A
multifaceted visionary
 Lalit Suri, a name
to reckon with in the hotel industry created a history by
creating a hotel chain famous by the name of Bharat
Hotels which has become synomous with top notch
hospitality industry of the country.
Lalit Suri was a man who wore many hats -- an
entrepreneur, a politician, an avid art collector and a
philanthropist. Lalit Suri, Chairman and Managing
Director of
Bharat Hotels, the promoters of the Grand Group of
Hotels, was a respected figure in domestic and
international community for his vision and dynamism.
If he was better known for his achievements as a
hotelier, he also made his share of contribution in the
Indian political system as a sitting Member of Parliament
in the
Rajya Sabha.
Born on April 15, 1947 in Rawalpindi, an automobile
engineer by qualification Suri's tryst with the
hospitality industry began when he took over the
leadership to control
Bharat Hotels as its Chairman and Managing Director in
1987.
His no nonsense attitude in running business was
reflected when the company's first project -- the
444-room super deluxe hotel in Delhi -- was completed in
record time.
Commissioned on October 20, 1988, the InterContinental
The Grand, New Delhi, considered as one of Delhi's most
successful hotels, stands testimony to the values Suri
aspired for.
Since then, there was no looking back in his journey as a
hotelier. Bharat Hotels, which operates under 'The Grand'
banner, offers seven top-line hotels in the country, --
four
'InterContinental The Grand' hotels in New Delhi,
Srinagar, Goa and Mumbai and three 'The Grand' hotels in
Bangalore, Udaipur and Khajuraho.
The group had planned three more hotels - The Grand Great
Eastern Kolkata, The Grand Resort Bekal and The Grand
Ahmedabad by next year.. . .....more
Glimpses of
1965 Indo-Pak war
Colonel Anil Bhat
 Notwithstanding
Pakistan's track record of non implementation and gross
violation of all previous agreements, the quest for peace
should continue. But that cannot stop the tradition of an
army to recall the sacrifices its soldiers made in past
wars.
Many units of Indian Army celebrate their various battle
honour days, paying tributes to those who laid down their
lives in the second India-Pakistan war in 1965.
At first light on 16 September 1965, 8th Garhwal Rifles,
supported by two squadrons (14 tanks each) of 17 Horse
(also known as The Poona Horse) were advancing on a
mission of driving a wedge across the important road
connecting Chawinda with Pasrur by capturing Butur
Dograndi.
While leading the battalion in the gallant assault on
Butur Dograndi, Lt Col JE Jhirad, the Commanding Officer
got seriously wounded by heavy enemy shelling. Regardless
of fatal injuries, he grabbed the blooded 'Royal Rassi
(lanqard) in his hand, holding it aloft for all to see,
whispered "Nothing can be nobler and finer than to
die for this" and breathed his last. Maj Abdul Rafey
Khan, the Second-in-Command took over and despite stiff
resistance and heavy casualties, Butur Dograndi was
captured by last light. Beginning from 0745 hours the
next day, the desperate enemy launched three ferocious
counter attacks supported by tanks, artillery and air
force.
It was during one of these that Rifleman Balwant Singh
Bisht, armed with a rocket launcher, rushed forward on
advancing enemy tanks, scored a hit on one of them, and
in the process laid down his life. He was posthumously
awarded Sena Medal for this valiant action. Later, in the
extreme circumstances of being inside enemy territory
with no chances of a link-up or reinforcement and
replenishment, when the battalion was ordered to pull out
as best as it could, much against the wishes of all
ranks, Khan, the officiating Commanding Officer, was
fatally wounded in a singular and heroic act of personal
bravery and courage.. . .....more
Farhan
Akhtar’s “Don”
Inder Jeet S. ‘Prince’
 It was in 1978 when Amitabh
Bachchan (in double role) and Zeenat Aman starrer
‘‘DON’’ was released and created
box-office history. Film, written by Javed (Akhtar) and
Salim was the story of an underworld don (played by
Amitabh Bachchan)- who get killed in an encounter with
Police.
