Gemspot

2012-02-10T15:19:00.001+01:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjY4PxqN9WU

2012-02-06T23:33:00.000+01:00

What Can You See in the Night Sky This Week - Venus!

Submitted 6 February 2012 by Jasmeer Virdee

Venus – Earth's sister planet – is the hottest planet in our solar system. It has a sizzling surface temperature of 460 C (860 F). To put that into perspective, the highest recorded temperature on Earth was 57.8 C in Libya on the 13th September, 1922 – around 10% of Venus's average surface temperature. Venus is the second rock from the Sun and is the brightest object in the night sky after the moon, writes Jas Virdee.

Venus is named after the Roman Goddess of love and beauty and can be seen from as early as 17:30 in the West. It falls below the horizon only two hours later but it's impossible to miss because of its brightness. So why is Venus so hot and bright? After all, it's not the closest planet to the sun (Mercury) nor the closest planet to Earth (Mars). The answer to both questions lies in Venus's atmosphere which is 96.5% carbon dioxide – a powerful greenhouse gas which traps the sun's heat. Venus is nearly 40% closer to the Sun than we are and its atmosphere is almost 100 times more massive then ours, increasing its ability to trap heat. Thus, an extreme form of the greenhouse effect is occurring on Venus making it far too hot for humans. Venus's thick clouds account for its brightness, reflecting over 65% of the sun's light. However, this means we can't see the surface using visible light. On October 22nd 1975, the Russian probe Venera 9 landed a probe on the surface of venus and became the first spacecraft to transmit a picture from the surface of another planet.

Images of Venus's Surface from Venera 9 (top) and Venera 10 (bottom)

Venus is almost the same size as the Earth and early conditions are thought to have been similar. Venus is thought to have harboured vast water oceans and possibly primitive forms of life. But if Venus was like the early Earth – why did runaway global warming occur? Three billion years ago, the Sun was 30% less luminous than it is now resulting in cooler atmospheric temperatures. In addition, Venus lacks a magnetic field which deflects the solar wind away from the planet's atmosphere; the result was the loss of many of the lighter molecules in the atmosphere like hydrogen and water vapour – leaving behind heavier greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide. The net effect was a slow but steady increase in the temperature which boiled the water away into outer space. Here is an animation of the Sun stripping Venus's atmosphere

How do we know all of this? Since the beginning of the space race between the Soviet Union and the USA there have been over 40 space missions which have flown to or past Venus. About half of them failed – most of them in the early days of space exploration. The latest mission to Venus is the ESA (European Space Agency) sponsored Venus Express which has been in orbit for over nearly 6 years. This mission is focused on unlocking the secrets of Venus's atmosphere – doing so holds valuable lessons for our understanding of Earth's atmosphere and our influence on it.

2011-12-05T18:50:00.002+01:00

Department of Physics

What Can You See in the Night Sky This Week?

Submitted by Philip Marshall

Andromeda - the Milky Way’s twin galaxy - is the closest spiral galaxy to us. However, it’s still a long way away! If the Milky Way was the size of a 2p coin, Andromeda would be the size of another 2p coin just over half a metre away. And that’s our nearest neighbour! Unsurprisingly, the Andromeda galaxy is located in the constellation of Andromeda and can be seen from dusk till about 2:30am every night this week, writes Jas Virdee.

In Greek mythology Andromeda was a princess, daughter of Cepheus and Cassiopeia. Scientifically, Andromeda has a rich history. In the nineteenth century, objects in the night sky could only be broadly classified as “point-like” (i.e stars) or “diffuse” (extended and resolved). It was unclear whether these diffuse objects were clumps of cold gas and dust, or separate galaxies containing hundreds of billions of their own stars (so called “Island Universes” at the time). Many Astronomers were uncomfortable with the idea that some of these diffuse objects could be separate galaxies, because the distances involved were truly enormous.

Andromeda is 2.5 million light years away from us - which means that light takes 2.5 million years to get to here from there. When you look at Andromeda you are seeing light which is older than the human race. You could imaging the controversy that would have caused over a hundred years ago! The debate was finally settled by Curtis Olson, Ernest Opik and Edwin Hubble who independently measured the distance to Andromeda, forever changing our understanding of the Universe and our place in it. You can print out a star map to help you locate Andromeda on the sky - we've shown its position relative to the moon as it will be on Saturday, 3rd December, at 8pm.

So what does the future hold for Andromeda? Well, it certainly isn’t a boring one: Andromeda is expected to collide with the Milky Way in approximately 4.5 billion years! Using both ground and space based telescopes (like the Hubble Space Telescope) astronomers have taken stunning pictures of what happens when galaxies collide. From this, we know that our collision with Andromeda will be violent, with stars being flung out into deep space never to be seen again. However, mergers also stimulate the formation of new stars and planets, and so possibly life. Andromeda is the only galaxy that we can see with the naked eye (although a very dark night is needed). However, if the earth is still supporting life in 4.5 billion years time then our descendants night sky will be dominated by Andromeda and its hundreds of billions of stars!

2011-12-05T18:48:00.001+01:00

Chardonnay Forget Me Not

A special vintage label chosen to commemorate Sir Ian Botham's 25th Anniversary Walks for the Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research fund.

Sir Ian Botham, President of LLR, is marking this extra special 25th anniversary of his first walk, with two very special vintage releases of Botham-Merrill-Willis wines.

Ian Botham and Bob Willis are two of the biggest names in the modern era of world cricket. Geoff Merrill's reputation on the international wine stage is equally impressive. A mututal passion for their respective professions, cricket and wine, drew them together during the English tour of Australia in 1978. Since then a lasting friendship has developed over many bottles opened and balls bowled.

Winemaker Geoff Merrill has an enviable record as a winemaker and show judge spanning some 25 years in Australia, South Africa, The UK, Italy, USA and New Zealand. His food friendly wines have a large following particularly in the UK where he has visited regularly over the years.

Beautifully soft with aromas of citrus, lime and pineapple and full of creamy buttery flavours with a hint of spice and a long fruity finish.

2011-11-30T14:40:00.001+01:00

Vatsala Virdee joined the team at Excellence early this year after retiring from the UN in Geneva. However, she is probably best known for her novel, Rubies and Rickshaws, a fairytale romance set in the Himalayas.

Vatsala, married to distinguished LHC physicist, Professor Tejinder Virdee at CERN, and mother of two, worked at the UN for 28 years. ‘I became fascinated with the humanitarian efforts the UN was involved in. Families crossing borders, lost children arriving without parents, mothers struggling with their new-borns, young men fleeing - striving for a better life ... !’ Vatsala and her team worked tirelessly providing humanitarian relief to millions of refugees crossing borders. From the swinging sixties in England to unexpectedly finding herself, in 1971, studying in Darjeeling she got to know Mother Teresa. ‘Despite all the other important things Mother had to do, I think she really enjoyed tucking me into my dormitory bed and wishing me a 'very goodnight’!' From these poignant memories, Rubies and Rickshaws began to take shape. This story, about a beautiful young photographer who searches for her true identity, is a must read!

Excellence would like to welcome Vatsala on board our team in Geneva as Lifestyle Luxury Partner and magazine editor wishing her all the success for our future collaboration.

2011-10-15T22:55:00.001+02:00

12 October 2011

Dear Inge,

We have shared such good times together in the last year. It has been a great pleasure for me to have you as a dear and sincere friend always positive, kind, generous and full of heart.

I remember most of all with fond memories our ski weekend to Nendaz, in the luxury chalet and how I had to slide down on my backside on the ice to get to the far distance chalet – and you only had to run down the icy path with Princess going wild, which you did without falling! It was so much fun. You worked so hard for us that snowy weekend, making breakfast, tidying up, doing the dishes, preparing the table for the next meal and driving.

Everything you do to help others to achieve their goals is so commendable. Now it is time for us to help you to be on top of the world and achieve your goals, to make your dreams come true.

Now today, on this special day, celebrating at the famous and romantic Hotel Beaurivage, sipping champagne in the elegant suites overlooking lake Geneva, Tejinder and I just wanted to express how much we appreciate you and how much we love having you as our dear friend.

With love and best wishes for a truly memorable day.

Vatsala, Tejinder, Natisha and Jasmeer

2011-09-12T10:03:00.002+02:00

3/9/11

What a wonderful time we had last night. I sent you a little card in the mail but could not resist saying a big email thanks to you for the fantastic organisation, jungle Amazonian décor, operatic entertainment which I loved, good food and wonderful pop music and friends. We really had a great time. It was also lovely to see Jenna and talk to your mum. Do give them our best.

Tejinder had a taste of the scented pipe and I had to hit him with my little black leather handbag from time to time as I definitely needed a ride home last night but then he followed it on with a Capirinia which was swiftly overtaken by several hip-swings on the dance floor. It was Mick Jagger's fault with that song he so loves, 'I can get no satisfaction' - his all time favourite. Thank goddess the trio dessert arrived bang on time onto the dance floor which got him off the dance floor distracting him to indulge yet again! Before leaving Jiva Hill, I made him sit in the garden for 40 minutes to breathe the cool fresh air where he insisted I should also get tipsy and indulge in yet another Capirinia - most unlike him but hey the booze and desserts were talking - and alas there can only be one to drive the elegant lady home - er no, I'm not referring to me - but his darling car! Men and their cars!

Anyhow, all went well and we arrived home safe and sound having really had the best time ever.

