Indian Thrash Pak...Twenty20 WorldCup

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - India claimed the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup after they beat Pakistan by five runs in a thrilling final on Monday.

Recalled all-rounder Irfan Pathan and new-ball bowler Rudra Pratap Singh took three wickets each and Pakistan, who started well, tumbled to 152 all out in reply to India's 157 for five.

"It was a team effort and the way the boys responded was really great. Everything needed to build a team was there," said India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

"The guys were really determined because they did not do well in the last (50 over) World Cup. But we enjoyed playing in this tournament, which is very important, and the players had confidence in each other.

Misbah ul-Haq threatened to steal victory from India at the death with four sixes in his 43 but Joginder Sharma had him caught trying to spoon a ball over fine leg with three balls to spare.

Opening batsman Imran Nazir had slammed 33 off 14 balls in a flying start for Pakistan but Robin Uthappa ran him out with a direct hit and Pathan claimed the key wickets of Shoaib Malik (8) and Shahid Afridi (0) in his second over to slow their run chase.

Joginder kept his nerve in the final over with Pakistan needing 13 to win and finished with two for 20, while Pathan took three for 16 and RP Singh three for 26.

Captain Shoaib picked out Nazir's dismissal as the key moment in the match.

'TURNING POINT'

"We said that we wanted to limit India to 150/160, so that plan was successful. But the turning point was that we lost too many early wickets and then the run out of Imran Nazir saw our in-form batsman go out," Shoaib said.

A good all-round bowling performance by Pakistan, led by Umar Gul, had restricted India to a relatively modest total.

Gul took three for 28 in his four overs as India never managed to break free of tight bowling and fielding.

The tall seamer landed the vital wickets of Yuvraj Singh, caught and bowled for 14 off 19 balls, Dhoni, bowled for six, and Gautam Gambhir, caught at short fine-leg for 75.

Opener Gambhir batted through the first 18 overs, however, stroking eight fours and two sixes, and needed just 54 balls for his fluent innings which give India's total respectability.

Rohit Sharma scored 30 not out in 16 balls in the closing overs to take India past 150.

Man-of-the-match Pathan, delighted to be back in the side and playing with his brother Yusuf after being omitted from the one-day team following India's dismal showing in the 50-over World Cup, said the last two overs were very tense.

"We never thought we will play together in a final -- and against Pakistan -- and we would win it," he said, hugging his brother.

"There was lot of pressure in the last two overs, they were very tough. RP Singh bowled a very good (19th) over."

Yusuf Pathan added: "I'm too emotional, I just can't tell you."

Krishna goes to school

Father killed by Son to get his job

In many of the Indian states, after the death of a father, his son is entitled to get his job in government department on compassionate grounds. But what if a son kills his father to get this job!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes, this weird incident has actually happened in Ranchi city in Jharkhand state of India, where a man killed his "wayward" father to get his government job on compassionate grounds......Shankar Oraon, a 26-year-old resident of the city's Ratu block in city, confessed to the police that he killed his father a fortnight ago to get his job.

"Shankar had planned the murder of his father for his job because after the man's death he would inherit the position on compassionate grounds. He executed the crime and tried to blame unidentified criminals," said Satyabir Singh, a police official here.

Read more..........Son kills father to get government job

Goat who is fond of meat and booze!!!!!!!

Goats are generally vegetarian. They eat grass, fruit and vegetables but have you ever heard of a goat who eats meat and drinks liquor!!! Yes, here is a goat named " Mantu",who is fond of all these stuff. There is a goat at the "Sana Bada Dhaba", a roadside eatery, 350 kms from the state capital Bhubaneswar in Orissa state of India, who's staple diet is cooked meat of other goats & this goat drinks liquor too.

'The animal has been living in the dhaba since its birth and slowly developed the habit of eating non-vegetarian food,' as per the dhaba owner Sana Naik.

Mantu does not like grass - the staple diet of other goats. 'The goat eats the cooked meat of other goats that we serve to customers,' he said. 'Because of its peculiar habits, we are not killing it.'

The goat also drinks liquor. It obeys commands like monkeys.

'If you ask it to perform a death scene, it will lie on the ground as if dead. You ask it to show a fight scene, it will demonstrate like a warrior,' he said.

