 |
|
|
One-issue party Pervez thinks out of box Challenge in Assam |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Sachar report and after
Lage Raho Nishka Behn
A bold judiciary Farmers at the mercy of BSF How human body ages
Delhi Durbar
|
One-issue party THE BJP has been reduced to a one-issue party. This is clear from its assertion that it will treat the coming Assembly election in Uttar Pradesh as a referendum on the issue of “Lord Ram”. If anything, it shows the utter bankruptcy of ideas of the preeminent Opposition party. The BJP says it will be “Ram versus Babar” in the UP elections. Nothing can be more preposterous than such a claim. Only a party like the BJP can articulate in this outrageous manner. Nobody in this country considers Lord Ram as an issue, let alone pit Him against Babar, who was just a ruler or an invader as some would like to call him. Similarly, nobody is opposed to the construction of a “magnificent” Ram temple at Ayodhya or anywhere. What is objected to is the spot on which the BJP wants to construct the temple. A solution to the dispute can be found through talks or through a judicial verdict. There is no need to make it an electoral issue and vitiate the atmosphere. In successive elections in UP and elsewhere, the voters of the country have conclusively rejected the BJP’s stand on the temple issue. If the National Democratic Alliance led by it was able to complete a term, it was only because the BJP kept contentious issues like Ayodhya, common civil code and Article 370 in the cold storage. Even today, its alliance partners like the Janata Dal (U) and the Biju Janata Dal would have problem in associating themselves with the party if it goes full blast on what it considers is Hindutva. The little success it achieved in the recent municipal elections has given the BJP the idea that it would do better if it is able to polarise the voters on the issue of Hindutva. This does not behove a party, which aspires to come to power at the Centre. The government in Uttar Pradesh has failed in meeting the aspirations of the people. The Mulayam Singh government has not been able to give a boost to industrialisation, forget inviting foreign and domestic investments. Instead, the state has been making news for the wrong reasons like the rising crime graph, politicisation of the bureaucracy and pandering to sectional opinions, rather than addressing the bread and butter issues of the people. All this should have been enough campaign material for the BJP, which, alas, is so obsessed with temple in the 21st century that it can’t see anything beyond a disputed tiny plot of land in Ayodhya.
|
|
Pervez thinks out of box PRESIDENT Pervez Musharraf’s four-point formula on Kashmir, outlined in the course of a recent interview with NDTV, is another trial balloon. However, it shows a slight advance over his earlier proposals to settle the dispute between India and Pakistan. Now he talks of the “same borders” idea with people to be “allowed to move freely back and forth in the region” and suggests demilitarisation “in a staggered manner”. But so far as his other two points are concerned, he has only replaced “self-rule” with “self-governance or autonomy, but not independence”, and “joint control” with “joint supervision machinery” for Kashmir. But we do not know whether these proposals have been considered by the governments of India and Pakistan behind the scene through the Track-II diplomatic channel. So far, India has not officially reacted to his suggestions. Significantly, General Musharraf’s tone was softer this time than before. India has already made it clear that the border can be made softer but cannot be redrawn. There can be no barter of territories under any circumstances. The government has already held talks with political groups in Jammu and Kashmir to consider the people’s grievances, including the demand for autonomy. It has also set up a group to study the relations between the Centre and Jammu and Kashmir. The crucial question of tackling terrorists operating from the Pakistani soil remains unanswered. Islamabad’s promise that no territory under its control would be allowed to be used for terrorism is yet to be fulfilled. General Musharraf’s claim that he is prepared to forget Pakistan’s demand for a plebiscite under the UN resolutions on Kashmir carries no practical meaning today. The so-called UN resolutions are as dead as dodo. His declaration that he is not in favour of independence for Kashmir, in fact, reflects the changing reality. In any case, there is no harm in discussing out- of-box ideas thrown up in the interest of peace. Whatever the merits of the General’s four-point formula, the Indian government should come out with its own proposals for hammering out a solution to the Kashmir problem. The ultimate solution can come only through patient talks between the two countries.
