INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTERS – FY SEM1

Q1. What are the basic functional units of a computer?

Answer:
 Q2
. What determines the speed of a computer?
Both the RAM and processor speed are two things that determine a computer speed the
most.

The processor speed tells you how fast it can process data. And, RAM determines how
much instructions a computer can hold before going to the processor.
a. The RAM is often needed if you plan on having a lot of programs running
in the background.
b. Processors are needed if you like to do processor-heavy applications like
computers games.

For a fast computer you will need a good amount of both RAM and processor.
 Atleast 2 GBs of RAM and a dual-core processor if you plan on using Microsoft
vista operating system.
 Maybe a higher end duo-core a quad-core processor with 3 or 4 GBs of RAM for
gaming

Q3. What is an Operating system?

An operating system (OS) is software, consisting of programs and data, which runs on
computers and manages the computer hardware and provides common services for
efficient execution of various application software.
For hardware functions such as input and output and memory allocation, the operating
system acts as an intermediary between application programs and the computer hardware,
although the application code is usually executed directly by the hardware, but will
frequently call the OS or be interrupted by it.

Operating systems are found on almost any device that

contains a computer—from cellular phones and video game
consoles to supercomputers and web servers.

Examples of popular modern operating systems for personal

computers are Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux.

Q4. List some tips for organizing your written work on your computer.

1. Organize by file types.

Make applications easier to find by creating a folder called Program Files on your
drive and keeping all your applications there. For instance, the executable files (.exe)
for Word, PowerPoint, and WinZip would all reside in the Program Files folder.

2. One place for all.

Place all documents in the My Documents folder and no where else. So whether it’s a
spreadsheet, a letter or a PowerPoint presentation, it goes here. This will make it
easier to find things and to run backups.

3. Create folders in My Documents.

”Folders” are the like drawers of your almirah/cabinet in computer filing system. Use
common language to name your folders. For example, you can create a “Biodata”
folder to store your resume word file.

4. Nest folders within folders.

Create other folders within these main folders as need arises. For instance, a folder
called “Bills” might contain folders called “2004”, “2005” and “2006”. The goal is to
have every file in a folder rather than having a bunch of orphan files listed.

5. Follow the file naming conventions.

Do not use spaces in file names, keep file names under 27 characters, and use all
lower case. So a file named for a client should be jackdawson rather than Jack
Dawson. If you break any of these rules, be consistent about it.

6. Be specific.
Give files logical, specific names and include dates in file names if possible. The goal
when naming files is to be able to tell what the file is about without having to open it
and look. So if the document is a letter to a customer reminding him that payment is
overdue, call it something like “overdue081206” rather than something like “letter”.
How will you know who the letter is to without opening it?

7. File as you go.

The best time to name and file (i.e. store) a document is when you first create it. So
get in the habit of using the “Save As” dialogue box to file your document as well as
name it, putting it in the right place in the first place.

8. Order your files for your convenience.

If there are folders or files that you use a lot, force them to the top of the file list by
renaming them with “A” or an “AA” at the beginning of the file name.

9. Cull your files regularly.

Keep your folders uncluttered by clearing out the old files. Do NOT delete important
files unless you are absolutely certain that you will never need the file again.
Instead, in your main collection of folders in My Documents, create a folder called
"Old" or "Inactive" and move old files into it when you come across them.

10. Back up your files regularly.

Whether you are copying your files onto another drive, it is important to set up and
follow a regular back up regimen.

Concluding Remarks:

The search function is a wonderful thing but it will never match the ease of being
able to go directly to a folder or file. If you follow these file management tips
consistently, even if you don’t know where something is, you know where it should
be – a huge advantage when it comes to finding what you’re looking for.

Q5. What is computer networking?

1. A computer network allows sharing of resources and information among other

devices (computers, printers, gaming consoles) connected to the network.
2. A Basic Network Requires the following:

1. Computer.

2. Network Interface Card(NIC).

3. Network Cables(RJ45,RJ11)

4. Router/Modem

3. Network Cables (Example: RJ11,RJ45)

[“RJ” means Registered Jack]

a. RJ11 is the most familiar registered jack. This is a modular connector

found in most homes and offices in most countries of the world for single-
line telephones.

b. RJ45-These cables are used in networking to connect computers and other

network elements to each other. These cabes are a bit broader than the
RJ11 cables.