2011-09-02T18:41:00.000+02:00

2011-09-02T18:10:00.000+02:00

UK Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878-1960 about M Oza


Name:	M Oza
Birth Date:	8 Feb 1915
Age:	42
Port of Departure:	Sydney, Australia
Arrival Date:	16 Aug 1957
Port of Arrival:	London, England
Ports of Voyage:	Sydney [Melbourne] [Colombo] [Bombay]
Ship Name:	Strathaird
Search Ship Database:	View the 'Strathaird' in the 'Passenger Ships and Images' database
Shipping Line:	P & O Steam Navigation Company
Official Number:	8211/01

View Original Imag

2011-09-02T09:38:00.001+02:00

UK Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878-1960
Immigration & Travel
Name:
Mulshowker Shamji Oza
Other:
- Fremantle; Bombay; Aden and Port Said
Departure:
- Freemantle, French Polynesia
Arrival:
23 Oct 1947 - Southampton, England
Birth:
abt 1914

2011-08-30T12:43:00.000+02:00

Oza, V in your tree "Virdee"

Remove

UK Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878-1960 about V Oza

Name:	V Oza
Birth Date:	20 Nov 1953
Age:	3
Port of Departure:	Sydney, Australia
Arrival Date:	16 Aug 1957
Port of Arrival:	London, England
Ports of Voyage:	Sydney [Melbourne] [Colombo] [Bombay]
Ship Name:	Strathaird
Search Ship Database:	View the 'Strathaird' in the 'Passenger Ships and Images' database
Shipping Line:	P & O Steam Navigation Company
Official Number:	8211/01

RMS Strathaird

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

(Redirected from SS Strathaird)

Career (United Kingdom)
The Strathaird passing under the Sydney Harbour Bridge
Class and type:	Strath class ocean liner
Name:	RMS Strathaird
Operator:	Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company
Route:	London-India-Australia
Ordered:	January 1930
Builder:	Vickers-Armstrong
Yard number:	664
Launched:	18 July 1931
Maiden voyage:	12 February 1932
Homeport:	Tilbury
Fate:	Scrapped in Hong Kong in July 1961
General characteristics
Tonnage:	22,544 gross tons
Length:	202.4 metres (664 ft)
Beam:	24.4 metres (80 ft)
Draught:	29 metres (95 ft)
Propulsion:	Turbo-electric steam turbine motors, twin screws
Speed:	Service: 20 knots (37 km/h) Trials: 23 knots (43 km/h)
Capacity:	1,166 passengers
Crew:	490

RMS, later SS, Strathaird was the second of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company Strath class ocean liners. She was built at Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow-in-Furness, then in Lancashire, and launched on 18 July 1931. She remained in service for less than 30 years, being scrapped in 1961.

[hide]

History

Strathaird was built just after the Strathnaver and the two ships were the first P&O liners to be painted with white hulls and yellow funnels,^[1] and nicknamed The White Sisters.^[2] There were three funnels, though the first and third were dummies and were removed in the refit in 1947 that followed her service in the Second World War.

Strathaird's maiden voyage was on the mail run from Tilbury to Sydney through the Suez Canal and this remained her route until the war. In December 1932, Strathaird was the first P&O ship to operate a cruise, when she took a five-day excursion from Sydney to Norfolk Island; later in the 1930s she was also used on occasion for cruises from UK ports.

Two further Strath class ships, slightly larger and with only one funnel, the Strathmore and the Stratheden, joined Strathaird and Strathnaver on the Sydney run from the mid 1930s. A fifth ship, the Strathallan, was completed in 1938, requisitioned as a troopship only a year later, and sunk in the Mediterranean in 1942 taking troops to the landings in North Africa, though with more than 5,000 people on board casualties are thought to have numbered only a dozen or so.^[3]

On wartime service from 1939 to the end of 1946, Strathaird was used to take troops from Australasia to the Middle East. During a refit in Liverpool, she was also used in the evacuation of troops from Brest, in France.

Strathaird hosts the 1948 Australian cricket team

Strathaird was extensively refitted in 1947 for the resumption of her P&O career: the dummy funnels were removed and the numbers of first-class passengers increased, with a drop in the number of tourist-class passengers.^[4]One of her early duties on her return to civilian tasks was to bring the 1948 Australian cricket team, also known as The Invincibles, to England. A further refit in the early 1950s accompanied a downgrade in status which saw the ship converted to a single class.

Increasing unreliability of the older pair of Strath liners led P&O to propose a new single ship, the SS Canberra, that would replace both of them.Strathaird's final outward journey from Tilbury was on 28 March 1961 and her return voyage departed from Sydney on 9 May, 1961. She left Tilbury finally on 17 June 1961 for a breaker's yard in Hong Kong.^[5]

P&O Liner Strathaird at Fremantle Harbour c.1950. (Note the single funnel)

Egon Kisch

Egon Kisch on board the Strathaird bound for Australia November 1934.

In November 1934 Czechoslovak writer, journalist and opponent of Adolf Hitler's Nazi regimeEgon Kisch was confined onboard the Strathaird when the Australian government unsuccessfullyattempted to exclude him from the Commonwealth. Kisch dramatically defied the exclusion order by leaping from the departing Strathaird on to Melbourne's Station Pier and breaking his right leg. Australian authorities returned him onboard but he was later released and allowed to visit freely by the Australian High Court.

External links

References

^ "P&O RMS Strathaird". SS Maritime. Retrieved 2007-12-20.
^ "The White Sisters". The Ocean Liner Virtual Museum. Retrieved 2007-12-20. This site maintains that Strathnaver was the first built, and Strathaird the second, but no other sites that were consulted agree.
^ "The Strathallan Story". Retrieved 2007-12-20.
^ "P&O RMS Strathaird". SS Maritime. Retrieved 2007-12-20.
^ "P&O RMS Strathaird". SS Maritime. Retrieved 2007-12-20.

2011-05-28T23:01:00.000+02:00

Dear Colleagues,
>
> you have been or are involved in the visits of the ISEF students and you might be interested to see the short 10 min documentary that was made by one of our students, Eliza McNitt, who did the shooting in June 2009 and who managed to boil down 12hours of footage into 10 minutes. Took a bit of time, but I think it is a very nice result. Enjoy!
>
> http://vimeo.com/23276850
>
> Please feel free to forward the link.
>
> Regards, Wolfgang

What an awesome, awesome video. How well and simply it condenses the whole huge crazy thing from the young, smart newcomers' point of view.

My favorite part was seeing flashes of footage of Tejinder at the big Intel event ... and hearing people think he's like a rock star. And we know that even rock stars are regular people ... some of the time.

Thanks for sharing this. It's wonderful. I will now send it to my family and friends for them to learn, glimpse and enjoy.
Love, cyn

2011-04-10T14:40:00.000+02:00

Jai Swaminaran

President, Pujya Shree Rameshbhai Oza,

Shree Wadilalbhai Shah

Shree Rajubhai Raval,

and

All Chief Guests and Trustees and Committee Members.

Congratulations on the auspicious occasion of the

100 Anniversary of Shree Unewal Sevak Mandal Educational Trust, Mumbai, India

Jai Sawanayaran

25 years ago I had the great fortune to attend the 75^th celebrations of the Unewal Sevak Mandal Education Trust on 27^th August 1989. It is now with even greater fortune that I mark with you all today this important landmark of 100^th years of our most beloved Uneval Sevak Mandal Education Trust

Late last year with the Keshod community, I celebrated the 37^th anniversary of my mother-lin-law’s High School in Shegadh, Smt Matusri Avalben Shamji Oza High School, Shergadh, Keshod

in December. Immediately thereafter I returned to England with plans to return again. I came back to Bombay last Wednesday on 30^th March only to be with you all today to celebrate this rare and auspicious occasion.

Educational Trust, Shree Mulshanker Shamji Oza and Smt Ramagauri Mulshanker Oza Educational Trust, Bombay, 1972

In 1972, the Oza Educational Trust was created in Bombay to give under-privileged children the opportunity to receive free education. Now, since January 2009, the trust is managed by Shree Nathalia Uneval Brahmin Samaj Trust in Veraval and for this my family and I are extremely grateful.

Smt Matusri Avalben Shamji Oza High School, Shergadh, Keshod

Education played a vital role in my husband’s M.S. Oza’s life. In memory of his beloved mother, Smt Matusri Avalben Shamji Oza High School in was founded in 1972. In December 2010 we celebrated 37 Anniversary of children’s education in Shergadh.

Mulshanker Shamji Oza, with support of Shri Bhartia Kalavni Mandal, Shergadh and the Shergadh Community, founded in 1972, the Pujya Matusri Avalben Shamji Oza High School in memory of his beloved mother.

This school currently provides education from Primary to High School’s SSC for 320 children from age 5 to 15 years. This idea was the great inspiration of the people of Shergadh whose forward thinking for the future of their small community was, at the time, innovative. When the community approached Mulshanker Shamji Oza to be a benefactor of this building project, he accepted with great enthusiasm as for him it was to realise a dream – the dream to provide top-quality primary and high-school education to local children who would then find the ways and means to benefit their families and serve their community!

Many congratulations to all the trustees and committee members of the Unewal Sevak Mandal for organising such grand celebrations. My hearty congratulations to you all. And also my family,my son Bharatbhai Oza and family and my daughter Vatsala Virdee and family send their best wishes for the success of this event.

2011-03-21T17:06:00.003+01:00

Jai Swaminaran

Congratulations on the auspicious occasion of the

100 Anniversary of Shree Uneval Sevak Mandal Educational Trust, Mumbai, India

From:

Shree Bharatbhai Mulshanker Oza & Smt Rashmi Oza

WESTFIELD LTD, MANCHESTER, UK

Professor Dr. Tejinder Virdee

Smt Vatsalaben Tejinder Oza-Virdee

Shree Mulshanker Shamji Oza and Smt Ramaben Oza, 1950, UK

Biography, Smt Ramaben M. Oza

Born in Meghpur, educated in Rajkot and married to Mulshanker Shamji Oza in 1950, Ramaben Oza came to Manchester, England in 1951 with her husband, who was born in Navda.

As devoted wife of M.S Oza, a dedicated mother and proud grand-mother, she has kept in very close contact with her roots in India and has worked tirelessly for numerous charitable organisation based in Manchester, England.

Indian Association in Manchester

In 1959-1960 Mr. and Mrs M. S. Oza worked together to form the first Indian Association in Manchester in order to preserve Indian culture and traditions in the UK. In 1963, M.S. Oza, as Vice-President, and his family, had the honour of a special private audience with Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru and extended to him a personal invitation to attend the English Prime Minister’s conference in London.