Iftikhar who played senior police-officer rope-in a
look-alike person (Amitabh again) and ask him to play
Don. This simple village guy agrees hesitingly. It so
happens that Iftikhar who knows the real truth (that the
real Don is dead) himself dies in an encounter with some
gangesters. How that simpleton proves his innocence that
he himself is not the don wanted by police is an
interesting tale full of twists. Farhan Akhtar who
happens to be the son of Javed Akhtar has scripted and
directed the new version of ‘‘DON’’
Film is based on the same story with same characters.
Even some of the songs too have been borrowed from the
original film and have been re-mixed. The title role is
being played by Shahrukh Khan, Priyanka Chopra, Arjun
Rampal, Isha Koppikar, Boman Irani, Om Puri and Kareena
Kapoor forms the impressive star-cast of this
‘‘DON’’ Farhan Akhtar describes his
film in the following words, ‘‘The whole point
of re-making a classic was to give it my own twist.
I’ve tweaked my dad and Salim Saab’s script a
bit. The essence of ‘‘DON’’ remains
the same. But in terms of look, mood and flavour, my
‘‘DON’’ is very different- I’d
say it is my homage to the original.’’
It may be recalled here that Amitabh had sung a song
‘‘Khaike Pan Banaras Wala’’ for the
original ‘‘DON’’. Here, in the latest
version of the same film, Shahrukh Khan sings the same
song. Music by Shankar, Ehsaan and Loy and chreography by
Saroj Khan are other highlights of this film. Film is
expected to hit the silver screen before Diwali in this
month... . . ......more
Mobile
repairing
Balbir Singh
 A mobile is a
device is used for communication purposes. Today which is
being a part of human life. Our culture is a handicap
without a mobile. By the use of mobile, we can search for
the person to whom we have to meet.
Mobile a communication device is to very easy handle,
light to weight, no extra maintenance compact size, easy
to recharge and a victory over the boredom.
Since it is a very sensitive and micro-digital device,
through it can be damaged by either of the other careless
reasons or by wrong handling or moisturisation.
In the opinion of the above truth, there is an urgent
need to restrict the chance of having defects in the
mobile phones. Now a days, in mobile sets. the most of
the IC’s have to be fixed with special type of gum
on the chassis. With this gum. IC’s in the Mobile
Chassis is filled and covered. The gum holds IC firmly
and thus reduces the chance of mosturisation in the
chassis. This gum minimizes the chances of dryness in the
attachment between IC and the chassis due to which there
occur different types of defects in the mobile hones.
The repair and maintenace engineer should not give
sufficient heat to or near by these gum shielded
IC’s otherwise the IC gets damaged. In this way the
mobile phone gets permanently damaged by heating.
It should be noted that there is a shortage of
experienced, reliable and knwledgeable mobile repair and
maintenance engineers in the state. Thus the customers
have no option but to fall in the hands of those people
in whose hands the safety of the mobile sets is not
guaranteed. . . .. ........more
Defeatism
is the bane
S. Rajaratanam
 India has been
basking in the glory of freedom for 59- years though it
can claim achievements in certain fields, it cannot wash
off the stigma of stagnation in many others. Sport is one
of those sectors dogged by neglect and apathy. No wonder,
therefore, that this country has not been able to achieve
any landmark victory in any sports arena, be it hockey,
football or any other game. India's display in Olympics
games has been dismal. Only in 1983 we could win world
cricket cup. There is naturally a lot of tear-shedding
and breast-beating through the length and breadth of the
land. Accusations have been hurled freely by one at
another.
