FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK: EARTH DAY - EARTH DAY IN 2022 - DATE, SIGNIFICANCE, FUN FACTS, ACTIVITY IDEAS AND QUOTES - Earth Day is widely recognized and celebrated every year on April 22, as the largest secular observance in the world, marked by more than a billion people every year as a day of action to change human behavior and provoke policy changes; INCREDIBLE INDIA: VICTORIA MEMORIAL, KOLKATA, WEST BENGAL, INDIA - The Victoria Memorial, one of the top historical places in Kolkata, is the brainchild of Lord Curzon, a Viceroy of India.

FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK: EARTH DAY - EARTH DAY IN 2022 - DATE, SIGNIFICANCE, FUN FACTS, ACTIVITY IDEAS AND QUOTES - Earth Day is widely recognized and celebrated every year on April 22, as the largest secular observance in the world, marked by more than a billion people every year as a day of action to change human behavior and provoke policy changes; INCREDIBLE INDIA: VICTORIA MEMORIAL, KOLKATA, WEST BENGAL, INDIA - The Victoria Memorial, one of the top historical places in Kolkata, is the brainchild of Lord Curzon, a Viceroy of India.

FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK: AGASTHYA - THE HINDU SAGE WHO DRANK THE OCEANS - According to Tamil tradition Agasthya was instrumental in the creation of Tamil language and literature. He is believed to be still dwelling on the mountain Agasthyamalai. Agasthya is also identified with the star Canopus which is the brightest star in the south Indian sky. He is worshipped as a deity in some temples of South India; PEACE IS THE EVENING STAR OF THE SOUL: DISCOVER PEACE OF MIND THROUGH POSITIVE MINDSET - Eternal happiness resides in peace. The desire for peace should be the way to happiness.

FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK: AGASTHYA - THE HINDU SAGE WHO DRANK THE OCEANS - According to Tamil tradition Agasthya was instrumental in the creation of Tamil language and literature. He is believed to be still dwelling on the mountain Agasthyamalai. Agasthya is also identified with the star Canopus which is the brightest star in the south Indian sky. He is worshipped as a deity in some temples of South India; PEACE IS THE EVENING STAR OF THE SOUL: DISCOVER PEACE OF MIND THROUGH POSITIVE MINDSET - Eternal happiness resides in peace. The desire for peace should be the way to happiness.

Lonely Planet’s India is your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. Explore the magnificent monument to love that is the Taj Mahal, climb into the high Himalaya and Ladakh’s moonscapes, and experience the dramatic rock-cut grottoes in the caves of Ajanta; all with your trusted travel companion. Get to the heart of India and begin your journey now! Inside Lonely Planet’s India Travel Guide: Up-to-date information - all businesses were rechecked before publication to ensure they are still open after 2020’s COVID-19 outbreak Top experiences feature - a visually inspiring collection of India’s best experiences and where to have them What's new feature taps into cultural trends and helps you find fresh ideas and cool new areas Pull-out, passport-size 'Just Landed' card with wi-fi, ATM and transport info - all you need for a smooth journey from airport to hotel Planning tools for family travellers - where to go, how to save money, plus fun stuff just for kids Colour maps and images throughout Highlights and itineraries help you tailor your trip to your personal needs and interests Insider tips to save time and money and get around like a local, avoiding crowds and trouble spots Essential info at your fingertips - hours of operation, websites, transit tips, prices Honest reviews for all budgets - eating, sleeping, sightseeing, going out, shopping, hidden gems that most guidebooks miss Cultural insights give you a richer, more rewarding travel experience - history, people, music, landscapes, wildlife, cuisine, politics Over 200 maps Covers Delhi, Rajasthan, Punjab, Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, Kolkata, West Bengal, Sikkim, Northeast States, Gujarat, Odisha, Mumbai, Goa, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Tamil Nadu The Perfect Choice: Lonely Planet’s India, our most comprehensive guide to India, is perfect for both exploring top sights and taking roads less travelled. Looking for just the highlights? Check out Best of India, a handy-sized guide focused on the can't-miss sights for a quick trip. About Lonely Planet: Lonely Planet is a leading travel media company, providing both inspiring and trustworthy information for every kind of traveller since 1973. Over the past four decades, we've printed over 145 million guidebooks and phrasebooks for 120 languages, and grown a dedicated, passionate global community of travellers. You'll also find our content online, and in mobile apps, videos, 14 languages, armchair and lifestyle books, ebooks, and more, enabling you to explore every day. 'Lonely Planet guides are, quite simply, like no other.' – New York Times 'Lonely Planet. It's on everyone's bookshelves; it's in every traveller's hands. It's on mobile phones. It's on the Internet. It's everywhere, and it's telling entire generations of people how to travel the world.' – Fairfax Media (Australia)

