First there was Franglais, a mangled combination of English and French. Then came Spanglish and subsequently Denglish, a mixure of German and English.
Don't fret. Just start getting used to Runglish -- the the English-laced argot of young Russians -- especially if you are planning a visit to the erstwhile Soviet Union.
Yes, the English language has finally invaded the land of Pushkin as much to the horror of their parents, Russia's 'Koka-Kola' generation has developed a vocabulary that has more to do with MTV, according to a report in The Daily Telegraph' reported today.
In fact, young Russians invite their "friendessi" (female friends) for a "drrink" at the "Pab" by cell phone text message or while chatting on the internet.
"The internet brought a lot of words from foreign languages. But the jargon is now moving into the press and advertising. This is the way language develops and it is a process that can't be stopped," Head of Google Russia Vladimir Dolgov was quoted as saying.
But, Runglish -- first coined by cosmonauts in 2000 to communicate with their American counterparts on International Space Station -- is increasingly viewed by nationalists as a Western assault on the purity of one of the world's great languages.
"Young people always develop fashionable ways of communicating. (But) it is Russian words used incorrectly that damages the purity of the language not the introduction of foreign words," Yuri Prokhorov, the head of the Russian State Institute of Foreign Luanguage, told the daily.
It may also be mentioned that concerned by the growing influence of English in Russia, the Kremlin had recently declared 2007 as the 'Year of the Russian Language'.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Rats damage 17 lakh tonne of food grain in Punjab annually
Rats have literally driven a hole in the foodgrain stock of Punjab, destroying over ten lakh tonne of crops on an annual basis.
"Rodents, which are a serious problem for the farming sector, damage 4 per cent, 3.7 per cent and 11 per cent of wheat, rice and sugarcane output respectively every year in Punjab," said H S Sehgal, Head, Department of Zoology, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) at Ludhiana.
Rats destroy almost 5.87 lakh tonne of wheat, 3.86 lakh tonne of rice and 7.21 lakh tonne of sugarcane while contaminating the crop with their faeces, urine and fur, he said.
The worst hit regions are Ludhiana, Kapurthala and Nawanshahar where wheat crop is grown, he said, adding wheat crop was more vulnerable to the attack due to adoption of zero tillage technique by state farmers for wheat sowing.
"Ever since, farmers have switched over to zero tillage technique of wheat sowing, the attacks have compounded," he said.
"Rodents, which are a serious problem for the farming sector, damage 4 per cent, 3.7 per cent and 11 per cent of wheat, rice and sugarcane output respectively every year in Punjab," said H S Sehgal, Head, Department of Zoology, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) at Ludhiana.
Rats destroy almost 5.87 lakh tonne of wheat, 3.86 lakh tonne of rice and 7.21 lakh tonne of sugarcane while contaminating the crop with their faeces, urine and fur, he said.
The worst hit regions are Ludhiana, Kapurthala and Nawanshahar where wheat crop is grown, he said, adding wheat crop was more vulnerable to the attack due to adoption of zero tillage technique by state farmers for wheat sowing.
"Ever since, farmers have switched over to zero tillage technique of wheat sowing, the attacks have compounded," he said.
Driver dead on papers after goof-up by authorities
A goof-up by authorities has left a retired driver of Himachal Road Transport Corporation dead on papers and his pension stopped, leaving him to make ends meets by working as a daily labourer.
Kartar Singh, who hails from Ban Karoli village in Nurpur tehsil of Himachal Pradesh, served in Pathankot depot and retired from service in 2001. He was getting pension since then.
All was going well till June 30 this year when his wife Sudershana Devi received a letter signed by Managing director of HRTC, Shimla and financial advisor of the corporation demanding the death certificate of her husband for their record.
The copy of the same was sent to the bank where his pension used to come and the bank stopped paying his pension.
"I was surprised to learn that they have declared a living man dead. I personally talked to the bank and HRTC officials to convince them that I am still alive but my pension has not been restored so far," Singh told PTI.
He said he even sent a legal notice to HRTC, but no no response has come so far.
When contacted, Managing Director of HRTC Trilok Chandra Janartha admitted the mistake.
"A departmental inquiry has been ordered into the incident and guilty officials will be taken to task," he said adding they were trying to restore the driver's pension.
Singh said he has acquired a certificate from gram panchayat, Larhoon, to prove that he is alive.
The retired HRTC driver, who has to look after his family comprising wife, two daughters and a son is facing financial problem because of the goof-up.
In order to make ends meet, he has been forced to work as daily labourer. "This is living ordeal of a man who has become victim of officials malfunctioning".
Kartar Singh, who hails from Ban Karoli village in Nurpur tehsil of Himachal Pradesh, served in Pathankot depot and retired from service in 2001. He was getting pension since then.
All was going well till June 30 this year when his wife Sudershana Devi received a letter signed by Managing director of HRTC, Shimla and financial advisor of the corporation demanding the death certificate of her husband for their record.
The copy of the same was sent to the bank where his pension used to come and the bank stopped paying his pension.
"I was surprised to learn that they have declared a living man dead. I personally talked to the bank and HRTC officials to convince them that I am still alive but my pension has not been restored so far," Singh told PTI.
He said he even sent a legal notice to HRTC, but no no response has come so far.
When contacted, Managing Director of HRTC Trilok Chandra Janartha admitted the mistake.
"A departmental inquiry has been ordered into the incident and guilty officials will be taken to task," he said adding they were trying to restore the driver's pension.
Singh said he has acquired a certificate from gram panchayat, Larhoon, to prove that he is alive.
The retired HRTC driver, who has to look after his family comprising wife, two daughters and a son is facing financial problem because of the goof-up.
In order to make ends meet, he has been forced to work as daily labourer. "This is living ordeal of a man who has become victim of officials malfunctioning".
Man gets 19 yrs jail for "unknowingly" stealing $1.7 million
A 21-year-old Chinese has been sentenced to 19 years in prison for holding a toy gun to a man's head and stealing his backpack unaware that it contained $1.7 million Hong Kong dollars (about $2,18,000) in cash.
Xie Wei carried out the robbery on January nine in a parking lot of a bank in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, and fled with the rucksack, Guangzhou Intermediate People's Court heard.
Xie told the court that he was oblivious to the amount of money stashed inside the backpack and said he would decide whether or not to appeal in the near future, Xinhua news agency reported.
The court also heard that Xie snatched a diamond ring and a platinum necklace - with a combined value of 129,550 yuan -from a shop in Guangzhou on September 14 last year.
Xie was arrested by police on January 25 this year and was discovered to be in possession of 1.61 million yuan, the backpack owner's mobile phone, a laptop, and a pair of diamond rings that were bought with the stolen money.
Xie's family paid 60,000 yuan (USD 7,978) in compensation to the victims.
The court said Xie was "treated with leniency" because he confessed to the crimes, most of the money had been retrieved and his family had offered compensation.
Xie Wei carried out the robbery on January nine in a parking lot of a bank in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, and fled with the rucksack, Guangzhou Intermediate People's Court heard.
Xie told the court that he was oblivious to the amount of money stashed inside the backpack and said he would decide whether or not to appeal in the near future, Xinhua news agency reported.
The court also heard that Xie snatched a diamond ring and a platinum necklace - with a combined value of 129,550 yuan -from a shop in Guangzhou on September 14 last year.
Xie was arrested by police on January 25 this year and was discovered to be in possession of 1.61 million yuan, the backpack owner's mobile phone, a laptop, and a pair of diamond rings that were bought with the stolen money.
Xie's family paid 60,000 yuan (USD 7,978) in compensation to the victims.
The court said Xie was "treated with leniency" because he confessed to the crimes, most of the money had been retrieved and his family had offered compensation.
British scientists invent world's first non-stick chewing gum
When it comes to true sticking power, nothing holds its ground like chewing gum -- not to mention clinging to the bottom of your shoe or even worse, your seat on the bus or inside the movie theatre.
But, scientists in Britain have found a solution: Easy-to-remove chewing gum. Yes, the world's first non-stick chewing gum will soon become a reality, 'The Daily Telegraph' reported here today.
"The advantage of our Clean Gum is that it has a great taste, it is easy to remove and has the potential to be environmentally degradable," the team leader, Prof Terence Cosgrove of University of Bristol, was quoted as saying.
In fact, Prof Terence Cosgrove is the Chief Scientific Officer of Revolymer, a spin-out company of the university, which would soon start large-scale production of the non-sticking gum.
Made of a mixture of synthetic rubber, chalk, wax, sugar and flavourings, the chewing gum's stickiness comes from an adhesive compound also used in car tyres.
The company has already completed the development of the gum that can be easily removed from shoes, clothes, pavements and hair. "Preliminary results also indicated that the gum would degrade naturally in water," he said.
But, scientists in Britain have found a solution: Easy-to-remove chewing gum. Yes, the world's first non-stick chewing gum will soon become a reality, 'The Daily Telegraph' reported here today.
"The advantage of our Clean Gum is that it has a great taste, it is easy to remove and has the potential to be environmentally degradable," the team leader, Prof Terence Cosgrove of University of Bristol, was quoted as saying.
In fact, Prof Terence Cosgrove is the Chief Scientific Officer of Revolymer, a spin-out company of the university, which would soon start large-scale production of the non-sticking gum.
Made of a mixture of synthetic rubber, chalk, wax, sugar and flavourings, the chewing gum's stickiness comes from an adhesive compound also used in car tyres.
The company has already completed the development of the gum that can be easily removed from shoes, clothes, pavements and hair. "Preliminary results also indicated that the gum would degrade naturally in water," he said.
Infant gives a new lease of life to an ailing farmer
Even in death the infant son of an Army Major remained a hero. The 18-month-old toddler, aptly named as Shaurya, died in a tragic accident but brought smile to an ailing farmer who got a new lease of life after getting the baby's kidneys.
The benevolent act of the boy's father did not end there. Shaurya also donated his eyes.
The infant's kidneys were donated to a sick farmer in Andhra Pradesh, who had almost given up hope of survival.
His eyes were donated to the Hospital eye bank, to become the youngest donor in the country for a feat which is expected to be published in the next edition of the Limca book of Records.
The child died after a fatal fall from a balcony in Secunderabad, but his brave father though in deep grief, decided to donate his vital organs to bring joy of life for others.
Narrating his personal tragedy and ordeal that he went through on a December night last year, Major Siddarth Malik said it was a "heart wrenching decision. But I took it as I felt, it was in best interest of the child I was losing".
"My son made his death meaningful by giving life to someone else," Malik told reporters here. The young couple was blessed with a girl child ten days back.
Shauyra's selfless sacrifice is not an isolated case. Instances now are on the increase of Army Jawans, who are ready to sacrifice their life for the country in the line of duty, ready to do noble deeds while facing tragedies.
The benevolent act of the boy's father did not end there. Shaurya also donated his eyes.
The infant's kidneys were donated to a sick farmer in Andhra Pradesh, who had almost given up hope of survival.
His eyes were donated to the Hospital eye bank, to become the youngest donor in the country for a feat which is expected to be published in the next edition of the Limca book of Records.
The child died after a fatal fall from a balcony in Secunderabad, but his brave father though in deep grief, decided to donate his vital organs to bring joy of life for others.
Narrating his personal tragedy and ordeal that he went through on a December night last year, Major Siddarth Malik said it was a "heart wrenching decision. But I took it as I felt, it was in best interest of the child I was losing".
"My son made his death meaningful by giving life to someone else," Malik told reporters here. The young couple was blessed with a girl child ten days back.
Shauyra's selfless sacrifice is not an isolated case. Instances now are on the increase of Army Jawans, who are ready to sacrifice their life for the country in the line of duty, ready to do noble deeds while facing tragedies.
China creates 'man-made oasis' along its longest inland river
China has created a "man-made oasis" along its longest inland river by planting trees and grass and infusing lake water into the lower reaches of the river which had dried up 30 years ago.
In the past seven years, the Tarim River Administration has infused 2.3 billion cubic meters of water from lakes 300 kms away into the 1,321-km river that flows in the arid north-west along the rim of the barren Tarim Basin, a sparsely populated area about the size of Poland.
The waterway is the "mother river" feeding 43.5 square kilometres of oasis inhabited by at least eight million people, 80 per cent of whom are Uygurs.
"The infusion has resumed water flow in the lower reaches and saved the Euphrates poplars from extinction," Xinhua news agency quoted a local official as saying.
The Euphrates poplars with golden leaves of various shapes draw large crowds of tourists and photographers to the Tarim Basin every autumn.
The poplars used to cover 1,33,434 acres in the Tarim Basin in the 1950s. However, excessive cultivation and lack of water pushed the trees to the verge of extinction over the past three decades.
Ambitious land reclamation activities along the river over the past five decades also squandered too much water in irrigation, causing 320 kilometres of the Tarim River in its lower reaches to run dry in the early 1970s and the Taklimakan desert on its south to sprawl faster.
The eight water infusion projects conducted at a cost of over USD one billion since 2000 have expanded the water surface in the lower reaches of the Tarim River by 149 sq kms and 180 sq kms of vegetations have been restored.
In the past seven years, the Tarim River Administration has infused 2.3 billion cubic meters of water from lakes 300 kms away into the 1,321-km river that flows in the arid north-west along the rim of the barren Tarim Basin, a sparsely populated area about the size of Poland.
The waterway is the "mother river" feeding 43.5 square kilometres of oasis inhabited by at least eight million people, 80 per cent of whom are Uygurs.
"The infusion has resumed water flow in the lower reaches and saved the Euphrates poplars from extinction," Xinhua news agency quoted a local official as saying.
The Euphrates poplars with golden leaves of various shapes draw large crowds of tourists and photographers to the Tarim Basin every autumn.
The poplars used to cover 1,33,434 acres in the Tarim Basin in the 1950s. However, excessive cultivation and lack of water pushed the trees to the verge of extinction over the past three decades.
Ambitious land reclamation activities along the river over the past five decades also squandered too much water in irrigation, causing 320 kilometres of the Tarim River in its lower reaches to run dry in the early 1970s and the Taklimakan desert on its south to sprawl faster.
The eight water infusion projects conducted at a cost of over USD one billion since 2000 have expanded the water surface in the lower reaches of the Tarim River by 149 sq kms and 180 sq kms of vegetations have been restored.
Britain's cities to have white minorities in 30 years
Believe it or not, white people in some of Britain's largest cities are likely to dwindle to a minority in 30 years due to a boom in ethnic populations.
Yes, according to researchers, the proportion of white people in every region of Britain will fall between now and 2020, and Leicester, Birmingham, Luton and Slough, are to have minority whites by 2037, according to a report in The Daily Telegraph.
"Leicester will become the first plural city within 12 years, by 2019, followed by Birmingham in 2024. The next towns to experience the boom in ethnic populations will be Luton and Slough some time in the 2030s," the daily quoted Ludi Simpson, a social statistician at Manchester University, as saying.
In Birmingham, he said, Asians would emerge as a majority community by 2027. "The Pakistani population in Birmingham is likely to double by 2026, but with two-thirds of this increase due to the relatively younger age profile of Pakistanis, rather than increased immigration." However, Bradford and Oldham, often thought to have larger ethnic populations, will stay white for the foreseeable future, according to Prof Simpson.
In fact, Prof Simpson and his team of demographers made the predictions using detailed analysis of census and local authority data. "Britain's growing diversity is clear and measurable but it is not as focussed on a few cities as many people imagine. Diversity is apparent in suburban and rural neighbourhoods too."
Yes, according to researchers, the proportion of white people in every region of Britain will fall between now and 2020, and Leicester, Birmingham, Luton and Slough, are to have minority whites by 2037, according to a report in The Daily Telegraph.
"Leicester will become the first plural city within 12 years, by 2019, followed by Birmingham in 2024. The next towns to experience the boom in ethnic populations will be Luton and Slough some time in the 2030s," the daily quoted Ludi Simpson, a social statistician at Manchester University, as saying.
In Birmingham, he said, Asians would emerge as a majority community by 2027. "The Pakistani population in Birmingham is likely to double by 2026, but with two-thirds of this increase due to the relatively younger age profile of Pakistanis, rather than increased immigration." However, Bradford and Oldham, often thought to have larger ethnic populations, will stay white for the foreseeable future, according to Prof Simpson.
In fact, Prof Simpson and his team of demographers made the predictions using detailed analysis of census and local authority data. "Britain's growing diversity is clear and measurable but it is not as focussed on a few cities as many people imagine. Diversity is apparent in suburban and rural neighbourhoods too."
Court asks minor to clean hospital toilets in Haryana
A court has directed a minor to clean toilets of a civil hospital, after he was convicted in a murder case.
Chief Judicial Magistrate R P Goel sent a minor boy Praveen to two years in a juvenile home and imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh, after convicting him for murder.
The court, located in Murthal near Sonepat in Haryana, ordered him to clean toilets of a civil hospital during the term of his punishment.
In default of payment of fine, Praveen would have to undergo a further imprisonment of six months, the Court said.
According to the prosecution, Praveen shot dead one Mahabir, brother of a girl whom the convict had tried to eve-tease.
The incident happenned last year when Mahabir had gone to an examination centre along with his sister on that day to drop her.
Later, on the complaint of the father of the deceased, the police had arrested Praveen.
The Magistrate also observed that the amount of fine recovered from the accused be given to the parents of the deceased.
Chief Judicial Magistrate R P Goel sent a minor boy Praveen to two years in a juvenile home and imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh, after convicting him for murder.
The court, located in Murthal near Sonepat in Haryana, ordered him to clean toilets of a civil hospital during the term of his punishment.
In default of payment of fine, Praveen would have to undergo a further imprisonment of six months, the Court said.
According to the prosecution, Praveen shot dead one Mahabir, brother of a girl whom the convict had tried to eve-tease.
The incident happenned last year when Mahabir had gone to an examination centre along with his sister on that day to drop her.
Later, on the complaint of the father of the deceased, the police had arrested Praveen.
The Magistrate also observed that the amount of fine recovered from the accused be given to the parents of the deceased.