|
|
Challenge in Assam THE Supreme Court has quashed the Foreigners (Tribunals for Assam) Order, 2006, on the ground that the Centre had resurrected a pro-migrant clause in the repealed Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunals) Act. The Bench consisting of Justice S.B. Sinha and Justice P.K. Balasubramanyam ruled that the notification was void because it put the onus of proving that someone is an illegal migrant solely on the complainant. When the apex court had struck down the IMDT Act precisely for the same reason, the Centre was foolish in incorporating the questionable clause in the Foreigners Act in February. It was guided solely by electoral considerations. It amounted to creating a parallel and cumbersome adjudication system, making almost impossible deportation of foreigners from Assam. The Bench was not impressed by the Centre’s stand that it was meant to prevent harassment of Indian citizens, who could otherwise be victimised in the name of detection and deportation of illegal migrants. Small wonder that the Asom Gana Parishad had criticised the Centre and the Assam government for bringing the IMDT Act through the backdoor. Illegal migration is too serious an issue to be handled callously by the Central and state governments. Needless to say, successive governments at the Centre and in the state have only compounded the menace by their administrative inaction. An unchecked influx across the border can change Assam’s demography and cause unrest in the border districts. Not surprisingly, while quashing the IMDT Act last year, the Supreme Court had said that the presence of millions of illegal migrants from Bangladesh is an act of aggression on Assam, which has also contributed to insurgency and serious internal turmoil. The Supreme Court has now asked the Centre to set up adequate number of tribunals under the Foreigners Act within four months to settle pending complaints against thousands of suspected Bangladeshis residing in Assam. The tribunals - and the government - will have to ensure that while examining the procedure for the three ‘D’s -- detection, deletion of names from electoral rolls and deportation -- no bona fide citizen of India is harassed.
|
|
There are many wonderful things, and nothing is more wonderful than man. — Sophocles
|
Sachar report and after
Of the several things recommended by the Sachar Committee, those primarily dealing with education and employment are likely to get attended to. The neglect of the Muslim minority as a whole, however, is an issue which has more than these two dimensions. In this connection, the latest shift is disquieting. Owing to the persistent neglect of the Muslim minority, what Pakistan has done is to involve some of the Indian Muslims in the several terrorist actions that are being mounted. To some extent, Bangladesh too is getting involved in this political game. The situation in J&K since 1989 has also played a role in these various goings-on. The Mumbai incident in July this year may have been more destructive than most others but there have been several of them during recent years. It is not possible to go into further details at this point of time. What needs to be understood is that some of the Indian Muslims have got drawn into such activities as an outcome of the way they has been marginalised all these decades. And Pakistan has been astute enough to take advantage of it ! A good deal of it is the outcome of the distortion of political life as it is organised and conducted today. If some of the Muslim citizens have got misguided and begun to play a negative role, it is important to understand why this is happening. While coping with this problem is both important and urgent, what needs to be done in my opinion is to see this issue from a long-range point of view and deal with it accordingly. What is happening to Muslims in India is partly because of the developments since 1947 and partly because of the crisis in which international Islam finds itself today. The fact of the matter is that, except for a couple of centuries under the Ottoman leadership, things in the Islamic world have been on the decline for a long time; semi-stagnation, as it is sometimes described. What is required today is a process like what the Christian church had passed through during the difficult decades of the Reformation. Such a development did not take place in Islam. It is idle to believe, however, that any non-Muslim can play a role in that context. What has complicated the situation, of late, is the highly disruptive role of Israel and the US. To say anything more than that is not necessary. Without some of these pressures changing their character and thrust, things will continue to remain both disturbed and explosive. While the general situation is as described above, the situation of the Indian Muslims is different as well as unique. A little effort by the state and some initiative from within the Muslim community can lead to a change in what is happening and inaugurate a new era of positive developments. The situation on the educational front as far as the Muslims are concerned is likely to improve within the next few years. What will take longer to remedy, however, is the employment problem. The findings of the Sachar Committee indict almost everyone but, more specifically, the states of West Bengal, Assam and the Centre. There is another dimension also and the Sachar Committee could not deal with it as it was outside its purview. This refers to the shockingly low representation of Muslims in Parliament and the state legislatures. It is hardly 5 per cent against their proportion of the population in India which is over 13 per cent today. Iqbal Ansari’s recent book provides exhaustive data on the subject. The collaboration of certain sections of the Muslim population with the ISI and such other agencies requires to be understood in that context. To deal with this problem on the plane of law and order is important no doubt, but it would be inadequate. If the Congress party has any vision of the future, it should think and act somewhat like this. India is growing and the Muslim minority deserves to grow along with the others. The ruling party, therefore, should have both a political strategy and a plan of action to ensure a positive outcome. Not only will the Congress party have to win Muslim trust, it should also evolve and implement a new model of development which, when contrasted