Today's Brief 27/07/2025

1 .Rajendra Chola-I :

General Studies Paper-I (Mains) - Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society

who reigned from 1014 to 1044 CE, was a formidable emperor of the Chola dynasty, renowned for his extensive military conquests and significant contributions to art and architecture.

He famously earned the title "Gangaikonda Cholan" (Conqueror of the Ganges) after his successful expedition to the Gangetic plains in North India around 1023 CE, where he defeated the Pala dynasty and brought back sacred water from the Ganges River.

Beyond his northern campaigns, Rajendra Chola I was a powerful maritime ruler, leading a historic naval expedition in 1025 CE against the Srivijaya empire in Southeast Asia, thereby securing crucial trade routes and expanding Chola influence across the Indian Ocean.

To commemorate his grand victory over the Ganges, Rajendra Chola I established a new imperial capital, Gangaikonda Cholapuram ("The City of the Chola Who Conquered the Ganges"), and commissioned the construction of the magnificent Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple, also known as the Brihadeeswarar Temple.

Completed around 1035 CE, this Shiva temple stands as a testament to the zenith of Chola architecture, featuring a towering vimana (temple tower) that, while slightly shorter than his father's temple in Thanjavur, is celebrated for its elegant, curvilinear form and intricate sculptures.

Adorned with exquisite carvings depicting various deities and mythological scenes, the temple, along with its massive Nandi bull statue and a grand Shiva Lingam, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognized as one of the "Great Living Chola Temples" and embodying the Chola empire's power, wealth, and profound artistic heritage.

2 .World Mangrove Day, officially known as the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem, is celebrated annually on July 26th. It was designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2015 to raise global awareness about the critical importance of mangrove ecosystems and to promote their conservation. 

The day also serves to commemorate the memory of Guillermo Cano Isaza, a Greenpeace activist from Ecuador who died while protesting to protect mangrove wetlands. 

Mangroves are a unique and vital type of coastal forest that thrives in saline or brackish water, acting as natural "bio-shields" against coastal erosion, storm surges, and tsunamis. 

Their intricate root systems serve as nurseries for a diverse array of marine life, supporting biodiversity and the livelihoods of millions of coastal communities through fishing and other sustainable practices. 

Furthermore, mangroves are exceptionally effective "blue carbon" ecosystems, storing vast amounts of carbon dioxide in their soil, which makes them a crucial tool in the global fight against climate change.

 Despite their immense value, these ecosystems are disappearing at an alarming rate due to coastal development, pollution, and unsustainable aquaculture, making World Mangrove Day a crucial occasion to mobilize efforts and advocate for their protection and restoration.

3 .The Maldives,

General Studies Paper-I (Mains) - Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society

an archipelago of 1,192 coral islands in the Indian Ocean, is the smallest Asian country by both land area (298 sq km) and population (~520,000). Renowned for its pristine beaches, luxury resorts, and vibrant marine life, the nation is organized into 26 atolls, with only 187 inhabited islands.

Its capital, Malé, is one of the world’s most densely populated cities, packed into just 8 square kilometers.

Geographically, the Maldives holds the distinction of being the planet’s lowest-lying country, with an average elevation of just 1–1.5 meters above sea level, making it acutely vulnerable to climate change and rising ocean levels a key concern for its future sustainability.

Historically, the Maldives was settled by Buddhist seafarers around 500 BCE before converting to Islam in the 12th century under Arab influence. It became a British protectorate in 1887 but retained self-governance until gaining full independence in 1965.

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