4. Router/Modem:

a. A modem is a device that is used to connect to the internet through phone

line or cable.

b. A router helps you connect the internet through a stand alone phone line
which helps you use the phone as well as the internet simultaneously.
Helps in splitting up the connection.
 5. Network Interface Card (NIC):

a. Also know as LAN Card (local area network) adapter or LAN adapter

b. A network interface card, network is a computer hardware component

designed to allow computers to communicate over a computer network.

6. Client Server Network System:

Client-Server Networks are:

• Used in LAN (Local Area Network) and WAN(Wide Area Network)

• Computers may be connected in many different ways, including Ethernet cables,

Wireless networks, or other types of wires such as power lines or phone lines.

• A peer-to-peer network allows two or more PCs to pool their resources

together. Individual resources like disk drives, CD-ROM drives, and even
printers are transformed into shared, collective resources that are
accessible from every PC.
 • In client-server networks, network information is stored on a centralized
file server PC and made available to tens, hundreds, or thousands client
PCs .eg internet websites.

• For example, in a small office with 10 computers, a client server network could be
established to share resources such as a printer. There will be 1 server computer
with connection to the printer and all other 9 computers will be clients. If they
give a print command, the command will first go to the server, and then the server
will take a decision if that particular client is allowed to take print out. If yes, then
the server will given command to the printer to print the document else, the server
will reject the command of the client.

Q6. What is a LAN (Local Area Network)?

A Local Area Network (LAN) is a network that is confined to a relatively small area. It is
generally limited to a geographic area such as a writing lab, school, or building. Rarely
are LAN computers more than a mile apart.

In a typical LAN configuration, one computer is designated as the file server. It stores all
of the software that controls the network, as well as the software that can be shared by the
computers attached to the network. Computers connected to the file server are called
workstations. The workstations can be less powerful than the file server, and they may
have additional software on their hard drives. On many LANs, cables are used to connect
the network interface cards in each computer; other LANs may be wireless. See the
Topology, Cabling, and Hardware sections of this tutorial for more information on the
configuration of a LAN.

Q7. What is a WAN (Wide Area Network)?

Wide Area Networks (WANs) connect larger geographic areas, such as Mumbai or even
the whole world. Dedicated transoceanic cabling or satellite uplinks may be used to
connect this type of network.

Using a WAN, colleges in Mumbai can communicate with places like Tokyo in a matter
of minutes, without paying enormous phone bills. A WAN is complicated. It uses
multiplexers to connect ‘local networks’ to ‘global communications networks’ like the
Internet. To users, however, a WAN will not appear to be much different than a LAN.

Q8. Explain Television network.

A television network is a telecommunications network for distribution of television

content, whereby a central operation provides programming to many television stations or
pay TV providers. Until the mid-1980s, television programming in most countries of the
world was dominated by a small number of broadcast networks. Many early television
networks (e.g. the BBC, NBC or CBS) evolved from earlier radio networks.

1. In countries where most networks broadcast identical, centrally originated content

to all their stations and where most individual TV transmitters therefore operate
only as large "repeater stations", the terms "television network", "television
channel" (a numeric identifier or radio frequency), and "television station" have
become mostly interchangeable in everyday language, with professionals in TV-
related occupations continuing to make a difference between them. Within the
industry, a tiering is sometimes created among groups of networks based on
whether their programming is simultaneously originated from a central point, and
whether the network master control has the technical and administrative capability
to take-over the programming of their affiliates in real-time when it deems this
necessary — the most common example being breaking national news events.

2. In North America in particular, many television networks available via cable and
satellite television are branded as "channels" because they are somewhat different
than traditional networks in the sense defined above, as they are singular
operations – they have no affiliates or component stations, but instead are
distributed to the public via cable headends or direct-broadcast satellite
companies. Such networks are commonly referred to by terms such as "specialty
channels" in Canada or "cable networks" in the U.S.

3. A network may or may not produce all of its own programming. If not, production
houses such as Warner Bros. and Sony Pictures can distribute their content to the
different networks, and it is common that a certain production house may have
programmes on two or more rival networks. Similarly, some networks may
import television programmes from other countries, or use archival programming
to help complement their schedules.

4. Some stations or headends have the capability to interrupt the network through the
local insertion of TV commercials, station IDs, and emergency alerts. Others
completely break away from the network for their own programming, known as
regional variation. This is common where small networks are members of larger
networks.

