History of Taj Mahal - Facts & Summary

 

The Taj Mahal of Agra is one of the Seven Wonders of the World, for reasons more than just looking magnificent. It's the history of Taj Mahal that adds a soul to its magnificence: a soul that is filled with love, loss, remorse, and love again. Because if it was not for love, the world would have been robbed of a fine example upon which people base their relationships. An example of how deeply a man loved his wife, that even after she remained but a memory, he made sure that this memory would never fade away. This man was the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, who was head-over-heels in love with Mumtaz Mahal, his dear wife. She was a Muslim Persian princess (her name Arjumand Banu Begum before marriage) and he was the son of the Mughal Emperor Jehangir and grandson of Akbar the Great. It was at the age of 14 that he met Mumtaz and fell in love with her. Five years later in the year 1612, they got married.

            Mumtaz Mahal, an inseparable companion of Shah Jahan, died in 1631, while giving birth to their 14th child. It was in the memory of his beloved wife that Shah Jahan built a magnificent monument as a tribute to her, which we today know as the "Taj Mahal". The construction of Taj Mahal started in the year 1631. Masons, stonecutters, inlayers, carvers, painters, calligraphers, dome-builders and other artisans were requisitioned from the whole of the empire and also from Central Asia and Iran, and it took approximately 22 years to build what we see today. An epitome of love, it made use of the services of 22,000 laborers and 1,000 elephants. The monument was built entirely out of white marble, which was brought in from all over India and central Asia. After an expenditure of approximately 32 million rupees (approx US $68000), Taj Mahal was finally completed in the year 1653.

           It was soon after the completion of Taj Mahal that Shah Jahan was deposed by his own son Aurangzeb and was put under house arrest at nearby Agra Fort. Shah Jahan, himself also, lies entombed in this mausoleum along with his wife. Moving further down the history, it was at the end of the 19th century that British Viceroy Lord Curzon ordered a sweeping restoration project, which was completed in 1908, as a measure to restore what was lost during the Indian rebellion of 1857: Taj being blemished by British soldiers and government officials who also deprived the monument of its immaculate beauty by chiseling out precious stones and lapis lazuli from its walls. Also, the British style lawns that we see today adding on to the beauty of Taj were remodeled around the same time. Despite prevailing controversies, past and present threats from Indo-Pak war and environmental pollution, this epitome of love continuous to shine and attract people from all over the world.

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History Of Christmas Carols

  

What is a celebration without some light and sound?  Christmas is no different. In the days of yore Christmas was more of a religious festival. Today it is celebrated with great pomp and gaiety across the globe by people of different faiths. Christmas is a celebration of unity and brotherhood and is incomplete without Christmas carols. The most heard of all the Christmas carols, ‘Jingle Bells’ remain the closest to the heart. More than anything it is the fervor and zest that a Christmas carol brings with it, which adds on to the true spirit of the celebration. The jingling bells try to awaken the dull spirits and enthusiasm in you. They brush up the golden memories of the celebrations of the past. From the dull and slow hymns and hymnals, carols have indeed come a long way. The word “carol” actually means dance or a song of praise and joy! From pagan origins to the songs that you hear today, Christmas carols have a tale of their own to tell.
  
Interesting Information About  Origin And Background Of Christmas Carols


The history of carols dates back to a time when Christianity was born. It all started with the celebration the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year that falls on 22 December. People celebrated it by singing and dancing around the stone circles. It was a time when people needed no reason to celebrate, as they celebrated life.


With the advent of Christianity, people began giving their pagan celebrations a twist when they were asked to sing Christian hymns instead of pagan ones. In AD 129, it was a Roman Bishop who came up with the idea of singing a song, ‘Angel’s hymn’, at a Christmas service in Rome. Again in 760 AD, Comas of Jerusalem wrote a hymn for the Greek Orthodox Church. This kick-started a new tradition of singing hymns at Christmas services with many a composers writing and composing hymns. But the impediment was the language used in singing the hymns. This did not please the laymen as they did not understand the language. It was at this juncture that St. Francis of Assisi came out with a new plan.
  
When St. Francis of Assisi came to learn that people had lost interest in religion, he tried to keep them together with his Nativity Plays in Italy. The plays were full of songs or canticles that told the story of Jesus Christ which got the attention of the masses. Though the language that was commonly used was Latin, other languages also were used so that the audience could join in. This soon spread like a pandemic to various other parts of Europe especially France, Germany and Spain.

The first known carol, the kind of which is still in vogue was written in 1410. It was about how Mary and Joseph met different people in Bethlehem. Gradually, carols became popular with the common masses. Since then, the carols were written solely to entertain people. Seen as a source of mass entertainment, such songs were rarely sung at church services. Carol singers changed the words of their songs in accordance with the places they visited or travelled to.


Singing Christmas carols was brought to a halt when Oliver Cromwell and the Puritans came to power in England. Nevertheless, the tradition of singing carols was still held in secret, keeping the passion alive. In the Victorian times, two men, William Sandys and David Gilbert did a great job by collecting old Christmas songs from English villages. They made it popular by singing them in public, and gave the kiss of life to carol singing. 


Before carol singing was made popular, there were only a set of people who were allowed to sing the carols, called the ‘Waits’. The Waits under the leadership of their team leader would sing carols and take money from the public. No one else other than the waits were supposed to sing the carols as otherwise they would be listed as beggars.
  
With time, orchestra and instruments accompanied the songs. With increase in popularity came new songs and new ways of singing carols. One of the famous carol rituals is candlelight services. In this particular service, the whole church is lit up with candles, followed by the carol singing. This makes the Christmas Eve celebration special.


Today, Christmas is a festival that is celebrated by people of different faiths. Keeping this in mind carol singers have come up with more secular compositions. With the world now a global village thanks to the internet and other forms of media, Christmas carols are no more Christian, they have become secular teaching  every man something spiritual during Christmas.

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History Of Vogue Magazine

It is said that fashion has never been the same since the arrival of Vogue. It leads the sexual revolution by focusing on the contemporary fashion and giving more prominence to discussing sexuality. Thus, it was able to bring a large section of youth under its fold. It was also able to bring fashion to a wider audience. In this process, it became a mirror of what is fashionable and stylish in society. More than any other fashion magazine Vogue represents and targets the culturally sophisticated women. Through an enviable run of a century, Vogue documented the rise and growth of women in society. And the magazine is also a celebration of women in a male dominated world. It has become a visual and literary record of woman at various stages. And cutting across cultures, it managed to build a niche among the fashion conscious. Vogue is the first and the last word in fashion. Vogue can be, for the most part, recognized as a magazine, which promotes wealthy lifestyles, and costly top designer products though substance is added to the magazine, with significant articles and commentary on books, art and films. Vogue’s target audience appears to be primarily women and those who prefer to embrace fashion and culture as a lifestyle. Vogue launched careers of top models like Twiggy and Penelope Tree and featured trends of the time, such as the mini dress. In 1973, decades after the magazine began, the publication went monthly. Read through the article below to know the interesting and amazing information on the origin and background of the Vogue magazine.


