DAILY NEWS ANALYSIS

• The Delhi Legislative Assembly recently held a two-day conference titled ‘Vithalbhai Patel: His Role in Shaping India's Constitution and Legislative Institutions’ in New Delhi.

• The conference highlighted Vithalbhai Patel’s contributions to India’s constitutional and legislative framework.

About Vithalbhai Patel

• Born: 27 September 1873

• Relation: Elder brother of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

• Political Career:

  • Early political leader and co-founder of the Swaraj Party along with Chittaranjan Das and Motilal Nehru.

  • Entered politics before his younger brother Vallabhbhai Patel.

  • Initially part of the Indian National Congress, though he wasn’t always aligned with Gandhi’s methods.

  • Won a seat in the Bombay Legislative Council with support from followers.

  • After the Chauri Chaura incident and the end of the Non-cooperation Movement in 1922, he left Congress to form the Swaraj Party.

  • The Swaraj Party aimed to enter legislative councils and disrupt British governance from within.

  • Known for his oratory skills and sharp wit, gaining popularity among the masses.

  • Elected to the Central Legislative Assembly in 1923 and became its President (Speaker) in 1925 — the first Indian to hold this position.

• Legacy:

  • He drew international attention to India’s independence movement, lighting the flame of freedom both domestically and abroad.

• Death: Died on 22 October 1933 in Geneva, Switzerland.

Latest News

• A 12-year-old girl with Bloom Syndrome recently underwent a bone marrow transplant using stem cells from her younger brother at a private hospital in Chennai.

• This treatment aims to address some of the complications associated with the disorder.

About Bloom Syndrome (BSyn)

• Definition: A rare genetic disorder caused by mutations in the BLM gene, which codes for a protein crucial for DNA structure maintenance and repair.

• Impact of Mutation: The defective BLM gene results in impaired DNA repair, causing abnormal cell growth and increased vulnerability to infections and cancers.

Causes & Inheritance

• Inheritance Pattern: Autosomal recessive — the disorder manifests only when a child inherits two mutated copies of the BLM gene, one from each parent.

• Prevalence: More common among the Eastern European (Ashkenazi) Jewish population.

Symptoms

• Growth Delay: Poor fetal and postnatal growth, below-average height and head size.

• Physical Features: Narrowing of the head and face, prominent ears and nose, long limbs, and high-pitched voice.

• Skin Issues: Sun sensitivity causing red rashes (photosensitivity).

• Metabolic Problems: Insulin resistance leading to diabetes risk.

• Immune Deficiency: Greater susceptibility to infections (ear, lung infections, COPD).

• Reproductive Issues: Male sterility and female infertility in adults.

• Cancer Risk: Increased risk of developing various cancers at a young age.

Treatment

• There is no specific cure for Bloom Syndrome.

• Management involves a multi-disciplinary approach focusing on symptom relief and prevention of complications like infections and cancers.

• Recent advances like bone marrow transplantation are being explored to improve patient outcomes.

Latest News

• DRDO successfully conducted first flight tests of the Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS), a multi-layered air defence system designed to protect Indian armed forces from aerial threats.

About Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS)

• Purpose: Multi-layered defence to protect against aerial attacks, combining missile and directed energy technologies.

• Components:

  1. Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missiles (QRSAM) – Developed by DRDO

  2. Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) – Developed by Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad

  3. Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) – Laser-based system developed by Centre for High Energy Systems and Sciences (CHESS), Hyderabad

• Control: Centralised Command and Control Centre developed by Defence Research and Development Laboratory, Hyderabad.

Components in Detail

• QRSAM:

  • Short-range Surface to Air Missile system.

  • Designed to shield moving Army armored columns from enemy air attacks.

  • Highly mobile, with search-and-track capabilities while on the move.

  • Range: 3 to 30 kilometers.

  • Equipped with two radars (Battery Surveillance Radar & Battery Multifunction Radar) offering 360-degree coverage.

• VSHORADS:

  • Fourth-generation, miniaturized Man Portable Air Defence System (MANPAD).

  • Usable by Army, Navy, and Air Force.

• Directed Energy Weapon (DEW):

  • Laser-based weapon system with a range of less than 3 kilometers.

  • Recently demonstrated successfully by CHESS.

