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ISRO Releases First Ever Hindi Atlas on MOM to Help More Indians Learn About the Mission ….

October 28, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

India’s Hindi-reading citizens can now get interesting updates about the country’s space missions, especially the Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), as the government has released the first ever Hindi Atlas book based on Mangalyaan. –

Photo: Twitter

The atlas has been launched to spread awareness about some of the landmark achievements of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), and to engage those citizens who cannot understand English but are well versed in Hindi.

After success of many missions like Chandrayaan, Mangalyaan and ASTROSAT, ISRO has gained worldwide popularity and many foreign space agencies have shown interest in working with India.

This step will encourage young minds across the country to contribute to the field of space research, even if they do not possess the knowledge of English language.

The atlas will contain a compilation of images acquired by the Mars Colour Camera, and data collected by the five payloads of MOM. ISRO had also released a Mars Atlas in English on the occasion of Mangalyaan’s first anniversary on September 24, 2015. It provides a lot of detailed information about the different features of the red planet, such as its craters, moons, volcanic features, tectonic features and more.

– Source….Shreya Pareek…..www.thebetterindia.com

Natarajan

” I Thought I Was a Darn Good Environmentalist. Till I Met This Guy. ..” Says Abhinav Bajpai of Bengaluru

October 28, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

We always like meeting two kinds of people in life. Those who inspire us, and those who get inspired by us. Recently, Abhinav Bajpai got a chance to meet one from the first category – a guy who inspired him to work harder towards the cause that he has taken up. This is his story.

I work for an NGO and my work usually involves going out on the streets of Bangalore to raise awareness among people about the environment. So one day, while I was working in BTM Layout, a neighbourhood in South Bangalore, a young guy named Nikhil came up to me and started asking about my work. He was decently dressed, but did not have any footwear on. He asked what I and my NGO do for the welfare of the environment. I started explaining with a preconceived notion that he must be one of those people who usually criticize NGOs and their objectives.

Once I was done describing what we do and how we work for the environment, he just pointed towards a tree nearby and asked a simple question – “What have you done for this tree?”

Picture for representation only. Source: http://www.atlanticyardswatch.net/

“Nothing really,” I said.

He then took me near the tree and showed how the surface of its trunk was covered with hundreds of staple pins. Nikhil told me that he is terribly pained on seeing a similar condition of thousands of trees in Bangalore, and wished this would come to an end.

During our conversation, he informed that he had left his job a few days back because of lack of interest, and was searching for something new. Also, his footwear had been stolen at a temple from where he was coming back when we met. In spite of all these talks, I was still not taking him very seriously as I did not know anything about him. Another reason for that could be his appearance and the way he was talking with a stammer.

Then he left and I resumed my work. But after half an hour, I saw Nikhil again. He was standing near the same tree.

I went to check what was going on, and to my shock, he was removing the staple pins on the tree with complete dedication.

I suddenly felt really small for judging him before. It was then that he told me how he chooses a tree each day and removes staple pins from it, working for as many hours on a tree as it takes. He was sad though; there are so may such trees in the city that he does not see his efforts having any impact. He also shared that the image of those trees covered in pins did not let him sleep peacefully at night.

I saluted Nikhil’s efforts, and told him that people like him should not work alone. They should be accompanied by a like-minded people who can work together to change the society for the better. My appreciation brought a precious smile on his face and then he continued pulling out those pins with even more energy.

Nikhil taught me that no cause is big or small. What matters is how dedicated you are towards it.

