Hii first of all if this as a repost then mods trash this...

Friends actually this is not a trick it is an free offer provided by airtel. By using this u can surely get an free offer immidietly.. I have got 5 free A2A mints with an validity of 1 month (tried in 30 th of november) and free miss call alert with an validity of 2 months ( today )

So just i m conf it in m.p. it is 100 % working for me & in my friends mobile... you r third.. this trick is dedicated to vinaydubey.. 

Just send an sms OFFER to 54321 and u r done 

& do tin din bad try karte rehna har din alag alag offer hoge


accha lage to like dena... now i m going offline from pc..

Hi Guys....Today I am posting my first ever trick that is working 100%

Recently we all had gained credit for skype ... its time to make it unlimited using those credits only.
This Works only for those who have skype balance more than 20 usd
(1)Buy the unlimited calling subscription (19.99$) within India for 1 month on the skype site.(from the credits we have)
(2)Log into your skype account and confirm that you have successfully subscribed to the unlimited India pack.
(3)Note the date on which you subscribed to the unlimited india pack.
(4)Now everyday change your Computer date to the date you noted down
(5)Enjoy Calling unlimited for lifetime!!!

Works 100%

To activate SMS:
FOLLOW csu_livescores to 53000(tollfree)
or FOLLOW tweetcricscore to 53000(tollfree).
Try it any problem then post reply


Its actually twitter group
you can also subscribe to another alerts........

"KINGMAKER " COME BACK WITH NEW TRICK


AFTER MANY TIME I'M BACK WITH NEW WAY AIRTEL DEFAULT MOBILE OFFICE 2G/3G FASTED FREE GPRS TRICK 


MERE ALL FRIENDZ NE MUJE BOLA KI " MOBILE OFFIECE REAL HOST TRICK BLOCK " HO GAI HE IS LIYE MENE ISE FIND KIYA HE SO 1st OF ALL ITS NEW WAY TRICK IS LIYE ISKO DHYAN SE & THIK SE DEKHNA    


NOW COME TO THE TRICK:-

EDIT IN UR DEFAUL MO SETTINGS BELOW:-

APN:- airtelgprs.com

PROXY:- blank

PROT:- blank

PRIMARY DNS SERVER:- 8.8.8.8

SECONDARY DNS SERVER:- 8.8.4.4

NOW IN OPERAMINI HANDLER SETTINGS:-

FRONT QUERY:- 0.facebook.com@

PROXY TYPE:- Real Host

PROXY SERVER:- 0.facebook.com


NOW ITS ALL ARE OK & ENJOY THIS TRICK !!!!!!!!!!!!!

use airtel live setting...

First call <121>dail 2>5>1>1 and active airtellive

APN:- >airtelfun.com

Home PAGE:-> www.google.com/ wap.google.com

Proxy server:->100.1.200.099

Port:-> 80
::::::working in gujarat:::::

APN: mmsc
proxy: 10.4.42.15
port: 8080
homepage: https://kproxy.com

open homepage and open anypage from there.. Its default browser trick.. Balance must be low, but works in high balance too.. And also its https not http in homepage...

If the mmsc wont work change to imis...

If again the page is not getting opened try again in mmsc APN.. it'll work 100%... But its slow here in my place... In imis try in lw balance that's Rs.0 or less..

Tested in Karnataka with mmsc apn in imis balance getting deducted.. Try in ur state...

Remember again its "https" in homepage..

UPDATE: For those whom its not working first open https://server1.kproxy.com from 'imis' apn with positive balance then disconnect it. After that again open this address with 'mmsc' apn..

Enjoy!!!

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Uninor is a cheapest network in India for onnet calls &amp; sms. As we know uninor provides 2paisa/minutes onnet call through 22 rs STV packs (for Kolkata), 27 rs sms pack, 90 rs gprs pack, voice packs, STD packs, Local Packs In through recharge STV. You can know more by dialing *363*0# or call 121. But its hard to go market everytime for recharging such as packs so now activate any plan from your mobile without recharging.
Now you can activate the services from your mobile USSD.

Quote: Just dial *222*7*[ammount of STV]#

If we need to activate rs 9 gprs pack, just we have to dial *222*7*9# , And all we knew uninor gives us full talktime for every recharge like rs 30/50/100/150/200. Just ask for full talktime in Uninor counter/shop.

Here is Trick.

e1732 Unlock Solution
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
1.) Download the E1732 – Downgrade f.w(11.126.16.00.356) to downgrade your Modem locked firmware.
2.) Download CDMA-Workshop (i have not include this search 4m )
I have also included a Video for exact Steps to be done.Just follow it
i have tested the same on 5 modems and works PERFECTLY
NOTE : So no useless comments but i also want to say this that new users with less technical knowledge dont TRY this….
ONLY DRAWBACK OF THIS – MODEM WILL BE DOWNGRADED TO HUAWEI e173
AND IN DASHBOARD IT’LL SHOW AS HUAWEI e173…
ELSE ALL OK… HAPPY UNLOCKING
==================================================================
==================================================================
Firmware Link
e1732-Tutor
PASSWORD – JustLife

Top Searches
1. Person of the Year: Anna Hazare

There was one man who dominated headlines this year – first for bringing an able (if one could say that)
government to its knees, then for getting the nation to take to the streets to lament the inability of the government to do
anything right, then for rifts in his paradise, then for – you get the drift.
Anna Hazare was to the nation what not many have been since Gandhi – a prayer, a song, a war cry, a beacon of hope and
arguably, India’s last chance at bringing back Gandhian ideals. Whether his movement against corruption will have the last
laugh is still a question, but he’s the singular exemplar that nothing is impossible in a nation of uncertainty.
2. Sportsperson of the Year: Sachin Tendulkar


Is there any surprise here? Sachin might well be the sportsperson of the decade, if not the last two decades and indeed, for
a better part of this millennium for India. As compatriot and starry-eyed fellow player Virat Kohli put it, for the better
part of 20 years, Sachin has carried the burden of a nation’s expectation on his shoulders alone.
For having inspired a nation to put aside its religious, linguistic and other like divides aside every time he picks up the
willow and takes centrestage on the cricket ground, Sachin Tendulkar, teen prodigy turned the player who defines the
‘gentleman’ part of the gentleman’s game, is this year’s sportsperson of the year, his elusive 100th ton aside.
3. Celeb of the Year: Katrina Kaif

Katrina Kaif, a British-Indian actress and model, has tasted success with films like Namastey London, New York,
Rajneeti, and Welcome. The glamorous actress shot to fame this year with her sizzling performance in an item number, in her
movie Tees Maar Khan.
‘Sheila ki jawani’ literally rocked the nation, giving a complete makeover to the British-Indian’s image, as well as stiff
competition to Bebo, Priyanka Chopra and many others in the industry. Success apart, the star has also been in the news for
rumours of flings with her with co-stars. However, Katrina has chosen to stay mum, whether about her split with Salman Khan
or her alleged relationship with Ranbir Kapoor.
4. Word(s) of the Year: Lokpal Bill

Anna Hazare, anti-corruption and the Lokpal Bill – three words that have been synonymous with each other this
past year, and three words that have been on the lips of every Indian.
The Lokpal bill targets the corruption that has permeated all ranks of government, and aims at addressing citizen grievances
and protecting the interests of whistle-blowers. Literally translated, Lokpal means “protector of the people.” If passed, the
bill will lead to the creation of a citizen’s ombudsman body, that is independent of existing bureaucracy, and can
investigate any complaints of corruption without prior government approval.
How this story ends is yet to be seen, but we expect to hear a lot more of the Lokpal Bill in 2012.
5. Event of the Year: Cricket World Cup 2011

Without doubt, the Cricket World Cup wins this one.
Co-hosted by India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, the World Cup eclipsed every other event between the 19th of February and the
2nd of April this year. The fact that India won the Cup on home soil was the perfect icing on the cake. Images of Sachin
being carried on the shoulders of the Indian team will be etched forever in the memories of this generation. As will the
euphoria of that night, as revelers poured into the streets dancing, united by joy and shared nationality.

6. Gadget of the Year: Samsung Galaxy Tab

With the tablet’s popularity skyrocketing this year, it is the Samsung Galaxy Tab that we have to thank for
bringing Android into the tablet market.
Lighter, slimmer and with a smaller footprint that most of its competitors, the Galaxy Tab manages to strike the right
balance between e-book reader and 10-inch tablet that’s perfect for watching movies. With many interesting perks and new
features, the Galaxy Tab has more than given Apple a run for its money; it has quickly taken over top spot.

7. Movie of the Year: Murder 2

We live in an era where brand and franchise have become the order of the day. Although Murder was released seven
years ago, it continues to linger in public memory, not only for its sizzle but for its edge-of-seat entertainment. The
sequel successfully carries the Murder brand another step forward.
This time around, the director has brought back the movie with a whole new cast. Compared to what Anurag Basu did in Murder,
Murder 2 is darker, more erotic and bolder. The plot is well delivered, with characters used to the fullest. To sum it up,
Mohit Suri has made a remarkable effort in taking forward the success of Anurag Basu’s Murder.

8. Destination of the Year: Goa


Goa – the land of beaches, is a perfect blend of the traditional and modern aspects of life. An ideal combination of sun,
sand, and surf, Goa is a must-go if you are touring India. The best time to visit is between the cooler months of November
and March, when the weather is pleasant and the seas are calm and clear.
Apart from water sports and sun baths, there is a lot more that Goa lets you explore. The place is literally synonymous with
churches, housing treasures from the past. The spice plantations, Dudhsagar waterfalls and dense forests are all unique in
their own way, so make sure this is one destination you pen into your holiday plans.
9. Car of the Year: Maruti Swift

The most talked about car of the year, the Maruti Swift took up to 50,000 bookings prior to launch!
Staying true to its original look, it managed to up the style factor on every front, as well as tank up on power to increase
the overall performance. One of the most luxurious cars offered by Maruti Suzuki, and one of the most stylish, this
automobile promised customer delight and has delivered just that!
10. Lifestyle Term of the Year: Yoga

Yoga is undoubtedly the ‘in’ thing today. Gone are the days when people ran on treadmills and spent hours
puffing and panting. The mantra for fitness has migrated over the years from the pricey gyms to silent yoga centres under
thatched roofs. The trend was triggered after Bollywood star Kareena Kapoor attributed Suryanamaskaras for her ‘size zero’
figure.
Not only does yoga help you get in shape, it also lets the mind relax and relieves stress. Daily exercises of yoga will also
help in better breathing, provide flexibility and inner peace. It is a trend that has caught the imagination of celebs,
youngsters and adults alik.