  • Effective against fixed-wing UAVs and swarm drones by damaging their structure and disabling sensors.

  • Puts India among a select group of nations possessing such advanced DEW technology.

Introduction

India recently commemorated the centenary of the historic conversation between Sree Narayana Guru and Mahatma Gandhi, organized by the Sree Narayana Dharma Sanghom Trust. The discussion took place at Sivagiri Mutt, Kerala, on 12 March 1925, during Gandhi’s visit. The dialogue revolved around key social issues like the Vaikom Satyagraha, religious conversions, non-violence, abolition of untouchability, attainment of salvation, and the upliftment of the downtrodden.

About Sree Narayana Guru (1856–1928)

• Born in Chembazhanthi, near Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

• Founded the Shree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP) in 1903 to promote social reform.

• Focused on eradicating social and educational backwardness among the Ezhava community and other marginalized groups.

• Authored important Advaita Vedanta texts like Nivritti Panchakam and Atmopadesa Satakam.

• In 1888, consecrated a Shiva Linga at Aruvippuram, breaking caste-based restrictions on religious worship.

Views of Sree Narayana Guru and Mahatma Gandhi on Various Aspects

Conclusion

Sree Narayana Guru’s vision of social equality and spiritual humanism remains profoundly relevant today. His teachings inspire inclusive policies for gender empowerment, caste inclusion, and environmental care, guiding India toward a just, harmonious, and sustainable society rooted in dignity and respect.

Meanwhile, Mahatma Gandhi’s approach combining non-violence, religious pluralism, and social reform continues to influence India’s moral and political ethos. Together, their values offer a holistic framework for social transformation and spiritual growth.

Introduction

In the mid-1960s, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya introduced Ekatma Manav Darshan or Integral Humanism as an indigenous ideological framework to guide India’s post-independence development. Amidst the challenges of the modern world, this philosophy emphasizes human dignity, harmony, and solidarity as the foundation for building an equitable and prosperous society.

About Integral Humanism Philosophy

• Aim: To ensure a dignified life for every human being by balancing the needs of the individual and society.

• It integrates the spiritual, social, and economic aspects of human life to create a harmonious society.

• Central to this philosophy are the Purusharthas—the four cardinal goals of human life:

  • Dharma (righteousness)

  • Artha (wealth/prosperity)

  • Kama (pleasure/desire)

  • Moksha (liberation)

• The doctrine emerged as a uniquely Indian alternative to Western ideologies, rejecting both excessive capitalist individualism and rigid Marxist socialism.

• Three foundational principles of Integral Humanism:

  • Primacy of the whole, not the part — Emphasizes holistic development over fragmented approaches.

  • Supremacy of Dharma — Moral and ethical values are supreme.

  • Autonomy of society — Societal units must have self-governance and freedom to manage their affairs.

Core Tenets of Integral Humanism in Contemporary Times

• Cultural Nationalism (Bharatiyata): Development must respect and incorporate indigenous knowledge, traditions, and lifestyles alongside modern advancements.

• Social Integration and Harmony: Calls for the eradication of caste discrimination and strives to build a society rooted in equality and justice.

• Antyodaya (Upliftment of the Last Person): Economic policies should prioritize uplifting the poorest sections before focusing on industrial or urban growth.

  • This aligns with Upadhyaya’s vision of ‘education for all’ and ‘har hath ko kam, har khet ko pani’, culminating in the idea of Economic Democracy.

• Ethical Governance: The ideal Model State (Dharma Rajya) is governed by righteousness, moral values, and transparency, beyond merely protecting religious freedom.

• Decentralization: Advocates for a self-reliant, village-based economy where communities control their development based on local needs and resources.

About Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya (1916–1968)

• An Indian philosopher, economist, sociologist, historian, and political activist.

• Born in Mathura District, Uttar Pradesh.

• Became President of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh in 1967.

• Authored works including Samrat Chandragupt, Jagatguru Shankaracharya, and Political Diary.

• Edited the weekly Panchajanya and the daily Swadesh.

• His philosophy shares similarities with Gandhi’s ideals of Sarvodaya (welfare of all), Gram Swaraj (village self-rule), and opposition to untouchability and social injustice.