Interesting & Amazing Information On Origin & Background Of Vogue Magazine

Vogue which is considered to be “the world’s most influential fashion magazine” was founded in the year 1892, by Arthur Baldwin Turnure and he ran the magazine until his death. After his death the magazine was picked by Conde Nast who changed the magazine from a weekly to a biweekly. Mr. Nast was also responsible for successfully introducing Vogue in Britain. He also increased the number of publications and profits off the magazine. As of today, Vogue is published in 18 countries and 1 region.



Earlier all the magazines used to portray the face of the model only on their cover. All this changed when Vogue, under the editorship of Anna Wintour, featured the three-quarter-length of a model. Thus, it set a trend where clothes and body is given more importance than the face. It also brought about a new style by combining jeans with haute couture. The central character in the academy nominated movie ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ is loosely based on the U.S Vogue editor Anna Wintour, who herself is considered as a fashion icon.



The 2007 issue of the U.S Vogue is considered to be the largest ever published and a possible world record holder. That Vogue issue had 840 pages and weighed over 5 pounds. In the year 2008, Vogue received extensive criticism for its cover shot which showed the basketball superstar, LeBron James and Gisele Bundchen in a pose, which was quite similar to that of King Kong carrying off Fay Wray.

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History Of Sabarimala Lord Ayyappan

Sabarimala (Malayalam: ശബരിമല) is a Hindu pilgrimage center located in the Western Ghat mountain ranges of Pathanamthitta District in Kerala. It is the largest annual pilgrimage in India with an estimated 45–50 million devotees visiting every year. Sabarimala is believed to be the place where the Hindu God Ayyappan meditated after killing the powerful demoness, Mahishi. Ayyappan's temple is situated here amidst 18 hills. The temple is situated on a hilltop at an altitude of 468 m above mean sea level, and is surrounded by mountains and dense forests. Temples exist in each of the hills surrounding Sabarimala. While functional and intact temples exist at manyplaces in the surrounding areas like Nilackal, Kalaketi, and Karimala, remnants of old temples survive to this day on remaining hills.


Birth & History of Lord Ayyappan:
The members of Pandya dynasty ousted by Thirumala Naicker the ruler of the erstwhile Pandya Empire spanning Madurai, Thirunelveli and Ramanathapuram lived in places like Valliyur, Tenkasi, Shengottah, Achankovil and Sivagiri. They had also establishedtheir supremacy in parts of Travancore, and some of them belonging to Chempazhanattu Kovil in Sivagiri were given the right to rule the country of Pandalam by the King of Travancore, some eight hundred years ago. King Rajashekara, the foster-father of Lord Ayyappan belonged to this dynasty.
A just and precocious sovereign King Rajashekara was held by his subjects in high esteem. Under him, the region was witnessing a goldenage. But the king had one sorrow – he was childless and thus had no heir to inherit his throne. Both the hapless king and his queen prayed ceaselessly to Lord Shiva for a child.
Around the same time, a demon by the name of Mahishasura undertook severe penance (tapas) and consequently Lord Brahma was forced to grant his wish that nobody on earth could annihilate him. Emboldened by Brahma’s boon, Mahishasura commenced systematic destruction of people and pulverized tribes and communities. Terrorised and fearing his wrath, people fled to distant lands. Realizing that only a superhuman power could exterminate the wayward Mahishasura, the devas appealed to Goddess Durga, who killed him in a bloodybattle.
Determined to avenge her slain brother, Mahishi, the sister of Mahishasura secured a boon from Lord Brahma that no being except the offspring of Vishnu (Hari) & Shiva (Haran) could slay her. In due course of time, Mahishi went to Devaloka and began harassing the Devas who in turn implored Lord Vishnu to intervene. As the boon was that nobody except the son of Lord Shiva & Vishnu could kill Mahishi, Lord Vishnu assumed the female persona of Mohini who helped devas prize Amrit away from asuras; it was decided that the male child born out of the union of Mohini and Lord Shiva would be placed under the care of Lord Shiva’s childless devotee, King Rajashekhara of Pandalam.
On one of his hunting trips to the forests near River Pampa, as King Rajashekara reclined on the banks of river mulling over the natural beauty of the surroundings and waterfalls, he heard an infant’s wails from the forest. Astounded, he followed the sounds and came upon a beautiful child furiously kicking its feet and arms. The king stood there, perplexed – he longed to take the child home to his palace.
Whilst King Rajashekhara beheld the divine child, a sadhu appeared from nowhere and instructed him to take the infant to his palace. Also the mendicant assured him that the child would mitigate his dynasty’s sufferings and that when the boy turned twelve, Rajashekhara would be aware of his divinity. As the child was wearing a gold chain, the sadhu directed the King to name him ‘Manikandan’ – one with a golden neck.
Ecstatic, Rajashekhara took Manikandan home and narrated the happenings to his queen. They both felt that they had been blessed by LordShiva himself. All except the Diwan who had entertained hopes of becoming king after Rajashekhara, rejoiced in the royal couple’s happiness.
As a child, Manikandan was very intelligent and precocious. He excelled in martial arts and shastras and surprised his guru with his brilliance and superhuman talents. Peace and prosperity reigned in Pandalam. Eventually, Ayyappan’s guru concluded that the boy was no ordinary mortal but a divine being. Upon completing his studies, Manikandan went up to his teacher to offer guru dakshina and seek his blessings in turn.
As he approached his spiritual master for ashirwaadams, the guru explained to Manikandan what he had already surmised about him, that he was a divine power destined for superhuman glory. The guru then beseeched him to bestow vision and speech upon his son who was blind and dumb. Manikandan placed his hands on the guru’s son and the boy immediately gained eyesight and speech. Requesting that this miracle be revealed to none, Manikandan returned to the royal quarters.
Meanwhile the Queen had given birth to a male child who was named Raja Rajan. Sensing these miraculous turn of events were somehow inextricably linked to Manikandan, Rajasekara, decided to crown him King; he obviously considered Lord Ayyappan his eldest son. Everbody with the exception of the King’s Diwan, rejoiced. This wily minister, who secretly nursed kingly ambitions, hated Manikandan and devised manifold plots, including poisoning of food to exterminate the divine avatar. Manikandan had a few narrow escapes, yet his body bore an injury that none could cure. Finally, Lord Shiva himself in the garb of a healer cured the young boy.

His plans foiled, the Diwan told the Queen that it was highly improper for Manikandan to succeed Rajasekara, as her own son was alive. Since Arthasastra justifies any misdeed with a noble end, he instigated her to feign illness; he assured the Queen that he would make his physician proclaim that she could be cured only by the application of tigress’ milk. Manikandan would be impelled to go to the forest where he would fall a prey to wild animals, or even if he returned home without accomplishing the task, Rajasekara’s love for him would be the same as before. Blinded by her devotion to her own son, the Queen vowed to help the Diwan and pretended as though she were suffering from a terrible headache. The King grew alarmed and summoned his physicians who were unable to revive the seemingly ailing Queen. Eventually the Diwan’s accomplice declared that she would be cured of the malady only if the milk of a lactating tigress were made available. Rajasekara proclaimed that he would hand over half his kingdom to anybody who could cure the hapless Queen.

