கடலில் உருவான குட்டி நாடு

படத்தில் இருப்பது ஒரு நாடு என்றால் உங்களால் நம்ப முடிகிறதா? இந்த பதிவை முழுவதுமாக படியுங்கள்..!!

நீங்கள் படங்களில் பார்த்துக் கொண்டிருக்கும் இந்த இடம் என்ன தெரியுமா? கடலின் நட்ட நடுவில் உள்ள பழைய கட்டிடம் என்றுதானே நினைக்கிறீர்கள். அதுதான் இல்லை; இது ஒரு நாடு. உலகின் மிகவும் குட்டி நாடு. இதன் பெயர் சீலேண்ட். ஆச்சரியமாக இருக்கிறதா? இந்தக் குட்டி நாட்டைப் பற்றிப் படிக்கப் படிக்க இன்னும் விந்தையாக இருக்கும்.
இங்கிலாந்து நாட்டின் வட பகுதியில் எஸக்ஸ் என்ற இடத்திலிருந்து கடலில் 13 கிலோ மீட்டர் தொலைவில் உள்ளது இந்த நாடு. இரண்டாம் உலகப் போர் பற்றிப் பாடப் புத்தகங்களில் படித்திருக்கிறீர்கள் அல்லவா?



அப்படி அந்தப் போர் தொடங்கியபோது 1942-ம் ஆண்டில் பிரிட்டிஷ் அரசு கடலில் குட்டித் துறைமுகத்தைக் கட்டியது. கடலில் இரும்பு மற்றும் வலுவான கான்கிரீட்டைப் பயன்படுத்தி இந்த துறைமுகத்தைக் கட்டியிருக்கிறார்கள். போரில் பயன்படுத்தப்பட்ட கப்பல்களுக்கு எரிபொருள் போடுவதற்காக இதைப் பயன்படுத்தியிருக்கிறார்கள்.
போர் முடிவடைந்த பிறகும் 1956-ம் ஆண்டு வரை ரப் டவர் எனப் பெயரிட்டு இந்தத் துறைமுகத்தைப் பயன்படுத்தியிருக்கிறார்கள். பின்னர் இந்த இடத்தை அப்படியே விட்டுவிட்டார்கள் ஆங்கிலேயர்கள். 1967-ம் ஆண்டில் இந்த இடத்துக்கு பேட்டி ராய் பேட்ஸ் என்பவர் தனது குடும்பத்துடன் இந்தத் துறைமுகத்துக்குப் போய்த் தங்கிவிட்டார்.

இவர் முன்னாள் ராணுவ அதிகாரியாக இருந்தவர். இங்கு வந்த பேட்ஸ், ‘பிரின்ஸிபாலிட்டி ஆஃப் சீலேண்ட்’ என்று அந்த இடத்துக்குப் பெயரை வைத்தார். அங்கிருந்து ராய் பேட்ஸை அனுப்பப் பிரிட்டிஷ் அதிகாரிகள் நிறைய முயற்சி செய்தார்கள். ஆனால், அவரை அங்கிருந்து அனுப்ப முடியவில்லை.

இந்த விவகாரம் நீதிமன்றத்துக்குப் போனது. ஆனால், இந்தத் துறைமுகம் இங்கிலாந்து நாட்டு கடல் எல்லைக்கு வெளியே இருப்பதால், வழக்கை நடத்த முடியாது என்று நீதிமன்றம் கூறியது. இதன்பிறகு ராய் பேட்ஸ் 1975-ம் ஆண்டில் சீலேண்டை தனி நாடாக அறிவித்தார். இந்த நாட்டுக்கென்று தனியாகக் கொடி, தேசியக் கீதம், பணம், பாஸ்போர்ட் என்று ஒரு நாட்டில் என்னவெல்லாம் இருக்குமோ எல்லாவற்றையும் பேட்ஸ் அறிமுகப்படுத்தினார்.

