London is changing

By London Swaminathan 26th july 2012

London is changing. London’s skyline is changing fast. If you had been toLondon 15 years ago and talk to your friends or grand children aboutLondon today, you must know it is not the same old London you had seen. I have been living in London for over 25 years.  I did not see any significant change in the first 15 years. Everything was same for the tourists: Big Ben, Parliament Building, the old Buckingham Palace, Piccadilly Circus, London Bridge, Tower Bridge, Madame Tussuads (wax museum), Thames River cruise etc. But in the past ten years new shopping malls have come up. New attractions like London Eye, Cable car across Thames river (they have given a misleading name for this cable car as Emirates Airline!), Shard-Western Europe’s tallest building have been added.

London is looking new with preparations for the Olympics. The exciting opening ceremony is on Friday 27^th July 2012. This is the third time Olympics is held in London. I went round London this morning to look at the new attractions. Before comparing the three Olympics in London, let us look at the new attractions:

London Eye:

Location: On the banks of River Thames, near Big Ben.

Nearest underground: Westminster

Height: 443 feet

Opening: Year 1999

What is it: You can board any one of the 32 capsules and go up the Giant Wheel. You can have a bird’s eye view of London. Since it is moving very slowly, no one will feel sick.

Each capsule can hold 25 people.

Tickets: You can buy it at the entrance.

See the impressive picture.

Cable Car (Emirates Airline)

Location: Linking North Greenwich and Victoria Docks

Nearest Underground: North Greenwich or Victoria Docks (Docklands).These two stations are on either side.

What is it: It is a five minute ride across the river Thames in capsules of cable car. It is not very exciting. But the price is not high compared toLondon Eye or Madame Tussauds.

Dimensions: Height 300 feet above the river, Total length both ways one kilometre, carries 2500 passengers every hour.

Opened in June 2012

Shard-Tallest Tower in West Europe

Location: London Bridge

Nearest Underground: London Bridge

Height: 1016 feet (95 floors),covered with glass.

What is it: Tall building with space for residences and office. A restaurant for general public will be opened in February 2013.

Ticket price will be equal to Empire State Building in the USA.

Opened: in July 2012

The tallest building of Europe is in Russia.

3 OLYMPICS IN LONDON

1908 Olympics in London: 2000 athletes from 22 countries, 22 sports (110 events)

1948 Olympics in London: 4000 athletes from 59 countries, 20 sports (150 events)

2012 Olympics in London: 10,250 athletes from 205 countries, 26 sports (300+ events)

Another 4500 athletes will take part in Paralympics.

It has grown from 2000 athletes to 10,250 athletes! USA alone sends 2500 TV staff to cover the Olympics on TV!

Six medals for India?

Sports analysts predict India may win up to six medals including two gold medals. Let us wait and see. Archery, Rifle Shooting, Wrestling, Boxing and few other games are our strong areas.

************ 

Quote Gems - Will Rogers

     

"Even if you are on the right track, 

you will get run over if you just sit there."

William Penn Adair "Will" Rogers (November 4, 1879 – August 15, 1935) was an American cowboy, vaudeville performer, humorist, social commentator and motion picture actor. He was one of the world's best-known celebrities

Greece has only a couple of weeks left to convince its creditors

The Economist :Jul 28th 2012 | ATHENS |

ON HIS visit to Athens this week, José Manuel Barroso, the head of the European Union (EU) Commission, brought a stern warning for Antonis Samaras, the new prime minister of a precarious right-left coalition government. Greece has only a couple of weeks left to convince its creditors that it can put economic reforms back on track. Should its latest plans for making €14.5 billion ($17.6 billion) of spending cuts over the coming two years be judged unrealistic, the next €31.2 billion loan tranche will again be held back.

If that happens, Greece would be unable to finish recapitalising its big banks. Without credit, the economy will seize up. Pensions and public-sector salaries would not be paid. A “Grexit” from the euro could occur within weeks. The worry for Greeks is that with Spain and Italy coming under attack in financial markets, some euro-zone members may be tempted to sacrifice Greece.

Two previous Athens governments have failed dismally since mid-2010 to implement reforms agreed on with the Commission and the IMF, thanks to widespread official corruption and a lack of political will. Mr Samaras opposed the first Greek bail-out while in opposition; he still wants, at some point, to renegotiate parts of the second.

Yannis Stournaras, the technocratic finance minister, has the difficult job of persuading Greece’s creditors that his government can do better than its predecessors. The troika of officials from the EU, IMF and European Central Bank were especially dismayed by a looming €3 billion gap in privatisation revenues this year, as well as by the lack of progress in cutting jobs in the public sector.

Just after the troika arrived, on July 25th, Mr Stournaras announced new bosses for the privatisation agency. And Antonis Manitakis, the public-administration minister, declared that five public-sector entities would be shut immediately and another 16 merged. Their 5,250 employees would retire or be transferred to other jobs. That is still far short of the 15,000 dismissals in 2012 agreed to by the previous government. Annual savings would be a modest €40m. Mr Manitakis promises another 180 mergers, with much bigger savings, within weeks. The civil service union is already threatening to strike. Will Mr Barroso and the troika think it is enough?

