Call to end discrimination against men

Claiming men perform some of the riskiest jobs and that the government collects 82 per cent of its tax revenue from them, a men's organisation today demanded a ministry dedicated to the welfare and protection of their gender.

Aggrieved at what they say is discrimination against them, a group of men under the aegis of Save Family Foundation celebrated the International Men's Day today and wanted that a ministry be set up for their welfare and protection against verbal, emotional, economic, physical and sexual abuse at home and at work place.

The Foundation submitted a memorandum to this effect to President Pratibha Patil, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

"All laws meant for the protection of women in India are gender biased. It is high time that a ministry for men's welfare should be set up in India," Swaroop Sarkar, coordinator of the Foundation, said.

"As per data of Crime Bureau of India more than 72,000 men commit suicide every year. Suicides by married men are higher than those by married women. Indian men have no legal protection," Sarkar added.

Interestingly, the foundation claims that increasing number of men are losing employment and more women are entering the job market, defying their "traditional" role within the family and society.

"Nevertheless, society is refusing to free men of their traditional duties of protecting and providing for women, children and the aged," it said.

Source : PTI

Did you ever get such program notice in your company?

.
To: All Employees
From: The program of SPECIAL HIGH INTENSITY TRAINING (S.H.I.T.)
Date: TODAY
Re: S.H.I.T.

In order to assure the highest levels of quality work and productivity from employees, it will be our policy to keep all employees well trained through our program of SPECIAL HIGH INTENSITY TRAINING ( S.H.I.T.).

We are trying to give our employees more S.H.I.T . than anyone else. If you feel that you do not receive your share of S.H.I.T., please see your supervisor. You will be immediately placed at the top of the S.H.I.T. list, and our supervisors are especially skilled at seeing that you get all the S.H.I.T. you can handle.

Employees who don't take their S.H.I.T. Seriously will be placed in DEPARTMENTAL EMPLOYEE EVALUATION PROGRAMS ( D.E.E.P.S.H.I.T.).

Those who fail to take D.E.E.P.S.H.I.T. seriously will have to go to EMPLOYEE ATTITUDE TRAINING (E.A.T.S.H.I.T.).

Since our supervisors took S.H.I.T. before they were promoted, they don't have to take S.H.I.T. Anymore, and are all full of S.H.I.T. already. If you too are full of S.H.I.T., you may be interested in a job teaching others.

We can add your name to our BASIC UNDERSTANDING LIST of LEADERS (B.U.L.L.S.H.I.T.).

Thank you,

BOSS IN GENERAL, SPECIAL HIGH INTENSITY TRAINING
(B.I.G.S.H.I.T.)

Chak De India......

India - "Ist" Twenty20 World Champion

Heartly Congratulations for the young and energetic Indian Cricket Team for winning the inaugural Twenty20 cricket World Cup after a thrilling five-run victory over arch-rivals Pakistan in the final in Johannesburg on Monday 24 September, 2007.

And hats off to the new team India Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. There cannot be a better start as a Captain of Indian Cricket team. First assignment Twenty20 world cup as captain and winning the cup without seniors players in the team. No words... all praises to Dhoni and its team.... :-)

There can't be a better Twenty20 world cup, which saw the home side (South Africa) winning the very first match of the tournament by chasing more than 200 on the score board.

Bangladesh beating West Indies and Australia deafeated by Zimbabwe reminded us the World Cup (50 overs) held earlier in the year. Australia moved on to the next stage, but West Indies were not so lucky.

India vs. Pakistan - First Twenty20 encounter...
Heart beats of all Indians were increased when the match between India and Scotland was abandoned due to rain. And to reach to the next stage (Super 8), India had to beat its arch-rival Pakistan. Memories of early exit of Pakistan and India in the World Cup were re-surfaced.

It was a match, which will be remembered for years, not because India beat Pakistan in yet another world cup match but the way India won the match. It was first ever bowl-out match in the cricket history. India batting first could manage to score only a small total which Pakistan team was able to match with... yeah the match was a tie and according to new rule of Twenty20, five bowlers from each team will bowl one ball and whoever hits the stumps most will be declared winner.

Everyone seems tensed and was excited too as it was first time in history that such kind of thing was happening in Cricket. Dhoni's tactics of using only spinners (including non-regular bowlers like Robin Uthappa) paid of as the Pakistan bowlers could not hit the stump even once and from India, Harbhajan Singh, Virender Sehwag and Robin Uthappa was on target and the match was awarded to India. For records India has won the match :-)

Super 8
India lost first and last time in Twenty20 World Cup final and it was the only time when Indians were to chase the score and they failed to do that against New Zealand. To reach to the semi-finals, India had to win both of its matches against England and South Africa. And Indian Cricket team did it in style. The heroes of these wins were Yuvraj Singh and Rohit Sharma.

First, Yuvraj Singh played a knock of his life scoring 50 in 12 balls including 6 sixes of six balls of 19th over bowled by England seamer Stuart Broad. He also became the first to achieve this and his 50 runs are the fastest in Twenty20 game.

Rohit Sharma looked fantastic in all the matches he played. He grabbed the opportunity with both hands and looked great while batting. He was also awarded Man of the Match for his match winning 50 against South Africa.


Semifinal - India vs. Australia
A match which will be remembered for the aggression shown by Indian batsmen and bowlers particularly Sreesanth and Yuvraj Singh. Though Sreesanth was fined for being over aggressive after taking Mathew Hayden's wicket, India won this match in style by beating the World Champions.

Highlights of the match was stunning knock by Yuvraj Singh scoring 70 of 30 balls and great balling performance by R.P. Singh and Sreesanth. And hats off to the Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni whose patience paid of at the end. He used his bowlers so tactically that even World Champions had no answer to that.

Oh yes... the match was played in Durban but it felt like match is being played in India.. Indian flags moving all over and stadium was full Indian Fans. Even Ricky Ponting said that he was feeling like in India :-)

Final - The Last battle - India vs. Pakistan
In a match that saw fortunes fluctuate till the dying moments, the young Indian team scored 157 for 5 and then held its nerve to bowl out Pakistan for 152 with just 3 balls to spare. It was India's first World cup win since winning the Prudential World Cup in 1983. It was an incredible display by the Indians who relied on superb team work to not only maintain their all-win record against their bitter foes in World Cup matches but also complete a series of giant-killing acts in the blaze glory.

the big guns like Yuvraj Singh [Images] and Mahendra Singh Dhoni failed to click and it was Gautam Gambhir who slammed 54balls 75 and Rohit Sharma scoring an unbeaten 30 runs to help India putting a decent total on the score board.

The large flag-waving gathering of Indians at the Wanderers burst into celebration when Sreesanth caught the dangerous Misbah-ul Haq off Joginder Sharma to bring an end to Pakistan's challenge. The contest seemed to go out of India's hands in the 17th over when Misbah hitted Harbhajan Singh for 3 sixes, but Mahendra Singh Dhoni's band of young warriors roared back in great style to come out trumps and claim the winners' purse of US $49,000.

Irfan Pathan was named the Man of the Match. Pakistan s' Shahid Afridi was named Man of the Series.

Celebrations
Celebrations started soon after Sreesanth took the catch. News channel showing homes of our heroes where people have gathered to congratualte tha family. The atmosphere at the Wanderers was electified by the Indians, Team members taking a round of the ground, Indian flags all over, team members dancing to the music. It was such a pleasing moment.

It didn't end here. More celebration were awaiting team India at home in Mumbai...

Oblivious of the pouring rain, fans have lined the 30km route from the international airport in Sahar to the Wankhede Stadium, where the team was felicitated.

And in tribute to the dancing fans, the team members shrugged off their jet lag and the elements, climbed to the top of an open bus fronted by a photograph of a triumphant captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni [Images] and the words VIJAY RATH, and danced in response to the dancing fans.

Traffic on the route is at a standstill, and no one seems to mind -- the mood is one of total celebration, and the younger among the fans have begun running alongside the team bus, dancing and, whenever their heroes show signs of standing still, egging them on to dance again.

Yuvraj and Sreesanth [Images] have established themselves as the cheerleaders, dancing non-stop on the roof of the bus, and exhorting the fans lining the roads to applaud, to dance, to celebrate. The bus is travelling at a little over walking pace along Mumbai roads, trailing the contingent of fans running alongside, and the media in two buses following the team bus.

Cellphones are ubiquitous -- everyone holds his or her phone overhead, hoping to snag the perfect shot.

The cavalcade of 50-odd police motorcycles preceding the team bus has moved a good five kms ahead of the team bus, and as they pass, even they get a cheer.



And as expected, there was money pouring into the pockets of teams members. Rs. 80 Lakh for each team member, Rs.1 crore for Yuvraj Singh and a brand new Porsche for hitting six sixes and a Mercedez to R.P. Singh. There was prizes announced by state Govt. to the local heroes.

I hope India continue the winning spirit and a great luck to Dhoni for leading the Indian cricket team...

at last... Chak De India

Too good

One day Laloo was travelling by his car. He was going to a village for
campaigning . Suddenly a piglet came before the car. The driver could'nt
hit the brake at the right time and unfortunately the baby pig was killed
in the accident.

At the sight Laloo was deeply moved and felt very upset He called the
driver and said,"Jiska e suuar hai hum usko compensesan dena chahta hoon.
Usko dhundke lav ".

At his words the driver went to the nearest village and came back after
some time with a tilak on his forehead, garlands around his neck and lots
of money in his hands!!!