As per the dhaba owner Naik. 'I love the goat so much. It is like my own child. I am looking for a female goat as its bride,' Naik said. 'I am planning to organise the marriage in a big way, may be next August.

'I will also host a grand feast. My customers, who include ministers, legislators, officials, businessmen and journalists, have assured me that they will join the feast and bless the goat couple.'

Sanjay Dutt released, emotional welcome at home

It was all over in a minute.

Sanjay Dutt saw, hugged, waved and disappeared.

His fans who had been waiting outside Pune's Yeravada jail could not catch a glimpse of the actor as he was released early in the morning at 7.16 am. There was no crowd cheering him nor was there much security.

Ever since the Supreme Court order to release Dutt on interim bail, curious onlookers and fans have been coming to Yeravada jail to get a glimpse of the actor.

Dutt was accompanied by his lawyer Satish Maneshinde and another co-accused Yusuf Nulwala when he came out of the jail.

"Sanjay fulfilled all conditions set by the Supreme Court for his release and due to this, we completed procedures at the jail early this morning," Maneshinde told reporters outside the Dutt residence in Pali Hill, Mumbai.

When asked how Sanjay was doing, he said, "He is happy to be at home and with his friends and family."

About the actor's plans to start working in films, he said, "Well, it is too early to speak on anything. He will decide on his career later. The most important thing (now) is to spend time with his family which he is doing."

The actor's close friend and Maharashtra Minister Baba Siddiqui said, "He is overjoyed to be at home with his friends and family."

Crowds had been visiting Yeravada jail since Monday in hopes seeing their beloved actor. Unfortunately for them Yerwada jail authorities released him early on Thursday.

"I have been coming here for the last three days. I am disappointed that I could not see him," said Ashish Bhonsle, a resident nearby.

His friend, Avinash Naik, added, "When he entered Yeravada jail I missed him because I was out of Pune. Unfortunately, I was too late. The jail authorities should have not released him so early."

Bureaucratic delay led to the release of Dutt on Thursday morning or else he would have been out by Wednesday evening.

Dutt's lawyer Maneshinde could not attain the order copy from TADA court in time on Wednesday and therefore he got delayed in reaching Pune by 5 pm. Yeravada jail rules state that any convict who gets bail has to produce his papers to the jail authorities between at 7 am and 5 pm.

Dutt sported a beard and had a haircut in the prison before walking out free. His looks were not unlike the character Billa played by him in the movie Musafir.

He was holding a polythene bag in hand and hugged a policeman as soon as he walked out of the prison. He smiled at another cop, shook hands with two of them and waved to media persons before driving down to Pune airport to reach Mumbai via a chartered flight.

Dutt has been given temporary respite by the Supreme Court as the TADA court which sentenced him to six years in prison has not given an order copy to him. The SC has told him to surrender as soon as he gets the order copy from the TADA court.

According to experts, Dutt's relief would be temporary as he had been granted bail on technical grounds. The copy of the judgement was not made available to him. "The judge has a tremendous task ahead of him. The judgement runs into 7000 pages," said a senior journalist who has been following the developments in the 1993 Mumbai blast case.

"The judge has to ensure that each of over 120 accused get a certified copy of the judgement. Which means more than 7 lakh pages to be photo-copied. If they give him a copy on 27th then he has to surrender before Parmod Kode forthwith and then move the Supreme Court for regular bail."

Dutt has spent 24 days in Yeravada jail before being set free on Thursday morning. He was prisoner C-15170, as he was identified in the Yeravada records. His friend Yusuf Nulwalla was prisoner C-15171.

He was assigned the task of making cane chairs and he participated in making eight chairs in the jail under supervision of other inmates.

Dutt also met up with Gandhian activists in Yeravada jail and took some books to read on Gandhian thoughts.

He was given an autobiography of Mahatma Gandhi Mangal Prabhat, a booklet the Mahatma wrote while he was an inmate of Yeravada for six years during the 1920s; and a book on Gandhi written by Manuben Gandhi, a close associate.

Freedom Fighter, 83, Pulls Rickshaw For Living

Just imagine a person who fought the British Raj for India's freedom before year 1947. One who feels the bullet and baton injuries he suffered in the Quit India movement of 1942 pale in the face of his miseries today. One who is 83 years old now & one who is forced to pull a rickshaw on the streets of Jharkhand state of India.