Newsmakers of the Year
1. Anna Hazare

The face behind the Lokpal movement, Kisan Baburao better known as Anna Hazare is considered by many netas and
babus as their biggest nemesis and a hindrance to their aspirations. His crusade against corruption has grabbed headlines all
over and inspired the common Indian to demand for a Jan Lokpal Bill that would hold politicians accountable for their
actions.
Even though his growing popularity surprised many, Anna Hazare has been a social activist for over two decades, relentlessly
working towards social and political reforms in the country.
Born in 1937, Anna Hazare joined the army in 1963 and it was during one of his visits to his village of Ralegaon Siddhi that
forced him to retire from the army and to dedicate his life to rooting out problems that the villagers were facing.
His biography says Anna Hazare accidently came across a book by Swami Vivekananda and as he began to read it he realised that
the ultimate motive of human life should be service to humanity and thus he decided to devote his life to public service.
Always seen in white, Anna Hazare lives in a single room within the village temple compound.
This Gandhian hails the Lokpal movement as India’s second freedom struggle. Leading a frugal life with integrity and honesty,
overnight he has become a role model for India’s middle class.
Anna has resorted to many hunger strikes to make his demands heard, a fact that doesn’t augur well with his critics as they
have labelled him a blackmailer and an armchair fascist.

2. Mamata Banerjee

The 34-year-old regime of the Left front finally crumbled to a feisty Mamata Banerjee, making her the first
woman chief minister of West Bengal when her party won the assembly elections this year.
Mamata clad in a white sari and rubber slippers managed to do what many in Bengal thought was undoable till a few years back.
Her angry denunciations of the Left administration made her an instant hit with the struggling Bengali. She systematically
mounted protests against forced land acquisitions in the state by the then Left-ruled government.
During her short stint as the union railway minister she showered Bengal with railway projects which in turn gave Bengalis a
glimpse of what she can do for their state if given a chance.
In 2011, Mamata gifted new trains and several new projects to six districts in north Bengal and didn’t let it go unnoticed by
adding, &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;Railways have invested more funds in the six districts than the State has done for development of north Bengal&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;. A
smart move any time of the year.
‘Didi’, or elder sister as she is fondly called, strategised her campaign against the Communists in a manner that depicts the
political scenario of India today. She stands against all that is wrong in Bengal- from wrongful land acquisitions, bad
infrastructure to corruption and stagnation in the state’s economy- she has gone to the aam junta with these issues and
promised to make things right.
Moreover, what has appealed to the voters this time is Mamata’s humble background and her will to succeed and to put Bengal
on the world map, just like it was back in the 19th century.
3. ‘Amma’ Jayalalithaa

During the election campaign, she foretold that the AIADMK with her allies would win over 185 seats in the Tamil
Nadu assembly and how correct she was. After two consecutive defeats in the Tamil Nadu elections, Jayalalithaa made a
spectacular comeback winning 199 of the state’s 234 assembly seats.
The last two defeats had taught Jayalalithaa a few bitter lessons and this time she made sure not to repeat the same
mistakes. For this to happen, she had to depart from her usual mode of functioning and come down from her ivory tower and
reach out to the people with her agenda.
Often described as the ‘Margaret Thatcher of Tamil Nadu’ by her followers, Jayalalithaa did the unthinkable and surprised
political pundits by forging alliances with smaller parties – a move that proved to be a masterstroke.
As soon as the poll results were out, Jayalalithaa said, &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;Our priority is to rebuild. Over the past five years, Tamil Nadu
has been totally ruined. Time and again this has happened. It is not an easy task to rebuild an entire state.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;
What she did was to refer to the 2G spectrum scam repeatedly and hold rallies reminding the masses of how corrupt the DMK is
and how the state’s economy is ruined by DMK.
Even though the pre-poll alliance played a major role in shaping the party’s victory, AIADMK cadres says that the win is an
indication of people’s trust in Jayalalithaa and her vision of a corruption-free state.

4. Mahendra Singh Dhoni

Unlike other greats, Dhoni doesn’t have the technical efficiency or elegance or panache that makes cricket
folklore but somehow he transcends all boundaries and makes himself a hero to the common man. He seldom makes batting look
good but his helicopter shot makes even the connoisseur of the game make an exception and applaud.
Despite all his inadequacies, Dhoni ended India’s 28-year-long wait for a World Cup win and led the team to world’s No. 1
Test status. What makes Dhoni click seems to defy logic but what makes him a hero to millions makes more sense – he hails
from a small-town with modest means and unlike other success stories, Dhoni has shown that anyone can make it big with hard
work. He gives the small town enthusiasts the belief and confidence to dream big.
This year Time magazine named Dhoni in its list of 100 most influential people in the world. Time’s description of Dhoni was
penned by Chetan Bhagat, saying:
&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;As astonishing as Dhoni’s talent is his background. Indian success stories are usually associated with pedigree, connections
and power. Dhoni, from a small-town family of modest means, had none of these, but he’s shown India that you can make it with
only one thing: excellence. Dhoni doesn’t just lead a cricket team; he’s also India’s captain of hope. And he didn’t just win
India the World Cup; he also taught India how to win.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;
So much has been said and written about his captaincy, but his biggest accolade came from teammate Sachin Tendulkar when he
said that Dhoni is the best captain he played under
5. B S Yeddyurappa


From being BJP’s first chief minister in south India to becoming Karnataka’s first chief minister to be jailed for
corruption, Bookanakere Siddalingappa Yeddyurappa’s journey has been topsy turvy. A staunch Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh man,
Yeddyurappa once worked as clerk in a rice mill.
Yeddyurappa shot to fame after he took up the cause of landless farmers and bonded labourers in the state and was detained
during the emergency period in 1975. A powerful public speaker, Yeddyurappa is largely credited with pulling up the sagging
fortunes of BJP in Karnataka.
When Yeddyurappa became chief minister in 2008, BJP hailed the day as opening the doors of south India for the party to rule.
It was not a smooth journey for either Yeddyurappa or BJP as there were three rebellions and various scandals.
In January this year, Governor H.R. Bhardwaj shook BJP and Yeddyurappa by granting permission to two Bangalore advocates to
launch criminal proceedings against him for illegally freeing government land in and around Bangalore for monetary gains.
The two advocates, Sirajin Basha and N.K. Balaraj filed five cases. Yeddyurappa was jailed in two of the five cases. Besides
Yeddyurappa, his two sons, B.Y. Raghavendra and B.Y. Vijayendra, and son-in-law R. Sohan Kumar are also accused in all the
five cases.
6. Lal Kishanchand Advani

Critics say this is veteran BJP leader Lal Kishanchand Advani’s final, desperate gambit to achieve his
long-standing ambition to occupy the office of prime minister – his anti-corruption yatra. Supporters say the yatra, which
will shortly enter such critical areas as Gujarat, Maharashtra and the south, is an attempt to throw light on rampant
corruption and to politicize it is to trivialize the issue.
But is L.K. Advani’s anti-corruption yatra really mobilising people against the United Progressive Alliance or is it just the
last hurrah of a veteran campaigner out to prove that he can still be a political game changer?
Calling for a ‘brighter India’ free of corruption, BJP leader L.K. Advani rolled out his sixth road campaign, the Jan Chetna
Yatra, that will took him through 100 districts in 38 days. Hopefully this will be enough to push the BJP closer towards
power in the next general election.
The man whose Rath first drove a party with just two seats in Parliament straight onto the national stage, clearly believes
the yatra is still a journey to political advantage.
Advani’s yatra might have helped the party in crystallising the mood against the UPA in the wake of the 2G spectrum scam, the
Commonwealth Games scandal and the cash-for-votes controversy and the government’s failure to contain price rise.
Advani, in his speeches during the yatra was unsparing in his attack on the UPA, describing it as the most corrupt government
since independence and Manmohan Singh as the ‘weakest prime minister’. He also accused the UPA of ‘disarray and internal
dissension’, ‘policy paralysis’ and spoke of the need for electoral and judicial reforms.
The yatra might have evoked a good response but the ‘litmus test’ will be Uttar Pradesh which will go to the polls next year.

7. Kiran Bedi


Not a stranger to controversy herself, India’s most famous IPS officer, Kiran Bedi, courted notoriety this year with her
vociferous support of Anna Hazare’s Jan Lokpal movement, even resorting to gimmickry and over-the-top antics to get her point
across.
India’s most decorated public services officer, a Magsaysay awardee, Bedi was quick to heap criticism on the UPA government’s
inaction towards Anna’s requests of an ombudsman bill to counter corruption. Alas, after being the most outspoken in Anna’s
team, she had to swallow a bitter pill when it came to light that she’d herself inflated several travel bills, a move she was
quick to defend. She subsequently paid back the overcharged amount.
Bedi’s was a classic case of people-and-glass-houses.

8. Osama bin Laden

Nearly 10 years after the traumatic Sept 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Centre in New York and the
Pentagon, the world’s most wanted terrorist leader Osama bin Laden was killed in Pakistan.
The man who wanted to recreate a seventh-century Muslim empire was gunned down by US special forces in a helicopter-borne
assault on a closely guarded compound in Abbottabad.
President Obama announced that Osama bin Laden was killed in a firefight saying, &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;Good evening. Tonight I can report to the
American people and to the world that the United States has conducted an operation that killed Osama bin Laden, the leader of
al Qaeda, and a terrorist who is responsible for the murder of thousands of innocent men, women and children.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;
Osama was found hiding in plain sight, in a well guarded compound in Abbottabad, just about an hour and a half outside of the
Pakistan capital Islamabad, which cast a doubt on the Pakistan political-military hierarchy.

9. Sushil Kumar

This 27-year-old from Motihari in Bihar, went from oblivion to fame and wealth in a matter of 13 questions on
the fifth season of the quiz show ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’.
Sushil Kumar, a computer operator who works on contract with a government department for a monthly salary of Rs 6,000, won
the biggest prize of all – Rs 5 crore, after successfully locking 13 questions posed by the Big B.
With two lifelines left, Amitabh Bachchan started reading out the final question. Sushil had to answer which foreign colonial
power exited from India after selling off the Nicobar island to the British in 1868.
Sushil answered Denmark and the Big B exulted – ‘Paanch crore!’
&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;Our house has almost broken down and we have a lot of loans that have to be repaid,&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; Sushil said. &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;If it hadn’t been for
this money, I would have gotten old before I sorted out my life.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;
&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;I’ve been getting a lot of suggestions about what to do with the money, but right now I can only think about my dream of
getting through the civil services exam,&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; he said.
&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;What a sensational day in the studios of KBC! A young man from the interiors of Bihar, earning a meagre salary of just Rs
6,000 per month, coming from the most humblest of backgrounds, reaches the hot seat and cracks the ultimate prize – Rs 5
crore! An incredible feat!&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; Amitabh Bachchan blogged.
10. Honourable Mention: Irom ‘The Iron Lady’

Even though she doesn’t strictly fulfil the newsmaker category, this iron-willed lady of Manipur has waged a
long and lonely battle against an apathetic government the only way she can. Thanks to Anna Hazare’s fast, Irom received some
media attention this year, starved that she was of it for the last 11 years.
Irom Sharmila Chanu has been fasting for 11 years to seek the removal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act or AFSPA from
her state, Manipur. She has the grit to try and persuade the government to repeal a law that empowers the security forces to
arrest without a warrant, and shoot anyone at sight.
Dubbed as the Iron Lady of Manipur, Irom began her fast in 2000 after she witnessed the killing of 10 people by Assam Rifles
jawans at a bus stop. For the past 10 years, she has not eaten a single morsel, resulting in her being force-fed by a tube
through her nose.
Irom hopes one day the Indian government will recognise her and her fight against human rights violations in the north east.
She has also urged Anna Hazare to visit Manipur and see what is happening there.
Although she has won international awards, Irom’s cause has never managed to strike a chord with the otherwise vocal middle
class. Very few know or care about what is happening in Manipur, and how people in the state are being constantly bullied by
the armed forces.
Irom’s heroic protest and her voice for a better homeland are still being ignored. Next time you attend a candlelight vigil,
say a silent prayer and light a candle for this extraordinary woman.