No gripes of wrath

Karan Thapar, Hindustan Times
July 28, 2012



There's no doubt Pranab Mukherjee has a short fuse. It's probably the one quality most remembered about him. And when it blows, his anger is something to behold. But what's equally true, though less commented on, is that his anger subsides instantly and he never bears a grudge. Believe me, I 



should know.
My earliest memory of his short temper is the election of 1999. It happened during a recording of We the People, a programme I used to make for Star Plus long before NDTV purloined the title. Modelled on BBC's Question Time, Mr Mukherjee was representing the Congress, Ram Jethmalani was there on behalf of the BJP and, if I'm not mistaken, S Jaipal Reddy from what was left of the Janata Dal.


I interrupted Mr Mukherjee more often than he was willing to accept. Not only did this rile him, it also meant he got less time to speak than the other two. As the recording progressed, I could sense his impatience turning into irritation and then anger. As soon as it ended, he pushed back his chair and stormed out of the auditorium. By now he was furious.


"I'll never come again," he shouted as my colleagues tried in vain to mollify him. His face was puce. Rage was imprinted all over it.


That night I rang to apologise. I expected to be bawled out and anticipation of it made me nervous. That made my manner exceptionally contrite. But I was greeted by a cheerful Mr Mukherjee who had completely forgotten the incident of three hours ago.


"Don't be stupid," he said, his avuncular warmth evident and re-assuring. "You have nothing to apologise for."


Five years later it happened again. This time Mr Mukherjee was defence minister and it was an interview for the BBC programme HARDtalk India. My opening subject was allegations that he had forced through the promotion of an army officer against the wishes of the Army Promotion Board. At first Mr Mukherjee took it on the chin. But when I persisted, I could see his face colouring. When that did not stop me he started to splutter. Eventually he threatened to walk out if I did not stop.


I did and the interview continued for a further 15 minutes covering other subjects. When the cameras were switched off, I apologised for annoying him. Once again, I found his anger had completely disappeared.


"There's no need to apologise," he said, sounding genuine and by no means upset. "You were doing your job and I was doing mine." And then in a gesture I will never forget, he put his arm across my shoulder as I escorted him out of the studio to his waiting car.


The last interview I did was in August 2011, bang in the middle of the Anna Hazare crisis. I expected him to cancel but he kept his word. He asked me not to dwell on the Anna controversy for too long. I'm afraid I agreed but let him down. The full 30 minutes was on Anna.


This time he didn't show irritation and certainly didn't lose his temper. When I apologised for breaking my promise and sticking to one subject he smiled — and there's no nicer smile than Mr Mukherjee's — and said: "I knew you would. This was your golden chance."


Then, his eyes twinkling, added: "But I didn't give anything away." He was absolutely right. I may have got the interview but Mr Mukherjee was in full control of it.


The views expressed by the author are personal.

Lenovo unveils IdeaCentre A720 - the world’s slimmest All-in-One PC

28th july 2012
Lenovo, India’s no. 1 PC vendor (according to the latest IDC/Asia Pacific Tracker Q1 CY 2012) ) announced the launch of IdeaCentre A720- the world’s slimmest all in-one, in the country, to mark a new era in incredibly thin, light and ultra-responsive computing devices. . Powered by 3rd generation Intel® Core i7 processors, the IdeaCentre A720 offers a thin, frameless display that brings the best in computing and entertainment in a super stylish form. 


The sleek 27” Lenovo IdeaCentre® A720 creates a unique multiplayer experience with a 10-finger multi-touch screen that folds down flat for interactive tabletop games, powered by the latest processor and graphics technologies. The IdeaCentre A720 continues Lenovo’s heritage of svelte designs for the AIO by smartly positioning the PC at the base on the unit. 


The IdeaCentre A720’s widely adjustable hinge allows the screen to be pulled towards the user and folded back, making touch applications more comfortable over longer periods, in any position. With integrated entertainment features, such as Lenovo High-Sense (720p HD) Webcam and Lenovo IdeaTouch (a suite of touch-optimized applications and games), the IdeaCentre A720 is an ultra stylish and fun addition to the modern home entertainment center. 

Key highlights of the Product: 

· World’s slimmest 27” All-in-one PC with a frameless display, just 24.5mm thick 

· Latest processor and graphics technology – up to 3rd gen Intel® Core™ i7 processor and NVIDIA® GeForce® 2GB graphics 

· The 27” display on the A720 folds down flat (swivels -5 to 90o ) and comes with 10-finger multi-touch technology, ideal for multiple players to enjoy touch-based tabletop games, together on one device 

Key Product Specifications: 

· Up to Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium & Win 8 Ready. 