Laloo was surprised .. He asked ,"Hum tumko kaha tha ke uss aadmi ko laiye
, aur tum aise wapas aaye ho! baat kya hai?"

At this the driver replied " I told them about the incident . Hearing it
they were rejoiced , put tilak and garlands on me, then danced for some
time and gave this money."

Laloo then asked him "Aap unko eg-jectly kaa bole?"

The driver replied : "Main bola, mein Laloo Prasad ka driver hoon. Maine
suaar ke bachhe ko mar dala hai......... ."

I wanted to change the world

...
When I was a young man, I wanted to change the world.

I found it was difficult to change the world, so I tried to change my nation.

When I found I couldn't change the nation, I began to focus on my town. I couldn't change the town and as an older man, I tried to change my family.

Now, as an old man, I realize the only thing I can change is myself, and suddenly I realize that if long ago I had changed myself, I could have made an impact on my family. My family and I could have made an impact on our town. Their impact could have changed the nation and I could indeed have changed the world."

Author unknown..

Chak de India

After a bad day of Indian Cricket (nothing new), its time for our national sport Indian Hockey to cheer up the Indians....

In cricket crazy country, Indian Hockey is one of the neglected child but they are in the news and more so for good reasons :-)

They have won the Asia Cup final by beating Korea 7-2 and is the only team in the tournament which is unbeatable. Well, it is hard to believe but its true and the credit goes to the hard work done by the young and energetic team. It was nice to see the team work and the way they played in the tournament.

Let's hope that they continue this form and win the Olympic final also. This win will definitely helps in making the game more popular and more young people will join it.

We must provide infrastructure and other benefits for other sports and to players so that more and more people take them seriously.

For Indian Hockey team, the real heroes.... "CHAK DE... India"

Lords of Indian Cricket failed at Lords

Indian batting flopped once again in a crucial match. Lord of indian cricket "Trimurty" - Ganguly, Sachin and Dravid, could not contribute in the final crucial match.

It was pleasant to watch indian openers coming to bat after winning the toss. Yet it was disheartening to see Saurav Dada finding it difficult to play short balls (once again). And after riding on its luck, Dada played a short to slip fielder (seems like doing some catching practice).

After Dada's departure, all eyes were on the talented Gambhir and he fell for superb fielding. Responsibility to stablise Indian scoreboard was on Sachin and Rahul Dravid. But, Umpire Aleem Dar has a surprise for the Indian captain aka The Wall and for the batting Mastero. Rahul Dravid and Sachin both were given out caught behind when the ball didn't touch the bat. It was pity to see the faces of our two heroes and there was hardly anybody can do other than filling pity.

Anyways, there comes the hero of famous chase of 325 in Lords Yuvraj Singh and another hero of last match Robin Uthappa. But soon both of them fell for cheap shots, again doing simple catching practice to England fielders.

Dhoni tried to hold the fort at one end and he was the last one to fell. At the end Indian scorebroad reads 187-10 (47.3 overs).

Waiting for Indian bowlers to fire all cylinders to English batsmen and show them what they deserve or else.....

Oh.. yes there was some drama in the match again.. and that was bound to happen. It seems England players can't live without the controversies in the match.

Pastor's A.s.s

A pastor entered his donkey in a race and it won.

The pastor was so pleased with the donkey that he entered it in the race again, and it won again.

The local newspaper read:
'PASTOR'S A.S.S OUT FRONT'

The Bishop was so upset with this kind of publicity that he ordered the pastor not to enter the donkey in another race.

The next day, the local newspaper headline read:
'BISHOP SCRATCHES PASTOR'S A.S.S'

This was too much for the bishop so he ordered the pastor to get rid of the donkey.
The pastor decided to give it to a nun in a nearby convent.

The local paper, hearing of the news, posted the following headline the next day:
'NUN HAS BEST A.S.S IN TOWN'

The bishop fainted. He informed the nun that she would have to get rid of the donkey, so she sold it to a farmer for $10.

The next day the paper read:
'NUN SELLS HER A.S.S FOR $10'

As a last resort the bishop ordered the nun to buy back the donkey and lead it to the plains where it could run wild.

The next day the headlines read:
'NUN ANNOUNCES...HER A.S.S IS WILD AND FREE'

The bishop was buried the next day....

The moral of the story is...being concerned about public opinion can bring you much grief and misery ...and even shorten your life.

So be yourself and enjoy life.....

You'll be a lot happier and live longer

Men cry equality on women’s day

August 26 is Women’s Equality Day. And this time it will see men crying for equal rights on the streets.

Hundreds of “harassed” husbands, including IIT and IIM grads, engineers, doctors, lawyers and NRIs, will gather at Jantar Mantar on Sunday as part of the countrywide protest against dowry harassment and the more recent domestic violence laws. "We are all victims of these biased laws,” says Swarup Sarkar of Save Indian Family Foundation, the organiser.

Men argue that these laws have exposed them to harassment at the hands of their wives. “A woman simply has to utter ‘dowry harassment’ and everybody she names is promptly put behind bars without any evidence, investigation or witness,” says NS Das, a product of IIT Delhi and IIM-A, who is now fighting dowry charges.

"Guilty until proven innocent — that’s the gist of Section 498A of the IPC, the dowry harassment law," says another IITian Ved Prakash.

Terming the protest a "malicious propaganda", Ranjana Kumari, director of Centre for Social Research, says, "Section 498A is the only provision under the dowry law that allows a woman to save her life. Other sections come into force after the woman is killed."

Walk in the sky.... from your home

Many people like to just sit outside at night and gaze up into the heavens. Picking out the constellations or just wondering about what else is out there, it's something that most of us have done. Well now, thanks to an update to Google Earth, you don't even have to leave your room to check out the sky.

"Today, I'm excited to announce we are launching Sky in Google Earth," said Google Earth Product Manager, Lior Ron. "You can now explore the universe from the comfort of your chair. Zoom in to distant galaxies hundreds of millions of light years away, explore the constellations, see the planets in motion, witness a supernova explosion; it's like having a giant, virtual telescope at your command -- your own personal planetarium!"



A Sky button on the toolbar will enable you to switch from Earth to Sky mode where you can view 100 million stars and 200 million galaxies. If you begin your Google Earth session with the your current coordinates, you'll be able to see the sky just as it is right above you.

If you'd like to get a good idea of just what kinds of cool things you can find, there are plenty of of examples over at the Google Earth Gallery.

The Ant & The Grasshopper..

Ant & Grasshopper

The Ant works hard in the withering heat all summer building its house and laying up supplies for the winter.

The Grasshopper thinks the Ant is a fool and laughs, dances & plays the summer away.

Come winter, the Ant is warm and well fed. The Grasshopper has no food or shelter so he dies out in the cold.


Modern Version

The Ant works hard in the withering heat all summer building its house and laying up supplies for the winter.
The Grasshopper thinks the Ant's a fool and laughs & dances & plays the summer away.

Come winter, the shivering Grasshopper calls a press conference and demands to know why the Ant should be allowed to be warm and well fed while others are cold and starving.

NDTV, BBC, CNN show up to provide pictures of the shivering Grasshopper next to a video of the Ant in his comfortable home with a table filled with food.

The World is stunned by the sharp contrast. How can this be that this poor Grasshopper is allowed to suffer so?

Arundhati Roy stages a demonstration in front of the Ant's house.

Medha Patkar goes on a fast along with other Grasshoppers demanding that Grasshoppers be relocated to warmer climates during winter.

Amnesty International and Koffi Annan criticizes the Indian Government for not upholding the fundamental rights of the Grasshopper.

The Internet is flooded with online petitions seeking support to the Grasshopper (many promising Heaven and Everlasting Peace for prompt support as against the wrath of God for non-compliance) .

Opposition MPs stage a walkout. Left parties call for "Bharat Bandh" in West Bengal and Kerala demanding a Judicial Enquiry.

CPM in Kerala immediately passes a law preventing Ants from working hard in the heat so as to bring about equality of poverty among Ants and Grasshoppers.

Lalu Prasad allocates one free coach to Grasshoppers on all Indian Railway Trains, aptly named as the 'Grasshopper Rath'.

Finally, the Judicial Committee drafts the ' Prevention of Terrorism Against Grasshoppers Act' [POTAGA], with effect from the beginning of the winter.

Arjun Singh makes 'Special Reservation ' for Grasshoppers in Educational Institutions & in Government Services.

The Ant is fined for failing to comply with POTAGA and having nothing left to pay his retroactive taxes,it's home is confiscated by the Government and handed over to the Grasshopper in a ceremony covered by NDTV.

Arundhati Roy calls it 'A Triumph of Justice'.

Lalu calls it 'Socialistic Justice '.

CPM calls it the ' Revolutionary Resurgence of the Downtrodden '

Koffi Annan invites the Grasshopper to address the UN General Assembly


Many Years Later...

The Ant has since migrated to the US and set up a multi-billion dollar company in Silicon Valley …

100s of Grasshoppers still die of starvation despite reservation somewhere in India ...

As a result of loosing lot of hard working Ants and feeding the Grasshoppers, India is still a developing country…!!!

Dear Friend

"The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, nor the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when s/he discovers that someone else believes in her/him and is willing to trust her/him with friendship."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

People who love you, people who you love back, people who will always be there for you, through the good times and the bad, they make you happy when you are sad, they are angels that have yet to earn their wings, they are your dear friends.

