Postnoon E-Paper for Jan 12, 2013 by Scribble Media & Entertainment Pvt. Ltd.

IT’S TOUGH TO TALK ABOUT RAPE

CONMAN LOOTS `4 CRORE

e is a software engineer, smart and suave. Suryaprakash Rao, 45, set up a posh IT office at Srinagar Colony in Punjagutta a few months ago. He furnished it on a global standard and appointed six well-paid, smart men. Rao then lured software engineers from Hyderabad, Bangalore, Mumbai and Pune. But all was not as it seemed, and the result proved catastrophic.

alking about sex and rape is tricky for any parent. But think of it this way: If you don’t, your child is going to receive halfbaked information from peers or the Internet. PG 5

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GOVERNOR BLUNTS RTI SWORD, ACTIVISTS CRY FOUL REPORT ON PG 3

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onsumer Electronic Show (CES) recently concluded in Las Vegas and here are some of the best products on demo at the expo.

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PAGE TWO SATURDAY, JANUARY 12, 2013

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Code Red Countdown Code Red Countdown is an art collection revolving around ecology, by New York based artist Asher Jay. The theme is endangered wildlife. Where: Lalitha Kala Thoranam, Public gardens When: January 27 6pm to 9:30pm Contact: 93965 55888

Visual Poetry Drawing and paintings by Siddhartha, Kappari Kishan & Shivanand Basavanthappa Where: Shrishti Art Gallery, Jubilee Hills When: Up to January 15 Contact: (040) 2354 0023

Foie Gras & Asparagus Taj Falaknuma Palace is offering foie gras & asparagus on the menu. Pan seared foie gras with mandarin oranges, dill brioche drizzled with truffle oil and pate de foie gras with asparagus cream mousse are some of the items on the menu. Where: Celeste, Taj Falaknuma Palace When: Up to January 20 Contact: (040) 6629 8525

Makar Sankranti There’s an exquisite signature thali with sweets made of rice, jaggery, green gram and sesame on the occasion of Sankranti. Where: Dakshin, Begumpet When: January 14-15 Contact: (040) 2340 0132

Martini ‘n music Enjoy winter evenings with martinis and crooner Kelly. Where: Taj Krishna, Banjara Hills When: Every Evening Contact: (040) 66662323

Punjabi Food Festival There will be a bonfire and Punjabi delicacies like Murgh Tikka Anari, Gosht Ka Saag, Sarson Da Saag, Makki Da Roti and Doodhi Halwa will be served. Where: The Square, Hitec City When: Up to January 20 Contact: (040) 6682 4422

Gloria Jean’s coffee Gloria Jean’s, an international coffee chain, has introduced two new flavours for this season: Creamy Christmas Chocolate and Snowy Christmas Chiller. Customers get a chance to win exotic holidays in India and Thailand. Where: Lifestyle, first floor, Begumpet and Unit No.G 49 A, Inorbit Mall, When: Up to January 15

CINEMAS

A dog being walked near Red Hills, Lakdikapul Road? Contact: (040) 4221 9376

Contact: (040) 2460 3015

The Monsoon Oracle

The Republic Ride

The Monsoon Oracle is a factual film based on ritualistic practices that take places in the country. It revolves around the rituals performed, predicting the arrival of monsoon. Where: NIFT, Madhapur When: January 25, Contact: (040) 2311 4537

The biggest corporate cycling event at Hyderabad is being organized by The Atlanta Foundation on republic day. The aim is to promote educational programs for underprivileged children. Where: Gachibowli Stadium When: January 26, 6:15am onwards Contact: atlantafoundation.org

Tribute to Khanna

Dream Kitchen

There will be dance performances on Rajesh Khanna’s songs to pay tribute to the superstar. The dance will be choreographed by Mahesh L Munde, who has choreographed national and international performances. Where: Lalitha Kala Thoranam, Public gardens, Hyderabad When: January 27 6pm to 9:30pm Contact: 93965 55888

TTK Prestige has come up with its annual New Year’s promotion the “Super Saver Offer” with various deals and discounts on the entire range of Prestige products. Where: Prestige outlets When: Up to January 31 Contact: (040) 2330 6825

Numaish Numaish is the 73rd All India Industrial Exhibition is an ongoing event in the City. Where: Exhibition Ground, Mukarramjahi Road, Nampally When: Up to February 15, 4pm to 11pm

Chai wallah art show There is an exhibition of paintings by Vijay Gille at the gallery on Chai wallah and other stories. Where: Iconart Gallery, Banjara Hills When: Up to January 12 11:30am to 7pm Contact: www.iconart.in

Shoppers Stop sale Sale up to 51per cent off on international and Indian brands across categories at Shoppers Stop,

M ANIL KUMAR

HomeStop and Mothercare outlets with Shoppers Stop Where: Shoppers Stop outlets, When: from January 12 Contact: www.shoppersstop.com

Business Lunch A three course menu with Italian cuisine prepared by chef Matteo Gradi at Park Hyatt Where: Tre-Forni Bar & Restaurant When: Weekdays only 12pm to 3:30pm Contact: (040) 4949 1234

Hyderabad Lit festival As part of the Bonjour India festival, a celebration of Indo-French cultural exchange, there will be a literature festival, with panel discussion by French author Kenizé Mourad and the Hindu correspondent in France Vaiju Naravane. Where: Maulana Azad University, Gachibowli When: January 18-20 Contact: (040) 2770 0734

Big Hyper Sale HyperCITY, is having its Hyper Sale at all its stores across India. Customers can get discounts and deals across categories, including fresh produce, home & furniture, electronics, toys and apparels. Where: Inorbit mall, Madhapur. When: Up to January 31

Big Cinemas, Ameerpet, 30581470; Cinemax, Banjara Hills, 44565555; Cine Planet , Kompally, 61606060; INOX, Banjara Hills, 447677770, Prasads, Tank Bund Rd, 23448888; PVR, Punjagutta, 08800900009; Talkie Town, Miyapur, 40214175; Tivoli, Secunderabad 27844973

CITY SATURDAY, JANUARY 12, 2013 N SHIVA KUMAR

New mobile health service

On Vivekananda’s birthday

uvasatta (Loksatta) activists released Swamy Vivekananda’s booklet on the occasion of Vivekananda’s 150th birthday celebrations at Tankbund on January 12. Vivekananda Kendra Hyderabad today organised a procession from Dilsukhnagar to LB Stadium. Hundreds of people participated.

he State health department plans to launch a `105' mobile health service in synchronisation with the `104' mobile health service currently operating in rural areas, for the 1.3 lakh tribal school children living in the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) areas. The main objective of the ITDA is the socio-economic development of tribes.

Reporters interrogated

anagers and reporters of four City cable television channels presented themselves before the Osmania University police today in connection with the telecast of hatespeeches by the arrested MIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi. This follows a court direction to investigate the matter. Police have begun taking down their statements.

Conman loots `4 crore Three hundred software engineers lost `4 crore to a confidence trickster in the City.

Mohd SUBHAN

mohd.s@postnoon.com

e is a software engineer, smart and suave. Suryaprakash Rao, 45, set up a posh IT office at the Srinagar colony in Punjagutta a few months ago. He furnished it on a global standard and appointed six well-paid, smart guys, who gave visitors a positive impression of a growing firm. Rao inserted advertisements in leading newspapers for recruitment of software engineers in its offices in Hyderabad, Bangalore, Mumbai and Pune. Hundreds applied and when the applicants visited the office, they were impressed. Of the huge number of applications received, Rao shortlisted 300 and told them how lucky they were to get

selected from among thousands of applicants. The unwary applicants beamed with pride. Each had to deposit a security sum and the amount varied, according to the applicant’s ability to pay. This was a ‘refundable sum’ and nobody doubted it. Thus the smart alec gathered

boss’s phone proved futile as they received the taped reply: This number does not exist. News of a possible fraud spread and only now have they realised it was around 300 young men and women who proved suckers. They gathered and went to the Panjagutta police station and lodged a complaint. Some were sobbing, some plainly angry and some wanted to tear that man from limb to limb, police said. The sad stories of many of them taking personal loans or selling their mother’s jewellery to raise the sum the company asked for came out. Among them was a young man who had sold his sister’s ornaments, bought for her marriage next month. He thought he was landing a job and would be able to raise money. Police are trying to locate Rao’s native place and trace him. As of today, there is no cheering news.

RAO SHORTLISTED 300 APPLICANTS FOR HIS COMPANY AND ASKED THEM TO PAY A SECURITY DEPOSIT. A FEW DAYS LATER, HE WENT MISSING WITH THE MONEY. around `4 crore. All of a sudden, on Wednesday, the office was seen locked and the six appointed employees did not know what happened. Their calls to their

Govt strikes overnight blow to RTI The governor’s diktat absolving the PIO from being present at the hearing of RTI appeals is a direct blow to citizens’ rights to information. RTI activists are aghast at this brazen act. Rahul Ramakrishna rahul.r@postnoon.com

n what can be termed as a blow in the dark, governor ESL Narasimhan signed an amendment to a sub-rule in the RTI Act of 2005, causing a huge uproar among RTI activists. This secretive amendment was made without announcement or public discussion. RTI activists allege that this amendment will further weaken the already diluted state of RTI activism in the State. The amendment, dated January 10, 2013, was made to a sub-rule in the State Information Commission (Appeal Rules) 2006. Previously, under rule 5, and sub-rule 4, it was mandatory for the public information officer (PIO) of any department to be present at the first appeal hearing with the State Information Commission. Now that the sub rule has been omitted completely, there is no compulsion for the PIO to be present at the hearing.

What is first appeal and why is it important?

information) will discuss the issue.

The first appeal is a hearing session that enables an RTI user to complain to the information commissioner about not receiving a reply to his/her filed RTI after a period of six months. During this appeal, the RTI complainant, the information commissioner and the PIO (to whom the RTI is sent and who is responsible for providing the required

How does the amendment affect the appeal process?

Rakesh Reddy Dubbudu of the United Forum for RTI Campaign said, “This is such a strange amendment. The basic spirit of the Act has been killed. And now, after this amendment, it will seem as if there is no point to an RTI, which makes it seem like the information commission and the PIOs can sit and play with each other.”

With the government’s amendment, the appeal process will get diluted as the PIO will clearly not attend the hearing. Thus, ineffectively, the hearing will be left to the information commissioner and the RTI appellant. There were however, discussions about amending this rule long back, though none of them ever reached a consensus or materialised. The strange thing is that AP will be the first State to bear this amendment in its RTI Act. And now, any first appeal hearing will seem like a mock court session with no accused being present.

“It is a completely regressive step to downplay the power of RTI. And this has not happened anywhere in the country except for AP,” said Dubbudu.

PLAN

AHEAD

When news of this amendment hit social media networks, several activists began planning the next move. “We will meet the chief secretary and register our complaint as soon as possible,” Dubbudu said. Others, however, decided to move to the AP High Court to challenge this decision. “This will make the PIOs very difficult to deal with. As it is most of the governmental department’s PIOs think that providing us with necessary information is a tedious task and now, with this amendment, they will very easily escape from their duties,” said a senior RTI activist. Governor Narasimhan was unavailable for comment. Some RTI activists allege that even the state information com-

missioners were miffed with the government’s amendment. Chief Information commissioner S Jannat Hussain was reportedly at a meeting in the Secretariat to discuss this issue.

CITY SATURDAY, JANUARY 12, 2013

Courting Telugu: Judge sparks a lingua fracas With a new court order pronounced in Telugu, there are questions as to whether the government is planning to make Telugu the official language in the cosmopolitan City. Md INKESHAF AHMED

ahmed.m@postnoon.com

he pronouncement of an order in Telugu by a Nampally court on Thursday has sparked off a debate among various litigant public and legal fraternities. Many wonder if Teluguisation is essential in a cosmopolitan City whose populace is composed of different people from varied cultures and States. “Nobody quarrels on the need to promote local language,” said Ram Kiran, a lawyer, “But judicial pronouncement should legible to the litigant public, you know,” he remarked. A government order exists

that demands that all shops and establishments must have their name boards in Telugu. Writing English along with Telugu is all

right. “This government order was issued long ago to encourage Telugu language in the State. It

is only now that the government has shown seriousness in it,” said a law teacher, Kusum Kulkarni. But there is another section of legal profession from the City which has a different view. “Urdu and Hindi languages are very widely spoken and popular among a large section of the populace of the City. Section 272 of The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, allows the State government to determine the language for each court within the State, other than the High Court. And the State government has not declared any court language. Keeping in view the multi lingual population of Hyderabad, English is best suited as the court language for all practical purposes,” law student Syed Fasahath Ali said. Another practising advocate, Inayat, has opined that the State govern-

ment is moving towards making Telugu the official language everywhere. “There is no irregularity as far as delivering orders and judgments in Telugu in the lower City courts are concerned. It is too premature to assume that all judges and magistrates will follow this example,” Inayat said. City based social activist and Aam Aadmi leader Abhishek Mawle advocated that the judgments should be made available in a multi-lingual format. In district courts, delivering the ruling in Telugu is a norm. But it is only in the City courts that the move is questioned. Litigant public and lawyers believe that justice should be visible, and to achieve this ,the public must understand the ruling. Unless it is in a common language, it will miss its aim, they say.

Get the Indian manja back!

Anubha K Singh

anubha.k@postnoon.com

ith Sankranti just two days away, kites are set to adorn the skies. Every year, there is a new addition to the variety of kites in the market. But one thing that has not changed for decades is the killing of birds. In the last five to six years, the Chinese market has completely taken over the Indian market of kites. The Chinese manja and the tangus manja are more in demand now as compared to the home made manja, which has vanished from the local market. Dabeerpura, Gangabowli, Gulzar house, Jaali Hanuman and Yakutpura of Old City, known for manja making, are usually abuzz around this time of the year. But the usual buzz is missing from many houses and the reason is evident. Most of us love flying kites and waging kite wars. But many of us don’t realise the importance of the festival. It is said that the higher your kite flies, the happier your life will be throughout the year. Unfortunately, to fill our lives with happiness, we are destroying others lives. Yes, every year more than 50 birds are killed in the City on January 14. The manja used in kite fly-

ing competitions is often gummed and coated with powdered and finely crushed glass. While this makes the manja extremely effective for cutting an opponent's kite, it injures thousands of pigeons, crows, owls and other birds, who get slashed, wounded and killed when they become entangled in the strings. “Kite flying is a part of tradition followed during Makara Sankranti, but killing birds is obviously not. It’s not only deadly for the birds but every year we come across news of death of a bike rider or commuter on the road due to manja. Shockingly, there is a ban imposed by the respective state governments in cities like Gujarat, Bangalore, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir, but Hyderabad is the only place where the government has not imposed any ban. However, there are many NGOs in the City who have urged people not to use the glass coated manja,” said Asif Ahmed, member of Bird Watcher’s Society. There are more than 100 families in many parts of Old City who have been involved in manja making for decades. Manja making was once a major source of livelihood for many families, but not anymore. Shopkeepers attribute it to the flourishing Chinese market.