Farmer receives 'fake gold medal' in Krishi Bhushan award!
A farmer came in for a shock when he got to know that the gold medal presented to him by the Maharashtra government was allegedly made of sub-standard silver and only had gold polish on it.
Dadaji Khobragade, a rice grower from Nagbhid taluka in Nanded village of Chandrapur district, was felicitated with Krishi Bhushan award 2005-06 for developing a new variety of rice - HMT rice.
He was presented a 50 gm 14-carat gold medal, cash prize of Rs 25,000 and citation from Maharashtra Governor at Raj Bhawan in Mumbai on October 13 last year for his achievement.
Facing financial problems, Khobragade decided to sell his medal and he was shocked when a local jeweller informed him that the medal was in fact made of sub-standard silver and just had gold polish on top.
Meanwhile, Bharip Bahujan Mahasangh has demanded a probe into the matter and stringent action against officials responsible for committing fraud.
Dadaji Khobragade, a rice grower from Nagbhid taluka in Nanded village of Chandrapur district, was felicitated with Krishi Bhushan award 2005-06 for developing a new variety of rice - HMT rice.
He was presented a 50 gm 14-carat gold medal, cash prize of Rs 25,000 and citation from Maharashtra Governor at Raj Bhawan in Mumbai on October 13 last year for his achievement.
Facing financial problems, Khobragade decided to sell his medal and he was shocked when a local jeweller informed him that the medal was in fact made of sub-standard silver and just had gold polish on top.
Meanwhile, Bharip Bahujan Mahasangh has demanded a probe into the matter and stringent action against officials responsible for committing fraud.
Man acquitted of rape, as the girl says she loves him!
A court in New Delhi has acquitted a 32-year-old man charged with raping a girl in his neighbourhood a year ago, noting that the alleged victim was in love with him.
Additional Sessions Judge Deepa Sharma acquitted Sohinder, a resident of Anand Parbat in central Delhi, of offences under sections 376 (rape) and 366 (kidnapping a girl or woman to compel her marriage) of the IPC.
"From the perusal of the record, it was reflected that the 19-year-old-victim was deeply in love with the accused Sohinder and wanted to marry him but her parents did not agree ...She eloped with him of her free will in 2006, which indeed substantiated the fact that she was a consenting party. I am thereby acquitting Sohinder of the charges," the judge said.
The prosecution had alleged that on January 4, 2006, Sohinder had allegedly enticed the girl from her residence, eloped with her and then raped her.
In her statement under section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), she told the court that Sohinder had not done anything wrong with her and she had not made any allegations of rape against him.
The victim, also a key witness in this case, told the court that she loved Sohinder and he had not pressurised her in any form for marrying him or for staying with him.
Giving credence to the victim's statement, the court gave a clean chit to Sohinder.
"The prosecution has failed to prove the offence committed by the accused and, therefore, Sohinder is ordered to be acquitted of all the charges," the judge said.
Additional Sessions Judge Deepa Sharma acquitted Sohinder, a resident of Anand Parbat in central Delhi, of offences under sections 376 (rape) and 366 (kidnapping a girl or woman to compel her marriage) of the IPC.
"From the perusal of the record, it was reflected that the 19-year-old-victim was deeply in love with the accused Sohinder and wanted to marry him but her parents did not agree ...She eloped with him of her free will in 2006, which indeed substantiated the fact that she was a consenting party. I am thereby acquitting Sohinder of the charges," the judge said.
The prosecution had alleged that on January 4, 2006, Sohinder had allegedly enticed the girl from her residence, eloped with her and then raped her.
In her statement under section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), she told the court that Sohinder had not done anything wrong with her and she had not made any allegations of rape against him.
The victim, also a key witness in this case, told the court that she loved Sohinder and he had not pressurised her in any form for marrying him or for staying with him.
Giving credence to the victim's statement, the court gave a clean chit to Sohinder.
"The prosecution has failed to prove the offence committed by the accused and, therefore, Sohinder is ordered to be acquitted of all the charges," the judge said.
Wanna remain young, then pop a rasgullah!
Pop a rasgullah and improve your eyesight and remain young. Sounds far fetched? But now this is possible with a carrot-laced rasgullah being launched in the market.
The sweetmeat enriched with vitamin A and anti-oxidants, better known as the herbal rasgullah, has been prepared by the food technology department of Jadavpur University in Kolkata.
As of now, the carotene rasgullahs are being sold at two sweet shops in Jadavpur. However, after an increase in demand from customers in the country and abroad, scientists are looking for firms that can manufacture it on a wider scale.
"Carrots are a good source of carotene compound, an active anti-oxidant required in large amounts by the body among all age groups," said Utpal Roychowdhury, head of the department of food technology and biochemical engineering.
The herbal rasgullah can help fight diseases like cancer, malnutrition, lung diseases, high cholestrol and slow the ageing process, he claimed.
"Foods mixed with anti-oxidants are in great demand in western countries as they are value-added healthy food. They are also a cheaper alternative to medicinal vitamin supplements," Roychowdhury said.
The sweetmeat enriched with vitamin A and anti-oxidants, better known as the herbal rasgullah, has been prepared by the food technology department of Jadavpur University in Kolkata.
As of now, the carotene rasgullahs are being sold at two sweet shops in Jadavpur. However, after an increase in demand from customers in the country and abroad, scientists are looking for firms that can manufacture it on a wider scale.
"Carrots are a good source of carotene compound, an active anti-oxidant required in large amounts by the body among all age groups," said Utpal Roychowdhury, head of the department of food technology and biochemical engineering.
The herbal rasgullah can help fight diseases like cancer, malnutrition, lung diseases, high cholestrol and slow the ageing process, he claimed.
"Foods mixed with anti-oxidants are in great demand in western countries as they are value-added healthy food. They are also a cheaper alternative to medicinal vitamin supplements," Roychowdhury said.
Baba Ramdev to take on a comic avatar soon
Chacha Chaudhry, Nagraj, Dhruv, Superman and all super heroes of the comics world will now face a new challenge in the form of Baba Ramdev, who will soon appear in strips to teach the art of yoga to youngsters.
A Patna-based artist Suman Prasad Mehta has been roped in to prepare the comics of Baba Ramdev. The books will hit the market by October-November.
The move has been taken to make yoga popular among younger generation, which is leaning toward western lifestyle.
Initially, the comics series will be in five parts -- Pranayam-I, Pranayam-II, Yogasan, Paranayam-Sahyogi Asan and Samanya Khanpaan Aur Pranayam.
"We are pleased to announce that yoga of Baba Ramdev will be available in comics within a month," said Acharya Balkrishan, the incharge of the Divyayog ashram at Haridwar.
The work on the comics of Baba Ramdev was going on since last one year, he said.
"We will be telling the readers about the importance of yoga with a detailed history," the Acharya added.
A Patna-based artist Suman Prasad Mehta has been roped in to prepare the comics of Baba Ramdev. The books will hit the market by October-November.
The move has been taken to make yoga popular among younger generation, which is leaning toward western lifestyle.
Initially, the comics series will be in five parts -- Pranayam-I, Pranayam-II, Yogasan, Paranayam-Sahyogi Asan and Samanya Khanpaan Aur Pranayam.
"We are pleased to announce that yoga of Baba Ramdev will be available in comics within a month," said Acharya Balkrishan, the incharge of the Divyayog ashram at Haridwar.
The work on the comics of Baba Ramdev was going on since last one year, he said.
"We will be telling the readers about the importance of yoga with a detailed history," the Acharya added.
PUNJAB GOVERNMENT TO SET UP SPECIAL POLICE STATIONS FOR NRIs
The Punjab government, in its effort to redress the grievances and problems faced by the NRIs during their temporary stay in the state, has decided to set up special police stations for them.
At initial stage one such NRI police station was being established in each police range, Ishwar Chander, DIG police Ferozepur Range told reporters at Dharamkot in Moga district recently.
He said such NRI police station for Ferozepur Range, is being setup at Dharamkot for which the site has been selected.
The new NRI police station will start functioning from January next year.
At initial stage one such NRI police station was being established in each police range, Ishwar Chander, DIG police Ferozepur Range told reporters at Dharamkot in Moga district recently.
He said such NRI police station for Ferozepur Range, is being setup at Dharamkot for which the site has been selected.
The new NRI police station will start functioning from January next year.
Wine buffs smell aroma differently 'because of genes'
Some refer to the smell of fruit and ripe apricots while others to horse blankets and leather, just to name a few of the more peculiar descriptions of the aroma of wine. But, now scientists have carried out a study and found that wine buffs talk rubbish and smell the rich aroma differently "because of their genes rather than their expertise", according to a report in The Daily Telegraph.
In fact, the researchers from the Rockefeller University came to the conclusion after studying how 400 people reacted to more than 60 smells -- the findings of which have been published in Nature magazine.
The research reveals that small changes in a single gene -- identified as OR7D4 -- can cause a person to perceive a key ingredient of male body odour and urine as smelling like urine or, most remarkably, vanilla.
Although it has long been suspected that the sensing of body odour is genetically determined, "this study is the first to identify variations in a single gene that account for a large part of why people perceive it so differently", the daily said.
"Shock horror! So there is scientific proof that wine lovers talk rubbish. Doesn't everyone after a glass or two? How does one describe what scrambled eggs tastes like, or smoke smells like, without comparing them to something else? "So, it is that we wine lovers might describe a wine as tasting of truffles, leather, game and rotting veg. Well, that's what old red burgundy often resembles," noted wine buff Jonathan Ray was quoted as saying.
In fact, the researchers from the Rockefeller University came to the conclusion after studying how 400 people reacted to more than 60 smells -- the findings of which have been published in Nature magazine.
The research reveals that small changes in a single gene -- identified as OR7D4 -- can cause a person to perceive a key ingredient of male body odour and urine as smelling like urine or, most remarkably, vanilla.
Although it has long been suspected that the sensing of body odour is genetically determined, "this study is the first to identify variations in a single gene that account for a large part of why people perceive it so differently", the daily said.
"Shock horror! So there is scientific proof that wine lovers talk rubbish. Doesn't everyone after a glass or two? How does one describe what scrambled eggs tastes like, or smoke smells like, without comparing them to something else? "So, it is that we wine lovers might describe a wine as tasting of truffles, leather, game and rotting veg. Well, that's what old red burgundy often resembles," noted wine buff Jonathan Ray was quoted as saying.
Friday, August 24, 2007
Internet keeps the Chinese awake for longer hours in the night: Survey
Chinese people go to sleep later than they did a decade ago, but their total sleep time remains the same, according to a survey. A survey on 2,000 people of all ages and different fields shows people, especially from the age group of 25 to 45, tend to sleep 40 minutes later than 10 years ago, a research by the Leisure Economy Research Center of Renmin University said.
The survey listed 24-hour television, overtime work, increasing demand for education, and in particular, the spread of Internet as reasons for going late to bed. However, the total sleeping time remains the same at an average daily eight hours and 41 minutes and one hour longer on days off.
The widespread use of household appliances has reduced the burden of housework, allowing more time for rest. Meanwhile, more people begin working at 9:00 am, one hour later than 10 years ago, which enables people to maintain their sleep time, the survey said.
Professor Wang Qiyan of Renmin University, who has studied sleep for more than 20 years, said, "Good sleeping habits and reasonable sleeping period are beneficial to health and work efficiency. "If late-sleepers regularise their sleeping period and ensure six to seven hours every day, their health will not be affected," he said.
The survey listed 24-hour television, overtime work, increasing demand for education, and in particular, the spread of Internet as reasons for going late to bed. However, the total sleeping time remains the same at an average daily eight hours and 41 minutes and one hour longer on days off.
The widespread use of household appliances has reduced the burden of housework, allowing more time for rest. Meanwhile, more people begin working at 9:00 am, one hour later than 10 years ago, which enables people to maintain their sleep time, the survey said.
Professor Wang Qiyan of Renmin University, who has studied sleep for more than 20 years, said, "Good sleeping habits and reasonable sleeping period are beneficial to health and work efficiency. "If late-sleepers regularise their sleeping period and ensure six to seven hours every day, their health will not be affected," he said.
How dare you protest for your rights, prostitutes told, and put behind bars!
Police in Nepal have detained dozens of prostitutes who have been staging demonstrations outside the government secretariat here for last 10 days demanding rehabilitation and representation in the upcoming Constituent Assembly elections.
They have been detained at the Metropolitan Police Office at Singhadurbar, officials said.
Police rounded up at least 13 women from the Badi community, who staged demonstration in the restricted area guarded by riot policemen, they said.
The women have been staging demonstrations in the capital for the last 10 days to press for their 12-point programme, which included rehabilitation and guarantee to their representation in the upcoming Constituent Assembly elections.
The government is yet to rehabilitate the women even though the Supreme Court had asked the government to ensure their overall welfare, including social security and alternative employment back in September, 2005, according to officials.
Many children born to Badi women are still deprived of citizenship certificates.
The community is found in lowland belt of Banke, Bardiya, Kanchanpur, Kailali and Dang districts in western Nepal bordering India.
They have been detained at the Metropolitan Police Office at Singhadurbar, officials said.
Police rounded up at least 13 women from the Badi community, who staged demonstration in the restricted area guarded by riot policemen, they said.
The women have been staging demonstrations in the capital for the last 10 days to press for their 12-point programme, which included rehabilitation and guarantee to their representation in the upcoming Constituent Assembly elections.
The government is yet to rehabilitate the women even though the Supreme Court had asked the government to ensure their overall welfare, including social security and alternative employment back in September, 2005, according to officials.
Many children born to Badi women are still deprived of citizenship certificates.
The community is found in lowland belt of Banke, Bardiya, Kanchanpur, Kailali and Dang districts in western Nepal bordering India.
Youth sentenced to jail for 7 years for robbing Rs 100
A youth, who robbed an auto driver of Rs 100, has been sentenced to seven years in jail by a court in New Delhi, which noted that the amount of money being meagre did not lessen the gravity of the crime.
"The contention that only Rs 100 has been robbed has no relevance as only Rs 100 was there along with other documents in the pocket of Roop Ram. Infact the convict had robbed him of all his belongings," Additional Sessions Judge V K Bansal said.
Dismissing the leniency plea of 24-year-old Naresh, a resident of Patel Nagar in New Delhi, the judge observed that the seriousness of his offence was not mitigated by the fact that he had deprived the victim of only Rs 100.
Naresh was convicted on the basis of "unequivocal and trustworthy" testimony of Ram, who was robbed by the accused on September 24, 2005, near DND flyover here by threatening him with a razor while he was plying his three-wheeler.
The police had later nabbed the accused and recovered the money along with some visiting cards, which were in the pocket of Ram while he was robbed.
"The contention that only Rs 100 has been robbed has no relevance as only Rs 100 was there along with other documents in the pocket of Roop Ram. Infact the convict had robbed him of all his belongings," Additional Sessions Judge V K Bansal said.
Dismissing the leniency plea of 24-year-old Naresh, a resident of Patel Nagar in New Delhi, the judge observed that the seriousness of his offence was not mitigated by the fact that he had deprived the victim of only Rs 100.
Naresh was convicted on the basis of "unequivocal and trustworthy" testimony of Ram, who was robbed by the accused on September 24, 2005, near DND flyover here by threatening him with a razor while he was plying his three-wheeler.
The police had later nabbed the accused and recovered the money along with some visiting cards, which were in the pocket of Ram while he was robbed.
Ministers stage protest in front of the chief minister's house!
In a sign of growing rift between coalition partners JD(S) and BJP in Karnataka, ahead of next month's expected transfer of power, ministers of the saffron party recently staged a protest at Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy's chamber and even threatened to boycott the cabinet meeting.
The BJP ministers trooped into the Chief Minister's chamber to protest JD(S) "usurping" its quota of a member's post in the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC), among other issues.
Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, who was fuming at the decision by Kumaraswamy to appoint G T Chandrashekhar as KPSC member without consulting him, refused to attend the Cabinet meeting and his party colleagues soon joined him.
A source in the BJP said the party has a long list of complaints against Kumaraswamy and JD(S) leadership for their contradictory signals on power transfer and also the "ill-treatment" being meted out to Yediyurappa.
With none of the JD(S) ministers volunteering to play the role of an emissary to persuade BJP leaders to call off their protest, Kumaraswamy requested Health Minister R Ashok (BJP) to talk to Yediyurappa.
Ashok succeeded in his mission and the cabinet meeting scheduled to start at 0900 hrs got off at 1030 hrs.
While Kumaraswamy played down the incident, remarking "the BJP ministers were taking rest in my chamber", none of the BJP ministers chose to speak to the press on the issue.
As per agreement between JD(S) and BJP when the coalition government assumed office, the former should transfer power to the saffron party on October 3.
The BJP ministers trooped into the Chief Minister's chamber to protest JD(S) "usurping" its quota of a member's post in the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC), among other issues.
Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, who was fuming at the decision by Kumaraswamy to appoint G T Chandrashekhar as KPSC member without consulting him, refused to attend the Cabinet meeting and his party colleagues soon joined him.
A source in the BJP said the party has a long list of complaints against Kumaraswamy and JD(S) leadership for their contradictory signals on power transfer and also the "ill-treatment" being meted out to Yediyurappa.
With none of the JD(S) ministers volunteering to play the role of an emissary to persuade BJP leaders to call off their protest, Kumaraswamy requested Health Minister R Ashok (BJP) to talk to Yediyurappa.
Ashok succeeded in his mission and the cabinet meeting scheduled to start at 0900 hrs got off at 1030 hrs.
While Kumaraswamy played down the incident, remarking "the BJP ministers were taking rest in my chamber", none of the BJP ministers chose to speak to the press on the issue.
As per agreement between JD(S) and BJP when the coalition government assumed office, the former should transfer power to the saffron party on October 3.
Royal Mail postman arrested for stealing Queen's letters
A postman of the Royal Mail has been arrested on suspicion of stealing letters addressed to the Queen of England, a senior British police officer said.