Legal or Logical?

After having failed his exam in "Logistics and Organization", a student goes and confronts his lecturer about it.

Student: "Sir, do you really understand anything about the subject?"

Professor: "Surely I must. Otherwise I would not be a professor!"

Student: "Great, well then I would like to ask you a question. If you can give me the correct answer, I will accept my mark as is and go. If you however do not know the answer, I want you give me an "A" for the exam. "

Professor: "Okay, it's a deal. So what is the question?"

Student: "What is legal, but not logical, logical, but not legal, and neither logical, nor legal?"

Even after some long and hard consideration, the professor cannot give the student an answer, and therefore changes his exam mark into an "A", as agreed.

Afterwards, the professor calls on his best student and asks him the same question.
He immediately answers: "Sir, you are 63 years old and married to a 35 year old woman, which is legal, but not logical. Your wife has a 25 year old lover, which is logical, but not legal. The fact that you have given your wife's lover an "A", although he really should have failed, is neither legal, nor logical."

The Truth

At school, a boy is told by a classmate that most adults are hiding at least one dark secret, and that this makes it very easy to blackmail them by saying, I know the whole truth -- even when you don't know anything.

The boy decides to go home and try it out. As he is greeted by his mother at the front door he says, I know the whole truth. His mother quickly hands him $20 and says, Just don't tell your father.

Quite pleased, the boy waits for his father to get home from work, and greets him with, I know the whole truth. The father promptly hands him $40 and says, Please don't say a word to your mother.

Very pleased, the boy is on his way to school the next day, when he sees the mailman at his front door. The boy greets him by saying, I know the whole truth. The mailman drops the mail, opens his arms and says, Then come give your FATHER a big hug.

The Meaning of Peace

There was once a king who offered a prize to the artist who could paint the best picture of peace. Many artists tried.

The king looked at all the pictures, but there were only two that he really liked, and he had to choose between them.

One picture was of a calm lake. The lake was perfect mirror for the peaceful towering mountains all around it. Overhead was a blue sky with fluffy white clouds. All who saw this picture thought that it was a perfect picture of peace.

The second picture had mountains, too. But these were rugged and bare. Above was an angry sky from which rain fell, and in which lightening played. Down the side of the
mountain tumbled a foaming waterfall. This did not look peaceful at all.

But when the king looked, he saw behind the waterfall a tiny bush growing in a crack in the rock. In the bush mother bird had built her nest.... a perfect picture of peace.

Which of the pictures won the prize?

The king chose the second picture.

Do you know why?

"Because," explained the king, "peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. Peace means to be in the midst of all those things
and still be calm in your heart. That is the real meaning of peace."

iShare a.k.a Desi YouTube, is here....

Rediff.com, one of India's leading online portals, recently launched iShare a.k.a. Desi YouTube, which enables a user to share music, videos or exchange profiles along with other features.

With broadband becoming affordable and social networking taking off in India, iShare will provide users a context to connect and enjoy a more comprehensive multimedia entertainment experience on the Internet.

Rediff.com has also tied-up with Zee TV with a view to reach out to the TV audience and launched an initiative to enable the aspiring singers to showcase their talent and be a part of Zee's 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa' contest by uploading their videos and audio files on iShare.

The best thing is that this new platform comes with a utility tool, which can be installed on the PCs and upload multiple files from various sources like mobile phones, digicam, camcorders and mp3 players, ipods etc..

I tried my hands on it. Although looks cud be more appealing but its really fast and user friendly. What r u waiting for..? Here it goes..

Secret Of Success

Sir, " What is the secret of your success?" a reporter asked a bank
President.

"Two words."

"And, Sir, what are they?"

"Right decisions."

"And how do you make right decisions?"

"One word.'

"And, sir, What is that?"

"Experience. "

"And how do you get Experience?"

"Two words"

"And, Sir, what are they?"

"Wrong decisions ."

"Apne to apne hote hain" - Power of three deols

It was not a usual morning, there was heavy down pour and the water can be seen on the road. We postponed our day's work and planned to watch Apne in the Fame Adlabs, Malad.

We reached there on time and there was hardly anybody for the movies in morning shows (10 am), may be because of heavy rain. We were 10-15 inside the theatre for Apne, seems like we were watching some special screening :-)

Finally, the wait is over to watch Dharmendra along with Sunny and Bobby. Dharmendra's performance was so powerful that others around him look really small. Dharmendra's actually made his character live and never looked like he is acting (he was so natural).

Dharmendra is the central force of ‘Apne’. Without him the movie would lose its soul. It is both surprising and pleasing to see Dharmendra deliver a powerhouse performance

The movie starts slowly and the story started building up. APNE is rich in emotions and a number of sequences, especially those between Dharmendra and Sunny, are electrifying. Also, the boxing matches [Chris Anderson] are pulse-pounding and you clench your fists tightly due to the tension that's depicted on screen.

Having seen the film, it is clear why it is the best flick to cast Dharmendra and his two sons (Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol) together. The reason is its story and the three main characters in it. There is no doubt that the three Deols drew a lot from their personal lives into their performances in the film. That is why the emotions and the kinship show on the big screen, too.

APNE is a movie you can watch with your entire family including your eldest member of the family to the youngest one.

The only thing in which movie lacked behind is its Music and why did all the songs are sang by Himesh himself?

After a long time we got to watch a movie like this. Director, Anil Sharma, has done brilliant job as well.

How to Surf Anonymous?

Many times we arrive at a situation when we need to surf anonymous. Anonymous surfing hides our identity. It also helps in keeping Hackers away as it hides your actual IP Address.

So how can we actually surf anonymous. There are number of sites and softwares available which mask your IP with a fake one.

Softwares
Softwares generally sets your machine's IP address to fake one. So your actual IP is hidden while surfing the net. Problem with these softwares is that they limit you to one IP address and there is no possibility of chaning that IP address.

Proxies
Another way is to use the concept of proxies. In simple terms, Proxy is a middle man which takes a request from you send it to the target server, gets the response and send it back to you. So your IP address will not be visible to the world but of Proxy Server.

You may face problems like some scripting error or may be pages of few sites not coming up. But I guess this is acceptable as compare to the benefits given by Free Anonymous Surfing.

Following are the few sites, which provide anonymous surfing:

http://www.anonymization.org/
http://www.proxyindex.com/
http://www.anonymizer.com/
http://www.the-cloak.com/anonymous-surfing-home.html
http://proxify.com/

Rupee rise to affect IT firms' profitability: Nasscom

Software industry association Nasscom today said profitability of IT companies will be affected by the recent rupee appreciation and needs to be checked in time.
"Its is a case of too much too quick. An 8-9 per cent rise in the value of rupee is definitely a cause of concern. The impact will be felt on the bottomline of IT firms," Nasscom Chairman Kiran Karnik said here.

The topline, however, would continue to be strong since margins are still higher, he added.

The rupee has appreciated about 8 per cent against dollar this year.

Karnik said the industry is ready for small appreciation like 1-2 per cent in the rupee but the kind of increase witnessed in the last few months is certainly very harmful for small IT companies.

Asked if this would anyway affect the overall growth guidance, he said Nasscom is yet to release its growth guidance for 2007-08 and "we hope dollar would stabilise to a higher level in the near future."

(Source: PTI News)

Rains lash Karnataka, Maharashtra, toll rises to over 130

Torrential rains today lashed Karnataka and Maharashtra, throwing life out of gear while the situation improved in worst-hit Andhra Pradesh and Kerala even as the toll in these states mounted to over 130.

Mumbai and its neighbouring areas bore the brunt of the monsoon's fury, which claimed five lives since yesterday. The weather office said "heavy to very heavy" rains and gusty winds would continue to hit the metropolis. Several flights from Mumbai were delayed and rail traffic disrupted.

The monsoon continued to lash Karnataka, claiming six more lives and taking the toll in rain-related incidents in the state to 39.

A partially demolished building collapsed at Grant Road in south Mumbai last evening, killing two persons, while three persons died in two wall collapses today. In Nasik, two persons died after being struck by lightning while another died when a wall collapsed on him.

Sikh groups begin march for Dera chief's arrest

Ignoring an appeal by SGPC to defer their march, several Sikh organisations today took out a procession, demanding arrest of the Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, charged with hurting religious sentiments of the community.

The Sikhs under the aegis of Khalsa Action Committee began the march here from the historic Gurdwara Zafar Nama, Dina Sahib to Damdami Sahib in Bathinda's Talwandi Sabo as tight security arrangements were made along its route.

The procession would pass through Salabatpura which houses the largest Dera of Sacha Sauda in Punjab.

Earlier, the Shiromani Gurudwara Parbhandhak Committee chief Avtar Singh had appealed to the organisers to defer their proposed march till tomorrow. But the Khalsa Action Committee - comprising leaders of various Sikh religious groups - decided to go ahead with its programme.

Those leading the march, including Jasbir Singh Rode, Daljit Singh Bittu, co-convenor of the Committee and Bhai Mohkam Singh, spokesman of Damdami Taksal, have appealed to the participants to maintain peace and not to raise any kind of slogans.

The protestors were scheduled to pass through Kangar, Salabatpura, Bhai Roopa, Rampura Phul, Mandi Kalan and Ram Nagar before reaching Talwandi Sabo, a temporal seat of the Sikhs.