Smt Matusri Avalben Shamji Oza High School, Shergadh, Keshod

Education played a vital role in M.S. Oza’s life. In memory of his beloved mother, Smt Matusri Avalben Shamji Oza High School in was founded in 1972. In December 2010 we celebrated 37 Anniversary of children’s education in Shergadh. Mulshanker Shamji Oza, with support of Shri Bhartia Kalavni Mandal, Shergadh and the Shergadh Community, founded in 1972, the Pujya Matusri Avalben Shamji Oza High School in memory of his beloved mother. This school currently provides education from Primary to High School’s SSC for 320 children from age 5 to 15 years. This idea was the great inspiration of the people of Shergadh whose forward thinking for the future of their small community was, at the time, innovative. When the community approached Mulshanker Shamji Oza to be a benefactor of this building project, he accepted with great enthusiasm as for him it was to realise a dream – the dream to provide top-quality primary and high-school education to local children who would then find the ways and means to benefit their families and serve their community!

Community Hall in Veraval

In 1994, in memory of her late husband, Ramaben Oza inaugurated the Late M.S. Oza Community Hall in Veraval, Gujarat with a statue in his honour. Her son, Shree Bharatbhai and her daughter, Smt. Vatsalaben also expressed a deep desire to install a statue of their beloved mother Smt. Ramaben M. Oza in the Community Hall in Veraval. Further donations are the Smt. Ramaben M Oza, Prathna Hall and Bharatbhai’s water purification tank. With deep gratitude to the family of Shree Nathalia Uneval Brahmin Samaj Trust, this installation ceremony took place on 17^th December 1999.

Educational Trust, Shree Mulshanker Shamji Oza and Smt Ramagauri Mulshanker Oza Educational Trust, Bombay, 1972

Shree Kankeswari Satsan Mandle, Borivilli, BombayIn 1987, in memory of M.S Oza, Ramaben published Bunjunawali, a religious book of enchanting songs.

Shree Nathalia Uneval Brahmin Samaj Trust (Una Bombay)

President of Janmastme in Bombay, Parla, at Bhaidas Hall

Junagadh Wadi, Community Center.

Late M.S. Oza worked energetically towards creating a better life-style for his community in India.In 1964, in partnership with Oza family members; he founded and donated the Junagadh Wadi, Community Center. In 1997, further donations included two community halls in memory of M.S. Oza and Ramaben Oza’s Prathna Hall for general functions. Four bride and bridegroom halls were donated by Ramaben on behalf of Bharatbhai and Vatsalaben family members. The Junagadh Wadi has now become a major landmark for all community members, marriages, functions and family gatherings. The local Junagadh community has embraced this center by donating generously to maintain this Wadi to a very high standard. Over 45 years, the local community’s perseverance and dedication have helped the M.S.Oza and Ramaben to continue to serve their community.

UK Charities

From 1995-1997 she was elected President of the Indian Association of Manchester, an organisation co-founded by M.S. Oza in 1950. This organisation is now a prestigious body in the UK and comprises of one of the largest Indian communities in England.

Other charities which are dear to her heart and which she had made a major contribution are as follows:

President of the Ghandi Hall Temple in Manchester.

Trustee of the Hindu Religious Society

Hon. Delegate of the Brahmin Federation of Europe

Hon. Delegate of the Indian Senior Citizens of Manchester

Participant of Manchester Community Care Center activities

Member of the Hindu Council, UK

Delegate and Community worker

President of Bahmin Samaj Manchester

Family values, spiritual and religious principles are the key essence on Ramaben’s dynamic approach to charity work. She has said herself, many times, that without her children and grandchildren’s support and love, her work could not have been possible.

We remember her family members particularly her two sons and two daughter-in-laws, Sureshbhai, & Nayantaraben, Bharatbhai & Rashmiben. Ramaben’s daughter Vatsalaben and her husband Professor Dr. Tejinderbhai Virdee and her 7 grandchildren: Yogeeta, Preyesh, Sunita, Tejus, Neehil, Natisha and Jasmeer.

Mrs. Ramaben Oza has continuously carried out the charitable work her husband has started. She has worked vigorously to preserve his good name and to dedicate her time to the Shree Nathalia Uneval Brahmin Samaj Trust and she has become a great asset to this community.

Many hearty congratulations and compliments from:

Mr. Tejus Bharat Oza, age 27, Foreign Exchange Trader, London, UK

Mr. Neehil Bharat Oza, age 23, Hedge Fund, Brussels, Belgium

Professor Dr. Tejinderbhai Virdee, Physicist, Center for European Particle Physics (CERN), Geneva Switzerland, & Imperial College, London, UK. Leader for the CMS experiment for the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, Geneva.

Mrs Vatsalaben Oza-Virdee, 1980 to 2008: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Geneva, Switzerland, & Writer of Rubies and Rickshaws.

Ms. Natisha Virdee, age 26, Primary School Teacher, London, UK

Mr. Jasmeer Virdee, age 24, Phd, Physics, Oxford University, UK

2010-12-16T11:22:00.002+01:00

Congratulations and Celebration Message from

Bharatbhai Mulshanker Oza,

Manchester, England, 25 Decmeber 2010

On this auspicious occasion of celebrations of 37th Anniversary, myself, Rashmi, Tejus and Neehil from Manchester, England wish to extend our heartiest congratulations and special thanks to the school, its staff, parents and children.

We, as the Oza family from Manchester are proud of their great achievements of children past and present. It was my father, Mulshanker Shamji Oza’s dream to build the School for the villagers of Shergadh.

I remember with great fondest my first visit to Shergadh when I was 5 years old in 1957. For the first time I tasted Mango, Green Bananas, Sugar Cane Juice freshly pressed on the roadside. All these fruits were not available in England. I saw also for the first time Peacocks running through the forest with Nilguys (deers), monkeys jumping from tree to tree and hundreds of Buniyan trees. This made an ideal playhouse for my sister and me. There we played in a great bath in Bandanath where my father built a guest house for travellers at the temple dedicated to his family. But most of all I remember playing on the roof of my grandmother’s house where she would put the Mango Stones to dry in the hot Gujarat sun.

If my father was with us today he would have been really proud of all our achievements. His memory and my Daddima Aval Ma’s memory live on here forever.

My mother Ramaben is supporting this event with full and dedicated support from Manchester. Many of you here today have come from great distances, so we extend our special thanks to you as without you this function would not have been possible.

Our special thanks goes to Jitenbhai Metha and all his dedicated team as without them this Havan wouldn’t have been possible. Our sincere wishes are from myself, Bharat, Rashmi, Tejus and Neehil in Manchester, England.

2010-12-16T00:09:00.000+01:00

37 Years Anniversary of

Pujya Matusri Avalben Shamji Oza High School,

Shergadh, Keshod

Saturday

25 December 2010

Shergadh, Keshod, Gujarat, India

Jai Swaminaran!

Educational Trust

It is great pleasure for us to celebrate 37 years Anniversary of children’s education in Shergadh.

My father, Mulshanker Shamji Oza, with support of Shri Bhartia Kalavni Mandal, Shergadh and the Shergadh Community, founded in 1972, the Pujya Matusri Avalben Shamji Oza High School in memory of my beloved grandmother. This school currently provides education from Primary to High School’s SSC for 320 children from age 5 to 15 years.

This idea was the great inspiration of the people of Shergadh whose forward thinking for the future of their small community was, at the time, innovative. When the community approached my father to be a benefactor of this building project, he accepted with great enthusiasm as for him it was to realise a dream – the dream to provide top-quality primary and high-school education to local children who would then find the ways and means to benefit their families and serve their community!

My grandfather, Pujya Shamji Rugnath Bapa Oza was born in 1890 in Navada had no opportunity for education. Born around 1896 in Shergadh, my grandmother, Pujya Matusri Avalben Shamji Oza, had no opportunity for education. He was also uneducated. Like many men and women in our community at that time, she did not have the same opportunities as young people today. However, she wanted a bright and brilliant future for her son, and she knew that the only way this was possible was by succeeding in his studies. My grandmother encouraged and supported my father, Mulshanker Shamaji Oza, to study hard to achieve great success. She wanted for her son what she could not have for herself. She encouraged him to study for a degree so to improve his life opportunities.

When she passed away in 1956, my father realised how important her contribution had been to his own education, as well as her role as a devoted mother, a mother who became his champion of education. So I see my grandmother as a Champion of Education and this school as a reflection of her vision despite the limitations of her era. She lived a life of sacrifices and love for her family. Therefore, my father, who eventually became a successful business man, enthusiastically put much effort in making this project succeed in her memory.

My father, born in 1915, was educated in a primary school in Shergadh. At the time, in early 1930s, only primary education from the age of 5-10 years was available for children. There was no opportunity for high school education in Shergadh and so my father, at the age of 10-11 continued his higher education in Sharpur, Junagadh and Bharuch near Surat. He studied hard and was an excellent student. Here he successfully completed his matriculations. But this was not enough so my father applied to Wilson College in Bombay.

His high school results won him a scholarship to Wilson College on the Marine Drive in Bombay when he was 16 years old in 1931. With little money in his pocket he managed to find humble accommodation near Opera House sharing one room with 4 other students near the college. To make ends meet he began part-time work at a Life Insurance Company and taught young kids in order to earn some extra money. As electricity was expensive and unreliable my father would do his homework under the reliable dim street lights of the famous Hanging Gardens – there sometimes looking at the stars wondering if his dreams for success would ever come true!

As he moved his business life away from India and settled in England his heart and mind stayed in India and his story of education continued.

Born in England, my brothers, Sureshbhai, Bharatbhai and myself went to excellent schools - we did not suffer shortage of light doing our homework and we did not have to go to work to earn more money to succeed in our studies. We benefited from the many facilities of a modern world. While we were growing up our father would tell us that the most important asset parents can give their children is Education!

Happy 37^th Anniversary

Jai Swaminaran!

Jasmeer Virdee

Masters Degree in Physics from Imperial College, London

2006 - 2009

(Post Doctoral) Ph.D Astro Physics, Oxford University, England (Present)

Jai Swaminaran!

Junagadh Wadi, Community Center.