Yes, here is Somar Sundi aged 83 years, who is deprived of a freedom fighter's pension and deserted by the children from his first marriage & is pulling a rickshaw at this age just to survive. Sundi who is a resident of Hazaribagh district, took to pulling rickshaws after suffering huge losses in the vegetable business two years ago.

Sundi had sustained two bullet wounds on the shoulder in a police firing during the Quit India movement. 'I fought for freedom along with Jayaprakash Narayan,' he said.

'Those who are in power have forgotten the freedom fighters and the importance of independence.'

The emaciated Sundi does not get any pension, as he has no records to prove that he was a freedom fighter, though his neighbors vouch for it.

Sometimes he has to cut down on food to pay the house rent.

Sundi said the children from his second marriage were too young to earn a living. 'There is no one who can help us. At present I have no option but to pull a rickshaw for survival,' he said.

He wishes things could change once again. 'We need to launch a second movement to end corruption and poverty to fulfil the desire of Mahatma Gandhi.'

Jaswa Devi, his second wife, is also bitter: 'The person who gave his youth to the country's independence is struggling to eke out a living. This reflects the plight of the country.'

It's high time Indian Government takes care of this old man who devoted so many years for India's freedom from British Raj.

India not Shining

"India Shining", "Indian economy rising at 9-10% per annum", "India has maximum number of Dollar Billionaires in Asia",

"India nowadays has maximum per capita income since India became independent in 1947". All these phrases paint a rosy picture of India which is emerging as a great economy but here are the hard facts about India.

The number of people below the poverty line may have come down, but 79% of unorganized workers, 88% of SC/STs, 80% of the OBC population and 84% of Muslims belong to the "poor and vulnerable group". Around 836 million people in India that is seventy-seven percent of Indians live on less than half a dollar a day in one of the world's hottest economies, a government report said.

The state-run National Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganized Sector (NCEUS) said most of those living on below 20 rupees (50 US cents) per day were from the informal labor sector with no job or social security, living in abject poverty.

"For most of them, conditions of work are utterly deplorable and livelihood options extremely few," said the report, entitled "Conditions of Work and Promotion of Livelihoods in the Unorganized Sector" as per the report.

"Such a sordid picture co-exists uneasily with a shining India that has successfully confronted the challenge of globalization powered by economic competition both within the country and across the world."

Around 26% of India's population lives below the poverty line, which is defined as 12 rupees per day, said officials.

Economic liberalization since the early 1990s has created a 300 million-strong middle class and led to an average annual economic growth of 8.6% over the last four years, but millions of the country's poor remain untouched by the boom.

According to the report, based on data from 2004-2005, 92% of India's total workforce of 457 million were employed as agricultural laborers and farmers, or in jobs such as working in quarries, brick kilns or as street vendors.

The report said the majority of those working and living under "miserable conditions" were lower castes, tribal people and Muslims and the most disadvantaged of these were women, migrant workers and children.

So on this 15th August though India celebrates it's 60th Independence day but here is the hard fact that in India of today rich are getting richer while poor are getting poorer.

Prince Harry & Chelsy go wild on safari

The young royal's Tarzan act was clearly aimed at getting back into Chelsy's good books after being snapped snogging Canadian bargirls last month.

And as the couple enjoyed their romantic sunset caper through the secluded Botswana beauty spot it looked like his plan was working. Safari, so goody!

Just 30 minutes earlier Chelsy, 21, had flown in to join Harry on his three-week break enjoying the Dark Continent's wildlife.

For their first expedition the fun-loving prince whisked her off for a sundowner at the Old Bridge Backpackers bar outside the city of Maun, overlooking a hippo pool.

Another guest at the water hole told us: "Harry and Chelsy seemed really happy to be together.

"They were larking about, swigging beer and smoking cigarettes— and looked just like any other young carefreee couple off travelling the world. At one point Harry picked up Chelsy on his back and headed off round the site.

"Then they had a few drinks with their friends in the shade of the trees and Chelsy enjoyed another cuddle—with a little beagle puppy!"

