New Delhi, October 13
A car driver who knocked down a boy after jumping a traffic signal here Saturday was arrested after some motorists who witnessed the accident gave chase and caught him a few kilometres away.

The seven-year-old boy was following his father as they crossed a road on a busy Delhi road when a speeding Toyota Innova that did not halt at a traffic junction hit them.

While the car missed the father who had just crossed over, the boy was hit from behind. It later sped away. The boy was flung into the air and landed several metres away.

In a scene straight out of Bollywood, some motorists gave chase to the car that clambered over a road divider in a bid to escape. One of the pursuing cars then overtook it and blocked its way near the Chiragh Dilli flyover.

There, the car driver was overpowered and handed over to the police.

The driver was arrested and the boy has been admitted to the All Indian Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) where his condition is stated to be stable, said S.D. Kukreti, the officer in charge the Hauz Khas police station. “The accused has been taken to AIIMS for medical examination.”

Kukreti said the car involved in the accident had been impounded. — IANS

New Delhi, October 13
Education in India needs a complete transformation from the quintessential concepts of grades, textbooks and teachers to become more vocation-oriented and universally accessible, says technocrat Sam Pitroda.

“When we think of education we assume grades, teachers, school, books. These do not matter anymore. The paradigm in education needs to be changed,” Pitroda told a gathering of diplomats, academicians and scholars here Friday evening.

“Today with the kind of technology that is developing every day we can learn just about anything. I know this kind of model will have challenges and may take up to 15-20 years but it will happen,” he told the event organised by the Foreign Service Institute.

“We need to build a knowledge-based society and take education to the poorest of the poor, which I believe is the greatest challenge of all. Rural development is key to this country’s true development and not economic prosperity,” he said.

“A knowledge economy needs minds and we have to create those minds,” added Pitroda, who also serves as the chairman of the National Knowledge Commission (NKC) set up by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Stating that the government has decided to allocate more funds for education in the 11th Five Year plan, he said: “I hope this would bring in more inclusiveness and make the education system more affordable.

“We, at the knowledge commission, are recommending some major transformational changes in the Indian education system which is bound to attract criticism and debates,” he said.

“But we must remember we need to make education more equitable and inclusive,” emphasised the Chicago-based technocrat.

Manmohan Singh had set up the knowledge commission in 2005 with the objective of introducing radical transformation in the country’s education sector.

Its recommendations are intended to create fundamental changes in the higher education system, vocational training, libraries, e-governance, right to education and translations.

Some of the recommendations of the NKC include development of the translation industry, teaching of English as a language along with the first language from Class I, building a national knowledge network and creating more universities. — IANS

New Delhi, October 13
Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said that flyovers that were being commissioned in the Capital were becoming a testimony to modern city.

She said this, after laying the foundation stone of Rs 94 crore Shyamlal College Grade Separator, which would have a flyover, two underpasses, a rotary at surface level and three foot-over bridges (FOB) with escalators to ensure smooth flow of traffic and safe passage to pedestrians.

Dikshit said that the government had tried to make the Shyamlal College intersection signal-free. It is one of the most congested intersections of the four roads close to the Welcome Metro Station and Shyamlal College. The construction of the Grade Separator would save fuel, time, energy and reduce accidents. It would be valuable because of its unique design, horticulture, landscaping, electrical lighting and modern signage.

The flyover along GT Road at Shyamlal College would ensure uninterrupted traffic from the old ISBT to UP border. An underpass joining road no 57 and 65 would lead to smooth traffic and another U-turn underpass across road no 57 would ensure free right turn for slow-moving vehicle that come from Bihari Colony.

A rotary at surface level would allow free right turn whereas three FOBs with escalators would ensure risk-free movement of pedestrians.

The CM exhorted Delhiites to imbibe road discipline in order to derive maximum comfort from flyovers, FOBs and wide roads. She appealed people to maintain discipline at bus stops.

She informed that world-class buses would soon be introduced in the Capital, which would enable the government to phase out the Bluelines.

Approximately, 8,000 such buses would run on the Capital’s roads before 2010 Games.

She complemented the PWD for completing various projects in time and maintaining their quality. She added that flyovers, ROBs and FOBs were in pipeline for the Trans Yamuna Area.

She reiterated that her government was committed to develop East Delhi like New Delhi and South Delhi. Development works are being carried out in the Trans Yamuna area. A Signature Bridge at Wazirabad would become a landmark of new developing Delhi. The Geeta Colony flyover would become operational by December this year. A Games Village is also being made in the Trans Yamuna Area.

Metro service was first introduced in East Delhi. She claimed that East Delhi would emerge as an attraction as a lot of developmental works were being carried out there.