· 27” Full HD (1920x1080) frameless 10 Point Multi-touch display, 16:9 widescreen 

· Up to NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 630M 2GB graphics 

· Up to 8GB DDR3 memory, up to 1TB HDD & up to 64GB SSD storage 

· Integrated DVD reader/writer or Blu-ray Disc™ drive 

· Integrated Bluetooth®1 & 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi 

· USB2.0, USB3.0 connectors & 6in1 card reader 

· Integrated 720p HD webcam 

· HDMI in/out for connecting to other high-definition devices 

· Integrated stereo speakers supporting Dolby Home Theatre V4 audio enhancement 

· Integrated TV tuner 

· Lenovo Rescue System makes data backup and recovery simple 

· Lenovo Enhanced Experience 3 for Windows® 7 with RapidBoot lets you start 40% faster than a typical Windows 7 computer (available on certified models with Intel® Core™ i3, i5 or i7 processors ) 

· Lenovo Camera Fun Zone – see yourself on screen and move your hands to interact with these fun games 

· Lenovo IdeaTouch – a range of touch-optimized multimedia applications such as a synthesizer and games like Angry Birds 

· Lenovo Dynamic Brightness System – protects your eyes by automatically adjusting screen brightness based on ambient light conditions 

· Lenovo Eye Distance System – alerts if you are too close to the screen 

Price: INR 89,990/- onwards 

About Lenovo 

Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) is a $US30 billion personal technology company – and the second largest PC company in the world, serving customers in more than 160 countries. Dedicated to building exceptionally engineered PCs and mobile internet devices, Lenovo’s business is built on product innovation, a highly-efficient global supply chain and strong strategic execution. Formed by Lenovo Group’s acquisition of the former IBM Personal Computing Division, the company develops, manufactures and markets reliable, high-quality, secure and easy-to-use technology products and services. Its product lines include legendary Think-branded commercial PCs and Idea-branded consumer PCs, as well as servers, workstations, and a family of mobile internet devices, including tablets and smart phones. Lenovo has major research centers in Yamato, Japan; Beijing, China; and Raleigh, North Carolina. For more information, seehttp://www.lenovo.com/. 
Sourced From: Text100 PR

Bank funds drying up for power projects

SIDDHARTHA P. SAIKIA

K. R. SRIVATS /BL/29th July2012

Lenders put off by finances of State utilities, fuel uncertainties

NEW DELHI, JULY 28: 

Banks are cutting back on lending to the power sector. Credit growth to the power sector dipped to 13.65 per cent in May 2011 till May 2012 from 42.43 per cent in the corresponding previous period, according to RBI data.

The reason: There are few bankable projects, say bankers.

Deteriorating finances of State electricity boards, fuel uncertainties and the current procurement system are the main reasons due to which banks and financial institutions are wary of further exposure to the power sector. There are fewer bankable projects, say power industry watchers.

According to data compiled by Business Line, gross bank credit to the power sector had increased 42.4 per cent between May 21, 2010 (Rs 2,01,980 crore) and May 20, 2011 (Rs 2,87,550 crore). But, in the following year, between May 20, 2011 and May 18, 2012 (Rs 3,26,810 crore) the ailing sector saw domestic loans increasing by just 13.7 per cent.

There is silver lining only for projects for which fuel and other inputs are tied and offtake arrangements made. These projects continue to attract financing. But the environment is gloomy for most power producers.

“Banks and institutions will be cautious for at least next couple of years to take further exposure to this sector, unless there is clear sight of a solution to the fuel issues and the State electricity boards’ finances become reasonably healthy,” said Mr Debasish Mishra, Senior Director (Consulting), Deloitte in India.

In the coming months banks see pruning of exposure to discoms, as the government-designed loan restructuring package gets implemented. The package involves conversion of existing loans into bonds to be subscribed by the State governments. However, some States are averse to this. “Lenders have become more selective in financing power projects due to issues related to coal availability, environmental clearances, health of the state utilities, among others and that is reflected in the lower pace of commitments for the sector,” said Mr A. K. Singhal, Director (Finance) of NTPC.

But the country’s largest power producer NTPC has not scaled down capacity expansion plans. NTPC has awarded BTG (boiler turbine generator) contracts for projects of 6,860 MW and tenders have been invited for others projects totalling 13,000 MW, said Mr Singhal.

Not all power producers are strong as NTPC. “Power sector is a capital intensive industry and the banks that had earlier been aggressively funding these projects have hit their internal exposure limits for the sector and hence have slowed fresh sanctions,” said an official of Lanco Group.

Private power producer Lanco expects that once the the liquidity position of State electricity distribution companies improves, they will start paying their receivables to power producers on time as also clear past dues, improving the liquidity position of various developers. “This would enable developers approach banks again for funding further development of projects,” he added.

Financing also depends on the business model of the project. For instance, merchant power projects are less likely to find favour with the lenders due to a fall in the merchant power prices and greater offtake risks.

Recently, several changes were made to the regulations to improve availability of overseas debt to the power sector. However, Mr Singhal said, “given the high volatility and risk aversion in the global capital markets, we are not sure if domestic debt is getting replaced by foreign debt.”

(inputs from Shishir Sinha)

Chennai lensman’s snaps find slot in global journal

• One of Haksar’s works from the series ‘Divine Irony’ | EPS

Indian Express:By Sonali Shenoy / ENS - CHENNAI28th July 2012 08:50 AM

Sharad Haksar is a happy man. The Chennai-based ad photographer recently became the only lensman in Asia to grace the hallowed pages of Communication Arts Photography Annual 2012.

The Annual is the ultimate collection of the most creative images in the world. Brought out by the venerable journal ‘Communication Arts’, the book enjoys a coveted status among the creative community across the globe. The 2012 Annual featured 145 winning entries from a gargantuan 4,685 images submitted. Five of Sharad Haksar’s works will be showcased in the Annual.