The Year in Song
1. Coke Studio Comes to India

Despite claiming fame for founding Pakistan’s first pop band Vital Signs, Rohail Hyatt remained relatively
unsung in India and remains so for the most part. When videos of his project Coke Studio Pakistan leaked over the pipes, it
stoked all over again India’s love-affair with music from across the border. After the videos were watched, the applauding
palms parted, the talents enviously praised, the inevitable question was – forgive the pun – popped: “Why not India?” With
our depth and breadth of talent, the patriots of Hindustan declared, we could make the Pakistan edition look like a tepid
warm-up act.
Thus, in June, Coke Studio @ MTV launched in India.
In Hyatt’s place was installed Leslie Lewis, erstwhile Colonial Cousin of Indipop vintage who has spent a career shrugging
off the moniker Remix Raja. Before launch, he described his new project as “a sound India has never heard before.”
Truth. Part of it included strains we haven’t, mercifully, heard in nearly two decades – the contrived fusion of Colonial
Cousins.
But leave that be. We braced for bigger fears.
Coke Studio Pakistan was modeled on the Brazilian show Est&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;uacute;dio Coca-Cola, though the model version featured live concerts
instead of in-studio sessions. A refreshing change from Bollywood music was on its way, teleflubbies raised on MTV Roadies
felt, but suspended judgment when the schedule drew up names like Shaan, Shankar Mahadevan and Richa Sharma – achingly tired
Bollywood staples. Also, while Hyatt’s credentials were riveted in stone, Lewis’ remained to be tried.
Lewis has won this round. Deservedly so, it seems, for Coke Studio @ MTV did not disappoint. While it hasn’t quite hit the
highs that Meesha Shafi and Alif Lohar achieved in the Pakistani show, it has nonetheless proved entertaining. And different,
somewhat, for the producers have tried to keep it painstakingly low on Bollywood detritus. The show has introduced audiences
to talents like Shafqat Amanat Ali, the Wadali Brothers and Tochi Raina along with artists like Delhi Indirockers Advaita and
the Raghu Dixit Project.
And, significantly, it has put the M back in MTV.
2. Metallica’s Here, Now Nothing Else Matters

It was last year that the organizers of Rock in India buckled under the wrath of metalheads, of whom the world’s
second-most populous nation has enough to fill a stadium-sized mosh pit (even if in there are some who can’t spell Lars
Ulrich).
Here’s why. After Megadeth and Machine Head (2008) and Iron Maiden (2009) headlined the festival, organizers DNA
Entertainment Networks, for reasons unfathomable, thought it fit to bring Backstreet Boys and Richard Marx to do the honors
in 2010. Not a breed known for taking it lying down, some of the nerdier metalheads usurped the organizers’ website, defaced
it and planted on its home page an uproariously hilarious (and NSFW) video of Hitler reacting to Backstreet Boys.
Probably explains why when rumors floated in April that Metallica, arguably the world’s most popular heavy metal act, would
play in India, no one bothered to believe. Now, now, pass the pint, they said.
But it was true. Announcements were repeated. Tickets sold. Venues – Delhi and Bangalore –fixed. Fans stocked up on black
tees and learned up their lines. And, of course, firmed up their neck muscles.
And then, the fiascos to beat all non-starters. When organizers first postponed and then cancelled the Gurgaon concert on
October 28, crowds went berserk and ransacked the stage. Four DNA staffers were locked up for cheating. Metallica quietly
flew to Bangalore. Amid much circumspection, the show finally took place. Nearly 50,000 fans watched, screamed along and
headbanged till the orthopedics came home.
And why not? Metallica was a once-in-a-lifetime concert experience, just as India was a once-in-a-lifetime destination for
the band.
&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;We’re so excited to be playing a show in a place we never thought in our wildest dreams we’d get to play,&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; the band said in
a statement before playing India. That wild night in Bangalore, frontman James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich promised that
Metallica would be back.
But it might take a sea change in India’s DNA to be able to host them again.
3. ‘Watch out Bollywood, it’s Sonu and Britney!’

We know you’ve been adequately warned but we’ll wager you’re still not ready for this. If it wasn’t enough that
Sunidhi Chauhan sang with Enrique Iglesias, Britney’s going to hit us one more time. This time she’s remixed one with – gasp!
– Sonu Nigam. Indubitably, this is big news for India – the ultimate clash of cultural titans, shower of sparks and fairy
dust and confetti et cetera.
Now, if your pulse raced imagining Sonu’s clear-as-Rafi voice slipping into precarious harmony with Britney’s over-processed
baa-baa bleat, put away that Prozac. The track was remixed by DJ Lloyd (who worked with ex Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger)
and features the Bollywood playback singer opening with a sargam to Spears’ track “I Wanna Go”. Apparently it got her so
excited that she tweeted: “Watch out Bollywood. It’s Sonu and Britney.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;
Now, a sargam for the uninitiated is Indian classical music’s counterpart of the solf&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;egrave;ge – where the notes are sung in
sequences of octaves. In Western classical the equivalent would be a rendition of “do re mi” or some such, not unlike Julie
Andrews in The Sound of Music. Hard to imagine Britney singing those in key, so the task most certainly had to be outsourced.
This isn’t the first time Britney, who chart-topped to dizzy teen-pop stardom in the early 2000s, is going desi. She teamed
up with British Asian producer Rishpal Singh Rekhi aka Rishi Rich for a desi remix of “Me Against the Music” in 2003 and a
Bollywood remix of “Till the World Ends” (2011) was released with producers Culture Shock and Desihits, a website for South
Asian music and dance.
For Nigam, the guest role is a certain career boost, coming shortly after it did with a production with Jermaine Jackson. For
Britney, it’s another frenzied clanging of cash registers. And perhaps a springboard to Bollywood?
Wherever it will take us, we wanna go, too.

4. The Maestro’s Swansong


Pandit Bhimsen Joshi died January 24, eleven days short of his 89th birthday.
In the course of a singing career lasting almost seven decades, Bhimsen Gururaj Joshi was conferred with every decoration for
which an Indian civilian is eligible – after the Padma Shri (1972), Padma Bhushan (1985) and Padma Vibhushan (1999), he
became only the fourth classical musician to be decorated with the Bharat Ratna in 2008. Those acquainted with him testify to
his staggering genius, his unpresuming humility, his weakness for cars and single malt, and his unflagging pursuit of
perfection. Even the peerless doyenne Gangubai Hangal is believed to have remarked that she found his perseverance and
commitment to his art intimidating. He inspired a generation of singers including the accomplished Pandit Jasraj.
Eldest of 16 siblings, Joshi found his calling in music early and, at age 11, left home to seek a guru. His quest, which took
him through Bijapur, Dharwad and Pune, wound up in the princely state of Gwalior where he studied music at Madhav Sangeet
Vidyalaya, a school patronized by the Maharajas. Here he picked up the rudiments of Khayal, the singing style that he came to
epitomize and reinvigorate with his gifted voice. For some years his life followed a peripatetic course, seeing him to gurus
in Bengal and elsewhere. He was eventually discovered in Jalandhar and brought back home to Gadag in north Karnataka where
Sawai Gandharva, a disciple of the maestro Abdul Karim Khan, accepted him as his pupil (Khan and his cousin Abdul Wahid Khan
were exponents of the Kirana gharana).
Joshi would have remained the preserve of a niche audience but for Mile Sur Mera Tumhara, an immensely popular and
long-running music video promoting unity in diversity broadcast on Doordarshan in 1988. Though he was a classicist by
training, Joshi’s art appealed to mass taste – he forayed effortlessly into devotional singing in Kannada and Marathi and he
has to his credit arguably the largest repertoire of recordings by a Hindustani singer.
5. India Goes Gaga

Slipping unnoticed into any country must be easy for Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta – few would guess her
identity from the name on her passport. Lady Gaga, as she makes herself known, performed at an exclusive gig in connection
with the finale of the Indian Grand Prix in Greater Noida October 30. She is rumored to have charged Rs 5 crore as her
performance fee.
It was with bated breath that many in India looked forward to Simi Garewal’s interview with Lady Gaga on Simi Selects India’s
Most Desirable, broadcast August 21. And equally many were miffed when the artist didn’t turn up in person but spoke to the
host on live video. Simi is believed to have gifted the pop star a bejeweled 10-kilogram lehenga, which many expected her to
wear for her performance. But perhaps it was not easy to carry off, literally. She also disappointed by dispensing with the
steak-slab dress, see-through top and pasties. But what perhaps won over the moral police is that Lady Gaga is smitten with
the Hindu symbol Om, and had instructed her team to shop for accessories and jewelry to match.
The artist takes her unusual name from “Radio Gaga”, a popular track by the 1980s British band Queen, whose lead singer
Freddie Mercury (real name Farrokh Bulsara) was of Indian origin. She is known for her outrageous fashion sense, in-your-face
bisexuality and gay rights advocacy, and has chartbusters in “Poker Face”, “Bad Romance”, “Just Dance”, “Telephone” and
“Glory of Edge”. She recently released a new album, Born this Way, for which Indian composers Salim and Sulaiman remixed her
title track and second single “Judas”.
Lady Gaga performed for an exclusive – and moneyed – audience of about a thousand people at restaurateur AD Singh’s lounge
bar LAP. A sitar player added the customary Indian mood to the evening and Gaga reportedly ended the show with a clich&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;eacute;d
Namaste. We’re guessing patrons got their 40,000 bucks’ worth.
And, oh, she gifted her trademark sunglasses to Shah Rukh Khan. For his daughter.
6. Here Come The Dewarists


After being held hostage to innumerable hiccupy non-starters, Indian television audiences finally watched an authentic
music-on-the-road show that claims to be as representative as possible of the spirit of musical entrepreneurship in the
subcontinent.
Created by Babble Fish Productions, The Dewarists follows “musicians from all walks of life” – which includes, essentially,
indie artists who receive scant patronage from a Bollywood-besotted market. Do comparisons with Coke Studio and the mofussil
MTV Unplugged arise? Hush. The show’s “part-documentary, part-travelogue” format steps out of the studio and takes artists
and musicians into the proscenium of the real world.
However, Bollywood, despite itself, is inevitably thrown into the mix.
Presenter Monica Dogra – of the indie electro-funk outfit Shaa’ir + Func – is recognizable for starring in Kiran Rao’s Dhobi
Ghat. Among others The Dewarists mashes up composer duo Vishal-Shekhar with Grammy-winning English singer-songwriter Imogen
Heap; homegrown folk-rock stalwarts Indian Ocean with playback singer Mohit Chauhan; desi hard rock veterans Parikrama and
Agnee; and Pakistani singer-songwriters Zeb and Haniya with Bollywood’s Shantanu Moitra and Swanand Kirkire.
The first episodes have been well received, with flattering if pleasantly surprised (and achingly expectant) reviews. One
reason for this acceptance may be that the show’s makers and presenters are themselves artists well-entrenched in the indie
scene. The locales, sensibly chosen and scenic in a grounded, earthy way, also anchor the show’s authenticity without
succumbing to the fallibility of a “reality” format.
Intrigued by the name? It could well have been Guinnessists. Or Absolutists.
Dewars, for those not in the know, is a whiskey brand from Scotland. And it’s pronounced “do-ers”.
7. Teeming With Theme Songs