The team of soldiers sent by Rajasekara with the sole purpose of getting the milk returned empty-handed. Manikandan offered to help, but the King would not heed his pleas to go to the forest, citing the boy’s tender age and impending coronation as reasons. Unperturbed, Manikandan requested his father to do him a favour. Rajasekara, ever the indulgent parent relented immediately; the boy seizing the opportunity pressed him to let him collect the milk.Manikandan stalled Rajasekara’s efforts to organize a band of brave men to accompany him into the forest; he argued that the tigress would leave silently upon seeing the crowd of soldiers. Reluctantly Rajasekara bid farewell to his favourite son and made him take food stocks and three-eyed coconuts, in honour of Lord Shiva.
The Panchabuthas of Lord Shiva closely followed Manikandan as he entered the forest. But on the way, he chanced to witness the atrocities of the demoness Mahishi in Devaloka. His sense of justice outraged, Manikandan hurled Mahishi onto the earth below; she fell on the banks of the Azhutha River. A bloody battle soon ensued and at the end, Manikandan mounted Mahishi’s chest and commenced a violent dance that reverberated within the earth and the Devaloka. Even the Devas were frightened. Mahishi realized that the divine being on her was the son of Hari and Haran, chastened, she prostrated before the young boy and died.
This dance was witnessed by Lord Shiva and Mahavishnu from a place called Kalakatti (It is said that Leela, daughter of Kavalan, a Karamban, with a face of Mahishi and freed herself from the curse and obtained Moksha by the grace of Shri Dharma Sastha, which is described in Sabarimala Temple as Malikapurathu Amma, by which name she has a temple there)
Following his confrontation with Mahishi, Manikandan entered the forest for tigress’ milk. He had a darshan of Lord Shiva who informed him that even though he had fulfilled the divine plan, he still had one major task to accomplish. Manikandan was reminded about his grief-stricken father and ailing mother; also he was assured of Lord Indran’s assistance in obtaining the much prized tigress’ milk. Manikandan made his way to the Royal palace on Lord Devendran, disguised as a tiger; they were accompanied by female devas in the guise of tigresses and male devas as tigers.
The people of Pandalam panicked upon seeing the boy and the tigers and hurriedly sought shelter. Soon after, the Sanyasi, who had first materialized before Rajasekara in the forest, when he heard a child’s wails appeared again and revealed Manikandan’s true identity to the wonder-struck Sovereign. The King grew silent and pensive, as Manikandan approached the palace gates with the tigers. The boy descended from the tiger’s back and informed the solemn King that he could get the milk from the tigresses and cure the Queen of the mysterious ailment. Unable to contain himself any longer, Rajasekara fell at the lad’s feet and begged for forgiveness, he had finally seen through his Queen’s pretence; her malady had ceased the moment Manikandan had left for the forest. On the day he returned from the forest, Manikandan turned twelve years old.
King Rajasekara decided to punish his Diwan as the latter was responsible for his son’s exile into the forest. Manikandan, however advised restraint; he held that all had unfolded in accordance with the divine order, through the will of God. Also he reminded his father that as he had accomplished the task for which he had created himself, he would return to Devaloka without fail. Before his departure, the lad told the King that he as he was pleased by the latter’s unflinching faith and devotion, he would grant him whatever boon Rajasekara requested for. Immediately, the King Rajasekara told him that they wanted to construct a temple in his memory and beseeched him to suggest a suitable place for the temple. Manikandan aimed an arrow which fell at a place called sabari, where in Sri Rama's era a Sanyasini called sabari observed Dhavam. Lord Manikandan told the King to build the temple in that place and then he disappeared.
Later, acting upon the advice of Saint Agasthya King Rajasekara laid the foundation stone of the temple at Sabarimala. Lord Manikandan, had stated emphatically that he would grace only those devotees who offer Darshan after observing fortyone days’ penance or vrtha that involves strict abstinence from family desires and tastes; the devotees are expected to adhere to a way of life akin to that of a brahmachari, constantly reflecting on the goodness of life. Whilst they make their way up the steep slopes of Sabarimala, they adorn themselves with three-eyed coconut and foodstuff/Aantha Garland in their heads, as the Bhagwan did when he went to the forest to fetch tigress milk, and bathed in River Pampa raising slogans of Saranam and climb the eighteen stairs.
King Rajasekara, in due course of time completed the construction of the shrine and the sacred eighteen stairs leading to the temple complex. As the King mulled over the seemingly perplexing task of placing Dharmasastha's idol in the temple for darshan, he was reminded of the words of the Lord himself - the River Pampa is a holy river as River Ganga, Sabarimala is as holy as Kasi - Dharmasastha sent Parasuraman, who resurrected the land of Kerala from the bottom of the ocean, to Sabarimala; it was he who carved the figure of Lord Ayyappa and installed it on the day of Makarasankranthi.
Every year, millions converge upon Sabarimala irrespective of caste or creed, with garlands and irumudis, chant paeans to Lord Ayyappa, bathe in holy river Pampa, climb up the eighteen stairs, hoping to catch a glimpse of Lord Ayyappa, the Dharmasastha.
The Jewel Casket is carried on head from the ancestral residence of the royal family of Pandalam to the Shrine on the day. A Garuda, the Brahaman kite, follows this ornaments-carrying procession, hovering about in the sky, After these ornaments are worn on the Lord the bird circles the temple in the sky three times and disappears. Excited by this sight the devotees begin to chant "Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa". A Star never seen before in the sky appears on the day of Makarajyothi day before the sighting of the Jyoti. A Jyoti is seen for a little time on the hilltop showing the presence of Swami Ayyappan gracing his devotees.

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History Of Birthstones

The idea that birthstones possess a certain indefinable, but nevertheless real significance has long been present and still holds a spell over the minds of all who are gifted with a touch of imagination and romance. Birthstones are sacred and pure and to own and wear something, which is sacrosanct, is what makes them popular. In the 8th and 9th centuries, the interpreters of Revelation began to ascribe to each of these stone attributes of the twelve apostles. The origin of the belief that a special stone was dedicated to each month, and that the stone of the month possessed a special virtue that it could transmit to those born in that month, goes back to at least the 1st century. There is no doubt that the owner of a ring or ornament set with a birthstone is impressed with the idea of possessing something more intimately associated with his or her personality than any other stone, however beautiful or costly. Birthstones have been a part of various cultures' belief systems for centuries and its roots can be traced to the religious traditions of Judaism, Hinduism, and Christianity. To know more go through the article given below.

Interesting & Amazing Information On Origin & Background Of Birthstones

The earliest mention of gemstones occurs in the Bible. It is believed that Aaron, the brother of Moses wore a breast ornament decorated with 12 gems, to represent the 12 tribes of Israel. The 12 gems can also signify the twelve months of the year in some cultures. As for birthstones, there are seven stones that represent the seven days of the week. The seven birthstones are Pearl for Monday, Garnet for Tuesday, Cymophane or Cat’s-eye Chrysoberyl for Wednesday, Emerald for Thursday, Topaz for Friday, Sapphire for Saturday, and Ruby for Sunday. Similarly, the months of the year also have twelve birthstones but they vary among different cultures.

