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Corruption Democracy is the solution of all kind of problems whether they are social, political or related to any other category. Corruption is one of the biggest problems that are being faced by developing and under-developed countries. India too is suffering from this problem. It is evident from the fact that centre and various state governments have launched many welfare schemes for the benefit of the backward and down-trodden people but they don’t get the full benefit of these schemes because of corruption. Only 5-10 percent of the amount reaches at the lowest level as most of its part is devoured by the ‘big fishes’. An independent international agency, Transparency International, had conducted a survey a few months ago which had ranked India at 74th position on the worldwide Corruption Perceptions Index. Another study conducted by NGOs Transparency International India and Centre for Media Studies had found that BPL families had paid 800 crore as bribe in 2007.

Campaign Though government has formed some departments to counter this problem but they too are not free form this problem. There are many instances when allegations have been made against these ‘anti-corruption’ departments. Corruption is the major reason that Indian public prefers the private section to the [More]

Resignation Senior Congress leader Margaret Alva who is also the general secretary of All India Congress Committee has resigned from her post after she met Congress Chief Sonia Gandhi after appearing before the Disciplinary Action Committee Chairman A. K. Antony on Monday night. It has been said that she will send her formal resignation to the party chief on Tuesday. It must be learnt that she is in charge of handling party affairs in several states that include Maharashtra, Punjab, Haryana and some northeastern states. A few days ago her allegations of ‘sale’ of party tickets for the forthcoming Karnataka assembly had created a storm inside the party leadership.

Allegations Alva was not happy with the recent developments and was feeling as if she was being sidelined by some other party leaders. R. V. Deshpande had been appointed as Karnataka PCC chief. Alva’s son Nivedith has been denied party ticket in Karnataka assembly elections. She ‘publicly’ had made allegations that different ‘yardsticks’ were adopted in deciding party tickets for the upcoming state assembly elections in the Karnataka state. She also had said that her son was denied party ticket while relatives of other senior Congress leaders were given tickets even in other states.

Public Party [More]

Series Win India regained the coveted Border-Gavaskar Trophy after the gap of four years on Monday, October 10 when they defeated the Australian cricket team in the fourth and the final test match played in Nagpur. They won the series by 2-0. They defeated the Australians with a huge margin of 172 runs. India had given a daunting target of 382 runs for victory to the visitors but they could make only 209 runs in their second inning as Indian spinners Harbhajan Singh and Amit Mishra shared seven Australian wickets between themselves in the second inning. With this win India has improved its ICC test ranking and has moved to the second place.

Top-Order Earlier on day five Australia resumed the play from their overnight score of 13 for no loss. But Indians did not wait for long as Ishant Sharma opened the flood gates for his side. He took first two out of three wickets and cleared the way for an emphatic win. He got both the Australian batsmen S. Katich (16) and M. Clarke (22) caught behind by wicket-keeper Dhoni. Skipper Ponting’s (8) stay on the crease was cut-short when he got run-out on Amit Mishra’s superb pick-up and throw [More]

Hostility Though India and China have improves their relations as for as the business is concerned but mutual mistrust has not diminished. Both the nations have fought a war in which India had been humiliated by China. But the border row has not ended yet. Both the nations are sorting out their matters by holding dialog. Though both the nations are trying to sort out the matter by dialog but China has not abandoned its hostile and aggressive approach. It must be learnt that China had played an ‘important’ role at the NSG meeting in which India had been allowed to resume nuclear trade with other nations.

Mukherjee Addressing the National Defense College in New Delhi on November 4 foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee, for the first time, has described China as a security “challenge and a priority”. China’s economic rise and capabilities in outer space have also given rise to some fears not only in India but also in the world. Mukherjee had rebuffed China’s claim on India’s northeastern state Arunachal Pradesh on October 9 by saying that it is an integral part of India and has a ‘special place in our heart’. “The question of parting company with Arunachal or any [More]

Shock A few days ago Mumbai police had busted a module that had arranged funds for the Malegaon blasts of September 29. AS the investigation progressed it came to light that a Hindu organization had played a decisive role in arranging and carrying out the blasts. But all sections of the society were shocked when investigation revealed the links between the accused persons and some military officers. Later on a police has arrested a serving officer of the Indian army named Lieutenant-Colonel Purohit. He was arrested on November 5 and had admitted that he had supplied RDX and weapons to the radical Hindu outfit-Abhinav Bharat- which had carried out the bomb blasts to revenge the Muslim attacks on the Hindus.
Danger Investigation agency has also suspected the involvement of some defense personals’ direct or indirect involvement in the crime. This incident has rung danger bells for the government as well as for the military. Indian military is considered to be one of the most secular and neutral organization in India and some army officers’ involvement in the ‘inhuman’ crime have brought shame to all ranks of the organization. This incidents also points that some more radical elements might have intruded into the military. One the [More]

Indian Bowlers If Australian debutant off-spinner Jason Krejza was the star of the day two, it were all the four main Indian bowlers who dominated on day three and turned the match into their favor. All the four main Indian bowlers, Zaheer, Ishan, Bhajji and Mishra bowled tight and ‘planned’ spells and kept the Australian batsmen constantly under pressure. They denied the ‘much needed opportunity’ to the Australians to retain the Border-Gavaskar trophy. Australians squandered the advantage of a 155-run partnership between Opener Simon Katich (102) and Michael Hussey (90) as they lost the remaining wickets at regular intervals.