(Source: PTI News)

"Enough is enough": President Kalam

President A P J Abdul Kalam today said he decided against running for a second term as he did not want to be "party" to a political process and damage the name of Rashtrapati Bhavan.

"In five years time in Rashtrapati Bhavan we have all worked for transforming it into a people's bhavan. Rashtrapati Bhavan has become a people's bhavan today. I believe it should be an example for the nation. It should not get degenerated. That is why I said enough is enough," he said in an interaction with PTI journalists at its headquarters here.

(Source: PTI News)

Conditional warrant against Dera chief

A court in Bhatinda has issued a conditional arrest warrant against Dera Sacha Sauda leader Gurmeet Singh Ram Rahim for allegedly offending Sikh religious sentiments.

This means the Dera chief can be arrested, but only if the punjab government gives permission.

'We will act according to the procedures. All the procedures of arrest will be duly followed,' said Major Sardar Singh, lawyer, prosecution.

Meanwhile, the Dera sect has reportedly sent a fresh apology letter to the Akal Takht Sahib or the Sikh religious leadership.

Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal on Tuesday had welcomed Sikh Sangat leaders who marched from Fatehgarh to Chandigarh to highlight their demand.

Meanwhile, security at the Dera headquaters at Sirsa is reportedly being increased.

BCCI announces gradation list

The Board of Control for Cricket in India announced new gradation list of players for retainership on Saturday.

Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh and Irfan Pathan have been demoted to Grade B from Grade A whereas Mahendra S Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh promoted to Grade A from Grade B.

Can you donate this 1 Rupee?

This message was forwarded to me by a friend. An excellent response by a true Sardar:

"Hello friends!! Well, jayant , my friend, told me the following incident which I wish to share with you. It has had a deep impact on my thinking.

In the diwali vacation, Jayant and his couple of friends had gone to Delhi.
They rented a taxi for local sight-seeing. The driver was an old Sardar, and boys being boys, Jayant and his pals began cracking Sardarji jokes, just to insinuate the old man.
But to their surprise, the fellow remained unperturbed.

At the end of the sight-seeing, they paid up the hire-charges. The Sardar returned the change. Moreover, he gave each one of them one rupee extra and said, (in Hindi, of course),

"Son, since morning you have been telling Sardarji jokes. I listened to them all and let me tell you, some of them were in a very bad taste. Still, I don't mind coz I know that you are young blood and are yet to see the world. But I have just one request. Here I am giving you one rupee each. Give it to the first Sardar beggar that you come across in this city."

Jayant continued," That one rupee coin is still with me. I couldn't find a single Sardar begging on the streets of Delhi."

Friends, we all love sardar jokes. But the fact of matter is that Sikhs are one of the most prosperous and diversified communities in the world. The secret behind their universal success, according to me, is their willingness to do any job with utmost dedication. A Sardar will drive a truck or set up a roadside garage or a dhaba, but he will never beg on the streets.

Finally Monsoon reached Mumbai :-)

From last couple of months Mumbaikars are fighting with the heat with a hope of Monsoon reaching in time. But more worrying is the fact that like previous year, the construction works on road are still underway and looks far from completing.

Every year, Mumbaikar satisfy himself saying that next year it will be better. And just before the monsoon, a fine morning he finds people digging the road. There are people who have learnt to live with that but there are still true Mumbaikars who really worry for the city and want to make it Clean and Green Amchi Mumbai.

One question, every Mumbaikar wants to ask is why BMC or other authorities start reparing the roads just before the start of monsoon?

God was so kind in giving us a warning a week before the monsoon, but instead of completing the work, it is getting delayed.

God bless Mumbai and let's hope and pray that this time we don't face water logging problem.

Team India Does Not Need A Coach, Says New Manager Chandu Borde

India’s new cricket manager and former captain Chandu Borde feels the present team does not need a coach.

The 72-year-old Borde believes that India already has a bowling coach in Venkatesh Prasad and fielding coach in Robin Singh and that players like Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and also Mahendra Singh Dhoni don't require any coaching as such.

“We can have dialogue with them and discuss the strategy and that will help Indian cricket. I am quite confident that these youngsters and the experienced one will combine very well and my job will be to combine and motivate them," Borde was quoted as saying to Cricketnext.com.

Experts feels that BCCI has played the right stroke by appointing Borde, the former selection committee chairman, as the best stop-gap arrangement after Graham Ford refused to take up the Indian job.

Good Idea Sir, coaching is not going to help the players in anyways so why waste so much of money, by paying to coach and in the coach selection meetings.

And the money can be distributed between the players and the BCCI members.

If Manager thinks like this then God bless Indian Cricket

South African Graham Ford Wants To Reconsider Coaching India If The BCCI Invites Him Again

The Graham Ford tale has once again taken another U-turn. In a new twist, South African Ford on Wednesday disclosed that he might reconsider taking up the India coaching job if the BCCI decides to invite him again.

Reports indicated on Wednesday that Ford had not completely ruled out coaching India but did not want to take a decision in haste. So, then what he wants... making fun of BCCI who is already under fire because of his refusal to take up the job.

He said that the BCCI did not give him enough time to decide on the matter, and he had to take all aspects into consideration before taking on the job, zeecric.com reported. So, how much time he wants, hopefully not after the next world cup ;-)

Graham Ford was quick to point out that with two tough tours of India – Ireland and England coming up, he did not want to mar his reputation by just getting 15 preparatory days before the team’s departure. He can take 15 years, still you will not find any improvement if the BCCI continue working in same way.

Ford on his present stance, said that he was watching and waiting. He could also take a U-turn on the issue. He can also go to Ireland and England to watch Indian cricket live (did I say only as spectator)... ;-)

A tight slap to BCCI by Graham Ford

Former India cricketer Kirti Azad has termed the recent snubbing of India coaching job by South African Graham Ford as a slap on the Board of Control for Cricket India.

"The way the wiseacres went about the coach’s selection was bizarre to say the least. The Board did not do its homework on Ford. The working committee should have asked him to talk to his present employer (Kent) prior to making the announcement. The entire turn of events smacks of the BCCI’s incompetence," Azad was quoted as saying to cricketnext.com.

Azad said BCCI has always been a laughing stock in world cricket.

Meanwhile, former India coach Madan Lal said that BCCI erred in not nominating more candidates for the position.

“Dav Whatmore could have been called for a presentation along with five other candidates. We would have had more options," Lal added.

Although Ford's separation from his employers Kent was thought to be a mere formality by the BCCI it found out that it wasn’t to be after board’s secretary Niranjan Shah said: "It has been cleared. Ford wants to speak to Kent and he will inform us in the next 24 hours."

Ex-opener Chetan Chauhan said the BCCI had "made a mistake" as they should have confirmed Ford's availability before inviting him for the interview.

Former India captain and coach Ajit Wadekar blamed the Board for the embarrassing situation.
"I think we have made ourselves a laughing stock. Without getting to know his availability, what he has in mind, or whether he wanted to accept it or not. We should have checked all that," said Wadekar.

"We should have checked it up before we took the decision. We should have given him time before announcing his appointment immediately. We should have given him a couple of days to think it over. I think that's how generally we do it," he said.

And if BCCI knew that after Ford’s selection, he needs to speak with Kent and has given 24 hours time then why the announcement has been done in such a hurry.

World’s richest Cricket Body is working in a very unprofessional way.

Working committee to meet on Tuesday
With Kent-based South African Graham Ford declining to take up India coaching job, the BCCI has found itself in a big dilemma.

Stunned by Ford’s disclosure on turning down the offer to coach India on Kent’s website on Monday, the BCCI's Working Committee now meets in New Delhi on Tuesday to discuss the Ford fiasco.

It now seems that BCCI will have to start the process of selecting a new coach all over again.
At a press conference, the BCCI treasurer, Mr Srinivasan while reacting to Ford’s refusal, said: "Mr Ford had informed the BCCI's Working Committee that it was only a matter of informing us as to when he would be able to join. Therefore the Board announced that they had selected him."

Graham Ford refused to take up the challenge of coaching Team India

Earlier, the Indian cricket board on Monday received a major set back after South African Graham Ford declined to coach the Indian team just two days after he was appointed to take up the job.
Although Ford had gone back to Kent to seek permission from the county where he is the director of cricketer, his last minute stance to decline the offer has certainly taken the BCCI by a big surprise.

Ford's current employers Kent County Cricket Cricket Club wrote on their official website that their Director of Cricket had rejected the offer to take up the toughest job in world cricket.
"I am very grateful to the Club for allowing me to go to India to find out more about the job of coaching the Indian Team. I have had a chance to reflect on the offer made by the BCCI and their urgency to fill the vacant position," Ford stated in a letter to Kent.

"After careful consideration, I have decided to continue my work here at Kent. This has been a really difficult decision. I am honoured that India have shown such interest in my capabilities, but feel that this is the right decision for me and my family," Ford added, wishing to continue working with the English county side.

Graham Johnson, Kent’s Chairman of Cricket was happy to have retained Ford's services.
"This is really great news for Kent cricket. We are delighted Graham has decided to stay with us. I would like to say how much we appreciate the way Graham has handled the last few days," Johnson said.

When the BCCI decided to name a new coach there were just two candidates for the post with South Africa Ford and former England off-spinner John Emburey being the incumbents.

