Reviving Aak Fibre: Need to preserve traditional knowledge of Aak fibre extraction and weaving in western Rajasthan + Botanical Profile – Aak (Calotropis) belongs to the Apocynaceae family + Habitat – Drought-resistant shrub found in arid and semi-arid regions of India, especially Rajasthan, Gujarat, MP and UP + Lifespan – 5–7 years; produces flowers and seed pods within the first year + Seed Floss (Bhambhuriya) – Soft, silky, lightweight insulating fibre used in yarn, quilts and pillows + Bast Fibre – Strong fibre from the inner bark used for ropes, charpoys, fishing lines and agricultural bindings.

Caecilian Hotspot Status for Northern Western Ghats: Discovery of new subterranean caecilian species Gegeneophis chandgadi highlights the Northern Western Ghats as a caecilian biodiversity hotspot + Taxonomy – Belongs to family Grandisoniidae, order Gymnophiona (class Amphibia) + Name – chandgadi named after the Chandgadi Marathi dialect of the Chandgad region + Features – Limbless, subterranean and silent amphibian with a cylindrical pinkish-brown body + Habitat – Found in mixed agricultural and residential landscapes, not only protected forests.

Shyamji Krishna Varma: Revolutionary freedom fighter, lawyer and journalist born in 1857 in Mandvi, Gujarat + Early Life – First non-Brahmin to receive the title of Pandit and first Indian to earn an MA from Oxford University + Influences – Influenced by Swami Dayanand Saraswati and Herbert Spencer; became first President of Bombay Arya Samaj in 1877 + Indian Home Rule Society – Founded in London in 1905 to promote self-government for Indians + India House – Established in London in 1905 as a student hostel and nationalist centre + Journal – Launched The Indian Sociologist in 1905 + Death – Died in Geneva on 30 March 1930; ashes brought to India in 2003 and enshrined at Kranti Teerth, Mandvi.