Turning Point Indian played both attacking and defensive game on day three with the motive to put pressure on the opponents. It was Zaheer Khan who opened the flood-gates for India when he trapped Simon Katich leg before wicket. Simon made 102 runs. Earlier Katich had been dropped at first slip by Dravid off Ishant when he was at 94. Katich accepted the favor of lady luck and completed his third century. The next to go was M. Clarke (8) who was caught behind off Ishant Sharma. The turning point of the inning was the dismissal of Hussey and the credit goes to [More]

Australians Indian off-spinner Harbhanjan Singh created history on Friday, November 8. He entered the 300 wicket-taker club when he dismissed Australian captain Rickey Ponting on the second day of the Nagpur test. But on the second day Indian bowlers did not bowl in tight line and length. There bowled good bowling only in patches’. When the day’s play was called off Australia had made 180 for the loss of two wickets. The other dismissed batsman was opener Mathew Hayden (16), who got run out when M. Vijay’s direct hit from mid-on found him short. Katich(92) and Hussey(45) steered their team out of crisis and put it into a secure position.

Indians Earlier in the morning when the play started, Sourabh and skipper Dhoni batted with care and added almost 90 runs in the first two hours of the play. But Ganguly could not make his last test a memorable one as he fell short of 15 runs to complete his century. He was caught by Clarke when he off-timed an off-side delivery of Krejza. He was Krejza’s second victim on day two. Earlier he had dismissed Dhoni on 56 reducing India 422 for six. Indian could add only one run before Ganguly’s [More]

Race A resigning race has started among the Bihar MPs of the various parties over the MNS row. Five Janata Dal (United) MPs resigned from the Lok Sabha against Centre government’s lackluster approach towards the issues of MNS activists’ attacks on north Indians in the Congress-ruled state-Maharashtra. Bihar had witnessed widespread protests after the MNS activists’ alleged attacks on the north Indians. Bihar plays a major role in the formation of the centre government as it sends largest number of MPs to Lok Sabha. All the political parties want to exploit the public emotions by projecting themselves the true champions of the cause. Bihar MPs have been ‘inspired’ by south Indian leader Karunanidhi who had threatened to take his party’s support back from the UPA government. It must be learnt that India is providing its full support to the Sri Lankan government in its offensive against the LTTE. But south Indian people are sympathetic towards the Terrorist Outfit and Karunanidhi wanted the exploit the public emotions.

Bihar Leaders Assembly elections are scheduled to be held in six states in the months of November and December. And Lok Sabha elections will be held early next year. So resigning at this time is being considered [More]

Race A resigning race has started among the Bihar MPs of the various parties over the MNS row. Five Janata Dal (United) MPs resigned from the Lok Sabha against Centre government’s lackluster approach towards the issues of MNS activists’ attacks on north Indians in the Congress-ruled state-Maharashtra. Bihar had witnessed widespread protests after the MNS activists’ alleged attacks on the north Indians. Bihar plays a major role in the formation of the centre government as it sends largest number of MPs to Lok Sabha. All the political parties want to exploit the public emotions by projecting themselves the true champions of the cause. Bihar MPs have been ‘inspired’ by south Indian leader Karunanidhi who had threatened to take his party’s support back from the UPA government. It must be learnt that India is providing its full support to the Sri Lankan government in its offensive against the LTTE. But south Indian people are sympathetic towards the Terrorist Outfit and Karunanidhi wanted the exploit the public emotions.

Bihar Leaders Assembly elections are scheduled to be held in six states in the months of November and December. And Lok Sabha elections will be held early next year. So resigning at this time is being considered a ‘safe [More]

Valley Shops, businesses and schools remained closed for second consecutive day on Friday across the Kashmir valley after the government had put strict curfew like restrictions into force to thwart separatist joint coordination committee’s proposed march to Jamia Mosque where it was to announce its anti-election programs. Earlier they had called for a grand march on Thursday but security forces had thwarted their effort by imposing section 144 and by keeping some prominent Hurriyat leaders under house arrest. Hurriyat already have announced its poll boycott program. The elections in the state are scheduled to be held in seven phases between 17 November and 24 December.