It was the first time the young lovers had seen each other since Chelsy attended the Concert for Diana at Wembley four weeks ago.

Friends say they have been trying to rebuild their troubled relationship since we revealed that 22-year-old Harry had been out on sexy off-duty manoeuvres — cuddling up to a busty brunette AND a cheeky blonde.

A royal source told us: "Harry has just wanted to stay out of the limelight so leaving Britain was the only feasible way.

"And no one recognises him in Africa. He puts his cap and sunglasses on and doesn't get any bother. He and Chelsy have been to Botswana three times before. It brings back happy memories for both of them.

"And Harry is in a grovelling mode at the moment.

"He knows he made a poor judgement call being pictured with those girls in Canada and wants to make it up to Chelsy.

"He sees this holiday as the perfect way of really getting back on her right side again."

After the couple enjoyed an overnight stay in Maun, Harry's ten-strong party headed off on a seven-day, 500-mile powerboat cruise across the Okavango Delta.

Second Lieutenant Wales, whose Blues and Royals colleagues are currently serving in Iraq, arrived in Botswana two weeks ago accompanied by three police protection officers.

The safari-mad prince was driven away from Maun airport in a 4x4 vehicle to a private estate owned by Tania Jenkins, boss of AfriScreen Films who helped produce the BBC's award-winning documentary Planet Earth.

In an interview with an American broadcaster Harry recently spoke of his deep love for Africa and revealed that if he hadn't been a royal he would have become a safari guide.
And under the guidance of producer Jenkins, Harry showed he really meant it.

For a week he was up at 4am each day and on the road for a 15-minute drive to an isolated airstrip.

Then he was flown out to learn how the hi-tech company track spectacular wildlife and game for their films.

On one trip he flew into a delta area to see lions and hyenas at first hand. An inside source revealed: "Harry's been very keen to pick up tips on how the company works.

"He's a very hands-on type of guy and likes to get stuck in. He's not an academic but this is really his thing—it's what he likes to do."

That, and horsing about with girlfriend Chelsy, of course...

Sanjay Dutt gets 6 years jail, leniency plea rejected

Rejecting his plea for leniency, actor Sanjay Dutt was on Tuesday given a six-year jail term in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case by a special court in Mumbai that said some of his acts were "eminently dangerous" and showed a "high element of criminality."

Bringing the curtains down on the 13-year-long trial, Judge P D Kode of the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act court cancelled Dutt's bail and ordered police to take him into custody.

Dutt was also fined Rs 25,000.

"Sir, I made a mistake 14 years ago. Please give me some time to surrender," a visibly shocked Dutt pleaded in court with folded hands after his hopes of being set free under the Probation of Offenders Act were dashed.

Kode, who has awarded death to 12 convicts and life imprisonment to 20, posted Dutt's plea for hearing later in the afternoon, but rejected it.

Dutt had earlier spent 16 months in jail in two spells following his arrest in 1993.

Dutt's friend Rusi Mulla was given relief under the POA, raising the hopes of Dutt and his fellow convicts Kersi Adjania and Yusuf Nulwalla that they would get a similar benefit. But Kode sentenced Adjania to two years' rigorous imprisonment and gave a five-year term to Nalwalla before pronouncing the sentence for Dutt.

Dutt, who turned 48 on Sunday, was convicted in November 2006 for the illegal possession of a 9mm pistol and an AK-56 rifle, but acquitted of more serious charges under the now defunct anti-terror TADA law.

Dismissing the defence's argument that the weapons were acquired by Dutt for self-defence, Kode termed it an "eminently dangerous act" as the weapons possessed by him were capable of mass destruction though he had not used them.

The court observed that Dutt had not merely committed a criminal act, but also told three others to commit criminal acts on his behalf.

After a court clerk read out the sentence in the case that saw Bollywood personalities launching a campaign seeking clemency for the actor, Dutt was seen chatting with fellow convicts and friends Nulwalla and Adajania.

Commenting on affidavits filed by public personalities like thespian Dilip Kumar in support of Dutt, Kode said these are of "no use" if there was evidence that the actor had indulged in a criminal act.

Kode said Dutt's acquisition of the weapons could not be termed "noble" as it was contrary to the law and indicated scant respect for the law.