Brainstorming Process

Brainstorming with a group of people is a powerful technique. Brainstorming creates new ideas, solves problems, motivates and develops teams. Brainstorming motivates because it involves members of a team in bigger management issues, and it gets a team working together. However, brainstorming is not simply a random activity. Brainstorming needs to be structured and it follows brainstorming rules. The brainstorming process is described below, for which you will need a flip-chart or alternative. This is crucial as Brainstorming needs to involve the team, which means that everyone must be able to see what's happening. Brainstorming places a significant burden on the facilitator to manage the process, people's involvement and sensitivities, and then to manage the follow up actions. Use Brainstorming well and you will see excellent results in improving the organization, performance, and developing the team.


Note: Advanced 'Kaleidoscope Brainstorming' technique is discussed in the later part of this document.


Brainstorming Process

Following are the conventional brainstorming process principles:

* Define and agree the objective.
* Brainstorm ideas and suggestions having agreed a time limit.
* Categorise/condense/combine/refine.
* Assess/analyse effects or results.
* Prioritise options/rank list as appropriate.
* Agree action and timescale.
* Control and monitor follow-up.


Following will explain the above processes in detail:


Plan and agree the brainstorming aim

Ensure everyone participating in the brainstorm session understands and agrees the aim of the session (eg, to formulate a new job description for a customer services clerk; to formulate a series of new promotional activities for the next trading year; to suggest ways of improving cooperation between the sales and service departments; to identify costs saving opportunities that will not reduce performance or morale, etc). Keep the brainstorming objective simple. Allocate a time limit. This will enable you to keep the random brainstorming activity under control and on track.

Manage the actual brainstorming activity

Brainstorming enables people to suggest ideas at random. Job of facilitator is to encourage everyone to participate, to dismiss nothing, and to prevent others from pouring scorn on the wilder suggestions (some of the best ideas are initially the daftest ones - added to which people won't participate if their suggestions are criticised). During the random collection of ideas the facilitator must record every suggestion on the flip-chart. Sticky tape can be used to hang the sheets around the walls. At the end of the time limit or when ideas have been exhausted, use different coloured pens to categorise, group, connect and link the random ideas.

Condense and refine the ideas by making new headings or lists. Facilitator can diplomatically combine or include the weaker ideas within other themes to avoid dismissing or rejecting contributions (remember brainstorming is about team building and motivation too - you don't want it to have the reverse effect on some people). With the group, assess, evaluate and analyse the effects and validity of the ideas or the list. Develop and prioritise the ideas into a more finished list or set of actions or options.


Implement the actions agreed from the brainstorming

Agree what the next actions will be. Agree a timescale, who's responsible. After the session circulate notes, monitor and give feedback. It's crucial to develop a clear and positive outcome, so that people feel their effort and contribution was worthwhile. When people see that their efforts have resulted in action and change, they will be motivated and keen to help again.

Below are various tools and models which can be used within the brainstorming process, to build and create a context for brainstorming, and a framework for brainstorming actions. When using any of these tools or models within the brainstorming process, select models appropriate to the group, and the desired development and outcomes for the brainstorming session:

SWOT analysis - for assessing the strength of a company, department, proposition or idea.

PEST analysis - for measuring the attractiveness and potential of a market.

The McKinsey Seven-S's - criteria for a successful company.

Adizes corporate life-cycle model - phases of company development

Delegation model - successful task delegation and staff development through delegation

Tuckman's group development model - forming, storming, norming, performing

Kolb's learning styles - for training the trainers, coaching the coaches, and management development

Leadership attributes - for developing leadership among managers

Negotiation process - for sales and commercial staff and optimising on profitable outcomes and customer relationships

Cherie Carter-Scott's rules of life - behaviour and attitude development and soft skills development

The Four Agreements - behaviour and attitude development and soft skills development


Kaleidoscope Brainstorming Process

Kaleidoscope brainstorming process is advance brainstorming technique for problem-solving, team-building and creative process is also called 'Silent Brainstorming' - developed by Dr KRS Murthy of Nisvara Inc, and the contribution of this model is gratefully acknowledged. Dr Murthy also refers to the brainstorming technique as 'Multiple Mind Conferencing'. Kaleidoscope Brainstorming, Dr Murthy suggests, not only produces vastly more ideas than conventional brainstorming, but also acts at a deep level to build teams and harmonious work groups.

As with the basic brainstorming process the facilitator has a big responsibility to manage the activity, people's involvement and sensitivities, and then to manage the follow up actions. Use Brainstorming well and you will see excellent results in improving the organization, performance, and developing the team. It is useful to review the Johari Window concept and Johari model diagram while studying the Kaleidoscope Brainstorming technique, and when using the process. This is because much of the value of this concept lies in developing awareness of self, others, and what others think of themselves.


Kaleidoscope brainstorming technique

Have you attended any brain storming sessions in your life? The sessions are normally run by a facilitator, who introduces the purpose of the session to the participants, explains the ground rules and coordinates the process. A note taker or scribe may be used to document all the ideas generated in the session. Generally, the session is open to any ideas. Important guideline is that no idea is too simple, stupid or wild.

Kaleidoscope advance brainstorming techniques are applicable to any subject or situation, and any type of forum where people can work as a group, including internet-based conferencing and communications. This is a new approach to the brainstorming process, including different variations as to its use.
Dr Murthy regards 'Kaleidoscope Brainstorming' (KBS) or Multiple Mind Conferencing (MMC) as a "...Romantic interplay between silence and interaction.... a heavenly marriage of thesis and antithesis…"

The process makes efficient use of silence and communication, which are interleaved in the brainstorming session. The various degrees and modes of silence and communication effectively use as 'tools' in the Kaleidoscope brainstorming approach. Notably the power of silence is used to supplement the communications-oriented parts of the session.

The technique may seem 'anti-thematic' at the first glance. However, the intention is to make the brainstorming process more 'holistic', by exploiting the different modes and degrees of silence, absence of communication and a variety of communication and interaction.


1. Initial ideas generation brainstorming session

The session should start with a facilitator detailing the process steps used for the particular session. The session is conducted in a normal fashion with the participants speaking out their ideas in a round robin or random fashion for an agreed period. The facilitator can use any normal brainstorming format for this session. It is a good idea to use a format that is comfortable for the facilitator and the participants.


2. Silent brainstorming session

The silent brainstorming session stage requires all team members or participants to stop talking, and to think of ideas, but not speak out. The facilitator can ring a bell or use another method to indicate the start and end of this part of the exercise. Ideas are to written down by each brainstorming participant. In addition, the participants must guess the ideas that others may be thinking and writing down. Ideally participants should guess the ideas of the other participants for each person, one after the other. For example, if the participants are A, B, C, D, E, F and G, then A would not only write his or her ideas, but also afterwards guess what B, C, D, E, F, and G may have as their ideas. Participants should do this using deep thinking, and base their guesses on the manner that other participants answered during the first speaking part of the session. Participants should be encouraged to think how each of the other participants' minds are working - to empathise, to 'put themselves in the other person's shoes' - as a method of guessing as intuitively and accurately as possible. 'Think how the other person will be thinking' is the sort of guidance that the facilitator can give.

At this stage what's happening is that each participant is coming up with ideas from their own perspective of how each of the other participants is thinking. All participants work on this stage of the session at the same time. You can imagine the multiplicity of ideas and perspectives that this stage produces.

Each participant should logically end up with a list of ideas alongside, or below, the names of each participant, including themselves. After a reasonable period, when it is clear that participants have completed their lists, the facilitator can ring the bell again, indicating the end of the silent brainstorming stage.


3. Presentation of brainstorming ideas session

In this session, each of the delegates reads out or shows their own ideas and also their best guesses of the ideas for others. The presentation made by A would look like the following:

Ideas generated by A
Guess of ideas of B
Guess of ideas of C
Guess of ideas of D
Guess of ideas of E
Guess of ideas of F
Guess of ideas of G

During A's presentation, others simply listen. In turn each delegate gives a similar presentation. It is best if there is no discussion during the presentations. The facilitator should encourage delegates to make notes which people can raise later.


4. Discussion of brainstorming ideas session

The presentations are followed by a detailed discussion session. In this session, the participants may discuss why and how they guessed about others. Each participant can also comment on the guesses of the other participants, and validate or clarify. The highlights and conclusions resulting from discussion should be noted by the facilitator or an appointed 'scribe'. The individual participants can be encouraged also make their own notes, which might for example contain their mental models and appropriate revisions of the creative thinking process of others. In this sense the activity helps open hidden areas of awareness (self and others), which in turn promotes better understanding, relationships, communications, team-building and co-operation.


5. Further silent and speaking sessions - the kaleidoscope effect

Further sessions can repeat and extend the silent session so that participants increase the depth and complexity of their thinking still more. Specifically participants should now think about and guess how other delegates are thinking about the ideas of others. This again is done silently, together. Each delegate will be thinking in deeper levels about each of the other participant's thinking. These complexities of thinking result, for example:

A is thinking and noting down of any of his/her own new ideas
A is also (as in stage 4) thinking afresh about and noting down any thoughts as to what B, C, D, E, F and G are thinking.

And, A is now additionally thinking of what B is thinking of A, C, D, E, F and G, plus what C is thinking of A, B, D, E, F and G, and so on.

Obviously the exercise at this stage has expanded massively. From a simple individual brainstorming activity involving say seven people and seven sets of personal ideas (seven perspectives), the session has expanded to entail seven people each considering six other people's thoughts about the ideas of six other people's ideas (that's 242 perspectives!).

