Apart from the species of camel already mentioned, there are four other member of the camel family which do not possess humps. These are the Llama, Guanaco, Alpaca and vicuna, all from South America. From the time of Inca civilization these animals have been domesticated by man, and to this day they are invaluable to Indians living at high altitudes. …

Yusuf Arakkal was born in 1945 at Kottakkal, Kerala. His mother belonged to the royal family of Arakkal, the only Muslim royal family to have ruled Kerala and his father to Keyees, the well known business family based at Kozhikode and Thalassery. Yusuf lost both his parents at an early age. Leaving the comforts of his house behind, the boy …

Zila Khan — Zila Hussain Khan is an Indian sufi singer. She sings classical and semi-classical musical forms. She performs in the tradition of Imdadkhani gharana. Zila Khan was born in Calcutta to pre-eminent sitar maestro Ustad Vilayat Khan and Begum Monisha. She was named by her father after Amir Khusrow’s raag, Zila Kaafi. Zila Khan was accepted as his …

William Faulkner — William Cuthbert Falkner was born in New Albany, Mississippi, he was the oldest son of Murry Cuthbert Falkner and Maud Butler. He later changed the spelling of his name to Faulkner. His brothers were Murry Charles “Jack” Falkner, author John Falkner (later Faulkner) and Dean Swift Falkner. Faulkner was raised in and heavily influenced by the state …

Wafa Sultan was born on June 14, 1958, Baniyas, Syria. She is an American author and critic of Muslim society and Islam. She is trained as a psychiatrist in Syria. Life and Career Sultan was born into a large traditional Muslim family in Baniyas, Syria. She immigrated to the United States in 1989, and is a naturalized citizen and resides …

Vladimir Ilyich Lenin — Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov, alias Lenin (22 April 1870 – 21 January 1924) was a Russian communist revolutionary, politician and political theorist. He served as head of government of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic from 1917, and of the Soviet Union from 1922 until his death. Under his administration, the Russian Empire was replaced by the Soviet Union; …

Vikram Seth (born 20 June 1952) is an Indian poet, novelist, travel writer, librettist, children’s writer, biographer and memoirist. Vikram Seth was born in a Punjabi family to Leila and Prem Seth in Calcutta (now Kolkata). His family lived in many cities including the Bata Shoe Company town of Batanagar, Danapur near Patna, and in London. His younger brother, Shantum, …

Vijender Singh — Vijender Singh Beniwal (born 29th October, 1985) is an Indian boxer who won the Bronze medal in Olympics, Beijing born to a Hindu Family in Kalwas village, Bhiwani district in Haryana. He did his schooling in his village only and also received his bachelors degree in local collage in Bhiwani. Vijender was a athletic and had a …

Victoria Azarenka, was born on July 31, 1989 in Minsk, Belarus. She is a professional tennis player. Azarenka is an aggressive baseliner. She is known for her well timed and powerful ground strokes. Her best shot is her backhand which is regarded as one of the strongest currently in the women’s game. She can be effective at net, as her drive …

Varahamihira — Can it be true?” King Vikramaditya asked in anguish, looking around the well-lit and crowded court. No one replied. All were shocked by the royal astrologer’s prediction. “Yes, my lord, this is so, however bitter it may be for you,” replied the royal astrologer, breaking the silence. His voice was full of grief. Yet it was authoritative. “This …