"I must say for every citizen, laws of the nation shall be respected. If you don't, I don't expect you to be called a moral person," he said.

Kode said the accused's character is very important while considering if he deserved relief under the POA. He pointed out that apart from possessing weapons, Dutt was a close acquaintance of Anees Ibrahim and had attended a party hosted by underworld don Dawood Ibrahim in Dubai.

The judge also said Dutt drew another person to commit a crime, which showed a "high element of criminality."

Kode, however, remarked the crimes committed by Dutt and his friends Adajania and Nulwalla were not "anti-social, ghastly, inhuman, immoral or pre-planned" and did not cause any harm to the general public.

Dutt had maintained that he acquired the weapons to "protect" his family in the aftermath of sectarian violence that erupted in Mumbai following the demolition of the Babri mosque in late 1992.

When Dutt's counsel Satish Maneshinde tried to point out that his client's conduct had been excellent, Kode asked Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam for his opinion.

Nikam said: "I appreciate his conduct but there is a legal restraint that a person sentenced to more than three years in prison cannot be granted an extension of bail."

On his way out of the court, Dutt shook hands with Nikam and said, "Thank you, sir."

The 12 blasts that rocked Mumbai on March 12, 1993, claimed 257 lives and injured over 700. They also destroyed property worth crores of rupees.

Dutt will be sent to Arthur Road jail premises in central Mumbai.

Kode does not have the power to grant Dutt bail under the Criminal Procedure Code. Dutt's bail will stand cancelled, lawyer Majid Menon said.

Dutt's lawyers said they would appeal against the judgment in the Supreme Court on Tuesday afternoon.

The judge said Dutt had committed a series of offences and that he was mature when he committed these offences. Dutt was almost in tears when the judge pronounced the verdict.

He asked if he could call his daughter Trishala, who lives in New York.

The judge asked Dutt "Where is she?"

"In New York," replied Dutt.

"Be patient," the judge told Dutt.

"Can you grant me bail?" Dutt then asked the judge. "If it was a lesser crime I could, but in this case I don't have the power to do so," the judge said.

Dutt then requested the judge not to have the police surround him and take him away to jail. The judge then said, "Ok, we will give you time till post-lunch."

Sanjay Dutt and Yusuf Nulwalla are to be kept in separate cells in the Arthur Road jail till August 2.

Dutt spent 16 months in prison as an undertrial in the 1993 blasts case.

Indian Quacks / Baba

In India Quacks ( fake doctors ) can be seen in any city but here is one who has weird ways of treating his patients. He operates his patients with sword and needle.

In this case a patient suffering from appendicitis chooses to go to a 'surgeon' who is actually a baba / quack.

And believe it or not, this surgeon uses swords to operate upon people, patches them up with adhesive bandages and then gives them blood as medicine and his temporary operation theatre - a temple in Bihar's Vaishali district.

"I have operated with sword and needle. People believe me and that's what matters," says the 'doctor' who goes by the name of Shankar Baba.

Those who undergo surgery are later made to drink the baba's blood to recover fast. The man claims to possess a cure for diseases other than appendicitis too.

His treatment methods include jumping on the stomach and neck of patients, who could be as young as six years old and he charges his patients anything between Indian Rs 51(US$ 1.25) and Rs 500( US$ 12.5) depending on the 'treatment'.

'Madam President' takes charge

Pratibha Patil has taken charge as India's 13th President.

She was administered the oath of office by Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan at a function in the Central Hall of Parliament House on July 25.

The function was attended by a host of VVIPs, including outgoing President A P J Abdul Kalam, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman K Rahman Khan, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Union ministers, former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Opposition leaders, governors, chief ministers and members of the diplomatic corps.

A 21-gun salute was accorded to Patil after she was sworn-in as the country's 13th President. She solemnly affirmed by the oath, which she took in English. The new President, dressed in an off-white saree with a broad green border, savoured every moment of her reception as she smiled and cheerfully waved at the battery of lensmen gathered to catch on camera the historic moment.

Pratibha had, on July 21, won the presidential election by a huge 3 lakh margin defeating National Democratic Alliance-backed independent candidate Bhairon Singh Shekhawat to become the first woman head of State in a bitterly-contested poll that saw some cross-voting from the Bharatiya Janata Party.

