‘Robot-building fires up kids’ imagination’
NEW DELHI, Sept 7: A Lego robot rolled into a test arena, went through a gate, knocked off a soda can in each corner, winning its makers a chance to compete in next month’s World Robot Olympiad in Japan.
In an era of robotic surgeons, bartenders, librarians, even dogs and mules, sponsors of India Robot Olympiad 2008 concede their show on Saturday may have seemed a nascent effort. But for nearly a thousand 10-to-16-year-olds across India, organisers say, it is the beginning of an attitude towards learning as something with a meaning, something to apply mind to, not cram up. It allows students to work the concepts they ordinarily read about in text books, said Dr Shabnam Sharma, one of the organisers of the Indian Olympiad. “It’s helping fire up young imaginations,” remarked the event’s Chief Judge, Dr Sudipto Mukherjee of the Mechanical Engineering Department of the Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi.
Dr Sharma said the standard for the contest is set at the World Olympiad level for kids in participating nations, including Russia, China and Lego’s motherland, Denmark. The United States runs its own First Lego League. She said the Indian team is to be picked in two trials, one held at Amity University in Noida on Saturday, the other scheduled at Bangalore on September 28. Between them, the two trials have drawn more than 300 teams from across the nation. Although this is third annual Indian Olympiad, participants’ list indicates the activity is confined mostly to private schools, such as Amity, Apeejay, Saupin’s or Billabong. Asked whether there was any move to involve government and other schools which make up the bulk of Indian school education, Dr Sharma said that was on the cards, “We will try it next year.” Listed as the Organiser of the Indian Olympiad, Sudhanshu Sharma said each participant school spends Rs 3-4 lakhs, each kit costing Rs around 20,000.
Head of a Gurgaon-based firm Techtronics (India) Limited, Sharma said participation in India is just starting to grow. China, for instance, has some 1,800 teams. As Noida tryouts ended, “pathetic,” was how technical advisor Apurva Kalia dubbed the performance of senior high school students most of whose models had tumbled down themselves instead of knocking off the cans. But the remark was intended to motivate better performance, he explained. (UNI)

Working women shun the ‘married girl’ look
New Delhi, Sept 7: Solah singhar, the traditional decked up appearance for the new bride is now out of fashion with more and more working women shunning their gold and glitter for a more westernised look. Today’s hard pressed working women find it a headache to wear to traditional symbols of wedded bliss preferring to flaunt the single and smart look.
The job scenario also seems to encourage such trend with Kiran, who has been married for six months, and is on a job hunt preferring to dress in formal shirt-pant, sans any bangles or bindi. “If I go all dressed up as a new bride for an interview I will never get the job. Employers as such feel that a newly married woman will be unable to give her full attention to the job at hand,” she says explaining her reason for such austere looks. “There is a little discrimination to get a job if you are newly married or have small kids. But the scene changes if you are married for quite some time. There is a conscious belief that family is a priority among women, this could be a reason why women are shunning traditional wear,” says Anita, a married executive.
The metrosexual male doesn’t mind having a hep looking arm candy wife by his side. And believes in giving her the freedom. “One should dress up according to the work environment, with urban lifestyle it is not possible for women to dress traditionally,” says Rahul, who married recently. He adds, “I leave it to her what or what and dress up as she feels comfortable”. “I find the sari dress-up very boring and anyway its good to break tradition,” says Aparna, a working woman who looks as unmarried as any single girl. “Most of my friends also prefer western wear as they feel husbands get bored with the same sati savitri look. Our hubbies also are very cool with the modern look,” says Aparna. But with a tactic understanding that back home in front of Ma dearest and Dad the good bahu route is followed. “When I go to my in-laws place I go the whole hog. They prefer that I wear sari and salwar kameez with dupatta demurely over the head. With all signs of matrimony like bindi, sindur and chudi”. Is it a bug bear to her, “No actually I don’t mind doing it for ten days or a week for my in-laws but everyday could be a headache,” she says. (PTI)

