general decentralization and break-up of the idea that India is a country, whereas it is a subcontinent as varied as Europe. The Punjabi is as different from a Madrassi as a Scot is from an Italian. The British tried to consolidate it but achieved nothing permanent. No one can make a nation out of a continent of many nations.”

Gen. Claude Auchinleck was not the sole voice to make such dooms day prediction for Indian democracy. Dooms day predictions for India and Indian democracy were dime a dozen in the early years of independence. India could not survive as a single nation, was one common observations by most western observers, let alone becoming a successful democracy. One of the former British official, who witnessed the first general elections in India in 1952 wrote “a future and more enlightened age will view with astonishment the absurd farce of recording the votes of millions of illiterate people.” From such negativity and dooms day predictions, Indian democracy has passed through periods of trials and tribulations to emerge triumphant and today when India is commemorating the Platinum Jubilee of the Election Commission of India and the fifteenth National Voters Day, while commending the ECI and patting us – the electorates - on our back, we must resolve to place on records our profound appreciation to the ECI, and all the former Election Commissioners and innumerable other stakeholders who have helped in the thriving of our democracy. We must also spread the message of the importance of voting in a democracy and each of us must go out to exercise our democratic rights without fear or favour.

The First General Election: A Monumental Feat.

India's first general election was held in an era devoid of modern technology and infrastructure. Voter education was critical, as millions of Indians were not only uneducated but were unfamiliar with the democratic process. Symbols were introduced to represent political parties, making it easier for illiterate voters to identify their preferred candidates. The election was conducted in phases, ensuring every Indian had the opportunity to participate. More importantly Godrej company was selected to manufacture special ballot boxes, which had to be safe and secure. The process of manufacturing such huge number of ballet boxes was in itself a herculean task and the Indian industry – Godrej – lived up to its expectations and they worked full steam 24x7 converting their entire facilities in Vikhroli to manufacture the required ballot boxes. Every aspect of the fist election in 1951-52 was heralded as some kind of a miracle made possible by innumerable stakeholders led by the Election Commission of India.  

The success of the first general election, with innumerable handicaps, laid the foundation for a robust electoral framework, inspiring confidence in India's democratic institutions, particularly the ECI.

 Seventy-Five Years of Electoral Excellence

Over the past seven decades, the Election Commission has conducted 18 Lok Sabha elections, innumerable State Legislative Assemblies – which also includes the forthcoming Delhi elections -  and elections for the office of the President and Vice President, among others. ECI has introduced technological advancements like Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs), ensuring transparency and efficiency. Despite occasional allegations and challenges posed by political parties, the ECI has remained steadfast in its impartiality and integrity. It has successfully upheld the democratic fabric of the nation, conducting elections in the world's largest democracy with precision and fairness. Notwithstanding several vituperative attacks from political parties and others making countless allegations against the ECI and its heads, the ECI and the heads of ECI (Election Commissioners) have all done a remarkable job of making the Indian democracy thrive and be an exemplar to the world. 

Although there have been several unheralded heads of the ECI – The CEC and Election Commissioners – one of the names stand out besides the founder Election Commissioner, Mr Sukumar Das and that is TN Seshan.

Transformative Leadership of T.N. Seshan

One of the most transformative chapters in the history of the ECI was under the leadership of T.N. Seshan. Appointed as the Chief Election Commissioner in 1990, Seshan revolutionized the electoral process, emphasizing the need for free and fair elections. He introduced strict measures to curb malpractices, enforced the Model Code of Conduct rigorously, and empowered the ECI to act decisively against electoral corruption.

Seshan’s legacy continues to inspire confidence in the ECI’s commitment to democracy. You can read more about his impact on my blog post tribute which I had paid to T.N. Seshan

https://khened.blogspot.com/2020/11/remembering-t-n-seshan-on-his-first.html 

National Voters Day: A Celebration of Democracy

The Government of India declared January 25 as National Voters Day in 2011 to commemorate the ECI’s foundation and encourage greater voter participation. The day serves as a reminder of the power of the ballot and the responsibility of every citizen to exercise their franchise. It is a celebration of the inclusivity that defines Indian democracy, where the principle of “one person, one vote” empowers over 900 million plus voters today.