Clearly it is not reasonable to expect delegates to formulate 242 lists, so it is useful to place certain limits on people's activities, which can include for example:

* Allowing delegates to leave blanks against certain delegates names.
* Limiting the number of ideas required to be guessed for each delegate
* Stating a maximum number of perspectives
* Allocating responsibility to each delegate to think about certain named delegates
* And in any event giving a time limit for each stage of the activity

As with any team building or team working activity, the facilitator needs to be able to assess progress and to adapt, adjust and give clarifying or steadying guidelines during the activity to maintain the group's focus and effectiveness.

At the fifth stage, all participants will in their own way be thinking in a highly complex fashion. The participants mind are acting as mirrors creating multiple reflections of each other, rather like the few small objects inside a kaleidoscope creating wonderful arrays and patterns.

It is easy to imagine how using this process the number of ideas generated are many times more than when using normal brainstorming techniques.

Dr Murthy reports that typically after a number of Kaleidoscope Brainstorming sessions a group experience an 'asymptotic approximation of their thinking process'. (Asymptotic refers to the 'asymptotic' effect whereby two or more things increasingly converge as if to become joined and together, but never actually join or become one). He says this is enabled by successive convergence and cross-fertilization among a group or team of each members thinking process, thoughts and ideas. He adds interestingly that groups ultimately do not need to be talking to each other for their minds to be conferencing with each other. In fact, they can be as far geographically apart as they need to be for their routine life, but still efficiently conferencing and in tune with each other.

Dr Murthy adds: "The most important aspect is the discipline developed by the silent brainstorming paradigm. Regular teams or 'virtual' teams can be brought together to practice this technique. It is a good idea for the team members to branch out and form new groups with new members to extend the practice. It is also a good idea to have new members or visitors to the Kaleidoscope Brainstorming team inducted routinely. Diversity of backgrounds is the key to freshness of ideas. True diversity in gender, age, ethnic background, educational levels, race, and personality types will ensure Brainstorming teams and activities are kept as fertile as possible. It is like any ecological system. Stability of a Kaleidoscope Brainstorming team ecology is good, but as well, aberrations and perturbations can guarantee long-term growth."

Delhi High Court wants law to change with time and shed gender bias

Harish V. Nair (for Hindustan Times) - June 5, 2007

Should women be punished for adultery?

THE DELHI High Court has reopened the old debate on whether women should also be punished for adultery.

At present a married woman involved in an illicit relationship cannot be prosecuted by her husband for adultery since the law sees her as 'victim'. Her lover can, and is seen as the sole perpetrator of the crime. The maximum punishment for adultery is five years imprisonment.

While quashing a case of adultery for lack of evidence, Justice A.K. Sikri on Monday observed that society had changed a great deal since Lord Macaulay drafted his penal code for the country in 1837 - which became the basis of the Indian Penal Code. The strict segregation of the sexes at the time, including the purdah system, made voluntary adultery for women almost impossible.

It was the fourth report of the Law Commission that clearly said adultery was a crime committed only by men. Women were excluded because they were, "already living in humiliating and oppressive conditions within the family".

That women should also be charged in adultery cases was first recommended by the 42nd report of the Law Commission. The report of the Justice V.S. Malimath committee on criminal law reform in 2003
said the same.

Another view has been expressed by the National Commission for Women (NCW) and the Madhav Menon panel's draft National Policy on Criminal Justice. Both have said that adultery should not be treated as a crime at all, and Section 497 of the IPC, which relates to it, should be scrapped.

"We have yet to see how Parliament reacts to the recommendations and whether Section 497 is retained and offending women are also included thereby enlarging the scope of this section or the legislature goes to the other extreme by abrogating the section altogether," said Justice Sikri.

Justice Malimath told HT: "There is no reason for not meting out similar treatment to the wife who has sexual intercourse with anybody other than the husband."

But NCW Chairperson Girija Vyas was firmly against punishing women for adultery. "The woman is the victim all the time," she said. "During court cases, husbands often level false charges against wives. This is mostly seen when the question of granting maintenance to the wife arises following a divorce."

harish.nair@hindustantimes.com

Message from Akal Takht Sahib

All Sikhs to come and join the peaceful protest starting from Gurudwara Fategarh Sahib at 10am tommorrow i.e. 31st May, 07 and ending at Gurudwara Sri Jyoti Swarup Sahib, Fatehgarh. All Participants must recite “Satnam Waheguru” and no display of arms.

Meeting at Akal Takht Sahib on Dera Apology

The five high priests (Jathedars) of five Takhts, will meet later on Tuesday at Akal Takht Sahib, the highest sikh religious body, in Amritsar to consider the apology sent to them by the Dera Sacha Sauda.

The Dera sent a signed letter of apology to the highest Sikh religious body, the Akal Takht Sahib on Monday evening. The letter is signed by the Vice President of Dera Sacha Sauda.

Dera felt sorry to Guru Gobind Singh Ji

The criticism Dera faced on the apology row over imitating Guru Gobind Singh Ji has taken a new turn when Sect Chief released a press note late in the evening stating that, Sect Chief can not even dare to dream of levelling Guru Gobind Singh Ji. we have already expressed regrets upon the events But the incidents happened in Punjab and for the sake of peace in Punjab and in interest of public we feel sorry before Guru Gobind Singh Ji.

This is a press note for press to gain people support and convey the message that Sect is serious to solve the issue, but in actual its nothing more than playing with the words and public emotions.

This is not even addressed to Akaal Takhat Sahib, So the acceptance of the apology is doubtful.

As reported earlier, this was clear that Dera chief will not apologize directly to Sikhs or Akal Takhat Sahib because this will be seen as a loss to them.

Anyways, they are apologizing to Guru Gobind Singh ji and Guru ji is always kind. I think this should ease the tension and bring peace in Punjab.

Rest is wait and watch.

Zee News - Interview with Swami Agnivesh and Mohkam Singh of Damdami Taksal

Zee News - interview with Swami Agnivesh and Mohkam Singh from Damdami Taksal on Dera issue as the deadline of vacating the Deras, is ending in few hours.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycg3M2M610s
(Part 1 of 4)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzEHWcNTNHc
(Part 2 of 4)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moKk17lx8Hw
(Part 3 of 4)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVWtYsaaoWI
(Part 4 of 4)

Swami Agnivesh on Dera Issue

Swami Agnivesh in an interview with Zee News mentioned that they received a draft note (apology note) from the Dera and they have sent it back to Dera with some suggestion in the Draft. And he is still waiting for the final draft from the Dera which he will take to Akal Takht Sahib to ease the tension on the issue.

In his interview with various channels, Swami Agnivesh mentioned that Dera Chief is ready for the apology but he is caught in his own web and continued saying that Dr. Aditya and other followers are not allowing this to happen. There seems some politics on this issue within the Dera.

When Zee News reporter again tried to put political reason behind the issue, Swami Agnivesh replied that it is not a political issue, he continued saying that all the people in Punjab Sikhs or Hindus etc. belonging to any party are standing together on this issue hence no question of politics. And even he and other religious leaders feel the same and that Dera must apologise to Sikhs.

He was also surprised on Dera's part on entire issue. In an interview with Janmat reporter (two days back), where Dr. Aditya was also called upon, he asked Dr. Aditya about the delay in releasing the apology note.

Everyone seems to be tensed on the issue as deadline of 27 May, 07 to vacate all the Deras from Punjab, is ending in few hours.

Swami Agnivesh with other religious leaders to meet Akal Takht Jathedar after their meeting with Dera head

Swami Agnivesh was likely to meet the Jathedar yesterday following his talks with dera head Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh on 22nd May. However, he did not arrive in Amritsar yesterday. “We have been told that they wanted to come here. They are welcome, this house of the Almighty is open for all,” said Jathedar Vedanti.

He said options for talks should always remain open, apology from the dera head would “definitely ease prevailing tension” and might pave way for amicable religious solution.

Swami Agnivesh, who is a well-known social activist working for the inter-religious and inter-faith dialogues, had claimed a breakthrough in the stand-off after meeting the dera head.

Though he claimed that mutually acceptable solution would soon be worked out, instead of coming to the Holy City, the committee members left for Delhi.

Meanwhile, though peaceniks are making efforts to iron out differences, the Swami emerged as a major interlocutor. Though he has not disclosed whether the Dera chief had agreed to apologise, there was likelihood that he would bring some good tidings.

In a TV interview, Swami Agnivesh was looking positive. He had went to meet Dera head along with other religious leader. They all had a long discussion with the Dera head and their committee members. And according to him, Dera was supposed to release another press note and it is believed that this time they will apologise without playing with the words, to ease the tension.

When asked about when was the Swami expected, the Jathedar said as committee members had not made any direct contact with them at the Takht’s secretariat or the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), they were unaware of their coming to the city so far.

There were, meanwhile, reports that the Swami, along with some other members of other religious communities, might arrive here in the evening.

NDTV Talk Show - Storm within Sikhism (6 Parts)

(Part 1 of 6)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gi8F_vMWjqA

(Part 2 of 6)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNK8XgRbets

(Part 3 of 6)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2pRrcyYn-U

(Part 4 of 6)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wndFdZCKAOw

(Part 5 of 6)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrlISD05TGk

(Part 6 of 6)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuWx4O6nLm4

Dera Baba exposed by IBN7

Letter of Sadhvi (lady from dera) where she has talked about the sex exploitation .......