– Abhinav Bajpai

Source…..www.thebetterindia.com

natarajan

How One Award-Winning Radio Channel Forever Changed an Underserved Community in Haryana …

October 28, 2015October 28, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

Everyone should be in a position to speak, say, listen and be heard,” says Archana Kapoor. As the founder of a national award-winning community radio initiative in Mewat, Haryana, she is certainly giving voice to many who have long been quiet in this backward community

“I was buying a register during my exam from the nearby shop. The shopkeeper charged me Rs. 184. When I reached home, I opened the packet and saw that the printed rate was Rs 124. I had heard in the ‘Jano Grahak Jano’ program on Radio Mewat that no one can charge you more than the printed rate. So I went back and confronted the shopkeeper. He said as it was exam time the demand was more – I could take it or leave it. I told him that I would go to Radio Mewat and get it announced. Sheepishly he called me back and returned Rs 60 to me.” – Irfan, a resident of Mewat, Haryana.

This is one of the many stories shared by Archana Kapoor, the founder of Radio Mewat and the NGO SMART (Seeking Modern Applications for Real Transformation).

SMART is dedicated to ‘bringing about real transformation in the lives of socially and economically backward communities’ with the use of mass media and different tools of communication, according to Archana who started this NGO in 1997, at the age of 37. She is also known for her work as a publisher, filmmaker, author and activist.

Why Radio Mewat?

Radio Mewat, one of the many initiatives of SMART, is the first community radio station in Mewat, an extremely underprivileged district in Haryana that is located about 70 km from Delhi.

“The community radio was set up in September 2010. The one and only focus of the radio is to disseminate information that benefits the community, empowers them, gives them an identity and provides a platform for the marginalized and vulnerable sections of society to share their stories and talk about their issues.”

The radio station has received two national awards from the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. It also won an award for being the ‘Most Sustainable Community Radio Station‘ in 2011 and for the ‘Most Creative and Innovative Programming‘ in 2012.

The radio station, the reporters and the team

While Archana used to visit Mewat every single day when she started out, she now has to go only once in a while because the community is learning to take over. Currently, there are 11 full time reporters, a committed managerial team and an administrative team — 75 per cent of them being from the local community.

But is it a challenge to find people who would be interested to work for the radio?

Archana does not feel so. She has seen the youth in the community being very excited about the entire set up since day one. “They love what they do. The station has given them a status and acceptance in the society. The radio has not only trained over a 100 local people, but has also provided opportunities of employment and exposure…Their involvement is beyond programming and broadcasting. If an FIR is not being lodged, Radio Mewat is expected to intervene; if a ration card is not being issued, we will be asked to help … so it a 24×7 engagement.”

The Impact

Radio Mewat broadcasts 17 hours a day and that shows the kind of impact it is having on the community. As the proud founder points out – “People are getting information which they never had access to…the administration has become an integral part of the station as repeated demands from the community and airing of grievances have forced them to provide answers. Transparency in governance has increased. Panchayats have been made more accountable. For the first time in the history of Mewat, Gram Sabhas were held. This happened only after a sustained intervention through the community radio station.”

Here are some stories from and about people in the community for a clearer picture of how a radio station is actually changing lives:

“I heard about the symptoms of TB from Radio Mewat and called the station. Their reporter came to see me and took me to the hospital for the tests. I am now getting my treatment done and am not ashamed of sharing this story. I am in fact telling everyone to get their sputum tested. I now know that TB is curable.” – Shahid –

Ever since she was a child, Zainab, a 29-year-old woman, wanted to study. But her parents did not let her continue with her education after grade 5. Today, she is married and lives in Palladi village in Mewat. Last year, when the radio came up with a program called ‘Masti ki Paathshala’, where they were teaching Math, she was very excited to join it.

“In this program, for every right answer to questions discussed during the program, we give the listener a star. Zainab is also participating. She listens to it regularly and calls when she has the answer. She has already collected seven stars and says that it is really good that she is able to learn Maths now. This is something she always wanted to do. So even if it is after ten years, she is able to learn now. And it is not just her; she makes her children and everybody in the family sit and listen to the program. On earning ten stars, she will get an award, even if it is a small thing,” says Archana.

The Challenges

While the team has overcome many initial challenges, there are still some that prevail. The most important one of them being the employment of women at the station, as families are still hesitant to send girls to work in the media sector. Archana is aiming for at least half of the content to be produced and broadcast by women. Then there are issues revolving around demands for increased remuneration, and the financial crunch. The team also has to deal with technical challenges because of limited resources.