"Detectives spotted 60-year-old Mark Lister burying envelopes and parcels in the grounds of Queen's Sandringham estate in Norfolk. He was arrested for intending to delay mail contrary to the Postal Services Act," The Sun reported, quoting the officer as saying.
Lister was quizzed by detectives before being released on bail pending further inquiries. He has been suspended by Royal Mail bosses. As well as delivering letters, he was responsible for mail sent to workers on the 600-acre estate.
"It's a disgrace that someone would think of robbing the Queen. Nobody knows how long this may have been going on or what might have been nicked from Her Majesty. He may have been hoping something valuable would be sent to her...," a Royal Mail spokesperson told the British tabloid.
"Sandringham is huge and there are acres of woodland. I am sure the thief thought there wasn't a chance of being spotted. He was probably going to return in his own vehicle to pick up the goodies at a later date," the spokesperson said.
"Detectives spotted 60-year-old Mark Lister burying envelopes and parcels in the grounds of Queen's Sandringham estate in Norfolk. He was arrested for intending to delay mail contrary to the Postal Services Act," The Sun reported, quoting the officer as saying.
Lister was quizzed by detectives before being released on bail pending further inquiries. He has been suspended by Royal Mail bosses. As well as delivering letters, he was responsible for mail sent to workers on the 600-acre estate.
"It's a disgrace that someone would think of robbing the Queen. Nobody knows how long this may have been going on or what might have been nicked from Her Majesty. He may have been hoping something valuable would be sent to her...," a Royal Mail spokesperson told the British tabloid.
"Sandringham is huge and there are acres of woodland. I am sure the thief thought there wasn't a chance of being spotted. He was probably going to return in his own vehicle to pick up the goodies at a later date," the spokesperson said.
Abandoned baby elephant finds comfort in a female tusker in Assam Zoo
A newborn elephant abandonded by its mother in a reserve forest has found a new home and a foster mom in the Assam State Zoo in Guwahati.
The baby jumbo was heard trumpeting in the Rani Reserve Forest, on the outskirts of Guwahati, two days ago by residents of nearby villages who informed forest officials, said the zoo's Divisional Forest Officer Narayan Mahanta.
The next day, the villagers found the calf wandering about in the area and informed the nearby forest beat office.
Forest authorities immediately swung into action because there was no possibility of reuniting the calf, which was less than a week old, with its herd.
The calf, brought to the zoo in an ambulance, soon took a liking to a female elephant named Madhabi, who reciprocated by showering motherly affection on it and instantly made it feel at home, Mahanta said.
The calf suffered bruises while wandering about in the forest, and its eyes were slightly red, Mahanta said.
Elephant herds abandon their newborns if they are found to be weak or if their chances of survival appeared slim.
The calf is the youngest to be rescued by forest authorities so far and it would be a daunting task to help it survive and lead a normal life, Mahanta said.
Zoo personnel are taking care of the calf by feeding, comforting and reassuring it, he said.
The baby jumbo was heard trumpeting in the Rani Reserve Forest, on the outskirts of Guwahati, two days ago by residents of nearby villages who informed forest officials, said the zoo's Divisional Forest Officer Narayan Mahanta.
The next day, the villagers found the calf wandering about in the area and informed the nearby forest beat office.
Forest authorities immediately swung into action because there was no possibility of reuniting the calf, which was less than a week old, with its herd.
The calf, brought to the zoo in an ambulance, soon took a liking to a female elephant named Madhabi, who reciprocated by showering motherly affection on it and instantly made it feel at home, Mahanta said.
The calf suffered bruises while wandering about in the forest, and its eyes were slightly red, Mahanta said.
Elephant herds abandon their newborns if they are found to be weak or if their chances of survival appeared slim.
The calf is the youngest to be rescued by forest authorities so far and it would be a daunting task to help it survive and lead a normal life, Mahanta said.
Zoo personnel are taking care of the calf by feeding, comforting and reassuring it, he said.
Alcoholic father burns child alive after a heated argument with his wife
A father allegedly under the influence of liquor burnt his two-year-old son alive after a heated argument with his wife at a village of Jalandhar district.
When Lakha Singh returned to his residence, his wife Manjeet Kaur sensed that he was drunk, objected to it and left the house after a heated argument with him at the couple's Kartarpur house, police said.
Irked over his wife's reaction, Lakha Singh took out some of her clothes and set them on fire. Later, Lakha allegedly forcibly dragged his son Pardeep (2) into the fire.
The child started crying but instead of pulling his son out of the fire, Lakha pushed him back. After a while, the child's aunt noticed the incident and rescued him.
The child with burn injuries was rushed to a nearby hospital where he succumbed, police said adding a case had been registered in connection with the incident.
Lakha Singh fled from the spot, and efforts were on to arrest him, police sources said, adding the villagers on Friday forcibly shut down the nearby liquor vends.
When Lakha Singh returned to his residence, his wife Manjeet Kaur sensed that he was drunk, objected to it and left the house after a heated argument with him at the couple's Kartarpur house, police said.
Irked over his wife's reaction, Lakha Singh took out some of her clothes and set them on fire. Later, Lakha allegedly forcibly dragged his son Pardeep (2) into the fire.
The child started crying but instead of pulling his son out of the fire, Lakha pushed him back. After a while, the child's aunt noticed the incident and rescued him.
The child with burn injuries was rushed to a nearby hospital where he succumbed, police said adding a case had been registered in connection with the incident.
Lakha Singh fled from the spot, and efforts were on to arrest him, police sources said, adding the villagers on Friday forcibly shut down the nearby liquor vends.
Indian soldier cremated 40 years after his death
The mortal remains of soldier Hardas, recovered almost 40 years after he perished in an aircrash in Himachal Pradesh, were consigned to flames with state honours at his native Lohchab village in Gurgaon.
The villagers, including school children, bid farewell to the departed soul.
Hardas died along with 101 soldiers on February 7, 1968 after the AN-12 aircraft, which was ferrying them from Chandigarh to Leh crashed near Chandrabhaga Peak in Himachal Pradesh. After the crash, their dead bodies could not be traced. His body along with other three was recovered by an expedition team led by Major Nishant Kumar on August 2,2007.
Sarpanch of Lohchab village Prem Chand was disappointed at the lukewarm response from senior political leaders and bureaucrats. "Only a few local leaders of different political parties and junior level administrative officers attended the funeral ceremony," he said.
He alleged that the government machinery did nothing for Hardas's family. "The government should have come forward to help his widow, Shanti, but it is an irony that she helped the government by providing a room in village school," Prem Chand said.
The villagers, including school children, bid farewell to the departed soul.
Hardas died along with 101 soldiers on February 7, 1968 after the AN-12 aircraft, which was ferrying them from Chandigarh to Leh crashed near Chandrabhaga Peak in Himachal Pradesh. After the crash, their dead bodies could not be traced. His body along with other three was recovered by an expedition team led by Major Nishant Kumar on August 2,2007.
Sarpanch of Lohchab village Prem Chand was disappointed at the lukewarm response from senior political leaders and bureaucrats. "Only a few local leaders of different political parties and junior level administrative officers attended the funeral ceremony," he said.
He alleged that the government machinery did nothing for Hardas's family. "The government should have come forward to help his widow, Shanti, but it is an irony that she helped the government by providing a room in village school," Prem Chand said.
Mother Teresa struggled with her faith in God for almost 50 years
Mother Teresa, who may be canonized as a saint by the Vatican later this year, had a deep crisis of faith in God for most part of her life, a set of her letters has revealed.
The correspondence, between Teresa and her confessors and superiors over a period of years, showed that she felt alone and in a state of spiritual pain from around 1949, roughly the time when she started taking care of the poor and dying in Kolkata.
The "Saint of the Gutter" died on September 5, 1997, nine days after her 87th birthday.
Although she publicly proclaimed that her heart belonged "entirely to the Heart of Jesus", she wrote to the Rev Michael Van Der Peet, a spiritual confidant, in September 1979, that "Jesus has a very special love for you. As for me, the silence and emptiness is so great that I look and do not see, listen and do not hear. The tongue moves (in prayer) but does not speak."
The letter was written just a few weeks before she received the Nobel Peace Prize for her charitable work. More than 40 other letters, many of which she had asked to be destroyed in her will, show her fighting off feelings of "darkness" and "torture" for the last nearly half-century of her life.
The letters are published for the first time in a new book titled Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light, edited by the Rev Brian Kolodiejchuk, a close friend.
He wrote that during that period, Mother Teresa did not feel God "in her heart or in the Eucharist".
The correspondence, between Teresa and her confessors and superiors over a period of years, showed that she felt alone and in a state of spiritual pain from around 1949, roughly the time when she started taking care of the poor and dying in Kolkata.
The "Saint of the Gutter" died on September 5, 1997, nine days after her 87th birthday.
Although she publicly proclaimed that her heart belonged "entirely to the Heart of Jesus", she wrote to the Rev Michael Van Der Peet, a spiritual confidant, in September 1979, that "Jesus has a very special love for you. As for me, the silence and emptiness is so great that I look and do not see, listen and do not hear. The tongue moves (in prayer) but does not speak."
The letter was written just a few weeks before she received the Nobel Peace Prize for her charitable work. More than 40 other letters, many of which she had asked to be destroyed in her will, show her fighting off feelings of "darkness" and "torture" for the last nearly half-century of her life.
The letters are published for the first time in a new book titled Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light, edited by the Rev Brian Kolodiejchuk, a close friend.
He wrote that during that period, Mother Teresa did not feel God "in her heart or in the Eucharist".
Magistrate gets seven-day jail term in Rajasthan
A magistrate was on Friday given a seven-day jail term by the Rajasthan High Court, which took serious note of his disobeying of a lower court's order.
Justice N P Gupta of the High Court sentenced Judicial Magistrate of Sirohi district Baldeo Singh Bhati after allowing a contempt petition filed by one Durga Shankar.
However, accepting an application by Bhati, the court suspended the sentence for a month so that he can appeal.
A case under Section 138 of Negotiable Instruments Act (dishonour of a cheque) against Shankar was pending before Bhati.
While rejecting Shankar's application for exemption from appearance, Bhati cancelled his bail for non-appearance and issued a arrest warrant against him.
Shankar filed a revision petition before the Additional District Judge of Abu Road which directed him to appear before the court for bail.
He then produced an application before the Bhati who rejected it and sent him jail.
"The court has observed that it was a contempt of superior court by the subordinate court," said Vinit Jain, Shankar's counsel.
Justice N P Gupta of the High Court sentenced Judicial Magistrate of Sirohi district Baldeo Singh Bhati after allowing a contempt petition filed by one Durga Shankar.
However, accepting an application by Bhati, the court suspended the sentence for a month so that he can appeal.
A case under Section 138 of Negotiable Instruments Act (dishonour of a cheque) against Shankar was pending before Bhati.
While rejecting Shankar's application for exemption from appearance, Bhati cancelled his bail for non-appearance and issued a arrest warrant against him.
Shankar filed a revision petition before the Additional District Judge of Abu Road which directed him to appear before the court for bail.
He then produced an application before the Bhati who rejected it and sent him jail.
"The court has observed that it was a contempt of superior court by the subordinate court," said Vinit Jain, Shankar's counsel.
When astrologers couldn't predict their own fate
Immigration authorities in Sri Lanka have arrested 16 Indian nationals, including 13 astrologers, for allegedly overstaying their visas.
Officials said the 16, including a woman, were taken into custody following two raids since last week in Colombo's commercial areas.
"Thirteen of them were working as astrologers and earning good money," an immigration official said. "We found that they came on tourist visas and stayed back."
The group, held at a detention centre near the capital, will be deported soon, the official said.
Sri Lanka grants visas on arrival to nationals of SAARC member states in a bid to encourage regional tourism.
Officials said the 16, including a woman, were taken into custody following two raids since last week in Colombo's commercial areas.
"Thirteen of them were working as astrologers and earning good money," an immigration official said. "We found that they came on tourist visas and stayed back."
The group, held at a detention centre near the capital, will be deported soon, the official said.
Sri Lanka grants visas on arrival to nationals of SAARC member states in a bid to encourage regional tourism.
This zero rupee note is sending shivers down the spines of the bribe-seekers!
Next time when you are asked to cough up extra money to get a driving licence or a birth certificate, shock the bribe-seekers with a 'zero rupee' note.
This is a novel campaign launched by '5th Pillar,' a non-profit non-governmental organisation formed to fight the common enemy of the nation -- corruption.
The 'zero rupee' note, which resembles an original Rs 1,000 note, is a sign of unwillingness to bribe. It has the picture of Mahatma Gandhi on it with a pledge "I promise to neither accept nor give bribe" printed both in English and Tamil.
It also resolves to "eliminate corruption at all levels." The rupee note has also been printed in Hindi and other regional languages to take up the campaign against corruption at the national level.
Founded recently by noted environmentalist and Exnora founder M B Nirmal, the NGO seeks to reduce the scale of corruption problem in the country by fostering attitudinal change among citizens and advocating the use of Right to Information (RTI) Act to ensure transparency in all governmental organisations.
Volunteers of the organisation have so far distributed 75,000 'zero rupee' notes among students in seven districts in Tamil Nadu as part of a month-long campaign "freedom from corruption" to coincide with the country's 60th year of independence. The students have also taken a pledge not to take or give bribe.
This is a novel campaign launched by '5th Pillar,' a non-profit non-governmental organisation formed to fight the common enemy of the nation -- corruption.
The 'zero rupee' note, which resembles an original Rs 1,000 note, is a sign of unwillingness to bribe. It has the picture of Mahatma Gandhi on it with a pledge "I promise to neither accept nor give bribe" printed both in English and Tamil.
It also resolves to "eliminate corruption at all levels." The rupee note has also been printed in Hindi and other regional languages to take up the campaign against corruption at the national level.
Founded recently by noted environmentalist and Exnora founder M B Nirmal, the NGO seeks to reduce the scale of corruption problem in the country by fostering attitudinal change among citizens and advocating the use of Right to Information (RTI) Act to ensure transparency in all governmental organisations.
Volunteers of the organisation have so far distributed 75,000 'zero rupee' notes among students in seven districts in Tamil Nadu as part of a month-long campaign "freedom from corruption" to coincide with the country's 60th year of independence. The students have also taken a pledge not to take or give bribe.
Youth pedals around the world to spread awareness on AIDS
A youth from West Bengal, who had set off on a world tour on bicycle to spread AIDS Awareness, reached Srinagar a week ago.
Somen Debnath from West Bengal's Sunderban reached here under his mission and had visited Kargil, Leh, Ganderbal and parts of Srinagar to campaign against the dreaded disease.
Talking about AIDS in Jammu and Kashmir, the 24-year-old PhD scholar, said, "During my interaction, I found people here are simple and religious minded and are aware of the ill-effects of illicit relations and that is why there are less HIV infected patients in the state compared to other states."
During his trip to Ladakh, Somen also trekked the highest motorable road in the world when he crossed 18,000 feet high Khardungla pass on bicycle.
Somen said he was moved by an AIDS related death in his neighbourhood 10 years ago and decided to go round the globe for HIV/AIDS awareness programme.
"I kicked off my journey on a bicycle on May 27, 2004 from my native village with just Rs 600 in the pocket," he said.
Somen claimed that so far he had visited five countries so far, including Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Myanmar.
He has toured 27 states and five union territories of the country and is in Kashmir for the past three days, from here he will leave for Punjab. He intends to enter Pakistan via Wagah border in November.
Aiming to complete his mission by 2020, Somen will tour 32 countries by flight and 28 nations by ship and the bicycle will be all along with me, he said.
Somen Debnath from West Bengal's Sunderban reached here under his mission and had visited Kargil, Leh, Ganderbal and parts of Srinagar to campaign against the dreaded disease.
Talking about AIDS in Jammu and Kashmir, the 24-year-old PhD scholar, said, "During my interaction, I found people here are simple and religious minded and are aware of the ill-effects of illicit relations and that is why there are less HIV infected patients in the state compared to other states."
During his trip to Ladakh, Somen also trekked the highest motorable road in the world when he crossed 18,000 feet high Khardungla pass on bicycle.
Somen said he was moved by an AIDS related death in his neighbourhood 10 years ago and decided to go round the globe for HIV/AIDS awareness programme.
"I kicked off my journey on a bicycle on May 27, 2004 from my native village with just Rs 600 in the pocket," he said.
Somen claimed that so far he had visited five countries so far, including Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Myanmar.
He has toured 27 states and five union territories of the country and is in Kashmir for the past three days, from here he will leave for Punjab. He intends to enter Pakistan via Wagah border in November.
Aiming to complete his mission by 2020, Somen will tour 32 countries by flight and 28 nations by ship and the bicycle will be all along with me, he said.
Hockey veterans look upto Bollywood stars for revival of game!
Indian hockey might soon have patronage of Bollywood superstars with veteran players trying to grab the opportunity provided by Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Chak De India to revive the national game.
"Shah Rukh Khan can give impetus to Indian hockey, and revive the game that was slowly and surely struck down from hearts of millions of people after reaching zenith of popularity during 1975 World Cup," said Olympian Aslam Sher Khan in Bhopal.
Having found a ray of hope to revive the game, the former player said he has written to the Bollywood star requesting him to become a 'brand ambassador' of the sport.
Khan played a stellar role in India's World Cup win. His father was an equally popular hockey player and part of the Indian Olympic squad on several occasions.
Aslam said Chak De India has attracted young sportspersons towards hockey and the the trend could be explored to regain the lost glory.
"After Shah Rukh's effort, it looks to me that the time for hockey which had come to a standstill, has started ticking again," Khan said.
The golden era for hockey will return following an endeavour by the actor who might act as a catalyst to move the youth to take up hockey seriously, he hoped.
"Shah Rukh Khan can give impetus to Indian hockey, and revive the game that was slowly and surely struck down from hearts of millions of people after reaching zenith of popularity during 1975 World Cup," said Olympian Aslam Sher Khan in Bhopal.