The smoke of mutual incrimination has been rising thick
and fast. The nation has been feeling crushed under the
weight of despondency. The calamity seems to have
enveloped everyone, right from labourers to public
leaders, through illiterate workers to the high
intelligentsia, who have been asking the oft-repeated
question as to why India, a country of over a billion
people has not produced outstanding teams to win laurel
and medals. While the national and regional newspapers
have been coming out with stinging editorials seeking
explanations, apportioning blame and adding to the
gathering gloom, hardly any concrete suggestion has
emanated from these sources for the future to end the
long standing drought of medals and to enable India to
gain its rightful place in the arena of sports.
Every one of us has missed a point; perhaps ignored a
glaring fact that our nation of more than a billion has
only about 10,000 sportspersons. Whereas, even in tiny
countries, thousands upon thousands of young people take
to sports early in life, our schools, colleges and
universities have been sadly bereft of playgrounds,
trained instructors, sports gear and the necessary budget
allocations. A small country like Holland is equipped
with no less than 400 turfs as compared to seven or eight
in India. The number of hockey players in Holland
naturally exceeds those of our country. Another small
nation, South Korea, . ......more
The Dalit
Icon
Atul - Rama
 Kanshi Ram may have
died because of prolonged illness but he decidedly left
his political offspring, the Bahujan Samaj Party, in a
healthy state. At a personal level, his protégé and
heir, Mayawati, might have been instrumental in keeping
him away from his family in Punjab, culminating in the
unusual spectacle of the family making a (vain) bid to
stop his funeral in Delhi. But it would appear that the
mercurial Mayawati has, in political terms, only added to
Kanshi Ram's political legacy, enlarging the appeal of
the BSP to the upper castes after having heaped worst
abuses on them during the formative years of what was
then an exclusive party of the Dalits.
Perhaps the most satisfactory thing for Kanshi Ram would
have been the fact that the BSP overtook nearly every
other political party which was born around the time it
was or maybe some years earlier. The 'Janata' family of
amoeba parties are in the doldrums, even though one
branch of it is in power in Bihar and another one in
Karnataka, but only with the support of crutches. In UP,
the Samajwadi Party, which is basically the exclusive
preserve of the family of Mulayam Singh Yadav, faces the
strongest challenge from the BSP.
An ironic thing about Kanshi Ram and his BSP is that the
unleashing of the Mandal force by the Janata Dal leader
and the prime minister of the time, VP Singh helped him
most, though VP Singh had resurrected Mandal in the hope
that it would consolidate his own position in the face of
stiff challenge from some members of the ruling Janata
Dal. It is no less significant that in the communally
sensitive Uttar Pradesh, caste politics edged out
communal considerations. This explains why the BSP makes
the Bharatiya Janata Party nervous as the countdown for
the state assembly poll begins.. . .. ......more
Kashmir's
vedic past preserved in Hari Parbat rocks
J N Raina
 "Men do not
make their history in isolation from the past. The
memories of dead generations hang like a millstone around
the necks of present generations", said Karl Marx
long years ago. This is true of Srinagar. Founded
originally by Emperor Ashok in the third century B C, the
city might have lost much of its resplendence, because of
militancy, but a lot of its pre-historic grandeur,
hovering around Vedic period, remains preserved in
Hariparbat, a hillock in the heart of the old city.
The abode of Goddess Durga, Hariparbat, over which a fort
was built by Emperor Akbar in 1592, is a saga of the
ancient history, which finds mention in Kalhana's
Rajtarangani (chronicle of kings) and the Mahabharata.
The 12th century historian, Kalhana, in his Sanskrit
chronicle, has described Hariparbat as "the
epicentre of spiritualism in Kashmir". Mahabharata
and other religious scriptures refer to Hariparbat as the
'principal' seat (Pradhumna Peeetha) of the Goddess,
worshipped locally as 'Sharika'.
Till militancy made its presence felt, circumambulation
of the hillock was a ritual for devout Hindus. It is
believed that Hariparbat represents the abode of nine
crore (90 million) manifestations of the Goddess.