“I am glad that it won,” says a jubilant Haksar. He adds, “Communication Arts is what every photographer dreams of. The last time I made it was in 2006. So you can imagine the standard.”

The series submitted by Haksar is titled ‘Divine Irony’. Simply put, the photographs are a pictorial commentary on every day India as seen through the prism of five Hindu deities. “I guess the contrast of rich and poor getting more and more extreme is what led to the idea,” he says. And while the brightly-coloured deities on the walls are pictures that one would come across on crossing a street, these images were ‘sets’, specifically set up for the purpose.

“It was quite a task,” Haksar recalls with a sigh. “Fifteen street artists were brought in to create the backgrounds.” This was apart from the models, animals in the shots and props. “The whole shoot took about a month to complete,” he states. Then recalls with a laugh, ‘I think the most challenging photo was the one with the elephant.” He goes on, “Every time we finished painting the set and positioned the elephant there, we realised the set was too small. On the third repaint, they finally got the set large enough,” he smiles.

So were the deities chosen for the concept to retain an Indian authenticity to his work? Haksar takes a moment to repond. Then states, “As an Indian photographer, I know that we’re strong in certain areas and weak in others,” the award winning lensman says simply.

“This is why I would never consider sending a stylised fashion shoot for an international entry.” Better locations, taller models...point taken. An elephant pushing a car, now we doubt anyone abroad could come up with that novel combination. In the pipeline, Haksar reveals that he hopes to focus more on fine art photography.

Although his next big project is under wraps, he does tell us this, “Its a concept-based fashion shoot with a social message.” He adds a little later, “The location that we have in mind is a dumpyard in the city.”

Choosing the BEST

business today :28 th July 2012
Are you scouting for a loan to buy a house, a car or for your child's education? Given below are the best deals on offer from public and private sector lenders.

வருமான வரி ரிட்டன் தாக்கல்-சென்னையில் 40 சிறப்பு கவுண்ட்டர்கள்

ஒன்இந்தியா :24 july 2012

சென்னை: வருமான வரி ரிட்டன் தாக்கல் செய்ய வரும் 31ம் தேதி கடைசி நாளாக அறிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. எனவே கூட்ட நெரிசலை தவிர்க்கும் வகையில், சென்னை வருமான வரி அலுவலகத்தில் ரிட்டன் தாக்கல் செய்ய 40 சிறப்பு கவுண்ட்டர்கள் திறக்கப்பட உள்ளது.

இந்தியாவில் மாத சம்பளம் பெறுவோர், தொழில் அதிபர்கள், வியாபாரிகள் என்று பலதரப்பட்ட மக்களும் வருமான வரி செலுத்த வேண்டியுள்ளது. வரி செலுத்திய பிறகு ரூ.5 லட்சத்திற்கு குறைவான ஆண்டு வருமானம் கொண்டவர்களை தவிர, மற்றவர்கள் ரிட்டன் மனுவை தாக்கல் செய்ய வேண்டும். இதற்கு வரும் 31ம் தேதி கடைசி நாளாக அறிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

வருமான வரி ரிட்டன் மனு தாக்கல் செய்ய உள்ளவர்களின் நெரிசலை குறைக்கும் வகையில், சென்னை நுங்கப்பாக்கத்தில் உள்ள முதன்மை வருமான வரி ஆணையர் அலுவலகத்தில் 40 சிறப்பு கவுண்ட்டர்கள் திறக்கப்பட உள்ளது. இந்த சிறப்பு கவுண்டர்கள் வரும் 28 முதல் 31ம் தேதி மாலை வரை செயல்படும். தினமும் காலை 9.30 மணி முதல் மாலை 5.30 மணி வரை அந்த கவுண்ட்டர்கள் செயல்படும். சிறப்பு கவுண்ட்டர்கள் சென்னை வருமான வரித்துறை முதன்மை ஆணையர் சீதா.செந்தாமரைக்கண்ணன் கண்காணிப்பில் செயல்பட உள்ளது.

முதியவர்கள், மாற்றுத் திறனாளிகள், 25க்கும் மேற்பட்ட ரிட்டன் மனுக்களை தாக்கல் செய்ய வருவோர் ஆகியோருக்கு, தனி கவுண்ட்டர்கள் செயல்படும். ரிட்டன் தாக்கல் செய்ய தேவையான விண்ணப்பத்தை வருமான வரித்துறை அலுவலங்களில் பெற்று கொள்ளலாம். மேலும் இணையதளத்திலும் அதற்கான படிவத்தை பதிவிறக்கம் செய்து கொள்ளலாம். ஆனால் பூர்த்தி செய்து கொடுக்கும் விண்ணப்பம், கலர் படிவமாக இருக்க வேண்டும்.