Having found a ray of hope to revive the game, the former player said he has written to the Bollywood star requesting him to become a 'brand ambassador' of the sport.
Khan played a stellar role in India's World Cup win. His father was an equally popular hockey player and part of the Indian Olympic squad on several occasions.
Aslam said Chak De India has attracted young sportspersons towards hockey and the the trend could be explored to regain the lost glory.
"After Shah Rukh's effort, it looks to me that the time for hockey which had come to a standstill, has started ticking again," Khan said.
The golden era for hockey will return following an endeavour by the actor who might act as a catalyst to move the youth to take up hockey seriously, he hoped.
12 yrs on, lawyer manages to get son's murder suspects summoned
An advocate has succeeded after a 12-year legal battle in getting summons issued by a court against persons who allegedly accompanied his son before his death under mysterious circumstances.
Additional Sessions Judge H S Sharma held that the circumstantial evidence that the complainant's deceased son was last seen in the company of the accused was sufficient for taking cognizance of the matter.
Setting aside a lower court verdict, the judge, in a recent order, said, "The magistrate had himself observed that apart from the evidence that the deceased had accompanied the accused, there is no other evidence. What other evidence could have been produced by the complainant?"
Sharma observed that it was for the accused to disclose as to where the deceased was left by them and what had happened to him since he had been with them throughout.
He directed the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate to take up the case afresh.
Additional Sessions Judge H S Sharma held that the circumstantial evidence that the complainant's deceased son was last seen in the company of the accused was sufficient for taking cognizance of the matter.
Setting aside a lower court verdict, the judge, in a recent order, said, "The magistrate had himself observed that apart from the evidence that the deceased had accompanied the accused, there is no other evidence. What other evidence could have been produced by the complainant?"
Sharma observed that it was for the accused to disclose as to where the deceased was left by them and what had happened to him since he had been with them throughout.
He directed the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate to take up the case afresh.
Do you care to eat painted eggs? But that is what they are doing here
The eggs supplied as part of the noon meal scheme at schools would be painted with different colours to avoid their illegal selling in the open market.
District officials in Vellore said the eggs distributed on three days of a week will have different hues.
The Block Development Officers would ensure that the egg packets reach the schools properly.
In addition to this, flying squads would be engaged to detect any malpractice in the distribution.
District officials in Vellore said the eggs distributed on three days of a week will have different hues.
The Block Development Officers would ensure that the egg packets reach the schools properly.
In addition to this, flying squads would be engaged to detect any malpractice in the distribution.
In this restaurant, the real menu is ghosts!
Imagine being ushered into a dilapidated eating house beside a graveyard by a man who whips off his head and then offers it on a plate. Or conjure up what you thought to be a portrait, with the subject stepping out of the frame to come and sit beside you.
This will be a reality with world-renowned magician Pradip Chandra Sorcar Junior working on a project where, in the backdrop of a restaurant in a run down building, the intricacies of his Indrajal (illusion) would be explained.
And for food, the real menu will be ghosts! "It is not the food, but magic that will be on offer. It will not be a restaurant in the true sense. There will be 30 minute shows in the evenings at the restaurant," said Sorcar.
As for the ghosts, Sorcar says "they will be friendly and love the company of humans. But then since they are ghosts, you have to be prepared to be spooked." The show will be preceded by a session where illusion will be explained to visitors, from both home and abroad.
The restaurant, with dim lights and a bumpy pathway leading up to it will be located in the suburbs of the metropolis, but its exact location will remain a secret. "The project may be ready by the end of 2008, but I cannot disclose the exact location," says the magician.
It will be set up in the compound of the proposed university of magic, where illusion would be taught to students in batches numbering between 30 and 40 by Sorcar.
This will be a reality with world-renowned magician Pradip Chandra Sorcar Junior working on a project where, in the backdrop of a restaurant in a run down building, the intricacies of his Indrajal (illusion) would be explained.
And for food, the real menu will be ghosts! "It is not the food, but magic that will be on offer. It will not be a restaurant in the true sense. There will be 30 minute shows in the evenings at the restaurant," said Sorcar.
As for the ghosts, Sorcar says "they will be friendly and love the company of humans. But then since they are ghosts, you have to be prepared to be spooked." The show will be preceded by a session where illusion will be explained to visitors, from both home and abroad.
The restaurant, with dim lights and a bumpy pathway leading up to it will be located in the suburbs of the metropolis, but its exact location will remain a secret. "The project may be ready by the end of 2008, but I cannot disclose the exact location," says the magician.
It will be set up in the compound of the proposed university of magic, where illusion would be taught to students in batches numbering between 30 and 40 by Sorcar.
British woman is world's oldest natural mother at 59
A British housewife has become the world's oldest natural mother after giving birth at the age of 59, breaking the previous global record for a pregnancy by two years.
Dawn Brooke gave birth to a healthy boy without any fertility treatment only 12 months before she became eligible for her old age pension, the Daily Mail reported on August 20, quoting her 74-year-old husband Raymond as saying.
In fact, her husband, a former company director, said the couple had kept the 1997 birth private for a decade to let their son grow up in peace. But, he spoke for the first time yesterday about their delight at having a child so late.
"People are generally not quite aware of the extreme good luck we had at our age. We're overjoyed to have our son. We've been hugely fortunate. He's such a fantastic boy," Brooke was quoted as saying.
The youngster has been brought up at the couple's one million pound home on Guernsey and attends school on the Channel Island.
Relatives of the boy -- who is ten today -- said he's extremely bright and particularly enjoys maths. But like most children his age he is also a big fan of Harry Potter, a passion he shares with his father.
Brooke married his London-born wife a few weeks before their son was born by caesarean section at a Guernsey hospital on August 20, 1997.
"When we moved in they came round for a children's party, and everyone assumed that Mrs Brooke was the grandmother. But they are devoted to their son and very active. They seem far younger than their age," the couple's neighbour Marina Bourgaize told the daily.
It may be mentioned that the earlier world record for the oldest natural birth was held by Ruth Kistler, who had a daughter in Los Angeles in 1956 aged 57.
Dawn Brooke gave birth to a healthy boy without any fertility treatment only 12 months before she became eligible for her old age pension, the Daily Mail reported on August 20, quoting her 74-year-old husband Raymond as saying.
In fact, her husband, a former company director, said the couple had kept the 1997 birth private for a decade to let their son grow up in peace. But, he spoke for the first time yesterday about their delight at having a child so late.
"People are generally not quite aware of the extreme good luck we had at our age. We're overjoyed to have our son. We've been hugely fortunate. He's such a fantastic boy," Brooke was quoted as saying.
The youngster has been brought up at the couple's one million pound home on Guernsey and attends school on the Channel Island.
Relatives of the boy -- who is ten today -- said he's extremely bright and particularly enjoys maths. But like most children his age he is also a big fan of Harry Potter, a passion he shares with his father.
Brooke married his London-born wife a few weeks before their son was born by caesarean section at a Guernsey hospital on August 20, 1997.
"When we moved in they came round for a children's party, and everyone assumed that Mrs Brooke was the grandmother. But they are devoted to their son and very active. They seem far younger than their age," the couple's neighbour Marina Bourgaize told the daily.
It may be mentioned that the earlier world record for the oldest natural birth was held by Ruth Kistler, who had a daughter in Los Angeles in 1956 aged 57.
Even this Jharkhand legislator was not spared of ragging on his first day in college
Sukhram Oraon is a firebrand Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) legislator from West Singhbhum district but even this could not help him evade ragging by his seniors on his first day in college. "You may call it ragging or whatever it may be but my first day in college is really pleasant memory," said Oraon, who enrolled in St Augustine College at Manoharpur in West Singhbum district after passing the matriculation examination this year.
Elaborating on the incident, the MLA from Chakradharpur said a function was organised by seniors to welcome freshers in the college campus on August 16 and he, being a member of the assembly, was made the chief guest. "Honestly, at first, I did not think that I would fall prey to ragging by my college mates, which I realised only when some of the boys drew my attention to the intention of the seniors," he said.
No sooner had he sat on the chair meant for the chief guest, one of the students asked Oraon in what capacity he had sat on the chair meant for the chief guest. Have you occupied the seat as a chief guest or as a student, the student asked.
Oraon said he was in the college as a student and not as a politician.
Then, the student shot back, he did not deserve to sit in the chair meant for the chief guest, He asked Oraon to go to the students gallery.
Oraon obeyed the directive and joined the students in the gallery. But the student was still not satisfied and asked the MLA to stand up and introduce himself to new-comers, which he did.
Elaborating on the incident, the MLA from Chakradharpur said a function was organised by seniors to welcome freshers in the college campus on August 16 and he, being a member of the assembly, was made the chief guest. "Honestly, at first, I did not think that I would fall prey to ragging by my college mates, which I realised only when some of the boys drew my attention to the intention of the seniors," he said.
No sooner had he sat on the chair meant for the chief guest, one of the students asked Oraon in what capacity he had sat on the chair meant for the chief guest. Have you occupied the seat as a chief guest or as a student, the student asked.
Oraon said he was in the college as a student and not as a politician.
Then, the student shot back, he did not deserve to sit in the chair meant for the chief guest, He asked Oraon to go to the students gallery.
Oraon obeyed the directive and joined the students in the gallery. But the student was still not satisfied and asked the MLA to stand up and introduce himself to new-comers, which he did.
A cyber cafe shows the way for visually impaired
An internet centre set up by an NGO in Chennai is virtually a boon for the visually challenged as it has special software that they can use to trawl through cyber space free of cost. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of 36-year-old Govind Krishnan, who is partially blind, the organisation Nethrodaya was launched five years ago.
"I know the problems a blind person faces and wanted to do something for others like me," said Krishnan. "This is the only such centre in the country where they can walk in and browse free of charge," he added.
This has been made possible thanks to technology major Sify, which has provided the centre unlimited access to the internet. Former Union minister Dayanidhi Maran inaugurated the facility in October last year.
The centre has JAWS (Job access with speech), an audio-based software that allows the visually challenged to use computers at will. When it is switched on, JAWS reads everything on the screen, including web pages.
The software was created due to efforts of the Bill Gates Foundation and Freedom Scientific, a group comprising individuals engaged in research. "This is of great help to the blind," Krishnan said.
"Other browsing centres are only equipped to cater to normal persons and this is what makes our centre unique." The centre is located at Mogappair and is being run out of a rented premises. The state government has given the NGO land at a site about two km from the current location. "God willing, we hope to construct our own building in a year," Krishnan said.
"I know the problems a blind person faces and wanted to do something for others like me," said Krishnan. "This is the only such centre in the country where they can walk in and browse free of charge," he added.
This has been made possible thanks to technology major Sify, which has provided the centre unlimited access to the internet. Former Union minister Dayanidhi Maran inaugurated the facility in October last year.
The centre has JAWS (Job access with speech), an audio-based software that allows the visually challenged to use computers at will. When it is switched on, JAWS reads everything on the screen, including web pages.
The software was created due to efforts of the Bill Gates Foundation and Freedom Scientific, a group comprising individuals engaged in research. "This is of great help to the blind," Krishnan said.
"Other browsing centres are only equipped to cater to normal persons and this is what makes our centre unique." The centre is located at Mogappair and is being run out of a rented premises. The state government has given the NGO land at a site about two km from the current location. "God willing, we hope to construct our own building in a year," Krishnan said.
Saturday, August 11, 2007
TEACHERS CAUGHT CHEATING DURING EXAM GET THE BOOT IN MADHYA PRADESH
Seven teachers were suspended on Friday for allegedly cheating during an examination at Badi town, around 100 km from Raisen in Madhya Pradesh, official sources said.
The teachers were caught red-handed cheating during the diploma in education examination on Thursday by a vigilance team led by sub-divisional magistrate Amarjeet Singh, said district education officer Arvind Singh.
Their suspension orders were issued on Friday morning following instructions from the district collector, he added.
The teachers were caught red-handed cheating during the diploma in education examination on Thursday by a vigilance team led by sub-divisional magistrate Amarjeet Singh, said district education officer Arvind Singh.
Their suspension orders were issued on Friday morning following instructions from the district collector, he added.
IT'S LITERALLY ONE OF THE MOST 'SHOCKING' CASES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
A court in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, on Friday ordered the estranged husband of a woman to pay up his electricity bill while hearing a domestic violence case.
Sushma, who has filed a case against her husband Yogendra under the Domestic Violence (Prevention) Act, complained to the court that she had been living without power because of his defaulting electricity bills.
She said she has been living separately in the house in Muzaffarnagar, but UP Power Department officials were unwilling to give her a new connection until the bills were cleared.
Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Piyush Pandey then directed Yogendra to pay his bills.
Sushma, who has filed a case against her husband Yogendra under the Domestic Violence (Prevention) Act, complained to the court that she had been living without power because of his defaulting electricity bills.
She said she has been living separately in the house in Muzaffarnagar, but UP Power Department officials were unwilling to give her a new connection until the bills were cleared.
Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Piyush Pandey then directed Yogendra to pay his bills.
WOMAN PASSENGER DETAINED IN CHENNAI AIRPORT FOR SPORTING BULLET PENDANT
A woman passenger, who was wearing a bullet as a pendant around her neck, was briefly detained by security officials at the Anna International Airport in Chennai on Saturday.
Airport sources said Noor Bi Kaleel (52), a native of Vandavasi in Tiruvannamalai district of Tamil Nadu, came to board a Sharjah-bound Air Arabia flight this morning. After clearing immigration formalities, she went through security check. During frisking, it was found that she was wearing a 5.56 mm bullet, covered by threads, as the locket for a chain she was wearing around her neck.
Noor, who has been working as a domestic help in Sharjah, told the authorities that she was advised to wear the "sacred thread" by an Islamic cleric as a "remedy" for her heart ailment.
She had been wearing the pendant for the past three years, she said.
After a thorough investigation, security official seized the bullet from her and allowed her to leave for Sharjah, the sources said.
Airport sources said Noor Bi Kaleel (52), a native of Vandavasi in Tiruvannamalai district of Tamil Nadu, came to board a Sharjah-bound Air Arabia flight this morning. After clearing immigration formalities, she went through security check. During frisking, it was found that she was wearing a 5.56 mm bullet, covered by threads, as the locket for a chain she was wearing around her neck.
Noor, who has been working as a domestic help in Sharjah, told the authorities that she was advised to wear the "sacred thread" by an Islamic cleric as a "remedy" for her heart ailment.
She had been wearing the pendant for the past three years, she said.
After a thorough investigation, security official seized the bullet from her and allowed her to leave for Sharjah, the sources said.
A SHARK'S FOOD OF LOVE IS MUSIC!!
SOMETIMES IT HAPPENS AROUND THE WORLD TOO
They might have a reputation as being fearsome killing machines but when it comes to music, even the ocean's ultimate predator appreciates a decent tune.
Yes, a new study by German scientists has discovered that playing certain music to sharks gets them in the mood for mating, the Daily Mail reported.
A group of five sea life aquariums in Germany took part in the mood-music experiment as part of a project to try and encourage their sharks to mate. The experiment was launched because of a slowdown in the breeding of sharks in captivity. The aquariums played music to the sharks in water for two hours a day for four weeks. Each played a different title, from classical to rock and hip-hop. Even staff and visitors were asked to watch the behaviour of the sharks.
After four weeks, scientists found that music indeed created a positive effect on the libido of the sharks by encouraging some of them to mate. "We tried everything else and it did not work, so we tried a new approach," the daily quoted a spokesperson for the group as saying. "It has been tried with pandas and primates and it worked with them as well, so why not sharks?" he asked.
The aquariums have now produced a top five of shark mood music. On the top is Salt-N-Papa's Push It, followed by Joe Cocker's You Can Leave Your Hat On, James Last's Traumschiff, Justin Timberlake's Rock Your Body and Bob Marley's No Woman, No Cry.
They might have a reputation as being fearsome killing machines but when it comes to music, even the ocean's ultimate predator appreciates a decent tune.
Yes, a new study by German scientists has discovered that playing certain music to sharks gets them in the mood for mating, the Daily Mail reported.
A group of five sea life aquariums in Germany took part in the mood-music experiment as part of a project to try and encourage their sharks to mate. The experiment was launched because of a slowdown in the breeding of sharks in captivity. The aquariums played music to the sharks in water for two hours a day for four weeks. Each played a different title, from classical to rock and hip-hop. Even staff and visitors were asked to watch the behaviour of the sharks.
After four weeks, scientists found that music indeed created a positive effect on the libido of the sharks by encouraging some of them to mate. "We tried everything else and it did not work, so we tried a new approach," the daily quoted a spokesperson for the group as saying. "It has been tried with pandas and primates and it worked with them as well, so why not sharks?" he asked.
The aquariums have now produced a top five of shark mood music. On the top is Salt-N-Papa's Push It, followed by Joe Cocker's You Can Leave Your Hat On, James Last's Traumschiff, Justin Timberlake's Rock Your Body and Bob Marley's No Woman, No Cry.
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Transgenders protest delay in sex-change surgeries in Vellore
A group of transgenders staged a demonstration in front of the Government Medical College hospital near Vellore, protesting the "inordinate delay" in conducting sex-change operations.
The transgenders along with volunteers of a social service organisation 'Wheel', shouted slogans in front of the hospital on July 25.
According to the transgenders, the hospital authorities had shortlisted 18 of them as per the recommendation of District Collector Dharmendra Pratap Yadav for sex-change operations, free of cost.
Out of the 18, eight underwent primary tests last month.
They said the hospital staff were keeping them waiting saying that the operation theatres were being made ready for the purpose.
Following the demonstration, the hospital authorities held discussions with the transgenders and assured them that two of them will undergo surgery in the first phase on August 2.
The transgenders along with volunteers of a social service organisation 'Wheel', shouted slogans in front of the hospital on July 25.
According to the transgenders, the hospital authorities had shortlisted 18 of them as per the recommendation of District Collector Dharmendra Pratap Yadav for sex-change operations, free of cost.
Out of the 18, eight underwent primary tests last month.
They said the hospital staff were keeping them waiting saying that the operation theatres were being made ready for the purpose.