India sings to celebrate every theme. And every team.
This year it was the turn of the ICC World Cup 2011 to bring out the crooner in the cricket fan. Or at the least to sing
along with recognized crooners. And since Indian cricket and Bollywood are joined at the thigh pad, it fell upon
Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy to score for Team India. Perhaps, repeating A R Rahman after all the bad blood-letting in the CWG arena
wouldn’t have boded well for India’s 28-year-old quest for the Cup.
“De Ghumaa Ke”, written by Manoj Yadav and performed by Bollywood’s reigning triumvirate, was released on January 1 and
played ad nauseam on all available media in a feverish buildup to the cup. It was played before and after every match. Soon,
whether you actually liked the song or not, it was wedged inside your head like the aftershock of a root canal procedure. And
a nation that still cheers to reruns of Dhoni’s heart-stopping last-ball six hasn’t stopped playing it.
When Anna Hazare launched a nationwide agitation for the Jan Lokpal Bill, someone decided the campaign could use some hum
factor. Nitin Dawar, an Art of Living volunteer, composed and sang “Ek Nayi Subah” – literally, A New Dawn – to galvanize the
crowds that thronged in support of Hazare’s iconic non-violent protest. It became the official anthem of what became the most
TRP-friendly protest in the history of independent India.
And, oh, we hear Daler Mehndi performed a formulaic one for the Indian Grand Prix!
8. Last of the Dagar Doyens

Ustad Fahimuddin Dagar once remarked, “The goal of Indian music is to attain moksha — liberation from mortal
life.” He perhaps attained his loftiest goal on July 27.
Until his death that day, Ustad Rahim Fahimuddin Khan Dagar remained one of the last few exponents of the Dagarvani tradition
of Dhrupad, the oldest vocal genre of Hindustani classical music. He was also a maestro of the rudra veena and the sitar.
With his passing the Dagar lineage, now represented by his nephews, inched closer to a sunset. In a condolence note, the
Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi, eulogized the singer as one who “had distinguished himself by the quality of his
raga-elaboration and his mastery over rhythm.”
Born in Alwar, Rajasthan in 1927, Dagar Sahib was the only son of Padma Bhushan Ustad Allahbande Rahimuddin Khan Dagar and
constituted the 19th generation of Dhrupad singers. He learned vocal singing from his uncle Ustad Nasiruddin Khan Dagar at
age five and continued under the tutelage of his father until the latter’s death in 1975. (His brothers Nasir Mohinuddin
Dagar and Nasir Aminuddin Dagar, known as the Senior Dagar Brothers, and Ustad Nasir Zahiruddin and Ustad Nasir Faiyazuddin
Dagar known as Junior Dagar Brothers, were recognized as the beacons of Dhrupad.) Scions of the unique syncretism that
characterizes Hindustani classical music, the Dagars were Muslims who preserved a Hindu devotional tradition (conversely,
Khayal, the tradition that Pandit Bhimsen Joshi espoused, is a Muslim tradition).
Dagar Sahib was the recipient of numerous awards. He was conferred the Padma Bhushan in 2008. A venerated teacher, he had
taught at Rabindra Bharati University in Kolkata.
9. DK Bose makes a run for the money


One theory holds that “Bhaag DK Bose”, the smash-hit song of the Bollywood comedy Delhi Belly, was inspired by Dolly Bindra,
the potty-mouthed star of reality show Bigg Boss. Though the prevalent view is that songwriter Amitabh Bhattacharya simply
took an expletive commonly heard on the street and breathed new life – and legitimacy – to it by adapting it to one of the
most viral Bollywood songs to play on air and off it. It helped that “Bose” was composed, arranged and sung by Ram Sampath,
whose rock and grunge roots run deep.
Controversy dogged the bilingual film, unusually heavy on toilet humor and verbal unprintables for a Bollywood production.
The song was cleared without fuss by the Censor Board and aired on television and played in theatres with the film trailer.
The phrase “DK Bose”, uttered in staccato, is a homonym for a dirty Hindi cussword. Trivia-seekers will be aware that such a
literary/ poetic device answers to the name of mondegreen (which itself has a long story behind it, but you’d better look
that up).
Despite a huge outcry to ban it, the song became an instant rage among the younger crowd (even toddlers were reported to
prattle the chorus in sincere, vapid innocence). That said, the jury is out on whether the scissorhands at the Censor Board
were either inordinately na&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;iuml;ve or inured to bad taste by sheer overexposure. After all, they had also been subject to “Sheela
ki Jawani” (Tees Maar Khan) and “Munni Badnaam Hui” (Dabangg).
A completely different take, though, is that the censors aren’t burning as low as they used to –undeniably a huge leap toward
maturity.
10. SuperHeavy – Super Cool or Super Fail?

Fusion, as John McLaughlin once remarked, is a bad, bad word. Truth be told, most people in India didn’t know or
care that the latest embodiment of that hand-me-down malaise would be Mick Jagger and A R Rahman. As India was being
steamrolled by England in a Lords cricket match during the last forgettable season, both musicians appeared as plugged-in
guests on the commentary show (arguably to take the sting out of the defeat) and waxed eloquent about their new supergroup,
SuperHeavy.
Fact: As new as SuperHeavy was to us, Jagger and Rahman – as well as English singer-songwriter and actress Joss Stone,
ex-Eurythmics musician and producer Dave Stewart, and Grammy-winning Jamaican reggae artist Damian Marley – have been jamming
on the new sound since 2009. The group has released an eponymous album notable for two singles “Miracle Worker” and
“Satyameva Jayate” (in which Jagger choruses with Rahman in Sanskrit). The album’s sound is a Gestalt mosaic of everything
its members embody – newness, oldness, disco, blues, reggae and – Rahman’s quintessence – Bollywood and Indian sounds.
Murmurs that didn’t help the band’s image started to circulate once publicity pictures leaked of Superheavy featuring
everyone except Jagger in steel-grey suits (he in a standout electric blue jacket). Coming close on the heels of Rolling
Stones guitarist Keith Richards’ unflattering portrait of his allegedly egomaniacal frontman (in his memoir Life), it
crinkled brows everywhere. The Daily Mail, not a tabloid to mince the written word, posed the unprepossessing question: “So
who’s the star of your new band SuperHeavy, Sir Mick?”
That, and the other thing that has been fusion’s primary stumbling block: Trying to be everything to everyone.

Fond Farewells
1. Sathya Sai Baba

When Sathya Sai Baba, the Godman from Puttparthi died on April 6th earlier this year, he left behind an empire
estimated at Rs 40,000 crore, and no will. This was wealth accumulated from a lifetime being a self-proclaimed Godman and the
largesse of rich benefactors.
Sai Baba had millions of followers all over the world. His devotees included some of the popular celebrities and powerful
politicians like Sachin Tendulkar, Amitabh Bachchan and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
He was worshipped as an incarnation of another saint, Shirdi Sai Baba, and believed to have God-like qualities. But he had
his detractors, who claimed that all the miracles he performed, like pulling watches out of thin air, were merely cheap magic
tricks. Rumors of child and sexual abuse at his ashram were also rampant, so much so that the US government had issued a
warning about him to American citizens traveling to India. There was even an attempt on his life in June 6th, 1993 in his
ashram; the attack left six dead, and Puttaparthi rattled. Sai Baba dismissed the idea that the attack was an attempt on his
life.
But his legacy will live past these minor negative incidents. Perhaps the biggest contribution of the seer was his
philanthropic activities. He has provided many villages with clean drinking water through his organization Sri Satya Village
Integrated Programme (SSVIP). He set up the Sri Sathya Sai University, which delivers high-quality education with three
colleges under its belt. His setting up of Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s Super Speciality Hospital has been very well received,
where thousands of patients have been treated free of cost.
What will be important to follow would be the ability of his Trust to continue with his philanthropic activities long after
he’s gone.

2. Shammi Kapoor

Shamsher Raj Kapoor, born on October 21, 1931, to Prithviraj Kapoor and Ramsharni Kapoor, was their middle son,
and brother to Raj and Shashi Kapoor. He spent his childhood years in Kolkatta and Mumbai, and began his career with his
father’s theatre company, Prithvi Theatres. Four years later he left to pursue a career in film. He shortened his name to
Shammi Kapoor and made his debut with Jeevan Jyoti, but he was met without a blip at the box office. The next three years saw
20 films that crashed and burned. Deciding to change things around, Kapoor shaved off his pencil moustache, cut his hair and
donned an Elvis Presley swagger. With films like Dil Deke Dekho and Tumsa Nahin Dekha, Kapoor cemented his image as the
boyishly goodlooking playboy and stylish youth icon. His cry “Yahoo” in the film Junglee encapsulated his image as a rebel,
and the exclamation came to always be associated with him. With successful films opposite stars like Asha Parekh, Saira
Banu, and Sharmila Tagore, and his trademark dance moves, there was no looking back for Kapoor; he won his first Filmfare
award in 1968 for Bramhachari.
Kapoor went through a difficult period when his wife Geeta Bali, mother to his two children Aditya Raj and Kanchan, died of
small pox. It was eight years before he remarried, this time to Neela Devi Gohil. He soon retired from playing leading
roles, taking instead to character pieces, and moving behind the camera as director. In 1995 he was given the Filmfare
lifetime achievement award. Coming out of retirement for his cameo in the film Rockstar with his nephew Ranbir Kapoor, Shammi
Kapoor worked while simultaneously dealing with kidney dialysis. He eventually passed away from chronic renal failure on 14
August 2011 at Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai. The entire Kapoor family and many of Bollywood’s biggest names came together
to pay their last respects at the funeral of an actor whose legacy remains in Indian cinema.