Local MP Sandeep Dikshit complemented the government for providing a signal-free Ring Road that had resulted in saving of fuel and time.

New Delhi, October 13
Pakistan cricketer and chairman of Tehreek Insaf Party in Pakistan called on former Prime Minister V P Singh to discuss with him his work among the poor.

Khan, who is currently battling the Pakistan regime of President Parvez Musharraf for restoration of democracy in India’ s immediate neighbourhood, went to V P Sngh’s 1, Teen Murti Marg residence Thursday evening and was with him for an hour and a half, said Singh Saturday.

Khan currently here to attend the Hindustan Times leadership summit, also runs several charitable institutions and hospitals in Pakistan and abroad.

“He was very modest and we discussed the problems of poor and neglected sections of the society, in the sub-continent,” said Singh later.

He was concerned about alleviating the sufferings of the poor and in so far as politics comes into play when such issues are taken up, surely we discussed politics but in that limited context.

“We agreed that the problems of the poor remain the same in the entire sub-continent be it India, Pakistan or Bangaldesh. The society in all these countries is highly hierarchical. Where there is hierarchy, it will naturally lead to monopoly. And monopoly is antithetical to democracy, I told Imran saheb,” said Singh.

“We had tea together and had a long conversation for nearly an hour and half,” said Singh. — IANS

New Delhi, October 13
Two Tibetans started their two-day hunger strike today at Jantar Mantar in
the Capital.

They were protesting against the recent Chinese order that states that Beijing would approve each Tibetan Buddhist lama. This has led to a lot furore within the Tibetan community in India.

The organisation behind the protest, Friends of Tibet, has demanded the release of its members, who were taken into custody on October 10, while they were demonstrating in front of the Chinese embassy.

Reincarnation of lamas is an important rituals in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. The Chinese government’s order has curbed the religious independence of the Tibetan Buddhists.

New Delhi, October 13
Taking note of the High Court ruling against the Blueline buses, Delhi traffic police is putting the rules to practice.

The traffic police staff along with the new special wardens has zeroed in on the Blueline buses in the last few days.

As many as 382 Blueline buses were challaned yesterday. Of these 42 bus drivers were booked for rash and dangerous driving. Seven buses were impounded for running against the Supreme Court guidelines.

However, the fear amongst the residents of the city still hasn’t calmed down. “If you throw numbers at me, it’s not going to ease my mind. We travel in these buses everyday; we should rather feel the positive change,” said Sunita, standing on an ITO bus stop.

Many feel that harsh punitive actions should be taken against the owners of the private bus services, who are mostly politically well connected people.

Meanwhile, with the festive season coming up, the law enforcement agencies will have to be on their toes.

New Delhi, October 13
The Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) had organised a dharna at Darya Ganj in the Capital today, as part of the movement against spiralling prices and accidents caused by the Bluelines in the Capital. The Sheila Dikshit government is working for the mall lobby and wants to finish retail trade.

The policy would favour the rich while the daily wage earners would suffer and might leave the city, Delhi unit BJP president Harsh Vardhan said.

The Chief Minister had announced in July that Blueline buses would soon be taken off from the Capital’s roads. But, she is violating the orders of the High Court and the Lieutenant Governor. She has said that the government had not made any alternative arrangement for withdrawing the Bluelines.

Addressing the gathering, Vardhan said that the price spiral had been continuing for the last three years. The promises of Sheila Dikshit about curbing price spiral continue.

During the last three years, the expenditure of each household on food items has increased by 1.5 times. The price of milk has increased thrice and preparations are being made to increase it even more.

Power and water is not available even after paying inflated bills. The condition of villages is pitiable. Even the unauthorised colonies are not being spared.

Darya Ganj district president Pankaj Jain said that people were suffering due to high prices during festivals like — Id, Navratra, Dussehra and Divali. It has become extremely difficult for the common man to celebrate festivals with full vigour.

Due to corruption at the government level, the Bluelines running on roads of the Capital do not care about the rules or laws.

At each level candidates will be assessed on their reading, writing, listening and speaking skills. The candidates who qualify will be awarded a BEC certificate which is for life.

New Delhi, October 13
Nearly three weeks after Live India was banned for airing a fake sting operation defaming a school teacher for running alleged sex racket, the government yesterday withdrew the ban after channel said it was misled by a reporter and promised ethical conduct.

Following the revocation of ban, the channel has been permitted to go on air.

Janmat TV channel (Live India) submitted that there was no deliberate attempt to defame anybody by telecast of the said sting operation, the ministry of information and broadcasting said in a statement here.

The channel also submitted that it had exercised all due diligence and care as per prevailing industry practice.