Following the demonstration, the hospital authorities held discussions with the transgenders and assured them that two of them will undergo surgery in the first phase on August 2.
It happens in China too: Sending dirty jokes, SMSes made punishable offence in China province
Those who send a dirty joke, a suggestive text message, a naughty email to their female colleagues in east China's booming province of Zhejiang will have to think twice as now it is legally a punishable offense.
The Zhejiang provincial legislative body on July 26 passed an amendment to its implementation of the country's law to protect women's rights, stipulating that, from September 1, a woman can file a sexual harassment lawsuit against a man if he oversteps the line in conversation or during on-line chat or via text message.
Those who are found guilty of sexual harassment of women will be punished by police or even held criminally responsible, according to the new regulation.
"Women who feel they are being sexually harassed can report their cases to their employers, public security departments or women federations who should take measures to stop the harassment," it states.
"In recent years, the cases of sending pornographic text messages and pictures via cell phones or the Internet are on rise," said Deng Weixia, a law official with the provincial people's congress.
"Thus the legislature has added the new forms of sexual harassment into the amendment in addition to the traditional form of physical contact," Deng said.
But law experts say there are still difficulties in implementing the law as evidence for sexual harassment is difficult to collect.
"Except for long and frequent sexual harassment, it is impossible for the victims to always have video cameras or recorders on their person, which poses problems for future lawsuits," said lawyer Luo Zhonghong.
The Zhejiang provincial legislative body on July 26 passed an amendment to its implementation of the country's law to protect women's rights, stipulating that, from September 1, a woman can file a sexual harassment lawsuit against a man if he oversteps the line in conversation or during on-line chat or via text message.
Those who are found guilty of sexual harassment of women will be punished by police or even held criminally responsible, according to the new regulation.
"Women who feel they are being sexually harassed can report their cases to their employers, public security departments or women federations who should take measures to stop the harassment," it states.
"In recent years, the cases of sending pornographic text messages and pictures via cell phones or the Internet are on rise," said Deng Weixia, a law official with the provincial people's congress.
"Thus the legislature has added the new forms of sexual harassment into the amendment in addition to the traditional form of physical contact," Deng said.
But law experts say there are still difficulties in implementing the law as evidence for sexual harassment is difficult to collect.
"Except for long and frequent sexual harassment, it is impossible for the victims to always have video cameras or recorders on their person, which poses problems for future lawsuits," said lawyer Luo Zhonghong.
Synthetic village, depicting a 150-year-old village, is coming up in Kolhapur
In order to familiarise today's generation with the traditional Indian rural life, a "synthetic village" depicting a 150-year old village, is being set up near Kolhapur district in Western Maharashtra.
The village, being set up by the Siddhagiri Math, will depict professions like farming, blacksmiths, weaving as they used to exist in those times, a release said today.
It is proposed to be built over 25 acres and seven acres have already been completed, it said, adding Maharashtra Revenue Minister Narayan Rane and MNS President Raj Thackeray will be inaugrating the village today.
The village, being set up by the Siddhagiri Math, will depict professions like farming, blacksmiths, weaving as they used to exist in those times, a release said today.
It is proposed to be built over 25 acres and seven acres have already been completed, it said, adding Maharashtra Revenue Minister Narayan Rane and MNS President Raj Thackeray will be inaugrating the village today.
Elephants storm village, 33 houses damaged in attack
At least 33 houses were damaged by an elephant herd at Turturi in Dooars area of Jalpaiguri district triggering panic in the area.
The pachyderms, which strayed into human habitation for the past seven days after dusk, devoured paddy resulting heavy loss to standing crops, official sources said.
The herd damaged 19 houses in the labourer settlement of Chuniajhora Tea Estate alone.
Local villagers alleged the forest department was not pressing its elephant squad to drive away the tuskers despite the depradations becoming regular menace in the area.
Meanwhile, agitated villagers gheraoed the Divisional Forest Officer when he went to Sakoajhara gram panchayat area on Wednesday after a woman was killed and another injured by wild elephant in the locality.
The pachyderms, which strayed into human habitation for the past seven days after dusk, devoured paddy resulting heavy loss to standing crops, official sources said.
The herd damaged 19 houses in the labourer settlement of Chuniajhora Tea Estate alone.
Local villagers alleged the forest department was not pressing its elephant squad to drive away the tuskers despite the depradations becoming regular menace in the area.
Meanwhile, agitated villagers gheraoed the Divisional Forest Officer when he went to Sakoajhara gram panchayat area on Wednesday after a woman was killed and another injured by wild elephant in the locality.
'Dead' man comes alive in UP village, shocks villagers
Kallu Yadav, a man in his late nineties, was perceived dead by his relatives in Bhaisa village of Varanasi district. But, as they were taking his "body" for cremation, he startled them by asking where are they going.
Villagers took Yadav to be dead as his heart and pulse stopped ticking on Tuesday night. Hours after the "death", as he was put on a bier and was being taken to the nearby river bank, the man regained consciousness.
When told by his relatives that he had "died" and was being taken for cremation, Yadav quipped, "kya mujhe zinda jala doge? (Do you want to burn me alive)".
His shaken but elated relatives brought him back home as the news spread like a wildfire in the surrounding villages.
Villagers took Yadav to be dead as his heart and pulse stopped ticking on Tuesday night. Hours after the "death", as he was put on a bier and was being taken to the nearby river bank, the man regained consciousness.
When told by his relatives that he had "died" and was being taken for cremation, Yadav quipped, "kya mujhe zinda jala doge? (Do you want to burn me alive)".
His shaken but elated relatives brought him back home as the news spread like a wildfire in the surrounding villages.
Ex-Army jawan calls judges 'donkeys', faces contempt of court
Frustrated at his long-drawn litigation in the Delhi High Court, an ex-Army jawan used abusive languages against the judges, who promptly reacted by initiating contempt proceeding against him.
"Both the judges are gadhas (donkeys)," shouted Ashok Kumar Sharma in the open court pointing towards Justice Vikramjit Sen and Justice S L Bhayana, who were hearing his petition seeking to set aside his dismissal order by the Army.
"Judges have no brains," Sharma added in his remarks against the judges.
Immidiately, the Bench directed the High Court security staff to move Sharma out of the court and issued show-cause notice to him.
"Sharma was charged with contempt of court as he disturbed the functioning of the Court and used derogatory languages with the intention of 'scandalising' and lowering the authority of the Court and also interfering with the administration of justice," the Bench said in an order, which listed the derogatory language used by Sharma.
"Both the judges are gadhas (donkeys)," shouted Ashok Kumar Sharma in the open court pointing towards Justice Vikramjit Sen and Justice S L Bhayana, who were hearing his petition seeking to set aside his dismissal order by the Army.
"Judges have no brains," Sharma added in his remarks against the judges.
Immidiately, the Bench directed the High Court security staff to move Sharma out of the court and issued show-cause notice to him.
"Sharma was charged with contempt of court as he disturbed the functioning of the Court and used derogatory languages with the intention of 'scandalising' and lowering the authority of the Court and also interfering with the administration of justice," the Bench said in an order, which listed the derogatory language used by Sharma.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
glittering sonnets in clay
Known for its rich mineral resources and forests this young state is trying to creat a niche for itself in the field of terracota jewellery and pottery thanks to efforts by an all-women NGO.
The initiative by Adhar Mahila Udyog Swavlambi Samiti (AMUSS) to create designer bangles, necklaces, rings as well as pottery by involving women as this predominantely tribal state is yielding results and provinding young women a source of income.
"We knead clay into earthern jewellery which can be worn on any occasion. Even office-goers can try and see it for a change," says Reshma, the prime mover behind the initiative, displaying attractive jewellery made of clay using different hues at her village Bundu, about fifty km from Ranchi.
"This fine art style will also help the jobless become self-dependent," says the 35-year-old sculptor, who completed her master's degree in fine arts from Baroda's Maharaja Sayichirao, and the Bachelor's degree at the famous Shanti Niketan. She also has a Japanese scholarship in art and culture.
The range of products also include ceramic sets and interior designing-throwing a possiblity of a potential market for the self-help group.
"In February, we floated the amuss, and now, we have fifty women learning fine art on-the-job. They are free to choose their working hours," Dutta says.
The initiative by Adhar Mahila Udyog Swavlambi Samiti (AMUSS) to create designer bangles, necklaces, rings as well as pottery by involving women as this predominantely tribal state is yielding results and provinding young women a source of income.
"We knead clay into earthern jewellery which can be worn on any occasion. Even office-goers can try and see it for a change," says Reshma, the prime mover behind the initiative, displaying attractive jewellery made of clay using different hues at her village Bundu, about fifty km from Ranchi.
"This fine art style will also help the jobless become self-dependent," says the 35-year-old sculptor, who completed her master's degree in fine arts from Baroda's Maharaja Sayichirao, and the Bachelor's degree at the famous Shanti Niketan. She also has a Japanese scholarship in art and culture.
The range of products also include ceramic sets and interior designing-throwing a possiblity of a potential market for the self-help group.
"In February, we floated the amuss, and now, we have fifty women learning fine art on-the-job. They are free to choose their working hours," Dutta says.
HC directs CBI to send Chandigarh lawyer to Agra Mental Hospital
In an unusual order, the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Tuesday asked the CBI to get a local lawyer admitted in Agra's Mental Hospital, after taking him into custody, and probe his matrimonial dispute with his wife to ensure fair investigation.
"In view of serious nature of allegations regarding beating and torture of the complainant and her children by the accused (Tahar Singh, Advocate) in a barbaric manner, which only an insane person would do and further that, on enquiry, the Court is given to understand that even in the Bar, his conducts are aggressively violent, this Court is, prima facie, of the opinion, that accused is a worst case of mental disorder," Justice Uma Nath Singh said in his order.
The court directed the CBI SP here "to immediately take Tahar in custody, and take him away from Chandigarh to admit him in the Mental Hospital, Agra, for proper treatment" to ensure the safety of Tahar's wife and her children.
"It is also learnt from the Bar that the accused creates nuisance and commotion wherever he goes, with the help of some anti-social elements, on the strength of some vested interests, who finance him in doing so," the court observed.
CBI was directed to take over the probe of the case "as the accused is a big nuisance in Chandigarh and the police appears to be playing soft in this case, as it has recorded offences only under sections 498-A and 506 of IPC," the court directed, adding, as far as possible, the interrogation of the accused, as directed, should be done only at Delhi or Agra.
The judge directed that the CBI shall use "modern devices during investigation to find out the connections of the petitioner with anti-social elements and the vested interests who are misusing him during this spell of insanity".
"In view of serious nature of allegations regarding beating and torture of the complainant and her children by the accused (Tahar Singh, Advocate) in a barbaric manner, which only an insane person would do and further that, on enquiry, the Court is given to understand that even in the Bar, his conducts are aggressively violent, this Court is, prima facie, of the opinion, that accused is a worst case of mental disorder," Justice Uma Nath Singh said in his order.
The court directed the CBI SP here "to immediately take Tahar in custody, and take him away from Chandigarh to admit him in the Mental Hospital, Agra, for proper treatment" to ensure the safety of Tahar's wife and her children.
"It is also learnt from the Bar that the accused creates nuisance and commotion wherever he goes, with the help of some anti-social elements, on the strength of some vested interests, who finance him in doing so," the court observed.
CBI was directed to take over the probe of the case "as the accused is a big nuisance in Chandigarh and the police appears to be playing soft in this case, as it has recorded offences only under sections 498-A and 506 of IPC," the court directed, adding, as far as possible, the interrogation of the accused, as directed, should be done only at Delhi or Agra.
The judge directed that the CBI shall use "modern devices during investigation to find out the connections of the petitioner with anti-social elements and the vested interests who are misusing him during this spell of insanity".
Groom takes baraat to court in Muzaffarnagar district
In an unusual incident, a man fully dressed as a groom reached the Sub-Divisional magistrate court with "a baraat" to protest against his separation from his under aged beloved, whom he claimed to have married.
Twenty-year-old Deepak had allegedly eloped with a minor girl, and had purportedly married her a month ago in Jansath in Muzaffarnagar district, the police said adding, the couple had appeared before a local court seeking protection in wake of the opposition from their families.
On finding the girl to be a minor, the magistrate sent her to a nari niketan and sent the boy to jail, they said. The girl was later hander over to her parents and the boy was released on bail.
On Monday, Deepak reached the court with the marriage procession, as the girl was scheduled to appear before the court, police said adding a case has been registered against him for creating public nuisance.
Twenty-year-old Deepak had allegedly eloped with a minor girl, and had purportedly married her a month ago in Jansath in Muzaffarnagar district, the police said adding, the couple had appeared before a local court seeking protection in wake of the opposition from their families.
On finding the girl to be a minor, the magistrate sent her to a nari niketan and sent the boy to jail, they said. The girl was later hander over to her parents and the boy was released on bail.
On Monday, Deepak reached the court with the marriage procession, as the girl was scheduled to appear before the court, police said adding a case has been registered against him for creating public nuisance.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
800-YEAR-OLD MUD POTS UNEARTHED IN VELLORE DISTRICT
Four 800-year-old mud pots, engraved with figurines, have been found at Avaraikari village near Ranipet in Tamil Nadu's Vellore district.
The pots with figures of king, queen, dancing girl and elephant were unearthed when uncultivated land belonging to one Srinivasan was dug up using earth movers for brick-making.
The pots were around two-and-a-half feet wide and three feet tall.
On receiving information about the discovery, Vellore Archaeological Museum officer Saravanan rushed to the village and examined them. He said that the pots were 800 years old.
The pots with figures of king, queen, dancing girl and elephant were unearthed when uncultivated land belonging to one Srinivasan was dug up using earth movers for brick-making.
The pots were around two-and-a-half feet wide and three feet tall.
On receiving information about the discovery, Vellore Archaeological Museum officer Saravanan rushed to the village and examined them. He said that the pots were 800 years old.
DEVOTEES THRONG VARANASI TEMPLE TO GET A GLIMPSE OF WEEPING LORD HANUMAN
A large number of devotees thronged a temple in Varanasi on Sunday after rumours that tears rolled down the cheeks of the statue of Lord Hanuman.
The rumours spread like a wildfire and people rushed to the temple in the house of one Nandlal Sharma to take a glimpse of the crying deity.
Sharma said he at first did not believe when his son informed him about it and washed the face of the deity but claimed that tears continued to come out of his eyes.
The devotees later performed a special prayer in the temple to placate the Lord amid superstition that his crying not a good omen.
The rumours spread like a wildfire and people rushed to the temple in the house of one Nandlal Sharma to take a glimpse of the crying deity.
Sharma said he at first did not believe when his son informed him about it and washed the face of the deity but claimed that tears continued to come out of his eyes.
The devotees later performed a special prayer in the temple to placate the Lord amid superstition that his crying not a good omen.
LUNATIC CHARGES AT A WOMAN CONSTABLE, SAVED IN NICK OF TIME
A lunatic chased a woman police constable and attempted to stab her with a broken piece of glass near the collectorate premises in Salem on Sunday, police said.
According to Assistant City Police Commissioner Krishnamurthy, a lunatic identified as 28-year-old Mohammed Sabiyullah, was sleeping under a tree adjacent to the busy road near the collectorate. A woman traffic police constable Sangeetha(20) who was manning the traffic, asked the man to move away.
Upon this, he got agitated and started chasing the constable with a broken piece of glass. He was overpowered by some other policemen present there, before he could stab her.
The lunatic was later admitted to Mohan Kumaramangalam Government Hospital in Salem and was kept under observation, Krishnamurthy said.
According to Assistant City Police Commissioner Krishnamurthy, a lunatic identified as 28-year-old Mohammed Sabiyullah, was sleeping under a tree adjacent to the busy road near the collectorate. A woman traffic police constable Sangeetha(20) who was manning the traffic, asked the man to move away.
Upon this, he got agitated and started chasing the constable with a broken piece of glass. He was overpowered by some other policemen present there, before he could stab her.
The lunatic was later admitted to Mohan Kumaramangalam Government Hospital in Salem and was kept under observation, Krishnamurthy said.
BOY WEIGHING 6 KG BORN IN AHMEDABAD HOSPITAL
When doctor Mehreen Zabin went into the operation theatre she did not know that she would help give birth to a child who would test the weighing scale of the hospital.
Habib Ali, now two days old, was born on Saturday weighing six kg, which doctors say, is 3 kg more than the weight of a normal new born child.
"It is very unusual for a child to be born weighing 6 kg. We were shocked and worried about the health of the baby and the mother. But now both are stable," said Dr Zabin.
The staff of Chippa welfare general hospital also put the weighing scale in the maternity ward under test when weighing the bulky toddler. "It is an amazing case in my career and also for the mother who has given birth to six children already", the surgeon said.
She said the child's health is under observation even though all paramaters were normal.
Habib Ali, now two days old, was born on Saturday weighing six kg, which doctors say, is 3 kg more than the weight of a normal new born child.
"It is very unusual for a child to be born weighing 6 kg. We were shocked and worried about the health of the baby and the mother. But now both are stable," said Dr Zabin.
The staff of Chippa welfare general hospital also put the weighing scale in the maternity ward under test when weighing the bulky toddler. "It is an amazing case in my career and also for the mother who has given birth to six children already", the surgeon said.
She said the child's health is under observation even though all paramaters were normal.
Friday, July 20, 2007
Children take the initiative, stop child marriage in Bangladesh
A minor girl was rescued from being married off at a remote village in southwestern Satkhira as over a hundred school children took to the streets in protest.
Several hundred students of Ghona School submitted a memorandum seeking intervention of the local officials.
The official summoned the girl's father and asked him to call off her wedding to a 25-year-old youth from Paikgachha in Khulna.
He also signed a bond promising not arrange any such child marriage in the future, the Daily Star newspaper reported.
Moni Mala earlier told her friends at school that her father was planning to marry her off, but she could not dare to go against her father's decision.