King Solomon, it is believed, wore a huge garnet in his breastplate to help him gain victory in battles. Garnet was also once worn to ward off evil spirits and repel insects. The Egyptians used this birthstone to accompany the tombs as a payment to the gods for the safe passage to the other worlds.

The emerald was mined by the Egyptians near the Red sea. The stone was highly prized by the wealthy and was also used in religious ceremonies. The ancient also believed that looking at an emerald would guarantee a safe passage through the land of the dead. It is also thought to have a calming and soothing effect. In Europe, the emerald came to be more common after the conquest of South America by the Spaniards in the 16th century. With the capture of the birthstone mines, the gems were shipped back to Spain. These were then transported to India and Philippines and later to China.

Some birthstones like the topaz are thought to make the wearer invisible through certain rituals. That’s why these stones were widely used in tantric rituals and religious ceremonies. In China and India, it is widely believed that dreaming of birthstones, especially ruby brings in success in business, money, and love. The birthstone also enhances the love by tuning the psyches to one another, and also by banishing envy and jealousy.

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History Of Sign Language

Sign language, specially formulated for the deaf people, makes use of finger spellings, body language, lip pattern and manual communication, to convey the meaning. It mainly involves the use of orientation and movement of hands. The language can be taught only by a person who is specially trained in it. Today, the 'differently-abled' people can communicate to the rest of the world as easily and effectively as the able bodied. The credit goes to the sign language, which was developed many years ago. Want to know more about the language? If yes, then go through the following lines and get some interesting information on the background, origin and history of sign language.


Interesting Information On Background & Origin Of Sign Language

The origin of sign language can be traced back to the beginning of the Christian era, when illustrations of hand and finger positions were used to convey the meaning of different words. It is believed that sign language was used in Latin Bibles of the 10th century. However, the recorded history of the language dates back to the 17th century only. In 1620, Juan Pablo Bonet, a Spanish priest, published a book named 'Reduction of Letters and Art for Teaching Mute People to Speak'. This was regarded as the first modern treatise of Phonetics and Logopedia. It established oral education for the deaf and the dumb.


The manual signs, mentioned in Bonet's book, came to be used for teaching the deaf and dumb people. Inspired by the sign language of Bonet, Charles-Michel de l'Épée published a book, containing the alphabets, in the 18th century. The first public school for deaf children was established in 1755, in Paris, by Abbé de l'Épée. Through his organization, Abbé intended to help the deaf communicate with the rest of the world, by using gestures, hand signs and finger spellings. After learning the signs that were already prevalent in Paris, Abbé developed his own sign system.


Another important development in the history of sign language came with the establishment of the first permanent American School for the Deaf in Hartford, Connecticut. It was founded by Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, in the year 1817. Forty years later, in 1857, Gallaudet's son, Edward Miner Gallaudet, founded a school for the deaf, in Washington, DC. The school came to be known as Gallaudet University in 1864. This further strengthened the education process of the deaf and dumb people.


Today, there are a number of sign languages prevalent in the world. The deaf communities across the world communicate differently, through their own version of sign language. One of the most popular sign languages is the American Sign Language (ASL), which is prevalent in the United States as well as some areas of Mexico and Canada. There also exists an International Sign Language, which, as the name suggests, is used at used at international meetings, such as the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD), as well as informally, when traveling and socializing.

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History Of Rakhi Festival - Raksha Bandhan In India

Raksha Bandhan is celebrated every year on ‘Shravan Purnima’ (Full Moon Day of the Hindu month of Shravan), which generally falls in the month of August. On the auspicious day of Rakhi, sisters wake up in the morning, take bath, offer prayers to the Almighty and visit their brothers to perform the rituals of Rakhi. The ritual of Raksha Bandhan essentially includes tying of sacred thread by the sisters, on their brothers’ wrist. Before tying Rakhi, the sisters would perform an aarti, apply tilak on their brother’s forehead and then offer them sweetmeat / Mithai.

Bhavishya Purana
refers to a battle between gods and demons, and Indra (the king of the gods) was feeling depressed. At that time Indra’s wife Sachi took a thread, charged it with sacred verses or Mantras for protection and tied it on Indra’s hand. Through the strength of this thread Indra conquered his enemies. Since then till today this festival is celebrated.

In the EpicsIn Mahabharata when Lord Krishna advised Yudhishtthir to tie the puissant Rakhi to guard himself against impending evils. Thus the Raksha Bhandhan symbolizes all aspects of protection of the good from evil forces. In the ancient Puranik scriptures, it is said that King Bali's stronghold had been the Raakhi. Hence while tying the rakhi this couplet is usually recited:
Yena baddho Balee raajaa daanavendro mahaabalah
tena twaam anubadhnaami rakshe maa chala maa chala
"I am tying a Rakhi on you, like the one on mighty demon king Bali. Be firm, O Rakhi, do not falter."

Rani Karnawati and Emperor Humayun

During the medieval era, Rajputs were fighting Muslim invasions. Rakhi at that time meant a spiritual binding and protection of sisters was foremost. A famous incident relates how rakhi by then had broken the religious barriers. When Rani Karnawati the widowed queen of the king of Chittor realised that she could in no way defend the invasion of the Sultan of Gujarat, Bahadur Shah, she sent a rakhi to Emperor Humayun. The Emperortouched by the gesture started off with his troops without wasting any time.

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History Of Spider Man

Spiderman is the quintessential Marvel Comics character created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko in 1962. The character was conceived with super strength and agility and the ability to cling to most surfaces, shoot spider webs and react to danger quickly, with his “spider-sense”. Spider Man was showcased as an orphan, a teenage high school student whose “self-obsessions with rejections, inadequacy and loneliness” was identified by young readers. The first and longest lasting of all the Spiderman series was ‘The Amazing Spider-Man’. Today, Spiderman has become one of the most important and most popular characters of the Marvel universe. Read through the following lines to know more interesting and amazing information on the history and origin of Spider Man.

Interesting & Amazing Information On Origin & Background Of Spider-Man

In 1962, Marvel Comics editor and head writer Stan Lee came up with the idea to cast a new superhero. Soon after was born the character of Spiderman. Lee was inspired when he saw a spider climbing up a wall and ended up creating this character. He has even cited the same in his autobiography. After getting the consent of Marvel publisher Martin Goodman, for the character that he had in mind, Lee approached artist Jack Kirby to flesh it out. The character of Spiderman was portrayed as an orphaned boy, living with an old couple. He finds a magic ring, which grants him super-human powers. Steve Ditko was roped in to develop some pages of the character. Eventually, in the later years, the idea of the magic ring was replaced by a teenager being bitten by a spider and hence, developing powers. Till date, all Spiderman series are based on this concept.