N SHIVA KUMAR

Difference between Chinese & Indian manja n

Public prefers Chinese manja (pictured left) over Indian manja because it is both stronger and cheaper. The thread is firmer and does not break easily in kite-cutting competitions. The ugly side of Chinese Manja is the risk it poses to flying birds and people riding motorcycles and scooters. The Indian manja is made from normal thread, cotton and a pulp, which is a mixture of rice powder and gum (pictured right).

n n

The Indian manja is costlier than the Chinese one because it takes lot of effort and time to prepare. Chinese manja is made with a mixture of rice powder, gum and powdered glass. Nylon thread is also used in the preparation. Tangus is a tied wire, which is more dreadful. One gheeti, a measure of approximately 35 meters of Indian manja, costs Rs. 20, while Chinese and tangus cost around Rs.10.

Kite flying is not wrong, but killing birds and other living being is. The fact is remains that however carefully a kite is flown the Chinese manja can severely wound. Also, when thrown away, it can easily get tangled with birds’ or any other animal’s legs and bodies, resulting in painful amputation and even death. So let’s stop using Chinese manja, for it will not only save the birds, but also give life to the vanishing business of local manja. Let’s fly kites safely this year. Postnoon wishes its readers a happy Makara Sankranti.

CITY SATURDAY, JANUARY 12, 2013

It’s tough to talk about rape Fleme Varkey fleme.v@postnoon.com

or the past one month the newspapers, magazines, news channels across the nation have been carrying news and clippings related to the horrific incident that took place in the capital in December. It ended in the death of the rape victim on December 29, 2012. Protest marches were organised all over the country, silence was observed at important events all over, heated debates were held to come up with solutions, to raise voices of protest and much more. No age group was left unaffected by the incident. The family was the sphere that was affected the most. Parents were faced with uncomfortable questions regarding the incident by their children. Usually most parents are embar-

rassed to talk to their children about sexuality and other issues related it. It’s called ‘Having the talk’ or telling children about ‘the birds and bees’. But is this reluctance to talk harmful? Dr Sujata Potay, clinical psychologist and trans-personal psy-

A PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHER NARRATES HOW SHE FOUND HER CLASS IV STUDENT YELLING “I WILL RAPE YOU” TO ONE OF HIS FRIENDS ON THE PLAYGROUND. chotherapist answers, “Parents must understand that not informing your children when they ask or putting it off for tomorrow will only create more trouble. Children will anyway

receive half-baked information from friends in school and outside or they might just read up stuff on the Internet. The child will be at risk in future, not knowing the true facts.” A teacher in a primary school in Delhi narrates how she found her class IV student yelling “I will rape you” to one of his friends on the playground. The incident itself shows how impressionable children are. On being asked how he learnt the word, the boy said he had asked his parents about it and they said that it meant doing something bad, and since he was going to beat up his friend he used it. Such incidents are the reason why parents and teachers should all the more take care of what they are telling their children. Dr Minhaj Nasirabadi, consultant psychiatrist at Apollo Hospitals tells us, “Parents

Talking about sex and rape is tricky for any parent. But think of it this way: If you don’t, your child is going to receive half-baked information from peers or the Internet. should try and tell the truth. They must understand that young children’s minds are like a sieve. They retain what they can process and leave the rest. Instead of shying away from the topic, they must inform children that it’s an unnatural act. Educate them about the proper touch. Any embarrassment they have will be carried onto their wards as well. If parents or teachers deviate from the truth children will grow up with a deviated version.” Dr Sujata too advises the same, she says, “Small things make a huge difference. They should be told about touch. Anything that makes the child uncomfortable or scared is bad touch. They should be told that anybody touching them inappropriately in areas of the body such as chest, pelvic and bottom is bad touch. Rape is a situation, where people are indulging in bad touch. This explanation should be more than enough for young minds to understand and for a little grown up children you can add the necessary terms.” While we are talking about informing children about matters such as rape and abuse, Dr Sujata stresses that though the in the unfortunate incident of victim X, the perpetrators were outsiders. In more than 90 per cent of the cases in the country, rape or abuse has been done by someone inside the family or by someone close to the family. So parents should take care of who the child is mingling with and what are their reactions to the family even.

What children can understand Ages 2 to 3: The right words for private body parts, such as ‘penis’ and ‘vagina’. Ages 3 to 4: Where a baby comes from. But they won't understand all the details of reproduction. Ages 4 to 5: How a baby is born. Stick with the literal response: "When you were ready to be born, the uterus pushed you out through Mommy's vagina." Ages 5 to 6: A general idea of how babies are made. ("Mom and Dad made you.") Or if your child demands more details: "A tiny cell inside Dad called a sperm joined together with a tiny cell inside Mom called an egg." Ages 6 to 7: A basic understanding of intercourse. Explain what you think about sex and relationships. For instance: "Sex is one of the ways people show love for each other." Ages 8 to 9: That sex is important, which your child has probably picked up from the media and her peers. A child this age can handle a basic explanation on just about any topic, including rape. ("Remember when we talked about sex being part of a loving relationship? Rape is when someone forces another person to have sex, and that's wrong.") Ages 9 to 11: Which changes happen during puberty. Also be ready to discuss sex-related topics your child sees in the news. Age 12: By now, kids are formulating their own values, so check in every so often to provide a better context for the information your child's getting. But avoid overkill or you'll be tuned out.

Source: www.parenting.com

NATION SATURDAY, JANUARY 12, 2013

7-year-old raped, murdered

Paid news during Guj polls: Katju

seven-year-old girl was raped and murdered in a village in the state of Uttar Pradesh, police said Friday, according to a report. The United News of India said the girl had been abducted and attacked by a youth in the village of Harpur, in the state’s Sonebhadra district, late Thursday and that police had detained the suspect.

ress Council of India (PCI) chairman Justice Markanday Katju today released a report on Gujarat polls which claimed that the malpractice of paid news was noticed on a large-scale in the recently held elections. Releasing the report before the media, Katju said that the team has found largescale practice of paid news, both in print and electronic media, in the recent Gujarat Assembly elections. The PCI chairman was here to take part in a lecture organised by lawyer Vivek Tankha.

Pak protests India violations

BSF soldiers patrol the border fence at an outpost along the India-Pakistan border in Suchit-Garh. Pakistan summoned the Indian ambassador to protest against “unacceptable and unprovoked” attacks by the Indian army that killed two Pakistani soldiers in five days in Kashmir. AFP PHOTO

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan summoned the Indian ambassador on Friday to protest against “unacceptable and unprovoked” attacks by the Indian army that killed two Pakistani soldiers in five days in Kashmir. Pakistan said its soldiers were killed on Sunday and Thursday. On Tuesday, India said two of its soldiers were killed by Pakistani troops and that one of them was beheaded in the disputed Himalayan region, which is claimed in full by both India and Pakistan but ruled in part by each. Pakistan’s foreign ministry said it had summoned India’s high commissioner to Islamabad to lodge a “strong protest on the repeated, unacceptable and unprovoked attacks on Pakistani soldiers by the Indian army”. India said its troops opened fire in response to Pakistani fire on both occasions. Pakistan has denied any responsi-

bility for the Indian soldiers’ deaths. On Friday, Pakistan called on the Indian government to investigate the “repeated” violations of the ceasefire, which has held along the Line of Control (LoC) — the de facto border in divided Kashmir — since 2003 and to take steps to prevent them from happening again. Both countries have appeared determined to prevent the recent killings from wrecking a fragile peace process, which resumed in 2011. Islamabad repeated an offer to hold an independent inquiry through the United Nations and reiterated its commitment to peace talks with India, saying the attacks “create unnecessary and avoidable distractions” to peace efforts. On the ground, more than 300 people demonstrated in Pakistani-administered Kashmir on Friday, condemning Indian aggression and accusing Indian troops of ceasefire violations, police said. The crowd condemned the killings of Pakistan soldiers in the state capital Muzaffarabad and dispersed peacefully, local police chief Raja Shafqat told AFP. The rally was also attended by state premier Chaudhry Abdul Majeed, who accused New Delhi of deliberately disturbing peace in the region and said further protests would be held on Monday. Meanwhile, local authorities in Muzaffarabad on Friday suspended trade with India from the Titrinot route in Kashmir, officials said. “The local government suspended trade with India for an indefinite period from Titrinot area because of firing from across the LoC,” chief of the local trade and travel authority Muhammad Ismail told AFP. He said: “We cannot continue the trade under the shadow of guns.”

NHRC probes French experts to scribe’s death help Pune BHUBANESWAR: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought an independent investigation report from the authorities on the alleged killing of a journalist by police firing in Manipur last month, an activist said. The NHRC has also directed the Manipur DGP, district magistrate and Imphal superintendent of police to take appropriate action with regard to the investigation of the case. NHRC acted on complaints lodged by Delhi-based activists RH Bansal and Bhubaneswar-based Akhanda.

PUNE: French experts are being roped in by Pune civic body to restore about 250 heritage structures in the city. A decision to this effect was recently taken at the conclusion of a seminar held here on “Economics of Heritage Conservation”. Elaborating on the project which is expected to be initiated in three months with a monetary allocation of `5 crore for phase one, Shyam Dhavale, executive engineer of PMC in-charge of heritage restoration, said, “French methods are seen as more appropriate for restoration of heritage structures.”

167 prisoners to walk free

bout 167 prisoners lodged in various Madhya Pradesh jails would be freed on the occasion of Republic Day. Fourteen more prisoners who have not been convicted for life would be granted 15 days to two months remission, an official release said. Out of the total 167 prisoners who would be freed on January 26, about 31 would be from Gwalior.

Gang-rape accused on TV NEW DELHI: A driver charged with the gang-rape and murder of a student on his bus in New Delhi was accused of drink driving by a former employer when he appeared on a reality TV show in 2010, footage showed on Friday. Ram Singh, one of six people accused of the fatal December 16 attack on a 23year-old student, featured in Aap Ki Kachehri (Your Court), a show hosted by former top police officer Kiran Bedi. Singh argued on the programme that he was entitled to compensation from his employer for injuries that he suffered while driving one of their

buses in the capital. But his employer in turn accused Singh of “drunk, negligent and rash driving” and alleged that he had taken the bus out despite being told it had been withdrawn from service. “He alleged that his employer had not financially assisted him with hospital bills following the acci-

dent,” Bedi said. “The employer refused to pay compensation as he alleged that Singh had a history of irresponsible behaviour. Singh did not get any compensation,” she added. The episode also showed Singh pleading that he was a widower and had a young son to take care of. Singh and his five coaccused are alleged to have taken it in turns to rape the woman as well as assaulting her male companion before throwing them off the moving bus. The victim died in a Singapore hospital, 13 days after the attack, which triggered mass protests across AFP the country.

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Nepal bus mishap kills 29

China landslide: Toll hits 46

t least 29 people were killed and 12 injured when a bus veered off a narrow mountain road in thick fog in western Nepal on Saturday, a police officer said. The vehicle tumbled 600 metres (2,000 feet) down a steep hill in Doti district at 2:00am (2015 GMT) after the driver lost control on the road to the southwestern plains bordering India.

desperate search for three people missing in a landslide in southwestern China ended on Saturday when their bodies were pulled from the mud, taking the final death toll to 46 — many of them children. Authorities in Yunnan province said that the last three bodies were recovered on Saturday morning after a night of frantic efforts.

French jets hit Mali rebels Our choice is peace... but they have forced war on us. We will carry out a crushing and massive retaliation against our enemies Dioncounda Traore Mali’s interim president

Serge Daniel

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BAMAKO: Backed by French airpower, Mali has unleashed a counter-attack against Islamist fighters, recapturing a town lost to the rebels as they advanced south from their northern strongholds. US officials meanwhile, suggested they might support the French action there with surveillance drones and aerial refuelling tankers. Malian troops recaptured the central town of Konna on Friday, Lieutenant Colonel Diarra Kone at the defence ministry told AFP a day after it fell to the Islamists. In a speech to the nation Friday evening, Mali’s interim president Dioncounda Traore vowed to crush the country’s enemies. “Our choice is peace... but they have forced war on us. We will carry out a crushing and massive retaliation against our enemies,” Traore said. The government meanwhile declared a nationwide state of emergency, banning protests, meetings and public gatherings. In Paris, French President Francois Hollande confirmed that French forces were supporting the Malian offensive

aimed at repelling the Al-Qaeda-linked radicals who control northern Mali. While he gave no indication of the scale of French involvement he said it would last for as long as necessary. In a letter to the United Nations, France called on the body to speed up the deployment of an African-led force to Mali. The UN Security Council has already approved the 3,000-strong force, but it is not expected to be ready to deploy before September. The Islamists triggered international alarm this week with their capture of Konna and their threat to move further south. Around 1,200 of their fighters had moved to within 20 kilometres (12 miles) of Mopti, a strategically important town on the frontier between rebelheld and government-held territories. On Friday, however, Captain Oumar Daw, a Malian officer based in Mopti, said their counter-attack had pushed back the Islamists. “The Islamist advance has been stopped by the Malian army with the support of foreign troops. We are pursuing the offensive,” he said. AFP

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Jindal may scrap income tax in Louisiana

HONG KONG: Hong Kong action hero Jackie Chan has

WASHINGTON: Governor of Louisiana Bobby Jindal today proposed to end individual and corporate income tax, which he argued would be able to attract more investment and people to his State. “My goal is to eliminate all personal income tax and all corporate income tax in a revenue neutral way, and keep the sales tax as low and flat as possible,” Jindal announced, which drew sharp reaction from some of the State lawmakers. “This will keep more money in the pockets of Louisianians and send a message to businesses across the globe that Louisiana is open for business,” he said in an email to his people in the State. Study after study shows that states with no income tax or low income tax rates have more population and more job growth.

once again provoked criticism, this time from an American blogger, after suggesting on Chinese television that the US is the “most corrupt” country in the world. “When you talk about corruption — the whole world, is there corruption in the United States? The most corrupt in the world!” the Rush Hour star, who has made headlines recently for his controversial views, told Phoenix TV last month. Chan reaffirmed his view after the show’s host questioned him — “Of course! Where did the great breakdown come from? The world, the United States started it,” Chan said, referring to the financial crisis and gesticulating as he spoke.

COMMENT SATURDAY, JANUARY 12, 2013

Well done Postnoon

A masterpiece

our no-nonsense reporting about Owaisi trouble is praiseworthy. The observation that social media had brought Akbaruddin Owaisi to book is correct if you go by some reported comments of MM leaders that they can also feed You Tube with matters against another community. This is revenge mentality. Salim Kumar Rizvi Via email

EDITORIALS RIGHT YOURSELF before pointing fingers Pakistan’s protesting Indian violations are preposterous. In the first place, India happens to be one of the few nations that play by the rules. We have issues that impede us in several ways, but we are far, far ahead in matters of foreign policy and maintaining peace in the region. And if a Pak soldier is killed, India can proudly claim that its Army would not do what their counterparts across the border did. Not in any circumstances, though Pakistan has given us several reasons to be completely hostile towards it. And Pakistan cannot cry foul if it happens to be the one which set off the spurt of instances of crossfiring at the border. Both nations share a common history, a history that sadly is not of peace and goodwill. But our children are not bred on the desire for the elimination of any nation despite what they may have done to us. Pakistan may claim that they were in dire straits after partition and then there’s the Kashmir issue…and of course religion… More than half a century has passed and Pakistan would do well to right itself before pointing fingers at India.

he article how to be happy is a masterpiece. I could relate to it. The tailend was the best. We are indeed insulting God by showering money and jewels. God doesnt need all that... He has given us a beautiful life. And he wants us to live it fully and enjoy thoroughly. Aditya Jain Via email

EDITORIALS Readers’ views We invite you to write to us comments, suggestions, viewpoint or just about anything to feedback@postnoon.com or #1246, Level 3, Jubilee Casa, Road No 62, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad – 500 033 or even by way of a call on 4067 2222.