A Wednesday! a lifetime film for its actors
NEW DELHI, Sept 7: A film based on Mumbai that depicts the battle of wits between the police and an unknown terrorist has inspired actors like Naseeruddin Shah, Anupam Kher and Jimmy Shergill to give in their best performance.
A Wednesday, released this Friday, got rave reviews by the industry experts and left all the actors of the film charged up to know its fate at the box office. “In a career span of 23 years, if an actor still gets excited and inspired then it has a lot to do with the script, the director and the entire team of that project. A Wednesday is one such film. It forced me to go beyond my resources and explore new avenues. I am proud to be a part of this film,” says Anupam Kher, who is playing Commissioner of Police in the film. The film, by debutant Neeraj Pandey, tells the story of certain events on a fateful Wednesday that unfold between 2 and 6 pm, when a man (Naseeruddin Shah) calls Commissioner of Police (Anupam Kher) and let him know that he had planted bombs in five places around the city. For Naseeruddin Shah, the character he is playing in the film is of lifetime. “I took on this role because I have never played anything like this before. The script is the hero of the film,” says the versatile actor known for this powerpacked performances.
Jimmy Shergill, who has worked with a host of debutant directors in past, is quite upbeat about his performance in the film. In the film, the talented actor is playing a tough Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) officer who makes his own rules and lives by them. “I like working with debutants as they bring a fresh perspective and a whole new dimension to the film. When Neeraj (the director of the film) came to me with the script, I really liked the way he narrated the story. And there was a good comfort level with stalwarts like Naseerbhai and Anupam Kher,” the actor says. “I am looking forward to the film because at some stage in your career, you come across a film which inspires you so much at the script level that you get all charged up to do that film. I am proud that I am part of the film,” he adds.
The film, which has the trio combination of story, script and direction by Deepak Pandey was widely appreciated in film fraternity and media circle. According to the producer of the film, Ronnie Screwvala, the story of the film is very relevant. “Neeraj’s superior writing got us hooked to this thriller with a very relevent and topical message. The fact that the execution of this film delivers way beyond the exceptional writing is a huge plus. The casting is perfect and Anupam kher and Naseeruddin Shah have delivered a brilliant performance,” he says. (PTI)

Situation conducive for J&K Assembly polls: Jaitley
JAMMU, Sept 7: Advocating that the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections be held in October-November, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national general secretary Arun Jaitley today said the present situation is conducive for elections as normalcy has been restored in the state after a two-month-long agitation over the Amarnath land controversy. “The time is ripe for the assembly polls and I feel that political activities will help to bring back an absolute normalcy on track in Jammu and Kashmir,” Jaitley asserted while addressing a press conference here this afternoon.
Reiterating the BJP’s support to end the political and economic discrimination with Jammu and Ladakh, Jaitley said, “We want elections and delimitation on time to put an end the decades-old discrimination with the people of Jammu but simultaneously, we don’t want delimitation be the reason to delay the assembly polls.” The BJP wants due assembly polls at the scheduled time and the party would take up the matter of holding due polls and delimitation in Jammu and Kashmir during All Party Meeting on September 10 to be held at national capital. Slamming the Congress government for being so wary of ‘hurting’ the sentiments of Valley separatists, he alleged that it had failed to understand the separatist false propaganda, first on the ‘canard’ that the land for pilgrims was a plot to set up ‘Hindu colonies’, and then on a non-existent ‘economic blockade,’ and thereafter was left with no option but to address legitimate demands of Jammu people.
“The Congress always succumbed to various pressures. The policies of Congress at present are so weak that it can’t even counter the pro-SIMI stand of its allies namely Samajwadi Party, RJD and Lok Janshakti Party,” alleged the senior BJP leader. (UNI)

 

LF authorizes Buddhadeb to take decision on Singur issue
Kolkata, Sept 7: The Left Front today authorized West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee to take a decision on the Singur issue and said it was hopeful of a solution to the impasse.
“The Left Front authorised the Chief Minister on how much the government could concede the demands of the Trinamool Congress. The talks between the government and the Trinamool have so far centred around a sustainable economic rehabilitation package,” Left Front chairman Biman Bose said.
Bose said he was optimistic of a solution as there was considerable progress in the negotiation so far.
The Chief Minister met Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi this morning after two days of inconclusive talks between the West Bengal government and the Trinamool Congress.
Bhattacharjee gave an update of his meeting with Gandhi and the progress of the discussion at the Left Front meeting, Bose, who is also the state CPI-M secretary, told reporters.
Bose said shortly after the Chief Minister met the Governor he learnt that Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee would also meet Gandhi today. “If the situation demands, the Chief Minister will again meet the Governor,” Bose said.
Bose said the Trinamool chief had announced from her dharna manch before leaving for Raj Bhavan that she wanted both industry and protection of the farmers’ interests. “I welcome her attitude which is positive.”
“Talks are the right way to arrive at a solution to the deadlock. I hope that the talks will lead to a realistic solution. We are perhaps heading towards a solution. We have to see that the Governor’s efforts do not go waste.”
He said the Chief Minister was also approaching the talks with an open mind. He said the Singur issue not only concerned West Bengal, but the entire country as investment in automobile sector was not significant.
“This is for the first time that an investment of such magnitude was being made which will open up opportunities for employment,” he said. (PTI)