For reasons guided by astrological auspiciousness, it was for the first time that a President was sworn in the afternoon. All the eleven predecessors of Patil took oath in the afternoon.

Patil's address, first in English and then in Hindi, had several quotes from illustrious Indians like Marathi poet Sant Tukaram and Nobel Laureate Rabindra Nath Tagore. She described herself as the Republic's first servant and said her sincere endeavour will be to live up to the high expectations of the people who chose to elect her as President.

Meanwhile, her predecessor, President A P J Abdul Kalam, has no regrets in his five years as President.

In an interview to India Today magazine, Kalam answered critics over the delay in deciding on the mercy plea of Mohammed Afzal Guru, facing a death sentence for his role in the terror attack on Parliament, contending that he had not received any papers from the government.

The 'people's President' was non-committal on whether he would accept the Prime Minister's post if, at some point, there was a need for a consensus candidate. 'This is a juicy question for you. But it looks hypothetical to me. My plate is already full...,' he said, referring to his decision to teach in five institutions.

Rs.15.5 Lakhs for a VIP Mobile number

If India's economic liberalization is fruitful or not, here is an interesting story which shall make you believe that post economic liberalization Indians are indeed becoming rich. Take the case of this 26-year-old Amit Malhotra from Ludhiana city in Punjab state of India, son of a city garment manufacturer and property dealer, who spent a whopping Rs 15.50 lakhs (US$ 38,500) for the big-ticket mobile number 9780000000. It was just for a status symbol -- owning a VIP cell phone number like that!!!!

His father, Vijay Malhotra, was quoted as saying that this isn't something new for his son, and that he has always chosen VIP numbers as belongings. Just that this time round, he's blown up a huge amount of money on it...

All said, while a part of India that is seen as rich and fat might pride itself on this kind of obscenely ostentatious spending, what about the phone company -- in this case Hutch -- which actually conducted an auction of the VIP cell phone numbers?

Amit, who had previously applied for such a number; went through a phone auction that lasted from Tuesday morning through Wednesday evening, and haggled alongside 4 other eager customers to eventually seal the big win.

13 Indians among top Asian businessmen in US

"Honesty and hard work are the ingredients for success. Not in my dreams could I have achieved one-hundredth of what this land has given to me," said Darshan Singh Bagga, one of 13 Indian Americans to win the 'Outstanding 50 Asian Americans in Business' award from the Asian American Business Development Center.

Elaine Chao, US Secretary of Labor, presented the awards at a ceremony attended by 800 people at The Waldorf Astoria in New York, recently.

The 13 Indian Americans to win the 'Outstanding 50 Asian Americans in Business' award include Darshan Singh Bagga, Ram Tirumala, Ravilochan Pola, Gunjan Sinha, C N Madhusudan, Umesh Vaidyamath, Sandeep Gupta, Sanjeev Narula, Ashish Kalra, Virendra Patel, Al Limaye, Vivek Shah, and Sanjay Bose.

Hailed as the Asian American business community's most distinguished award programme, the Outstanding 50 is the largest, all-encompassing Asian American business award program in the nation.

It honours individuals with outstanding leadership, vision and accomplishment who have built a successful business or who have distinguished themselves within their community.
In addition to the Outstanding 50 award, the Pinnacle Award recognises an individual who has reached the top of his professional field.

The 2007 Pinnacle Award recipient is Nusrat Durrani, senior vice president and general manager, MTV World, a division of MTV created to launch new MTV-branded channels that serve emerging audiences in the United States.

A real estate tycoon in Long Island, New York, Bagga noted: "This land is the land of immigrants. With hard work, imagination and honesty you can go up."
He came to the United States 37 years ago as a nuclear safety engineer. He was a class one officer in India, when he found a few disturbing truths.

As an officer, he could become a lakhpati (a man with Rs 100,000) when he retires. "I thought, Why should I wait for that till I retire? I could make more than that in five, six years in America."

When he arrived in the US, he had $70 on him. He worked as an engineer for a few years before he started Darshan Singh Bagga, LLC, a real-estate investment and development company, in 1981.

He has taken on several development projects, including Bagga Tower, in which he built a nine-story apartment complex above an existing one-story shopping center while it was still in operation.