Very good

he article How to be Happy is very good. I think people should write and think about the things the writer has in that article that petty politics and other issues that are blown out of proportion. If life’s simple, our views also become simple, helping us lead a simple, happy life. Neeti Sharma Gachibowli

The power of chants Soul Curry SUMAA TEKUR

he island of Sri Lanka is full of surprises and has its own unique brand of identity, although Indians are always tempted to draw parallels to parts of India. The beach destination of Hikkaduwa is a lot like a mix between Kerala and Goa. Kandy is a lot like the lush Nilgiris, etc. On one cloudy afternoon during my annual vacation, I stepped out of the resort in Hikkaduwa to take in the beauty of the rain-swept roads and the freshly cleaned leaves quivering in the gentle breeze. Much to the frustration of my friends, I lost my way in the winding roads and spotted a sign with an arrow that said ‘Buddhist temple’. I followed the narrow road, passed a stream by which was a huge boat under

WATCH OUT ASSAD, here they come

I DIDN’T UNDERSTAND A WORD OF THE CHANTS. BUT I SAT THERE LISTENING TILL SHE FINISHED THE ENTIRE PRAYER. THE TONE OF THE CHANTS AND THE LILT IN HER VOICE WERE SOOTHING.

Rebels fighting the regime of Bashar al-Assad scored a significant victory on Friday when they took control of one of Syria’s most important northern airbases, seizing tanks, helicopters and large amounts of ammunition, the Guardian reports. As the endgame approaches, get to your senses and call it quits and quit the country. Despite your speeches and your attempts at inciting Syrian nationalism, your people nor the world will come to your aid. Both knows you are the offender. So end this war of doom before it’s too late.

repair. I saw monks in ochre robes stepping out of the temple. An old monk got into a tuk tuk (the Sri Lankan word for autorickshaw). Fascinated by the scenic surroundings and the monk in an auto, I requested for him to pose for a photograph. He smiled and willingly agreed. Another monk who saw him off and was headed back to the temple struck up a conversation with me. We walked together up the flight of stairs to an opening, which housed a pagoda and many small structures with idols of the different avatars of Buddha. It was the most peaceful and quiet temple I had visited in a long time. A young boy, a student who was

training to be a monk, showed me inside the temple and explained its history. A large bodhi tree stretched out its branches at the centre of the temple. A young Sinhalese couple offered their prayers under the tree. They lit incense sticks and sat down to enjoy the peace and quiet. I wasn’t carrying any incense sticks and asked the temple caretaker for directions to the nearest store where I could buy some. The couple immediately offered some incense sticks for me to use. I said my prayers and sat next to them. The lady opened a small prayer book, from which she started chanting mantras. I whispered to the man if the

language was Sinhalese. He nodded. I didn’t understand a word of the chants. But I sat there listening till she finished the entire prayer. The tone of the chants and the lilt in her voice were soothing. Mantras can be used for healing, even if we don’t understand them at the conscious level. The sound vibrations have a way of reaching out to our sub-conscious mind and alter the way we feel. There’s a difference between chanting mantras by knowing their meaning and chanting without understanding the meaning. In the former, the health benefits will be more because emotions and expres-

sions in the meaning of the mantras invoke the devotee’s intentions more strongly. However, being a listener or bystander and taking in the new sounds also have advantages. This overtone chanting emits vibrations and energies that heal at a deep level without necessarily going through the listener’s mind. I was the recipient of these benefits and will be grateful to the smiling, devout couple who allowed me to sit next to them and listen to their prayers. It’s true that new places and new experiences often have the ability to give us the joys that familiar people and surroundings may not.

COMMENT SATURDAY, JANUARY 12, 2013

My World

All For Women! PERHAPS, 2013 AND THE YEARS THAT COME MAY BE THE DEFINING YEARS THAT MAKE A GIRL FEEL SAFE, EMPOWERED. SO, THEN MORE POWER TO THEM! FOR, THEY WOULD THEN CREATE A WORLD WHERE I AND ANY WOMAN WOULD BE PROUD TO BE A PART OF.

SHRADDHA JAHAGIRDAR-SAXENA

hat is it that 2013 will bring for women? Over the years one had been brought up in a liberal atmosphere to believe that men and women were treated equal but the tragic happenings of the year that went by and the squealing of a few ‘enlightened’ men following the event(s) has shown otherwise. As a woman, who has grown up in a household that did not differentiate between girls and boys, which I hope is the case in most urban and educated homes (whether urban or rural), I now wonder, ‘What is it that truly empowers and liberates us?’ I am now giving voice to some thoughts that come to mind in random order. For one, perhaps birth – some of us are born in homes that encourage free thinking and parity right from our cradle, others are not that fortunate. Though born in so-called sophisticated and moneyed homes, the gender divide tends to draw a fine line between the boys and the girls. The line is almost indistinguishable but it is there. One that the girls cannot cross. Two: After background and parental attitude, education is the main tool that gives a girl –

and a boy – a level playing field to live. This is the basis that encourages independent rational thinking and growth, enabling all of us to choose the way our lives should move ahead. Is there any wonder then that literacy programmes are proclaimed as being among the most important schemes in our country? The freedom of choice too is an empowering agent. For if a girl is educated and empowered in that sense, if she does not have the decision making ability, where does that all that educa-

tion leave her? Surely, a girl’s voice – as much as a boy’s should be heard while blueprinting the course of her life, be it marriage, career or what you will? An equally empowering element is financial independence which gives girls the vote to say what they want to do or what they do not want to do. True, this independence can – and is often – misused by many to indulge in childish and unnecessary rebellion. The threat that we can sustain our own lives

The writer is the Executive Editor of VERVE magazine.

Global edits

Travel VISWAPRASAD RAJU

Urban sketches

underlies all this. But, surely it gives many the freedom to live life on their own terms – in a way that brings them and those around them happiness and fulfillment. Safety – against physical and mental abuse – is something that is most needed but is not guaranteed in the society in which we live. The cases, that create headlines in papers – and the many that go unreported, being silent crimes in homes or in public spaces – are a pointer to this fact. Unfortunately, biologically,

a woman, and more so a girl, is not, normally, as strong as a man. And hence, in crucial situations can be over-powered. This is something that Nature has writ and perhaps woman can overcome with effort and quick thinking. There are a whole lot of social issues (frustration, rage, unemployment and more) and complexes that can drive a girl in a corner. Often these issues stem from the mind of a man. And it is the girl/woman who suffers at the end. To that, can anyone give a solution? Perhaps, 2013 and the years that come may be the defining years that make a girl feel safe, empowered. So, then more power to them! For, they would then create a world where I and any woman would be proud to be a part of.

The New York Times (US)

TSUNEMI KUBODERA, THE

Squidolatry

ZOOLOGIST WHO LED THE SCIENTIFIC TEAM, HAS SAID THAT THE SQUID LOOKED RATHER LONELY. WHETHER A SQUID CAN BE LONELY IS AN INTERESTING QUESTION.

This is one of the sketches that are part of Viswaprasad Raju’s 2013 calendar, Travel Sketches, available at dcube.

wo points about the giant squid, Architeuthis dux, recently caught on video by Japanese scientists and now writhing all over the Internet. It is not a colossal squid, Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni, which is even larger. And this is not the first deep-water image of a giant squid. In 2004, Japanese scientists photographed one taking their bait nearly 3,000 feet underwater in roughly the same location, some 600 miles south of Japan. We might add that as giant squid go, this squid — about 10 feet long — is 8 feet shorter than the tentacle retrieved from the 2004 squid. What matters, though, is how vivid this squid is. This isn’t a glimpse. It’s a full-length portrait. Positioned vertically against the blackness of the deep, this squid glimmers, as tall and slender as a painting by John Singer Sargent. It phosphoresces, it irridesces. The most human eye in the sea belongs to the cephalopods, and the eye in this video is no exception. It envelops the viewer. Tsunemi Kubodera, the zoologist who led the

scientific team, has said that the squid looked rather lonely. Whether a squid can be lonely is an interesting question. But it’s worth noting that this squid was photographed at home, unattracted by bait, unentangled by fishing line, free to nautilize where and as it likes. Scientists once supposed that giant squid and the colossal squid were relatively passive creatures, zeppelins of the deep. That is changing. They are regarded now as hunters, a view completely consonant with the tattoos their tentacles have left on the thick skin of sperm whales. Most of what we have known about these creatures came from their mortal remains, which said something about size and anatomy. But this video is the first unequivocal evidence of their living beauty.

BUSINESS SATURDAY, JANUARY 12, 2013

Softbank to sell eAccess

Walmart ousts LatAm chief

Facebook tests steep fees

almart announced Friday it is replacing the head of its Latin America unit as the company faces probes for alleged bribery. Walmart said Eduardo Solorzano, who had overseen a rapid and powerful expansion in Mexico in the early 2000s that is clouded by allegations of corruption, will be replaced by Enrique Ostale.

apanese telecommunications firm Softbank has decided to sell a two-thirds stake in eAccess, a smaller mobile service provider, to Samsung Electronics and 10 other companies reports said Saturday. Softbank, which last year signed a $20 billion takeover of Sprint Nextel, is in talks with 11 possible buyers, including Ericsson and Nokia Siemens Networks.

acebook confirmed Friday it was dabbling with charging members as much as $100 to get messages to the inboxes of strangers such as social network co-founder and chief Mark Zuckerberg. "We are testing some extreme price points to see what works to filter spam," Facebook said in response to an AFP inquiry regarding the costly delivery fees.

Setting their sights high

S BALAKRISHNA

Vignesh Swaminathan and Sathish Kumar had one aim – to break the stereotype that India could not bring out world class product-based innovations. So after successfully establishing CloudPact the duo now have their eyes set on global clients.

PRUDHVI RAJU K

prudhvi.k@postnoon.com

ndia might be making its presence felt in the global IT market, but there are still a few stereotypes attached to it – one being that the country cannot develop world class product based innovations. And it is these very stereotypes that Vignesh Swaminathan and Sathish Kumar wanted to break when they launched CloudPact in April 2011. The duo had always dreamt of building an IT product company and with sheer hardwork they managed to successfully develop a minimum viable product, which enables clients to develop different customer or organisational centric applications, in a short span of seven months. Vignesh and Sathish had previously worked together at Cordys, a global cloud platform software company. That is when they developed a strong rapport and decided to become business partners. So after working with Cordys for almost 13 years, Vignesh quit his job along with Sathish to start CloudPact. “I had always wanted to set up my own company. However, finances were an issue in those days and I had to work for a few years to put together the resources. But, the great work environment and growth prospects at Cordys held me back in the job for 13 years. I finally quit the job when I was a vicepresident, because the urge to build my own enterprise, which could contribute to the world, was too great,” says Vignesh. “These days there are several opportunities for youngsters to turn their dreams into reality. Investments are not a major issue and we also have the luxury of starting a company with our own savings. For instance, a software employee with any IT major earns anywhere between `35,000 to `70,000. So working with an IT company for at least three years can give one enough experience and equip them with enough money for initial investments to start a company. This

Vignesh Swaminathan (third from right) and Sathish Kumar (second from right) with their team. was not the case in the 90s,” he adds. Sathish chips in saying, “I was one of those people who chose to do a regular job in a bid to build my career. However, I soon realised that there were several business opportunities and it drove me to create something on my own. Vignesh and I share similar ideas, which brought us together to start CloudPact.” So in April 2011, the duo launched CloudPact in Bachupally. And the beginning was a humble one. “We invested around `5 lakh from our savings. Although we were many challenges, building the product stepby-step was exciting. We were five employees and each of us spent hours sitting around a dining table, that had been converted into a desk, developing the product,” recalls Sathish. Building a product platform needs time, capital and above all a strong employee base. “A product development company needs a prolonged gestation period

Fact file n

Initial investment: `5 lakh

Operational breakeven: End of 2013

Achieved growth half yearly: 10 per cent

Employees: 10

Offers: Smooth integration to Business Process Management (BPM) systems through which enterprises can deploy their BPM tasks/decisions into the mobile.

Languages used: Java, HTML, Javascript and CSS.

unlike a service company, where the revenues pour in right from the initial days. Employees should work towards the vision

rather than just for the salary and other comforts. However, the young team that we have supported us and helped us run on minimal costs. Each one of us is responsible for the growth of the company,” says Vignesh. And while they are at it, they are also working towards busting a few stereotypes associated with Indian companies. “With a rich talent pool in our country, the environment is conducive for product innovation. Many global IT companies have their R&D centres here and world-class products are developed with our human resource,” says Sathish. “On the other hand, mobile phones are rapidly evolving and companies are not just using applications to serve clients but also between employees to increase efficiency and reduce costs. For instance, this platform helps develop various products that can enable an employee to submit leave forms or expense claims using a smart phone application,” he adds.

Talking about the industry, Vignesh says, “It was a great business opportunity for us. The size of the Mobile Enterprise Application Platform market (MEAP) is at least $2 billion and there were very few market leaders in this space. We are giving a single unified experience across mobile devices through a cloudenabled platform.” The company, which had so far targeted domestic clients, now has its sights set on the global market by launching a cloud version soon. The company also plans to provide business intelligence and analytics to its clients. However, it is not all work and no play for these entrepreneurs. Vignesh loves to spend his free time playing with his daughters and also reads books on business and psychology. Purple Cow by Seth Godin is his favourite book. While Sathish enjoys reading spiritual books and watch TED videos during his free time.

TECHNOLOGY SATURDAY, JANUARY 12, 2013

WEBSITE OF THE WEEK http://cnnheroes.com his section of CNN's website honour everyday heroes who strive to make the world a better place. If you know a hero, nominate him or her here. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss: Former addict gives homeless veterans a second chance.

MOBILE GAME REVIEW

APP OF THE WEEK

Uranium Inc is a nice game that's wrapped in a structure that could only ever cause frustration. Throw in an odd control system that's as much of a puzzle as the actual gameplay and you're left with a mobile also-ran that doesn't really deserve your attention.

URANIUM INC.

Around me

t figures out where you are and lists local stuff â&#x20AC;&#x201D; banks, bars, petrol stations and, er, Apple Retail Stores. It is handy to have installed when in unfamiliar surroundings, and the 'augmented reality' landscape mode is amusing, if flaky.

Top honours go to ...

Consumer Electronic Show (CES) recently concluded in Las Vegas and here are some of the best products on demo during the expo.

CST WATCH

entral Standard Timing announced CTS-01 as the thinnest watch in the world with only 0.8 mm thickness. Made possible by the innovative electronic paper display of E Ink, CST-01 is even thinner than a credit card. This stainless steel watch also managed to fit in a tiny battery with a good battery life in the thin frame.

SAMSUNG 4K TV his ultra HD TV stands out among the others that were presented at CES because of its unique design. It comes with its own thin-frame standwith a support at the

T RAZER EDGE

BONE

TABLET

aming accessories company, Razer, is back with an interesting tablet concept at CES. The Edge tablet, formerly known as Fiona, runs on Windows 8 and has a 10.1 inch screen. It comes with additional accessories that can be docked to the side and a keyboard dock. This powerful tablet can play most games in medium resolution and has a battery life of 8 hours in normal usage. No word on the pricing yet.

back and the speakers are fit into this frame. The 85 inch display itself is gorgeous, but the price (yet unannounced) will definitely make it unaffordable for most people.