5. As with individual stations and headends, modern network operations centers

usually use broadcast automation to handle most tasks. These systems are not
only used for scheduling and for playout from video servers, but use exact atomic
time from GPS or other sources to maintain perfect synchronization with
upstream and downstream systems, so that programming appears seamless to
viewers.

Q9. What is Internet?

The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard
Internet Protocol Suite (TCP/IP) to serve billions of users worldwide. A protocol is a set
of rules defining communication between systems. TCP – Handles data part. IP –
Handles address part – Identification of every computer on the Internet – IP address.

[To put differently, the Internet is a network of networks that consists of millions of
private, public, academic, business, and government networks, of local to global scope,
that are linked by a broad array of electronic and optical networking technologies.]

The Internet carries a vast range of information resources and services, such as the inter-
linked hypertext documents of the World Wide Web (WWW) and the infrastructure to
support electronic mail.

The Internet has no centralized governance in either technological implementation or

policies for access and usage; each constituent network sets its own standards. Only the
overreaching definitions of the two principal name spaces in the Internet, the Internet
Protocol address space and the Domain Name System, are directed by a maintainer
organization, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). The
technical standardization of the core protocols (IPv4 and IPv6) is an activity of the
Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), a non-profit organization of loosely affiliated
international participants that anyone may associate with by contributing technical
expertise.

Internet History:

1969: The U.S. military wires six university supercomputers:

1970s: Smaller colleges link their computers to the backbone sites.

1980s: Corporate research departments link to public network facilities.

1980: Private commercial networks and global links bring the net everywhere.

Q10. What are the key features and limitations of Microsoft Excel spreadsheets?

Microsoft Excel (full name Microsoft Office Excel) is a spreadsheet application written
and distributed by Microsoft for Microsoft Operating systems such as “Windows”. It
features calculation, graphing tools, pivot tables and a macro programming language
called VBA (Visual Basic for Applications). It has been a very widely applied
spreadsheet for these platforms, especially since version 5 in 1993. Excel forms part of
Microsoft Office. The current versions are Microsoft Office Excel 2010 for Windows and
2008 for Mac.

Microsoft Excel has the basic features of all spreadsheets, using a grid of cells arranged
in numbered rows and letter-named columns to organize data manipulations like
arithmetic operations.

In addition, it can display data as line graphs, histograms and charts, and with a very
limited three-dimensional graphical display.

Q11. What are Computer data storage devices?

Computer data storage, often called storage or memory, refers to computer components
and recording media that retain digital data used for computing for some interval of time.

Computer data storage provides one of the core functions of the modern computer, that of
information retention. In contemporary usage, memory usually refers to a form of
semiconductor storage known as random-access memory (RAM). Similarly, storage
today more commonly refers to mass storage — optical discs, forms of magnetic storage
like hard disk drives, and other types slower than RAM, but of a more permanent nature.

 Primary storage (or main memory or internal memory), often referred to simply as
memory, is the only one directly accessible to the CPU. The CPU continuously
reads instructions stored there and executes them as required. RAM is an example
of Primary storage device.

 Secondary storage (or external memory) differs from primary storage in that it is
not directly accessible by the CPU. The computer usually uses its input/output
channels to access secondary storage and transfers the desired data using
intermediate area in primary storage. Secondary storage does not lose the data
when the device is powered down—it is non-volatile.

Q12. What is URL? What is a domain name?

URL: In computing, a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) is a Uniform Resource

Identifier (URI) that specifies where an identified resource is available. The best-known
example of a URL is the "address" of a web page on the World Wide Web, e.g.
http://www.example.com.

Domain name: A domain name is an identification label that defines a realm of

administrative autonomy, authority, or control on the Internet, based on the Domain
Name System (DNS). An important purpose of domain names is to provide easily
recognizable and memorizable names to numerically addressed Internet resources.

Q13. Define: SMTP; Compact Disc ; Digital Versatile Disc (DVD)

 1. Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) is an Internet standard for electronic
mail (e-mail) transmission across Internet Protocol (IP) networks. SMTP is
specified for outgoing mail transport.

2. A Compact Disc (CD) is an optical disc used to store digital data, originally
developed for storing digital audio.

3. A Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) is an optical disc storage media format that can
be used for data storage, including movies with high video and sound quality.
DVDs resemble compact discs in their physical dimensions, but they are encoded
in a different format and at a much higher density.