India’s Unique Electoral System

India's democratic process is unparalleled, given its size, diversity, and complexity. The ECI ensures that every eligible citizen, from the remotest villages to bustling metropolises, has an equal say in shaping the country’s destiny. It is a testament to the resilience of Indian democracy that elections are conducted peacefully, even in challenging circumstances, reaffirming faith in the electoral process.

 Conclusion

As we celebrate 75 years of the Election Commission of India, let us reflect on the journey of this institution, which has steadfastly upheld the democratic ideals of the Constitution. The ECI’s commitment to impartiality, innovation, and inclusivity has ensured that the voice of every Indian is heard.

On this National Voters Day, let us pledge to uphold the spirit of democracy by participating actively in elections and encouraging others to do the same. The legacy of the Election Commission reminds us that democracy thrives not just on the strength of its institutions but also on the active engagement of its citizens.

India’s democracy is vibrant, resilient, and inclusive, and the Election Commission of India stands as its unwavering custodian, let us hold this institution reverentially, and overlook some odd aberration failures of the institution.

Jai Hind

  

Parakram Diwas - Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Jayanti

Today, 23rd January 2025, marks the 128th birth anniversary of  Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose who was born on 23rd January 1897 in Cuttack, Orissa to the illustrious parents - an affluent and successful lawyer Janakinath Bose, and Prabhavati Devi, daughter of Anandamohan Bosu, a prominent businessman in Cuttack. During the 125th birth anniversary, while commemorating the Janma Jayanti of Netaji, Shri Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India

Declared Netaji Jayanti to be commemorated as Parakram Diwas – in recognition of the quintessential Parakram attributes of Netaji and his extraordinary daring pursuits for the freedom of our nation. The PM has also unveiled a hologram statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose at the India Gate, which has subsequently been befittingly replaced with a permanent granite massive statue of Netaji, which stands tall today as a symbol of India’s indebtedness to Netaji.

 Interestingly, the giant black granite statue of Netaji installed at the India Gate was sculpted by Arun Yogiraj, the sculptor who has also sculpted the Ram Lalla idol, which was consecrated with the Pran Pratishtha Ceremony, by the honourable Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, at Ayodhya on 22^nd January 2024. Arun Yogi Raj, belongs to a family of five generations of sculptors. He was chosen to sculpt the idol of Ram Lalla, in Ayodhya, primarily because of the highly appreciated sculpting capability that he had demonstrated in sculpting the 30 feet statue of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose installed in the canopy behind the Amar Jawan Jyoti at the India Gate in New Delhi.

The statue of Netaji, standing majestically tall, commemorates the pivotal role played by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, one of the most iconic and influential leaders, who played a significant role in the Indian freedom struggle. Netaji’s role and his militaristic approach in attaining independence for India though were diametrically opposite to the Gandhian way, it must be recognised that this was one of the prime reasons for India gaining independence from British Rule. Netaji’s granite statue at the India Gate will remind us all - fellow Indians – to remember his contributions to the Indian Independence struggle, which will be etched in the annals of Indian history.

It was providential that Arun Yogi Raj who was chosen to sculpt the historic statue of Netaji for commissioning at the India Gate was commissioned to sculpt the Ram Lalla idol. It appears that Yogi Raj, the sculptor hailing from Karnataka, has been gifted with this god-gifted artistic sculpting talent from the legendary sculptor of ancient times, Jakanachari, who hails from Karnataka. The legend of Jakanachari - who is aptly given the epithet “Amara Shilpi” - as a sculptor par excellence is larger than life, which is evidenced in several temples with fine sculptures seen in the temples of the Kalyani Chalukyas and Hoysalas.