The first issue of Spiderman, named ‘Amazing Fantasy’, was introduced in 1962. It, eventually, turned up to be Marvel’s highest-selling comics. Soon, in 1963, a solo series followed, titled ‘The Amazing Spider-Man’. This became Marvel’s top-selling series and the character became a cultural icon. Ditko was replaced by John Romita, Sr. in July 1966, who then provided pencil drawings of the character over the next several years. In 1971, Lee published an anti-drug message in the top-selling ‘The Amazing Spider-Man’, showcasing a story that depicted the negative effects of drug use. A second monthly series was published in 1972, titled ‘Marvel Team-Up’, where Spider-Man was paired with other superheroes and villains.

Spiderman’s second solo series, titled ‘The Spectacular Spiderman’, was released in 1976 and the third series, called ‘Web of Spider-Man’, was launched in 1985. In 1990, the fourth monthly title was drawn and written by popular artist Todd McFarlane, who designed a different cover to the series, with the interiors remaining the same. At a time, at least two different Spider-Man series were released in the market. The origin of Spiderman was revamped in 1998 by writer-artist John Byrne, in the miniseries ‘Spider-Man: Chapter One’. Since then, Spiderman has regularly appeared in ‘New Avengers’, ‘Spider-Man Family’, ‘the Amazing Spider-Girl’, ‘Ultimate Spiderman’, ‘Spiderman Loves Mary Jane’, ‘Marvel Adventures: Spider-Man’ and ‘Marvel Adventures: The Avengers’.

Apart from comics, Spider-Man has also appeared in cartoons, movies, coloring books, novels, records and children’s books. He has been featured in various animated series on television, like ‘The Amazing Spider-Man’, ‘Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends’, ‘Spider-Man: The Animated Series’, ‘Spider-Man Unlimited’, ‘Spider-Man: The New Animated Series’ and ‘The Spectacular Spider-Man’. The first Spiderman movie was released on May 3, 2002 and it was followed by two sequels, in 2004 and 2007. The fourth sequel ‘Spider-Man 4’ is scheduled to hit the theaters in 2011. Right from the time of his inception and till date, Spiderman has remained one of the favorite superheroes, not only amongst kids, but the adults as well.

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History Of Tom & Jerry

Tom and Jerry, two of the most honored cartoon characters in motion pictures, were created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Their plot centered on a never-ending battle, in other words, a chase between a housecat and a brown mouse. The Hanna- Barbera duo had written and directed 114 Tom and Jerry cartoons from 1940 to 1957, at the MGM cartoon studio in Hollywood. The pair won a total of 7 Oscar awards for Best Animated Short Subject, more than any other character-based theatrical animated series. The series has also been named as the ‘Greatest Television Shows of All Time’ by TIME, in 2000. Tom and Jerry was also placed at the 66^th position, in the ‘Top 100 Animated TV Shows’ by IGN, in January 2009. Read on to know interesting and amazing information on the history, origin and background of Tom and Jerry.

Interesting & Amazing Information On Origin & Background Of Tom & Jerry

  

Joseph Barbera, a storyman and character designer, paired up with an experienced director, William Hanna to create a cat-and-mouse cartoon. The first cartoon was titled ‘Puss Gets the Boot’ and it released in theatres on February 10, 1940. Having lost to another MGM cartoon at the Academy Awards, Hanna and Barbera held a contest to give the cat and mouse a new name and look. Animator John Carr won the contest, with his suggestion of Tom and Jerry. The series went into production and eventually, Hanna and Barbera went on to direct only the cat-and-mouse cartoon, for the rest of their tenure at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM).

The main protagonist, Tom was a blue-grey longhair cat while Jerry, the second protagonist, was a small & brown, house mouse. The physical appearances of both Tom and Jerry were evolved over the years. The series developed into a quicker, more energetic tone. Though the original theme of the series, cat chases mouse, remained the same, Hanna and Barbera came up with numerous variations on this theme. The final shot of Hanna and Barbera was ‘Tot Watchers’, which released on August 1, 1958, after the MGM cartoon studio closed down in 1957. Later, Hanna and Barbera opened up their own television studio, Hanna-Barbera Productions, in 1957 and went on to produce various famous TV shows and movies.

  

In 1960, Czech-based animation director, Gene Deitch from Rembrandt Films was contracted by MGM to produce new Tom and Jerry shorts. A total of 13 shorts were released under this contract. These episodes were not very favorably received by the general audience. In the early 1963, Chuck Jones, who was fired from Warner Bros. Cartoons, started his own animation studio and produced a total of 34 Tom and Jerry shorts. The main characters were given a changed appearance, with Tom getting thicker eyebrows, a less complex look, sharper ears and furrier cheeks. Jerry got larger eyes and ears, a lighter brown color and a sweeter Porky Pig-like expression. The year 1965 saw the Hanna and Barbera cartoon series airing on television, in heavily edited form.

The Jones series featured Mammy Two-Shoes. Eventually, she was replaced by a fat White Irish woman, as in ‘Saturday Evening Puss’. The series were translated into various foreign languages, since it had almost no dialogues. It started broadcasting in Japan in 1964. Since then, Tom and Jerry cartoons have been airing on television everyday in India, Germany, South East Asia, the Middle East, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Argentina, Mexico, Columbia, Brazil, Venezuela, other Latin American countries and in eastern European countries. Various Tom and Jerry movies have also been released such as ‘Tom and Jerry: The Movie’, ‘Tom and Jerry: The Magic Ring’, ‘Tom and Jerry: Blast Off To Mars’, ‘Tom and Jerry: The Fast and the Furry’ and ‘Tom and Jerry: A Nutcracker Tale’

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History Of Volkswagen

Volkswagen is a German auto maker well known among people across the world. Often abbreviated to VW, the company is based in Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the original brand name under Volkswagen Group, which also houses Audi, Bentley Motors, Bugatti Automobiles, Automobili Lamborghini, SEAT, Skoda Auto and heavy goods vehicle manufacturer Scania. The word Volkswagen means ‘People’s Car’ in German. The tagline of the company reads as Das Auto meaning ‘The Car’. Volkswagen is mostly involved with manufacturing luxury models for the upper class of the society. In November 2009, Volkswagen and Porsche together surpassed Toyota and became the world’s largest car manufacturing group in terms of production. Read on further to know some interesting and amazing information on the history, origin and background of Volkswagen.

Interesting & Amazing Information On Origin & Background Of Volkswagen 

Prior to 1930s, various efforts were made by auto makers in manufacturing simple cars that could be afforded even by the middle class, but none found any success. Most of the cars ended up costing more than an average man’s yearly wage, even after being designed in a simple manner to meet the basic transportation needs. However, Ferdinand Porsche set up an automotive design company called Porsche Buro in 1930. The company came up with an independent front suspension system, consisting of transversely mounted torsion bars, connected to two trailing arms on each side. This suspension was lighter than most others of that time.