Q14. What is the importance of Social Networking sites for media studies?

Social networking can help media houses share information, gain contacts, clients, and
increased public awareness. Even small media houses can take advantage of this resource
to set up a global presence. To make the most of social networking, it's important to fully
understand the concept of social networking and how it can be applied in ways that will
help you grow your business.

What is it?

Even before the Internet, social networking existed. In a nutshell, social networking is
when a person uses already existing contacts to meet new people as potential social or
business links. Such links, in turn, will help expand future connections. Small and local
media businesses can even do this simply by attending community events or participating
in trade shows.

Anything that gets the company name out there, or connects your company to helpful
resources, is considered networking. Technology now makes this possible to do online,
and not just face-to-face.

How can it be done Online?

One can compare social networking to the concept of the six-degrees of separation. Based
on the idea that any two people can be connected through a chain of five or less
intermediaries, social networking can occur through social network sites and
communities that may not have formed before the Internet. Through these sites, people
join, and then invite their established contacts to do the same. Those contacts will
likewise invite other individuals.

Social networking sites are created to assist in online networking. These sites are
generally communities created to support a common theme. Since the creation of social
networking sites such as MySpace, LinkedIn, and Facebook, individuals are given
opportunities to meet new people and friends in their own community and across the
world.
Media Businesses can follow this trend. MySpace encourages smaller and medium-sized
businesses to set up an online storefront as a way to advertise and promote business
activities. By doing so, individuals can become "friends" or "fans" of the profile, and will
be updated on current events, specials, and other essential information the business would
like to share.

Does it Work?

It can work as long as you treat online social networking just as you would if you were
doing it in person. Be an active member of a community or site. That being said, it is only
as valuable as the amount of effort you want to put into it. Just like meeting face-to-face,
a first impression is a lasting one.

Q15. Fill in the Blanks:

1. -------------- is the keyboard short cut on Microsoft Windows to ‘undo’ a previous

action.

a. Answer: press ‘control’ + Z keys together

2. -------------- is the keyboard short cut on Microsoft Windows to ‘copy’ a particular

file from a folder.

a. Answer: press ‘control’ + C keys together

3. -------------- is the keyboard short cut on Microsoft Windows to ‘paste’ a

particular file already copied from a different folder.

a. Answer: press ‘control’ + V keys together

4. -------------- is the keyboard short cut on Microsoft Windows to delete a file/folder

permanently.

a. Answer: press ‘shift’ + ‘delete’ keys together

5. -------------- is the keyboard short cut on Microsoft Windows to close an open

window in “Windows” operating system.

a. Answer: press ‘alt’ + ‘F4’ keys together

6. -------------- is the keyboard short cut on Microsoft Windows to ‘cut’ a file from a
folder.

a. Answer: press ‘control’ + X keys together

7. Alt-Tab is the common name for a keyboard shortcut on Microsoft Windows used
for switching between top-level windows without using the mouse. [that’s the
reason why it was named Task Switcher]
 8. When we press F1 key on Microsoft Windows a Help window is opened to
provide help on a topic associated with the currently selected item in your
application.

9. In Microsoft Windows, pressing print screen key (often abbreviated as Prt Scr,
Print Scrn, Prt Scn, Prt Sc, Prt Scrn, or Prnt Scrn on the keyboard) will
capture the entire screen, while pressing the alt key in combination with print
screen will capture the currently selected window.
10. Num Lock key is on the numeric keypad of most computer keyboards. Its ‘on’
state is commonly represented by a Green LED light built into the keyboard. If it
is switched off by pressing the Num key, one can not use the numeric keypads
commonly provided on the left hand side of the keyboard.

Q16. What can you use MSWORD for?

You can use MSWORD to produce and organise written material, correspondence,
membership lists and so on. The MSWORD programme is called a word-processing
package. This means that it is useful for typing and storing letters, articles and anything
that consists mainly of words. It is basically a fancy typewriter with a built in filing-
system.

To use MSWORD:

Switch on your computer and wait until a whole lot of picture symbols appear with a
Start button on the bottom left of the screen. Use the left button on the mouse to click on
the Start button. Then click on programmes and then double-click on the MSWORD
programme. Some computers have a MSWORD symbol that will come up when your
computer is on and you do not have to go to start – simply double click the left button of
the mouse on the symbol.