Her friends then tried to talk her father to scrap the wedding plan, but he did not pay heed to their request.
Despite growing camping, child marriage still remained to be a major social curse particularly in rural areas in Bangladesh where the current population is estimated to be over 140 million in 143,998 square kilometer area.
Several hundred students of Ghona School submitted a memorandum seeking intervention of the local officials.
The official summoned the girl's father and asked him to call off her wedding to a 25-year-old youth from Paikgachha in Khulna.
He also signed a bond promising not arrange any such child marriage in the future, the Daily Star newspaper reported.
Moni Mala earlier told her friends at school that her father was planning to marry her off, but she could not dare to go against her father's decision.
Her friends then tried to talk her father to scrap the wedding plan, but he did not pay heed to their request.
Despite growing camping, child marriage still remained to be a major social curse particularly in rural areas in Bangladesh where the current population is estimated to be over 140 million in 143,998 square kilometer area.
Ragpicker returns money found in train, gets a hero's toast in Kolkata
A child ragpicker who handed over to railway police a sum of Rs 10,450 he found in a train at the station here was felicitated by the authorities.
Kishan Sardar, an orphaned 12-year-old, was looking for left-overs inside the D N Kalka Mail recently when he came across a packet containing wads of currency. He rushed to the GRP outpost with the packet and a quick count revealed it contained Rs 10,450, officials said.
Touched by his act, the GRP top brass decided to felicitate Sardar, who has been living in the station compound for several years.
A gathering applauded as GRP Superintendent of Police Pradip Sanyal patted the boy and handed over Rs 100 to him. While those present described Sardar as a hero, the unassuming boy was at a loss for words.
Kishan Sardar, an orphaned 12-year-old, was looking for left-overs inside the D N Kalka Mail recently when he came across a packet containing wads of currency. He rushed to the GRP outpost with the packet and a quick count revealed it contained Rs 10,450, officials said.
Touched by his act, the GRP top brass decided to felicitate Sardar, who has been living in the station compound for several years.
A gathering applauded as GRP Superintendent of Police Pradip Sanyal patted the boy and handed over Rs 100 to him. While those present described Sardar as a hero, the unassuming boy was at a loss for words.
In a rare show of bonhomie, female pachyderm 'adopts' abandoned calf
It is a case of 'adoption' of a new-born, but with a difference. A 12-day old elephant has been adopted by a trained female pachyderm, who has refused to budge from the side of the critically injured calf.
Bemused forest officials of Jaldapara wildlife sanctuary said though initially it took a bit of coaxing to take the calf, Balasunder, near the 'kunki' (trained) elephant, Champakali, she later started caressing the new-born and feeding it.'
Balasunder' was discovered lying in an injured state on the side of river Balasan on July 18 in Dooars area and taken to Champakali by forest officials, not too sure how she would react.
Chief Conservator of Forest (North Bengal) P Tshering Bhutia said the forest personnel initially tried to take the calf back to its mother in the forest, but the wild elephant turned away as the calf came under human contact.
Bemused forest officials of Jaldapara wildlife sanctuary said though initially it took a bit of coaxing to take the calf, Balasunder, near the 'kunki' (trained) elephant, Champakali, she later started caressing the new-born and feeding it.'
Balasunder' was discovered lying in an injured state on the side of river Balasan on July 18 in Dooars area and taken to Champakali by forest officials, not too sure how she would react.
Chief Conservator of Forest (North Bengal) P Tshering Bhutia said the forest personnel initially tried to take the calf back to its mother in the forest, but the wild elephant turned away as the calf came under human contact.
It is sweet, and half a kilometre long, and it tastes yummy. What could it be?
A half-kilometre long sweet pastry is making its way into entering the Limca Book of Records. The 523.5 metre long cake-delight was baked in Nagpur by a chef and his student team.
Mumbai witnessed the challenging task of baking what could become the longest pastry in India under the watchful eye of representatives of the Limca Book of Records.
The "delicious" effort according to pastry maker Chef Sunil Sakharkar could take an individual eating normally over 13 years to consume in toto, but took just 60 minutes to bake. The pastry weighing 315.84 kgs could also be the heaviest the country has ever made, Sunil said.
The eggless pineapple pastry measured 2 inches in height and 1.5 inches in width. It was topped with 70 kgs of rich whip topping. A team of 35 students of Government Institute of Hotel Management, under the supervision of Sakharkar, achieved this immense task.
Meticulous planning and supervision was needed to make the pastry in under 60 minutes, while the event, held recently, was coordinated by Chef Cherag Roointon from Rich Kwality Pvt Ltd."The two-tier pastry was topped with dairy free topping to keep it stable," Roointon said.
Mumbai witnessed the challenging task of baking what could become the longest pastry in India under the watchful eye of representatives of the Limca Book of Records.
The "delicious" effort according to pastry maker Chef Sunil Sakharkar could take an individual eating normally over 13 years to consume in toto, but took just 60 minutes to bake. The pastry weighing 315.84 kgs could also be the heaviest the country has ever made, Sunil said.
The eggless pineapple pastry measured 2 inches in height and 1.5 inches in width. It was topped with 70 kgs of rich whip topping. A team of 35 students of Government Institute of Hotel Management, under the supervision of Sakharkar, achieved this immense task.
Meticulous planning and supervision was needed to make the pastry in under 60 minutes, while the event, held recently, was coordinated by Chef Cherag Roointon from Rich Kwality Pvt Ltd."The two-tier pastry was topped with dairy free topping to keep it stable," Roointon said.
Sunday, July 15, 2007
FAMILY DECIDES TO DONATE BODIES IRKED BY THE GOSSIP AT FUNERAL
It was cheap gossip at a funeral that made retired IAS officer Pukhraj Salecha make a decision he would rather donate his body for medical research.
Three members of the Salecha family too shared the view and after death their bodies would be donated to the medical college. Most people do not maintain a dignified silence that is expected under such circumstances or share the family's grief but indulge in gossip.
"I have seen people discussing Mallika Sherawat and her vital statistics at the cremation ground," says Salecha. He made up his mind after he returned from the cremation of a close friend.
"I was shattered the way people were gossiping at the funeral ceremony. Thus, I discussed the idea of donating our bodies rather than cremating them with my wife late Rameshwari Salecha," he recalls.
"I believe that everyone of us should make some valuable contribution to the society and that's what we have done," he says.
"My wife too believed that it would be good idea to donate one's body as it would be useful for the medical students and service of the mankind," he adds her wish was fulfilled and her body was donated to the SMS Medical College in Jaipur on June 13.
When asked, Salecha's 92-year-old mother Pyaari says "Jal ke to raakh ho jaungi, par aise shareer doctaron ke kya kaam aayege (if my dead body is burnt it will become ashes, this way it would at least be useful for doctors.)"
Three members of the Salecha family too shared the view and after death their bodies would be donated to the medical college. Most people do not maintain a dignified silence that is expected under such circumstances or share the family's grief but indulge in gossip.
"I have seen people discussing Mallika Sherawat and her vital statistics at the cremation ground," says Salecha. He made up his mind after he returned from the cremation of a close friend.
"I was shattered the way people were gossiping at the funeral ceremony. Thus, I discussed the idea of donating our bodies rather than cremating them with my wife late Rameshwari Salecha," he recalls.
"I believe that everyone of us should make some valuable contribution to the society and that's what we have done," he says.
"My wife too believed that it would be good idea to donate one's body as it would be useful for the medical students and service of the mankind," he adds her wish was fulfilled and her body was donated to the SMS Medical College in Jaipur on June 13.
When asked, Salecha's 92-year-old mother Pyaari says "Jal ke to raakh ho jaungi, par aise shareer doctaron ke kya kaam aayege (if my dead body is burnt it will become ashes, this way it would at least be useful for doctors.)"
IF YOU ARE A GOOD BATHROOM SINGER, YOU ARE JUST THE ONE INDIAN TV CHANNELS ARE LOOKING FOR!!
An Indian television channel is looking out for good singers in the one place that has escaped the prying eyes of reality TV -- the bathroom.
"Bathroom Singer," a new singing contest on the Filmy entertainment channel, will zero in on an untrained performer who's good at singing in the shower and can enthral viewers.
"We are looking for a combination of voice and a certain flavour. For example, the exuberance and energy with which people sing in their bathrooms," said Shailesh Kapoor, Filmy's content and marketing head, recently.
Contestants, who have to be 18 years and above, will exercise their vocal cords in a studio set that replicates a bathroom with tiled walls, showers and taps, but will not appear undressed.
"As the show progresses, there will be specific themes and situations which ask for a certain kind of costume," Kapoor said, without giving details.
It was not clear whether the competition would eventually require participants to sing under a running shower.
Auditions start later this month with the show set to go on air in late August.
Unlike the many youth-oriented reality shows that have become very popular on Indian channels, the creators of "Bathroom Singer" also hope to attract older contestants.
"Age is a huge barrier in other reality TV singing contests," said Kapoor. "But we are not looking for a professional singer -- just someone very, very entertaining. That person can be a 50-year-old."
The winner of the show, determined jointly by a jury and the audience, will walk away with Rs 2.5 million ($62,000) in prize money.
(Courtesy: Reuters)
"Bathroom Singer," a new singing contest on the Filmy entertainment channel, will zero in on an untrained performer who's good at singing in the shower and can enthral viewers.
"We are looking for a combination of voice and a certain flavour. For example, the exuberance and energy with which people sing in their bathrooms," said Shailesh Kapoor, Filmy's content and marketing head, recently.
Contestants, who have to be 18 years and above, will exercise their vocal cords in a studio set that replicates a bathroom with tiled walls, showers and taps, but will not appear undressed.
"As the show progresses, there will be specific themes and situations which ask for a certain kind of costume," Kapoor said, without giving details.
It was not clear whether the competition would eventually require participants to sing under a running shower.
Auditions start later this month with the show set to go on air in late August.
Unlike the many youth-oriented reality shows that have become very popular on Indian channels, the creators of "Bathroom Singer" also hope to attract older contestants.
"Age is a huge barrier in other reality TV singing contests," said Kapoor. "But we are not looking for a professional singer -- just someone very, very entertaining. That person can be a 50-year-old."
The winner of the show, determined jointly by a jury and the audience, will walk away with Rs 2.5 million ($62,000) in prize money.
(Courtesy: Reuters)
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Niece pours hot water on sleeping aunt for scolding her
Upset over being scolded, a teenage girl poured hot water on her sleeping aunt and hit her with a wooden stick leaving her hospitalised in Pune.
Forty-five year old Kumuda Tripathi, a college teacher, asked her 19-year-old niece Namita to lower the TV volume, which triggered a violent reaction from the girl, who smashed the remote.
Annoyed by Namita's reaction, Kumuda gave her a slap. Seething with anger, the niece collected a bucketful of hot water from the geyser and poured it on the aunt who was sleeping.
Namita then took a wooden leg of a 'divan' and hit Kumda leaving her writhing in pain, police said.
The girl, who had come to stay with the Tripathis' from Orissa two years ago was looking after household chores of the family, was arrested for attempt to murder.
Forty-five year old Kumuda Tripathi, a college teacher, asked her 19-year-old niece Namita to lower the TV volume, which triggered a violent reaction from the girl, who smashed the remote.
Annoyed by Namita's reaction, Kumuda gave her a slap. Seething with anger, the niece collected a bucketful of hot water from the geyser and poured it on the aunt who was sleeping.
Namita then took a wooden leg of a 'divan' and hit Kumda leaving her writhing in pain, police said.
The girl, who had come to stay with the Tripathis' from Orissa two years ago was looking after household chores of the family, was arrested for attempt to murder.
Even justice: Father tries to rape daughter, gets killed
A man was killed by his daughter after the former tried to rape her in Apiya town of Jamnagar district in Gujarat, police said.
Dhana Bhadarka (45) was stabbed by his married daughter at his residence after the deceased tried to rape her, police said.
The deceased's wife has lodged a complaint against her daughter who has been arrested, police added.
Dhana Bhadarka (45) was stabbed by his married daughter at his residence after the deceased tried to rape her, police said.
The deceased's wife has lodged a complaint against her daughter who has been arrested, police added.
Scientists discover that the idol of Goddess Amman is in fact a sculpture of Mahavira
Hundreds of villagers throng a cave temple in western Tamil Nadu every year, not knowing that the Goddess Amman idol they worship over the last two decades is in fact a sculpture of Mahavira belonging to seventh century.
The transformation of the Jain sculpture into an idol of 'Aadhali Amman,' located on the fringes of the Aliyar dam near Puliyankandi village in Coimbatore district, has been found by chance by an exploration team of students belonging to the Government College of Fine Arts in Chennai.
K T Gandhirajan, an art historian who led the team, along with his compatriot K Natarajan, said that the upper portion of Mahavira sculpture, found in the 'padmasana' pose, had been converted into a Goddess by creating breasts and ornaments in cement.
The eyes were painted to make it look like that of a Hindu female deity and the sculpture was wrapped in silk sari. The temple was complete with 'trishuls' (tridents) planted behind the deity and a priest conducting pujas every day.
Gandhirajan said the team was on a mission of documenting ruined monuments and pre-historicl rock paintings when it spoa cave on the edge of the Aliyar dam in May last.
Trekking for a distance of about three km, they found a 4.5 feet Amman idol in granite beneath a huge rock. However, the presence of a stone bed, characteristic of Jain monuments, raised doubts and on close scrutiny it was found that it was of Mahavira, the last Tirthankara of Jainism, he said.
Several Jain monuments are found in Madurai, Pudukkottai, South and North Arcot districts of Tamil Nadu where Jainism prospered between 200 BC and 9th century AD.
The transformation of the Jain sculpture into an idol of 'Aadhali Amman,' located on the fringes of the Aliyar dam near Puliyankandi village in Coimbatore district, has been found by chance by an exploration team of students belonging to the Government College of Fine Arts in Chennai.
K T Gandhirajan, an art historian who led the team, along with his compatriot K Natarajan, said that the upper portion of Mahavira sculpture, found in the 'padmasana' pose, had been converted into a Goddess by creating breasts and ornaments in cement.
The eyes were painted to make it look like that of a Hindu female deity and the sculpture was wrapped in silk sari. The temple was complete with 'trishuls' (tridents) planted behind the deity and a priest conducting pujas every day.
Gandhirajan said the team was on a mission of documenting ruined monuments and pre-historicl rock paintings when it spoa cave on the edge of the Aliyar dam in May last.
Trekking for a distance of about three km, they found a 4.5 feet Amman idol in granite beneath a huge rock. However, the presence of a stone bed, characteristic of Jain monuments, raised doubts and on close scrutiny it was found that it was of Mahavira, the last Tirthankara of Jainism, he said.
Several Jain monuments are found in Madurai, Pudukkottai, South and North Arcot districts of Tamil Nadu where Jainism prospered between 200 BC and 9th century AD.
Kerala government plans to open old-age home for captive elephants
A rehabilitation centre for aged captive elephants has been planned in Kerala, state Forest Minister Binoy Viswam said recently. An ideal forest spot would be identified soon for setting up the centre, to be linked with eco-tourism, Viswam informed the Assembly.
Taking note of incidents of elephants turning violent during festivals, a scheme to impart scientific training to mahouts has been drawn up, Viswam said in a written reply.
The Wildlife Department has taken steps for effective implementation of Kerala Captive Elephants (Management and Maintenance Rules), which has laid down norms for upkeep of the jumbos.
The owners of elephants have been instructed to obtain health certificates from veterinarians before taking the animal for festival parades.
As part of the elephant census, the owners has been asked to register their jumbos with the respective district administrations.
A scheme of implanting microchips behind the ear of elephants containing their physical details has also been implemented.
Taking note of incidents of elephants turning violent during festivals, a scheme to impart scientific training to mahouts has been drawn up, Viswam said in a written reply.
The Wildlife Department has taken steps for effective implementation of Kerala Captive Elephants (Management and Maintenance Rules), which has laid down norms for upkeep of the jumbos.
The owners of elephants have been instructed to obtain health certificates from veterinarians before taking the animal for festival parades.
As part of the elephant census, the owners has been asked to register their jumbos with the respective district administrations.
A scheme of implanting microchips behind the ear of elephants containing their physical details has also been implemented.
If you can't deliver it, junk it: Postman sells letters, documents to scrap dealer
A postman in Indore has allegedly sold hundreds of letters, including those containing bills and insurance intimations, to a waste paper dealer instead of delivering them.
The postal department launched a probe against the postman after the matter was brought to light by shocked people of Navlakha area here. Police have seized letters and other material from the waste dealer, Director of Postal Services Madhvi Dabral told reporters.
Letters, intimations from Life Insurance Corporation, magazines and documents like telephone bills weighing nearly three kilograms were allegedly sold by the postman to scrap dealer Azam recently. Azam has said the same postman allegedly sold him such letters earlier too.
Nearly 250 letters were found in Azam's shop and all of them were posted after June 15, Dabral said.
A two-member committee of the postal department will submit its report on the matter and only then will authorities disclose the name of the accused postman though the department has already identified him.
The postal department is also informing banks and other institutions and urging them to re-issue the documents and to waive any late fees if possible. In case this is not possible, the postal department will bear the costs, Dabral said.
"Definitely, the incident has damaged the reputation of the department and we are taking all possible steps to regain the trust of people in the postman," Dabral said, adding this was the first time such an incident had come to her notice.
The postal department launched a probe against the postman after the matter was brought to light by shocked people of Navlakha area here. Police have seized letters and other material from the waste dealer, Director of Postal Services Madhvi Dabral told reporters.
Letters, intimations from Life Insurance Corporation, magazines and documents like telephone bills weighing nearly three kilograms were allegedly sold by the postman to scrap dealer Azam recently. Azam has said the same postman allegedly sold him such letters earlier too.
Nearly 250 letters were found in Azam's shop and all of them were posted after June 15, Dabral said.
A two-member committee of the postal department will submit its report on the matter and only then will authorities disclose the name of the accused postman though the department has already identified him.