கடலுக்குள்ள ஒரு குட்டி கட்டிடத்தில்தான் இந்த நாடே இருக்கிறது. ஒரு முறை பேட்ஸூம் அவரது குடும்பத்தினரும் இங்கிலாந்துக்குப் போனபோது, ஜெர்மனி, போர்ச்சுகல் கொள்ளையர்கள் இந்த நாட்டை ஆக்கிரமிப்பு செய்துவிட்டார்கள். பேட்ஸூம், அவரது மகன் மைக்கேலும் ஆயுதங்களைப் பயன்படுத்திக் கொள்ளையர்களை விரட்டினார்கள்.
1987-ம் வருடத்தில் பிரிட்டிஷ் அரசு கடல் எல்லைப் பரப்பை 22 கிலோ மீட்டராக அதிகரித்து, சீலேண்டை அவர்களுடைய கட்டுபாட்டுக்குள் கொண்டுவர முயற்சி செய்தார்கள். ஆனாலும் முடியவில்லை. சீலேண்டின் இளவரசராக ராய் பேட்ஸ் செயல்பட்டு நிர்வாகமும் செய்து வந்தார்.
மூன்று வருடங்களுக்கு முன்பு பேட்ஸ் நோய்வாய்ப்பட்டு இறந்துவிட்டார். அப்போது முதல் சீலேண்ட் நாட்டின் இளவரசராகப் பேட்ஸின் மகன் மைக்கேல் இருந்து வருகிறார். தற்போது இவர்களது குடும்பத்தினர் உட்பட 50 பேர் இங்கு வாழ்ந்து வருகிறார்கள். இந்தக் குட்டிக் கட்டிடத்தில் 30 அறைகள் உள்ளன. கடலுக்குள் இருப்பதால் தேவையான நீரை அவர்களே உற்பத்தி செய்து கொள்கிறார்கள்.
ஞாபகச் சின்னங்கள் போன்றவற்றை இணையதளத்தில் விற்பனை செய்து பணம் சம்பாதிக்கிறார்கள். இந்த நாட்டுக்கு வெளி நாட்டுக்காரர்கள் யாராவது வர வேண்டுமென்றால் பாஸ்போர்ட், விசா எடுத்துக்கொண்டுதான் வர வேண்டும்.
மேலும் விவரங்களுக்கு:- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principality_of_Sealand
http://www.sealandgov.org/

Banking gets faster, easier and highly secure

From using Aadhaar cards for withdrawals to mobile-only solutions, new offerings by banks are changing the way you transact.