He is the pioneer sponsor of the NYC law for tax abatements (1997) for an extension above an existing building and he was the first person to receive such a tax abatement.
In May 2002, he took on another challenging project, the 100,000 square foot Bagga Plaza. The property had been abandoned for three years and is now one of the most lively shopping centers in Nassau County.

He is also the chair of a committee responsible for planning and developing the Long Island 9/11 Memorial at the State University of Farmingdale. The project, estimated to cost $7 million, will depend on money raised from the public.

He has received awards like the Hind Ratan (from the then Indian prime minister H D Deve Gowda), the Punjab Ratan, and others.

He credits his wife Lovlin Kaur for his success. They have two sons, Dr Simran Singh and Harpreet Singh, and a daughter, Heer Kaur, who is married to Amit Singh.
Another award winner, Sandeep Gupta, works at Deloitte & Touche in New York, and has over 14 years of experience serving the financial services industry.

He serves domestic and global clients and specialises in performing reviews of risk management, trading, and regulatory and operations areas.

Prior to his move to New York, he worked at Deloitte's offices in Toronto, Canada, and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates and at an accounting firm in Mumbai.

He serves as the president of the Metro New York chapter of the National Asian American Society of Accountants, a chapter with nearly 500 members. Gupta is a CPA and a management accountant in the United Kingdom and a chartered accountant in India.

Miss Shilpa Shetty becomes Dr. Shilpa Shetty

Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty was today awarded an honorary doctorate by the Leeds Metropolitan University for the "dignity and poise" that she showed during the Celebrity Big Brother racism row.

"In Shilpa Shetty you are graduating with someone who rose to that challenge with great dignity and poise, making a difference," Vice Chancellor of the University Professor Simon Lee said during the convocation ceremony.

"There are some parallels between the challenges faced in any house and student life. Someone at some time will behave badly, not necessarily to you but to others or the wider community, to someone or some group who cannot defend themselves," he added.

Shilpa, who won the Celebrity Big Brother reality television show, collected the award amidst 4,000 students present at the ceremony.

After receiving the honorary degree, Shilpa said: "If you see anyone suffering indignity stand up for them," adding, "I have won some awards, at the cost of sounding immodest, I have never seen my mother beam so much as she is today."

This is not the first time that the university presented an honorary doctorate to a Bollywood actor. Earlier, the university had presented a degree to legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan.

The university is closely associated with the International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA). (ANI)

Taj on the Thames

Just as the Taj Mahal was absorbed into the list of the new Seven Wonders of the World, it will very soon see itself afloat on the Thames.As part of a genuine effort to push Indo-UK ties, the mayoral office is all set to launch an ‘India Now' season in London.

And as a precursor to the festivities, the 17th of this month will see the Taj floating on the Thames- a replica, of course.Sculpted by well-known Bollywood art director Bijon Das Gupta, the Taj is currently being worked on in mild steel primed frames clad in birch ply for the enduring purpose.

Interestingly, the base of the edifice will be painted by our own Suchi Chidambaram, the Chennai-born UK bred artist.The base, that will be separate from the main Taj Mahal, will exemplify London and the Indian cities of Mumbai and Delhi on either side.An expressionistic artist, Suchi is acclaimed for her works on views of cities.

Not painted in situ, but from her distinctive memory of these places, her saga on the Taj is bound to attract attention, with Thames playing on the reflection.

“In my paintings for this project, I wish to highlight the special bond between these two great countries through impressionistic stokes of vibrant colour, each to signify the constant inspiration and support that they have been for each other. In turn, their reflection in the water will remain a constant reminder of their powerful similarities,” she said.

“These are both great cities with greater people. They may speak a different language and dress in a different fashion, but have the very same spirit and attitude,” she added.

Celebrating the cultural aspects of the country, the 'India Now' season will see a host of events spanning over three months, with Indian skipper Rahul Dravid, fashion designer Manish Arora and Londonborn Bollywood star Upen Patel being the ambassadors for the event.

“India is playing an important part in London. It is indeed a vibrant ethnic community. The contribution of Indians is important,” said Mark Prescott from the Mayor of London’s office.

“What we are trying to do is send a message that it is not only their money but also their culture that is welcome,” he added.