Using microdata from nationally representative household and labor force surveys, we study the impact and drivers of poverty and inequality in India during the pandemic. We have three main findings. First, India has made significant progress in reducing poverty in recent decades, but the economic downturn associated with the COVID-19 pandemic is estimated to have temporarily increased poverty and inequality. Second, education and employment status seem to be the main factors associated with poverty and income/consumption changes. Finally, the government’s expansion of food subsidies has likely played a significant role in mitigating the increase in poverty during the pandemic.

This book deals with the various interdisciplinary issues of the Indian Ocean, individually and collectively, such as its history, geography, nautical elements, economics, trade routes (old and new), blue economy, deep-sea mining, fisheries management, tourism, scourge of piracy, pollution, Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982), and the different perspectives of its littoral countries on geopolitics, international law, international relations and maritime partnerships. It is the most important ocean in the world – 33% of the global population lives in the area and 50-60% of the world’s maritime trade transits through it. In addition, around 60% of global oil, and 26% of global gas reserves, along with pristine beaches are located here. To comprehend the interdisciplinary issues, the editor embarked on a voyage to discover, persuade and collaborate with exceptionally brilliant, influential experts from prominent littoral countries – India, Indonesia, Iran, South Africa, Malaysia and Singapore – with relevant experience to expound the above subject areas. In addition, geopolitical conflicts/hostilities and trade wars are on the rise; war seems inevitable but not imminent. Any conflict is likely to originate in other oceans and seas but will end up impacting the Indian Ocean’s littoral countries. Accordingly, these countries must comprehend the interdisciplinary issues and the special role of the Indian Ocean to prevent all-encompassing wars/hostilities from widening at a global level and thereafter must flesh out plans to shield themselves. They must also understand the area’s role in working towards global peace by comprehending the above interdisciplinary issues. The role of the Indian Ocean in global peace can only be achieved through maritime partnerships between its littoral countries, and their avoidance of impulses to invite outside power(s) to balance each other’s power. However, maritime partnerships are easier said than done. At the very least, the maritime partnership between two major Indian Ocean littoral powers – India and Indonesia – is critical to shield the region from geopolitical firestorms. Hopefully, this maritime partnership’s tactic of embracing a carrot-and-stick approach will eventually persuade global powers from outside the Indian Ocean region to improve their conduct to achieve global peace.

Dr. Umesh Chandra Samanta (1880-1934) was the founder of the Samanta family. In the present days, the family is spread all over the world. The book has been written by one of the family’s descendant, Arjya Sarkar. Dr. Umesh Chandra Samanta was a renowned doctor and social reformer of the early 20th century. Dr. Umesh Chandra Samanta, although was born in a small poor family became famous for his social activities and acquired great fame as a doctor. He and his family is often regarded for their numerous charitable work in the society and their contribution to the freedom struggle of India. The book describes the rise of Dr. Umesh Chandra Samanta and the story of his family after his death. Most of the descendants of Dr. Umesh Chandra Samanta are associated with charitable works throughout the world. The book gives a very symbolic message – we should not be afraid of adversities. They come to create golden opportunities for us.

The Kisan Andolan or the Indian farmers’ protest of 2020–2021 is one of the longest and biggest (and victorious) social movements in the history of independent India. This book adopts a multidisciplinary approach to contextualise the movement in the long run. It engages with the historical, social and religious roots of the Andolan, examining what makes it so unique and transformative for Indian polity. It explores the (dis)continuities with previous resistance and contestation movements in India and globally, and debates the role so far of regional, religious and class-caste-gender identities. Through interviews, the volume also gives a specific voice and platform to grassroots activists and farmers from the movement. Part of the Social Movements and Transformative Dissent series, the book will appeal to scholars, activists and a wider audience interested in social movements and dissent politics in India and the Global South. It will also be of interest to students of economics, political science, anthropology, sociology, government, agrarian studies, Sikh and Punjab studies, politics, international relations and diaspora studies.