with Pakistan, stands out as the more constructive of the two. Pakistan, too, is growing but not as fast as is India . In any case, to some extent at least, it is American money (loans and grants) which is making it possible for Pakistan to grow somewhat creditably. At the same time, an important negative factor is also at work. This refers to the growth of what is called fundamentalism nowadays. If it succeeds even partially, things will go backwards and Pakistan’s curve of growth will get undermined. Countries like Saudi Arabia are growing but that is because of their income from oil. To that extent, it is not organic growth. India’s growth, on the contrary, is both logical in terms of development policies and organic in its sweep and impact. This trend will become stronger when India’s most important minority, the Muslims, gets drawn into it. The only way to ensure this is to educate them widely and intensively. The backwardness of Muslims both in UP and Bihar is to some extent linked with the backwardness of these two states. But in almost each South Indian state, the Muslim situation is relatively healthy. It is only the north and the east of India that the situation is adverse to them. To presume that everything has to be done by the government would be to oversimplify the problem. A certain amount of planned effort to get out of the state of Muslim ghettoisation will have to be made by the Muslim community itself. In brief, were things to move in the right direction, the Indian Muslims will blaze a new trail of development within a couple of decades. Malaysia has shown how it can be done. Only the scale of operations in India would be much larger and somewhat more complex in character. What is required in brief is a new model of development. While the state can provide facilities for education, what people make of it would depend substantially on what is generally described as the leadership of the community as is to be witnessed in the south of India. Participation in public life and membership of the legislative bodies is almost a precondition for this to happen. If more and more Muslims are inducted into activities like education, health, trade, business and the professions, the climate of opinion within the community will begin to change. To quite an extent, what needs to be done is known. Only it is not being done. Some part of the neglect is based on prejudice but a considerable part of it is either administrative incompetence or downright neglect. At this stage, one fact needs to be understood. If India wishes to function as a secular state, it cannot leave out anyone or refuse to carry along an important section of its population in the process of development. As things are evolving, in about a decade’s time or so, poverty would more or less get taken care of. If that be so, the only additional thing required would be a sense of continued progress. After the educational policy was reviewed in 1986 by the Centre, something like 150 districts were identified as educationally backward. When the Centre was moving further in the matter, the BJP described it as the pampering of Muslims. Since then the situation has changed somewhat. The BJP is not likely to oppose if any such moves are made now. If it does, it would be for the Congress party to cope with it on the political plane. If it cannot do so, it would not deserve to govern the country as it is doing today. It is only the lure of development leading to prosperity and continued growth which can wean the Muslims away from their living in the past. This is a truth which needs to be understood. Equally important, not to act upon it would amount to working against the
country.
|
Lage Raho Nishka Behn
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on October 2,1869, in
Porbander.
Nishka Malik was born on October 2,2005, in Hong Kong.
Her shining pate ( recently shorn of its locks) swayed to “Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram”. She did remind me of the Father of the Nation. The similarities don’t stop here. She is most certainly a people’s person. She follows Bapu’s principles of truth, nonviolence and civil disobedience in her small world. Nishka means honesty. She is a great votary of truth. Walk into, what looks like a tornado hit room, and ask her sternly, “ Did you make this mess?” A person of few words ( literally so at this stage ) she moves her head resolutely to say “Yes” followed by a cherubic smile. “Don’t eat that wire, I’ve told you so many times. Won’t you listen to me?” Again the shaking of the head to say “No” is totally unambiguous. Even a grandmother’s indulgence cannot stretch it to calling her nonviolent. She regularly beats up her older brother, who is (most of the time) too chivalorous to hit back. She does use “legitimate force” for the “pursuit of higher duty”— to relieve you of your mobile or to snatch her favourite toy. If that fails then her powerful vocal chords do the job. Have a heart, she is just one. She has miles to go before she realises that one can be assertive without being aggressive. As I said she is a people’s person and harnesses everyone around — family and strangers alike — to fetch and carry for her or to entertain her. With the right training she has the makings of a 21st century leader. Satyagraha is her special weapon. An illustration will do. Her parents were presented wristwatches. Nishka took a fancy to these ticking little toys. Using the psychologist’s advice all of us tried to distract her with toys, eats,floor shows ( of impromptu dance and songs ).She took everything with a queenly grace but faithfully returned to the original objective. Finally the five adults managed to tire her. She took her frugal meal and went off to sleep. Next morning saw her pointing to the cupboard where the watches were lying! Her finger held upward in a gesture of “Excelsior”—- higher and higher .I attempt crystal gazing. What will she be like when she grows up. Whatever her profession or calling she must be the best. Will she perhaps join the freedom struggle? Freedom from hunger, poverty, and ignorance. Or will she perhaps work for women’s emancipation? Will she take women’s liberation outside the fashionable drawing rooms to the mass of Indian women who have not heard the term but need it the most. I cannot believe that she will not justify her famous birthday— which is both an honour and a debt, a debt which she must redeem.