வருமான வரி ரிட்டன் படிவத்தில் பான் கார்டு நம்பர், முகவரி, வங்கி சேமிப்பு கணக்கு ஆகியவற்றை குறிப்பிட வேண்டும். ரிட்டன் தாக்கல் செய்ய வருபவர்களுக்கு உதவி செய்யவும், பான் கார்டு நம்பரை சரி பார்க்கவும் 15 சிறப்பு கவுண்ட்டர்கள் திறக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

தாம்பரம், காஞ்சிபுரம் போன்ற பகுதிகளில் வருமான வரித்துறை அலுவலகங்கள் இருந்தாலும், அந்த பகுதிகளை சேர்ந்தவர்கள் ரிட்டன் தாக்கல் செய்ய சென்னையில் உள்ள சிறப்பு கவுண்ட்டர்களை பயன்படுத்தி கொள்ளலாம்.

HDFC Bank overtakes SBI as India's most valued bank

PTI | Jul 27, 2012, 05.18PM IST




Private sector lender HDFC Bank surpassed SBI as the country's most valued bank on Friday with a total market valuation of about Rs 1,37,500 crore.


SBI shares were seen trading under pressure with a fall of nearly 2 per cent this afternoon, despite an overall uptrend in the market, while HDFC Bank shares gained by more than 3 per cent.


The market benchmark sensex was trading more than 200 points higher on broad-based buying among blue chips.
As a result, HDFC Bank's market capitalization rose to Rs 1,37,500 crore, as against SBI's 1,32,700 crore, as per the BSE data.


At close yesterday, SBI was the country's most valued bank with a total market cap of Rs 135,360 crore, followed by HDFC Bank (Rs 133,375 crore), ICICI Bank (Rs 1,04,558 crore), Axis Bank (Rs 41,657 crore) and Kotak Mahindra Bank (Rs 40,178 crore).


At 1415 hrs today, HDFC Bank shares were trading 3.1 per cent higher at Rs 584 after scaling an intra-day high of Rs 588.


On the other hand, SBI was down nearly 2 per cent at Rs 1,977.40 at the BSE, while ICICI Bank was up 2.5 per cent, Axis Bank was up 2.1 per cent and Kotak Mahindra was trading 1.6 per cent down.


In terms of market cap, HDFC Bank and SBI were followed by ICICI Bank (Rs 1,07,221 crore), Axis Bank (Rs 42,541 crore) and Kotak Mahindra Bank (Rs 39,547 crore) at 1420 hours.

Two new General Manager's have taken Charge at State Bank of Mysore, Head Office

 26 Jul 2012 09:15 AM 

Two new General Manager's have taken Charge at State Bank of Mysore, Head Office recently

as under:

1. Sri Subhabrata Ray has taken over as General Manager - Inspection & Audit. He is a Probationery Officer from State Bank of Hyderabad

1979 batch. He has worked in various capacities at State Bank of Hyderabad, State Bank of Indore and was working as DGM, Inspection at

State Bank of Bikaner & Jaipur previously.

2. Sri Vijay Dube has taken over as General Manager & Chief Vigilence Officer. Sri Dube is under deputation from Vijaya Bank to State

Bank of Mysore and was previously working as Deputy General Manager, Vijaya Bank, Corporate Banking Branch, New Delhi. 

கொஞ்சம் சினிமா கொஞ்சம் பாப்கார்ன் - கடன்காரன் போல் ஓடி ஒளிகிறேன்: ரஜினிகாந்த்

Dinamani : 27 Jul 2012 12:36:25 AM IST

சென்னை, ஜூலை 26: பணம் வாங்கி விட்டு திருப்பிக்கொடுக்க முடியாத கடன்காரன் போல் ஓடி ஒளிகிறேன் என்றார் நடிகர் ரஜினிகாந்த்.

 மறைந்த நடிகர் திலகம் சிவாஜிகணேசனின் பேரனும் நடிகர் பிரபுவின் மகனுமான விக்ரம் பிரபு "கும்கி' என்ற படத்தின் மூலம் கதாநாயகனாக அறிமுகமாகிறார். இயக்குநர் லிங்குசாமியின் திருப்பதி பிரதர்ஸ் பட நிறுவனம் தயாரித்துள்ள இந்தப் படத்தை பிரபுசாலமன் இயக்கியிருக்கிறார். இப் படத்தின் பாடல் வெளியீட்டு விழா சென்னையில் வியாழக்கிழமை நடைபெற்றது

 முதல் ஆடியோ சி.டி.யை ரஜினிகாந்த் முன்னிலையில் கமல்ஹாசன் வெளியிட நடிகர் சூர்யா பெற்றுக்கொண்டார். விழாவில் ரஜினிகாந்த் பேசியதாவது: பட விழாக்களில் நான் அதிகம் கலந்துகொள்வதில்லை. சினிமாவில் எல்லோரும் எனக்கு நண்பர்கள். ஒரு விழாவில் கலந்துகொண்டு இன்னொரு விழாவில் கலந்துகொள்ளாவிட்டால் சம்பந்தப்பட்டவர்கள் வருத்தப்படுவார்கள். மேலும் என்னுடைய உடல்நிலையைக் கருத்தில்கொண்டு டாக்டர்களும் விழாக்களில் அதிகமாகப் பங்கேற்க வேண்டாம் என அறிவுறுத்தியுள்ளனர்.