3. Maqbool Fida Hussain


Maqbool Fida Hussain, better known to the world as MF Hussain, died on June 9th 2011, at the age of 95. Hailed as India’s
Picasso, he played a significant role in putting Indian art on the world map. Known for his use of vibrant colour and
depictions of dynamic movement, frequently featuring women and horses, Husain was the first living Indian artist to command a
price of $1million for his work.
Husain was born in Maharashtra on September 17th, 1915, to an accountant father, and a mother who died when he was barely 18
months old. At the age of 19, Husain came to Mumbai and found work as a painter of Hindi film posters. As his popularity
grew, Husain also found himself increasingly in the eye of the storm with his series on Hindu divinity, portraying the
goddesses Durga and Saraswati in the nude. Criminal charges that were filed against him for hurting religious sentiments were
eventually quashed, but the death threats from Hindu extremists continued. In the face of such harassment, Husain was forced
moved to Dubai, and the state of Qatar offered him citizenship.
The barefoot but flamboyant artist who created over 60,000 pieces of art died in exile in a hospital in London. Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh called his death a &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;national loss,&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; and India’s President Pratibha Patil said his death left a void
in the world of art.
4. Bhupen Hazarika

Bhupen Hazarika, one of north-east India’s most important cultural figures, was a singer, lyricist, filmmaker,
author and political activist, in a career that spanned 70 years. By the age of 10 he was composing music, and a year later
performed for the first time on All India Radio. In 1939 at the age of 12, he catapulted into stardom after singing in the
second Assamese film to be produced, Indramalati. He attributes his musical ability to his mother Shantipriya, “&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;Although
listening to the rhythms of tribal music growing up developed my love for singing, I inherited my voice from my mother, who
regularly sang lullabies to me as a child.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; Hazarika was the eldest of 10 children, and his father imbibed him with a deep
respect for education. Later, as he was drawn into India’s freedom movement, he would realise the connection between
education and freedom, and this idea was clearly voiced in his music and writing at the time.
Hazarika schooled in Guwahati, and majored in political science at the Banaras Hindu University. He completed his PhD in mass
communication at Columbia University, New York. In New York he met singer Paul Robeson who became a great influence on his
music and his politic; he joined him on many civil rights rallies, and the famous ‘Bistirno Parore’ is an Assamese version of
‘Old Man River.’
Hazarika worked for a brief while as producer for All India Radio, and even taught at Gauhati University after returning from
New York before he became involved with Assamese cinema. His popularity was unmatched at the time, as his music addressed
important social issues and connected with his listeners. In 1992 he was awarded the Dada Saheb Phalke for his prolific
contribution to film. He was also awarded the Padmashree in 1977 and Padma Bhushan in 2001. On November 5th 2011, he passed
away after being admitted into the ICU for multi-organ failure. He is survived by his companion of many years, filmmaker
Kalpana Lajmi, &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;I have lost my father, my brother, my lover, my husband, my friend, my mentor and guide. I had a relationship
with him for 29 years, and he is gone now.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;
5. Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi

What if MAK Pataudi had the use of both his eyes? That question will dog cricket aficionados for years to come.
Blessed with immaculate talent and unparalleled leadership qualities, the Naawab of Patuadi was handed the captaincy at the
tender age of 21, when the then captain Nari Contractor got injured.
“Tiger” Patuadi scored 2793 runs in Test Cricket at an average of 34.91, he was the son of a famous father, who had played
for England before the Second World War and then captained India in England in 1946. He went on to Captian India in 40 Tests,
and even though India won only nine of those, his greatest contribution was to ensure that the Indian team became a tight
unit under him. This was acknowledged by Bishan Singh Bedi, who captained India after Pataudi did.
Devoid of fast bowling options, he helped put together India’s famous spin quartet, Bishan Singh Bedi, Bhagwat Chandrasekhar,
Erapalli Prasanna, and Srinivas Venkataraghvan.
Being a fantastic fielder himself, he laid a lot emphasis on fielding.
After he retired in 1975, Pataudi dabbled in media and also as an administrator, but both of these stints dint last for
long.
6. Jagjit Singh


By the time he died at age 70, Jagjit Singh, India’s ghazal king had already recorded 50 albums in his 46-year career. When
Singh started his career, because of its classical form the ghazal had a niche audience. One of Singh’s biggest contributions
was to simplify the ghazal, and make it accessible to a global audience by using western instruments like the saxophone and
guitar, along with Indian instruments like the sitar and tablaa.
This helped transform the Ghazal, a poetic form consisting of rhyming couplets and a refrain, whose origins go back to the
12th century. Singh’s efforts ensured that he became famous not only in India but the world over.
But that was not always the case; he struggled through most of his early days as a singer, eking out a meager living belting
out jingles for advertisements.
Singh’s life changed after he met the singer Chitra Dutta, whom he married in 1969, and had a son with, Vivek. The singing
duo at first had only low-level success because ghazal music was a niche genre dominated by mainly Muslim artists, and
Bollywood ruled the musical mainstream. Success soon came along after the release of their first studio album and they never
looked back.
Singh’s personal life was punctuated with loss, grief and depression. None more painful than the passing away of his only son
Vivek, who died tragically at the age of 19, this prompted his wife Chitra to shun singing in public forever.
7. Steve Jobs


Steve Jobs, tech visionary extraordinaire and co-founder of Apple is reminiscent of Howard Roark, the protagonist of Ayn
Rand’s eponymous novel ‘The Fountainhead.’ Roark’s character in the novel spends most of his life fighting the system and
being uncompromising when it comes to putting the self above the collective. Jobs must have felt just like Roark after his
few attempts to upend a fledgling personal computer industry.
Apple had already garnered a cult following after it introduced Apple II, the first popular mass-produced micro-computers
computer in 1997 and the Macintosh, the first PC to use a mouse and a graphical user interface. First he saw bitter rivals
Microsoft win the PC game with their software play. Then he faced the ignominy of being forced out of his own company by John
Sculley (hired by Jobs after he fell for the famous line, “Do you want to sell sugar water for the rest of your life, or do
you want to come with me and change the world?”) and the board.
Thus began his second journey and a renaissance that transformed Jobs and eventually Apple. Ousted out of his own company
Jobs formed two companies: NeXt and Pixar. In an ironic twist of fate Apple bought NeXt, and Jobs’ second innings at Apple
began. Pixar, meanwhile had produced the world’s first animated feature film and notched up quite a few successes with movies
like ‘Finding Nemo’ and ‘Toy Story’.
Jobs’ real genius came together 4 years after he came back to Apple 2001 and he unveiled the iPod. Post which he never really
looked back, and with the success of the iPhone and the iPad, he transformed a company which was on the verge of bankruptcy
to the most valuable tech company in the world. Jobs might be criticized for being too autocratic and a control freak. But
the legacy he has left behind will take a long time to be forgotten.
8. Dennis Ritchie

Some might say. No Dennis Ritchie. No Apple. The OS used by the world’s biggest technology company has UNIX
under its hood because Jobs was a huge advocate of the programming language.
One of the tech pioneers who helped ‘shape the digital era’ Ritchie was instrumental in creating the C programming language
and co-creating the UNIX operating system with his colleague Ken Thompson. Linux, the free, open variant of Unix powers
servers at tech titans like Amazon and Google.
Not before he had almost every major honor in the computer science bestowed on him including the Turing Award from the ACM in
1983, the Hamming Medal from the IEEE in 1990 and the National Medal of Technology from President Clinton in 1999.
Ritchie started his career in Bell Labs, the same revered company that his father Alistair worked for earlier; his mother
Jean McGee Ritchie, was a homemaker. Most of his early work was done with his colleague Thompson that paved the way for the
software and tools that power most of modern computing from mobile phones to the internet.
Ritchie retired in 2007 as the head of Lucent Technologies System Software Research Department. After suffering from heart
disease and prostrate cancer for some time, he passed away on October 13th.
9. Amy Winehouse

Amy Jade Winehouse was born on September 14th, 1983 in Southgate London to Jewish parents. Her father, Mitchell,
a taxi driver, was a jazz enthusiast who often sang to Amy in her growing-up years. Her parents divorced when she was nine,
and she continued to live with her mother, although she remained close to her father.
At the young age of eight, Amy began attending stage school, including the Sylvia Young theatre school, and the Brit school
in Croydon. Although she was expelled from one of them for “not applying herself,” Amy continued to write songs and sing with
jazz bands and the National Youth Jazz Orchestra. Her boyfriend of the time passed on a recording of her to a record
company, who were so impressed with her sound that she landed her first contract at the age of 17.
A musical assistant who toured with Amy described her, “She has enormous talent and deep roots in jazz and blues; she didn’t
suffer from the ‘lead singer syndrome’ and unlike most she knew her sharps and flats. And she knew exactly who she was and
how she wanted to sound – which some singers only know when they’ve got 40 grand’s worth of equipment, but which Amy knew by
standing on top of a piano in a pub.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;
Her debut album ‘Frank’ released in 2003 and won her critical recognition and nominations for the Mercury Prize, going triple
platinum in the UK. But it was her second album ‘Back to Black’ that propelled Amy into international stardom. Winning her
accolades at the Grammy’s and the Brit Awards, the album went eight times platinum in the UK and double platinum in the US.
But tragically, her rise to stardom also saw her steady decline into alcohol and drugs. Her tempestuous relationship with
Blake Fielder-Civil added depression to the mix, and Amy found herself in and out of rehab, and in trouble with the law.
Ironically it was her song ‘Rehab’ about her refusal to attend an alcohol rehabilitation centre that stuck the deepest chord
with her fans.
Amy was found dead in her London flat on 23rd July, at the age of 27, joining the troupe of talented but notoriously
self-destructive artists who also died at that age. Her death was believed to be caused by a suspected drug overdose. She is
survived by her parents, and her brother Alex.
10. Elizabeth Taylor

Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor was born in Hampstead on February 27th 1932, to parents Sara Sothern, a stage actress,
and Francis Taylor, an art dealer. Trained in ballet from the time she could walk, she had already performed for the British
royal family at the age of 3. Her parents moved to Hollywood in 1939, and young Elizabeth Taylor’s striking beauty and violet
eyes began to get noticed in those early days at her father’s gallery. She did her first film at the age of ten, with ‘Lassie
Come Home,’ but it was ‘National Velvet’ that really put her on the map.
From there on, her career moved forward in leaps and bounds. From ‘Giant’ with Hudson and James Dean, to ’Cat on a Hot Tin
Roof,’ ‘Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?’ and ‘Cleopatra,’ Taylor’s performances earned her several nominations and three
Oscars, one of which was in special recognition of her humanitarian work. Besides her work as an actress, she was also known
for her astonishing beauty and grace, her many failed romances, her famous friendships, and her long love affair with
jewelry. With eight high-profile marriages and divorces (two to Richard Burton, a rollercoaster relationship that was covered
extensively by the media), the spotlight moved to her personal life rather than her work in the industry. As one obit put
it, she was a “star at age 12, a bride and a divorcee at 18, a superstar at 19 and a widow at 26.”
Taylor was also a fiercely loyal friend, defending gays in Hollywood at a time when they were ostracized by the industry, and
standing by Michael Jackson as he faced charges of misdemeanor with minors. She fought ill health through most of her
career, beginning with a fall from horseback on ‘National Velvet.’ She went through 20 major surgeries, had replacement
surgery for both hip joints, and was treated for drug and alcohol abuse.
Taylor was awarded the Legion of Honor, and titled Dame Elizabeth Taylor for her extensive charitable work, including her
deep support on AIDS research, and for her work in the entertainment industry. In her later years she worked on several
books, and kept in touch with her fans through Twitter. On March 23rd, she died of congestive heart failure at the age of 79.
She is survived by her four children, ten grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Bizarre Stories of 2011
1. Dead Alien Found in Russia


On April 20th earlier this year, reports surfaced of an encounter with an extraterrestrial being in the Irkutsk region of
Siberia. While several such incidents have been reported in the past, this encounter stands out because the creature was
found dead, and video footage of the corpse was shared online. The body was found by two Russian men, partially buried in
the snow. About two feet in height, and bearing human shape, the creature had arms and legs, with a long, dome shaped skull.
Approximately a month before the corpse was found, there were reports of a UFO crash at the same site. While some theorists
suggest that the creature was killed in the crash, and the body was then left behind, others believe it to be a hoax, as no
further information regarding where the body is now, or whether an autopsy has been conducted, has been reported.