In 1933, Hitler met Ferdinand to design a Volkswagen. He proposed an idea for a car that could seat 5 people, cruise up to 62 mph, return 33 mpg, and cost only 1000 Reich Marks ($ 250). This was an excellent opportunity for Ferdinand to push up the small car idea forward and help the citizens of Germany afford a car. Porsche designated this design as Type 60, which was later changed to V1. Hitler proposed for a convertible version, which was designated as V2. However, Porsche was not able to build the first two prototypes, which were only completed in 1935. The V1 design was upgraded and came to be known as VW3. This model had metal floors, swing axle rear transmissions, front independent suspensions and backbone floorpans. The engine chosen for the car was cheaper and reliable.

The next version VW30 was created and a total of 30 cars were produced. Eventually, many VW38s and VW39s were produced, which had front hinged doors, split windows in the rear, larger hoods and other differences. During World War II, an amphibious vehicle known as Type 166: the Schwimmwagen was produced. This vehicle was powered by a 25 hp engine and had a retractable ducted propeller in the rear, for use in water. Also, a simple military vehicle known as Type 82: Kübelwagen was also produced that came to be known as the Germany’s jeep. It had a flat-sided body that increased ground clearance. Some less than 16,000 Schwimmwagens and over 50,000 Kübelwagens were produced during the war.

In 1949, after Heinrich Nordhoff was appointed as the senior executive of Volkswagen, the company took a new turn, which proved to be fruitful. Production increased steadily and in late 1949, a new concept for a utility/ transport vehicle came up. 1950 saw the birth of VW transporter. Volkswagen cars were now being transported to other European countries like Denmark, Sweden, Luxemburg, Belgium and Switzerland. The company moved on to South Africa, where it started producing Beetles in the early 1950s. Volkswagen transporters did not gain as much popularity as Beetles. As a result, in the first 5 years of production, there were 4 times fewer buses built when compared to Beetles.

Volkswagen went global by building factories in other countries like England, South Africa, Brazil and Australia. Every year, the Beetle saw minor changes in itself. Turn signals were added and engines were improved. The Disney movie, Herbie further helped in promoting the Beetle. By late 1960s, Volkswagen was producing over one million Beetles each year, with the year 1969 being the most productive among all. The company developed a new car called the Super Beetle in 1971. The model had modern MacPherson struts in the front, instead of the older transverse beam arrangement. The models produced during 1972-74 were the only ones to have a real dashboard. In 1980, the convertible Beetle took off on the roads, after which Rabbit Pickup was introduced.

In 1981, Beetle broke records when the 20 millionth Beetle was produced in Puebla Mexico. Quantum, Golf, Rabbit, Jetta were produced in the following years. The 1990s witnessed the introduction of Fox, Vento, Sharan Van and the New Beetle in different countries across the world. The Golf Mk4 was adjudged as the third best European car of the year, in 1998, after Alfa Romeo 156 and Audi A6. Volkswagen’s market share grew in the UK, while the sales fell in the US. In the late 1990s, Volkswagen acquired three luxury brands under its group that were Lamborghini, Bentley and Audi. Since then, the Volkswagen group has been producing numerous models under various segments.

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History Of Ford

Ford Motor Company is an American multinational corporation company based in Dearborn, Michigan, which is a suburb of Detroit. The company was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on 16^th June, 1903. It was the profound interest and endless efforts of Henry Ford that led to the formation of the company, which eventually became one of the leading automobile companies in the world. Ford is known to introduce new large-scale manufacturing and assembling lines that single-handedly took the company to the peaks of success, making it the second largest automotive company in America and the fourth largest in the entire world. This article provides you with several interesting and amazing information on history, origin and background of Ford, one of the pioneers in its field.

Interesting & Amazing Information On Origin & Background Of Ford 

Ford Motors unfolded its history on 16^th of June, 1903, when it made its way into the world of vehicle business, led by Henry Ford, along with 11 other business contacts. Like any other new company, Ford too worked out its work quite moderately in the beginning, though making a mark in the market was not easy for it. The company took a long one month to mark its first sale. The first few cars of Ford were named chronologically with letters. In 1903, Ford introduced Model A in the market, which was followed by Model K and Model S. Model S was the last right-hand steering model from Ford. The first six-cylinder Model K of Ford was called as “The Gentleman’s Roadster” and “The Silent Cyclone”.

Ford introduced its world famous T Model in 1904, which later became a symbol of American Motor Industry. For the next 19 years, Ford continuously produced more T models because of the popularity of the model. It was the production of these T models that made Ford rank amongst the biggest industrial companies. Gradually, Ford not just made a mark in the world of automobiles, but conquered it. In 1907, Ford launched its current Blue Oval Trademark, but it was only in 1928 that the Model A became the first version of the familiar Ford script that became famous in the market. Henry Ford experienced immense fame and success with all his vehicles, especially the T Model. The success made him expand his business and Ford started production facilities in France, Denmark, Germany, England and Austria.

The year 1913 added further success and increased the productivity of the company. It was in this year that Ford introduced and implemented the use of the ‘moving assembly line’. The new technique gave the workers the liberty to stay in a single place and execute a series of similar tasks repeatedly on a number of cars at the same time. This method improved and made the production process efficient. Also known as Fordism, the method helped the company conquer the market with its range of affordable vehicles. By the advent of the First World War, Ford Motors produced half of the cars sold in the American and English market. Ford also facilitated the production of many cars and trucks for military purpose as well.

In 1922, Ford purchased the Lincoln Motor Company which helped the company in the production and introduction of luxury cars. With the increased popularity and productivity, Ford became the largest assembly plant in the world and by the Second World War; it produced not only the standard military vehicles, but also B-24 Liberator bombers and tanks. The World Wars had no negative impact on the company; rather it gave the company an impetus for growth and development. Ford Motors launched many famous models in the 1950s and the 1960s, like the Thunderbird in 1955 and the Mustang in 1964.

One of the most important factors that contributed to the development and expansion of Ford was that it continued to develop and implement the latest technologies in its cars. In 1979, Ford acquired 25% stake of the Japanese carmaker Mazda, while in 1987 it bought Aston Martin. Two years later, in 1989, the company acquired Jaguar. The acquiring spree continued as the company took over Volvo in 1999 and Land Rover in 2000. Ford celebrated a successful 100^th year in the market in 2003 with the release of Ford GT. The event also marked the release of limited centennial editions of some Ford vehicles. Ford has faced certain financial problems in recent years that led to the selling of certain brands like the Land Rover, Aston Martin and Jaguar. Nonetheless, the company has continued to prosper and hold an important position in the world automobile market.

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History Of Fiat

Fiat S.p.A (an acronym for Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino, which means Italian Car Factory of Turin) is an Italian automobile manufacturer, engine manufacturer, financial and industrial group based in Turin in Piedmont region. Since its inception in 1899, the company has constantly moved forward on the path of success. Fiat has excelled in many fields other than consumer vehicles, such as railroad vehicles, tanks and aircrafts. The manufacturing unit of Fiat based in Brazil is the best-seller for Fiat cars outside Italy. Fiat also has factories in other countries like Argentina and Poland. Joint venture operations can be found in Italy, France, India, Turkey, Serbia and Russia. With new technologies, new models and motto of innovation and superior technology, Fiat has continued to display expertise in the international market, apart from its phases of economical crisis. Read on further to know more about the interesting and amazing information on the history, origin and background of Fiat.