 இந்த விழாவுக்கு வர வேண்டும் என பிரபு அழைத்தபோதே என்னால் வர இயலாது எனக் கூறியிருந்தேன். ஆனால், சிவாஜி வீட்டு விழா என்பதால் கடைசி நேரத்தில் கலந்துகொண்டுள்ளேன்.

 சிங்கப்பூர் மருத்துவமனையில் நான் சிகிச்சை பெற்று வந்தபோது என்னுடைய நண்பர் கமல்ஹாசன் என்னைப் பார்க்க மருத்துவமனைக்கே நேரில் வந்துவிட்டார். ஆனால், மருத்துவர்கள் இப்போதுள்ள நிலையில் சந்திக்க வேண்டாமே எனத் தயங்கியுள்ளனர். இந்தத் தகவலை தொலைபேசி மூலம் என்னிடம் தெரிவித்தார் கமல். நானும் உடல்நிலை குணமானவுடன் சென்னை வந்து சந்திக்கிறேன் எனக் கூற கமல் வருத்தத்துடன் சென்னைக்கு திரும்பிவிட்டார். சென்னை திரும்பியதும் நான் முதலில் பேசியது கமல்ஹாசனிடம்தான். இன்று ஹாலிவுட்டின் பிரபல தயாரிப்பாளர் பேரி ஆஸ்போர்னின் படத்தில் நடிக்க கமலுக்கு அழைப்பு வந்திருக்கிறது. இதன் மூலம் தமிழ்த் திரையுலகுக்கும் இந்தியத் திரையுலகுக்கும் பெருமை சேர்த்துள்ளார் கமல். அப்படிப்பட்ட கமல் என் மீது கொண்ட பாசத்தை நினைத்து உருகிப்போனேன்.

 அதே போல ரசிகர்களும் தமிழக மக்களும் என் மீது இவ்வளவு அன்பும் பாசமும் வைத்திருப்பதற்கு என்ன காரணம் என்று கண்டுபிடிக்க முடியவில்லை. அனைவருடைய பிரார்த்தனையும்தான் என்னை குணமடையச் செய்தது. ரசிகர்கள் பற்றி நான் அதிகம் பேசுவது இல்லை. அதற்குக் காரணம் அவர்களுக்கு நான் ஒரு கடன்காரன். அவர்கள் காட்டி வரும் அன்புக்கு நான் அவர்களுக்கு எதுவுமே செய்யவில்லை. அதனால்தான் ரசிகர்களைப் பார்த்து - பணம் வாங்கிவிட்டு திருப்பிக்கொடுக்க முடியாத கடன்காரன் போல் - ஓடி ஒளிகிறேன்.

 இந்தப் படத்தில் அறிமுகமாகும் விக்ரம் பிரபுவுக்கு பயம் இருப்பது போல் தெரிகிறது. நடிகனுக்கு பயம், கவலை இருக்கக் கூடாது. பயத்தை இயக்குநர்கள் போக்கிவிடுவார்கள். திறமை மீது நம்பிக்கை இருந்தால் கவலைப்படக்கூடாது. சிவாஜியின் பேரன் என்பதை விக்ரம் பிரபு சினிமாத்துறையில் நிரூபிக்க வேண்டும்.

 இப்போது வரும் புதியவர்கள் ஒரு படத்திலேயே கவனம் செலுத்துகிறார்கள். படம் வரவேற்பைப் பெறாவிட்டால் பதற்றம் வந்துவிடும். அதனால் ஒரே சமயத்தில் இரண்டு, மூன்று படங்களை செய்யுங்கள். அப்போதுதான் ஒரு படம் கைவிட்டாலும் இன்னொரு படம் காப்பாற்றும் என்றார்.
 விழாவில் கமல்ஹாசன் பேசியதாவது:

 ரஜினிகாந்த் எப்போதும் நியாயமான மனிதர். இந்த விழாவிற்கு அவர் வந்து வாழ்த்தியது மிகவும் பொருத்தமானது.

 சிவாஜியின் நடிப்பும் வசனங்களும்தான் என்னைப் போன்றவர்களை நிமிர வைத்தது. அப்படிப்பட்டவருடைய பேரன் சினிமாவில் அடியெடுத்து வைத்திருப்பது அழுத்தமான படி என சிலர் கூறினர். ஆனால் என்னைப் பொருத்தவரை அவர் அடியெடுத்து வைத்திருப்பது மலை. அங்கே அருவி பொங்கியபடியே இருக்கும். அவர் கவனமாக இருக்க வேண்டும்.
 "அவர் சொல்கிறார், இவர் சொல்கிறார் எனப் பார்க்காதே, கேட்காதே; எதையும் பகுத்தறிந்து பார்' என "பராசக்தி' படத்தில் சிவாஜி பேசியிருப்பார். அந்த வசனத்தையே விக்ரம் பிரபுவுக்கு அறிவுரையாகச் சொல்கிறேன் என்றார்.

 ஜெயலலிதா, கருணாநிதி வாழ்த்து: சிவாஜிகணேசனின் பேரன் விக்ரம் பிரபு திரையுலகில் அறிமுகமாவதை முன்னிட்டு முதல்வர் ஜெயலலிதா, திமுக தலைவர் கருணாநிதி ஆகியோர் தொலைபேசி மூலம் பிரபுவிடம் வாழ்த்து தெரிவித்தனர். இத் தகவலை நடிகர் பிரபு செய்தியாளர்களிடம் தெரிவித்தார்.