Download the wallet app, enter Aadhaar and Permanent Account Number for Know-your-Customer, visit a Café Coffee Day outlet for biometric verification and your bank account with Singapore-based DBS bank will be up and running.
This mobile-based bank’s customer support uses artificial intelligence.
A bot answers questions.
About 90 per cent customer queries are standard which don’t need human interference.
The customer can also choose to chat with an executive.
As it is mobile-only, the bank doesn’t provide a cheque book.
But, customers do get a debit card.
“Being relatively new in the market, we don’t have legacy systems.
"The bank could, therefore, start from scratch and deploy newer systems and processes,” says a DBS spokesperson.
If 2015 was a year of banking apps, 2016 could well be one where banks look at innovative ideas to smoothen the banking procedures and transactions and the best part: the focus on security is very high.
Bankers say consumers are keen to adopt newer technologies.
"Customers are not only rapidly adopting digital banking solutions.
"They are also giving us feedback on how to improve these,” says Abonty Banerjee, senior general manager and head -- digital channels, ICICI Bank.
The Country’s largest private sector bank has attracted transactions worth Rs 3 lakh crore (Rs 3 trillion) on its digital platform in financial year 2015-16.
Through its mobile banking app, iMobile, it recorded transactions worth Rs 10,062 crore (Rs 100.62 billion) in January 2016.
A year back it was Rs 2,225 crore (Rs 22.25 billion).
“Digital banking is picking as customers want instant service and information at the tip of their thumb.
"They no longer prefer visiting a branch or waiting for a service to activate,” says Amit Sethi, CIO, Axis Bank.
More launches in a short span
The popularity of individual wallet companies such as Paytm and others has been a wake-up call for banks.
Customers started using wallets as these offered better experience.
Then came the financial technology (fintech) start-ups which began offering better products, using technology.
“Banks started tying up with fintech start-ups as it’s not possible to change the entire system within few months though technology changes fast.
"That requires substantial investments. It’s a win-win for both. Banks get newer technology.
"Start-ups get funds and mentoring,” says Ritesh Pai, senior president and country head, digital banking, YES Bank.
He says this is why consumers are getting better products faster.
Rather than working on one product for several months, partnerships allow banks to launch several in short span of time.
“Banks are also now open to experiments. Earlier they would wait for the perfect product.
"Now, they start with pilot projects in one location and expand quickly to other cities,” says Pai.
Axis, Kotak Mahindra, ICICI and HDFC Bank recently conducted start-up competitions.
Fintech companies are invited to these events to give a pitch and showcase their products.
Banks partner with the winners.
The aim behind organising such technology-based competitions is to find solutions for banking services that can reduce cost and provide better customer service.
Banking on feature phones: India has over a billion mobile connections.
Of these, about a quarter users have smartphones.
A sizeable chunk still uses feature phones.
YES bank has tied up with a Taiwan-based tech firm Taisys, to offer banking transactions on feature phones with no internet connectivity.
The user needs to apply a sticker on the SIM card, which then enables a menu for banking transactions -- including payments and fund transfers. The service works on text message.
Benefit: You don’t need a smartphone for basic banking like transfers and payments.
Merchant payments using sound waves: YES Bank and HDFC Bank have tied up with UltraCash, which has technology that allows, user to make payments through mobile phones without the use of data or any special hardware.
UltraCash processes payments through sound waves.
The user needs to open the app, enter a passcode and take the phone near a merchant’s device. Upon receiving the invoice, the user will need to enter another password and the mobiles authenticate the transaction using sound waves.
Benefit: You don’t have to rely on internet connection or extra hardware to make payments.
ATM cash withdrawal using fingerprints: Recently DCB Bank launched a service where you can withdraw cash from ATMs without your card and PIN.
For this to work, your Aadhaar should be linked to your bank account.
At the ATM, enter your Aadhaar number and use fingerprint rather than a PIN to withdraw cash.
“We are updating all our ATMs to offer biometric transactions along with the regular card and PIN-based service.
"We believe more banks will introduce this in future. Customers of different banks will then be able to transact at any ATMs using biometrics,” says Praveen Kutty, head of retail banking at DCB Bank.
Benefit: No need to carry your card for withdrawal and remember PIN.
Take a selfie, open a bank account: Banks are not only using Aadhaar for transactions.
Using the e-KYC, they are also cutting the time required to open a bank account.
You can open a Federal Bank account by downloading its app and taking a selfie.
The app then asks you to click picture of your Aadhaar card and immediately provides you an account number.
Further formalities could be done either by calling an executive home or by visiting a branch.
Meanwhile, if you are expecting any payment, you can remit up to Rs 10,000 through the bank account before the entire process is completed.
Benefit: Faster account opening without visiting the branch
Contactless payments: Taking a lead in near, field communication, ICICI Bank has launched a mobile payment solution that enables customers to payments at retail outlets without using a card.
The person needs to log into the bank’s wallet app Pockets.
Select the option ‘touch & pay’ and hold the phone close to the merchant terminal (card machine).
NFC is not common yet, especially in low-end phones.
The bank, therefore, has a debit card that is NFC-enabled and works on the same principle.
“Over 100,000 merchants already have NFC-enabled terminals and its expanding fast. All new terminals sold are NFC-enabled,” says Banerjee.
Benefit: Transactions are more secure as the device or card is in your hand.If you are using mobile, you don’t need to carry any card.
While these are some of the recently-launched products and services, with banks tying-up with start-ups, you can expect a slew of solutions soon.
“If it’s a transformational product, it takes four-five months.
"But simpler products are launched within two months,” Banerjee.
One of the winners, Tapits Technologies, at HDFC Bank’s start-up event is working on biometric payments at merchant outlets.
The winner of ICICI Appathon, Mohit Talwadiya, uses artificial intelligence and natural language processing to interact with customers to resolve their queries.
The future
The next big wave in banking will be use of a technology called blockchain.
This is a cheaper and more secure method to process transactions.
Popularised by Bitcoin, blockchain is a technology that maintains records. It has the potential to completely change the way we bank today.
In future, you can have bank account portability, like a mobile service.
“Bank account numbers can be issued by a central entity like Central Depository Services Limited issues demat account.
Consumers will use bank for transactions and services, like brokers are currently used for stock investments,” says Pai.
THE REVOLUTION BANKS AWAIT
Unified Payments Interface is tipped to bring about a payments revolution in the country by making money transfer as easy as sending text messages. Currently in pilot stage, banks have been eagerly waiting for full launch of the service. Here’s why

• Setting up is easy. A person needs a bank account, a smartphone, and UPI app
• Money can be transferred in multiple ways -- using the unique virtual address, mobile number or Aadhaar number in real time, 24X7
• You can pay taxi bills or use it at retail stores by scanning a QR code
• Doesn’t require details like account number or branch code, making it safer
• It brings small payments in the ambit of banking. UPI app allows users to transact any amount below Rs 100,000
• One can initiate a “debit request” asking for a payment, a feature that no other payments technology allows at present
• It works across systems seamlessly, be it MasterCard, Visa, mobile wallets, etc
• You can add multiple bank accounts to the app
• It’s scalable without huge investments
• It works on a feature phone
• It has high level of security

How a differently-abled boy cleared the IIT entrance exam

The credit goes to his brother who carried him on his shoulders to school and later to the coaching classes. 
It's a tale of a 19-year-old Krishan Kumar Pandit who overcame his disability to clear the IIT entrance test, beating all odds.