Jhootha Dera and its Baba

The baba lives in an 18-acre stronghold within the mini-township. When he emerges, he moves around in regal style surrounded by his bodyguards.

In 2001, Rajinder, a follower, fell-out with the leader and sometime later he was murdered at his hometown in Kurukshetra. Two Dera members are accused in this murder case.

Then a year later, Ram Chander Chatrapati, a local journalist, printed a letter that had allegations of sexual abuse by an anonymous woman against the Dera chief.

Chatrapati was shot dead at his home. Three Dera followers were arrested in the case, two of which were held at the murder site.

''The people from the Dera had threatened my father and then one day he was shot dead,'' said Anshul, Son of Ram Chander Chatrapati.

Now all these cases are being investigated by the CBI .

''We've said everything we had to and we won't say anything now,'' said Dr Aditya Arora, Spokesman, Dera Sacha Sauda.

Controversies notwithstanding, the baba's clout has grown.

The Dera's appeal is to largely to the marginalized and backward sections the Dalits - a potent political force which the Dera chief successfully tested in February.

In the Punjab elections in 2007, he asked his followers to vote for the Congress, something that helped the party improve its tally in the southern area known as Malwa.

The Dera chief's son is married to the daughter of a Congress MLA. But it's not clear whether the chief will be playing a more prominent role.

For now, peace-negotiators have told him to lie low.

(Source: NDTV)

Akal Takhat Sahib Verdict

Akal Takhat Sahib refused REGRET Plea . It called it as foul trap / drama ( Dera Head never felt sorry till now, he just twisting situation)

Few of the brief points of Akal Takhat Sahib Hukam (verdict) is:

a) Complete Punjab bandh on 22nd May, 2007
b) All dera's to be closed in Punjab till 27th May, 2007
c) CBI should complete enquiry against baba by May end.
d) Next Akal Takhat Sahib meet is on 31st May to take next action

Sikhs supporting Akal Takhat Sahib edict with loud jaikara's.

Amritsar Meeting - Part 2

CID personal caught with revolver in Akal Takht Sahib meeting....

He talks of Shunning Moh, Maya but drives Flashy Cars and Wears Fancy clothes - That's Dera Sacha Sauda's Head, Gurmeet Ram Rahim

(Source: Mumbai Mirror - 20th May 2007)

Dera Baba Regrets over the issue

After creating so much of tension, Dera Baba regrets for the entire issue. Is it acceptable? If he calls himself Saint and Insaan then why is he having so much of ego? He could have said that ... "I apologise to Sikh Sangat if my act has hurt them in anyways".

Please read the other posts to know about the entire issue:

http://jaspreetsingh.blogspot.com/2007/05/why-sikhs-are-angry.html
http://jaspreetsingh.blogspot.com/2007/05/dera-jhuta-sauda-know-them.html

or visit this site:

http://akalpurakhkifauj.googlepages.com/eyeopener-derasachasuada

IBN 7 - Face to Face

Part 1 of 6
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6l0-Y02LO2k

Part 2 of 6
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LtszbslEY4

Part 3 of 6
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjiU1K1t2go

Part 4 of 6
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMZbtiPOZak

Part 5 of 6
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3jzk7qgLS0

Part 6 of 6
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcPt3rM216M

Interview of Dera Spokesperson

In the interview he is asking about the issue to reporter, this is the issue... http://jaspreetsingh.blogspot.com/2007/05/why-sikhs-are-angry.html

Dera Jhuta Sauda - Know them..

I think people here dont know the reality of DERA SACHA SAUDA. This would give them some idea.

I will like to tell all members what I saw & heard on TV.

A reporter of INDIA Tv asked secreatery of Dr. Aditya, spokeperson of Dera : "When Dera says it is a religious & humanity movement why the Dera supported Congress in assembly election, why is Dera doing politics?"

you all will be surprised with the answer of Dr. Aditya which is exteremely insult of Hindus & Sikhs.

Dr. Aditya: "You tell me who had not done politics. Ram killed a person with the help of different species(Vanars) wasn't that politics? Krishan helped Arjun in Mahabharat wasn't that politics? Guru Gobind singh created his own army to fight mughals wasn't that politics? This is my answer to you question."

Dera Sachha Sauda, supremeo, Gurmeet Ram Raheem is a criminal. They have there headquarter in Sirsa(Haryana). So many criminal cases are filed against him which includes murders, rapes, extortism(Even a CBI inquiry is going on against him). He has Congress backing.

They are misleading so many Hindus & Sikhs and diverting both of them from their religions (Converting them to their self-made SACHA religion and making them so called INSAAN and we saw their insaaniyat on Monday when they were throwing stones and beating Punjab Police and Media persons in Bathinda).

(Source: an Indian)

Punjab happening - get the true picture

1. This is not an issue of Akalis going for a revenge. Anyone in power would not ask for the trouble. This is a case of Sikh sentiments being hurt.

(News channels have repeatedly being saying that its a fight over faith between Dera and Akali Sikhs. This is totally false! It's a fight between "All Sikhs" and the Dera)

2. The instigation has deliberately been done by the Dera Baba who has tried to imitate the tenth Master of the Sikhs.

3. Its not just dress code, he has tried to play and mimic with the teachings of the Guru Sahib- instituting his own style amrit like
- he has 7 persons for his sharabat first and Guru Gobind Singh ji has panj pyare (5 beloved ones)
- he asked his followers to use "Insaan" with their names and everyone know that it was Guru Gobind Singh ji who asked Sikhs to use Singh (for males) and Kaur (for females) with their names.

and unfortunately just the way it happened in 1978 that led to operation bluestar and then 84 riots.

4. Anyone Hindu, Muslim, Sikh or Christian who has slightest knowledge of Sikhism can easily make out the intentions behind the ads.

5. The Dera followers were aware of the instigation and were prepared for the Sikh reactions. within hours of Sikh Protest 12000 Dera followers came armed and created havoc in Bathinda. Most of them were armed with same size of lathis as reported by News Channel.

6. The congress behind these instigations and trouble is factually proven by photgraphs and videos, as almost 6 congress MLAs were part of the mob which created havoc in Bathinda.

7. Tolerance does not mean that you demean the prophets of any religion and then ask the people not to react. And mind it the reactions by Sikhs have been democratic and mostly peaceful.

8. There were 1.5 lakh Sikhs yesterday at Sabo ki Talvandi to protest against the Deras misendeavors. Has there been any violence or damage to public property? What more can be the tolerance?

9. It was Dera followers who opened fire to the crowd coming back from Talwandi Sabo. Their Dera is on the main road and they opened fire, killing 1 Sikh (Kamaljit Singh) and injuring several others. How come Dera followers got armed with guns and ammunition?

10. Dera followers distributing lathis (sticks) and collecting stones was shown in one of the news channel on Thursday evening.

11. There are hundreds of Deras running in Punjab and never ever the Sikhs harassed or protested against them. Yes unless these Deras have tried to deliberately play with Sikh sentiments.

12. I would request all to support Sikh sentiments and expose this Dera.

13. I would also request Sikh bretheren to not to play in the hands of politicians. Let us maintain our composure and peacefully protest against the Dera Head's misadventure.

Blast in Hyderabad mosque kills 5

Five people were and 32 others injured when a powerful bomb exploded during Friday prayers at the historic Mecca mosque in the Charminar area of Hyderabad.

Two live bombs were also detected from the spot soon after the explosions and were defused.

Reports suggest the blast was caused by a crude bomb, perhaps activated by a cell phone, which exploded when thousands of people were gathered in the mosque for prayers.

A central forensic team has been sent to Hyderabad to help determine the cause of the blast.

The injured have been rushed to Osmania and other hospitals by the worshippers in whatever modes of transport they could arrange.

Following the blast, Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore have been put on high alert.

Angry outburst

The explosion created such a panic that those gathered for the prayers started running towards the exit gate of the mosque, said to be over 400-years-old and considered sacred by Muslims.

According to the police, the motive for the blast, which was caused by unsophisticated device, is still not clear.

A large posse of police personnel, who arrived on the scene, faced an angry crowd.

They pelted stones at the shops in the vicinity and the police, who resorted to lathicharge to disperse the crowd.

The crowds have cleared now and all shops have been are shut, the area looks like a fortess.

Close watch

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajshekhar Reddy, who is in Delhi, spoke to the DGP Basith and other senior state government officials to take stock of the situation.

Addressing the media, Reddy said the police was trying to bring the situation back to normal.

''When AP is going on forward march of progress, such incidents will hinder progress,'' he added.

Blaming anti-social elements, he pointed out that the blast was an intentional sabotage of the peace of the state. He has announced an ex-gratia of Rs five lakh for those killed and Rs 25,000 for those injured.

Home Minister Jana Reddy said that police reinforcements are being sent to the area and the situation will be brought under control.

The Centre is also keeping a close watch on the situation in Hyderabad.

The Union Home Ministry is in constant touch with the state government officials to monitor the situation.

(Source: NDTV)

Mumbai News

Dera People Interviewed

Sikhs in the video seems ready to drink Sharabat and put Insaan after their first name but they are not ready to take Amrit given by Guru Gobind Singh ji and become Singh....

News from Talwandi Sabo

Protests in Punjab

News from Merrut

Brave Sikhs made 40 dacoits run away

You might think this is a scene straight out of a Hindi film. While 40 dacoits are trying to break a window grill that would lead them into a bungalow, the 50-year-old house owner and his 25-year-old son hold on to it with all the power at their command; 25 minutes later, the onslaught of the thieves still on, the owner pulls out his final weapon of resistance -- the kirpan -- and threatens to kill. The sight of the kirpan so frightens the dacoits that they beat a quick retreat.