Lage Raho Nishka Behn. |
A bold judiciary Does one sense a kind of boldness in the ranks of the judiciary lately, a boldness that was sadly missing when occasions demanded it earlier? We do owe our courts a lot. But for the boldness - be it over the eco-friendly compressed natural gas (CNG) which got us better breathing air or the sealing spree where the government was brought to its knees hopefully to usher in some rule of law in matters of urban discipline - things would continue to be in the rut. It does appear that the entire governance per se is dependent today and is leaning heavily on the guts of the judiciary. In matters of criminal cognizance though, one perceived, till lately, our courts to be timid. Didn't we suffer the ignominy of watching someone accused of murder and known to be a criminal take the oath as a member of the nation's Parliament? Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav, who wielded influence and flaunted muscle power from within the jail where he was incarcerated, had earlier warranted the Supreme Court to transfer him to Delhi's Tihar jail so that distance and better supervision could control and negate his propensity to rig an impending election, even from within Patna's Beur jail. It was disgusting and disgraceful to note then that the very same apex court found its hands tied, to mechanically endorse and permit this individual his right to go to Parliament and take the oath as member, five months after being eligible to do so, because he had been duly elected by the voters of Madhepura - his constituency in Bihar. I suppose this didn't involve guts, just a helpless interpretation of the nation's laws. But some consolation was the court's recent stand denying him bail and a firm directive not to file such requests any further. As I see it, the discernible trend started perhaps in Maharashtra with the conviction of a minister and bureaucrats involved in a matter of non-compliance of court orders that led to resignations and jailing — something unthinkable before this really happened. The latest is the conviction in the Shashinath Jha murder case of Shibu Soren, a minister in the Cabinet of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Closely following this is the conviction of the flamboyant BJP MP Navjot Singh Sidhu, more popular today as a TV star. Things were decidedly different not too long ago. I remember a strange scene some of us were witness to at a conference on the criminal justice system organised by the Indian Law Society here in New Delhi in the mid-90s. A spirited young police officer from Punjab then working in the CBI had made bold to express how most of the judiciary in Punjab had capitulated and abdicated their judicial functions when terrorism ran riot. The magistracy at whatever levels could find its voice again, the officer postulated, only to castigate police officers who had actually controlled terrorism once it was subdued by sheer dint and courage of the then police management in the state. The officer was forced to withdraw his statement when faced with the intimidating tenor of the dignitary chairing the session — a former chief justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. This gentleman took umbrage at the officer's direct accusation and challenged him with a "if you withdraw your statement, I will choose to ignore that you ever made it" kind of a threat. But there were other instances too, not necessarily terrorism related, when judiciary was found lacking - viewed as too timid to take on the powerful, more particularly politicians in power. The might of the legal fraternity is another that has always challenged and defied judicial boldness. Early in my service career I remember a murder accused lawyer who secured bail within 24 hours of arrest thanks to his cronies barging into the magistrate's courtroom determined to get him to sign on the dotted line. There are instances when the judiciary has exhibited reluctance to take on the lawyers including when members of the Bar went on strike, ransacked courtrooms in the Delhi High Court and abused the justices. The police had to be called in to save the day — strangely without Delhi Police being asked to take cognizance of the matter. And there is the case not too long ago of the then Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Kalyan Singh, when even the apex court after holding him guilty ended up merely sentencing him "till the rising of the court". Yes, things are changing today -- for the better. It is indeed heartening that the errant criminal politician is being brought to book, even if it is a case of delayed justice. Is it public sentiment that is providing a fillip to judicial boldness? Perhaps! —
|
|