The Microsoft word programme will appear on the screen.

There will be a blank screen called Document 1. Every thing you type is called a
document. Above the blank screen there are various terms and signs you should know
about.

 The first line has a list of titles called commands - File, Edit, View, etc
 The second and third lines are called the toolbar and have different blocks that you can
use to give quicker commands to the computer.
 The fourth line [if there is one] shows your page margins – it is called the ruler.

To start a new document:

 To start a new document (click on new) You can use the block with a folder on it on the
toolbar to do this more quickly. Use your mouse to click on it.)
 To open an old document (click on open) and then click on the name of the document
you want to open
  To close a document. The computer will ask you if you want to save it before you close it
and then you click on Yes or No.

If you press save, the document will be saved under its heading in the general folder
called My Documents. You can do this with the block on the toolbar showing stiffy disk.
Click on it with your mouse.

Save As allows you to save a document under a new name in the folder of your choice.

Page set up allows you to change the margins of the page so that you can get more (or
less) typing on a page. If you click on Paper Size it allows you to change the page into
Portrait (normal A4) or Landscape (sideways A4)

Print preview allows you to see what the document will look like on a printed page. You
can also to this by using the block on the toolbar with a page and magnifying glass on it.

Print allows you to print the document if your computer is connected to a printer. You
can also print quickly by using the block with a printer on your toolbar.

Q17. Your keyboard: The keyboard has many keys that make typing and layout easier. Here is
a list with a short explanation of useful keys:

1. Esc key - this means escape and is what you press to escape from any control key you
have pressed.
2. Tab key – this makes indents [a bigger than normal space between the text and the
margin.]
3. Caps Lock key – if you press this key a green light will appear on the right hand side of
the keyboard and any typing you do will be in capital letters. This is useful for headings.
4. Shift key – this button shifts you into a capital letter when you just want to use it briefly –
for example to start a sentence. Press shift and the key you want to use. It is also useful
when you want to put in the punctuation marks or other symbols that are on top on the
keys of the numbers and some of the punctuation keys on the keyboard. So, if you need
a question mark you will need to press the shift key and the key with the ? on it.
5. Home key – if you press this you will get to the first letter of the line you are typing. If you
press CTRL [control] and Home at the same time you will get to the first letter of the first
word of your document. This is useful if you have typed a long document and want to
make a change in the first paragraph.
6. End key – takes you to the end of a line. Ctrl and End at the same time takes you to the
very end of the whole document.
7. Delete key – this is an eraser – it erases or deletes any letter or word, or line or
paragraph you decide you don’t want anymore. If it is a letter, use the mouse to go to the
letter and click on the letter. Then press delete – the letter in front of the cursor will be
deleted. Some times it is easier and quicker to use the
8. Backspace arrow just above the Enter button can be used if you want to delete the last
letter you have typed. The letter should disappear. If it is a whole word, or line or
paragraph then use your mouse to go to the beginning of the part you want to delete.
Keep your finger clicked down on the left hand mouse button and drag it over the whole
bit you want to delete. This is called HIGHLIGHTING a section and the screen shows this
by making the section black and the typing white. Then press delete and the whole bit will
disappear.
 9. Page Up and Page Down keys - take you to the top and bottom of the page you are
currently busy on.
10. Arrows - Use the arrows on the right hand side of the letters to move the cursor (line on
the screen showing your position - where the next letter will be typed) up, down or
sideways. You can also use the mouse to do this. If you want to add or delete something,
move your cursor to the right place and then either delete or add letters.

Q18. What is Microsoft PowerPoint?

Microsoft PowerPoint, usually called just PowerPoint, is a presentation program by

Microsoft. It is part of the Microsoft Office suite, and runs on Microsoft Windows and
Apple's Mac OS X operating system.

PowerPoint is used by business people, educators, students, and trainers.

PowerPoint presentations consist of a number of individual pages or "slides". The "slide"

analogy is a reference to the slide projector, a device that can be seen as obsolete, within
the context of widespread use of PowerPoint and other presentation software. Slides may
contain text, graphics, movies, and other objects, which may be arranged freely on the
slide. PowerPoint, however, facilitates the use of a consistent style in a presentation using
a template or "Slide Master".

The presentation can be printed, displayed live on a computer, or navigated through at the
command of the presenter. For larger audiences the computer display is often projected
using a video projector. Slides can also form the basis of webcasts.