“I have about 16 people working for me, so I had to get projects to sustain them and for their salaries. Because the guidelines are so strict, we cannot get sponsors from the private sector. So we end up looking at the government for sponsored projects…We have been able to break even now. We have been able to pay the salaries, keep the equipment working, and to keep afloat for five years.”

The Future

Archana now wants Radio Mewat to slowly become an independent community run entity, where the community realises the wisdom in supporting and running it. –

Source…..Tanaya Singh ….www.thebetterindia.com

Natarajan

“க்ரகங்களைத் திட்ட வேண்டாமே …”

October 28, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

ஐயோ…சனியன் புடிச்சு போனவனே…இந்த பாவி என்றைக்கு விலகுறது… இவனுக்கு படிப்பு மண்டையிலே ஏறப்போவுது…!”

“இந்த குரு நீசமாகி கிடக்கிறாராமே! இவளுக்கு எப்ப தான் கல்யாண யோகம் வந்து தொலையப் போகுதே…”

“ராகுவைப் போல கொடுப்பாருமில்லை… கெடுப்பாருமில்லையாம்…இவர் என்னத்த கொடுத்தாரு… கெடுக்கிறதுக்குனே என்னை தேர்ந்தெடுத்திருக்கிறானே…”

இப்படி ஒவ்வொரு கிரகத்தையும் திட்டித் தீர்ப்பவர்கள் ஏராளம். இப்படி கிரகங்களைத் திட்டக்கூடாது என்கிறார் காஞ்சி மகாபெரியவர்.

ஒருமுறை, பெரியவரைத் தரிசனம் செய்ய ஜோதிடர் ஒருவர் வந்தார். அவரது குடும்பம் மிகவும் பெரியது. ஜோதிடம் கணித்துச் சொல்வதில் கிடைக்கும் வருமானம் போதவில்லை. செலவுக்கு ரொம்பவே சிரமப்பட்டுக் கொண்டிருந்தார்.

பெரியவரை தரிசனம் செய்த அவர், “பெரியவா… எனக்கு வருமானம் போறலே! ரொம்ப சிரமப்படறேன்… நீங்க தான், எனக்கு அனுக்கிரகம் செய்து, வருமானம் உயர அருளாசி தரணும்,” என்று வேண்டிக் கொண்டார்.

பெரியவர் அவரிடம், “நீ உன்னோட அப்பா வசித்த பூர்வீக வீட்டில் தானே இருக்கே…?” என்று கேட்டார்.

அதற்கு ஜோதிடர், “இல்லை பெரியவா… அங்கே என் அண்ணா இருக்கான். அதற்கு மேலண்டை இருக்கிற ஒரு வீட்டில் நான் குடியிருக்கேன்…” என்று பதிலளித்தார்.

“நீ அந்த வீட்டில் குடியிருக்க வேண்டாம். உன்னோட பூர்வீக வீட்டிற்கு கிழக்கு பக்கத்திலே இருக்கிற பழைய மாட்டுக்கொட்டகை இருக்குதே…அந்த இடத்திலே, ஒரு குடிசை போட்டுகிட்டு அங்கே போய் குடி இரு,” என்றார் பெரியவர்.

அவர் அவ்வாறு சொன்னதற்கு காரணம் இருந்தது. அந்த ஜோதிடரின் குடும்பம் பரம்பரை பரம்பரையாய் அம்பாளை உபாசனை (பூஜை) செய்த குடும்பம். அதனால், புனிதம் மிக்க பசு கொட்டிலில் குடியிருக்கச் சொன்னார் பெரியவர்.

அத்துடன், “நீ எல்லாருக்கும் பலன்கள் சொல்லும் போது, கிரகங்கள் சரியில்லேன்னு பொதுவாகச் சொன்னால் போதுமே…!