CONDUCTION EARPHONES

his is the future of ear phones, at least that's what Panasonic is saying. This wireless device pushes audio directly into your skull through small vibrations and lets you leave your ear open for ambient noise. The technology is still at an early stage, so the audio bandwidth is pretty limited. really high-frequency and low-frequency ones might not be transmitted well enough. However we can hope that this issue will be fixed by the end of the year when the product will hit the stores.

OCULUS RIFT

irtual Reality headsets have been around for a while, but Oculus Shift is the first one that works as advertised. You can plug it into a PC and get gaming and it supports most games, though it might leave you a bit disoriented. It has two lenses in a ski mask-style headmounted display that combine to form a 3D 1280 x 800 pixel display, with each eye seeing 640 x 800 pixels each. The developers claim that they have reduced a lot of lag and latency issue that plagued the DIY version they initially started selling via Kickstarter.

SAMSUNG

FLEXIBLE DISPLAY PHONE

his device may still be a prototype, but it definitely shows the way forward in mobile technology. The flexible display gives manufacturers the option to display context sensitive information along the side of the device. Samsung had demoed the concept a while back, but this is the first time they showcased something that looked like a real phone.

ANIMAL KINGDOM SATURDAY, JANUARY 12, 2013

KITES THAT WON’T

SOHAM MUKHERJEE AND RAHUL SEHGAL

here are perhaps few things as beautiful as kites. Just a piece of paper hugging a frail stick frame and followed by what seems like flimsy thread as they climb up higher and higher into the sky, as if reaching to the heavens. Making up for our own lack of wings, we’ve flown kites with childish fascination for centuries. Believed to have been invented by the Chinese two thousand years ago, it was around 549 AD that paper kites became popular. These flying ‘birds’ were then perhaps introduced to India by travellers Fa Hein and Hiuen Tsang. But it was during the Mughal era in India that kite flying or kitefighting became an avid hobby that occupied much of our time and skies. While most paper kites are torn and lost, the first evidence in Indian literature of a kite comes from Madhumati by Manzan in1542 AD. Marathi poets Eknath and Tukaram also described kites in their verses, where the word vavdi was used. Over the years, kite flying continues to be part of traditions and is a symbol of vibrance and revelry in India. As Makar Sankranti approaches and people from all over India prepare to celebrate the harvest and the transitioning of the sun into a new ‘makara rashi’, kites slowly ascend from rooftops,

its first flight into its last.” Even with a few days left for January 14, Sherwin Everett, a young volunteer with the Jivadaya Charitable Trust in Gujarat says the kite flying season starts from December and stretches on till February and even March. “These days we rescue 25 pigeons and 6-7 kites

every day,” he says of the recent toll. Birds are injured when they fly into kite threads as they’re not visible. Many have their wings, legs and necks slashed when they are entangled in manja threads on trees and poles. For bigger birds in flight, it isn’t easy to suddenly change the direction of their flight N SHIVA KUMAR

elizabeth.s@postnoon.com

N SHIVA KUMAR

ELIZABETH SOUMYA

playgrounds and tiny street corners to crowd the Indian sky with a kaleidoscope of unimaginable colours. Nowhere in India is this sight as dazzling as the state of Gujarat where millions of kites are flown as a metaphor for reaching out to God during the kite flying festival of Uttaryan. Not only are kites flown, but kite fights that span for hours are waged from rooftops to slash someone else’s kite as one shouts exultantly ‘kaipo che’ and the one whose kite remans till the end wins. While it’s difficult to imagine kites as anything but lilting objects of art, each year kites are responsible for hundreds of bird injuries and deaths around India. Soham Mukherjee, a conservationist based in Gujarat learnt this 10 years ago. “It was a picture of a dead vulture in a newspaper article. This was my first exposure to the horrifying side of Uttaryan,” he says. Soham visited an animal rescue centre first thing in the morning to be faced with a sight that left him stunned. Injured birds — “Some dead, some dying,” all due to the manja (the sharp string used to fly kites in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh), he says. But it was his first rescue that made the deepest impact on his young mind. “I was sent to rescue a large bird, a sarus crane. I reached the spot only to find a fledgling sarus crane bleeding profusely. I picked it, rushed to the rescue centre. I could feel my clothes soaked in blood, I saw the sarus take its last breath in my hands,” he recounts, “Uttarayan had turned

either. A majority of the casualties are caused by free drifting kite threads, explains Mukherjee. While a kite in itself is harmless, the manja, the razor sharp invisible thread that it is tied to, is even capable of human death. Bird biologist Aditya Roy tells us that the manja used in India and Pakistan is fortified with crushed glass, chemical colours, gelatin or rice glue to make it a weapon in kite fights. So deadly is this string that kite making, its sale and kite flying was banned in Lahore, Pakistan a few years ago. This, after increasing number of deaths, people were tangled in kite strings, slit by it in road traffic, electrocuted due to it and even fell to their deaths during kite flying. Kite flying has also been banned in as many as 15 cities in India. It was banned in the Chennai in 2006 under Section 71 of the City Police Act after an eight-year-old boy was killed when a drifting piece of ‘manja’ slashed his neck. Despite the ban, deaths continued in the city

12&13 Every year kite-flying during Sankranti sees a number of birds lose their lives throughout the country. It’s time to take care of them.

LET BIRDS FLY

due to manja. As recent as January 1, 2013, a 33-year-old motorist, K Jayakanth, who was riding with his wife and daughter on the pillion died as a result of a stray manja that slit his neck. Injuries and deaths, even of children, from all over the country have made for silent snippets in newspapers for years. Recognising manja as a safety hazard, places that have banned or issued circulars against it include Ahmedabad, Chennai, Mumbai, Bangalore, Nagpur, Ludhiana, Amritsar and Jammu and Kashmir among others. But despite these bans and restrictions, the thread is sold often openly both due to ignorance and indifference. Popular kite flying threads include Luddhi Manja or Bareilly ka Manja that comes from Rai Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh, Chinese manja (not made in China) or tangus manja made in North India and Kolkata. The recent Chinese manja made of nylon and coated with abrasives are fast replacing

cotton threads making the danger graver. The fact that these non-biodegradable threads are sold at a cheaper rate than cotton threads makes them an obvious option “These sturdy threads last even after the monsoon and cause deeper cuts,” says Roy who has counted more than 100 species of birds affected by kite strings. All birds — resident and migratory, regardless of size and age are injured and killed, says Mukherjee. While house pigeons, barn owls, crows and pariah kites are commonly wounded, white-rumped vultures, long-billed vultures, storks and peacocks are no exceptions. The kite flying season also coincides with the nesting of critically endangered white rumped vultures, injury and death of adults means starving fledglings with little chance of survival. In seven years, Roy has seen 39 vultures sent to captive breeding centres after being grounded. Most birds are injured in the front side of their wings, just where the wings connects to ‘the shoulder’ and ‘wrist’ of the bird. These injuries vary from skin and ligament tears to amputations that leave most of the birds incapable of flight forever. Apart from Gujarat, kiteflying is also popular during Sankranti in rest of India, particularly in Bihar, West Bengal, Rajasthan and Hyderabad. The sport is also an integral part of other festivals such as Vishvakarma Puja, Akshaya Tritya, Raksha Bandhan, Janmashtami, Independence day and Republic day. In Hyderabad, the tradition of Kite flying has been particularly popular in the old city. Mahesh Agarwal, member, AP state animal welfare board and volunteer, animal NGO Sahyog that runs a 24/7 helpline to report bird injuries during

Sankranti, says kites were popularised in the city by the Nizams. Recalling last year’s avian causalities he says 235 birds were injured between 14 and 26th January, 2012 and the city saw the death of three people as well. The frequent causalities in the old city are of course its omnipresent residents, the pigeons; while parakeets, pariah kites, Indian roller birds, bats and cats also figure. According to Agrawal, each year the number of injured birds seems to be increasing. This could be due to more volunteers and more cases being noticed now. However, he believes that this is merely 10% of the birds that are injured. The involvement of citizens can make a difference. When contacted, the NGO’s volunteers across Hyderabad will pick up an injured bird or auto fares are reimbursed for those that bring injured birds to the NGO’s office. What could help is if the GHMC (Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation) sent a circular to city sweepers to keep an eye out for fallen birds, he suggests. While this is just fire fighting after birds have been wounded, to deter people from flying kites is difficult because it’s associated with traditions, he says. “Birds are injured during Makar Sankranti due to kite strings, people even type ropes to birds and fly them instead of kites; snakes die every year during Nag Panchami and animal sacrifices are offered during Dussehra”, reminds Agarwal. “Andhra Pradesh’s state bird, the Indian roller bird or ‘palpitta’ is tortured each year as it’s considered auspicious during Dusshera.” In Gujarat, even the government promotes the festival of Uttarayan for tourism. Therefore it should do it “very very responsibly,” and the government can SAHYOG

Mahesh Agarwal holds a rescued Indian roller bird.

ANIMAL RESCUE HELPLINES

HYDERABAD

Blue Cross of Hyderabad, Jubilee Hills 040 3298 9858, 2354 4355 / 5523 Sahyog: 9394005600 NEW DELHI

Wildlife Rescue (Chawri Bazaar, Old Delhi)-9810029698, 98101-29698, 9810639698 Angel Eyes (Prasad Nagar, Delhi) Small animals & Birds Ambulance-9999-4111-93 Fauna Police (Sarojini Nagar, Delhi) 9212-11111-6, 9868355222 Wildlife Rescue (For Kites/Eagles and other nonvegetarian birds; located at Old Delhi): 98100 29698 Wildlife SOS (For all wildlife Located at Defence Colony in South Delhi): 98719 63535; 011- 2462 1939, 2464 4231 BENGALURU

Bannerghatta Rehabilitation Centre (WRRC) - 08022947307/ 22947300/ 22947301 People for Animals (PFA) 080 2860 3986/2860 play a huge role in educating and motivating people to make it safe for themselves and birds, says Mukherjee. He gives the example of the International Kite Flying Festival that doesn’t use manja or promote kite fighting. “Flying big designer kites with kite lines can be great fun and is safe because at the end of the day, everything is packed back in bags leaving nothing to endanger birds,” he says. According to Roy since kite flying is cultural boycotting, it might not be welcomed by enthusiasts. But they can take few

White-rumped vultures.

4767/2273 3350; 99803 39880 MUMBAI

Karuna 9819110110 Bombay Central 022 23018863 Western Suburb 022 28763856 Thane to Kanjur 022 32522588 Bhiwandi 9850530001 Virar-Vasai-Nalasopara 95202502222, 95203203333, 09970170780, Kantibhai 9960747547 AHMEDABAD

09429600108,8128257004, 8141565606,7878171727 Jivadaya Charitable Trust: (079) 26620368 (M) 9624024949, 9904401017, 9924418184 VADODARA: 09825797056 SURAT: 9825119081 PUNE: Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre: 02024367712 WILDLIFE-RESCUE RELATED

Police 100; Fire: 101: Police and Fire Rescue Service also direct wildlife related calls to respective NGOs. steps to perhaps lower the risks on birds. Most birds tend to fly more between 5am to 8am and return to their nests in the evening between 5.30 to 7.30pm. At least during these hours kite flying must be checked, he suggests, while adding, kite flyers must be responsible enough to use safer threads instead of manja as in many parts of the world. Agrarwal advises enthusiasts to fly from open grounds instead of rooftops. “All kite flyers must make sure strings entangled in the neighbourhood are collected,” he adds.

BOOKS SATURDAY, JANUARY 12, 2013

SHORT READS Title: Tenth of December Author: George Saunders Publisher: Random House What would you expect from a man who's written political novellas, children's books and is considered an excellent satirist? George Saunders' latest short story collection allows him to show his range of writing skills, and he does so brilliantly.

Title: The Universe Within Author: Neil Shubin Publisher: Pantheon Evolution gets new life with Neil Shubin's latest book, where he proposes that every step in the evolution of the world can be seen in our own bodies. Through fossils, rocks and the atmosphere, he links the human experience to a universal one.

Title: The Fall of the House of Dixie Author: Bruce Levine Publisher: Random House A comprehensive look at the fall of the Confederacy after the American civil war and the loss of the way of life in the South, The Fall of the House of Dixie tells the whole tale of power, greed, slavery, defeat and resurrection.

Title: Kinsey & Me Author: Sue Grafton Publisher: Penguin Group If you're a fan of Kinsey Millhone, one of the best fictional female detectives there is, pick up Kinsey & Me, an anniversary edition where the author reveals Kinsey's background while telling her own life's story.

Bengaluru's underbelly

Bringing humour back to crime fiction is Zac O'Yeah's Mr Majestic: The Tout of Bengaluru, and the ride is every bit as entertaining as promised. JYOTSNA NAMBIAR

jyotsna.n@postnoon.com

f you've ever downed a bottle of Khoday's XXX Rum neat, been kidnapped by gangsters and conned by pretty girls, found that you killed a man and watched all your well-planned scams go down the drain, you'll know how Mr Majestic feels. Hari Majestic (not his real name) has had a rough week of it. It all started when his lovely internet scam (in which he offered foreigners a certificate course in Bollywood) was discovered by an muscled man who looked like a stuffed rhinoceros. Then, he discovers that a beautiful Indian-American, Madhuri, has gone missing, and all because of his scam. The pundit had warned him that his stars were not in alignment. Now, with only his rat-like dog by his side, Majestic battles with seedy underworld types, pornography filmmakers, a wandering Swede tourist and an aloof, chain-smoking American woman to find Madhuri and send her home. If you enjoy psychedelic writing, with lashings of humour and a satisfying whodunnit all rolled in one, yep, this could be the book for you. The author, Zac O'Yeah, continuously reinvents himself. He's been a musician, a theatre artiste, a travel writer, a Swede, an Indian and so much more. No wonder he loves creating characters like Mr Majestic, who slips skins like people would clothes. In Mr Majestic: The Tout of Bengaluru, Zac scripts a crazy love letter to the seedy underside of Bengaluru, filled with neurotic autodrivers and drunk uncles. Hari Majestic is not your average hero, and he's so much more loveable for it. The characters, even those with fleeting appearances, are fleshed out in bold strokes, making them vibrant and really quite believable. You would think that with so many characters being intro-

duced, they would be reduced to caricatures, but the author manages to walk the fine line between slapstick and gentle humour. The writing is funny, the plot a little more convoluted than was warranted, but Zac manages to hold your attention through the book. Bengaluru, with all its idiosyncrasies and shady nooks and corners, is brought to life with such loving detail that it's easy to imagine yourself hurtling through the city on Mr Majestic's much-abused scooter. Zac's love for his adopted city is obvious â&#x20AC;&#x201D; his outsider/insider view of Bengaluru and its people makes for a very refreshing viewpoint. Nothing is exotic or ordinary; Zac merely tips his head to the zaniness of life itself. The Swedes may be known for their crime fiction, but only Zac O'Yeah combines a thriller and a masala potboiler with such ease and panache. So much better than his first crime novel, Once Upon A Time In Scandinavistan, Zac O'Yeah is

thankfully bringing humour back into crime fiction.

Name Mr Majestic: The Tout of Bengaluru Author Zac O'Yeah Pages 290 Publisher Hachette India

BOOKS SATURDAY, JANUARY 12, 2013

Do people still read classics? The general perception is no, but the truth is yes. There are aficionados that stand by classics, un-swayed by the onslaught of the likes of Fifty Shades of Grey.

