A ray of hope
Himachal Pradesh’s recent initiative to better the lot of Bhakra Dam oustees may have come five decades too late but it has kindled hope in the thousands who were dislodged from the old Bilaspur township. Shakti Singh Chandel makes a case for the oustees, who are yet to be compensated fully for giving up their fertile land, forests and rich heritage.
The people of Bilaspur have welcomed the news that the state government, after a lapse of 50 years, has finally thought of constructing more bridges over the Bhakra Dam lake and setting up two more sectors in Bilaspur town for the rehabilitation of the oustees whose population has trebled during this period. 

NOW AND THEN: The construction of the Bhakra Dam led to the displacement of thousands of people and the loss of centuries-old monuments, like the (top right) Rang Mahal, which now lie under water.

‘I give my best to whatever I do’

Srabanti Chakrabarti chats up Amritsar di kudi Sudeepa Singh, who has found a slot for herself in the small screen Sudeepa Singh, a humanities student from Shahjada College, Amritsar, is all set to rock Mumbai. This award-winning NCC cadet always wanted to be an IPS officer and make a difference to the country. Sudeepa Singh in the serial Kabhie To Nazar Milao

Freshen up with mud-packs
Multani mitti is a natural cleanser and revitaliser. You can bank on it for a glowing skin and shiny locks, says Dhanvanti Keshavrao
In 2001, Multani mitti (mud from Multan, an area now in Pakistan where the lime-rich clay was originally found) was used for cleaning Taj Mahal for the visit of Pakistani president General Pervez Musharraf. Subsequently, Indian and foreign conservation experts were full of praise for the cleansing job the ‘mud’ had done to the 350-year-old monument.

Parents’ choice
The Simpsons has been voted as the top cartoon by mums and dads. The poll conducted by BBC discovered that adults enjoyed the animated TV show because of the hidden meanings. Box-office hit Shrek came in second with its mix of simple gags and subtle humour, while Wacky Races came in third.

Liz too fond of food
Screen legend Dame Elizabeth Taylor admits that even though there’s enormous pressure in Hollywood to maintain a certain kind of figure, she enjoyed food too much to care about preserving a slim and svelte frame.