Kudos to his determination and to his brother Basant Kumar Pandit for taking him one step closer to attaining his dream.

Here's his story.

IMAGE: Basant Kumar Pandit carrying his polio-stricken brother Krishan. Photograph: Kind Courtesy YourStory

The journey of polio-stricken Krishan and his younger sibling Basant -- who hail from a poor family in Bihar -- has been arduous and inspirational.

For many years, Basant Kumar Pandit (18) has been carrying his physically challenged elder brother on his shoulders to school and later to the coaching institute in Kota.

Krishan has landed in IIT with 38th All India Rank in OBC (Other Backward Classes), disabled quota in the JEE (Joint Entrance Examination) advanced results declared recently.

Basant has achieved 3675 rank in OBC category.

Their father Madan Pandit owns five bighas of land in Paroriya village in Samastipur (Bihar) and their mother is a housewife.

Krishan (19) suffered from polio when he was only six months old. Later, Basant took upon himself to take Krishan on his shoulders to school.

Aspiring to be engineers, the brothers reached Kota three years ago and gained admission in a coaching institute to prepare for the IIT entrance test.

Here too, Basant would take his brother on his shoulders to the coaching classes and the two would study together.

"When I left the village for coaching three years ago, people in the village suspected my abilities and whether we would be able to continue like this," Krishan said, adding "we were determined to become engineers".

 Photograph: Kind Courtesy YourStory

For Krishan, his younger sibling is much more that his 'legs' and he gets emotional talking about him especially as the two brothers, who have been inseparable until now, will have to study in separate colleges.

"Basant does everything for me. He takes me on his shoulders from home or hostel room to classes, serves me food," said Krishan.

"I feel very sad when I think about living without him in the engineering college," he added.

Basant said he is accustomed to doing these things for his brother. "It is very painful to think of living without my elder brother. The taste of success is enjoyable but separation sours it," he said.

Basant recalled their school days. "Once while we were in class five, I participated in a residential camp for the disabled in the village as my brother Krishan could not live there without me," he said.

After failing in their first attempt in IIT entrance exam, their father asked them to return, but their two elder brothers -- who work in a garage in Mumbai -- assured them of financial assistance.

The management of the institute exempted 75 per cent of the fees for them and also granted a scholarship, according to Krishan.

"At the institute, we have been in the same batch and same class," he added.

"Basant aspires to join civil services after completing his engineering, and I want to be a computer engineer," Krishan said.

India's 10 best selling cars in June

Alto, which sold 15,750 units in June, retained the title of the best selling model.

Maruti Suzuki India continued its grip in the passenger vehicles market in India with five of its models in the top ten best selling models in June, although its successful model Swift has been displaced from the third position by rival Hyundai's Grand i10.
According to data compiled by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers Association (SIAM), MSI's Alto which sold 15,750 units in June retained the title of the best selling model although it sold 21,115 units in the same month last year.

The company's compact sedan Dzire also retained the second spot with 13,492 units in the month, but sold lesser number compared to 18,973 units in June last year.

Rival Hyundai Motor India Ltd's (HMIL) compact car Grand i10 was the third best selling model in June with 12,678 units. Last year in the same month the model was in sixth position with 8,970 units.

MSI's WagonR retained the fourth spot with 11,962 units in June this year as against 13,221 units in the year-ago month.

Renault's entry level car Kwid grabbed the fifth spot with 9,459 units.

MSI's Swift sold 9,033 units in June to be at sixth position as against 17,313 units in the same month last year when it was the third best selling model.

HMIL's Elite i20 was pushed to seventh spot with 8,990 units.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor's Innova was in the eighth spot selling 8,171 units followed by HMIL's SUV Creta in the ninth with 7,700 units.

The top ten best selling model was rounded up with MSI's premium hatchback Baleno which sold 6,969 units.

MSI's Celerio, Honda's City and Amaze sedans and Mahindra's Bolero, which featured among the top ten best selling models in June last year, failed to make it to the list this year.