PowerPoint provides three types of movements:

1. Entrance, emphasis, and exit of elements on a slide itself are controlled by what
PowerPoint calls Custom Animations
2. Transitions, on the other hand are movements between slides. These can be
animated in a variety of ways
3. Custom animation can be used to create small story boards by animating pictures
to enter, exit or move

Q19. What is a Pen Drive?

A USB flash drive consists of a flash memory data storage device integrated with a USB
(Universal Serial Bus) interface. USB flash drives are typically removable and rewritable,
and physically much smaller. Their storage capacities can be as large as 256 GB. One
can see steady improvements in their size, capacity to store data, and fall in prices. Some
pen drives allow 1 million write or erase cycles and have a 10-year data retention cycle.

Most USB flash drives draw their power from the USB connection, and do not require a
battery. Some devices that combine the functionality of a digital audio player with flash-
drive-type storage require a battery for the player function.

Q20. What is a computer virus?

A computer virus is a computer program that can copy itself and infect a computer. The
term "virus" is also commonly but erroneously used to refer to other types of malware,
including but not limited to adware and spyware programs that do not have the
reproductive ability. A true virus can spread from one computer to another (in some form
of executable code) when its host is taken to the target computer; for instance because a
user sent it over a network or the Internet, or carried it on a removable medium such as a
floppy disk, CD, DVD, or USB drive.

Viruses can increase their chances of spreading to other computers by infecting files on a
network file system or a file system that is accessed by another computer.

Causes of World War I

Introduction:

The causes of World War I, which began in central Europe in August 1914, included
many intertwined factors, such as the conflicts and antagonisms of the four decades
leading up to the war. Militarism, alliances, imperialism, and nationalism played major
roles in the conflict as well. However, the immediate origins of the war lay in the
assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria by Gavrilo Princip, an irredentist
Serb.

The topic of the causes of the World War I is one of the most studied in all of world
history. Scholars have differed significantly in their interpretations of the event.
Causes of World War I:
1. Imperialism

Some scholars have attributed the start of the war to imperialism. Countries such
as the United Kingdom and France accumulated great wealth in the late 19th
century through their control of foreign resources, markets, territories, and people.
Other empires, Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy, and Russia all hoped to do so as
well. Their frustrated ambitions, and British policies of strategic exclusion created
tensions. In addition, the limits of natural resources in many European nations
began to slowly alter trade balance, and make national industries seek new
territories rich in natural resources.Rivalries for not just colonies, but colonial
trade and trade routes developed between the emerging economic powers and the
incumbent great powers.

In 1914, there were no outstanding colonial conflicts, Africa essentially having

been claimed fully, apart from Ethiopia, for several years. However, the
competitive mentality, as well as a fear of "being left behind" in the competition
for the world's resources may have played a role in the decisions to begin the
conflict.

2. Web of alliances

European military alliances shortly after outbreak of war. A loose web of

alliances around the European nations (many of them requiring participants to
agree to collective defense if attacked):
3. Arms Race
As David Stevenson has put it, "A self-reinforcing cycle of heightened military
preparedness…was an essential element in the conjuncture that led to disaster…The
armaments race…was a necessary precondition for the outbreak of hostilities". David
Herrmann goes further, arguing that the If Archduke Franz Ferdinand had been
assassinated in 1904 or even in 1911, there might have been no war; it was "the
armaments race…and the speculation about imminent or preventive wars" which
made his death in 1914 the trigger for war.

For example: The Anglo–German naval race - Although the naval race as such was
abandoned by the British before the war broke out, it had been one of the chief factors
in the United Kingdom joining the Triple Entente and therefore important in the
formation of the alliance system as a whole.

4. The Balkan Wars 1912-1913

The Balkan Wars in 1912-1913 led to increased international tension between

1. Russia and Austria-Hungary
2. Serbia and Austria-Hungary

This brought Russia and Serbia closer. While Austria-Hungary was supported by its
alliance partner Germany.