2. Boy with 34 Digits

Akshat Saxena, a one-year-old boy from Uttar Pradesh was born with 34 digits. This condition in which a person
has more than five fingers per hand or five toes per foot, is known as Polydactyly, and is a genetic anomaly that can be
hereditary. Akshat has broken the Guinness World Records previously held by a six-year-old boy in China with 31 digits.
With seven fingers on each hand and ten toes on each foot, Akshat had to undergo a series of surgeries to remove the excess
digits. He was born without thumbs, so the doctors worked to construct opposable digits from the severed fingers. The boy’s
mother, Amrita Saxena says, “’I was so happy to see my baby as it was our first child. But later, when I saw his fingers, I
was shocked and surprised.”
3. Kissing can Cause Cavities


As if we didn’t have enough to worry about with all those candies, new studies now reveal that kissing can be the cause of
cavities! It turns out that the bacterium that causes tooth decay can be transferred via saliva during kissing.
So despite your careful flossing, if the object of your affection has poor oral hygiene, you could be the casualty of his bad
habits. In a New York Times report, a woman in her 40’s who had never had cavities, suddenly developed two cavities and signs
of gum disease. A little investigation revealed that she was dating a man who hadn’t been to the dentist in over 18 years.
Every time they kissed, he was passing along his bacteria to her. So if getting your man to brush before a smooch isn’t
going to happen, make sure you step up your dental hygiene routine, or delicately offer him a wad sugar-free gum before that
lip-lock!
4. Are We Martian?

Are we Martian? US scientists are testing a theory that life on Earth began on Mars. Planetary scientists tell
us that climates on Earth and Mars were very similar in the distant past, with a likelihood that Mars was probably a more
hospitable planet as it was further from the sun and therefore cooler. Also, much of Mars was covered by oceans. With the
knowledge that large chunks of rock from Mars have fallen to the earth as meteorites, scientists are probing genetic material
from Martian soil to search for DNA and similar evidence that could link us to the Red Planet.
While it is possible for meteorites from Earth to reach Mars, orbital dynamics make it a hundred times more likely for
Martian rocks to reach us, thereby suggesting that life on Earth originated from Mars.
5. PETA launches porn site

PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animal), known for its outspoken animal rights campaigns have taken
their cause to the next level by launching their own porn website. They have registered a .xxx domain, and the site will
feature some of their raciest ad campaigns, along with hidden-camera footage of animal cruelty.
PETA rep Lindsay Rajit explained, “&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;We live in a 24 hour news cycle world, and we learn the racy things we do are sometimes
the most effective way that we can reach particular individuals. With tactics like this, PETA is able to initiate discussion,
questioning of the status quo, and action. We must make our message impossible to forget, and launching a website with a .xxx
domain name helps achieve that goal.”
6. Sperm donor fathers 150 children

Cynthia Daily, a mother from Washington, used a sperm donor to conceive her baby seven years ago. In the hope
that her son could one day meet some of his half-siblings, she searched an online donor registry for other children fathered
by the same donor (sperm donors are tagged with unique identifying numbers). As she tracked the numbers in the group over
the years, her surprise grew; today at least 150 children have been fathered by the same donor. Daily who often vacations
with other families in her son’s group said, &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;It’s wild when we see them all together — they all look alike.”
Now there is growing concern among parents and health experts over increased risk for rare genetic disorders, and accidental
incest between donor siblings. Parents are finding makeshift ways of combating these issues in the absence of government
regulations. One mother has instructed her child to memorize her father’s donor number so that she can compare notes with
possible future mates. They now view it as an essential part of the children’s sex education. Debora L. Spar, author of &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;The
Baby Business: How Money, Science and Politics Drive the Commerce of Conception” talks about legal limits on the number of
children conceived using the same donor’s sperm, and more information on the health of donors. “We have more rules that go
into place when you buy a used car than when you buy sperm. It’s very clear that the dealer can’t sell you a lemon, and
there’s information about the history of the car. There are no such rules in the fertility industry right now.”
7. Woman Gives Birth to Grandchild

Kristine Casey, a 61 year-old woman, broke several records as she gave birth to her own grandson, after being
surrogate mother to her daughter’s baby.
Casey’s daughter, Sara Connell, and husband Bill had been trying for years to have a baby. They are the biological parents of
the child Casey carried, which grew from an embryo from the couple’s egg and sperm.
The mother and daughter held hands as she delivered baby Finnean Lee Connell by cesarean section in February this year. Susan
Gerber who delivered the baby at Northwestern Memorial Hospital said that the surgery itself was uncomplicated, but the
emotional context of was so profound, it would need a heart of stone to not be moved. Connell was overwhelmed by the event,
and was quoted saying, “When the baby let out a cry, I lost it. It’s such a miracle.”
8. Diamond Planet

Astronomers have spotted a planet that seems to be made of diamond. This new planet was found orbiting a tiny
star J1719-1438 known as a Pulsar. Pulsars are dead neutron stars around 20 kilometers in diameter and spin hundreds of times
a second, emitting beams of radiation. The Science journal reports that the planet, which orbits its star every two hours and
10 minutes, has slightly more mass than Jupiter but is 20 times as dense. Matthew Bailes of Swinburne University of
Technology in Melbourne was quoted, “The evolutionary history and amazing density of the planet all suggest it is comprised
of carbon — i.e. a massive diamond orbiting a neutron star every two hours in an orbit so tight it would fit inside our own
Sun.”
The planet never got large enough to produce elements heavier than carbon. So once the hydrogen and helium are stripped away,
it would reveal a solid carbon core – made of diamond.
9. Beggar bags Record Deal


Ted Williams’ is a moving story of second chances. Homeless for 10 years, and dealing with an alcohol and drug addiction
since the 1990’s he had given up on his career, and become estranged from his family. Living by a roadside in Columbus,
Ohio, he was a beggar during the day, holding up a cardboard sign, and sleeping in a makeshift tent behind an abandoned
petrol station at night.
Williams, 53, was discovered by a reporter who put a video of him and his baritone voice up on Youtube. Reports say the
video attracted more than 8 million hits, and has given Williams another shot at life. He has been made offers for
voiceovers and announcing work by basketball team the Cleveland Cavaliers. Overwhelmed, he told a local newspaper, &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;I feel
like Susan Boyle. Or Justin Bieber. It’s almost choking me.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;

10. Train travels in Wrong Direction

A train full of commuters travelling from Tirupati to Varnasi went 980 km in the wrong direction before
passengers realized what was happening. It was only when the trained pulled into Warangal, a central Indian city on an
entirely different route, that they realized something was wrong. The error in route was caused due to incorrect entry of
destination code, sending the train five hours away from its destination. “Though the journey was agonising, we thank our
stars that the train did not run into another train,”’ an angry passenger said.
Some of the staff, who were apparently sleeping on that leg of the journey, said that they did not catch the mistake since it
was a special service to Varnasi, and they were unfamiliar with the route. At Warangal station, the superintendent took
corrective measures, bringing the train back to where it should have been for its onward journey to Varanasi.

Quotable Quotes
1. Virat Kohli on Sachin

April 2, 2011: The Cricket World Cup came back to India after 28 long years. The win was especially because
this is probably Tendulkar’s last time in the India World Cup squad.
After the historic win, when Team India went on a victory lap around the stadium, Virat Kohli carried Tendulkar on his
shoulders much to the crowd’s delight. On being asked by Nasser Hussain why he carried Sachin on his shoulders, Kohli said,
“He (Sachin) has carried the burden of the nation for 21 years, so it’s time we carried him on our shoulders.”
2. Omar and Mehbooba Slugfest

Sept 19, 2011: That there is no love lost between the two is well-known throughout the country, them being
political rivals. But when they started targeting their fathers, both celebrated in their own right, things took an ugly turn
in Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti’s relationship.
It all began with BJP leader Sushma Swaraj saying Mehbooba praised Narendra Modi’s worth ethics. To which Ms Mufti’s retort
was, “I feel the party (BJP) is frustrated, but I would request them if they want some Muslim leader on their side to prove
their secular credentials, they must approach Farooq Abdullah who has praised Modi and even said he had seen Allah in Modi’s
eyes…Omar was a minister in the NDA government when Muslims were massacred in Gujarat.”
This obviously didn’t go down well with the J&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;K chief minister. Omar took to Twitter to retaliate saying, “I’m not surprised
Mehbooba praised Modi, she can praise who ever she likes; I am surprised she’d deny knowing others heard her speech… At
least her father had the sense not to deny calling Laloo, as home minister, to order Advani’s release. He just did what
Ostriches do.”
3. Kiran Bedi on Politics

On August 26, 2011: During Anna Hazare and team’s rally for a corruption-free India, there were many attacks and
counter attacks with the central government. But the quote that stayed on people’s mind was the one Kiran Bedi made at the
Ramlila Maidan in the capital when Anna Hazare on a hunger strike. She ridiculed the politicians and the entire political
system. Mocking them, she said, &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;Our politicians are hiding behind a mask. They don’t think and speak. There has been no
lathi-charge till now because of Anna. We don’t know what will happen after he goes. Till now, Delhi Police is with us, but
if they get any demands, we don’t know what will happen. We have been tolerating for the past 60 years, how much more do we
tolerate?&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;
She famously donned a towel on her head and made strong remarks about how the political system was being unfairly used by our
elected officials rather than as a platform to serve the nation with her &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;Sarkari naukri seva nahin mewa hain&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; comment.
4. Om Puri on Politicians

Aug 28 2011: Joining Team Anna against the government was actor Om Puri. His speech was almost something out of
one of his movies, complete with melodrama. When he spoke to the crowd at the Ramlila Maidan, he came across as someone who
means business. But that feeling soon died out when he took back all his words. Still, his quote will be remembered its sheer
force in moving a people. He took a dig at the politicians, calling them Nikamme, ganwaar (illiterate and unfit to govern).
He said, “For five years they (politicians) loot the country. Ask them what their background is…&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;
5. Naipaul on Women Writers


June 2, 2011: That VS Naipaul is a controversial figure goes without saying. One of the most outspoken authors of our time,
he doesn’t think twice about voicing his opinion. This year the supposed &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;greatest living writer of English prose&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; targeted
women writers. According to him, women are no match to men’s writing abilities.
In an interview at the Royal Geographic Society, Naipaul was quoted saying that no woman writer could be his literary equal.
He went on to say, &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;I read a piece of writing and within a paragraph or two I know whether it is by a woman or not. I think
[it is] unequal to me
6. Amitabh to KBC fan