My grandfather worked energetically towards creating a better life-style for his community in Junagadh. In 1964, in partnership with Oza family members, he also founded and donated the Junagadh Wadi, Community Center.

In 1997, further donations included two community halls in Junagadh in memory of my grandparents, Mulshanker Shamji Oza and Ramaben Oza’s. Prathna Hall is for general functions - for brides and bridegrooms - donated by my grandmother, Ramaben Oza on behalf of my uncle, Bharatbhai and my mother Vatsalaben.

Since January 2009, the Oza Educational trust is managed by Shree Nathalia Uneval Brahmin Samaj Trust in Veraval to help children with books, pencils and any other items they need to continue and complete their education.

It is great pleasure for us to come and celebrate 37 years Anniversary of children’s education in Shergadh.

Last year, my grandmother celebrated her 76^th birthday in Navada and took this opportunity to visit the school in Shergadh to offer energy masala milk for the children. While the school was being refurbished she came up with the inspirational idea of celebrating the completion of the renovation marking its 37^th anniversary by doing a Havan Pooja. This idea was received enthusiastically proving once again her affection and deep commitment to this great school representing Oza family history and academic achievement.

With the wonderful energetic support of Jiteubhai Metha and Nabneetbhai Upadhyay, Kantibhai Metha, Annandbhai Mama, Sureshbhai V. Metha all this has been made possible. We are grateful for the support of everyone involved and to them we extend special thanks, as well as relatives and friends. We are also so grateful to the community of Shergadh.

My grandmother, Ramaben Oza has supported this school with great affection, and fondness for the children. Her loyalty spans 37 years of visiting the school and demonstrating her support. She has provided milk, Nasta and refreshments for all the kids when she visited. She has done this with deep affection for the memory of her late husband, Mulshanker Shamji Oza and with great respect to her father and mother-in-law. My grandmother, who has spent all her life in England from a young girl of 17 years old in 1951, has never forgotten her roots, birthplace and her love for mother India.

We are marking a milestone of generations of children who have benefited from the forward thinking of the Shergadh Community, the diligence of the Head Teachers, the hard work of Teachers, and the moral and continued support of the Support Staff of the school, as well as the Oza Educational Trust. All have helped shape the community of Shergadh. And most of all, it is the dedication and commitment of the parents sitting here now who infuse their children with a strong sense of identify making this a strong and vibrant community today.

With each academic year completed, as our children go to university, they create a new generation of professional men and woman who go on to have their own careers, work-lives, and families.

For such an array of important achievements, we celebrate today the everlasting memory of my great grandmother whose ideals for further education still live on today from generation to generation, becoming the pride of the Shergadh community. She who had no education can now live on as a Champion of Education celebrating the 37^th Anniversary of Pujya Matusri Avalben Shamji Oza High School.

Happy 37^th Anniversary

Jai Swaminaran!

2010-10-27T16:55:00.001+02:00

Dear Inge,

Another great year has passed! We are so honored to celebrate your birthday together again. It has been a real pleasure to get to know you more and enjoy our times together.

In November last year we had so much fun going to the InterContinental and enjoying the fabulous cocktail. Then, on 31 December 2009, we had a fabulous evening at your Chambesy Penthouse suite, with John and Alexander where we brought in the New Year.

The most memorable moment was in May at the Maharaja’s Polo which brought us together again despite all the rain, the flat tyre, and the ripped skirt! It was all good fun despite the inconveniences of that day. I also enjoyed so much our visit to sunny Gstaad, playing with Princess, even though that was a bad day for her.

However, most of all, I enjoy and cherish our friendship appreciating all the good times as we get a little wiser and a little older. So here’s to you – to your youth and your everlasting beauty – for your engaging spirit and for sharing your happy times with us.

Happy Birthday Inge

from

Vatsala and Tejinder Virdee, 12 October 2010

2010-10-14T15:12:00.000+02:00

Dear Navdeep,

Thank you so much for a terrific evening on Sunday night, 10-10-10. The first Sikh Awards ceremony

was a fantastic occasion, one which will be remembered for a long time and definitely needed in our Sikh community.

Our family and friends were so delighted that Tejinder won the Education Award. He was humbled by this stellar recognition from his community and truly grateful.

Many thanks goes especially to you for masterminding this fabulous party. The Park Lane venue was ideal, cascading gold and diamond chandeliers dazzling and the elegant beautiful ladies, dressed up in their finery, made this party perfect. It was lovely to be proud of our Indian community in Britain.

So, well done, and do stay in touch with us. Give us news of how you are doing and what your

next project will be.

With best wishes,

Vatsala Virdee

Geneva

Switzerland

2010-09-02T12:43:00.000+02:00

We would like to thank you and your charming wife once again for the invitation and for the wonderful evening!
This message comes with some delay, but the reason is that we wanted to have more than just a glance at the absolutely unexpected present we received. It didn't come to my mind to ask Vatsala for her e-mail address, so this is the chance to share our impressions with her.
Romantic novels are not my favourite reading, and Michaela only recently discovered them (you know, the age!), but this book is not just a romantic story. It rather offers in emotional coating a serious analysis of two different cultures and mentalities, with the important message that true values might have different appearance but this doesn't change their nature. Certainly, it is the deep - and experience-based - understanding of these "two worlds" that gives the conceptual value of the story and its beautiful style - elegant but not artificial, makes the reading a real pleasure. We enjoyed it a lot! Please pass our thanks and congratulations to Vatsala!
Best regards,
Nevena

2010-07-08T16:50:00.001+02:00

In memory of Giles Whitcomb

Born at Brenner’s Park Hotel.

Baden Barden, Germany

22 December 1943

A dear friend of mine, Giles Whitcomb, was born in this hotel during World War 11. His father, Philip, an American journalist working for Associated Press and his French mother, Genevieve, were POWs and were imprisoned in this hotel during that time. After the war, the family moved to America. Giles, the quintessential American, handsome, fluent in French, graduated in International Law from Harvard and Oxford. He then joined the army and served in Vietnam. After the war was over, he moved to Geneva, Switzerland where he worked for the United Nations for disadvantaged victims of natural disasters. He married Susan Carroll in Aspen in 1990. He resigned from the United Nations in the late 90’s and continued his affiliation with Harvard by returning to live in Boston. Giles and Susan had 4 beautiful children. Sadly Giles suffered ill health from his time served in Vietnam and passed in 2003 leaving behind a wife Susan Carroll, one son Philip and three beautiful daughters, triplets, Annie, Isabel and Genevieve. Today Susan and the children live in Durham, North Carolina near Susan’s parents. This note is on behalf of his family and friends who loved him so.

Vatsala Virdee

Writer

2 July 2010

Baden Baden

2010-05-22T14:25:00.002+02:00

Desperately Seeking

1975 Vintage Don Perignon

9-10 May, 2010

'Wonders of New York' at the Hemsley Park Lane

Well our story of the champagne bottle thickens. As you may remember, after drinking the sherry golden bubbly champagne we left the bottle regally placed on the 25th floor window sill for all of Central Park to gloat!

The next day, as you know we all went to the Plaza Hotel for our scrumptious (best in the world) breakfast. After saying our goodbyes to you we went back to the hotel room only to find the 1975 Don Perignon Vintage Champagne Bottle missing.

We rang Room Service and then I handed the phone to Tejinder and darted out of the room at full speed hoping to hail down the chambermaid. She was humming in the hallway going about her daily chores. We talked hurriedly and then together raced into a large broom cupboard located somewhere on the floor in a back room. There I watched her tip out the rubbish littering the floor. Alas no bottle was to be found!

We left the chambermaid to search for it and went shopping. When we got back that night and we saw that the bottle had not been returned we thought that we had lost it for good.

The next day, Room Service called to say that they had found the bottle and returned it to us immediately. The waiter asked Tejinder why it was so important and so he retold the whole story again...

...we made a bet in 1989 in Sweden and won it in 2010 at CERN in Geneva......

To Peggie and Craig with love!

2010-05-22T14:23:00.000+02:00

Ah yes, but vintage please it must be!

In 1989 Tejinder made a bet with Craig Woody, a US physicist, that the LHC would see analysable physics data before the SSC in Texas.

Devastatingly for US physicists, the Texas SSC shut down in the early 1990’s. But the bet could only be won when physics data were flowing from the LHC.

And so the journey began. Tejinder with a handful of colleagues had conceived CMS at the LHC.

The bet, handwritten in red felt tip pen, on a white paper, was formulated in Sweden and subsequently dated, signed by the two parties, Tejinder and fellow physicist Craig, and witnessed by two other physicists who happened to be around at that particular drinking/sauna/hot tub session at that crucial moment! Tejinder took charge of the document and carefully filed it away only to be forgotten for many years until recently!

On 20 November 2009, the day of first proton-proton collisions in the LHC, Tejinder came home, rummaged for a while in his study and came out waving the document in the air prancing up and down the kitchen laughing and smiling as if he had won the Euro Millions Lottery! It was almost exactly 20 years to the day and he’d won the bet!

What did you win? I asked. How did you remember? Where did you keep it all those years? You can’t be serious! Ok you are serious! My questions came flying one after the other. And then I began to giggle because he was giggling and I hadn’t seen him this happy for a while. I glanced quickly at the document and he was absolutely right he had won the bet. There it was all signed sealed and soon to be delivered.

We called the ‘loser’, not really as such as we were going to celebrate it together, and talked for at least an hour about old times, our families, mutual friends and about our plans for the upcoming holiday season! It was very amusing to see Tejinder so happy, like a cat lapping up the sweetest milk savouring every drop of it. And hey, anyway, at that point, I was just happy he was happy after all these years of waiting for CMS to get off the ground, or should I say, get underground and start taking good data!

And the winnings? - A bottle of 1975 Vintage Moet and Chandon Dom Perignon Champagne to be delivered personally by the one who lost the bet within 3 months no matter where he would be in the world!

So typical of Tejinder to ask for a bottle of bubbly! Ah yes, but vintage please it must be! What would be a finer way of celebrating a special moment - to be shared with dear friends as the cork would go pop and the collisions would fly!