Farmers at the mercy of BSF The recent order of the Prime Minister to the Border Security Force to open at least one entrance gate at different places from dawn to dusk for farmers of the border belt in Punjab whose land falls beyond fencing can bring little relief to them. The farmers do not seem to be much enthusiastic as they are fed up with such false promises and orders of the previous governments. To them, it is a major decision but unlikely to be implemented soon. It is a long process. The order is to be implemented by the BSF on the direction of the Home Ministry, which acts on the basis of information provided by the intelligence agencies. Usually, the intelligence agencies oppose such decisions as these can create many problems for the security agencies. The border is permeable and was a haven for smuggling and other illegal activities, including cross-border terrorism in Punjab from 1980 till fencing was completed in 1990. Though the fencing helped to check the supply of weapons and infiltration of terrorists from Pakistan, it changed the very nature of agricultural operations in the land beyond fencing. The affected farmers were left at the mercy of the BSF and at times the Army for cultivating their fields. A high-powered committee was constituted by the Government of Punjab in 1988 under the Chairmanship of the then Punjab Chief Secretary to look into the whole issue of fencing and problems arising out of it. The committee recommended that the fencing should take place just 50 to 100 yards inside Indian territory so that a minimum number of farmers get adversely affected by it. It also made various recommendations on the directions of the Central Home Ministry to provide relief to the affected farmers, which included the issuing of the identity cards to all affected farmers of more than 212 villages, permission to the migrant labourers to work in the fields beyond fencing, three phase power supply to the tubewells during day time, allowing the flow of canal water for irrigation and allotment of four kanals land to the farmers whose total land has gone beyond fencing. This allotted land was to be used for growing fodder for the livestock as only wheat and paddy is allowed to grow in the fields beyond fencing. But the Central government went ahead to erect fencing on the border without taking into account the recommendations of the committee. Punjab was under the President’s rule (1987-92) at that time. The fencing was erected deep inside Indian territory and at some places it is 1-2 km inside against the recommendations of 50-100 yards. Another committee was constituted to look into the problems arising out of fencing under Mr S.L. Kapur, the then Chief Secretary of Punjab. This committee recommended: (1) the payment of a special inconvenience bonus of Rs 400 per acre to the farmers (2) to adjust the timing of the opening and closing of the entry gates at the convenience of farmers (3) assured supply of electricity and canal water during day time (4) district administration should make arrangements for harvesting combines and (5) full payment for the land acquired for fencing The recommendations of this committee also met the same fate till now no concrete action has been taken to mitigate the problems of farmers. Though the local farmers have been raising their concerns with the local and national authorities since the beginning of the problem, but the prevailing conditions and the absence of any popular voice at that time are major reasons for not taking their concerns seriously. The fencing of the border has brought untold miseries and hardships for the small farmers, particularly those whose whole piece of land either went beyond fencing or got divided into two pieces on both sides. Will the UPA government give attention to the genuine problems faced by the farmers having land beyond fencing? The writer teaches political science at Guru Nanak Dev University at Amritsar.
|
|
How human body ages Aging is the natural wear and tear of the body's component parts. It's inevitable, and endlessly intriguing. While many age-related changes cannot be prevented, a lifestyle that includes exercise and a well-balanced diet will slow or minimize many problems related to aging. Skin: Changes in the connective tissue reduce the skin's strength and elasticity. As we age, two components of our skin--collagen and elastin--degenerate, setting the stage for the appearance of wrinkles, creases, folds and furrows. Muscles: As muscles age, they begin to shrink and lose mass. The number and size of muscle fibers decrease. This makes muscles less responsive in our 60s than they were in our 20s. Bones: The mineral content of bones decreases over time, making them less dense and more fragile. Osteoporosis can develop in both women and men. Age at which your senses may change: --Visual acuity begins to decline in your 40s. The number of taste buds decreases about age 40 in women and starting at 50 in men. --The sharpness (acuity) of hearing may decline slightly beginning about age 50. --The sense of smell may diminish, especially after age 70. --The heart becomes less able to pump large quantities of blood quickly throughout the body. We tire more easily and take longer to recover. --Nerve cell mass is lost and nerve cells decrease in number as we age, which may cause the spinal cord and brain to atrophy. Some nerve cells lose their coating, which can slow the speed of message transmission. --The stomach produces less acid after age 50, which makes it more difficult to absorb vitamin B12 found naturally in food. --Handgrip strength decreases, making it more difficult to accomplish routine activities such as opening a jar or turning a key. --Joint motion becomes more restricted and flexibility decreases because of changes in tendons and ligaments. --Cartilage, which provides cushioning between bones, begins to break down from a lifetime