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- Ahead of the Home Minister's upcoming three-day visit to Assam, the Koch-Rajbongshi community has once again raised their demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
- About the Koch-Rajbongshis:
- The Koch-Rajbongshi community is an ancient ethnic group hailing from the historic Koch kingdom. They are also referred to as Rajbanshi or Rajvanshi, with "Rajbongshi" translating to "royal community."
- Regarded as indigenous people of South Asia, their present-day populations are spread across regions of lower Nepal, Northern Bengal, North Bihar, Northern Bangladesh, Assam, parts of Meghalaya, and Bhutan. These territories were once part of the Kamata kingdom, which was ruled by the Koches for many centuries.
- The community is categorized differently in various regions, being designated as OBC (Other Backward Class) in Assam, SC (Scheduled Caste) in Bengal, and ST (Scheduled Tribe) in Meghalaya.
- Language: The Rajbongshi language, spoken by an estimated 10 million people according to the 2001 census, has a fully developed grammar system.
- Religion and Beliefs: While the majority of Koch-Rajbongshis follow Hinduism and adhere to numerous traditional deities and rituals, a significant portion of the community has embraced Islam. The Muslim populations in North Bengal, Western Assam, and Northern Bangladesh trace their origins to the Koch-Rajbongshi people. There are also Koch-Rajbongshi communities who follow Christianity and Buddhism.
- Agriculture and farming are the main sources of livelihood for the Koch-Rajbongshi, and they maintain a strong connection to nature. Historically, their belief system was animist, and this connection to their ancestral beliefs still influences the community today.
- A recent global survey reveals that 56.6% of Indian participants aged 50 and above have limited or no knowledge about shingles, despite the fact that over 90% of adults over 50 carry the virus in their bodies and are at risk of developing the disease.
- About Shingles Disease:
- Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is a viral infection that results in a painful rash or blisters on the skin. The rash typically appears as a band or group of blisters in one specific area of the body, though it can occur anywhere.
- The risk of developing shingles increases with age, and it is most common in individuals over the age of 50.
- What Causes Shingles? Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus responsible for chickenpox. After experiencing chickenpox as a child, the body fights off the virus, and the symptoms of chickenpox disappear. However, the virus remains dormant in the body. In some cases, the virus reactivates later in life, causing shingles.
- Is Shingles Contagious? Shingles itself is not contagious, but the virus can be transmitted to someone who has never had chickenpox. If the virus is spread, it will cause chickenpox, not shingles.
- Symptoms: Shingles symptoms can include pain, itching, tingling, and numbness, along with fever, headache, chills, and fatigue. While shingles is not life-threatening, it can be very painful. The most common complication is postherpetic neuralgia, a condition that causes lingering pain even after the rash has healed.
- Prevention: There is a vaccine called Shingrix, which helps prevent shingles and its complications.
- Treatment: While there is no cure for shingles, antiviral medications can reduce the severity and duration of the disease, especially when started early.
- The Union Government recently announced the Madhav National Park in Madhya Pradesh as the country’s 58th tiger reserve.
- About Madhav National Park:
- Madhav National Park is located in the Shivpuri district of Madhya Pradesh, situated on the northern edge of the Central Highlands of India. The park is part of the Upper Vindhyan Hills, characterized by plateaus and valleys. Historically, it served as a hunting ground for Mughal emperors and the Maharaja of Gwalior. The park was designated as a National Park in 1958, after being established as Madhya Bharat National Park in 1955, and was renamed in 1959.
- Originally covering 64 square miles (165 square km), the park was later expanded to the east, increasing the protected area to 137 square miles (355 square km).
- Vegetation: The park's forests are classified as Northern tropical dry deciduous mixed forests, along with Dry Thorn Forests typical of North-Western Madhya Pradesh.
- Fauna: Madhav National Park is home to a variety of wildlife, including antelopes like Nilgai, Chinkara, and Chowsinga, as well as deer species such as Chital, Sambar, and Barking Deer. It also shelters predators like Leopards, Wolves, Jackals, Foxes, Wild Dogs, and Wild Pigs, along with other animals like Porcupines and Pythons.
- Aquatic Life: The park is unique for having a diverse range of ecosystems, including lakes, meadows, and forests. The two lakes in the southern part of the park, Sakhya Sagar and Madhav Sagar, are crucial to its aquatic biodiversity, providing vital resources for the park’s terrestrial species.
- Recent Developments: With its recent designation as a tiger reserve, Madhav National Park has become India’s 58th tiger reserve and the 9th in Madhya Pradesh. The park is now home to five tigers, including two cubs born recently.