2010-03-30T17:38:00.001+02:00

2010-03-30T17:36:00.001+02:00

2010-03-11T11:59:00.001+01:00

Dear Vatsala,

I am happy that you liked the flowers and the colours (I find that

you always dress with beautiful colours, and with a lot of taste

and elegance).

I will plan for a dinner at my place soon. It would be lovely to

get again together.

Big e-hugs

Fabiola

On Mar 10, 2010, at 1:54 PM, Vatsala Virdee wrote:

Dear Fabiola,

Thank you so much for the gorgeous flowers, combination of yellow tulips, orange chrysanthamans, red and yellow crowfoot, and purple daises
with white fauna.

I hope you also had a great International Women's day. I had a look at the Atlas website and it was excellent to have the live coverage on-line.

Hope to see you very soon.
lots of hugs
Vatsala

2010-03-03T11:54:00.000+01:00

27 FEB, FIRST BEAMS OF 2010

Well it's been a while since we last wrote on the e-commentary. But that doesn't mean that activities have been equally quiet! Many improvements have been made to the CMS detector since the end of 2009, including repairs to parts of the cooling systems. At the same time, many enhancements of the LHC itself - particularly to the new "Quench Protection System" have been successfully carried-out.

The decision has also been made to make a long run of the LHC, perhaps lasting up to two years (with a technical shutdown around the end of 2010) in order to acquire sufficient data to allow some detailed physics analyses. This run will be at 7 TeV (3.5 TeV per beam).

As part of the re-commissioning of the LHC for 2010, beams were injected for the first time late in the evening on Saturday 27th February. This resulted in the first few splash events of 2010 hitting CMS. LHC 2010 has really started!

Courtesy CMS CERN Twitter (Dave Barney)

2010-03-02T16:35:00.002+01:00

Trinity College, Oxford

13-15 February. We visited Jasmeer at Trinity. That was amazing. What a wonderful city. We had one of those Harry Potter dinner's in the dinning hall which is very old. I'd like to do it again! He took us round to many of the famous colleges. ......

2010-03-01T12:03:00.000+01:00

Santa Cruz de la Palma,

30 January – 4 Febraruy 2010

Lost to the Rains !

La Palma, Canary Islands, is a popular holiday destination for hikers, famous for its yearlong warm sunny weather and scenic mountain treks. Scattered around this deep hollowed volcano are gigantic telescopes perched on flat-land rimming the volcano about 2500 ft above sea-level.

Meeting up with fellow physicist, Daniel, in Geneva on Saturday at 8.30 am we arrived to blue skies late Saturday afternoon on Tenerife North to catch our little sea-plane to La Palma. Daniel is from the historical coastal city of Split in Croatia and though a brilliant physicist, he is also a brilliant walking/talking world history encyclopaedia!

While Tejinder, Daniel and I were waiting at the tiny airport, (a throw-back design well-preserved since the 1960’s) for our flight to take-off, the weather began to worsen. Typically, at sea-level, the climate has a sunny blue-sky constant of 19 to 22 C degrees all year round and rarely would the temperature drop below 18 C degrees.

Massive dark clouds started to gather momentum in gigantic clusters over the horizon. With no rain and no wind to delay us, the plane took off on-time at 6.30 pm and landed 20 minutes later, just a pebble’s throw beyond the black sandy beaches, on a small narrow runway along the coast of Santa Cruz de la Palma.

As we disembarked the winds started to gently play up. 40 minutes later, after leaving the airport we were in our hotel tucking into a fabulous Spanish buffet with a hundred holiday makers, all who seemed to be over 60, pensioned and very healthy! After dinner we strolled around the pool and then with just a trickle of rain to deter us, we walked quickly indoors tired and weary from our long journey from Geneva. We went early to bed.

We woke up to pouring rain on Sunday 31 January. We met up with Daniel at breakfast and chatted for nearly two hours. The men were heavily into physics trying to work out a puzzle of an inexplicable scientific event/data taken when the LHC was running just before Christmas 2009. I know something about this as Tejinder has had this on his mind. Then the conversation abruptly ended with the only phrase I can remember – too many heavy Ions in the ECAL! Was this the clue? It seemed vital! I remember only because once this was said they were both silent and Daniel never stops talking! It was as if this was somehow a problem that needed to be solved before they could proceed with solving the entire puzzle.

Later we hopped onto a bus into the city for lunch avoiding heaving intermittent downpours every half an hour or so. We visited the mock-up of Columbus’s ship, The Santa Maria, near the northern end of the boulevard in Santa Cruz. We joked about how Columbus (being in possession of a map and compass) became famous for insisting on going the wrong direction, finding the wrong country, calling the wrong indigenous populations Indians and then being awarded with a life-time of recognition which made him famous for all future generations! It wouldn’t happen today, we giggled rather hysterically!

We ate together garlic prawns, calamari and salads in a quaint Cuban cafe. We drank local wine which was delicious and with the help of Daniel’s incredibly interesting banter finished it all off with a delicious shot of coffee liquor.

Monday was lost to the rains. By morning on 1 February, heavy rains came pelting down with such tidal-force that it was impossible to leave the hotel. It was relentless, the noise deafening as the wind howled like a pack of injured wolves.

With three optimistic swimsuits packed into my luggage, I had no choice but to drop the idea of ever going to the beach that day! With Tejinder and Daniel attending the Physics conference, I stayed alone indoors, read magazines and discovered my Hotel Hotsa Taburiente. I did have a gorgeous sea-view but the visibility was so poor I could only see grey and hear the lion-roar of sea-waves crashing defiantly against the rocks below my room.

Our friends/physicist colleagues, Lyn and Lynda, who were due to arrive on Monday got caught in the rains. Having suffered a bumpy life-threatening flight from Madrid to North Tenerife, their pilot aborted two landings and on attempting a third decided to land in South Tenerife. After some trepidation the flight landed and our friends found themselves homeless in South Tenerife. They called us from the airport. ‘We’re stranded, in South Tenerife and looking for a hotel.’ With little information coming from the airlines, they managed to book their hotel room and headed for a taxi. To their horror the queue was so long the wait would be more than an hour and they were soaked to the skin! When they finally did get a taxi, the taxi was unable to move due to zero visibility. Finally, late that night they checked into their hotel, had dinner and checked out on Tuesday, the next morning, onto an organised coach to take them back to North Tenerife to catch the island plane to La Palma!

News reports were in Spanish and slow coming that day. Sadly the hurricane-style weather left one islander dead. The roads up to the telescopes were impassable on Monday and Tuesday blocked with flying debris from the forests. Waves pulled parked cars into the Atlantic and 30 people had to be brought to safety. The streets of the island's capital, Santa Cruz, were covered in a layer of mud- wash coming down from the mountain. On the other islands around 30,000 inhabitants were left without electricity and many smaller villages were cut off by the floods.

The Symbol of the Canary Islands

The symbol of the Canary Islands is very interesting. The ribbon says "Oceano" because they are islands located in the Atlantic Ocean.

The Crown is because they are a part of Spain, which has a king.

The 7 symbols on the shield represent the 7 main islands.

But what about the dogs? People think that the Canary Islands get their name from the birds canaries.

But actually the canary bird received its name after the People of the Canaria. All breeds of canary birds descend from the canary birds that still exist on the island. So why are there two dogs and not two canaries?

When the Romans came to the Canary Islands they met with not only fierce natives, but also the island’s wild dogs. The Latin word for dog is "canis" and so the people named the islands "canaria", Islands of the Dogs, because of these dogs. People were proud of these dogs so they included them in their symbol. Today we still use the word "canine" as a general term for a dog.

Hierro - Capital is Valverde
La Palma - Capital is Santa Cruz de la Palma
Gomera - Capital is San Sebastián
Tenerife - Capital is Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Gran Canaria - Capital is Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Fuerteventura- Capital is Puerto de Rosario
Lanzarote - Capital is Arrecife

Volcano

Teneguía is on the island of La Palma.

On October 21, 1971 the volcano caused earthquakes on La Palma.

On October 26th the volcano exploded!

For the next weeks until November 21st the volcano sent lava into the sea and ash into the sky. Fortunately the damage was not extensive and volcano has been quiet since then.

2010-02-08T16:39:00.001+01:00

Dear Vatsala,

I hope you could enjoy somehow your stay in Las Palmas
despite the windy weather.
Here in Le Muids the endlessly cold and snowy wintertime
is just perfect to sit close by the fireplace with some
nice books. I found time and leisure to read your novel
and it was lots of fun.
Congratulations to this achievement. I was pleased with
the fantasy, the intricate entanglement, I was always
curious to discover the next chapter, to see what it will
add to the story (at the end I turned back once more to
chapter one).
It must have neen great fun to write it, yet important
work and commitment as well.
Thanks again, and I'm looking forward to read more from
you.

Greetings to both of you, also from Peter, who is my
very best e-mail secretary!

Amicalement... Eva

--

2010-01-26T15:46:00.000+01:00

Dave:

Indian (Gujarat); pronounced as da-way: Hindu (Brahman) name, from Sanskrit dvivedi ‘(one who has studied) two Vedas’.

Joshi:

Indian: Hindu (Brahman) name, from Sanskrit jyoti? si ‘astrologer’.

Mehta:

Indian (Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, and Bombay city): Hindu (Bania, Vania, Brahman, Khatri),

Jain, Parsi, and Sikh name meaning ‘chief’ in several modern Indian languages, from Sanskrit mahita ‘praised’, ‘great’ (from mah- ‘to praise or magnify’).

In Gujarati it has come to mean ‘teacher’, ‘accountant’, probably because teachers and accountants were respectfully so addressed in Gujarat. The Oswal and Porwal Banias and the Punjabi Khatris also have clans called Mehta.

Oza:

Indian (Rajasthan): Hindu (Brahman) name, probably from Ojha, a Hindu Brahman name found in Uttar Pradesh and its neighbourhood, derived ultimately from Sanskrit upadhyaya ‘teacher’.