of use. Joints can become inflamed and arthritic. --Height progressively decreases. The average height loss is about 0.4 inches for every 10 years after age 40. In total, aging may cause a height loss of 1 to 3 inches. Helping Your Body Mental acuity: -B vitamins and physical activity may help cut the risk of Alzheimer's disease. Vision: --UV-shielded sunglasses can reduce risk of cataracts. --Vitamin supplements--high levels of vitamins C, E and beta carotene with zinc--may help cut chances of macular degeneration in those at high risk for this disorder. Bones:--Peak bone mass occurs at age 35. Weight-bearing exercises--walking, jogging, weight training--can help preserve bone. --Make sure you get enough calcium (a)* and vitamin D. (b)** Muscles: --Weight training helps slow age-related muscle loss. Digestive tract: --Eat fiber. Women need 25 grams daily--about the amount found in a cup of beans and a bowl of high-fiber cereal. Men need 38 grams per day. Blood: --Vitamin B12-fortified food or supplements (after age 50) are recommended to help prevent anemia, heart and neurological problems. Heart and blood vessels: --At least 30 minutes daily of brisk physical activity. --Eat more fiber-rich foods, such as oatmeal, to help reduce blood cholesterol levels. --Get enough folate: it helps reduce homocysteine and other substances that increase heart disease risk. --Limit sodium to slow blood pressure increase. (c)*** --Eat at least two servings of fish per week. --Skip or minimize unhealthy trans fatty acids, saturated fat and cholesterol. Skin: --Quit smoking--a cause of premature wrinkles. --Limit sun exposure, use sunscreen. Joints: --Strengthen quadriceps to help prevent osteoarthritis in knees and relieve pain and symptoms. --Apply heat to joints--or warm up with range of motion exercises --before working out. (a)*Calcium: 1,000 milligrams/day for ages 19 to 50; 1,200 mg/day (4 glasses of milk) for 51 and older. (b)**Vitamin D 200 International Units (IU)--about the amount found in two eight-ounce glasses of milk--for those 19 to 50 years of age; 400 IU for those 51 to 70; and 600 IU for people 70 and older. Don't exceed 2,000 IU/day. Toxic levels have been reported at 10,000 IU or higher per day. (c)***Sodium: 50 and younger, eat 2,400 mg or less/day; those over 50, African Americans and people with elevated blood pressure should aim for 1,500 mg or less of sodium. By arrangement with
LA-Times–Washington Post |
|
Delhi Durbar Cabinet ministers feel left out as during the Prime Minister's foreign visits MoUs concerning their ministries are concluded and they are invariably not made part of the entourage. A high-profile woman Cabinet minister has been complaining about being neglected to all and sundry. There is another Minister of State who calls his senior “Global Minister” and describes himself as a “Local Minister” who would not be permitted to travel abroad by his senior though his assignments encompass international issues. Daughters in politics After Sharad Pawar's daughter, the offspring of one more illustrious politician is set to enter politics through the Rajya Sabha. There are murmurs about the possibility of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi's daughter, Kanimozhi, entering politics soon by taking the route of the House of Elders. Four seats are to fall vacant in the Rajya Sabha from Tamil Nadu next year and sources in the DMK say that Karunanidhi is keen on giving a ticket to his poetess-daughter. This move, political pundits feel is due to Karunanidhi's intention not to spare his son, Stalin, for central politics but to groom him apparently to adorn the crown in Chennai. Shahrukh Khan charms Delhi Shahrukh Khan virtually stumped the scribes the other day when during an inter-face he told them: "Grill me, kill me but be kind to me as I am from Delhi. “Mujhe Dilli ke gusse se bahut dar lagta hai". Emphasising that he is the "B" or bachha of KBC, he modestly observed that he was too small to step into the shoes of Amitabh Bachchan. While KBC proved to be a turning point for the Big B, Khan was humble in saying it will be a "learning point for me." Why did Star TV choose him? The reply was double quick that "it is because I am a normal middle class person with a normal upbringing. At some level I feel I will be able to connect with people — be it kids or youngsters who believe I am one of them." Kalam on Internet President A P J Abdul Kalam rarely ever fails to mention his official website before addressing a gathering. At the inauguration of the International Conference on "India R&D: Mind Market" at the Vigyan Bhavan on Monday, the President said "The text of my speech will be available at my website www.presidentofindia. Therefore, there is no need to note down anything...just listen carefully". Contributed by Satish Misra,
|
To my mind the life of a lamb is no less precious than that of a human being. I should be unwilling to take the life of a lamb for the sake of the human body.
God alone can kill beings in His will and restores life to them, if He so wills. No one else can sustain and protect them.
Taijasa is the name of the second, The dreaming state in which, with the senses Turned inward, one enacts the impressions Of past deeds and present desires.
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