5. Immediate Cause: The Assassination of Francis Ferdinand at Sarajevo (June

1914)

i. The final event which led to the outbreak of the First World War took place
on June 28, 1914. On that day, the A rchduke Francis Ferdinand, heir to
the Austrian throne, and his wife were shot dead by a young Serbian
nationalist of the Black Hand at Sarajevo, the Bosnian capital.

ii. Having received the wholehearted support from Germany, Austria sent an
ultimatum to Serbia on July 23, 1914. The ultimatum was to be answered within
48 hours. It included the following demands:

(i) Serbia was to suppress all anti-Austrian (and Pan-Slav) publications,

societies and propaganda.

(ii) Serbia was to dismiss all anti-Austrian officials objected by Austria.

(iii) Austrian police and officials were to enter Serbia and to take part in
the Serbian police force in order to carry out the suppression of anti-
Austrian activities and investigations concerning the Sarajevo murders.
 iii. Serbian reply

These demands infringed Serbian sovereignty. Austria expected that Serbia would
reject, thus giving her the excuse to declare war. Serbia accepted the first two
demands but rejected the third.

After declaring the Serbian reply unsatisfactory, the Austrian government

declared war on July 28.

Soon Russia, Britain, and France join war to support Serbia while Germany joined
the war to support its ally Austria-Hungary.

Samyukta Maharashtra Movement

1. The Indian National Congress had pledged to introduce linguistic states prior to
Independence. However after Independence, Nehru and Patel were adamantly
opposed to linguistic states. They perceived linguistic states as a threat to the
integrity of India. For the first time and perhaps the only time, RSS and its chief
Guru Golwalkar supported Nehru and Patel against redrawing of the map along
linguistic lines.
2. Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti was an organisation that spearheaded the
demand in the 1950s for the creation of a separate Marathi-speaking state out of
 the (then bilingual) State of Bombay in western India, with the city of Bombay
(now known as Mumbai) as its capital.

3. The organisation was founded in 1956, under the leadership of Keshavrao Jedhe
in Pune. Prominent activists of Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti were Acharya Atre,
Prabodhankar Thackeray, Senapati Bapat and Shahir AmarShaikh among others.
Acharya Atre criticised Jawaharlal Nehru, Morarji Desai (then chief minister of
Mumbai) and S.K. Patil (a prominent MP from Mumbai city) through his
firebrand editorials in Maratha.

4. In 1956, the SRC (States Re-organisation Committee) under pressure from

Nehru/Patel recommended creation of linguistic states of [Andhra Pradesh|AP],
Kerala and Karnataka but recommended a bi-lingual state for Maharashtra-
Gujarat, with Mumbai as its capital.

a. To add insult to injury (for Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti), they

recommended the creation of Vidharba state to unite the marathi speaking
people of former Hyderabad state with Holkar's Nagpur state. This caused
a great political stir and, under the leadership of Keshavrao Jedhe, the
Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti defeated Congress by securing 101 seats
out of 133, including 12 from Mumbai. [The Congress party could form a
government only with the support of Gujarat, Marathwada and Vidharba.
Yeshwantrao Chavan replaced Morarji Desai as the Chief Minister of the
bi-lingual Bombay State.]

5. SM Joshi, SA Dange, NG Gore and PK Atre fought relentlessly for Samyukta

Maharashtra, even at the cost of sacrificing the lives of several people and finally
succeeded in convincing Congress leaders that Maharashtra should form a
separate state. The resignation of C. D. Deshmukh, the then Finance Minister of
the Nehru Cabinet, had its salutary effect.

6. In January 1956, demonstrators were fired upon by the police at Flora Fountain in
the capital city of Mumbai. Flora Fountain was subsequently renamed Hutatma
Chowk or "Martyr's Crossroads" in their memory. It is estimated that in all, 105
people were shot by security forces. Morarji Desai, who was the then chief
minister of Bombay state was later removed and replaced by YB Chawan as a
result of criticism related to this incident.

7. The Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti achieved its goal on May 1, 1960 when the
State of Bombay was partitioned into the Marathi-speaking State of Maharashtra
and the Gujarati-speaking State of Gujarat. However Goa (then a Portuguese
colony), Belgaum, Karwar and adjoining areas, which were also part of the
Maharashtra envisaged by the Samiti, were not included in Maharashtra state.
Belgaum district, which has a majority Marathi population is still an active
dispute and the government of Maharashtra has filed a petition in Supreme Court.
8.

9. Flora Fountain was renamed Hutatma Chowk ("Martyr's Square") as a memorial

to the Samyukta Maharashtra movement. The Hutatma Chowk memorial with the
Flora Fountain, on its left in the background.