Dictionary of American Family Names, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19—508137-4

2010-01-25T13:30:00.004+01:00

Virdee -Ramaben Oza-Mehta-Joshi

Migration Path

Out of Africa:

Halpogroup U

Origins - Sudan - 140,000 years ago

Out of Sudan to Libya - L3, - 70-100.000 years ago – from Africa to Mediterranean

Out of Libya to Greece – N - 60,000 to 80,000 years ago, from Africa to Mediterranean

Out of Greece to Turkey – R - 60,000 years ago, from Near East to:

Out of Turkey to mutation of U - 55,000 years ago – from Near East

Out of Near East U to mutation U5 – Finland/Nordic Countries, 55,000.00 years ago from Near East

We have no evidence that we are part of U5 but we know we are Group U

Haplogroup U

Time: Emerged approx 55,000 years ago
Place: Near East
Facts: The woman who founded Haplogroup U lived approximately 55,000 years ago in the Near East.

European Ancestry
The descendents of Haplogroup U had great influence over Europe, eventually forming branches: K, U1, U2, U3, U4, U5, and U6. Today, descendents of this haplogroup can be found throughout Europe, each sub-lineage having a distinct geographical distribution in Europe. The Cheddar Man, whose remains were found in Cheddar Gorge in Somerset England was proven to be a haplogroup U descendent. The Cheddar Man is believed to have lived in 7150 BC.

Ancestors
The woman who founded the Haplogroup U line is the direct female descendent of female ancestors belonging to Haplogroup R. Haplogroup R is Near/Middle Eastern and Caucasus in origin.

Haplogroup U (mtDNA)

In human genetics, Haplogroup U is a human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroup, a group of people who descend from a woman in the Haplogroup R (mtDNA) branch of the Genographic tree, who lived around 55,000 years ago.

Her descendants gave birth to several different subgroups, some of which exhibit specific geographic homelands.

The old age has led to a wide distribution of the descendant subgroups that harbor specific European, northern African, Indian, Arab, northern Caucasus Mountains and the Near East clades.

Mitochondrial DNA Haplogroup U is known as "Ursula," though strictly speaking, "Ursula" applies only to one subclade, U5, the oldest group of modern humans in Europe.

They were there before the Last Glacial Maximum and would have encountered, if not extinguished, the Neanderthals. Today they are about 11% of modern Europeans and are most common in western Britain and Scandinavia.

2010-01-19T23:52:00.001+01:00

Happy Birthday Natisha

2010-01-12T13:35:00.000+01:00

Volume 27 - Issue 02 :: Jan. 16-29, 2010
INDIA'S NATIONAL MAGAZINE
from the publishers of THE HINDU

• Contents

SCIENCE

Discovery machine

R. RAMACHANDRAN

Interview with Dr. Jim Virdee, spokesperson, CMS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider.

PICTURES COURTESY CERN

PROFESSOR TEJINDER VIRDEE was involved in the development of the CMS detector concept from the earliest days and has been influential in many areas of the detector design.

PROFESSOR Tejinder (Jim) Virdee of Imperial College, London, has played an extremely prominent role in the design and implementation of the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). He was involved in the development of the CMS detector concept from the earliest days and has been influential in many areas of the detector design. The innovative concepts in CMS are likely to influence the next generation of high-energy physics experiments. He proposed the idea of discovering the elusive Higgs boson via its decay into two photons, which is central to the concept of the high resolution lead-tungstate crystal calorimeter, one of the major components of the CMS design. Having served for many years as CMS deputy spokesperson, he was elected CMS spokesperson in January 2007. He will thus be the scientific leader of the experiment during first LHC data gathering and analyses. Experts from an interview with him shortly before the restart of the LHC at CERN in Geneva:

Are there any changes in your plans at CMS now that the machine is slated to begin its physics run only at 3.5 TeV per beam initially instead of the original 5 TeV?

Well, it has taken us a long time to build the experiment and we have also been commissioning the experiment. The commissioning of such an experiment actually has several phases in it. Straight after finishing construction we were ready to take beam last year and we took some good data, but then the incident occurred. Nevertheless we continued. We ran the experiment for about six weeks round the clock for several reasons. One was to see whether this very complicated piece of scientific equipment actually can sustain long operation. We also have to figure out if it is working as expected. What do I mean by that? We have documents written down ten years ago, which run into a stack three-quarters of a metre thick, which explain what performance of these would be to get to the physics at the LHC. So we have to check whether the instrument is actually working as we had written down. For that we ran the detector for six weeks round the clock, recording cosmic rays.

Cosmic rays actually manifest themselves at sea level as muons. And some of these muons have very high energy. They can penetrate 100 metres of earth and still have a lot of energy. These are the particles that go through the detector and we could actually check whether the detector was working: Does it have the expected efficiency – close to 95-99 per cent? Does it have the position resolution – in some cases 15 microns and in other cases 200 microns? And does it have the time resolution – order of nanoseconds? And does it work as a whole system? Does it have the [expected] performance in kinematics like momentum resolution, energy resolution and so on? And all in all we found that the amount of the detector that was working was very high – order of a per cent not functioning of this complex instrument that has 100 million electronic channels in all. So everything was very encouraging. There were a few issues that cropped up which were related actually to cooling. A few detectors had to be replaced. And some refurbishment in terms of the infrastructure, like the cooling system and so on. We had to install one detector and we did that.

What are the special characteristics of the detector and what are the various steps involved in your checks?

We have a design which is entirely based on a single magnet, a high field solenoid. The first thing one actually does in the design of the experiment is actually to figure out the magnetic field configuration for the measurement of muons. That then determines the rest of the design. The detector is built such that [see diagram] the first layer is within a tracker, which is all silicon. It has a volume of a cylinder of 6 m in length and 2.5 m in diameter. The next layer is the electromagnetic calorimeter, which uses lead-tungstate crystals (in green). Then the hadron calorimeter, which is a brass scintillator. The fourth layer is the muon system, which is dominated by the coil. It is the most powerful coil ever built. It is 13 metres long and 6 m in diameter and it has a very high magnetic field which supplies the field for this detector and when the field returns in the iron yoke (shown in red), we use it to analyse the momenta of the muons.

We had also taken data when the beams were stopped at the collimator and that actually allowed us to check some of the timing characteristics. With this large number of channels they also have to sing in tune to hit the right note – to see the track. If they are out of time you see a jagged track. From there we can actually figure out if the detector is functioning well. After we finished the maintenance part, we started taking the data again about three or four weeks ago. The detector seems to work well and we are analysing that data so as to be as ready as we can when the beam comes. That’s the first part – commissioning of the experiment without beam.

The next thing to do is to commission it with beam. When the beam comes, particles actually go outwards and time synchronisation is quite different. So we have to check that we actually reproduce or have performance that this set of data are indicating. This is independent of energy. The next step is what we call “Rediscover the Standard Model”. So this is known physics. We know how some of these standard model processes are: things like W and Z production, particles discovered in the early 1980s. These particles are used to check whether the experiment is working properly or not. By checking it means: are the rate of the W and Z production and the way they decay as we expect from the Standard Model? What it is at [Fermilab’s] Tevatron energies [2 TeV] we know. And the standard model’s predictions are precise to a few per cent. It will be a first challenge for us to make measurements at that precision. We know what the answer should be. And so that again is also, roughly speaking, independent of energy because W and Z production cross-sections are not changing very fast with energy. So sitting at 7 TeV for some period of the time, collecting these data will take a little bit longer than at higher energy but not that much longer. So that’s the next step, what I would call “Physics Commissioning” the detector.

Won’t some new channels open up even at 7 TeV?

At 7 TeV if you start picking up a lot of data then you would go beyond what Fermilab is doing currently. What we are talking about is something we do in orders of six months to one year at most, to compare with something that’s been going on since 1989. That’s the first thing. If we get confidence there and if we understand Ws and Zs production, the top-antitop quark production, things like J/psi and upsilon particles – these are what we call the standard candles – we will clearly be looking for new things. Then after a certain time at 7 TeV – when we understand the detector, when we get familiar with the machine and start playing with the beam – we will go up in energy and there the aim is to take sizable data sets. And it is clear that as we go above 7 TeV, closer to 10 TeV, each unit of data brings us beyond Fermilab all the more faster, go to new territory, make a significant step beyond Fermilab, in terms of new physics like supersymmetry, extra dimensions, heavy Ws and Zs. Higgs will take time.

Why do you say Higgs will take time?

Because, first, the amount of time that something takes depends on two or three different things. One clearly is the centre-of-mass energy. Second is how heavy it is, and how easily it is produced. So, for example, in supersymmetric particles, they have high cross-sections so they are easily produced, but their masses are high. When I say beyond the Fermilab territory, it is some number like 450 GeV and when I say go significantly beyond, it will be a few hundred GeV above that. The higher the mass, the rarer they are and the more the luminosity you need. Luminosity at higher energy is significantly more. The Higgs is a rare beast to be produced and at the LHC, depending on its mass, its signatures that are easily visible are rare as well. So we need to take a lot more collisions to see it. We have to accumulate a lot more proton-proton collisions, preferably at higher energies than at lower energies. That’s why it will take a bit of time.

But as soon as you have a 3.5 TeV beam – that’s 7 TeV – are there are any particular things that you would be looking for?

We would be looking for everything.

That’s true. But are there any specific things because of their higher cross-sections and things like that?

Supersymmetric particles…

At 7 TeV itself?

If we stay there for some period of time, because the idea is to go up in energy after a reasonable time but not too long a time either. Higher energy gives you more reach, but even at that energy if you stay there for significant length of time we would be exploring territories beyond what Fermilab is doing because, after all, it is 3.5 times that energy.

As you continuously ramp up the energy beyond 7 TeV, would you progressively be setting lower limits on Higgs mass? When will you be able to say with confidence that there is no Higgs below such and such energy?