RAJESH RAVINDRAN

rajesh.r@postnoon.com

mong the books on the racks in Landmark, marked new arrivals, you will find a book called Seduce. If you are “seduced”, then be ready to Surrender and then Satisfy. If you arrange these books in order, their covers will give you the complete picture: a woman lying on a couch with her head thrown back with her lover at her feet, “at work”. Since the gigantic success of Fifty shades of Grey, bookstores have been stashed with similar books and justifiably so because of the steady sale. If you can see beyond the hysteria set off by books of erotica and sensuality, then next place on the podium of popularity, at least here in Hyderabad, is taken by books such as I too have a love story, Oh Shit, Not Again! and She Broke Up, I Didn't!... I Just Kissed Someone Else! And somewhere tucked away in a corner of a bookstore, quiet and sombre like a chapel, you will find the section “Classics”. It’s extraordinary if you find a soul browsing the collection there on a week day. Works of Shakespeare, Joyce, Hardy and Austen lie there uncomplaining, though these are doyens and it is the sheer class of their work that has given them eternal life. So, do people read classics today? The general perception is no, but the truth is yes. There are still aficionados that stand by classics, un-swayed by the onslaught of the likes of Fifty Shades of Grey. “Of course, if you consider the sales, classics are way behind in comparison with bestsellers,” Siju Joy, who works with Landmark. “But there’s a

steady, loyal bunch which come on Saturdays and Sundays and pick an old favourite.” Siju says when they had an offer on classics, the section was teeming with people. “There were people from all age groups,” said Siju and added that he remembers a guy who had come three days in a row and gone back with “basketful of books”. Otherwise, it’s mostly college students and the mature crowd that come for classics. “Pride and Prejudice of Jane Austen is a great favourite,” said

THE ESSENCE OF CLASSICS IS IT HAS EVERLASTING LIFE. CLASSICS STAND THE TEST OF TIME. YOU CAN GO BACK TO IT AND RE-READ ANYTIME AND IT STILL FASCINATES YOU. Siju. “So are works of Charles Dickens. Youngsters who are with theatre groups come looking for works of Chekov and

Shaw. I remember a senior citizen asking for Homer’s Odyssey.” “There are even takers for Shakespeare.” There is a newfound interest in classics when they are made into movies. “There was demand for Christmas Carol and Alice in Wonderland when these were made into movies,” said Ramesh M, who is with Crosswords. Sunayana Sen, who works with Facebook, said of her love for works of Tagore. “I don’t read much of English classics, but I read a lot of Tagore. I have

read Merchant of Venice and Tempest, as I wanted to check out what’s the hype about Shakespeare.” Kovuuri Ganapathy Reddy, who works with the AP information centre in Delhi, recalled fond memories of reading Wuthering Heights. “That’s a dark and intense book.” Ganapathy Reddy said the essence of classics is it has everlasting life. “Classics stand the test of time. You can go back to it and re-read anytime and it still fascinates you.”

WHAT’S SELLING Walden best in fiction

Walden’s best in non-fiction

New York Times’ best in fiction

New York Times’ best in non-fiction

n Angel of the Dark by Tilly Bagshawe

n Jugaad Innovation by Radjou, Prabhu, Ahuja

n Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

n Killing Kennedy by Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard

n Fifty Shades Of Grey by EL James n 31 by Upendra Namburi n Winter World by Ken Follett n Krishna Key by Ashwin Sanghi

n Breakout Nations by Ruchir Sharma n Tirupati A Guide to Life by Kota Neelima n Eat Delete by Pooja Makhija n October Coup by Mohammed Hyder

n The Racketeer by John Grisham n Merry Christmas, Alex Cross by James Patterson n The Casual Vacancy by JK Rowling n Threat Vector by Tom Clancy with Mark Greaney

n Thomas Jefferson by Jon Meacham n Killing Lincoln by Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard n No Easy Day by Mark Owen with Kevin Maurer n America Again by Stephen Colbert

WOMEN SATURDAY, JANUARY 12, 2013

WEBSITES OF THE WEEK Social networking is all the rage, and Ning takes it to the next level by letting you create your very own social network. Ning is a great website for organising a group of people.

An oldie but a goody, The Onion still remains one of the hippest places to hang out on the web. Known for satirical news The Onion might just be the funniest destination on the web.

Created by the Music Genome Project, Pandora offers a radio service by playing related songs not based on the likes and dislikes of people, but based on how close together songs are musically.

Shaping our society

A person with one of the toughest jobs in the modern welfare state, meet Rajani Guduri, an immensely respected name in the Andhra Pradesh judiciary. N SHIVA KUMAR

PADMINI C

padmini.c@postnoon.com

isit the child welfare community in the city a few times and magistrate Rajani Guduri's name is bound to come up often. She is a Senior Civil Judge and the Principal Magistrate on the Juvenile Justice Board in Hyderabad. And all those who work with her can't be more thankful for it. In the one and half years since she's taken up the post, she's already earned herself the reputation of being scrupulously fair and uncompromisingly conscientious. “When you are in a position like this, there are a lot of com-

pulsions. But it's important to remember what you were appointed to do and so you remain true to yourself and preserve your integrity. When people see that you are not a person open to solicitation of any kind, they will hesitate to approach you with any agenda,” says the soft-spoken judge. Inspired by her father G Krishna Rao who retired as a district judge, Guduri completed her LLB in Law from Andhra University in Visakhapatnam, and practiced as an advocate in the High Court for 10 years before she was inducted into the judiciary. She worked for a year on deputation as faculty in the AP Police Academy after which she went on to complete her LLM from the Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago. But it's the current posting on the Juvenile Justice Board

that's closest to her heart. “I've always wanted to work in the area of women and child welfare. And so I think that the past year and half on the JJB has been more rewarding and satisfying than all the other postings in my career,” Rajani says. Going into private practice even though it might be more lucrative has never even been an option for her. “Every day I meet children on the street, in homes, and those who are produced before me in the court. There are tales of poverty and destitution, need and necessity, a lot of back-stories that I would never have known if I hadn't involved myself in the process. I couldn't have got that anywhere else.” Rescuing, rehabilitating and counselling children in conflict with law, and then to see them

reform is the greatest pleasure of her job. But she is also the first to admit, the system needs to be improved. “Cases which involve juveniles who commit serious offenses, after considering the facts and circumstances, and proven guilty should be given harsher punishments,” she says, citing the Delhi rape case as an instance. “Also, children in non serious offences sent to special homes should be segregated in accordance with their age.” Despite her hectic schedule, Rajani is ever-smiling and tolerant in a way that almost belies the stressful nature of the job. “I meditate for an hour in the morning and half an hour in the evening,” she says laughing. A follower of the natural path and the Ram Chandra Mission, she says that when in doubt, she seeks guidance from

her spiritual guru. The mother of two is also an avid scholar. In addition to her law degrees, she also has a BA in Sociology and a PGD in Social Welfare and Industrial Relations, and a diploma in French. “If given the time and the opportunity, I'd also love to do a PhD.” What about her interests and passions? “Back in the day I used to write poetry and have programmes in Yuva Vani on DD radio. If I get the time, I would love to go back and pursue those passions.” But for now, she smilingly bears the immense responsibility of reforming the children that, in the near future, will go on to shape our society. The All about Eve columnwill be back next week.

SPOTLIGHT SATURDAY, JANUARY 12, 2013 1

In a festive mood

Natha, Shalini 2 Bina 3 Reema

4 Anvita 5 Hema, Sharmila 6 Priyanka

1 Ravita, Rina Agarwal, Shashi

S BALAKRISHNA

The members of the Kakatiya Ladies Club rang in the celebrations early with a traditional Sankranti themed event at ITC Kakatiya on Friday.

7 Komal 8 Namitha 9 Radhika

Musical morning Music maestro AR Rahman was in the City on Friday to attend the promo launch of Kadali a film by Mani Ratnam.The cast of the film was also introduced at the HICC, Novotel. 1 AR Rahman 2 Gautam Karthik 3 Arjun

4 Mani Ratnam 5 Karthik 6 Radha

7 Suhasini 8 Thulasi

RELATIONSHIPS SATURDAY, JANUARY 12, 2013

I AM ALL EARS

will be moving abroad for studies shortly and my girlfriend of three years will also be going abroad but to another City. Her parents want her to get married to someone there, saying it will be good for her future. She is against their decision , but I think it will be good for her future. Please help

Dear worriedkid, If your girlfriend were to hear this she would flip and leave you immediately and think of you as a coward. However, I also understand your view point that since you are not settled in life you are worried if you are holding her back. I am sure your girlfriend does not want to get married because it’s a life ahead of her and she probably wants to spend her life with you. I think you should keep out of this. Do not make any promises.

artners each bring a suitcase of prior experiences to a relationship, which may influence what happens in their current relationship, says Katherine Haydon, assistant professor of psychology and education. One central question in her work is how romantic partners’ individual developmental histories affect what happens in their current relationship.

BFFs anonymous

We all have a group of people we turn to if we’re looking for fun, some venting sessions, shopping and bitching about how overworked we are. But, what’s the one thing that we look for in a real friend? Postnoon finds out. NIDHI BHUSHAN

nidhi.b@postnooon.com

he first thing that popped up on Google search when I was looking for the dictionary meaning of a true friend was a YouTube link to Miley Cyrus’s True Friends. Google seriously needs some real friends, I thought. In the song, the teenage singing star drives home the point that a true friend is one who stays by your side through thick and thin and stays with you till the end. Though we agree to some extent, true friendship is deeper than that, isn’t it? There are times when we are friends with someone and time, distance and all to do with life

comes in between. “Even if that happens, and that happens to all of us, it doesn’t mean that my friend wasn’t a real one when we were thick. I think, true friendship is when two friends, who are no longer in touch with each other, continue to wish well for one another and believe that if they are meant to hang out again, they would,” said Shruti Jolly, an IT professional. “A true friend is also one who sticks by you in good and bad times. A person who knows your deepdark secrets and yet he or she never uses them to judge you or belittle you.” Making new friends is something that is constant in our lives, whether it’s meeting new people in college or at the workplace. However, it is our school friends who remain close to us forever, while the rest are just temporary passengers who come and go, feels Naman Mawandia. “I can pick up from where I left

Friends on film 1) I Love You, Man 2) Fried Green Tomatoes 3) Thelma and Louise 4) Bride Wars 5) My Best Friend’s Wedding 6) Stand By Me 7) Joint Security Area (Korean) 8) Sholay 9) Dil Chahta Hai 10) Good Will Hunting only with my school friends. There is no formality, unlike with those who I befriend at the workplace and to some extent even college. My school friends have always known the real me and that helps. Moreover, real friends tell you on your face when you are wrong and for me, it’s my school friends who manage that even though it might risk our

friendship at times,” he says. While everybody has a different definition of what makes a true friend, there is one thing common — trust. “A true friend is someone you can trust with anything. Someone who’s like a well, whatever goes in never comes out. At least that’s what I’m like with respect to my friends,” says Mohammed Riyadh, a college student. Another aspect that makes for a true friend is the notion that real friends stand by you, especially when the going gets tough. “If a friend doesn’t stand by me when I’m low, he or she doesn’t need to be around when the time’s good either,” says Nitika Dial. Her friend Neha Sharma agrees with her and says: “Sometimes, you realise who your real friends are only when you are going through a rough patch. I realised this about one of my casual friends when he stood by me when my dog was

diagnosed with typhoid. He stuck by me throughout the time I was running around from one doctor to another. He made all the effort he could to help me get over the grief of losing my dog.” Then there is the time factor. “I have known my best friend since the two of us were in second grade. We went our different ways, but always made time for one another. Now, after nearly 50 long years, our equation still remains the same. I can tell her anything and she can too,” says 58-year-old Chitra Gupta. Another person who agrees with Gupta, Nitin Jain says, “I have known my best friend since school. I can call him any time for anything, there is no pretension. I used to have the best time playing cricket with him when I was growing up. And, even though I don’t speak to him regularly, I would choose spending time with him over anybody else I know.”

CINEMA SATURDAY, JANUARY 12, 2013

Movie: Seethamma Vaakitlo Sirimalle Chettu Cast: Venkatesh, Mahesh Babu, Samantha, Anjali, Prakash Raj, Jayasudha Directed by: Srikanth Addala Rating:

SVSC is a refreshingly beautiful drama Venkatesh and Mahesh Babu shine in Seethamma Vaakitlo Sirimalle Chettu, but the real hero is director Srikanth Addala, who deserves a pat on the back for weaving a lovely family drama. HEMANTH KUMAR

hemanth.k@postnoon.com

t’s been a long time since we have seen a good family drama sans the usual menu of clichés associated with contemporary Telugu cinema. Melodrama is a common element in this genre and except for some moral science lessons about life, love and the importance of family, there’s nothing else one would want to remember from such films. That’s one reason why Seethamma Vaakitlo Sirimalle Chettu is so refreshing. Yes, it still delves into the relationships which family members share, but the characters are so well written that it seems more like a slice of life drama than a mish-mash of films from the past. Directed by Srikanth Addala, the film stars Venkatesh and Mahesh Babu as siblings, who over-

come a lot of misunderstandings that affects their affection for each other. Peddhodu (Venkatesh) is a stubborn guy who cannot tolerate anyone who doesn’t respect him or his family. His younger brother, who’s affectionately called, Chinnodu (Mahesh Babu), lives in Hyderabad and his perspective of life is completely different from his brother. Their father (Prakash Raj) is a well respected man in their village. He believes that you should always smile when you meet others and when you are good to people around you, life becomes all the more beautiful. Seetha (Anjali), who grows up in their house, hopes that one day she’ll get married to Peddhodu. Chinnodu goes to Vijayawada for his uncle’s daughter’s wedding and there he meets Geetha (Samantha). The two fall in love with each other, but he’s concerned that his elder brother will not approve of their relationship. The rest of the story is the confrontation between the two brothers over various issues and how they shed all their anger in the end.

Both Venkatesh and Mahesh Babu have done a fabulous job in their respective roles. Their characterisations couldn’t have been more different and one of the issues which forms a wedge between them is their aspirations towards life. Peddhodu believes in living life on his own terms with a devil-may-care attitude, while Chinnodu believes that there’s no place for egos between people, although he doesn’t tolerate anyone pointing fingers at his brother or father. Srikanth Addala, who directed the film, strips them off their image and it is their characters in the film that take centrestage. Prakash Raj is fantastic in his role and he becomes the epitome of goodness in the film. Samantha is good as a bubbly girl, whereas Anjali is a delight to watch onscreen. Others like Jayasudha, Rao Ramesh and Thanikella Bharani do justice to their roles.Stories like this have already been dealt with in Telugu cinema, but here the credit goes to Srikanth Addala for weaving a beautiful drama sans unwarranted melodrama. The pace dips here and there, but it doesn’t hamper the film. Moreover, the emotional quotient in the film is retained throughout the film and the second half is its soul. The dia-

logues are natural and the screenplay is good. Mickey J Meyer’s music is soothing and KV Guhan’s cinematography is commendable. SVSC is a film which might resemble your own life in one way or another. It’s one of the best family dramas in a long time and the simplicity of the story and the characters has a profound effect in the end. Two big thumbs up for the film, Venkatesh, Mahesh Babu, Prakash Raj and Srikanth Addala. Go watch it with your family.