 விழாவில் நடிகர்கள் சத்யராஜ், சூர்யா, கார்த்தி, இயக்குநர்கள் லிங்குசாமி, கெüதம் மேனன், பி.வாசு, பிரபுசாலமன் உள்ளிட்ட பலர் கலந்துகொண்டனர்.
 

BL ;Chennnai:26th july 2012

 

Indian Bank has made a provision of Rs 32 crore against its Rs 800-crore loan to Air India, the bank’s Chairman and Managing Director, Mr T. M. Bhasin, said at a press conference here today.

He said the bank was required to make Rs 8 crore of provision for each of the four quarters of the year, but it decided to take the entire provision in the first quarter itself.

Except for Air India, the bank has no other exposure to the aviation sector.

Indian Bank has restructured loans worth Rs 9,918 crore (loans for which payment terms have been reset to help the borrower.)

Two loan accounts are chunky, incidentally, both are public sector — Air India, and the one to the Rajasthan State Electricity Board (about Rs 1,200 crore).

Indeed, most banks have exposure to RSEB, but it is generally believed that the loans would be paid back as they are backed by a Government guarantee.

Get credit score before applying for home loan, says CIBIL

BL:Virendra pandit:26th july 2012

Stressing that borrowers with a credit score of 750 and above have a higher chance of getting a home loan, the Credit Information Bureau (India) Ltd (CIBIL) on Wednesday urged consumers to get their credit scores before applying for loans with banks and financial institutions.

Citing CIBIL data that show 88 per cent of home loan borrowers in 2011 had a credit score of 750 and above on a scale of between 300 and 900, Mr Arun Thukral, Managing Director, told a news conference here that home loan inquiries had doubled since 2007, indicating the huge demand. These inquiries increased more than 18 per cent in the first quarter of 2011-12 compared to the same quarter the fiscal before.

“According to CIBIL data, about 75 per cent of new accounts opened in 2011 had sanctioned amounts between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 50 lakh. This also means that the shift is clearly towards higher value loans, indicating the rise in property prices and higher borrowing affordability,” he said.

In 2011, 48 per cent of the total home loans sanctioned in the metro cities had a ticket size of more than Rs 20 lakh. Moreover, loans with a ticket size of less than Rs 50 lakh increased from around 7 per cent in 2007 to over 12 per cent in 2011.

More than one-third of borrowers sanctioned home loans in 2011 were less than 35 years of age and 70 per cent less than 45 years of age, Mr Thukral said.

The trends in acquisition of new home loans by banks based on the CIBIL TransUnion Score show that in 2008, 23 per cent of new home loan borrowers acquired had a credit score of 800 and above. In Q2 2011, more than 62 per cent borrowers acquired had a score of 800 and above.

This indicates that the CIBIL TransUnion Score has now become an integral risk assessment tool for banks and financial institutions for sanctioning any new credit. All the banks and financial institutions have started accessing CIBIL reports and CIBIL TransUnion Scores before sanctioning a loan, he said.

Critical thinking and global exposure at Monash University Australia

Lavanya Raj / The Hindu / 9 july 2012

I always wonder why I chose to do my Ph.D in a foreign university. The word “foreign” brings about many feelings in us — love, hate, fascination, and excitement. The word “university” makes us wonder in anticipation how a place of educational heaven will be like. I had all these aspirations too. 

After three years of stay in Melbourne, I have come to know what individual work, struggles, intellectual satisfaction and achievement feel like in this context. I also understand that it has transformed me for the good. This penance has made me love Melbourne, still better — love my country/State.

I am a Ph.D research student (Educational leadership and quality in higher education systems) in Monash University. Monash university is ranked number 5 in Australia and 117 universally (The Times Higher Education World University Rankings). It exceeds certain expectations — Importance given to critical thinking, responsibility on the students to excel, freedom to discuss and debate, flexible study timings, global exposure, less importance to marks and more importance to practical application. 

Of all the mentioned advantages, I relate to individual work the most because it gives time and scope to spend long hours studying/writing, sharpening the mind without external disturbances of having to score marks alone. Quality in terms of understanding the subject is given priority.

Educational quality includes technology like computers, student web portal, video conferencing, continuous seminars, workshops, conferences and multiple libraries with generous lending options. Bachelor’s and master’s students have the opportunity to do coursework and research, working individually and in a group at other times, with students from different countries. 

Conveniences at campus include picturesque locales, kitchen facilities, cafes, restaurants, recreation spots, hair salon, banks, medical clinic and post office among other facilities. Student services include health care benefits and bus services between campuses. These facilities make life easier to be able to spend more time on studies.

The university provides opportunities to head and work in teams of varied interests — clubs, conferences, colloquiums and study groups. These opportunities will help you develop a global attitude that respects your own cultural roots. Living in a foreign country for extended periods of time can be exhilarating and enlightening. Travelling, learning the culture of the country, living differently tell you that life is all about experiences and what you make out of them. Adapting to a western culture is challenging even when we are exposed to western thoughts and styles of living. For example, university life puts complete focus on the student to perform. It transforms thought processes, making you meticulous and structured.

