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The changing cycle
India may be the second
largest producer of bicycles in the world but precious little has been
done to promote the cause of cycling in the country.
Shveta
Pathak reports that the cycle industry is today churning out
beauties that could easily make a style statement but the road ahead
is rough for the two-wheeled bikes. And, the status-conscious still
refuse to adopt them as a mode of transport.
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you remember the tinkle of the bell as daakiya Rajesh Khanna
delivers the post in the song Daakiya daak laya? Or, the very
urbane Aamir Khan making your breath stop for a while as he competes
for the famous race in Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander?
 A
case for bikes
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Minstrels
of mysticism
Baul chants are invariably in
the form of a dialogue. They move around villages and cities singing
simple melodies rooted in the folk music of Bengal, writes Dipti
Ray
BAULSs
are a group of Hindu/Muslim religious singers—minstrels, the Hindus
among them subscribing to Vasihnavite philosophy and the Muslims to
Sufi tenets. The Hindu bauls only wear saffron clothes as mark of
their "sadhu" status with a long kurta like upper
wear. The Muslim bauls wear plain white dress.
A
date with hot springs
Santosh Utsuk
Manikaran
in Himachal Pradesh, situated at 1737m, on the banks of Parvati river
is known for its curing waters. The place famous for its hot boiling
sulphur springs is revered by lakhs who come here for a dip in the
curing waters. It is believed that the hot springs can cure skin
diseases like gout.
Laughter
the Punjabi way
Punjabi comedians have been a
rage for long unlike comedians from other parts of the country who
credit the recent TV show The Great Indian Laughter Challenge
for making them popular, says Anandita
Gupta
Punjabis
laugh their hearts out, be it on Santa Banta jokes or on life’s
ironies. No wonder Punjabis are great comedians themselves. Perhaps
that explains why Punjabi comedians are going places leaving everyone
in splits.
Johny
arrives on small screen
Srabanti
Chakrabarti chats with Johny Lever about his foray into
television with the recently launched Johny Aala Re
THE
usual trend is to leave television and venture into Bollywood. The
lure of the big screen is often too difficult to resist. And even if
an actor from the big screen moves to the small screen, mostly it is
because he is running out of options. But Johny Lever has never
followed the trend.
You
can bank on Hanks
Tom Hanks’s youthful looks
and exuberance belie the fact that he completes 50 years today.
Double-Oscar winner, his landmark performances have made him one of
the top actors of our time, writes Vikramdeep
Johal
Likable,
saleable, durable — Tom Hanks has been one of the most
"able" Hollywood stars in the past decade or so. His
youthful looks and exuberance belie the fact that he completes 50
years today — half of which he has spent in the film industry.
tribute
Unforgettable
Madan Mohan
Madan Mohan was not formally
trained in music yet his music was richer than the work of
better-qualified composers. M.L. Dhawan
pays a tribute to the maestro whose 31st death anniversary falls on
July 14
Madan
Mohan started his career as lieutenant in the Army. As an
artilleryman, he received his commission (emergency) in 1943 and was
stationed in Bangalore for about two years. It is believed that he
could handle weapons and play the sitar, the sarod and sarangi with
equal felicity.
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