CINEMA SATURDAY, JANUARY 12, 2013

Electrifying entertainment A political satire that takes a look at the demons plaguing our society.

atru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola is a political satire. The film begins with Mr Mandola and his drinking companion, Matru, creating havoc. Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola belongs to feudal lord, Hukum Singh Mandola aka Harry (Pankaj Kapur), from the first frame, literally. Harry harbours the dream of selling his agricultural land for industrialisation and development, not sparing a thought to the villagers’ plight. But that is only when he is sober. But after drinking alcohol, he is a changed man, completely transformed. The socialist in him surfaces and incredibly, he challenges his own feudal self, wanting to help his villagers. He is not the only one wanting to help the poor villagers. Matru (Imran Khan), Mandola’s driver-cum-assistant and his partner in crime, too is egalitarian and wants to help the villagers save their land. There is Mao, a faceless wellwisher, who manages to offer timely help to the villagers. And there is Mandola’s foreign educated daughter Bijlee (Anushka Sharma) too joining in the revolution. On the surface, at the start, it seems like a light-hearted entertainer about an alcoholic feudal lord, his drunken idiosyncrasies and his villagers. It’s when Chief Minister Chaudhary Devi (Shabana Azmi) mouths,

“Maslaa hai desh ka, na power ka na bijli ka,” sums up the larger issues that the film deals with and post her entry, it becomes evident that the movie is a political satire. The film is not only layered with demons of the society, but also deals with personal demons that haunt Mandola, his people and the place. Pankaj Kapur is the only star of the film as the film belongs to him. After Maqbool, this is easily his best. He keeps the audience regaled with his “pancho pancho” after guzzling a few pegs, hallucinating about a “gulabi bhains” (pink buffalo) and when he is confronting the scheming Devi (Azmi). He delivers a power-packed performance with convivial ease. Arya Babbar as Badal, Devi’s imbecile son, delivers a compelling and consistent performance. Imran as the idealistic, rustic Matru is a refreshing change from his usual suave and debonair avatar. He slips into his role with simplicity. Unfortunately for him, his character is not so well rounded and is on the fringe of the plot. Anushka fails to be thunderous in her performance even though she is Bijlee. She walks through the film doing what she always does — playing a bold and spunky girl with I-care-a damn attitude. The music, as expected from

8 Oscar nominations for Silver..., Anupam pleased

TV HOST’S JOB HIGHLY UNDERRATED:

MINI MATHUR I

ndian actor Anupam Kher, who features in the cast of Hollywood movie Silver Linings Playbook, is ecstatic after the romantic-comedy bagged eight nominations at the 85th Academy Awards. He says “this is the biggest moment of my life”. “As an Indian actor, I feel rewarded for my 30 years of contribution to cinema. I am glad to have worked with the fabulous cast and crew of Silver Linings Playbook,” Anupam

said in a statement. “(Director) David O Russell is undoubtedly a brilliant filmmaker and he has proved it again. A major part of me as an actor feels satiated today,” added the 57-year-old veteran. Anupam played Dr Patel in the film, which features Hollywood giants Robert de Niro and Bradley Cooper in key roles. The Oscar nominations were announced in Los Angeles IANS Thursday morning.

opular anchor Mini Mathur says a TV host’s work is often not considered important enough despite the fact that it is the host who keeps a show together. “A TV host’s job is highly underrated and often considered replaceable, when actually they are the glue that holds and shapes everything together,” Mini tweeted. Mini has been a successful video jockey and has been host for several live events and reality shows like Iss Jungle Se Mujhe Bachao and Indian Idol. She recently shot for Kaun Banega IANS Crorepati 6 as the ‘expert’ lifeline.

Bhardwaj, is outstanding. Oye Boy Oye Boy Charlie is well-picturised though reminiscent of Namak ishq ka from Omkara. The title song is energy-packed though not too relevant in the context of the film. The background score and the lyrics by Gulzar are equally a treat and add to the pace of the film. Bhardwaj has managed to package the film well. The treatment is indeed poetic and

Movie: Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola Cast: Pankaj Kapur, Imran Khan, Anushka Sharma, Arya Babbar and Shabana Azmi Directed by: Vishal Bhardwaj Rating: smooth. The cinematography is good and inspiring. The dialogues and lyrics are hard hitting with messages and oodles of entertainment, mostly double entendre. The plot is layered and complex, but not without flaws. The barbs on the political system and society are contemporary and may lose their context in years to come, very reminiscent of Indian People’s Theatre Association (IPTA) plays. Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola may not have a universal appeal, but it is thoroughly IANS entertaining.

CINEMA SATURDAY, JANUARY 12, 2013

MIKE TYSON TO PLAY A MURDERER ON LAW & ORDER

AMY

WAS WATCHING HER OWN VIDEOS BEFORE SHE DIED S

ooks like Mike Tyson's portrayal of himself in The Hangover impressed some people. E! News confirms that the former boxer will be making his TV acting debut with a guest starring role on NBC's Law & Order: Svu, and he won't be playing himself (for once). So what are the deets on Tyson's mysterious character? He will play a murderer on death row named Reggie Rhodes, who had an unfortunate upbringing and became a very violent individual —clearly. Rhodes' case catches the eyes of Detective Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and defense attorney Bayard Ellis (Andre Braugher) during an Svu investigation.

inger Amy Winehouse died after watching videos of herself on YouTube while binge drinking vodka, according to reports about the second inquest into the singer's death heard on Tuesday. Coroner Shirley Radcliffe ruled that Winehouse did not die under suspicious circumstances and lost her life due to accidental alcohol poisoning, the Associated Press reports. A pathologist told the inquest that the 27-year-old, whose blood alcohol level was later discovered to be "five times the

legal driving limit," probably suffered respiratory arrest after drinking too much. As the Daily Mail notes, a second inquest into Winehouse's death was recorded after the coroner at the first hearing was deemed to be under-qualified. In a statement read at the inquest, Winehouse's bodyguard, Andrew Morris, said the Back to Black singer had been watching herself on YouTube the night before her death — something he said he'd never seen her do, the Associated Press reports.

The Star Wars TV show may get some play at ABC A

potentially great side effect of Disney purchasing Lucasfilm: That Star Wars TV show — the adult-oriented one that's been likened to Deadwood in space — may actually happen sometime this decade. Fifty scripts overseen by recently departed Lucasfilm producer Rick McCallum have been sitting on a shelf for a while, and they now look a little more viable with ABC right there in the corporate family. That said, it's unclear if Star Wars: Episode VII's 2015 release could work for or against the TV show launching in the near future. "It’s going to be very much up to the Lucasfilm brands how they want to play it," ABC entertainment president Paul Lee tells Entertainment Weekly.

CHAI TIME SATURDAY, JANUARY 12, 2013

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

SUDOKU

To an adolescent, there is nothing in the world more embarrassing than a parent.

Play & Win

voucher from VENKEY’S VEG Restaurant, Nampally

Kakuro is a popular game similar to sudoku in some ways. But is also suitably different. The key question: ‘How do you play Kakuro?’, well here are the rules of kakuro. The answer: The kakuro grid, unlike in sudoku, can be of any size. It has rows and columns, and dark cells like in a crossword. And, just like in a crossword, some of the dark cells will contain numbers. Some cells will contain two numbers. However, in a crossword the numbers reference clues. In a kakuro, the numbers are all you get! They denote the total of the digits in the row or column referenced by the number. Within each collection of cells — called a run — any of the numbers 1 to 9 may be used but, like sudoku, each number may only be used once. Let’s have an example to explain this concept more clearly: In the image above, which shows a section of a kakuro puzzle, you will see the numbers ‘26’ and ‘14’ in the top row. Look at the 14. This means that the total of the three cells underneath must sum to 14. Therefore 9, 4, 1 could be the answer, or perhaps 7, 4, 3 and so on... So, how do you work out the actual combination? Well, this is done through elimination and cross-referencing. For instance, as you work out the answers for other kakuro clues, this will naturally limit the valid combinations, and hence the answer for this particular run. Note the second cell in row two — it contains two numbers, 30 and 11. The 30 refers to the vertical run underneath the number 30 and the 11 refers to the two cells to the right, horizontally, of the voucher from VENKEY’S VEG Restaurant, Nampally number 11.

Play & Win

Please send in your filled-in entries to Postnoon, #1246, Level 3, Jubilee Casa, Road No 62, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad – 500033. The winners will be announced on this page in Sunday’s edition.

QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 French cleric 5 Modem units 10 Extremely dry champagne 14 Fictional plantation of Georgia 15 ‘Captain Blood’ star Flynn 16 Fury 17 Big name in Norwegian royalty 18 Diameter halves 19 Wight is one 20 Three holes to fill 23 ___ Lanka 24 Squeeze from mom 25 ___ de mer (seasickness) 28 Hero worshiper? 32 ___ in the hole 35 Dispatch boat 37 Litigious type 38 Hang a right 39 Four holes to fill 42 Thigh-covering skirt 43 Hang a sharp right 44 Prefix for ‘act’ or ‘play’ 45 ___ mode (served with ice cream) 46 Most concise 48 Feeding trough site 49 Title for Sean Connery 50 Possessive pronoun 52 Three holes to fill

61 Length X width 62 Temptress 63 Highly rated 64 Breathe like a dog 65 Creme de la creme 66 Job for a plumber 67 Blackthorn fruit 68 Relinquish office 69 They can be made to meet DOWN 1 Sitting on 2 Island in the Java Sea 3 Indulge in self-praise 4 Roof projections

5 Late comedian Mac 6 Middle East denizen 7 Descendant of Sanskrit 8 ‘That oughta ___!’ 9 Like snakes and eels 10 Tote with you 11 Abrade with a tool 12 Fruit that doesn’t sound pretty 13 Person ‘twixt 12 and 20 21 DuPont fiber 22 Your and my 25 ‘___ mia!’ 26 To no ___ 27 Yorba ___, Calif

29 Daisy look-alike 30 Heats up in a microwave 31 Name on many tractors 32 Parent’s sisters 33 Oil-bearing

PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER

KAKURO

How to play kakuro

– Dave Barry

vessel 34 Contest submission 36 Glide down peaks 38 Cargo measure, perhaps 40 Hackneyed 41 ‘What she said’ 46 Little spasm 47 Official seal 49 Mode of being 51 Tool for this puzzle’s title 52 Soft foods 53 Presentation type 54 Nevada city near the California border 55 Fluid from the liver 56 Hat part 57 Hairy Himalayan, reportedly 58 Rhinoceros protuberance 59 English novelist Bagnold 60 Iron-pumper’s count

CHAI TIME SATURDAY, JANUARY 12, 2013

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

Virgo

The Hermit

Six of Pentacles

King of Cups

Ace of Cups

King of Swords

Ten of Wands

ork – You do not need to feel overwhelmed by the job at hand. Your bosses are aware of how much you can deliver. They will also provide you with assistance. Romance – You’ve reached a comfortable understanding with your partner where you both know when to give space and when to be there for the other. Health – You will get whatever therapy you need at this point. It could be in the form of touch therapy or Reiki or something alternative. Money – Your finances improve through the intervention of a third party. Your debts are cleared. Tarot message – Keep an open mind and share with others – whether giving or taking. Don’t be too rigid about the yours-andmine theory.

ork – You have access to the best information and network of people. Use this to your advantage without being pompous or arrogant about it. Romance – You are approaching a relationship too much from the head. It’s hardly about how expensive the restaurant where you dined is. Health – Give free flow to your creativity and allow your heart to lead you. This will make you feel good about yourself. Money – Finances are in good shape. You may be too thrifty and feeling the need to cut corners wherever you deem fit. Loosen up. Tarot message – You’re all about the intellect. Your heart may be feeling left out at this point. Listen to your feelings, too.

ork –You need to work out a solution on your own. Though you may work in a team, you will be expected to do your bit by yourself. Romance – Though you may be together with someone, during this time of your life you’re on your own personal inner journey. Explain this to your spouse. Health – You may be restless because you are anxious to find what you’re looking for. Pay attention to your dreams. They have the answers. Money – Finances are in good shape. You have whatever you need at this point. It’s another thing that money is not your top priority. Tarot message – This is a crucial time for your spiritual path. You begin to discover yourself.

ork – You want more flexibility and freedom in your work situation and are working to make this a reality. Plans will work out well. Romance – You reach new levels of understanding with your partner. You discover each other through sensual pleasures. You wine and dine. Health – Get a day at the spa, switch off your phone and indulge. Get massages, pamper yourself and come away feeling rejuvenated. Money – Review your finance portfolio. Don’t be lazy to move things around if you’re not getting the returns you hoped for. Tarot message – You get in touch with your inner self. After a long time, you have it in you to make decisions based on intuition.

ork – You think with your heart and sometimes in a very rigid corporate setup this may not work very well. Creative professionals do well. Romance – Singles are likely to meet someone interesting while travelling. Don’t close your mind to any possibility. You only lose by doing that. Health – You feel good from within and this shows on your health as well. Sip on cups of green tea and eat more salads to keep healthy. Money – You may get an opportunity to moonlight on a creative project. You begin to enjoy it so much that you plan to take it up seriously. Tarot message – Listen to your intuition and pay attention to your feelings.

SUMAA TEKUR tarotreadhyd@gmail.com

Libra

Scorpio

Four of Wands

Four of Pentacles

ork – Are you being too rigid about an idea suggested by a colleague? Learn to open up and follow adventurous new paths. Romance – You’re a traditionalist when it comes to courtship and marriage. You like to do things the conventional way. Find someone who thinks like you. Health – You need to get into a rhythm as far as your health is concerned. Control your weight and stop that junk food. Resist buying those packets at the supermarket. Money – The bank balance is looking excellent. You’ve saved for a rainy day and you’re feeling confident about your choices. Tarot message – You must try to achieve stability in your life. At the same time, don’t lose sight of unstructured fun.

ork – You get a job offer from a better company for more money and bigger responsibility. Be confident that you can handle it. Romance – If you’re seeing someone, the commitment deepens. You start living together, or you decide to tie the knot. Health – You make changes in your exercise routine. The change itself is refreshing. Your body responds to the new plan. Try new foods like salads and soups, too. Money – You change your tax advisor and plan your finances differently. It will have a positive impact on your portfolio. Tarot message – This is a good time. You need to lie low and continue working to make the most of this fortunate phase.

Sagittarius The Empress

ork –Creativity is heightened at the work place. Colleagues come to you for new ideas. Think out of the box. Romance – This is the best time for romance. You enjoy a passionate relationship. The timing is just perfect. This was something you were waiting for. Health – Creative tasks energise you like no other. Get into painting, pottery, poetry, or just about anything that challenges your right brain. Money – If you have been eyeing a real estate property or something big, go after it. Don’t back out because it’s too big a deal. It’ll work out. Tarot message – Cultivate your dreams and don’t be afraid to go after hem. This is a wonderful love-filled phase in your life.