During an episode of KBC, Amitabh was at his usual witty best. In response to a contestant’s hopeful sister with
dreams of meeting Abhishek Bachchan, he quipped, &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;Madam, aisa hain ki woh sannlagn ho gaye hain kisi aur ke saath aur is mel
ka parinaam kucch mahinon mein aanewala hain!&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;
Translated, he gently reminded her that his son is married to another, and the product of their marriage is to announce
itself in a few months.
Aishwarya recently gave birth to a baby girl.
7. Mayawati on Julian Assange

Sept 6, 2011: Uttar Pradesh CM Mayawati manages to make it to the headlines, one way or other. If it isn’t the
congress party, Rahul Gandhi in particular, that she directs her barbs at, it’s anyone else who dares question her authority.
In this case, Julian Assange. He had it coming when Wikileaks said Mayawati sent her private jet to buy her favourite sandals
from Mumbai.
In retaliation, Behenji called Assange insane and that he needs to be sent to a mental asylum. Speaking at a press
conference, she said, &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;There is no iota of truth in the cable leaks. The cables are all a blatant lie to tarnish the image of
my government. He should be sent to a mental asylum by the country he belongs to and in case there is no place for him he
should be sent to UP (Uttar Pradesh). We will put him in the Agra mental asylum.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;
8. Nasser Hussain on Indian fielders

Sept 2, 2011: Former England skipper Nasser Hussain does have a knack of saying the wrong things at the wrong
time. Agreed you’re entitled to your opinion, but when what you say is hung onto by millions of avid cricket fans, you might
just have to be a bit more responsible than the average Joe.
Hussain has, once again, rubbed the Indians the wrong way with him calling some Indian fielders &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;donkeys&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; during the one-off
Twenty20 match between India and England. He made this comment after Parthiv Patel misjudged a Kevin Pietersen catch off
Munaf Patel’s bowling. He said, &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;I would say the difference between the two sides is the fielding. England are all-round a
good fielding side. I do believe that India have few…3 or 4 very good fielders and one or two donkeys in the field
still.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;
9. Rahul Gandhi on Terrorism

July 14, 2011: It goes without saying that in a year, there has to be at least one quotable quote from the
likely future PM of India, Rahul Gandhi.
A day after yet another serial blast rocked Mumbai, Rahul said it was impossible to eradicate every single terror attack in
the country but the UPA government had been successful in controlling most of the attacks. He said, &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;It is very difficult to
stop every single terror attack in the country. Terrorism is something that is impossible to stop all the time. But 99 per
cent of terror attacks had been stopped due to strong vigilance and intelligence efforts.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; Rahul may not have intended to
court controversy, but what you say does matter especially if you’re seen as the next PM of the nation.
10. Prashant Bhushan on Kashmir

Sept 27, 2011: Team Anna has been making the news for all the wrong reasons, although they claim it’s a
vendetta by the central government. But what Prashant Bhushan said on a sensitive topic like Kashmir cannot be prompted by
the government. After he voiced his opinion on Kashmir Anna Hazare was quick to add that it was Bhushan’s opinion alone, and
not of the entire team.
His thoughts on the separation of Jammu and Kashmir didn’t go down too well with certain section of the society, namely the
Bhagat Singh Kranti Sena. Two people beat him up inside his chamber in the Supreme Court. Bhushan had said, “Remove army from
J&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;K, end AFSPA and try to get the Kishmiris on our side, but if they want to have a separate state, then in my opinion, there
should be a plebiscite and if they still have to be separated, then they should be allowed to.”


Celeb Babies &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; Heartbreaks
1. Baby Boom: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

This had to be the biggest news in Bollywood after the Bachchan wedding back in 2007. The news of Ash’s
pregnancy was revealed by Bachchan Sr., in a tweet in June. He wrote: &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;T 410-News news news!! I am going to become a
grandfather..Aishwarya expecting..so happy and thrilled!!!&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;
The family was, of course, thrilled, and why not? With the ex-Miss World’s beauty and, well, Abhishek’s height, their
offspring could be a stunner from the beginning. And Abhishek agrees. According to news reports, Abhishek said: ‘I want a
daughter who will look like Aishwarya’.
In the meantime, controversies have not left the Bachchans’ side. While Ash is being kept under lock and key (she was seen in
only 2-3 events since her pregnancy), every report about the status of her pregnancy, from twins to having a C-section on the
‘auspicious’ date of 11.11.11. was denied.
Aishwarya gave birth to a beautiful baby girl on November 16th, with Abhishek breaking the news through Twitter: &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;IT’S A
GIRL!&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;
2. Baby Boom: Anoushka Shankar

Sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar’s daughter Anoushka, who is a musical star herself, gave birth to a baby boy
in earlier this year in March. She and her husband, director Joe Wright, have named the little one Zubin Shankar Wright.
Now 91-years-young, Pandit Shankar is completely smitten by his grandson and calls him ‘Prince.’ &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;He’s going to become
something one day, you wait and see,&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; he announced to the press.
In a recent interview, Anoushka revealed, &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;Bapi (Pt Shankar) holds Zubin every day. I’ve never seen him so sweet and so
interested in a baby. As far as Bapi’s music, it was playing in the hospital room as soon as Zubin was born! Zubin loves
music, especially the sitar, possibly since I was playing all throughout the pregnancy. So, we play Bapi’s music a lot and it
really relaxes him.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;
Looks like Pt. Ravi Shankar’s sitar legacy will follow into the third generation.
3. Baby Boom: Konkona Sen Sharma

When a Bollywood funny-man and a talented actress come together, what happens? They reproduce, of course!
Konkona Sen Sharma and Ranvir Shorey got married at a private ceremony in Mumbai last year. But the big juicy news broke when
Konkona announced her pregnancy soon after the wedding. Tongues started wagging about when the ‘conceiving’ actually
happened. But as is with all gossip, it died down and 9 months later in March, baby boy Haroon came into this world.
Konkona has revealed that Ranvir is a doting father, while she is ‘awkward around children.’ Ranvir and her mother Aparna Sen
were with her during the delivery.
4. Baby Boom: Lara Dutta

Ex-Miss Universe and Bollywood beauty Lara Dutta announced her pregnancy and silenced all rumour mills with
reports that the newlyweds were already fighting. Ready to deliver just after Aishwarya Rai in November, Lara and husband
tennis star Mahesh Bhupathi, are ecstatic. The couple married earlier this year in February.
The twitter-savvy mom-to-be has thanked all their well wishers and fans. She tweeted: &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;Thank you so much for all ur wishes
and prayers. It’s an awesome time in life right now and Mahesh and I r both very excited abt the baby! (sic)&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;
Unlike Aishwarya, who is being kept ‘under lock and key’, this ex-Miss Universe is proudly flaunting her baby bump, and has
been caught on camera wearing figure hugging dresses to several celebrity events.

5. Baby Boom: Mandira Bedi

Actress and TV presenter, who became a household name for being the anchor during a male-dominated cricket
match, gave her husband of 11 years another reason to cheer when she gave birth to little baby Vir on Father’s Day this year.
The baby was born at Lilavati hospital on June 17.
Filmmaker and proud daddy Kaushal tweeted: Had a superb Fathers day (my 1st) thanks to my little Vir. Thank you @mandybedi
for the best gift in my life. Ladies and gentlemen. At 11.01am IST weighing 6 pounds the czar of our lives Mr Vir Kaushal has
arrived.
According to sources, Mandira, who also promotes Stem Cell Banking, has preserved the stem cells of her baby at the time of
birth.
6. Baby Boom: Celina Jaitley

Celina’s sudden decision to tie the knot had raised quite a few eyebrows. Rumour mills were abuzz with the news
that it was her pregnancy that had prompted her sudden decision to exchange marriage vows.
Celina soon announced that she’s expecting twins. The model turned actress has been spotted flaunting her baby bump without
any inhibitions unlike the Bachchan bahu who did quite the disappearing act since her pregnancy. It surely seems like it’s a
really fertile year in Bollywood with quite a few new moms and expecting mommies this year.
7. Baby Boom: Preeti Jhangiani


Actor duo Preeti Jangiani and her husband, Parvin Dabbas, also joined the list of first-timer celeb parents with the birth of
their son in April this year.
&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;We’re both loving and enjoying this parenting phase,&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; exclaimed the proud parents to the media. According to papa Parvin, &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;I
wish I could do more for our baby! I do change his diapers and stuff, but work’s kept me from doing all what I want to do!&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;
Glowing mom Preeti does not mind all the pounds she has added over the course of pregnancy. &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;I am not at all the fitness kind
and have to be really goaded to do some exercise,&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; she says. &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;Parvin, on the other hand, is so motivated and never ever
misses exercising!&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;
8. Breakups: Priyanka &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; Shahid


Even before we had any official confirmation about the two being a couple, we were hearing reports of their split. Despite
many denials, the two appeared together on ‘Koffee with Karan’ and it was difficult to ignore the sparks flying between them.
There was lot of fire in their ‘rapid fire’ round and it seemed like they were having a good time taking a dig at Shahid’s
ex-flame and Priyanka’s arch rival, Kareena.
However, despite the fireworks, the Priyanka – Shahid love story is now history. Shahid was recently linked to Bipasha and
Priyanka’s love-life has been securely kept under wraps for a while now. The two are soon expected to be seen together when
they pair-up for Kunal Kohli’s next. Personal equations aside, professionally the two are still willing to rekindle the
passion.
9. Breakups: Katrina &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; Ranbir

Did Ranbir cause the Salman – Katrina break-up or did the relationship just fizzle out like Salman’s previous
ones? Well, we might never know the answer but Ranbir sure seems to have moved on. After the very brief rumoured liaison with
Katrina, Ranbir has already been linked to his other very attractive co-stars. The rockstar’s chemistry with Nargis Fakhri is
quite evident and not just confined to their reel life.
Katrina has maintained a dignified silence, whether it’s regarding her split with Salman Khan or her alleged relationship
with Ranbir. The duo sizzled in ‘Rajneeti’ and ‘Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani’, hopefully they’ll soon recreate the same
magic.
10. Breakups: John &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; Bipasha

The John and Bipasha love saga has got to be one of the longest in Bollywood. After 8 years of togetherness and
professing their love on every chat show possible, the couple decided to call it quits.
The reason: Bipasha wanted to take the relationship to the next level and John was still not prepared for the actual
commitment. John had also mentioned in one of his interviews that they were two very ‘headstrong’ which is why they had to
eventually part ways. Rumour has it that Bipasha was also tired of John being linked to his co-stars all the time.
Post break-up: Both have been quick to move on to other relationships. Bipasha has already been linked to her ‘Dum Maaro Dum’
co-star Rana Daggubati, Hollywood actor Josh Hartnett and very recently to Shahid Kapoor. John was enjoying his single status
and has been recently linked to a model. Doesn’t look like anyone’s smarting post break-up.

Bollywood Shining
1. No One Killed Jessica

One of the biggest challenges in filming a real life story is that it has already been told. So how do you make
it exciting, unpredictable or entertaining? Also can you really do any of these things without altering the original story?
And yet, ‘No One Killed Jessica’ manages all this, for the large part, swimmingly.
Many of us would’ve been indifferent to the Jessica Lal case. May be it did not affect us directly or because when the
accused was let off despite a pile of circumstantial evidence against him, we were hardly surprised. This happens all the
time in our country. But this film explores how justice can be pursued even when denied at the first go. Will this manage to
fuel other pending failures of our legal system? We can only hope and wait.