எதுக்காக, உங்க ஜாதகத்திலே குரு நீசன்… சனி பாபி, புதன் வக்ரம் என்றெல்லாம் சொல்றே…குரு என்பவர், தட்சிணாமூர்த்தி சொரூபம். சனி என்பவர் சூரியனின் புத்திரர். ஈஸ்வர பட்டம் பெற்றவர். அவரை பாபி என சொல்லலாமா!

திருமணப் பொருத்தம் பார்க்க வருகிறவர்களிடம் கூட, “”பொருத்தம் இல்லே…” என நிர்தாட்சண்யமாக சொல்லாமல், பெண்ணுக்கு விவாகம் வர கொஞ்சம் தாமதமாகும் என்று சொல். புத்திர பாக்கியம் பற்றி கேட்டால், அதற்கு பாக்கியமில்லை என வெளிப்படையாகச் சொல்லாமல், கொஞ்சம் பொறுத்து பார்க்கலாமே… என சமாளி,” என்று புத்திமதி கூறினார்.

“இனிமேல் நீங்கள் சொன்னபடியே செய்கிறேன்,” என்ற ஜோதிடர், பெரியவரிடம் ஆசி பெற்று கிளம்பினார்.

நாமும் இனி கிரகங்களைத் திட்டாமல், அவை தரும் சோதனைகளை கடவுளிடம் ஒப்படைத்து விட்டு, நம் பணியைத் தொடர வேண்டும். அப்படி செய்தால், கிரகங்கள் மகிழ்ந்து நம்மை நல்வாழ்வுக்கு அழைத்துச் செல்லும்

Source….www.periva.proboards.com

Natarajan

” Being Happy Depends on us … We Should Not Be Dependent on Somebody for Our Happiness…”

October 28, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

This article is a must read for everyone
👍👍👍👍

After years of hard & dedicated service to his Company, Rahul was being appointed at an elegant reception as the new Director.

It was a small function where his wife Anita , a Home Executive & some of the wives of the other persons in top management were also present.

In an adjacent room, Ann, the wife of the CEO of the Company, asked Rahul’s wife a very odd & usual question; “Does your husband make you happy?”

The husband, Rahul, who at that moment was not at her side, but was sufficiently near to hear the question, paid attention to the conversation, sitting up slightly, feeling secure, even filling his chest lightly in pride & hope, would definitely not publically lower or degrade her husband, would answer affirmatively, since she had always been there for him during their marriage and generally in life.

Nevertheless, to both his & the others’ surprise, she replied simply; “No, no he doesn’t make me happy…”

The room became uncomfortably silent, as if everyone were listening to the spouse’s response. There was a sudden coldness in the air. The husband was petrified. A frown appeared on his face.
He couldn’t believe what his wife was saying, especially at such an important occasion for him. To the amazement of her husband & of everyone!

Anita sat up firmly & explained in a modest but stern tone to the other wives who were present;
“No, he doesn’t make me happy… I AM HAPPY. The fact that I am happy or not doesn’t depend on him, but on me. GOD has granted each of us intellect & discretion to reason, interpret & decide. GOD made me the person upon which my happiness depends.

I make the choice to be happy in each situation & in each moment of my life.
If my happiness were to depend on other people, on other things or circumstances on the face of this earth, I would be in serious trouble!

Over my life I have learned a couple of things: I decide to be happy & the rest is a matter of ‘experiences or circumstances’ like helping, understanding, accepting, listening, consoling & with my spouse, I have lived & practiced this many times.

Honestly true happiness lies in being content”

Relieved & reassured, a smile was clearly noticed on Rahul’s face.

Happiness will always be found in contentment, forgiveness & in loving ourselves & others.
To truly love is difficult, it is to forgive unconditionally, to live, to take the “experiences or circumstances” as they are, facing them together & being happy with conviction.

There are those who say I cannot be happy :
· Because I am sick.
· Because I have no money.
· Because it’s too cold.
· Because they insulted me.