The postal department is also informing banks and other institutions and urging them to re-issue the documents and to waive any late fees if possible. In case this is not possible, the postal department will bear the costs, Dabral said.
"Definitely, the incident has damaged the reputation of the department and we are taking all possible steps to regain the trust of people in the postman," Dabral said, adding this was the first time such an incident had come to her notice.
Cheque issued under Prime Minister's Relief Fund bounces
A cheque of Rs 10,000 issued by Yavatmal district collector to a farmer's widow under the Prime Minister's Relief Fund has bounced for lack of funds.
Vandana Anil Shende, whose husband had committed suicide on August 23 last year, was handed over cheque of Rs 10,000 on February 7 by the collector towards partly providing her with financial assistance under the Prime Minister's National Relief fund, a NGO Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti, president Kishore Tiwari said.
The cheque deposited with district Central co-operative bank, Yavatmal, bounced with the bank informing Shende about the fund insufficiency on June 29 in a note, he said.
He also made available copies of bounced cheque and intimation to account holder from co-operative bank to the media.
Tiwari also demanded immediate suspension of Yavatmal collector, who issued the cheque.
An amount of Rs 6 lakh allocated to each district, is at the district collector's disposal to extend immediate financial assistance to distressed families of farmers, he added.
Vandana Anil Shende, whose husband had committed suicide on August 23 last year, was handed over cheque of Rs 10,000 on February 7 by the collector towards partly providing her with financial assistance under the Prime Minister's National Relief fund, a NGO Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti, president Kishore Tiwari said.
The cheque deposited with district Central co-operative bank, Yavatmal, bounced with the bank informing Shende about the fund insufficiency on June 29 in a note, he said.
He also made available copies of bounced cheque and intimation to account holder from co-operative bank to the media.
Tiwari also demanded immediate suspension of Yavatmal collector, who issued the cheque.
An amount of Rs 6 lakh allocated to each district, is at the district collector's disposal to extend immediate financial assistance to distressed families of farmers, he added.
Man seeks to enter record books with the smallest ever Bhagavat Gita
An artist in Alappuzha, the backwater town of Kerala, is making a decorated 'micro' version of the Bhagavat Gita in silver, which when completed would be the smallest edition of the Hindu spiritual classic.
Engaged in the meticulous and strenuous task over the past several months, 29-year-old Vinodkumar has designed the silver book to be of 88 mm in width and 10 mm thick, containing 1,100 pages covering all the 18 chapters of the Sanskrit classic, which forms the philosophic core of the great Indian epic Mahabharata.
"I think this is not just the smallest ever version of the Gita. My information is that this is going to be the smallest ever version of any religious work," 29-year-old Vinod Kumar sais.
The work has advanced to the 12th chapter of the Gita -- Bhakti Yogam -- and the remaining chapters would be completed soon, he said.
Vinodkumar, who is also a freelance photographer, aims to set a world record with his work.
Hailing from a family of gold workers, he learnt the craft from his father Gopalan. But instead of eking out a living through jewellery work, he chose to be an artist, specialising in silver.
Some of his earlier works, mostly silver replicas of major Kerala temples, have been bought by foreign tourists.
Engaged in the meticulous and strenuous task over the past several months, 29-year-old Vinodkumar has designed the silver book to be of 88 mm in width and 10 mm thick, containing 1,100 pages covering all the 18 chapters of the Sanskrit classic, which forms the philosophic core of the great Indian epic Mahabharata.
"I think this is not just the smallest ever version of the Gita. My information is that this is going to be the smallest ever version of any religious work," 29-year-old Vinod Kumar sais.
The work has advanced to the 12th chapter of the Gita -- Bhakti Yogam -- and the remaining chapters would be completed soon, he said.
Vinodkumar, who is also a freelance photographer, aims to set a world record with his work.
Hailing from a family of gold workers, he learnt the craft from his father Gopalan. But instead of eking out a living through jewellery work, he chose to be an artist, specialising in silver.
Some of his earlier works, mostly silver replicas of major Kerala temples, have been bought by foreign tourists.
Blood is thicker than water: Woman traces father after 23 years of separation
A woman living in Saudi Arabia, who was separated from her Indian family as a young girl due to poverty, is set to be reunited with her father after 23 years.
Naseema, 31, who now leads an affluent life as the wife of a business consultant, traced her speech-impaired father Mohammed Ibrahim, who works as a cleaner in a hotel, through a detective agency.
She was separated from her family in 1984 at the age of eight and could not even remember the place of her birth. Yet she was unable to overcome the haunting memories of her father, who used to roll beedis day and night to support the family and carry her to school on his shoulders, Naseema told reporters in Chennai over phone from Saudi Arabia.
"Not a day has passed without me shedding tears thinking about my father. Though he is speech-impaired, he expressed his love and affection for us through his deeds," she said.
Born the third daughter in a poor Muslim family in Kancheepuram, Naseema lost her mother during her birth and was brought up by her paternal grandmother. Unable to support the children, her granny got the eldest sister married off while employing the younger ones at two different households as maids.
"I still remember the haunted look in my father's eyes when my granny took me away from our house," Naseema said.
Naseema, 31, who now leads an affluent life as the wife of a business consultant, traced her speech-impaired father Mohammed Ibrahim, who works as a cleaner in a hotel, through a detective agency.
She was separated from her family in 1984 at the age of eight and could not even remember the place of her birth. Yet she was unable to overcome the haunting memories of her father, who used to roll beedis day and night to support the family and carry her to school on his shoulders, Naseema told reporters in Chennai over phone from Saudi Arabia.
"Not a day has passed without me shedding tears thinking about my father. Though he is speech-impaired, he expressed his love and affection for us through his deeds," she said.
Born the third daughter in a poor Muslim family in Kancheepuram, Naseema lost her mother during her birth and was brought up by her paternal grandmother. Unable to support the children, her granny got the eldest sister married off while employing the younger ones at two different households as maids.
"I still remember the haunted look in my father's eyes when my granny took me away from our house," Naseema said.
Youth leaps to death from third floor, kills school boy too
A youth, who jumped from the third floor of an apartment reportedly to commit suicide, fell on a school boy walking down the road, resulting in a double death.
Police said Jayakanthan (28), a resident of Tondiarpet in north Chennai, had gone to his relative's house recently, where he suddenly went to the third floor and leaped from there.
He fell on seven-year-old Mustaq Ali who was returning home after tuition classes, police added.
While Jayakanthan died on the spot, Mustaq succumbed to injuries at the Government General Hospital here.
Police are investigating the factors which made the youth take the extreme step.
Police said Jayakanthan (28), a resident of Tondiarpet in north Chennai, had gone to his relative's house recently, where he suddenly went to the third floor and leaped from there.
He fell on seven-year-old Mustaq Ali who was returning home after tuition classes, police added.
While Jayakanthan died on the spot, Mustaq succumbed to injuries at the Government General Hospital here.
Police are investigating the factors which made the youth take the extreme step.
Calcutta police were told not to watch cinema during the heydays of naxalism
Tell your family members not to disclose your profession. Avoid going to cinemas or theatre. Always treat your revolver as if it is loaded. These were among a series of instructions given to the Calcutta Police personnel during the heydays of the Naxalite movement in the late sixties and the early seventies.
Security experts, police forces and researchers on the movement can draw lessons from the rich and voluminous records of the Calcutta Police Gazette (CPG) between 1967 and 1975. These records have been painstakingly dug out and compiled in a book The Naxalites -- Through the Eyes of the Police, edited by noted author on militant nationalist and political movements, Ashoke Kumar Mukhopadhyay.
In his 24-page introduction to the book, he recalls those days when the walls of Kolkata buildings were full of grafitti like Amar Bari, Tomar Bari, Naxalbari (Our home is Naxalbari), Chiner Chairman, Amader Chairman (Chairman of Chinese Communist Party Mao Tse Tung is our Chairman) and Pulish Maro, Austro Karo (kill the police and snatch their weapons).
The entire metropolis was affected by violent clashes, demonstrations and killings of police and CPI(M) cadres and "fake encounter" killings of a large number of youth.
"Scanning the notifications appearing in the CPG of the 1970s is like the interception of signals by the military intelligence at the times of war," writes Mukhopadhyay.
Besides providing the reader with invaluable information about the everyday tactics adopted by the police to fight the "urban guerrilla war" that had rocked the eastern metropolis, the CPG lends another dimension to the history of the Naxalite movement by "offering an alternative version from the viewpoint of its antagonist," he says.
Security experts, police forces and researchers on the movement can draw lessons from the rich and voluminous records of the Calcutta Police Gazette (CPG) between 1967 and 1975. These records have been painstakingly dug out and compiled in a book The Naxalites -- Through the Eyes of the Police, edited by noted author on militant nationalist and political movements, Ashoke Kumar Mukhopadhyay.
In his 24-page introduction to the book, he recalls those days when the walls of Kolkata buildings were full of grafitti like Amar Bari, Tomar Bari, Naxalbari (Our home is Naxalbari), Chiner Chairman, Amader Chairman (Chairman of Chinese Communist Party Mao Tse Tung is our Chairman) and Pulish Maro, Austro Karo (kill the police and snatch their weapons).
The entire metropolis was affected by violent clashes, demonstrations and killings of police and CPI(M) cadres and "fake encounter" killings of a large number of youth.
"Scanning the notifications appearing in the CPG of the 1970s is like the interception of signals by the military intelligence at the times of war," writes Mukhopadhyay.
Besides providing the reader with invaluable information about the everyday tactics adopted by the police to fight the "urban guerrilla war" that had rocked the eastern metropolis, the CPG lends another dimension to the history of the Naxalite movement by "offering an alternative version from the viewpoint of its antagonist," he says.
Autorickshaw turns 50 in Kozhikode, 'model' drivers celebrate it with pomp and show
Having earned the reputation for charging the cheapest fare compared to several leading cities in the country, autorickshaw drivers in Kozhikode, Kerala, observed the 50th anniversary of the vehicle's introduction in the city.
An impressive function was organised by the AITUC to commemorate the occasion, where 10 veteran autorickshaw drivers were felicitated.
Known for their honesty in claiming nothing more than the 'metre-charge' irrespective of the travelled distance, autorickshaw drivers in Kozhikode are regarded as 'model' drivers.
The first autorickshaw, brought in from Chennai, hit the roads here 50 years ago and the minimum charge was then 35 'naya paise' against the petrol price of 80 paise per litre.
Although auto drivers in other cities in Kerala and elsewhere in the country reportedly charge exorbitant rates, drivers in Kozhikode continue to ask for the actual 'metre-charge'.
In a city where there are over a dozen women drivers now, the fare continues to be nominal, sticking to the minimum Rs 10 during day time and 50 per cent more between 10 pm and 6 am.
"Kozhikode is India's role model in auto service and let us all feel proud about it," state Forest Minister Binoy Viswom, who participated in the function, said.
Hundreds of autorickshaw drivers took out a procession to mark the occasion.
An impressive function was organised by the AITUC to commemorate the occasion, where 10 veteran autorickshaw drivers were felicitated.
Known for their honesty in claiming nothing more than the 'metre-charge' irrespective of the travelled distance, autorickshaw drivers in Kozhikode are regarded as 'model' drivers.
The first autorickshaw, brought in from Chennai, hit the roads here 50 years ago and the minimum charge was then 35 'naya paise' against the petrol price of 80 paise per litre.
Although auto drivers in other cities in Kerala and elsewhere in the country reportedly charge exorbitant rates, drivers in Kozhikode continue to ask for the actual 'metre-charge'.
In a city where there are over a dozen women drivers now, the fare continues to be nominal, sticking to the minimum Rs 10 during day time and 50 per cent more between 10 pm and 6 am.
"Kozhikode is India's role model in auto service and let us all feel proud about it," state Forest Minister Binoy Viswom, who participated in the function, said.
Hundreds of autorickshaw drivers took out a procession to mark the occasion.
Viper gives birth to 41 small serpents in Jammu!
In a rare phenomenon, a viper gave birth to 41 serpulas (small serpents), instead of laying eggs, in a residential premises in Jammu. The viper -- mostly found in Africa and Asia -- delivered 41 serpulas in Subash Nagar area here last night, local residents said.
As soon as the incident spread, hundreds of people converged at the locality to have the glimpse of small serpents.
Satish Sharma, at whose premises the snake gave birth to serpulas, prepared sweets at his residence and distributed it among the gathering in order to perform 'Nag Devta' pooja, they said.
He, later, contacted the Wild-life Department officers and a team was deputed to the spot to bring the vipers to Manda Wildlife Sanctuary. Regional Wildlife Warden Nissar Ahmed Kitchloo said that it was a rare phenomenon of breeding by the poisonous snake.
"Normally snakes produce eggs which on hatching give birth to small serpents. It is very rarely that vipers directly delivers serpula," he said. "The eggs of vipers sometimes get hatched inside a pouch in the lower portion of their skin and then the small serpents come out one by one," he said adding all the 41 serpents were alive.
To a question, he said the survival rate among the viper serpents is very low.
As soon as the incident spread, hundreds of people converged at the locality to have the glimpse of small serpents.
Satish Sharma, at whose premises the snake gave birth to serpulas, prepared sweets at his residence and distributed it among the gathering in order to perform 'Nag Devta' pooja, they said.
He, later, contacted the Wild-life Department officers and a team was deputed to the spot to bring the vipers to Manda Wildlife Sanctuary. Regional Wildlife Warden Nissar Ahmed Kitchloo said that it was a rare phenomenon of breeding by the poisonous snake.
"Normally snakes produce eggs which on hatching give birth to small serpents. It is very rarely that vipers directly delivers serpula," he said. "The eggs of vipers sometimes get hatched inside a pouch in the lower portion of their skin and then the small serpents come out one by one," he said adding all the 41 serpents were alive.
To a question, he said the survival rate among the viper serpents is very low.
Saraswati, 108, is a living testimony of modern India
For 107-year old Saraswathy Ramaswamy, who could speak and write in six languages with ease even now, life is nothing but a reflection of the history of modern India.
Born on January one, 1900 in Secunderabad, she had been following almost all developments of the pre- and post-independence India. Be it the fight against British imperialism or the successive Indian governments or even the recent visit by American warship 'USS Nimitz' to the city, she has kept herself abreast with almost all developments.
Saraswathy, who is quite fit and maintains a childish enthusiasm, is putting up at 'Vishranthi', a home for aged women, on the outskirts of the city at Palavakkam.
She speaks and writes six languages -- Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Hindi, Gujarati and English -- with such finesse that might put even native speakers of these languages to shame. "I learnt 15 languages and I can speak and write six," she says in impeccable English marked by clarity.
An admirer of Mahatma Gandhi, she still remembers the assassination of the 'Father of the Nation'. "The scene of Gandhiji's assassination was very tragic. When I think about it, even now, I can't eat," she adds.
At a time when the nation is likely to get a woman President, she says, "Our country would have progressed very well if all women were like Indira Gandhi."
Saraswathi, who is a big fan of the late Prime Minister, adds that every time she saw her picture, she salutes her.
Born on January one, 1900 in Secunderabad, she had been following almost all developments of the pre- and post-independence India. Be it the fight against British imperialism or the successive Indian governments or even the recent visit by American warship 'USS Nimitz' to the city, she has kept herself abreast with almost all developments.
Saraswathy, who is quite fit and maintains a childish enthusiasm, is putting up at 'Vishranthi', a home for aged women, on the outskirts of the city at Palavakkam.
She speaks and writes six languages -- Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Hindi, Gujarati and English -- with such finesse that might put even native speakers of these languages to shame. "I learnt 15 languages and I can speak and write six," she says in impeccable English marked by clarity.
An admirer of Mahatma Gandhi, she still remembers the assassination of the 'Father of the Nation'. "The scene of Gandhiji's assassination was very tragic. When I think about it, even now, I can't eat," she adds.
At a time when the nation is likely to get a woman President, she says, "Our country would have progressed very well if all women were like Indira Gandhi."
Saraswathi, who is a big fan of the late Prime Minister, adds that every time she saw her picture, she salutes her.
Have you heart of a 'Toilet Beauty Contest'? Now you will, it's taking place in Tamil Nadu
The village of Kameshwaram in the coastal district of Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu will witness a unique "beauty contest" on July 14 -- that of ecological toilets.
There will be no cat walks by good looking youngsters, but the stars of the day would be 'EcoSan toilets', most suited for tsunami-hit sandy coastal areas.
The "First Toilet Beauty Contest", organised by Friends in Need (FIN France) and SCOPE (Society for Community Organization and People's Education) Tiruchirappalli, leaders in Ecological Sanitation in India, is to reward the pioneering users of the EcoSan toilets.
Eligibility for participating in the contest is limited to the first batch of 100 "EcoSan toilet families" in the village who are using them properly and maintaining well the kitchen garden watered by the urine from the toilet.
The contest is part of the three-day Millennium Development Goals (MDG) Conference being organised by INRA (Institute National de la Recherche) France, UN-AMI (Friends in need) France, the Bharathidasan University and SCOPE in Tiruchirappalli from July 12.
Besides cash awards ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000 under three categories, all participants would be given a prize on July 14, M Subburaman, Director, SCOPE, said.
The theme of the conference, the first of its kind in the country, is "Role of technology and innovation in attainment of the MDG-food security, socio-economic and environmental security and health in marginalized zones in India."
There will be no cat walks by good looking youngsters, but the stars of the day would be 'EcoSan toilets', most suited for tsunami-hit sandy coastal areas.
The "First Toilet Beauty Contest", organised by Friends in Need (FIN France) and SCOPE (Society for Community Organization and People's Education) Tiruchirappalli, leaders in Ecological Sanitation in India, is to reward the pioneering users of the EcoSan toilets.
Eligibility for participating in the contest is limited to the first batch of 100 "EcoSan toilet families" in the village who are using them properly and maintaining well the kitchen garden watered by the urine from the toilet.
The contest is part of the three-day Millennium Development Goals (MDG) Conference being organised by INRA (Institute National de la Recherche) France, UN-AMI (Friends in need) France, the Bharathidasan University and SCOPE in Tiruchirappalli from July 12.