Belapur resident Sarabjeet Singh Bhullar and his son Baljeet fought off 40 dacoits for 25 minutes in this fashion on Tuesday morning and finally forced them to flee, Amar Jadhav, deputy commissioner of police (zone I), Navi Mumbai, said.

Police said the dacoits belonged to the same gang that has carried out a series of dacoities in Thane and Navi Mumbai in the last one month.

According to police, at around 3.30 am, Bhullar Sr and Jr, who live with six other family members — their wives and four children of Baljeet — in their 1,800 sq ft bungalow in Sector 8B, heard loud thuds from near the window close to their main door.

When they opened the window and looked out, they saw 40 men had entered their compound and were hurling huge stones at the window grill in an attempt to break it. Fearing the grill would give way, the father-son duo held on to it with all their might, while their wives began making frantic calls to the cops and their relatives.

“In order to stop this resistance, the dacoits began to target us. They hit us with bamboo sticks and stones,” Bhullar Sr said. While he was hit behind his left ear by a big stone, the son was struck on the head several times and on the knees. They still refused to budge.

The one thing that kept them going, Bhullar Jr said, was the thought of family. “We were sure that if the dacoits entered the home, they would kill us all. They seemed capable of doing anything,” he said.

The struggle continued for 25 minutes, police said, but the neighbours, woken by the sounds, did not help. Sensing that the thugs would not retreat, Bhullar Sr, bleeding and in considerable pain, drew out his kirpan and threatened to kill the dacoits if they did not go away. “I recited our holy prayer and drew out my kirpan. I was serious about going after them. I did not have an option, really,” he noted.

Almost unbelievably, the kirpan did the trick: the dacoits, looking scared, decided to retreat. Bhullar Sr now has nine stitches behind his ears and his son has bruises on his hands and knees.

Ramrao Wagh, commissioner of Navi Mumbai police said: “The Bhullars were very brave throughout the ordeal. But I wish the neighbours had also come out to help.”

The cops arrived soon after, but by that time the dacoits were out of sight.

The gang then went to Sector 8A, barged into the ground-floor homes of two families, and walked away with jewellery and cash. However, a police team, on the chase, managed to arrested two of the gang members: Ambadas Pawar, 40, and Deepak Pawar, 25.

One of the two houses robbed by the gang belonged to Kamlaben Mehta, 73. Mehta, who was at home with her daughter Manjula, 44, said more than 20 dacoits broke open the door of their home with a huge boulder and took away valuables.

Soon after, they broke open the neighbouring house, which belongs to her other daughter, Anita Bhatkar. The dacoits took away cash and valuables worth Rs 2 lakh from the two houses, police said.

(Source: Mumbai mirror)

Meetings held...

(Source: Zee TV)

More news from Punjab

(Source: India TV)

Burning Punjab

On Monday May 14, members of the Nihang sect clashed with supporters of Dera Sachcha Sauda after their leader wore an attire similar to that of Sri Guru Gobind Singh ji, the tenth Sikh Guru in a baptising ceremony three days ago.

Pictures from Amritsar and Jammu.. .where people are out to protest against the incident...

In bhatinda the followers of so called "Sacha Sauda" rioting.. throwing stones... burning vehicles....

Protest against the incident has started in Bhopal and Patiala also.... ( more )



(Source: CNN-IBN)
http://www.ibnlive.com/news/india/05_2007/ad-angers-sect-followers-run-amok-in-punjab-40627.html

Bhatinda: A protest by followers of Dera Sacha Sauda, a Sikh religious sect, in Punjab turned violent in Bhatinda with the supporters of Dera head Baba Gurmeet Singh Ram Raheem torching a police jeep.

They were protesting the burning of the effigy of the Dera chief by the Akalis on Monday.

The trouble began after newspaper advertisements allegedly showed Baba Gurmeet Singh Ram Raheem attired like 10th Sikh Guru Gobind Singh and the Akalis protested the advertisements that also showed the Dera head distributing "amrit".

Tensions had been brewing between the ruling Akalis and Dera supporters ever since Dera supporters were told to vote for the Congress in the recent Assembly polls. The Congress had done well in the Malwa belt following the dictate.

The situation is also tense in Amritsar where the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the apex Sikh body, had a meeting but no decision has been taken by them.

Many expected them to come out with an edict that would have seen the Sikhs taken a confrontational stance against the Dera followers.

The Dera has massive support among Dalit Sikhs and played a major role in the 2005 Punjab Assembly polls.

BJP leaders like Navjot Singh Sidhu and Arun Jaitley had even approached the Dera head for his blessings so that he would withdraw an edict that his followers should vote for the Congress.

In fact in the Punjab polls, Congress had done well in the Malwa region which includes districts of Bhatinda, Ferozepur, Muktsar, Sangrur, Moga, Mansa where Dera has following and Congress recovered lost ground.

According to sources Dera had a trade-off with Congress during the polls to go slow on a murder case against Dera head of a journalist Chatrapati in 2002. Two persons suspected of killing him were found with a walkie-talkie which had Dera Sacha Sauda written on it.

Letter to "The Hindu"

From

Vinayak
Tamil Nadu
India - 610001

To
The Editor
The Hindu,
859\860 Anna Salai,
Chennai - 600 002

Dear Editor

This has reference to your news item at
http://www.hindu.com/2007/05/12/stories/2007051219930300.htm on the DV act

Your news paper is known for accuracy in reporting and high standards.
Please do NOT associate your name with casual researchers who have NOT understood ground realities. Your news paper should NOT be misleading your readers.

The researcher in the above article claims "Delhiites continue to have misconceptions about the law" and goes on to state that people in Delhi are worried about the Misuse of DV [Domestic Violence Act] act

This researcher has drawn completely wrong conclusions while the public at large are right in concluding that Domestic Violence act is being and will be misused.

The Indian family is the bedrock of our traditions and continuity since vedic times. Since time immemorial our families have ensured the continuation of our scriptures and traditions. Vedas and prabhandhams and thirumarais and thiruvaimozi passed from father to son. Our culture passed from mother to daughter.

Rama was always revereared WITH Sita, Lakmana, Bharatha, Chatruguna and Hanuman.

All this being challenged by Ultra feminist and male hating agenda which has led to the gender biased, wife supporting legislation like the DV act

Even before the DV act was promulgated, section 498A of IPC was grossly misused

I am sure that eminent speakers like Cho N Ramaswamy, eminent Jurists like the Honbl. Shri Markandeya Katju, the Supreme court of India and others have spoken against the gross misuse of the Section 498A of IPC - also dubbed as false dwory cases

While false dowry cases are piling in court corridors, the DV act is another draconian law, which

- allows ONLY women to file complaints

- makes ONLY men punishable (by virtue of being defendants)

and completely ignores the fundamental righs guaranteed to all citizens, be it men, be it elderly parents of men or their siblings

[...there are many more anomalies in this hasty and shoddy piece of
legislation.....]

I urge you immediately remove such "snake oil" from your august pages and also publish a corrigendum immediately dis associating yourself from such spurious reports and self styled researches

Regards
Vinayak
May 13th 2007

Free Sharab (Alcohol) outside the Gurudwara (Sikh Shrine)

Sharab (Alcohol) is freely distributed just like Chabeel, outside Baba Kahandas Gurudwara in Jalandhar, Punjab. People there believe that by distributing free wine they will get good jobs in abroad. It is disheartening to see the Sharab being freely distributed outside the Gurudwara when there is no place of Sharab in Sikhism and it is strictly prohibited.

When will people wake up? When will we follow the teachings of our Guru? What is SGPC doing?

Quote of the day!!!

Never kill imagination - Encourage it to grow!

Year 2019 - Cricket World Cup news

India failed to defeat Afghanistan in the world cup qualifier in the Asia -Pacific zone.

Coach sehwag said that he is not worried bcoz he has backing of selectors, captain and board and that they had won a close match against Papua new guinea just 2 yrs ago.

Rahul Dravid,the coach of new zealand team said that Sachin should now consider retiring gracefully and let his son take over the captaincy.

Mahender singh dhoni broke ajit agarkars record of most no of conecutive ducks in twenty 20.

Saurav ganguly, the coach of england feels that the boys need to control their emotions on the field.

The current leading man from bollywood bret lee advices ms dhoni to take upacting as well.

Minnows Pakistan beat Ireland in a close match...and thus they avanged their defeat in the 2007 WC against the then minnows ireland. Inzamam ul haq, who was the captain of the losing team and now the present coach said in a press interview that "Boys plays well, they try hard, inshallah we wins the world cup"

The police arrested 8 ppl for voilence after England and NZ match. Investigations revealed that these ppl were members of Dravid and Ganguly fan communities on Orkut which have 623241516 and 126542 members respectively.

The Indian cricket board led by president Lalu Prasad has called for an emergency meeting to discuss future course of action. Former players like Yuvraj Singh, Md Kaif,VVS Laxman and Kumble have been invited. Coach Sehwag and captain Tendulkar will present a report.

VVS Laxman today created a new controversy by saying that he expected a written apology from Lalu ji for including him in the category of former players. He said that he has improved his fielding and fitness and wants to play 2023 WC in Brazil.

Posted only for humor. No offences meant.