Countrywide hi-tech network to track down terrorists
New Delhi, Sept 7: With crimes and terror attacks having inter-state ramifications, the government is putting in place a hi-tech system to establish a countrywide network covering almost all the 14,000 police stations.
The Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS) aims at providing the Investigating Officers with technology, tools, and information to facilitate investigation of crime and detection of criminals, sources said.
The Planning Commission has given in-principle approval for the Home Ministry’s major e-governance initiative during the XIth Five Year Plan at an outlay of Rs 2,000 crores. The allocation for the current year is Rs 210 crores. Besides, covering all the police stations in the country, it is proposed to establish contact with 6,000 higher police offices. The system is intended to improve the functioning of police force in various activities like law and order, traffic management and prevention of crime, besides keeping track of the progress of cases, including the ones in courts. It also aims at making the functioning of police more transparent and citizen friendly. Assisting senior officers in better management of police force, facilitating interaction and sharing of information among police stations have also been envisaged.
Another salient feature of the system is reduction in manual and redundant records keeping. The main benefits of the system will be quicker and on-line registration of cases and complaints at the police station level. Moreover, the complainant can have a computer generated copy of the FIR lodged by him or her, the sources said. The system will provide quicker access to crime and criminal information to investigating officers, ensure better investigation of cases and detection of criminals, and effective monitoring and planning of crime-control measures.
With the help of more friendly, comfortable, informative, and supportive interfaces, citizens can file complaints without visiting police stations, while the police can have a better coordination of stolen and recovered property. More accurate statistical data of missing persons, personal verification and better crime and criminal related analysis can be done with the help of the new system. Electronic data exchange with other computerised systems in courts, jails, passport and transport sector can help reduce manual records keeping and ensure savings on stationery, postage and travelling expenses. Initially conceived as Common Integrated Police Application (CIPA) for automation of work flow at police stations, a scheme on similar lines was launched in 2004-05. (PTI)

Charge sheet likely this week in Aarushi case
NEW DELHI, Sept 7: For the first time, the country’s premier probe agency, CBI, is likely submit before September chargsheets in the sensational Aarushi murder case based only on scientific evidences rather than direct proofs for legal scrutiny.
The chargesheet for the Noida double murder case will be based on circumstantial evidences, narco-analysis and lie-detector tests, and psychological assessment, official sources said. If it withstood the legal scrutiny, could be landmark in the country’s criminal investigation history, experts commented. Sleuths of the probe agency had conducted three months of pain-staking examinations into the case, in which teenager Aarushi and her family’s domestic help Hemraj were mercilessly murdered. The investigations also led to the arrest of Krishna, a compounder working with Aarushi’s father Rajesh Talwar, and Rajkumar, helper of Talwar family’s neighbour, and Vijay Mandal, another domestic helper.
The chargesheet is likely to be filed against Krishna, Rajkumar and Mandal, who was bailed out recently by a designated court despite protests by the CBI counsel saying that he may try to destroy evidence, the sources said. The chargesheet is likely to be filed before September 13 as the CBI had made its first arrest on June 13 and it is mandatory for the investigating agency to file a chargesheet within 90 days of the first arrest, otherwise the accused can automatically apply for bail. According to the CBI investigations, Krishna, compounder of Talwar, emerged as “prime suspect” as his psychological assessment test and polygraph test “revealed deception on all major points relating to the crime”. Krishna was subjected to brain finger-printing and narco analysis test during which the CBI claims that he confessed his involvement in the crime along with his two other associates Raj Kumar (domestic help of Talwar’s family friend) and Vijay Mandal, the sources said. According to the CBI, Krishna and Raj Kumar, arrested on June 28, and Mandal gathered at the room of Hemraj and consumed alcohol and later tried to sexually assault Aarushi. The three, according to the CBI, talked about Aarushi over drinks and under the influence of alcohol they went into the room of Aarushi. She got up and tried to scream. She was gagged and allegedly hit by hard blunt object on her head after which they allegedly tried to sexually abuse her.
The CBI claims that this act led to an altercation between them and fearing that the parents of Aarushi might get up, they went to the terrace where Raj Kumar and Krishna had a scuffle with Hemraj in which he was killed. On Krishna, the agency said two days before the murders, Talwar had scolded Krishna for not performing his official duties. This had led to a grudge with Krishna who openly discussed taking revenge, it added. The psychological assessment of Krishna showed that he was having aggressive tendencies, not loyal to anyone, evasive, manipulative and hiding facts, the sources said. “The so-called confessions of Krishna and Raj Kumar have been corroborated forensically to the extent that the blood of Hemraj (AB group) was found on pillow in Aarushi’s room,” according to an official. The test results would be only support to the CBI investigations in the court of law in Ghaziabad’s designated court as it could neither find weapons of offence or the mobile phone of Aarushi or Hemraj. The chargesheet is also likely to give a clean chit to Aarushi’s father, Rajesh Talwar, who was arrested by the Noida police on May 23. He was bailed after remaining in prison for nearly 50 days. The CBI informed the Ghaziabad court that it did not find any evidence against Talwar and that Noida Police had also not found any evidence. It said both — Talwar and his wife Nupur — were subjected to polygraph test twice and later they also underwent Psycho Analysis Test and “nothing adverse was found against them”. Further, the agency carried out a simulation exercise to check the sound level at the real crime-time basis by CFSL and forensic experts before two independent witnesses by switching on both the air conditioners in the bedroom of Talwar and Aarushi. There was no sound of either steps or opening of the door heard in the bedroom of Talwar by Physics division experts of CFSL, the source added. (PTI)