Interesting & Amazing Information On Origin & Background Of Fiat 

Fiat was founded on 11^th July, 1899 when the company charter of “Societa Anonima Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino” was signed in Palazzo Bricherasio. Giovanni Agnelli was one amongst the Board of Directors. The year 1900 brought in the inauguration of the first Fiat factory in Corso Dante. The factory had 150 personnel which worked together to rollout the first 24 cars of the company that year, including the company’s first model the 3 ½ CV. The year also led to the designing of the oval Fiat logo with a blue background. In 1902, Giovanni Agnelli was appointed as the MD of the company. In 1908, the company spread its wings and started exporting in the U.S. Soon, Fiat became a symbol of luxury and comfort in the U.S, which marked rapid growth and success for the company.

The sturdy progress of Fiat as a successful automobile company led to its expansion. The company witnessed an augmentation in its product lineup which included trucks, trams, marine engines and commercial vehicles. Few years down the line, Fiat completely renovated its production, with the cars being loaded with electrical accumulators for the first time. By 1910, Fiat became the largest automobile company in Italy, a position which it has retained since then. In the same year, a plant licensed to produce Fiats in Poughkeepsie, NY, made its first car. Owning a Fiat was during that time deemed to be as a sign of superiority and distinction amongst people. In 1916, under the supervision of Giacomo Matte Trucco, the construction of Lingotto started. This factory was the largest in Europe and was spread across 5 floors. The construction was completed in 1922, during which time the company expanded its arena of interest to steel industry, railways, electricity and public transportation lines. With the commencement of the war, the company’s production focused mainly on the army requirements.

The after-effects of the World War I made the company undergo a lot of reformation and crisis, but thanks to its effective cost-curbing policy, the company’s growth resumed as early as 1923, with Giovanni Agnelli becoming the CEO of the company. There were numerous new car models launched, the first being the four-seater ‘509’. The company adopted the policy of mass production to curb the prohibitive prices of the cars. Between the year 1934 and 1936, two new cars were introduced by the company. Both Topolino, the smallest car in the world and the Tariffa Minima, also known as Balilla, came with an excellent gas mileage. The company opened a new Mirafiori branch in 1937 and introduced advanced principles for industrial organization. This new branch was based on the company’s policy of mass production and played an important role in the expansion of the company’s output capacity.

Senator Giovanni Agnelli died in 1945 and the presidency of Fiat was taken over by Vittorio Valletta. In 1948, the reconstruction of the plant destroyed in World War II was completed which led to an increase in company’s profits and the number of employees. In 1953, the first Fiat diesel engine,the 1400 diesel, was launched. In 1955, Fiat 600 was born which was a big utilitarian car with a rear mounted engine. In 1957, the new ‘500’ was manufactured. The year 1958 was the year of growth in production for both the automobiles and farm machinery. Fiat started to open its manufacturing units in many other countries. In 1960, Fiat ‘500’ began to be produced in a station wagon style. Fiat 1800, 1300 and 1500 were also manufactured in the same year.

Gianni Agnelli, the grandson of founder Giovanni Agnelli became the President of Fiat in 1966. Under his supervision, the company continued to follow their trend of innovation with increased automation in the production process. 850 was the first Fiat to be released during those years followed by 127 in 1971. The 127 was the first Fiat car to have a front wheel drive and was named ‘Car of the Year’. In 1978, Fiat created its new flexible robotized system for assembling the bodywork called ‘Robogate’. This invention of Fiat was their road to innovation and the automation of production. In 1979, the auto sector was set up as an independent company, Fiat Auto S.p.A, which included big brands like Lancia, Autobianchi and Ferrari, along with Fiat. In 1984, the company took over Alfa Romeo.

Fiat continued to produce and provide the maximum customer satisfaction. Fiat cars continued to become a big success, right from the moment they hit the roads. The new ‘Punto’ was named as the ‘Car of the Year’. It was in 1994 that Fiat made its debut into SUVs with the introduction of Fiat Ulysses. In 1996, Gianni Agnelli became the Honorary President of the Fiat Group and Cesare Romiti took over as the CEO. In 1997, the parent company left its premises in Corso Marconi and moved to the Palazzina Fiat of Lingotto, which was converted to a Trade Fair and Convention Complex. The company expanded further into the international market in order to cope up with the crisis. This made Fiat one of the most recognized worldwide producers of affordable vehicles.

Fiat Idea made its debut in 2004 and was the first full-sized MPV built by Fiat. Sergio Marchionne became the CEO in 2004 and he along with the chairman Luca di Montezemolo steadily increased the capacity and the productivity of the company and its stakes from being one which was once financially troubled to one that can now be seen as an example of success. The year 2007 saw the Fiat 500 with stiffer suspension, wider fenders and a 150 hp turbo 4-cylinder engine that runs from 0-60 in eight seconds. Fiat was judged as the world's sixth largest carmaker and Italy's largest carmaker in 2009. Till date, Fiat continues to tread on its path of innovation and superior technology, with an innovative and improved engine and new models.

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History Of Nissan

Beauty and brilliance, elegance and efficiency, luxury and power, all blended into one - that’s Nissan for you! Nissan cars have forever nurtured the vision of blending bold, innovative designs with advanced technology - a feature that speaks of Nissan’s commitment towards producing excellent vehicles. Nissan cars, with their classic chic design, tempered with Japanese culture have made Nissan consistent producers of luxury cars in the automobile world. Founded in 26 December, 1933 in Yokohoma City by three car enthusiasts, Kenjiro Den, Rokuro Aoyama and Meitaro Takeuchi, today Nissan Motor Company Ltd is led by Carlos Ghosn. Nissan has endorsed their commitment towards innovation since the company's founding in 1933, when their cars were marketed under the name of ‘Datsun’. The cars were an immediate success with their unique, automotive style that made a major impact in both Asian and American market. Today, Nissan Motors are best revered for their impressive lineup of family sedans, sporty coupe, SUVs and more. To know more about Nissan and its amazing evolution through history, read on.

Interesting Information On Origin & Background Of Nissan 

Nissan - a brand feted for its uber-chic style, grand performance and infinite line of luxury cars - was one of the pioneering Japanese automobile companies to emerge in the year 1933. The history of Nissan Motors stretches itself back to the two Japanese automobile companies - Kwaishinsha Co., an automobile factory initiated by Masujiro Hashimoto in Tokyo's Azabu-Hiroo district in 1911 and Jitsuyo Jidosha Co. Ltd. In the year 1914, Hashimoto, the founder of Kwaishinsha Co., came up with a small passenger car that was launched in the market the following year under the name of Dat Car - a name that owed its roots to the first letters of the family names of three of Hashimoto’s main support - Kenjiro Den, Rokuro Aoyama and Meitaro Takeuchi. The two companies coalesced to give birth to Nissan Motor Company Limited. The first small-size Datsun (a modified name for Dat Car)  passenger car rolled off the assembly line at the Yokohama Plant in April 1935.