Each and every rock is regarded very sacred by the local
Hindu community, or Kashmiri Pandits, who have been
exiled by the Pakistan-backed terrorists. The Pandits,
now scattered all over the country, are the original
aborigines of Kashmir. They pine to see Hariparbat, which
used to be the centre of cultural and religious
activities.
Although very few authentic documents have survived
various invasions of Kashmir, much of the 5000-year-old
Vedic period has been preserved in the hillock. Sadly
enough, the hillock has been neglected and it is facing
extinction. People who live in its vicinity have been
damaging ......more
Obesity
Riva Verma
 Obesity is mainly
caused due to imbalance between the intake of calories
and output of them. Other factors for obesity are lack of
exercise and playing, overeating, eating junk food etc.
As the children now a days spend more time in front of TV
and computers rather than exercising or playing it is
also decreasing their activity level. Junk food is
another responsible factor for obesity as it makes one
eat more and more and does not give proper nutrients to
our body. In 21st century, eating junk or fast food has
become a passion among children and youngesters. Youth
also bunk their classes and go to restaurants with a
circle of friends and eat the same. However it affects
their studies as well as health is a negative way
‘‘Obesity... a home of diseases’’
It’s rightly said that obesity is a home of
diseases. Obese children or adults are at a grater risk
for serious diseases like diabetes, Cancers etc. However,
in some cases it may be hereditary as well. Children
after tell their parents to take them out to eat,
however, some happily agree to them but some do not as
they know that it’s the worst thing. Parents also
encourage children to get and eat out and they give money
to them to spend on colas and fast food and they think
that they are making their children happy but they do not
know that its them only who are going to repent later.
Eating junk food once in a while is not bad but too much
is not good as excess of everything is bad.
Now-a-days children are more interested in TV’s,
computers, video games, mobiles and Internet which do not
allow them to exercise or play as they are totally
indulged in such useless things. In TV as well, they get
tempted by watching ad’s of colas or certain food
items. , . .. . . . ...more
Alcohol
& Drug Dependance
(A growing menace of Society)
Dr Ram Chander Sharma
 In medical
terminology both alcohol dependence and drug dependence
is called chemical dependency (CD) but for this write up
the author shall try to explain both the problems
separately. For decades, sentiments like these have
reflected our culture belief about chemical dependent.
Feeling of shame, guilt and low self worth often cause
those who are chemically dependant to deny their problem
exists. Due to militancy the vast tracts of fertile lands
of Kashmir valley are used to grow poppy. The hashish
grows naturally in Kashmir as well as Jammu. On the other
hand J&K Govt has been very liberal to issue license
for IMF liquor and country made liquor in Jammu region
earning a whopping 400-500 crores of rupees per year as
revenue to fill her coffers. The easy availability of
alcohols and drugs in J&K has pushed the public of
J&K especially youths to dark arena of addiction.
(a) Alcohol Dependence : There was a time when medical
profession believed that alcoholism was merely a symptom
of some other emotional disorder. It look many years and
countless sufferings by alcoholics until the medical
profession finally realized that alcoholism is a primary
illness. In the works of Jellinek, his research and
writings he said, ‘‘Hey world, you guys
mislabelled this thing. You put it in the sin bin and it
really belongs to the diseases pile. Alcohol weather in
small quantities or large quantities takes away from the
body that is necessary to maintain health. Alcoholism is
a primary, progressive terminal and permanent disease.
The W. H. O. definition is ‘‘Alcoholics are
those excessive drinkers, whose dependence on alcohol has
attained such a degree that it shows a noticeable mental
disturbance or an interference with their bodily and
mental health, their inter personal relation and their
smooth social and economic functions or who show
primordial signs of such development. Once the alcoholic
starts to drink, he may no more control his compulsion to
drink than tuberculosis patient can control his coughing.
Alcoholism can be treated but, if left untreated the
disease is 100 percent fatal. . . . . ...more
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