Capricorn

Date 13-1-2013

Aquarius

Eight of Cups

The Moon

ork – Someone you work with isn’t telling you the whole truth about a situation. You don’t know the full story about a situation. So play your cards based on this knowledge. Romance – You and your significant other are connected through karma. The ups and downs you face now are because of your bond with each other. Health – You have good intuition. If something is not feeling right, trust that feeling and get help sooner rather than later. Money – Don’t cash in any investments you purchased on a whim, without fully checking out all the conditions. Tarot message – Feelings of anxiety haunt you. You haven’t been sleeping well and need to reassure yourself that good times will come soon.

ork – You’re sick of the nine-to-five routine and want to do something on your own. Experiment with ideas. Romance – If something is not working out as per plan, give it up and move on. Learn to let go. There are many fish in the sea. Health – It’s more mental stress that is getting to you. You’re worried that not everything is going to plan. You’re also anxious about the outcome of a project. Money – You’re worried that your savings may not be enough to manage your future. Plan better. Sit with pen and paper and review your monies. Tarot message – You find meaning in solitude. Long hours spent with yourself makes you look at life differently altogether.

ork – You’re taking on more than you can handle and feeling the burden of it all. Do not hesitate to delegate. It does not mean you’re a bad employee. Romance – You and your partner need some time away to sort things out in your heads. Space will do you good. Health – Your own expectations are threatening to get you down. Step away from the situation, view the big picture. Don’t get depressed. Money – Managing your finances is important work. Take time out, no matter how difficult it is during the week, to do this. Tarot message – You are your own best friend. But you still live in society. Learn to open up and share more easily.

Pisces Seven of Cups

ork – Though you’re feeling extremely creative, your job might need you to be more practical and rational in your choices. Romance – You love the idea of falling in love. But what happens after that heady initial journey is damaging to your psyche. Tone down expectations. Health – Mental worry is so heightened that you wonder if everything you’re seeing is a mirage. You need to calm down and manage your thoughts. Money – Don’t trust anyone who praises an investment or land deal too much. Use your own judgement. Be very careful while investing. Tarot message – There is a lot of confusion in your mind and this may have to do with the time, not so much you.

Vol: 2, No 177 RNI No: APENG/2011/39337 Published for the proprietors, Scribble Media and Entertainment Pvt Ltd, by V Harshavardhan Reddy, at #1246, Level 3, Jubilee Casa, Road No 62, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad – 500033 and printed by him at Jagati Publications Ltd, Plot No D-75&E-52, APIE Industrial Estate, Balanagar, Ranga Reddy Dist, Hyderabad – 500037, Editor: Dean Williams – Responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher is prohibited. For feedback, please write to: feedback@postnoon.com and for subscription, please call 040-40672222, Fax: 040-40672211

THE SATURDAY QUIZ SATURDAY, JANUARY 12, 2013

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

IN THE NEWS

Frankenstein monster at the age of 19. Name the European city where the novelist was born. 5. The taotie is a monster face commonly found on ancient ritual implements and bronze vessels in what Asian nation? 6. The chupacabra is said to live in parts of the Americas

and drink the blood of livestock. Where was the creature first sighted in the early 1990s? 7. According to legend, an amphibious creature called the bunyip - said to have a bloodcurdling cry - inhabits the lagoons and swamps of what country's interior?

DO YOU KNOW YOUR CARTOON CHARACTERS?

CURRENT AFFAIRS

Which company showcased Youm, a flexible and unbreakable display concept at the ongoing trade fair Consumer Electronics Show 2013?

Answers

3. Sightings of a brontosaurus like creature called Mokelembembe, which translates to "one who stops the flow of rivers" have been reported around the lakes and swamps of which African river basin? 4. Writer Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley created the fictional

1. New Mexico 2. The Netherlands 3. Congo 4. London 5. China 6. Puerto Rico 7. Australia

1. The sluggish Gila monster, one of just two species of venomous lizad, is named for teh Gila River Basin. The river flows through the rugged realms of the Gila National Forest in what US state? 2. The town of Monster is in the Westland region of what European nation?

TEST YOURSELF Where are these World Heritage Sites located?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Aldabra Atoll Chichen Itza

2 3 4 5 6

Which country has passed a law that prohibits the employment of underweight fashion models?

Easter Island

Lascaux Cave

Which company has dropped two key patents from an infringement complaint that it filed against Microsoft?

Leshan Giant Buddha

Which two countries swapped as much as 2,200 prisoners last week after months of complex international talks?

Tikal

Machu Picchu

Which former BBC director general passed away last week?

Ellora caves

Which popular musician left the pop group Girls this week for a solo career and has brought out a debut album?

The Alhambra Krak des Chevaliers

1. Samsung 2. Israel 3. Google unit Motorola Mobility 4. Syria and Iran 5. Alasdair Milne 6. Christopher Owens

Answers

Muslim community panchayat in which state banned girls from using cellphones and also from dancing and singing at wedding?

Illusion can have you foxed! You are sure the vertically-placed boxes do not form a straight line, arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t you?

Answer for 48:

Among ten CAT applicants who scored 100 percentile, two are graduates from the same engineering college. Which is the college?

with Santosh Ghule

WHO AM I?

I am a politician based in Hyderabad and an MLA. I am known for making inflammatory Islamist speeches. Recently, I got arrested for the same reason. Who am I?

Answer : Akbaruddin Owaisi

PICTURE PUZZLE 49

Wish you Happy New Year

Which Indian cricketer celebrated his inclusion in the Indian ODI squad with a triple-century for Saurashtra in their ongoing Ranji Trophy quarter-final against Karnataka?

Answers: 1. Blossom 2. Popeye 3. Captain Planet 4. Ben 10

Which Indian broadcaster comprises Doordarshan television network and All India Radio is all set for a makeover?

Answers:

1. Seychelles, Africa 2. Yucatan State; Mexico 3. Chile 4. Southwestern France 5. People's Republic of China 6. Guatemala 7. Peru 8. India 9. Granada, Andalusia, Spain 10. Syria

KNOW YOUR COUNTRY

1. Rajastan 2. Prasar Bharati 3. Cheteshwar Pujara 4. Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay

Answers

SPORTS SATURDAY, JANUARY 12, 2013

Ishikawa takes golf invite

Federer tones down hopes

AUGUSTA, GEORGIA: Young Japanese star Ryo Ishikawa and Thai veteran Thaworn Wiratchant have accepted invitations to compete in the 2013 Masters, organizers of the golf's first major of the season said Friday. Billy Payne, chairman of Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters, said the field for the April 11-14 tournament so far includes 85 golfers.

Mamata gets gift from PCB

MELBOURNE: World number two

KOLKATA: Amid simmering tension at

Roger Federer says he had the time of his life at a recent exhibition event in Brazil but toned down hopes that South America will soon bag any of the big tournaments. The continent was buoyed by a decision in December to include the Colombian capital Bogota on the 2013 men's schedule.

the LoC, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today got a pleasant surprise from across the border with the Pakistan Cricket Board sending a silver-coated Quran. 'Overwhelmed' by the hospitality at the Eden Gardens during India-Pakistan second ODI here, the PCB sent the gift to the Cricket Association of Bengal.

3rd death casts gloom at rally

SALTA, ARGENTINA: Tentime champion Stephane Peterhansel extended his Dakar Rally lead on Friday, but the world’s most gruelling endurance event was once again hit by tragedy when a French motorcyclist was killed. As Peterhansel claimed the seventh stage, which crossed the Andes at altitudes of around 5,000m between Calama in Chile and Salta to build a lead of more than three minutes on Nasser al-Attiyah, the event was reeling from a third death in two days. Competitor Thomas Bourgin, 25, was involved in a collision with a Chilean police car on the link road to the start of Friday’s stage. “The rally’s medical teams

Indians toil in chess tourney NEW DELHI: Grandmaster Aleksej Aleksandrov of Belarus defeated overnight leader Grandmaster Vaibhav Suri of India to be in joint lead after the end of the eighth round of the premier section of Parsvnath International Chess Festival here today. Marat Dzhumaev of Uzbekistan accounted for Commonwealth champion MR Lalith Babu in another match to join Aleksandrov on 6.5 points.

deployed on the ground were only able to certify the rider’s death, probably instant,” a statement on the race’s official website reported. Bourgin was in 68th place in the overall motorcycling rankings of his first Dakar. On Thursday, two people were killed in a head-on collision between a rally support vehicle and a taxi near Peru’s border with Chile. Going into the 2013 event, some 59 people, including 20 spectators, had lost their lives in the race. On Friday, Peterhansel finished the 218km run with a 39sec lead over compatriot Guerlain Chicherit, in an SMG, with American NASCAR driver Robby Gordon, in a Hummer,

1min 08sec off the pace. Al-Attiyah, the 2011 champion who had won his third stage of this year’s race on Thursday to slash Peterhansel’s overall lead down to 1min 18sec, was sixth on Friday in his Buggy, 1min 56sec behind. He remains 2nd overall, but it is now 3min 14sec behind defending champion Peterhansel in the race for the title. AFP

France’s KTM motorbike rider Thomas Bourgin, 25, who died on Friday when making his way to the start of the seventh stage of the rally and was hit a police car in Calama. AFP

Transition, Vijay Keerti show form

Tamil Nadu beats Kerala T

amil Nadu defeated Kerala by 180 runs in the South Zone Interstate Under-14 Cricket Tournament. Brief scores: Tamil Nadu 251 for 9 in 90 overs; Kerala 71 all out in 51.1 overs A2-3 Two Days League Championship Visaka 300 for 9 (Satish 90, Surendar 61, Adnan 71, Sandeep 6 for 53) beat Balaji Colts 181 (Shanawaz 54).

MOIN UD DOWLA TROPHY

Sharmada Balu of Karnataka, who defeated Bhuvana Kalva (AP) 67, 7-6, 6-1, in action at the Secunderabad Club on Friday in the Bheema Cements Secunderabad Club Open singles. N SHIVA KUMAR

Vijay Keerti, Transition, Alastor, Sherman Oaks, Precisely That, and Spirited excelled when horses were exercised this morning. SAND

TRACK

800

METRES

Rocking Racer (Deep Shanker) Skander (app) 1-2, 600/46 They moved freely. Transition (app) 57, 600/42 Pleased. Custodian (app) 58, 600/44 Urged. Major Luck (Alikhan) 58, 600/43 Moved on the bit. Elegant Approach (rb) 57, 600/43 Moved well. Alastor (Chary) 56, 600/42 Impressed. So Be It (app) Shimmering Ice (Anil) 57.5, 600/43 They finished tighter. Queens Necklace (Sreekant) 1-2, 600/46 Easy. Dazzling Prince (rb) Any Given Day (rb) 1-1, 600/45 Former finished a length n front. Fighting Fit (Kuldeep Singh) Grand Canyon (Christopher) 59, 600/42.5 They finished together. Combined Force (P Venkat) Golden Arrow (Joshi) 56, 600/42 They finished together. Fair And Square (Deep Shanker) 57, 600/43 Moved well. Khabza (rb) Sugar Deal (app) 57, 600/43 Former finished in front. Midnight In Paris (K Alam) Jamie (Alikhan) 59, 600/43.5 They moved together. Advisor (Anil) Manipulator (app) 59, 600/43.5 They finished together. Sherman Oaks (Christopher) Rio Grande (Kuldeep Singh) 56.5, 600/41 Former finished a length

in front. 3y.Princely Heir/Equal Right (Ajit Kumar) 1-1, 600/45 Easy. Khalis Gold (rb) Macintosh (app) 58, 600/43 Former finished 2 lengths in front. Fearless Moments (Ravinder Singh) 59, 600/44 Moved freely. Blazing Asian (Kiran Naidu) 56, 600/42 Pleased. Play The Music (P Venkat) Racing Ahead (Joshi) 1-1, 600/46 They moved freely. Deccan Queen (N Rawal) Foudre Rouge (Sai Kumar) 58.5, 600/44 Former finished a length in front. Golden Jewel (rb) 1-3, 600/46 Easy. Inner Strength (Kiran Naidu) Spirited (Chary) 57, 600/41.5 They finished together. Speed Striker (K Alam) 58, 600/44 Moved well. Exclusive Lady (Chary) 1-2, 600/46 Easy. Askioz (rb) Greek Star (app) 1-1.5, 600/46 They moved together. Fausto (Tograllu) 1-2.5, 600/46 Easy.

SAND TRACK 1000 METRES Ground Crew (Anil) 1-13, 800/58, 600/45 Moved freely. Garibaldi (Kuldeep Singh) Golden Palace (Christopher) 1-11.5, 800/58, 600/44 Former finished a length in front. Vijaykeerti (Joshi) 1-11, 800/55, 600/41 Pleased. Street Magic (K Alam) Glorious View

(Alikhan) 1-14, 800/56, 600/41.5 They finished together. Cascading Glory (Sai Vamshi) Lona Donna (rb) 1-12, 800/56.5, 600/43.5 Former finished a length in front. Lady of Grace (Chary) 117.5, 800/1-0, 600/45 Easy. Precisely That (Joshi) 1-11, 800/55, 600/42 Pleased. Rainbow In The Sky (Alikhan) Noble Honour (K Alam) 1-13.5, 800/55.5, 600/41.5 Former finished a length in front. Ice Mountain (Anil) 1-14, 800/57.5, 600/44 Moved freely. Flip Side (Anil) Colorful Trip (Deep Shanker) 1-14.5, 800/58, 600/44 They moved together. Over Look (Deep Shanker) Trustful (Anil) 114, 800/56, 600/42 Former finished a length in front.

SAND TRACK 1200 METRES Whats Up (Deep Shanker) Ray Of Hope (Trainer) 1-27, 1000/113.5,800/59, 600/45 They finished together. Rob Roy (rb) Turf Attack (Sai Vamshi) 1-33.5, 1000/1-16.5, 800/1-1, 600/47 Former finished a length in front.

SAND TRACK 1400 METRES Devils Advocate (rb) 1-50, 1200/134, 1000/1-19, 800/1-2.5, 600/47 Moved freely.

SPORTS SATURDAY, JANUARY 12, 2013

Evans shrugs off age hurdle

Bottle-tosser found guilty LONDON: A British man who

NAZARETH, BELGIUM: Australia’s former Tour de France winner Cadel Evans (above) insisted on Friday that he was still capable of competing at the highest level in 2013 despite his 36th birthday fast approaching. Evans, who managed only

seventh on last year’s Tour, believes he will still be a force to be reckoned with as the year unfolds with his BMC team. “The leaders of the team, Philippe Gilbert, Thor Hushovd and me have had some health problems," said Evans.

Radwanska sails into Oz Open Agnieszka now has 12 career singles titles and has yet to drop a set this year.

threw a plastic beer bottle onto the track shortly before the London Olympics men’s 100 metres final featuring Usain Bolt was convicted on Friday of public disorder. Ashley Gill-Webb, 34, who suffers from bipolar disorder, pushed his way to the front of an exclusive seating area and shouted things like: “Usain, I want you to lose” before throwing the bottle. A judge at Stratford Magistrates’ Court in east London found Gill-Webb guilty of intending to cause 100m finalists harassment, alarm or distress by using threatening, abusive or disorderly AFP behaviour.

Robert Smith

SYDNEY: Agnieszka Radwanska goes into next week’s Australian Open the hottest women’s player on form and says she believes she can win a Grand Slam. The Polish world number four crushed hapless Dominika Cibulkova 6-0, 6-0 in just over an hour in Friday’s final of the Sydney International to take her unbeaten streak this year to nine. Now she steps up to take on the women’s top three — Victoria Azarenka, Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova — in the yearopening slam, but her confidence is high. “Well, I think if I’m going to play like I did today, in Melbourne, I will be very happy. So we’ll see," she said. The 23-year-old faces Australian qualifier Bojana Bobusic in her first match at the Open and is seeded to face China’s Li Na in the quarters and Sharapova in the semis. “Wherever I go now I just always think I can win it. I

Oosthuizen snatches lead DURBAN: South African Louis Oosthuizen (right) birdied the final hole to take a one-shot lead after two rounds of the Volvo Golf Champions tournament at Durban Country Club Friday. The former British Open champion birdied eight holes — five on the front nine and three on the journey back — and did not drop a shot for a 64 and a halfway 132 total. Oosthuizen is one stroke ahead of Scott Jamieson and first round leader Thongchai Jaidee. The Scot also returned a 64 over the 6,111-metre course while the Thai

had a 68, three vvshots more than he took Thursday. There is a six-shot gap between the leader and those tied for fourth place on 139 — Dane Thomas Bjorn, Julien Quesne of France, Scot Paul Lawrie, Danny Willett of England, Indian Jeev Milkha Singh and Shane Lowry of Ireland. Reigning British Open champion Ernie Els of South Africa, Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts and Francesco Molinari of Italy are a stroke further back in the 33-man field.