· Because someone stopped loving me.
· Because someone didn’t appreciate me.

But what they don’t know is that they can be happy even though sick, whether it is too hot, whether they have money or not, whether someone has insulted them, or someone didn’t love or hasn’t valued them.

Being Happy is an attitude about life & each one of us must decide!

Being Happy, depends on us!

It Depends on Me.

I fall. I rise. I make mistakes. I live. I learn. I’ve been hurt but I’m alive. I’m human. I’m not perfect but I’m Thankful.
Worth reading. and Sharing too…

Source…input from a friend of mine

Natarajan

” நான் வாழை மரம் இல்லை …சவுக்கு மரம் …” !!!

October 28, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

நகைச்சுவை நடிகர் நாகேஷ் அவர்களின் தன்னம்பிக்கை மிக்க அருமையான வார்த்தைகள்…

– வானொலிப் பேட்டியொன்றில் நாகேஷ்

வானொலி: நியாயமாக உங்களுக்கு வரவேண்டிய நல்ல பெயர் மற்றவர்களுக்குச் செல்லும் போது உங்களுக்கு எப்படி இருக்கும்?

நாகேஷ்: நான் கவலையே படமாட்டேன் சார்.
ஒரு கட்டடம் கட்டும் போது, சவுக்கு மரத்தை முக்கியமா வச்சு சாரம் கட்டி, குறுக்குப் பலகைகள் போட்டு, அதன் மேல பல சித்தாள்கள் நின்னு, கைக்குக் கை கல் மாறி கட்டடம் உயர்ந்து கொண்டே போய் பல ஆண்டுகளுக்குப் பிறகு அது முடிந்த பிறகு, அந்தக் கட்டிடத்துக்கு வர்ண ஜால வித்தைகள் எல்லாம் அடிச்சு, கீழ இறங்கும் போது ஒவ்வொரு சவுக்கு மரமாக அவிழ்த்துக் கொண்டே வருவார்கள்.

கட்டடம் முடிந்து கிரஹப் பிரவேசத்தன்று எந்தக் கட்டடம் கட்டுவதற்கு முக்கிய காரணமாக இருந்ததோ அந்தச் சவுக்கு மரத்தை யார் கண்ணிலும் படாமல் பின்னால் எங்கயோ மறைத்து வைத்துவிட்டு, வேறெங்கேயோ வளர்ந்த வாழை மரத்தை முன்னால் நட்டு கிரஹகப் பிரவேசம் நடத்தி அனைவரையும் வரவேற்பார்கள்.
அத்தனை பெருமையும் வாழை மரத்துக்குப் போய் விடும்.
இதில் உள்ள உண்மை என்ன தெரியுமா? அந்த வாழை மரம் மூன்று நாள் வாழ்க்கை தான் வாழும். ஆடுமாடுகள் மேயும். குழந்தைகள் பிய்த்தெடுப்பார்கள். பிறகு குப்பை வண்டியிலே போய்ச் சேரும்.

மறைந்து கிடக்கிறதே அந்தச் சவுக்கு மரம் கண்ணீர் விடுவதில்லை. அடுத்த கட்டடம் கட்டுவதற்கு தயார் நிலையிலj் என்றைக்கும் சிரித்துக் கொண்டேயிருக்கும்.!!!

நான் வாழை அல்ல…! சவுக்கு மரம்….
Think positive always👍😊

Source….input from a friend of mine

Natarajan

” On My 25th Birthday, I Gave Society a Return Gift to Remember…” Says Sushrut Ahale …

October 27, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

Sushrut Ahale wanted to do something special on his birthday, and to make the day a happy one for many people around him. This is what he did.

I am a student pursuing a master’s degree in Ophthalmology from the Institute of Ophthalmology – Joseph Eye Hospital, located in Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu. And this year, on my 25th birthday, I decided to do something that would help me thank all my friends and relatives for their heart-warming wishes and blessings in a much better manner than just saying thank you. I wanted to make my birthday a happy day for one and all around me, and a simple ‘thank you’ did not seem sufficient.