The grand statue of Netaji, carved by Yogi Raj stands tall in the Indian Gate Canopy, which has been carved from a monolithic block of granite that weighed around 280 MT. Several craftsmen and artists, under the leadership of Yogi Raj, have worked with passion putting in “26,000-man hours of intense artistic endeavour” in chiselling to produce the statue of Netaji, which weighs around 65 MT. True to the age-old Indian traditions of crafting and sculpting the best of statues by sculptors like Jakanachari, the statue of Netaji has been completely hand-sculpted using traditional techniques with modern tools.

Today as we celebrate the 128th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, we must bow down in reverence to this great son of India who sacrificed what would have been a lucrative ICS career, in service of our motherland. All through his life, Netaji dreamt nothing but freedom for the nation, and in the process, he may have chosen a path, that may not appear to be the right way for some, but then it must be remembered that his aim was solely to get independence for India from the colonial rule of the monster rulers – the British - at any cost and that too for the Akhand Bharat and not the India that we now recognise. It is from this position that we must recognise his path of divergence from Gandhi. It is this path for freedom for India that manifested in the formation of the Azad Hind Force, aligning with Japan to confront the British. Bose's commitment to an unfocused objective of India's freedom demonstrated his unyielding spirit and perhaps it is the fear of this spirit that helped in India get the freedom.

On this occasion it is apt to recall that historic speech of Netaji, where he spoke those immemorable words ' Give me your blood, I will give you freedom' and motivated thousands of his fellow countrymen - the Indian National Army. Netaji’s appeal motivated thousands of his fellow countrymen, the Indian National Army, to fight selflessly for Indian freedom, most unfortunately the INA and the people who fought under its banner, get only a footnote mention while speaking of our struggle for independence. History and as a corollary all of us have been unfair to Subhash Chandra Bose and his men, but then fortunately, though late, his statue standing tall on the ramparts of the Kartavya Path has made amends and etched his contributions in the annals of Indian history and ensured that he and his extraordinary unsung heroes - his fellow INA members and the Azad Hind Force - continue to be remembered and revered by this indebted nation, even as Bose's controversial death in an air crash adds intrigue to his legacy. The circumstances surrounding his death continue to be a subject of debate and scrutiny. As the narrative evolves, there's a growing acknowledgment of the need to delve deeper into Bose's life, acknowledging both his extraordinary contributions and the mysteries surrounding his demise.

Here are some highlights of contributions by Netaji.

Netaji formed the Forward Bloc, on 3rd May 1939, in Makur, Unnao, after parting ways with the Congress. He resigned from the presidency of the Indian National Congress on 29 April after being outmaneuvered by those who were inimical to the growing stature of Netaji in Congress. His main focus was advocating for a more aggressive approach toward attaining independence. This marked a pivotal moment in his quest for a stronger, united India.

He established the Azad Hind Radio, which he used effectively to broadcast messages of inspiration and motivation to the Indian masses, fostering a sense of unity and determination during the freedom struggle.

He founded the Indian National Army (INA) in 1942. This was one of his most significant contributions and his army contingent comprised of Indian prisoners of war and civilians. INA played a crucial role in challenging British rule, particularly in the context of the Burma Campaign. Unfortunately, due to politics, the contributions of the INA and how it helped expedite India's attaining freedom from the British have been completely overlooked at worst and brushed under the carpet at worst.

Netaji proclaimed the establishment of the Azad Hind Government in Singapore in 1943, reflecting his commitment to providing an alternative administrative structure for a free India. He visited the South Andaman district in 1943. On December 30th, 1943, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, the Supreme Commander of the Azad Hind, created a historic moment by hoisting the Indian National Flag for the first time on the soil of Port Blair 

Under Bose's leadership, the INA participated in the Battle of Imphal in 1944, a significant military engagement against the British forces. Though the INA ultimately withdrew, the battle demonstrated the strength and determination of Bose's forces.

Netaji established the Rani of Jhansi Regiment, an all-women combat unit within the INA, challenging traditional gender roles and showcasing his progressive vision for an independent India.

He actively sought international support for India's cause, forging alliances with countries like Germany and Japan. His diplomatic efforts aimed to garner backing for the Indian independence movement on the global stage.

Images: Courtesy Wikipedia

Long live Netaji and his INA compatriots in the hearts and minds of Indians.