British man Ashley Gill-Webb being detained on August 5, 2012 shortly after a bottle was thrown onto the track before the start of men’s 100m final during the London 2012 Olympic Games. AFP/ CHRIS HELGREN think Melbourne is also that kind of tournament," she said. “Being in the top 10, top five already for a couple years, I think it means that I can also win the Grand Slam.” Radwanska reached her first major final at Wimbledon last year only to be beaten by Serena Williams in three sets, 6-1, 57, 6-2 and has yet to go beyond the quarter-final stage at the Australian Open. Radwanska, who beat Belgian Yanina Wickmayer in the Auckland Classic final last week, has won back-toback tournaments following her Sydney victory, but she remains at world number four heading into Melbourne. “I’m extremely happy I’ve won two titles in a row and have not even lost a set. Really it’s been an amazing two weeks," she said. “The Australian Open is a different tournament, a different story, and I just have to start from the beginning. “I just hope I can play at the same level there as well.” Radwanska said she will not have time to celebrate her Sydney win with her next match scheduled at the Australian Open on Monday.

Rookies in after revolt NEW DELHI: India’s tennis chiefs on Friday named a newlook team for next month’s Davis Cup tie against South Korea after a revolt by the country’s top players. The new squad has only one prominent member in Leander Paes, who has steered clear of the eight-player rebellion including Mahesh Bhupathi, Rohan Bopanna and Somdev Devvarman. Anil Dhupar, the All India Tennis Association (AITA) chairman of selectors, said that stars such as Open-winning doubles partners Bhupathi and Bopanna had not been considered for selection because they had acted unreasonably in a dispute revolving around pay and support staff. Lesser-known VM Ranjit, Vijayant Malik and Purav Raja were the other players named to take part in the Asia-Oceania group one tie in Delhi from February 1-3. Last Sunday, AITA bosses accepted most of the demands of the rebel group including higher prize money but rejected a request to remove non-playing AFP captain Shiv Mishra.

Bryant and wife reconcile LOS ANGELES: Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant and his wife, Vanessa, confirmed Friday they have reconciled in posts on social media. Vanessa Bryant, who had filed for divorce from the NBA star in December of 2011, posted a message on Instagram, and Bryant said on his Facebook page that the couple were back together. “We are pleased to announce that we have reconciled," Vanessa Bryant wrote. “Our divorce action will be dismissed. We are looking forward to our future together. Kobe & Vanessa." AFP

SPORTS SATURDAY, JANUARY 12, 2013

We conceded lot of runs: Dhoni RAJKOT: Leaking 38 runs in the last two overs of England innings cost India dear in the first ODI, skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (left) conceded in the brief media interaction, which ended abruptly after the Saurashtra Cricket Association authorities switched off power. “Yes, we conceded a lot of runs in the last two overs. But we got a good start but did not have enough wickets in hand in the last ten overs to put pressure on them. Had I stayed on for two more overs things could have turned out differently,” said Dhoni after his team’s nine-run defeat. The power was switched off by SCA officials to conduct the sound and laser show for the assembled crowd that stayed on after the conclusion of the prize distribution function. Dhoni had answered a few questions before power was switched off, which prompted him to ask if he “can call it a day”. Victorious England captain Alastair Cook could not address

Amla century puts South Africa in charge Colin Bryden

PORT ELIZABETH: Hashim Amla (right) ground out a patient century to give South Africa the advantage on the first day of the second and final Test against New Zealand at St George’s Park on Friday. Amla made 106 not out as South Africa reached 325 for four by the close of play. The host nation were made to work for their runs against a determined New Zealand team on a slow pitch on which the batsmen seldom looked completely in control. But an unbeaten century partnership between Amla and Faf du Plessis (69 not out), with some free scoring after tea, put South Africa well ahead. “They bowled well up front and asked a lot of questions,” said AB de Villiers, who made 51 in one of three big partnerships with Amla. “The ball was swinging nicely and we felt we were under a bit of pressure.”

Scoreboard South Africa, first innings A Petersen c Patel b Bracewell 21 G Smith c Watling b Wagner 54 H Amla not out 106 J Kallis c Watling b Bracewell 8 A de Villiers c Williamson b Patel 51 F du Plessis not out 69 Extras (b5, lb6, nb3, w2) 16 Total (4 wkts, 90 overs) 325 Fall of wickets: 1-29 (Petersen), 2-121 (Smith), 3-137 (Kallis), 4-223 (De Villiers) Bowling: Boult 19-2-74-0 (1w), Bracewell 21-2-70-2 (1w), Wagner 22-2-88-1 (3nb), Patel 19-1-60-1, Munro 9-0-22-0

DHONI’S RELATIVE ALSO STANDS IN QUEUE TO BUY TICKETS FOR ODI RANCHI: Team India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s sister-in-law bought tickets for the third ODI between India and England, to be played here on January 19, after standing in the queue for three hours. Mamata Singh Dhoni, wife of Dhoni’s elder brother Narendra Singh Dhoni, was spotted yesterday in the queue, marked for ladies, with her daughter. The crowd recognised them when the little daughter was repeatedly asking her mother whether “chachu (uncle)” would play or not.

When scribes asked why she had to purchase tickets from the counter, she said she had tried over phone to contact officials of the Jharkhand State Cricket Association, but could not reach them. She reportedly bought two tickets for Rs 1,500 each. Meanwhile, a JSCA release said tickets worth Rs 1200, 1500 and 2000 were sold out today after the counter opened yesterday for sale. However, tickets for Rs 10,000, 12,000 and 15,000 are available, the release added.

Brief scores England 325 for 4 (Bell 85, Cook 75) beat India 316 for 9 (Yuvraj 61, Gambhir 52, Raina 50, Tredwell 4-44, TT Bresnan 2 for 67) by nine runs

the media at all. India’s pace spearhead Ishant Sharma was taken to the cleaners for 20 runs in the penultimate over and then Bhuvneshwar Kumar gave away 18 in the final over. Dhoni clouted four sixes in his whirlwind knock of 32 off 25 balls before he was dismissed by Jade Dernbach in the 45th over. India, chasing England’s imposing total of 325 for four, finished at 316 for nine. Dhoni said the fast outfield made it even tougher to stem the flow of runs though he felt it was a 280-290 wicket. “The outfield was very fast,” he said. Asked why the team preferred Dinda over Shami Ahmed, who had made an impressive debut against Pakistan at New Delhi recently, Dhoni said the wicket at the Ferozshah Kotla was different. “We knew Dinda can bowl yorker length balls but did not know how Shami can bowl on such a wicket,” said Dhoni. PTI

Pakistan announces Test team LAHORE: Pakistan on Friday included lanky paceman Mohammad Irfan (right) in a 16man squad for next month’s three Tests against world number one side South Africa, but there was no place for the three Akmal brothers. The 30-year-old Irfan, who is said to be seven foot one inch tall, impressed with his steepling bounce during Pakistan’s recent tour to India where he featured in all three one-day matches and two Twenty20 internationals. But he has yet to play a Test. The Test squad, led by Misbah-ul Haq, will open with a four-day side match at East London from January 25 before the first Test in Johannesburg from February 1. The Pakistan Cricket Board said separate squads for two Twenty20 internationals and five one-day matches, which follow the Tests, will be announced later. Surprisingly, none of the three Akmal brothers - Kamran, Umar and Adnan - are part of

the Test squad and no selector was available to say why. Adnan has been a regular in Pakistan’s Test squad as specialist wicket-keeper. Although he was injured during Pakistan’s tour of Sri Lanka last June he played in the ongoing first class season. He is replaced by Sarfraz Ahmed. Nineteen-year-old paceman Ehsan Adil was also select-

ed for the first time after impressing during the Junior World Cup in Australia last year. Adil has taken 56 wickets in ten first-class matches this season. Left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman also returns to the squad after being banned for a failed dope test during the county season in England last year. He will partner the wily off-spinner Saeed Ajmal. The pace squad will be led by the experienced Umar Gul, Junaid Khan and Irfan. Uncapped left-hander Haris Sohail and Faisal Iqbal also retained their places in the squad after failing to play any match on the Sri Lanka tour while left-handed opener Nasir Jamshed, who has yet to play a Test, also made the cut. Squad: Misbah-ul Haq (capt), Mohammad Hafeez, Azhar Ali, Nasir Jamshed, Asad Shafiq, Younis Khan, Md Irfan, Sarfraz Ahmed, Umar Gul, Junaid Khan, Ehsan Adil, Saeed Ajmal, Abdur Rehman, Haris Sohail, Faisal AFP Iqbal, Taufiq Umar.

Hughes wants more after ton on ODI debut SYDNEY: Phil Hughes is looking to score another century in Sunday’s second one-day international against Sri Lanka after becoming the first Australian in the format’s history to hit a ton on debut. Hughes’ sparkling 112 in the series opener in Melbourne Friday helped Australia (305 for 5) overpower Sri Lanka to post a 107-run win and the diminutive left-hander is looking for a

repeat on the batting-friendly Adelaide Oval pitch. “The team manager came up and told me when I got out. It’s flattering to hear that,” Hughes said after becoming the eighth player ever to achieve the feat. “There’s been some great players before me. My confidence is quite high. “I really can’t wait to get there on Sunday and hopefully score another big one and set up

Australia’s Starc out of ODI squad due to injury SYDNEY: Paceman Mitchell Starc has calf muscle soreness and has withdrawn from Australia’s one-day squad ahead of this weekend’s second match against Sri Lanka, Cricket Australia said on Saturday.

another win. “First game, so I had a few nerves there. It was nice to get the three figures on debut today.” The former NSW opener has made a big success of his switch to play in South Australia this southern summer which helped him regain his Test place. Hughes shared a 140-run partnership for the third wicket with stand-in skipper George AFP Bailey (89).

SPORTS SATURDAY, JANUARY 12, 2013

‘City must end Arsenal jinx’ Steve Griffiths

LONDON: Roberto Mancini (right) has challenged his Manchester City stars to end the club’s woeful run at Arsenal as the Premier League champions fight to hold onto their title. Mancini’s side head to north London knowing they will be 10 points behind leaders Manchester United by the time they kick-off at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday if their bitter rivals defeat Liverpool in the day’s early match. That would be an almost insurmountable gap even for a team of City’s class but, if history is anything to go by, there is every chance Mancini’s men will be in exactly that position by full-time. City have not won at Arsenal in the league for 37 years and were beaten 1-0 there in their last visit in April. But Mancini is sure City, who have looked some way short of their best for much of the season, can rewrite the history books with a rare victory on Arsenal turf. “To play against Arsenal in London is very difficult because they play very, very well,” Mancini

said. “There have been a lot of years we didn’t win there. But we changed many things last year and it is a time now to change this situation.” City’s spluttering performances this term have raised questions about Mancini’s future and the Italian is certain to face more criticism if his team flop this weekend. There has undoubtedly been a lack of killer instinct from City, who have failed to win any of their meetings with United, Arsenal and Chelsea this season. Yet Mancini retains faith that his expensively assembled squad has enough quality and spirit to overhaul United. “Seven points is too much for me in this moment because I don’t think we deserve to be seven points behind,” Mancini said. “But the season is long and very difficult. We have another 17 games. I think we can recover these points.” City will have to end their Arsenal jinx with less backing than usual from their supporters after the club took up only two

Liverpool and Utd, rivals by rotation

LONDON: Premier League strugglers Reading signed Republic of Ireland defender S Kelly from Fulham for an undisclosed fee on Friday. Former Tottenham full-back Kelly has joined the Royals on a two-anda-half year contract as boss Brian McDermott tries to bolster his squad for their fight against relegation.

Appleton named Blackburn manager Tom Williams

LONDON: Indian-

LONDON: The rivalry between Manchester United and Liverpool, who meet on Sunday, is the fiercest in English football, but the two clubs’ periods of success have coincided only rarely. For all the bitterness that underpins their relationship, United and Liverpool have often displayed remarkable courtesy by stepping aside after gorging on silverware to hand the other club an opportunity to join the feast.

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Thus, just as United’s recent dominance has coincided with fallow times at Anfield, so the Manchester club spent years in the shadows as Liverpool greedily accumulated trophies in the 1970s and 1980s. “The dreadful feeling I had as I watched Liverpool winning all those titles is a strong childhood memory,” says Gary Neville, a life-long United fan who went on to play for the club for 19 years. Between them, the two clubs have won 37 English league titles — with United eclipsing Liverpool’s record of 18 in 2011 — but only five times have they both finished in the top two. United have reached 18 FA Cup finals and Liverpool 14, and yet they have contested the final just twice, with United prevailing on both occasions, in 1977 and 1996. The only sustained period of sporting rivalry occurred in the mid-1960s, when Liverpool and United succeeded each other as champions for four years in a row — Liverpool in 1964 and 1966, United in 1965 and 1967.

CUBA EGYPT CHILE ANGOLA HUNGORY

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Reading sign Fulham defender Kelly

owned English secondtier club Blackburn Rovers on Friday announced the appointment of Michael Appleton as their new manager on a two-anda-half-year contract. Appleton, 37, becomes Blackburn’s third head coach of the season and arrives at Ewood Park despite having only taken up the manager’s job at their Championship rivals Blackpool two months ago. Ashley Westwood, who worked beneath Appleton at both of his previous clubs, has been appointed his assistant.

thirds of their allocation for the match. Seats priced at £62 each did not sell well and City returned 912 tickets to Arsenal, sparking complaints about the cost of watching Premier League action. “We are disappointed for this because we need our fans away,” Mancini added. “We have fantastic fans and we have fantastic support from them. We are sorry for this.” While City have little margin for error on Sunday, Arsenal are also desperate for three points as they look to improve their prospects of finishing in the top four. Another frustrating campaign for Gunners boss Arsene Wenger will be salvaged as long as the team meet his principal aim of qualifying for the CL. To do that they will have to make up a four-point gap to fourth placed Chelsea, who they face in a crucial clash at Stamford Bridge next weekend. With an FA Cup replay against Swansea before that, and league games against West Ham and Liverpool to come this month, Wenger admits January could define his side’s season.

Olympic stars hope to shine in new league CHICAGO: US international Abby Wambach (right), winner of FIFA’s 2012 Women’s Footballer of the Year award, will play for the Western New York Flash in the new National Women’s Soccer League, organisers said on Friday. Wambach was among 55 players — 23 from the United States, 16 Canadians and 16 Mexicans — allocated Friday to eight clubs in the new NWSL, which is backed by the US Soccer Federation. The allocation process was conducted with assistance from a panel of experts familiar with the player pools, with players and clubs also given input on their preferences. Wambach received FIFA’s coveted player of AFP the year award for 2012 on Monday.