So this is how I went about it.

My college falls under the administration of the Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church. Now, the church is located inside a large campus which consists of staff quarters, a primary and secondary school, the college and a park called the Luther Park.

It’s a small park in the vicinity of our college – disdained and neglected, it once wore a very shabby, saddening, and haunted look. One could only spot wildly grown weeds and creepers, dead and dried bushes, and thorny shrubs there. The park was also used as a dumping ground for plastic waste, broken glass and garbage in general.

I used to notice that park every day. And this October, it struck me that it would be a great idea to rejuvenate the place and make it brighter, cleaner, and more accessible for people inside the campus. This, I wanted to do just as a gesture of returning back to the society. So I went ahead and requested the church officials to allow me to take up this project. And fortunately, I got their approval.

The authorities were more than happy to let me proceed. One staff member, Mr. Stephan, even arranged for a spade, sickle, plough and some brooms that were required for cleaning up the place.

Finally, on a hot Saturday evening, I started my work – that of cleaning up and planting saplings in the park. While I began all alone, some very encouraging incidents took place within a matter of few hours, and they motivated me to continue. About half an hour after I started, a 10-year-old boy came up to me and asked if he could help. I was pleased and gave him some simple things to do. He was then followed by a gardener who came about an hour later and joined us. In two hours’ time, we were a small group of 10-12 people working together – all strangers, but all motivated towards the same cause.

And lastly, with the help of that gardener, some energetic school boys, a few friends and a couple of locals who had joined me, we successfully removed more than a trolley-full of garbage from the park. This was accompanied by the plantation of 16 saplings. The task got competed on Oct. 19 – my birthday.

At the end of it, my small team sang the birthday song for me. It was a really amazing feeling. This small deed made me realise that money isn’t always the best award we can get in return for doing something good. It’s goodwill and kindness that give one the satisfaction after a hard day’s work.

Here is a look at our work:

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– Sushrut Ahale

Source…www.thebetterindia.com

Natarajan

Launched in India – a ‘Scientifically Validated’ Anti-Diabetes Herbal Drug…

October 27, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

A Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) lab in Lucknow launched a scientifically validated anti-diabetes herbal drug called BGR-34.

The drug is a based on Ayurveda, and is meant to treat type-II diabetes mellitus. It is basically a combination of natural extracts obtained from plants.

Photo Credit: Flickr

Two CSIR laboratories have jointly developed BGR-34. The two labs are the National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI) and Central Institute for Medicinal and Aromatic Plant (CIMAP). It was launched on Oct. 25, which is also the 62nd annual day of NBRI.

“The drug has extracts from four plants mentioned in Ayurveda and that makes it safe,” Dr AKS Rawat, senior principal scientist at NBRI told The Times of India.

According to reports, the drug is animal tested and scientific studies show that it is safe with no side effects. Clinical trials of the drug have also shown a 67% success rate. Hence, while other herbal drugs for diabetes are already available in the market, this one is backed by scientific validation. According to a report in Live Mint, the drug was approved by AYUSH, the ministry for traditional Indian medicines. It has been tested on 1,000 patients over a period 18 months across Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab and Karnataka.

The functions of BGR-34 include the following:

It boosts the immune system
Works as antioxidant
Helps maintain normal blood glucose levels
Reduces chances of complications caused by persistent high blood glucose levels
Improves the quality of life for patients with high blood sugar levels

In February last year, Vice-President Hamid Ansari had already launched the drug at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. But now it has been launched commercially to be manufactured and sold by M/s Aimil Pharmaceuticals Pvt Ltd, New Delhi.

According to V S Kapoor, marketing head of Aimil Pharmaceuticals for UP and Delhi, the drug will be available in the market soon, in about 15 days. The estimated price is said to be Rs. 500 for 100 tablets. He also added that the drug will be sold in Delhi and Himachal Pradesh to begin with, and they will reach out to doctors through medical representatives to explain its benefits.