At 75, Asha Bhonsle remains music lover’s delight
New Delhi, Sept 7: Piya tu ab to aaja and Dum maro dum crooner Asha Bhonsle turns 75 on Monday, and the evergreen singer is launching a new album of romantic songs to mark the occasion.
From pop and cabaret songs to club mixes, romantic numbers, bhajans and ghazals - singing diva Asha has sung it all. The magic of her voice continues to enthral listeners across all ages and inspire budding singers even now.
Having sung for actresses of older films like Madhubala, Nutan, Asha Parekh, Helen and Rekha to giving playback to Urmila Matondkar, Kajol, Karisma Kapoor and Gracy Singh among the newer ones, Asha has contributed to the Indian film industry for more than six decades now.
TV actor Kinshuk Mahajan of Sapna Baabul Ka Bidaai will feature in the music video of the title song of Asha’s new album. “Asha-ji is like a kid! She is so down to earth and simple. When she called me, she was so sweet to talk to,” Kinshuk told IANS.
“It was so nice to know that she was adamant about taking me for the music video. The song is very romantic. I wish her all the best though I don’t think I would be able to attend the birthday celebrations,” he added.
Asha began her singing career with her first film song Chala chala nav bala for the Marathi movie Majha Bal in 1943.
When she set out to make a mark in Bollywood with her first Hindi song Saawan aaya for Hansraj Bahl’s Chunariya in 1948, she faced tough competition from her elder sister Lata Mangeshkar and others like Geeta Dutt, Shamshad Begum, and Suraiya, who dominated the world of playback singing.
Asha showed her charisma with the sensual songs Aiye meherban from Howrah Bridge in 1958, which was picturised on Madhubala, and In aankhon ki masti from Umrao Jaan in 1981. She also sang the evergreen number Chura liye hai tumne for Zeenat Aman in Yaadon Ki Baraat.
Her romantic numbers were also widely lauded with songs like Haal kaisa hai janab ka (Chalti Ka Naam Gadi 1958), Mur mur ke na dekh (Shri 420), Pal do pal ka saath hamara and many others.
After his death in 1942, the family moved from Pune to Kolhapur and then to Mumbai. Asha and her elder sister, Lata Mangeshkar, started singing in films to support their family.
The year 1957 was the breakthrough year for Asha when music director OP Nayyar got her to sing in Tumsa Nahin Dekha and Naya Daur. Ude jab jab zulfein teri from the latter film still remains a favourite among music lovers.
The same year the legendary SD Burman had a rift with Lata Mangeshkar. This came as a blessing in disguise for Asha, who soon became his favourite female singer.
In the 1970s Asha came closer to another legend of Indian music, RD Burman, who added a new and stylish dimension to her singing. The songs Piya tu ab to aaja, Dum maro dum and Chura liya hai tumne were a result of this combination. The two also tied the nuptial knot in 1980.
Her ghazals in Muzaffar Ali’s Umrao Jaan fetched huge accolades and remain an all-time favourite.
In 1995, a 62-year old Asha did playback for young actress Urmila Matondkar in the movie Rangeela. She pleasantly surprised her fans with superhit songs like Tanha tanha and Rangeela re after which she also sang for Karisma Kapoor in the song Mujhko hui na khabar.
For her contribution to music in Indian cinema, Asha was conferred the Dada Saheb Phalke Award, the highest title in Indian cinema in 2000. She was also honoured with the Padma Vibhushan by President Pratibha Patil May this year. (IANS)