Communal Coordination Committee had called for ‘Jamia Chalo’ march to pay homage to the Muslims who had been killed in the communal riots in Jammu in 1947. It is for the first time that Hurriyat had called such a march in the 60 years history of Kashmir. Though Hurriyat projects itself as a leader of all the communities of the Kashmir region but its ‘Jamia Chalo’ call has exposed its communal face. It must be learnt that thousands of Hindus had been killed by the Hurriyat supported militants during the year of 1989 in the valley. Lacks of Kashmiri Hindus had [More]

Orissa Riots Situation has not normalized yet in the riot-hit Kandhamal district of the state of Orissa and killing of another RSS leader have increased the problems of the state government and the police department. According to the state government’s official reports, August riots had left at least 38 persons dead and thousands homeless. But according to some unofficial reports these figures are just a tip of the iceberg. One official on condition of anonymity had told a private data collecting agency that he had collected and cremated 200 dead bodies of the riot victims from the forests of the Kandhamal district. He said that the death toll could be more than five hundred. It must be learnt that anti-Christian riots had erupted in the state after the alleged murder of VHP leader Laxmananda in which hundreds of people had been killed on the first night of the violence. Though Maoists have taken the responsibility of the murder of the VHP leader but the Hindus of the area had held the Christians responsible for the act.

Murder Normalcy was returning slowly and steadily in the district and the people had started to return to their native places after living for weeks in relief [More]

Award Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, the Hindustani Classical music legend, of ‘Kirana’ gharana have been selected for India’s highest civilian award ‘Bharat Ratna’. Before it, he had been awarded with Padma Shri (1972), Padma Bhushan (1985) and Padma Vibhushan (1999). Except he had been awarded by many state governments. It includes the Maharashtra Bhushan (2002) from the state government, the Sangeet Natak Akademi award (1975), Tansen Sanman award (1998) from the MP government and Karnataka Ratna (2005). The 86 year old vocalist is renowned for his bhajans and khayals.
 

Early Life Born on February 4, 1922, in Gadag, Karnataka,he is a son of a schoolteacher who had left his home at the age of 11 to learn music. But he could not find a good guru. During his search he had stayed in Gwalior, Lucknow and Rampur and was later on traced by his father who brought him back to home. In 1936 Sawai Gandharva, who was a disciple of Abdul Karim Khan, accepted him as his disciple. He learnt music from him for four year and stayed with him according to the guru-shishya tradition. He had given his first performance when he was 19 years old. Next year, his debut album was released in which [More]

Award Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, the Hindustani Classical music legend, of ‘Kirana’ gharana have been selected for India’s highest civilian award ‘Bharat Ratna’. Before it, he had been awarded with Padma Shri (1972), Padma Bhushan (1985) and Padma Vibhushan (1999). Except he had been awarded by many state governments. It includes the Maharashtra Bhushan (2002) from the state government, the Sangeet Natak Akademi award (1975), Tansen Sanman award (1998) from the MP government and Karnataka Ratna (2005).  The 86 year old vocalist is renowned for his bhajans and khayals.

Early Life Born on February 4, 1922, in Gadag, Karnataka,he is a son of a schoolteacher who had left his home at the age of 11 to learn music. But he could not find a good guru. During his search he had stayed in Gwalior, Lucknow and Ramput and was later on traced by his father who brought him back to home. In 1936 Sawai Gandharva, who was a disciple of Abdul Karim Khan, accepted him as his disciple. He learnt music from him for four year and stayed with him according to the guru-shishya tradition. He had given his first performance when he was 19 years old. Next year, his debut album was released in which he [More]

New Hope Though Nano’s departure from the state of West Bengal had dashed the hopes of bright future for the left government and the people, but a new ray of hope has shined for the troubled land. According to some news reports, representatives of a Chinese automobile major met the WB Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharaya on Tuesday, October 4 and have expressed their interest to set up a small car project in the state. It has been said that they need 600 acres of land to set up the unit that is equal to the ‘undisputed land’ in Singur. It must be borne in mind that state government had given almost 1000 acres of land to the Tata motors on lease but some farmers wanted their land back which was more than 300 acres.  Because of the violent agitation Tata motors have shifted the Nano plant from Singur to Ahmadabad (Gujarat).

 
Project Representatives of China’s largest manufacturing company, First Automobile Works (FAW), met the CM and Industries minister Nirupam Sen in the Writers’ Building. They want to invest Rs. 1500 crore in the state to set up a automobile manufacturing unit in the state. They, first will manufacture small cars and later on heavy vehicles, also [More]

Death Famous Indian director and producer of Hindi films and TV serials, Baldev Raj Chopra popularly known as B R Chopra died on Wednesday, November 5 at his residence in suburban Juhu (Mumbai) after a prolonged illness. He was 94 years old and has been survived by his son Ravi Chopra and two daughters. His brother Yash Chopra, son Ravi Chopra and nephew Aditya Chopra are also directors in the entertainment industry.
 

Early Life He had received his post-graduation degree from the Lahore University in English Literature and had worked as a movie journalist for some time. During this period his interest in movies had started. It was because of a deep-rooted fascination for films that he had preferred film journalism instead of a higher education as his career. After the partition he had moved to Delhi and after some time to Mumbai.
 

Films In Mumai, he produced ‘Karwat’ in 1949 but it proved out to be a big flop. But he was discouraged by the failure and again produced and directed ‘Afsana in 1951 which proved out to be a big hit and celebrated its silver jubilee. From here he never looked back and produced and directed many hit movies. In all his films he [More]