In 1936, Nissan bought design plans and plant facilities from Graham-Paige Motors Corp. of the U.S. for the manufacture of passenger cars and trucks. However, due to war, their focus was soon shifted to the production of military cars, army planes and motor torpedo boats. The impact of the war was such that by the end of it the company was technologically famished. In an attempt to revive its lost power, Nissan Motors joined hands with a UK based automotive company called Austin Motor Co. in 1952 and steered its way to the US markets. The first Datsun to hit the American Shores was in the year 1958. The vehicles, thus manufactured, were primarily based on Austin models. Nissan came up with its classic cars like the 1959 Bluebird and the 1960 Cedric that left the Japanese car buyers thrilled and boosted its production in Japan.

Nissan was the first automaker in Japan to receive the annual Deming Prize for engineering excellence in 1960. Though the company was doing well and was successful, it reached its zenith only after the launch of ‘Sunny’, “my car” concept vehicle that won Nissan its way to the small-car market. In the sixties, Nissan merged with Prince Motor Company, a merger that led Nissan shift its focus to more luxury-oriented cars. The company created a rage in US market with its luxury sedan Datsun 510 and 240Z sports car and by the early seventies sales were at their peak. In 1971, the company came up with its first Experimental Safety Vehicle (ESV) that boasted of safety technologies to avert the problem of air pollution. Since then, Nissan has adopted a vast array of advanced technologies in its production of vehicles.  

In the year 1981, Nissan dropped selling vehicles under the brand name of Datsun and launched its new set of cars under the name of Nissan Moniker. Nissan also launched its tuning division called Nismo at around the same time. The launch of more sassy, fun-to-drive cars like 300ZX, Maxima and Sentra saw Nissan’s stake expand in the US market. Classic offerings like Titan and Armada created a big rage in the auto industry. However, this trend took a dip after Nissan started producing anonymous vehicles. Its collaboration with Renault in the year 1999 helped it to gain a steady feet in the auto world. Today, Nissan cars are coveted for their understated elegance and superior drive force. Nissan has stamped a reputation for excellence, over the years. The company is also credited with introducing sophisticated engine management systems for controlling combustion and is also believed to be the predecessor in developing industrial robots and introducing CAD/CAM systems in cars.

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History Of Audi

Audi AG is a German automaker that produces luxury cars and SUVs. Headquartered in Ingolstadt, Germany, Audi is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group since 1964. The name Audi has been given on the surname of its founder, August Horch. The name Horch is an English cognate with the English word ‘hark’, symbolizing ‘listen’, which becomes ‘Audi’ when translated into Latin. Also, the logo of Audi, the ‘Four Rings’ symbolizes the merger of the four independent motor-vehicle manufacturers, Audi, DKW, Horch and Wanderer. The Audi vehicles offer topmost levels of luxury and performance that meet and exceed other coveted brands. Read on further to know more interesting and amazing information on the history, origin and background of Audi.

Interesting & Amazing Information On Origin & Background Of Audi 

Audi was first established as Horch & Co. in 1899, by August Horch. The first car was invented in 1901 with the support from 15 fellow workers of Horch. However, Horch was forced to leave the company in 1909, due to problems with the commercial management, which led him to set up another company, using the Horch brand. However, he was barred from using the name, Horch, as it belonged to his former company. It was, then, that the name Audi was conceived. The company, Audi Automobilwerke GmbH was registered in 1910. With this came the first Audi automobile, the Audi Type A 10/22 hp Sport-Phaeton. Other models built included a 2612 cc (2.6 litre) four cylinder model, 3564 cc (3.6 litre) model, 4680 cc (4.7 litre) and 5720 cc (5.7 litre). All these cars were immediate hits and were successful at sporting events as well.

August Horch left Audi in 1920 yet again, only to secure a higher position in the ministry of transport. However, he remained an active member in the board of trustees of Audi. In September 1921, Audi became the first German car manufacturer to produce a car with left-handed drive, the Audi Type K. The left-hand drive became popular, since it provided a better view of the oncoming traffic, allowing safe overtake of the cars. Audi cars at that time were considered to be luxurious cars equipped with special bodywork. In 1924, the company introduced the first six cylinder model, 4655 cc (4.7 litre) in the market. Audi merged with Horch, DKW and Wanderer in 1932 to form Auto Union. With this merger, the company launched the first European car with a six cylinder engine and front-wheel drive, the Audi Front.

With the onset of World War II, the Auto Union plants were retooled for military production. However, heavy bombing during the war severely damaged the plants. Eventually, the Auto Union AG of Chemnitz was deleted from the commercial register. In September 1949, a new Auto Union was launched with headquarters in West German, Ingolstadt, Bavaria. The company continued producing cars, following DKW’s tradition of front-wheel drive vehicles with two-stroke engines. Daimler-Benz took an 87% share in the Auto Union Company in 1958 and increased it to a complete 100% in 1959. During this time, Auto Union was facing a slack period, as the company's aging model range did not stand up to face its competitor manufacturers, Volkswagen and Opel.

In 1964, Volkswagen acquired a 50% holding in Auto Union including the new factory in Ingolstadt and trademark rights of the Auto Union. 18 months later, Volkswagen took complete control of Ingolstadt. During the 1960s, customers were more attracted towards smoother four-stroke engines and hence, DKW was dumped by Volkswagen, because it focused on two-stroke engines. Nonetheless, before it was dumped out from the group, DKW had produced F102, a four-stroke engine in 1965. Developments were made to this model and were named according to their horsepower ratings. They were thus sold as Audi 60, 75, 80 and Super 90, till 1972.

Auto Union merged with NSU, world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles, in 1969 and hence, was renamed as Audi NSU Auto Union AG. With this merger, Audi emerged as a separate brand. It was then that the Audi brand was introduced to the United States. The first car of this merger was the Audi 100, which was soon followed by the Audi 80/Fox in 1972 and Audi 50 in 1974. An Audi performance and rally racing car was launched in 1980, named as Audi Quattro, a turbocharged coupe. In 1985, the company’s official name was shortened to Audi AG. The same year, Audi sold 74,061 cars in the United States. The company, then, presented a new model in the premium segment, the Audi A8, its first production with all-aluminum body, in 1994. A new naming process was also introduced for the Audi models. Hence, the Audi A8 was known as A4 and the Audi 100 was called A6.

Sales increased drastically from 653,000 in 2000 to 1,003,000 in 2008, largest sales taking place in the Eastern Europe, Africa and the Middle East. The new Audi A4 was released in 2003, while the new Audi A6 was launched in 2004. Though Audi did struggle with safety issues, it managed to resolve them with a redesign of foot pedal placement. In the present era, the German manufacturer has managed to distinguish itself with its superbly crafted interiors and excellent performance and is proving to be a strong competitor for the premium luxury brands such as Mercedes-Benz and BMW. Audi, today, can be very well described as a symphony of luxury and ergonomic design.

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