Well, the LHC is a discovery machine. We are actually looking to make discoveries. So, I think that’s the name of the game. As the data come in, the emphasis will be on the high statistical significance of the statements that we make at the end of the programme – we are half way through the LHC programme today and so [there is] another 10-15 years to go. The name of the game is actually to retrieve all the physics that is at this special energy scale of the LHC. There is some magic, I think, about this energy scale. We expect things to happen because we know that the standard model doesn’t work at this energy. There are some parts of it which fail. And so there is something which nature has done to give mass and also to control some other things which give nonsensical answers as we extrapolate standard model to these energies. So what is it? That’s what we want to find out. When we find it out we need to know how nature has done this. What is the underlying theory and that will take time as well and that’s why the programme is longish. Discovering is one thing, getting into a deep understanding is another game.

One of the great things about Higgs is that, when we started, its mass was not known. It is still not known. It can actually range from 115 GeV to 1 TeV although the measurements indicate that it is closer to 115 GeV. The good thing about Higgs is that depending on the mass it actually manifests itself inside the detector in completely different ways. And many different ways depending on the mass, and we have to cover all the different ways and, in fact, when you have done you find that detector can do anything that the nature has in store for us. Anything.

So I think it will be very exciting time coming up.

2010-01-10T18:34:00.002+01:00

Wikapedia

Kankai is a holy place situated in the middle of Gir National Park. Thousands of pilgrims visited this place every year.

The Main Temple Is of "Shri Kankeshwari Mataji" also known as "Shri Kankai Mataji". Kankai Maa is considered as Kuldevi ( Most Worshipped Goddess ) In many gujarati castes such as Brahman's (e.g. Uneval brahman's ), Bhadreshwara's (Vanza) & some other castes. There is a small temple behind Kankai Maa's temple, which is of Mataji's brother's temple .

At Gaushala ( cowshed where cows and buffaloes are taken care of ) is also there near the temple premises .

The temple trust has also built some rooms so that tourists & devotees can take rest or stay for night , & can have food there .

A river flows close to the Temple , its Name is "Shingavada River". sometimes visitors can site lions near the temple or near the river as it's an open habitat for lions only second to The African lions.

2010-01-10T14:56:00.003+01:00

Shree Kankai Mataji Mandir Gir

26 December 2009

Natisha and Vatsala Virdee, Geneva, Switzerland

Hidden away deep in the Indian Jungle of Gir along the banks of the river Hiran and River Singodo is the ancient Temple of Kankai, a Temple of great sacred beliefs for the Unewal Brahmins, a temple devoted to the worship of Godness Kul Devi of the people of Unewal Bhrahman, Bambhania Koli, Kapol, Vanik and Nagar, a place of great sentimental value for the Oza family.

My father, Mulshanker Shamji Oza and mother, Rama Oza-Mehta-Joshi first took me to the hidden temple of Kankai when I was 5 years old. I have fond memories of wild animals, hundreds of peacocks, deer, and blue birds. I remember driving through shallow blue rivers littered with hundreds of bouncing grey monkeys with tails shooting up in the air curled on top like a Butlins’ candy rock. Bathing in gigantic baths filled with fresh water, I remember lush green vegetation in the mid 1950’s.

I visited the temple once again in 1999 and then in 2008. In 2009 with my daughter, it was her first visit to Kankai. These last 10 years or so, the forest, due to lack of rain, has been very dry and the journey hot and arid. The baths have long gone, filled up with forest debris, sand and dirt. Now the leaves on the trees look like wisps of paper hanging precariously from brittle branches ready to be blown away by just a gentle breeze. In a controlled environment, the dirt track and its borders are carefully set on fire to create ash. Ash does not burn. This precaution is taken seriously and performed often to avoid a fatal forest fire. Where there is ash there is no fire. Sadly Gir is a forest just waiting to burn down.

However, it is the home of the last of the Asian Lions. Almost extinct some years ago, the forest is now a safe and protected haven where the lions are breeding once again. To see the lions go to Sasan Gir which is located on the other side of the forest. For information on Sasan Gir go to Google Earth. The lions do roam freely around the forest but are rarely seen around Kankai. When they do roam out of their comfort zone the forest ranger will inform the discerning traveller.

My daughter and I visited Kankai on 26 December, 2009. We travelled by jeep with family members including my mother. From Junagadh the trip takes 4 hours deep into the heart of the jungle. Hire a driver who knows the area. The animals were the same, packs of deer, colourful blue birds, peacocks and monkeys and the excitement and joy we felt seeing them was childlike exhilaration.

The temple is small and appears to be floating on a platform overlooking the river. Monkeys are a key feature so beware of them. The colours of Kankai are lipstick- bright-orange-red surrounded by lush orange and pink bougainvillea trees. We plucked the wafer-thin petals and dried them in books.

We prayed, made our wishes come true, reflected. We sat, we chatted, we laughed and we even joked but mostly we were all there for its beauty and tranquillity. An oasis of humility, a passage of time, unchanged, unfaltering it seems that thankfully modernity will never find its way there.

This faraway temple, buried deep in the heart of the jungle would certainly gracefully survive the harsh pressures of the modern world and this is why Kankai will always be one of the great wonders of the lion jungle.

We chimed the many bells several times each gong singing a different tune, we lay in the shade, sat under a Bougainvilla, we rested on a bench, we swung on a swing like innocent children, cross-legged on the marble floor, kneeled to the Goddess and chatted together with other visitors, temple orderlies, caretakers and Priests. Our Oza family name is engraved in the marble and we searched for their names. Indians are always curious about other Indians and specially those visiting the same temples and by large we all seem to be distantly related.

After our temple lunch, where we were served humbly in the huge dining hall we headed back home. On route we hit a rock, got a puncture, went for a stroll along the river not too far from the jeep, fixed the puncture and got back to Junagadh 4 hours later.

2010-01-08T09:50:00.001+01:00

Freezing temperatures, on 7th January, 11.30 pm Lynne stayed over at our place in order to get her early morning EasyJet flight to Amersterdam and then her connecting flight to the States. She was going home for 3 months after 3 fantastic years in Geneva living in the Jura Mountains where she was able to study the flora and fauna. Lynne loves birds and she was in the right place to observe their wild habitant.

We left the key for her in a secret hiding place as we had to go out for dinner with Austin and Alison at the Chanterclaire in Ferney. It was bitterly cold last night. The temperature was so low the snow had turned to ice, the wind was getting stronger by the minute and the air felt rather menacing. Jinder and I got home around 11.30 and tried desperately to enter the house but the door stuck. Lynne appeared to have doubled locked the door from the inside so this is why we could not get in.

We phoned her several times on the home phone but she was fast asleep and could not hear it. We tried throwing stones at her window...she did not hear them at first. By the time she did realised that someone was throwing stones at her bedroom window, and by the time she got up to check it out, we had walked back to the kitchen area. We knocked on the kitchen window for 10 minutes but she did not hear us!

We suddenly got the giggles, particularly Jinder who normally is so serious. I really don’t know why we both started to laugh because it was so cold. Our house is exposed to the lake so it gets even colder as we get the brunt of the lake-wind. From giggles to even more giggles we ended up phoning Bob in California to phone Lynne on her mobile phone who was sleeping in our guest room in Geneva! She answered, got up and opened the door. By midnight we were in our beautiful warm inviting home, safe and sound! This morning there is a hellish violent wind engulfing our home. I’m going back to bed!

2010-01-07T09:43:00.002+01:00

Travelling to India, just before Christmas to celebrate mummy's 76th birthday Natisha and I did the following journey.

Geneva, Bombay Rajkok, Junagadh, Kankei, Seteghei, Meghpur, Navda, Junagagh, Navda, Junagadh, Jeypur, Rajkot, Bombay. 24 December - 29th December 2009.

2010-01-04T10:12:00.003+01:00

Timeline of mtDNA Haplogroup L(origin)

Maternal Virdee-Oza-Mehta Group

Your predicted maternal haplogroup, L(origin), arose from 11 key detectable genetic events over the past 150,000 years. This timeline illustrates how Haplogroup L(origin) arose and shows the genetic changes that occurred over time, resulting in its present day form. Defining SNP markers which are expected to be present at each point of the journey are indicated in red.

L(origin)4312 (??)

L1-6--

L2-6--

L2,3,4,6--

L3,4,63594 (??)

L3,L4--

Mitochondrial Eve

Time: Lived approx 140,000 years ago
Place: Africa
Facts: Mitochondrial Eve is the most recent common matrilineal ancestor (MRCA) of all humans living today. Her mtDNA was passed down from mother to children over the past 150,000 years and all people living today can trace their mtDNA back to the common mtDNA type of the Mitochondrial Eve. She lived approximately 140,000 years ago in what is now Ethiopia.

African Ancestry
Today, the mitochondrial DNA sequences of Africans fall into one of several major Haplogroups: L1, L2, L3, M1, and U6. Each haplogroup is associated with a different ancestral lineage.

imeline of mtDNA Haplogroup L3

Your predicted maternal haplogroup, L3, arose from 11 key detectable genetic events over the past 150,000 years. This timeline illustrates how Haplogroup L3 arose and shows the genetic changes that occurred over time, resulting in its present day form. Defining SNP markers which are expected to be present at each point of the journey are indicated in red.

Timeline of mtDNA Haplogroup N

Your predicted maternal haplogroup, N, arose from 11 key detectable genetic events over the past 150,000 years. This timeline illustrates how Haplogroup N arose and shows the genetic changes that occurred over time, resulting in its present day form. Defining SNP markers which are expected to be present at each point of the journey are indicated in red.

Timeline of mtDNA Haplogroup R

Your predicted maternal haplogroup, R, arose from 11 key detectable genetic events over the past 150,000 years. This timeline illustrates how Haplogroup R arose and shows the genetic changes that occurred over time, resulting in its present day form. Defining SNP markers which are expected to be present at each point of the journey are indicated in red.

Timeline of mtDNA Haplogroup R0

Your predicted maternal haplogroup, R0, arose from 11 key detectable genetic events over the past 150,000 years. This timeline illustrates how Haplogroup R0 arose and shows the genetic changes that occurred over time, resulting in its present day form. Defining SNP markers which are expected to be present at each point of the journey are indicated in red.