The beauty of living and experiencing a foreign land throws you into unexpected waters. Sometimes it is a smooth swim and at other, against the current. Nevertheless you can turn into a great swimmer — learning to respect the ocean and enjoying it. I wish I were more economically sound to pursue an international education; so, getting a scholarship before you take the flight is good. Knowing the university, networking with current students, finding accommodation beforehand can make the transition easier. Adjusting with housemates, shopping for groceries and cooking are skills you have to develop. A good way to take care of all this would be to read blogs and converse with current students.

City life is filled with activities to do — from theatre workshops and dancing to rowing and international cuisines.

All the best!

Ph.D Scholar - Leadership, Higher education and Quality

Monash University, Melbourne

Turning Points by A P J Abdul Kalam

B G Verghese :The Hindu:23 July 2012

Kalam disproved the notion that the President is only a constitutional ornament

The book reflects the man — simple, unsophisticated, dedicated, secular, self-made, a visionary, child-like in some ways and charmingly innocent in his breakouts from rigid protocol.

 His mission was to “ignite” minds to build a better and greater India. Though some eyebrows were raised when Dr Kalam was elevated to the Presidency, his work and conduct in office won him praise and affection from ordinary people who saw him as a People’s President.

 His vision was to see India become a Developed Society by 2020 with PURA (provision of urban amenities in rural areas) among the engines of change.

Rashtrapati Bhavan became an open house, especially for children, youth and scientists and a social laboratory. He was a man with a mission and sought to operationalise his ideas in “mission mode”. 

Though non-political, Dr Kalam had an astute sense of political and constitutional propriety and measured up to the political challenges he confronted during his term in office. He also disproved the strange notion that the President is no more than a constitutional ornament, a figurehead with no real role to play. When delicate issues confronted him he acted boldly in accordance with constitutional advice and the dictates of his own conscience.

Not a yes-man

Turning Points: A Journey Through Challenges well illustrates the point. He returned the Office of Profit Bill to Parliament to tidy up the concept — the first time a Bill had been sent back for reconsideration. He was deeply disturbed by the UPA government’s decision to dissolve the suspended Bihar Assembly in 2005 even before it could meet on the ground that the Governor had reported that efforts were being made to cobble together a majority by illegal means. 

The matter had been referred to the Supreme Court before which the President desired that his views should be placed through the Government counsel. Not satisfied that this had been done in the manner desired, Dr Kalam decided to resign office after approving the dissolution and was with some effort persuaded to withdraw his resignation that he had tendered on grounds of conscience, which he held to be his highest tribunal. He was no yes-man.

An innovator by profession, he was equally innovative in Rastrapati Bhavan. He promoted e-governance and wired up his office for a start. He proposed an e-judiciary and pressed for a national litigation pendency clearance mission. He initiated regular breakfast meetings with MPs and State Ministers to review and promote development from which the aim of a Developed India by 2020 emerged. To this end he also sought to construct a national prosperity index to measure progress in terms of both growth and welfare. These were not exercises in futility. They made people think and sowed the seeds of action. 

He noted carefully suggestions made in various reports and by wise heads and compiled these into a list of “do’s”. On the political plane he advocated independent selection panels for appointments to all constitutional and regulatory offices — an issue of current controversy — and a constitutional amendment that would permit the prime minister to appoint up to 25 per cent of his or her cabinet from outside parliament so as to bring in expertise. He also proposed that the Planning Commission be mandated to present an annual report to Parliament on actual achievements in relation to agreed annual targets.

His first outstation visit on being sworn President was to Gujarat soon after the bloody riots of 2002. Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee did not object but inquired if such a visit was essential. Dr Kalam thought so and did go, and was able to give comfort and bring succour to many and was escorted throughout by Narendra Modi. The visit did impart a healing touch and sent out the message that the nation cared.

One of the revelations Dr Kalam makes is that in 2004, he would unhesitatingly have called upon Sonia Gandhi to form the Government, as she had the mandate, but was surprised when she instead put forward Dr Manmohan Singh’s name as prime minister.

In the field of foreign affairs the President felt that in an increasing globalised world much commerce and other transactions are governed by international treaties. Hence the importance of vesting Parliament with the power to ratify all international agreements, a process not yet part of Indian practice unlike in most places elsewhere in the world. 

Here was a thinking President imbued with democratic values. When he visited South Africa to address the Pan-African Parliament he projected the idea of developing a Pan-African e-Network to connect Africa with an Indian core competency. The idea has gradually borne fruit. The President of course ardently supported the civil nuclear deal with the U.S. and spent time in Tamil Nadu to reassure fishermen and coastal residents that the Kudankulam nuclear plant will do them no harm.

Addressing the European Parliament, the President broke into one of his own compositions, an Ode to the European Union, which touched the Parliamentarians. The poem might not compare with those of Keats or Shelley but it came from the heart. Turning Points makes for simple reading but makes one realise how much an upright, thinking President can do.

TURNING POINTS — A Journey Through Challenges: A. P. J. Abdul Kalam; HarperCollins Publishers, A-53, Sector 57, Noida-201301. Rs. 199.