It subsequently emerged that the reporter had misled and unfortunately the sting operation telecast on August 30, 2007 took a different shape, the channel, pleading for revoking the ban, said.

In this light, the channel requested the ministry to reconsider the prohibition of transmission of the channel for one month which, it said, has put a question mark on the commercial viability of their channel.

The ministry said the channel has assured that it is committed to effectively using journalism in the best interests of the nation and society by following the highest standards of journalism.

The channel also assured that it will be observing and minutely complying with all the relevant provisions of the Cable Television Networks (regulation) Act, 1995 and the requisite license conditions.

Taking cognisance of the fake sting operation defaming a Daryaganj school teacher Uma Khurana, the Iand B ministry had banned the Live India channel for one month on September 20 last. — PTI

New Delhi, October 13
Amidst comedies and love stories, Farah Khan’s ‘Om Shanti Om’ revisits the reincarnation theme after many years.

Trade analysts say that it will work at the box- office as it has all the right ingredients. And, the main theme suits the Indian psyche.

“I think it is a good idea to make a film on reincarnation because people in India believe in it. My favourite film has always been ‘Karz’ and ‘Karan Arjun’. I think ‘Om Shanti Om’ will do well at the box-office because people like such films,” trade analyst Taran Adarsh told IANS.

Farah has teamed up with her favourite actor Shah Rukh Khan and newcomer Deepika Padukone in the film, which is apparently inspired by Subhash Ghai’s ‘Karz’.

The film revolves around a struggling actor, played by Shah Rukh, who falls in love with a successful actress. But before his love could blossom and his career flourish, he dies in an accident.

Apart from the rebirth formula, Farah has thrown in all the right ingredients, including humour, music and masala.

The choreographer-turned-director did the same in her directorial debut ‘Main Hoon Na’. She had banked on the tried and tested formula of uniting two brothers and it turned out to be a gold digger.

Critics described that film as a good entertainer, and even, three years after its release Farah is basking in its glory.

“‘Om Shanti Om’ will certainly work. The first half of the film is about the 1970s and the second half is absolutely modern. Farah Khan has put all the right ingredients for a blockbuster,” said Saurabh Varma, vice president (programming and distribution), INOX Leisure Ltd.

“There is a tremendous demand for the film not only from multiplex owners but also single screen theatre owners. It is like an ice-cream, which has all flavours and would satisfy everybody’s taste buds,” Varma said.

Legendary director Bimal Roy was perhaps the first to embark on the theme of reincarnation. He popularised rebirth and reincarnation in Hindi cinema with his masterpiece ‘Madhumati’.

Released in 1958, the Dilip Kumar-Vyjayanthimala starrer boasts of an engrossing story, mind-blowing performances and soulful music by Salil Choudhury. ‘Madhumati’ walked away with nine Filmfare Awards including, the best film, direction and music.

A decade later Adurthi Subba Rao recycled the theme in another hit film ‘Milan’. The Sunil Dutt-Nutan starrer revolved around two lovers who are united in their next birth. The film was a huge success and its music was equally appealing.

Ram Maheshwari’s ‘Neel Kamal’ was released the following year. Audiences again lapped up the rebirth formula film, which had Raj Kumar, Waheeda Rehman and Manoj Kumar in key roles.

In 1976, Shakti Samantha adopted the subject in ‘Mehbooba’, featuring Hema Malini and Rajesh Khanna. The film was not a big hit but it did a fair business at the box- office.

Chetan Anand repeated the same pair and the subject in his well-scripted and deftly executed film ‘Kudrat’.

However, it was Bollywood’s self-proclaimed showman Subhash Ghai who hit the bull’s eye by recycling the reincarnation subject in his revenge thriller ‘Karz’. The Rishi Kapoor starrer turned out to be one of the biggest hits.

In 1990, Gulzar repeated the theme in his critically acclaimed film ‘Lekin’. The film featuring Vinod Khanna and Dimple Kapadia could not stir the box-office, but its music, composed by Hridaynath Mangeshkar, was highly appreciated. The song “Yaara seeli seeli….” sung by Lata Mangeshkar was hugely popular.

Filmmaker Rakesh Roshan too hit the jackpot in 1995 with his film ‘Karan Arjun’. The onscreen chemistry between Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan did wonders to this rebirth saga.

But two years later, when Sanjay Gupta tried his hand at reincarnation in his film ‘Hamesha’, he bit the dust. The Saif Ali Khan and Kajol starrer was declares as a flop.

Going by past records, Farah Khan’s film, which releases on November 9 may recreate the same magic that ‘Madhumati’, ‘Karz’ and ‘Karan Arjun’ wove. — IANS