About 90% of cases of diabetes are type II diabetes, while the other 10% are primarily diabetes mellitus type 1 and gestational diabetes. The primary cause of type II diabetes is considered to be obesity, and it is also found in people who are genetically predisposed to the disease.

CSIR, which developed the drug, is an autonomous body and India’s largest research and development (R&D) organisation. It includes 37 laboratories and 39 field stations spread across the nation, with a total of over 17,000 people.

Source…..Tanaya Singh….www.thebetterindia.com

natarajan

Message for the Day…” Be a Light ,radiating Virtue and Self -Control Wherever You are…’

October 27, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

Sathya Sai Baba

You have had the valuable opportunity to listen to Divine discourses and directions, they have been printed upon your hearts; many of your conversations is centered on Me or on My divine play (leelas) and glory (mahima). My advice to you is: Apply this adoration in your life. Let your companions see how disciplined you are, how sincerely you obey your parents, and how deeply you revere your teachers. Be a light, radiating virtue and self-control wherever you live, just as commendably as you did when in My divine presence. Do not slide back into indiscipline, bad manners, irresponsibility and evil habits. Do not complain against food; eat with pleasure whatever you get. Do not protest against any errand that your parents may assign you. Run gladly and fulfil it. When they want you to nurse them, do it happily, intelligently, and feeling glad that you got the chance. Live anywhere but such that I can pour My Grace on you, more and more.

There’s a hidden message written on the back of this family portrait that an Apollo astronaut left on the moon…

October 27, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

On April 20, 1972, Apollo 16 astronaut Charles Duke took his first steps on the moon. He was 36 at the time and is the youngest human in history to ever walk on the lunar surface.

But that’s not the only achievement of Duke’s that lives on in American history.

NASA John W. Young Astronaut Charles M. Duke Jr., Lunar Module pilot of the Apollo 16 mission, is photographed collecting lunar samples at Station no. 1 during the first Apollo 16 extravehicular activity at the Descartes landing site.

While he was on the moon, he snapped this family portrait of him, his two sons, and his wife, which remains on the moon to this day.

Uploaded by Scoobynaiterpaul123

On the back of the photo Duke wrote:

“This is the family of astronaut Charlie Duke from planet Earth who landed on the moon on April 20, 1972.”

Here’s a clearer copy of the photo Duke gave us. On the far left is his oldest son Charles Duke III who had just turned seven. In the front in red is his youngest son, Thomas Duke, who was five. Duke and his wife, Dorothy Meade Claiborne, are in the background:

Courtesy of Charles Duke

“I’d always planned to leave it on the moon,” Duke told Business Insider. “So when I dropped it, it was just to show the kids that I really did leave it on the moon.”

The photo has since been featured in numerous popular photo books and is a great example of the “human side of space exploration,” Duke said.

When Duke was training to be an Apollo astronaut, he spent most of his time in Florida. But his family was stationed in Houston. As a result, the children didn’t get to see much of their father during that time.

“So, just to get the kids excited about what dad was going to do, I said ‘Would y’all like to go to the moon with me?’” Duke said. “We can take a picture of the family and so the whole family can go to the moon.”

More than 43 years have passed since Duke walked on the moon. And while the footprints that he made in the lunar soil are relatively unchanged, Duke suspects the photo is not in very good shape at this point.

“After 43 years, the temperature of the moon every month goes up to 400 degrees [Fahrenheit] in our landing area and at night it drops almost absolute zero,” Duke said. “Shrink wrap doesn’t turn out too well in those temperatures. It looked OK when I dropped it, but I never looked at it again and I would imagine it’s all faded out by now.”

Unfortunately, there is no way to determine just how faded the photo is because it’s too small for lunar satellites to spot.

Regardless, the photos “was very meaningful for the family,” Duke said. In the end, that’s all that matters, right?

Source…..JESSICA ORWIG……..www.businessinsider.com.au

Natarajan