‘Group ‘D’ staff out of tax limit after salary arrears’
NEW DELHI, Sept 7: Group ‘D’ employees of the central government, including peons and drivers, can heave a sigh of relief as they are likely to get their 40 per cent salary arrears in full without any income tax deduction on implementation of Sixth Pay Commission recommendations. While the Group ‘D’ government employees will not have to pay tax on arrears, those belonging to higher levels can also claim marginal benefit by filing Form 10E of the Income Tax Returns, said a senior official of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT).
Among the Group ‘D’ employees, drivers receive highest salary because of over-time allowance, the tax official said, adding, “even they will fall short of the taxing limit by a whisker.” High ranking officials would not get as much benefit as their Group ‘D’ counterparts get as they already are in a larger tax bracket and may also be required to pay a “surcharge” on their salaries, Chartered Accountant Subhash Lakhotia said. The government while approving the pay commission’s recommendations said 40 per cent of the arrears would be paid in the current year, while the remaining 60 per cent would be disbursed in the next financial year. The arrears are with effect from January 2006. (PTI)

Of tanneries, saloons and shoes in this Chinatown!
NEW DELHI, Sept 7: They excelled in businesses which were unexplored like leather-tanning, shoe-making, furniture factories, restaurants and hairdressing salons. Many of them went on to become dentists and merchants. Meet the nearly 4,000 Chinese who have been living in Kolkata since the early 1900s and have become an integral part of the city’s cultural and commercial landscape.
In The Last Dragon Dance: Chinatown Stories, writer Kwai-Yun Li takes us through a journey from crumbling shops in Chinatown to decaying tanneries in Tangra, a Chinese pocket within the city, and exposes us to the life of the little-known Chinese community in Kolkata. The Kolkata Chinatown came into being on Sun Yat Sen Street, a narrow, cobbled street with decaying buildings and no street lighting. In the 1930s, an opium den opened in Chinatown but the British closed it down a year later.
According to Kwai, the Chinese went into business which the Hindus found polluting — leather-tanning, hairdressing, shoe-making, carpentry and restaurant-keeping. They lived in two areas — those who went into leather-tanning business settled in Tangra, on the eastern fringe of Kolkata. The Chinese who ran furniture factories, hairdressing salons, restaurants and shoe shops settled in the Bow Bazar area in north Kolkata, where Indians of the middle and lower class lived. The Hakka went into leather-tanning and shoe-making, the Cantonese opened restaurants and hairdressing salons, the Toi-sanese owned furniture factories and the Fukkianese became dentists and merchants, she writes. The author says the Chinese also brought conflicts with them.
“In all Hakka temples in Kolkata, the statue of a horse always stands in the courtyard. The Hakka tell of battles with the Cantonese and the Toi-sanese for the land in Kolkata. In a particularly heated fight, when the Hakka retreated before an overwhelming combined force of the Cantonese and the Toi-sanese armies, a horse galloped up to the battleground. “Its teeth bared, its mane whipping in the wind, its eyes bright with battle lust and its mouth fogged with hot breath, the horse lashed out at the Cantonese and the Toi-sanese. They scattered. The Hakka won,” she writes.
The Chinese prospered in Kolkata and their number had swelled to 30,000 when India gained Independence, the book says. Since then, the Sino-India conflict, Indo-Pakistan tensions and chaotic provincial government in West Bengal meant that businesses moved out of Kolkata. The businesses run by the Chinese declined and the Chinese returned to China or emigrated to Taiwan, Hong Kong, North America, Australia and Europe. The West Bengal government closed the tanneries in Tangra in 2000. The chemicals used in leather tanning had polluting the land and the water. The tannery and leather factory owners fought the government up to the Supreme Court and lost. The Supreme Court ordered the closure of the Tangra tanneries on March 1, 2002, the book says. According to Kwai, there are about 4,000 Chinese living in Kolkata today. (PTI) .....