Timeline of mtDNA Haplogroup HV

Your predicted maternal haplogroup, HV, arose from 11 key detectable genetic events over the past 150,000 years. This timeline illustrates how Haplogroup HV arose and shows the genetic changes that occurred over time, resulting in its present day form. Defining SNP markers which are expected to be present at each point of the journey are indicated in red.

Timeline of mtDNA Haplogroup H

Your predicted maternal haplogroup, H, arose from 11 key detectable genetic events over the past 150,000 years. This timeline illustrates how Haplogroup H arose and shows the genetic changes that occurred over time, resulting in its present day form. Defining SNP markers which are expected to be present at each point of the journey are indicated in red.

2010-01-01T11:10:00.001+01:00

2009-12-31T12:01:00.003+01:00

Ah yes, but vintage please it must be!

31 December 2009

In 1989 Tejinder made a bet with a US physicist that the LHC would see analytical physics data before the SPS in Texas. Devastating for US physicists, the Texas SPS shut down in the early 90’s.

But the bet could only be won with analytical data from the LHC. And so the journey began and Tejinder and a handful of colleagues conceived CMS at the LHC.

The bet, beautifully crafted on a faded white-lined paper, handwritten in red ink, was formulated in Sweden and subsequently dated and signed by both parties, Tejinder and fellow physicist Craig, and witnessed by two other physicists who happened to be around at that particular drinking/sauna/hot tub session at that time! Tejinder took charge of the document and carefully filed it away only to be forgotten for many years until recently!

On or around 20 November 2009, or soon thereafter, Tejinder came home, rummaged for a while in his study and came out waving the document in the air prancing up and down the kitchen laughing and smiling as if he had won the Euro Millions! It was almost 20 years to the day and he’d won the bet!

What did you win? How did you remember? Where did you keep it all those years? You can’t be serious! Ok you are serious! My questions came flying one after the other. And then I began to giggle because he was giggling and I hadn’t seen him this happy for a while. I glanced quickly at the document and he was absolutely right he had won the bet. There it was all signed sealed and soon to be delivered.

We called the ‘looser’ and talked for at least an hour about old times, family, mutual friends and about our plans for the upcoming holiday season! It was very amusing to see Tejinder so happy, like a cat lapping up the sweetest milk savouring

every drop of it. And hey, anyway, at that point, I was just happy he was happy after all these years of waiting for CMS to get off the ground, or should I say, get underground and start taking good data!

...and the winnings? - A bottle of 1975 Vintage Moet Champagne to be delivered personally by the one who lost the bet within 3 months no matter where this person is in the world!

So typical of Tejinder to ask for a bottle of bubbly! Ah yes, but vintage please it must be! What would be a finer way of celebrating a special moment - to be shared with friends or whoever else would be present at the time the cork would go pop and the collisions would fly!

BBC News Online

Advancing through the DecadeTHE MOTHER OF ALL MACHINES

Alvaro De Rujula is a theoretical physicist at Cern - the European Organization for Nuclear Research - that hosts the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). He says it is on its way to answering fundamental questions about our Universe:

"The LHC and its particle detectors will explore the collisions between two beams of protons, or atomic nuclei, up to energies seven times higher than ever reached in a laboratory on this planet. It is the largest, most complex project ever - the mother of all machines.

After a severe accident in 2008, the LHC has been repaired and it began to function by the end of 2009. It has already produced the highest-energy man-made collisions, and these are still far from what it is capable of.

The technological achievement of having protons accelerated and their collisions neatly recorded, all in a few weeks - following 20 years of work by thousands of scientists and engineers - is enormous.

It is a time of elation and hope for significant steps in our understanding of the fundamental laws of nature.

The bets are on as to whether the LHC will reveal the Higgs boson

The LHC is looking for microscopic space dimensions, for particles of a mysterious dark matter that populate the Universe. It is searching for surprises.

But, above all, it is trying to find "the Higgs".

Physicists argue that a vacuum is not empty. Once you take everything out of a vessel and cool it to absolute zero, you might expect nothing to remain inside.

But the vacuum may still be a substance, permeated by a "Higgs field". Different particles would "feel" this field differently, leading to their different masses. Physicists want to check whether this strange idea is true.

If the vacuum is a substance, one can make it vibrate. The vibrations of a field are particles.

A vibration of the vacuum would be the most-coveted Higgs boson. And the LHC is so powerful, it should be able to shake the vacuum hard enough to make them.

So will the Higgs boson be found? The bets are on and mine is a halfway wager. I think we will find something like it, but not quite what we expected."

Tejinder Virdee, a professor of high energy physics at Imperial College London, who is also based at Cern, says that new technologies had to be invented to complete the LHC:

"The end of the noughties marks the start of the second half of this incredible journey to understand how the Universe works at a deeper level.

LHC experiments are designed to discover whatever nature has in store

Tejinder Virdee

The current theory of particle physics, one of the crowning achievements of 20th Century science and underpinning much scientific knowledge, has been experimentally verified to exquisite detail.

But we know that it has many shortcomings at the energies to be probed by the LHC. Currently favoured solutions involve the existence of new phenomena, such as the Higgs mechanism.

Nature may have addressed the shortcomings differently and may well hold surprises, revealing phenomena we have not yet thought of. To find out is why we do experiments. The LHC experiments are designed to discover whatever nature has in store at this special energy."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8435246.stm#5

2009-12-24T00:05:00.000+01:00

Leaving for India today - Mumbai, Rajkok, Junagadh, Meghpur.

2009-12-24T00:04:00.003+01:00

Vatsalaben’s speech.

27th December

Meghpur, Gujarat

It is my great pleasure to be here today to honour mummy, Ramaben Oza in her native birthplace, Meghpur, and also my father Mulshanker Shamji Oza in Navda. It is the third time I am visiting this part of Gujarat with my daughter Natisha who is with me today.

We are very proud to be here to experience this wonderful event of Ramaben’s 76th birththday. Mummy came to Manchester in 1950. This now makes her stay in the United Kingdom 60 years. So today we are celebrating two great moments in Ramaben’s life, 60 years in the UK and 76 years of age.

Mummy has been a tireless worker for charities in Manchester has given much of her personal time to the cause of those people who are less fortunate than herself.

Her drive and enthusiasm has always been a sense of pride for her family. Her sons, Sureshbhai and Bharatbhai Oza could not be here today but they and their children wish her all the best on this auspicious day.

Rashmi Oza, Tejus and Neehil Oza also extend their hearty wishes for a wonderful successful celebration today.

My husband, Tejinder and my son, Jasmeer wish you love and support on this great occasion.

We remember with fondness my father, Mulshanker Shamji Oza born in Navda. His contribution to his community and other charities in Gujarat has been a sense of pride for the Oza family. He changed worlds. He created awareness of how to better oneself in society. He worked tirelessly so that others, who are less fortunate, can go ahead and be proud of their achievements.

For my father, education was the key to all success and this was reflected in his own life. He proved his commitment to education when he built a school in Shergadh, a vibrant Community Center in Junagadh and in Verawar, and a Trust Fund to provide education to the needy. All this he did so that his community would be able to raise their standard of living and then give back to their own children.

Mummy chose to come back home today! The village where she was born close to the birthplace of her beloved husband who changed her life and gave her the best life can offer.

A fairytale of love and affection; of friendship and fun; of laughter and joy. A love story which spans many years well beyond the passing of Mulshanker Oza in 1987.

Their two hearts are tightly woven as the fine silk threads of a typical Guajarati Patora sari.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all guests, friends and families here today who have blessed us with their presence.

Without their support and love this event could not have taken place.

And finally a big thank you for the organisers who have supported Ramaben throughout all her journeys to India, to Gujarat, in Mumbai and staying so faithfully in contact with her in Manchester where she has been living now for more than 60 years.

Happy Birthday Ramaben

Vatsalaben

2009-12-24T00:02:00.001+01:00

Nameste, Jai Khandilia Bapa, Jai Swaminarayan

For the 76^th Birthday Celebrations in honour of Ramaben M. Oza, Sunday, 27 December,

First, many thanks to Shree Khandilia Bapa Sava Trust for organising this religious Pooja & my birthday celebrations.

I am delighted to be here today in your humble and honourable company to mark the 2^nd anniversary of Shree Sameste Nathalia Uneval Brahmin Samaj Ceremony of Shree Khandilia Bapa Pooja.

Secondly, I would like to welcome and thank all the representatives from all the trusts & all the Samaji’s who have come to join in these celebrations today. Many of you have come from all over India, in particular, my dear relatives and close friends from Bombay, Rajkot, Ahmadabad, Junagadh, Veraval.

Let me take this opportunity to thank the tremendous efforts of all the management, & catering services to make this function as memorable as possible.

Navda is a special landmark for me. It is the birthplace of my father-in-law, Dadaji Shamji Rughnath Oza, my mother-in-law, Dadima, Matusri Avalben Shamji Oza and my husband, Mulshanker Shamji Oza.

In Meghpur, three miles away, in the next village, next to Navda, my mother, Harakhben (Jinabhai Joshi) Mehta was born.

In Rungpur, near Keshod, my father, Karsanji Keshveji Mehta was born.

I was born in Meghpur. So having myself been born in Meghpur and my husband, Mulshanker Shamji Oza born in Navda it is like we were meant for each other right from the birth. So it is like a Sangam which is like Ganga and Jamana, Soul-Mates, United from Birth, Marriage Made in Heaven!

Many thanks go to my family members. My two sons, Sureshbhai, & Bharatbhai & daughter-in-law, Rashmiben. My daughter Vatsalaben & her husband, Professor Tejinderbhai Virdee & my 7 grandchildren: Yogeeta, Pryeesh, Sunita, Tejus, Neehil, Natisha and Jasmeer. Without their support & love, my participation could not have been possible.

My special thanks to all of you, who have made this Pooja & birthday celebrations an outstanding success. Ramaben Oza.

Name:	Mulshowker Shamji Oza
Other:	- Fremantle; Bombay; Aden and Port Said
Departure:	- Freemantle, French Polynesia
Arrival:	23 Oct 1947 - Southampton, England
Birth:	abt 1914