Besides cash awards ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000 under three categories, all participants would be given a prize on July 14, M Subburaman, Director, SCOPE, said.
The theme of the conference, the first of its kind in the country, is "Role of technology and innovation in attainment of the MDG-food security, socio-economic and environmental security and health in marginalized zones in India."
RPF DIG tries to outrage modesty of IPS officer's wife!!
A DIG of the Railway Protection Force has landed in a controversy for allegedly trying to outrage the modesty of the wife of an IPS officer on a Patna-bound train from New Delhi.
The IPS officer's wife, whose IAS sister was also travelling with her, has entered the complaint in the register of Sampoorna Kranti Express against RPF DIG P J Rawai charging him with trying to outrage her modesty under the influence of liquor, railway sources said.
When contacted, Superintendent of Railway Police, Patna, Ajitabh Kumar said no no FIR has been registered by the aggrieved person so far.
The incident occurred on the night of July 8, when the two sisters were coming to Patna in an AC coach of the train.
The woman claimed that the DIG, who was allegedly drunk, tried to outrage her modesty when she was asleep on the lower berth. The two sisters, according to railway sources, slapped the DIG and also seized his mobile phone and identity card, which they later returned.
The IAS official later reported the matter to Home Secretary Afzal Amanullah.
Neither Rawai nor the complainant were available for comments.
The IPS officer's wife, whose IAS sister was also travelling with her, has entered the complaint in the register of Sampoorna Kranti Express against RPF DIG P J Rawai charging him with trying to outrage her modesty under the influence of liquor, railway sources said.
When contacted, Superintendent of Railway Police, Patna, Ajitabh Kumar said no no FIR has been registered by the aggrieved person so far.
The incident occurred on the night of July 8, when the two sisters were coming to Patna in an AC coach of the train.
The woman claimed that the DIG, who was allegedly drunk, tried to outrage her modesty when she was asleep on the lower berth. The two sisters, according to railway sources, slapped the DIG and also seized his mobile phone and identity card, which they later returned.
The IAS official later reported the matter to Home Secretary Afzal Amanullah.
Neither Rawai nor the complainant were available for comments.
Man exchanges baby to raise money for wife's funeral!
A tribal man has exchanged his new born baby to a childless couple for Rs 1,200 to raise the funeral expenses of his wife in a remote village of Orissa.
Bipin Gagarai, who belongs to Sahupur village in Jajpur district, had told an official team led by the district welfare officer, Shivaji Bhuyan, that his wife Gurubari died soon after giving birth to a baby boy, their third child on July 1.
Bipin said he could not get immediate medical attention for his wife because of his penury and she died the next day.
As he had no money to transport the body to his village and undertake funeral expenses, he handed over the two-day-old baby to a childless couple living in the neighbourhood who paid him Rs 1,200.
Bhuyan told said that Bipin, who has two other children, a seven-year-old son and a three-year-old daughter, said he would get back the newborn baby as soon as he paid back the loan he had taken from his neighbour. Bhuyan said it could not be construed as a case of child sale.
Bhuyan said the district administration had decided to shift Bipin's daughter to a Kanyashram (a shelter for girls with school) in Jajpur.
Arrangements would also be made to ensure care and protection of the newborn, he said.
Bipin Gagarai, who belongs to Sahupur village in Jajpur district, had told an official team led by the district welfare officer, Shivaji Bhuyan, that his wife Gurubari died soon after giving birth to a baby boy, their third child on July 1.
Bipin said he could not get immediate medical attention for his wife because of his penury and she died the next day.
As he had no money to transport the body to his village and undertake funeral expenses, he handed over the two-day-old baby to a childless couple living in the neighbourhood who paid him Rs 1,200.
Bhuyan told said that Bipin, who has two other children, a seven-year-old son and a three-year-old daughter, said he would get back the newborn baby as soon as he paid back the loan he had taken from his neighbour. Bhuyan said it could not be construed as a case of child sale.
Bhuyan said the district administration had decided to shift Bipin's daughter to a Kanyashram (a shelter for girls with school) in Jajpur.
Arrangements would also be made to ensure care and protection of the newborn, he said.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
106-YEAR-OLD GETS REVISED PENSION AFTER A LOOOOOOOOOOONG WAIT OF 8 YEARS!
The saying, ''its 'never too late'' could not be more true, when one of the oldest surviving WW-II veteran soldier to have served in the British and Indian Army, 106- year-old Khazan Singh Kohli, got what he most desired- the revised pension as per his rank, that of Naik Subedar, three weeks ahead of the two-day defence pension adalat being held in Pune on June 21-22nd at AFMC.
Kohli retired from the Indian Army in 1949, and has since been getting the pension of a sepoy when he should have got the pension due to a Naik Subedar. He will now get between Rs 5,000 and Rs 6,000 plus as against Rs 2,373 including a basic with arrears effective from 1996.
Kohli's battle began when he first wrote to officials concerned officials in 1999, but received little response. The family began to look into the matter since last year. His grandaughter, Gurvinder Kaur, who has recently completed studies in clinical psychology, said that,''the discrepancies in his pension have finally been rectified, and the family received the 'good news' on May 29th following a letter from CDA-P''.
The matter was taken up by the Pune Zilla Sainik Welfare Officer, Lt Col Shirish Karasgi (retd,) who urged the family members to put up the case. Singh's son, daughter-in-law and grandaughter began to write to authorities concerned and at various levels in May 2006. ''Initially, we thought it was going to be a big struggle but by January, we had got the feeling that we may just get it as the letters were quite positive. Earlier, we ran from pillar to post realising that there was no pension table available for ready reference. Some of the old documents with the bank were also not available'', she said.
Vide a letter (IO-44062/Corr/SP(T-IV) dated May 29, 2007, the records office of the Army Supply Corps (ASC) in Bangalore, has advised Bank of Maharashtra (from where Kohli is drawing his monthly pension) to pay the revised amount with effect from January 1, 1996. Gurvinder informed that her grandfather who is a strict disciplinarian on receiving the news was very happy and even proud to see his photos splashed in local dailies.
Khazan Singh Kohli has two sons and three daughters, he lost his wife 33 years ago.
When asked about his daily diet, Gurvinder said his day begins with a cup of tea, followed by pohe or something light, for lunch at 12.30 am. He has two chapatis and subji and the same goes for dinner at 9 pm.
Born on Spetember 3, 1899 at Dulla in R awalpindi, Kohli a World War-II veteran, joined the Army Supply Corps based in Dhaka. During the period he met Subhash Chandra Bose. He has also witnessed Jallianwala Bagh. He donated his 100-year-old service rifle to Raja Kelkar Museum in Pune two years ago in the presence of the then Municipal Commissioner Dr Nitin Kareer.
A happy Karasgi said, "Tthere is a sense of achievement, what is due to these seniors they must get and that too at the earliest''.
Around 512 applications have been received so far for the 81st defence adalat and the 6th in Maharashtra to be held here. Defence personnel from other states with any grievance are also welcome to register their cases, he informed.
Karasgi said several other cases have already been settled ahead of the adalat one of a Major General's widow who was drawing less pension. Some of the pension related problems are to do with lack of communication between banks and records office, or administrative where one rank one pension has not been implemented or lack ofinformation about the pensioners family or personal details, he said.
Kohli retired from the Indian Army in 1949, and has since been getting the pension of a sepoy when he should have got the pension due to a Naik Subedar. He will now get between Rs 5,000 and Rs 6,000 plus as against Rs 2,373 including a basic with arrears effective from 1996.
Kohli's battle began when he first wrote to officials concerned officials in 1999, but received little response. The family began to look into the matter since last year. His grandaughter, Gurvinder Kaur, who has recently completed studies in clinical psychology, said that,''the discrepancies in his pension have finally been rectified, and the family received the 'good news' on May 29th following a letter from CDA-P''.
The matter was taken up by the Pune Zilla Sainik Welfare Officer, Lt Col Shirish Karasgi (retd,) who urged the family members to put up the case. Singh's son, daughter-in-law and grandaughter began to write to authorities concerned and at various levels in May 2006. ''Initially, we thought it was going to be a big struggle but by January, we had got the feeling that we may just get it as the letters were quite positive. Earlier, we ran from pillar to post realising that there was no pension table available for ready reference. Some of the old documents with the bank were also not available'', she said.
Vide a letter (IO-44062/Corr/SP(T-IV) dated May 29, 2007, the records office of the Army Supply Corps (ASC) in Bangalore, has advised Bank of Maharashtra (from where Kohli is drawing his monthly pension) to pay the revised amount with effect from January 1, 1996. Gurvinder informed that her grandfather who is a strict disciplinarian on receiving the news was very happy and even proud to see his photos splashed in local dailies.
Khazan Singh Kohli has two sons and three daughters, he lost his wife 33 years ago.
When asked about his daily diet, Gurvinder said his day begins with a cup of tea, followed by pohe or something light, for lunch at 12.30 am. He has two chapatis and subji and the same goes for dinner at 9 pm.
Born on Spetember 3, 1899 at Dulla in R awalpindi, Kohli a World War-II veteran, joined the Army Supply Corps based in Dhaka. During the period he met Subhash Chandra Bose. He has also witnessed Jallianwala Bagh. He donated his 100-year-old service rifle to Raja Kelkar Museum in Pune two years ago in the presence of the then Municipal Commissioner Dr Nitin Kareer.
A happy Karasgi said, "Tthere is a sense of achievement, what is due to these seniors they must get and that too at the earliest''.
Around 512 applications have been received so far for the 81st defence adalat and the 6th in Maharashtra to be held here. Defence personnel from other states with any grievance are also welcome to register their cases, he informed.
Karasgi said several other cases have already been settled ahead of the adalat one of a Major General's widow who was drawing less pension. Some of the pension related problems are to do with lack of communication between banks and records office, or administrative where one rank one pension has not been implemented or lack ofinformation about the pensioners family or personal details, he said.
Monday, June 18, 2007
COOK BURNS WITH RAGE AT WAITER, POURS BURNING OIL ON HIM
A waiter sustained 60 per cent burn injuries after a cook of the hotel allegedly poured hot oil over him here while he was asleep, police said on Monday.
According to the complaint lodged by the hotel owner, waiter Balu, had entered into a tiff with cook Nair on Saturday over the quantum of tea served in a cup to the customer, after which the enraged cook allegedly poured hot oil on the waiter next morning while he was asleep.
While the waiter is being treated for severe burn injuries in a hospital, the cook is absconding, police added.
According to the complaint lodged by the hotel owner, waiter Balu, had entered into a tiff with cook Nair on Saturday over the quantum of tea served in a cup to the customer, after which the enraged cook allegedly poured hot oil on the waiter next morning while he was asleep.
While the waiter is being treated for severe burn injuries in a hospital, the cook is absconding, police added.
KANPUR POLICE CREATES CHAKRAVUYH TO NAB CRIMINALS!
The Kanpur police has decided to launch "Operation Chakravyuh" to nail criminals giving it sleepless nights by conducting surprise raids between 11 pm and 2 am, senior police official said.
With the cases of vehicle lifting, burglaries and thefts on a rife in the city the police has decided to launch "Operation Chakravyuh", said the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Kanpur, H S Shukla.
Outlining the strategy behind the "Operation Chakravyuh", he said that the areas will be marked under A,B,C and D categories depending on their sensitivity, and then surprise checking of rickshaw pullers, people working in the markets, people sleeping on footpaths and other sensitive persons would be undertaken.
He, however, clarified that efforts are being taken to ensure that they should not be misbehaved with.
The raids under the operation would be conducted mainly during night but operation could be taken up during the day if needed, he said adding the success of the drive will be reviewed weekly.
The police have also sought help from Government Railway Police (GRP) to keep a strict vigil against the criminals of active in railway station premises, Shukla informed.
With the cases of vehicle lifting, burglaries and thefts on a rife in the city the police has decided to launch "Operation Chakravyuh", said the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Kanpur, H S Shukla.
Outlining the strategy behind the "Operation Chakravyuh", he said that the areas will be marked under A,B,C and D categories depending on their sensitivity, and then surprise checking of rickshaw pullers, people working in the markets, people sleeping on footpaths and other sensitive persons would be undertaken.
He, however, clarified that efforts are being taken to ensure that they should not be misbehaved with.
The raids under the operation would be conducted mainly during night but operation could be taken up during the day if needed, he said adding the success of the drive will be reviewed weekly.
The police have also sought help from Government Railway Police (GRP) to keep a strict vigil against the criminals of active in railway station premises, Shukla informed.
THE PRICE OF BEING A GIRL IN INDIA: AN UNCLE SELLS HIS NEICE FOR RS 60,000
A teenage girl, from Mau village in Baghpat district, was allegedly sold by her maternal uncle to a man for Rs 60,000, police said.
The sixteen-year-old was brought here from her house in Baghpat by her maternal uncle and allegedly sold to a man at Durgandpur village for Rs 60,000 when her father was not present in the house, they said.
The issue came to light after the father of the girl, Satpal, complained to DIG Shaharanpur range, who directed the police to register a case and trace the girl. The girl was untraceable even as the police is investigating the case.
The sixteen-year-old was brought here from her house in Baghpat by her maternal uncle and allegedly sold to a man at Durgandpur village for Rs 60,000 when her father was not present in the house, they said.
The issue came to light after the father of the girl, Satpal, complained to DIG Shaharanpur range, who directed the police to register a case and trace the girl. The girl was untraceable even as the police is investigating the case.
THIS GIRL'S STOMACH IS A BREEDING GROUND OF ROUNDWORMS, NOT ONE OR TWO BUT 105!
Doctors took out 105 roundworms from the stomach of a three-year-old girl after an operation at a city hospital in Surat recently. Shraddha Rathod was operated upon at the Civil Hospital after her constant complaints of stomach pain. To the surprise of doctors, they found a 105 roundworms inside the small intestine of Shraddha, said Piyush Anajwala of the hospital.
Worms are present in the stomach of young children, but, in the case of Shraddha, the number was too high, Anajwala said.
It seems the worms have bred in the girl's intestine and if she had been brought two days later to the hospital, chances of her survival would have been slim, he said.The worms were taken out after the two-hour-long operation. The girl's father is a daily wager in the city.
Worms are present in the stomach of young children, but, in the case of Shraddha, the number was too high, Anajwala said.
It seems the worms have bred in the girl's intestine and if she had been brought two days later to the hospital, chances of her survival would have been slim, he said.The worms were taken out after the two-hour-long operation. The girl's father is a daily wager in the city.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
WOMEN CAN NO MORE USE SEX AS AN INSTRUMENT: DENIAL OF SEX IS SUFFICIENT GROUND FOR DIVORCE, SAYS DELHI HIGH COURT
Observing that the denial of sex by either spouse is sufficient ground for granting a plea for divorce, the Delhi High Court has dissolved a man's 13-year- old marriage.
Reversing a trial court's order dismissing Ajay Kumar's petition for divorce on the ground of cruelty by his wife, Justice S Murlidhar on Monday said: "The evidence on record shows unmistakably that the absence of normal sexual relations was definitely one reason for the failure of the marriage. It also cannot be denied that the husband underwent mental agony as a result thereof.
"Further, the separation of the couple since 1996 has rendered remote the possibility of the parties resuming a normal married life," he said in his order.
Asking Kumar to pay Rs 2 lakh to his wife as permanent alimony within two months, the High Court directed the registry to draw up a decree of divorce by August 20.
Challenging the trial court's dismissal order of February 1997, Kumar filed a petition in the High Court which alleged that his marriage was not properly consummated as his wife had never offered herself for complete sexual intimacy with him since they were wed in June 1994.
Kumar also alleged that his wife used to be violent in bed and that her behaviour never improved despite medical treatement for about a year.
He accused his in-laws of threatening him with dire consequences when he had tried to bring the issue to their notice. His wife was taken away by them to their house in 1996, he said.
Reversing a trial court's order dismissing Ajay Kumar's petition for divorce on the ground of cruelty by his wife, Justice S Murlidhar on Monday said: "The evidence on record shows unmistakably that the absence of normal sexual relations was definitely one reason for the failure of the marriage. It also cannot be denied that the husband underwent mental agony as a result thereof.
"Further, the separation of the couple since 1996 has rendered remote the possibility of the parties resuming a normal married life," he said in his order.
Asking Kumar to pay Rs 2 lakh to his wife as permanent alimony within two months, the High Court directed the registry to draw up a decree of divorce by August 20.
Challenging the trial court's dismissal order of February 1997, Kumar filed a petition in the High Court which alleged that his marriage was not properly consummated as his wife had never offered herself for complete sexual intimacy with him since they were wed in June 1994.
Kumar also alleged that his wife used to be violent in bed and that her behaviour never improved despite medical treatement for about a year.
He accused his in-laws of threatening him with dire consequences when he had tried to bring the issue to their notice. His wife was taken away by them to their house in 1996, he said.
22-YEAR-OLD YOUTH MARRIES STEPMOM IN MUZAFFARNAGAR DISTRICT, FACES THE WRATH OF THE VILLAGERS!!
A day after Muslim clerics declared the marriage of a 22-year-old youth with his divorced step-mother as illegal and anti-Islamic, villagers on Tuesday banned the entry of the couple in Gangeru village in the district.
The villagers also decided a social boycott of the couple, which has fled the village after an attack on them. The marriage has led to tension in the village following a clash in which six people, including four women, were injured. Security has been beefed up in the village to avoid any untoward incident, police said.
Earlier, the clerics had declared the marriage as null and void, and said such relationships would be treated as rape and the culprits will be punished as per Islamic law.
The villagers also decided a social boycott of the couple, which has fled the village after an attack on them. The marriage has led to tension in the village following a clash in which six people, including four women, were injured. Security has been beefed up in the village to avoid any untoward incident, police said.
Earlier, the clerics had declared the marriage as null and void, and said such relationships would be treated as rape and the culprits will be punished as per Islamic law.
Thursday, June 7, 2007
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