With H.H. Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji at Parmarth Niketan Ashram Rishikesh, Uttarakhand,India. Regi Thomas also in picture

Dr. Balwant Singh Dhillon, Director, Centre for Studies on Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar honored by Dr. Abraham Karickom,URI- Executive Secretary of Asia Region.
URI Opening session at Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar Punjab,India —

Once Upon a Time a Ganga used to Flow This Way

My presentation at the URI National Assembly at Amritsar was on Environment and I said Ganga can dry up one day if Global warming is unchecked. After the Assembly I went with Regi Thomas to Rishikesh to see Parmath Niketan Ashram and meet Mata Adityanandaji ( Lakshmi Saraswathi), who is a GC Trustee of URI. Mataji has dedicated her life for the Clean Ganga, Save Ganga project. I asked her about the dried up river which we crossed on our way to the Ashram and she said that the river Ganges used to flow that way once upon a time. It changed its course at some point of time. We travelled up to the Mussorie Hills after Dehra Doon on our way back to Delhi and the same dried up Ganga was seen from various angles from the mountain ranges.

It is really heart- renting to see the ghost of a river like this. If this is the fate of the Ganges, what will happen to the other unlucky rivers around the world? We saw the "Ganga Arathi" at Parmath Ashram, which is a daily pooja, which lasts for an hour. This is a magnificent sight and an exciting experience. Prince Charles from England came here once to participate in this Ganga Prayer ceremony. Will the Ganges exist for ever to accept these prayers always?

When Mataji spoke at Santa Clara about the Save Ganga projects, we could not grasp its urgency and significance. Now that I was able to see the desertification process personally at the foothills of the Himalayas, I am thunderstruck. We have no time to waste to strive for the " healing of the Earth and all living beings".

Abraham Karickam

ISRO Chosen for Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on 19 November 2014 was chosen for the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development for 2014.

• The award jury, chaired by Vice President Hamid Ansari.
• The Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development is awarded to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in recognition of its path-breaking achievement, culminating in the Mars orbiter mission, its significant contribution in strengthening international cooperation in peaceful use of outer space.
• Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development was instituted in 1986 by Indira Gandhi Trust. It is the prestigious award accorded annually by India to individuals or organizations in recognition of creative efforts towards promoting international peace, development and a new international economic order.
• The Indian Space Research Organization established in 1969.

Kerala has become the first state in the country with bank accounts for all families

Kerala has become the first state in the country with bank accounts for all families under Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojna (PMJDY). A formal declaration to this effect was made by Kerala Finance Minister KM Mani at the State-Level Bankers’ Committee (SLBC) meeting in Thiruvananthapuram on 11 November 2014.

• Under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, which was launched on Independence day in 2015, banks in Kerala opened around 13 lakh new accounts.
• At present, Kerala have Financial Literacy Centres in all the 152 blocks of Kerala has helped it to achieve the target of PMJDY ahead of schedule. 5.25 lakh rupees debit cards have been issued by all banks.
• Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana s an ambitious scheme for comprehensive financial inclusion launched by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi on 28 August 2014.
• Run by Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, on the inauguration day, 1.5 Crore (15 million) bank accounts were opened under this scheme.

Jnanpith award conferred on Hindi poet Kedarnath Singh

President Pranab Mukherjee on 10 November 2014 conferred Jnanpith award on eminent Hindi poet Kedarnath Singh for his outstanding contribution towards Indian literature. 

• The function held at Balyogi Auditorium, Parliament Library Building in New Delhi.
• Kedarnath Singh was conferred with the country's highest literary award for his outstanding contribution towards Indian literature
• He is the 10th Hindi writer to receive the award.

KIPS Team that won the KISA Cluster Inter-school Foot Ball tournament

 KIPS Captain receiving the KISA Cluster Inter-school Foot Ball Trophy

KIPS Basket Ball Team at St. Mary's School

 Robin Mathew receiving trophy after winning Inter-school Basket Ball Tournament at St. Mary's School, Mulakkuzha