2. Turning 30!!!

Turning 30 is a momentous occasion in one’s life. While some say it’s just a number, you know better. And as a
premise for a movie, it worked beautifully not just for its ability to associate with viewers but also for its bold and
smashing performances. The lead Naina’s story will have many buyers as they would spot slivers of similarities with their
own. Almost everyone has once lost in love, followed by a shameless display of desperation. Only difference is, when we see
someone doing it on the big screen, we’re quick to say, &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;Sheesh! Get a grip!&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;
Unlike similar films which end up being clich&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;eacute;d manifestations of ‘girl power’, Turning 30 is restrained, and conveys modern
womanhood in a candid and convincing light.
3. Yeh Saali Zindagi

If there was a contest for maximum number of parallel screenplays in a movie, this one would be the undisputed
winner. Yeh Saali Zindagi (YSZ), apart from everything else, is like a memory game. Remembering characters, their individual
plots, their idiosyncratic manners etc. Borrowed from many Hollywood gangster movies, The number of characters, at first,
gets a bit overwhelming. But eventually, you resign yourself to the ones that matter and it gets comfortable.
Why YSZ deserves to make it on this list, is simply for its ability to tell many stories simultaneously and effectively.
While critics might argue that this style has no novelty and has been used time and again in Hollywood, it deserves to be
lauded for successful adaptation, without seeming like a photo copy.

4. Shor In The City

This is yet another one that rides on successfully tucking in several parallel screenplays in one story. Films
about Mumbai have always thrived on stereotypes and will continue to do so. But despite the cliches, ‘Shor in the City’
manages to bring it together, tickling and terrorizing you in equal proportion. And Shor’s biggest merit is that it doesn’t
forcefully weave the parallel stories that light up the screen (down with Kukunoor!). The characters may spill over from one
to the other but don’t necessarily become game-changers for the neighbouring plot.
Indian filmmakers have always crafted characters that are either too fantastic yet ideal for ‘reel’ or stereotypically real
which ends up like a caricature. But Shor’s cast manages to tread on the fat gap between these two extremes and how they
respond to situations they are thrown in is just as believable. While one story raises the mercury level, the other defuses
the tension in seconds. The film’s music follows this pattern too as it has numbers that are noisy- ‘Karma is a bitch’ and
soothing- ‘Saibo’.
5. Ragini MMS

Indian horror films have rarely gone beyond chalk-faced spirits in Halloween costumes grunting like death-metal
vocalists. In such a light, Ragini MMS comes as a pleasant surprise as it strays away from most used formats to evoke fear.
Those who say, they don’t enjoy watching horror films, are the ones who shit their pants. Those who say they do, enjoy
shitting their pants. And ‘Ragini MMS’ has many scenes that, well, induce one to visit the washroom. Only problem, you don’t
want to go alone.
Another ambassador of the found-footage genre that first got noticed in ‘The Blair Witch Project’, this one is not about a
witch hunt, but about a hunting disembodied spirit, who finds her (yes, it’s a woman) prey in anyone who happens to tread her
path. This may not be the scariest movie ever made but when you come in expecting a low-budget erotic adventure, this one
knocks you off your seat. Surely an MMS that can cause sleepless nights.
6. Shaitan

Even if you’ve seen a trailer or a teaser of ‘Shaitan’, you know that it hails from a genre that is
quintessentially ‘independent’ and that itself is the biggest victory for the film. The very fact that Indian filmmakers are
willing to experiment with new formats and care little about whether or not the film becomes a box office baadshah, is the
biggest transformation that Hindi films have witnessed in 2011. The film gets full marks for style. Crisp visuals accompanied
by a great soundtrack ensure a dreamy audio-visual experience. ‘Hawa Hawai’ tickles your ears softly, while the groovy
version of ‘Khoya Khoya Chand’ eases your senses, to balance the disturbingly violent visuals.
The promos suggest that ‘Shaitan’ is about the devil inside each of us. But it’s actually about human trash, who’re hardly
evil and only end up committing crimes as casually as they swing into a song. If there is any devil in this world, it is the
red bird that slingshots itself to spell doom for pigs.
7. Delhi Belly


Perhaps, one of the most controversial films of the year, criticized by many for its use of abusive language, makes this list
for being, well, a good watch. Delhi Belly disgusts and delights in equal measure. A film that has us crinkling our nose, yet
sticking a thumb up for approval. Though many of us feel, we’re too old for potty humour, we’re not. As you would imagine,
Delhi’s Belly manifests an upset stomach, rumbling constantly, warning you of its ominous contents. This sound can be roughly
translated in words, by the song, ‘I want to break free’ by Queen.
‘Delhi Belly’ is well-paced and the screenplay is cleverly woven to hold your attention and interest through the 96 minutes
of its runtime. And although most songs are just used as a background score, ‘Jaa Chudail’ picturised on a failed
relationship is hilariously crazy. This film may not be appetizing for all, but it surely has an appetite for potty sounds. A
farting blockbuster for sure!

8. Bubble Gum


Indian movies on childhood have mostly focused on issues that adults believe children deal with. And real kids and their
issues (for whatever reason) are rarely deemed worthy of being essayed on the screen. In the bargain, we’re subjected to
overtly dramatic, smart-ass little devils who spout one-liners like laughter show contestants. In such a state, Sanjivan
Lal’s ‘Bubblegum’ breaks the mould created for screen kids and even gets terribly close to at least one fragment from each of
our childhoods.
‘Bubblegum’ is a winner because it lets you, momentarily, drift back into your early teens, fog out complications and relish
life through a pure and immature perspective. A warm snapshot of growing up, this.
9. Sahi Dhandhe Galat Bande

When the name of the film gives away the broad storyline, it needs to pack in a lot more to keep you glued to
the screen. And ‘Sahi Dhandhe Galat Bandhe’ has the right amount of fizz to ensure just that. Many would be quick to point
out the similarities with ‘Rang de Basanti’, since the film essentially deals with standing up for what is right. But here,
it’s the bad guys who have a sudden change of heart, following which they turn to doing good, through their usual violent
means.
While the film managed to impress very few, for its low star appeal, it is surely a must-watch for its individualistic style
and the adventurous mood that it extends to the audience.
10. Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster


Some of the best thrillers and edgy cult classics have had one thing in common: their characters could snap at just about
anything. And the three lead cast members in ‘Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster’ (SBAG) are just as deliciously obnoxious and
unpredictable to keep you entertained. Dealing in extra-marital affairs and political hooliganism, the film manages to creep
in a subtly restrained angst that every character treasures within and manifests sporadically through the film.
This film makes this list for the simple reason that it doesn’t try to be like most in its genre and strays away from obvious
stereotypes that such films usually embrace. The dialogues are crisp and present a good blend of unpredictability and wit.
Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster is comparable to rich dark chocolate. It’s bitter, it’s exciting, it’s a deadly sin and it has a
great after taste.

The Year in Sports
1. Hockey


India’s win over arch-rivals Pakistan in the inaugural Asian Champions Trophy final reminded many there are other options to
cricket in the country. In a cracker of a contest, goalkeeper S Sreejesh made two crucial saves to help India overcome
Pakistan 4-2 in the tie-breaker. The neighboring rivals played attacking game throughout but failed to score and the match
went to penalties after 15 minutes of extra time in Ordos, China.
2. Saina

India’s shuttle queen didn’t reach the coveted No. 1 single ranking this year, but continued to show why she’s
our best racquet sports player. In March, she won the Swiss Open, her fifth Super Series title.
She’s been consistent at all major badminton events. Perhaps 2012 would be a good year to win that elusive All England gold
and get closer to the top rank.
3. Paes-Bhupathi

The unthinkable happened. Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi put aside their years of squabbling and reunited. The
results haven’t been spectacular but the reunion has gladdened fans who’d seen them win countless doubles titles with other
partners.
The Indian Express reunited for the Australian Open, reaching the finals where they lost to the Bryan Twins. They’ve stuck
together so far. In their late 30s, both dream of an Olympic gold.
4. World Cup

As India tied against England, struggled against the Dutch and the Irish and finally lost to South Africa, we
wondered aloud if this team had it in them to win the World Cup. But MS Dhoni’s men turned things around.
India timed their peak perfectly, beating Australia and Pakistan in two tough, tense knock-outs. Finally, with the Cup on the
line in the final against Sri Lanka, an out-of-form Dhoni took it upon himself to finish the job. After Gautam Gambhir’s
game-setting 97, Dhoni sealed the win with 91, with a cherry-on-top six to finish the game.
All of India took to the streets in celebration. A 28-year-old wait had ended.
5. Hammering England

As a poorly prepared, jaded Indian team went to England, a tough contest was expected. But few would have
anticipated the drubbing that followed. India were down to their second string with injuries to 10 players, and England
prevailed with a crushing 8-0 scoreline. Along the way, India also surrendered their No. 1 rank in Tests.
The tables were turned when England visited India a few weeks later. High on confidence, the Englishmen were keen to offer
lip service but could not back it up with performance. They were beaten 5-0 in India for the second straight time, and went
away, tails firmly between legs.
6. Dravid

The Wall stood tall again in the West Indies and England, making four hundreds in tough conditions to brush
aside concerns about form and longevity. His good run and injuries to key players got him back into the one-day team in
England. Normally, this would be a good thing. But Dravid’s supporters were annoyed. They knew he’d be dumped again once
India are back playing on the featherbeds at home.
But Dravid handled the matter with dignity. He chose to play the one-dayers but said he would retire from the blue jersey at
the end of the series. In great style, Dravid bowed out of ODIs with a classy 69 in Cardiff.
7. IPL

Despite new-look teams, India’s summer obsession was more of the same. The endless butchering of bowlers. The
pom-pomming of cheerleaders. An excruciatingly long schedule of 51 days. More Indian players getting injured. And Chennai
Super Kings winning again. Only two things changed. There was no Lalit Modi, and there were two new teams: Pune and Kochi.
At the end of it all, Kochi were terminated for financial irregularities. What happens to them remains to be seen.
8. Obsession with records

Harbhajan Singh became just the third Indian bowler to take 400 Test wickets earlier this year. The milestone
notwithstanding, he was given a much-deserved boot from the team after months of sustaining his career on past records and
hot air.
Meanwhile, Sachin Tendulkar continues his quest for his hundredth hundred in international cricket. He has been stuck on 99
since scoring two in the World Cup. He won’t say it. But he wants it. And so do his fans.
9. F1 Indian Grand Prix

Our love for sports is known to all so is our inability to organise them but this perception changed a bit with
a successful Formula One Grand Prix.
The success of the Indian Grand Prix at the Buddh International Circuit helped soothe the bitter memories of a messy and
shambolic Commonwealth Games.
After the Commonwealth Games, India’s image took a massive beating and the international media flayed India for organising a
substandard event. So conducting a successful Grand Prix became even more important as all eyes were fixed on India and even
the slightest slip would re-enforce the belief that India is not capable of hosting a mega event.
With a crowd of 95,000 and an international television audience said to total 150 million, the organisers delivered a
spectacular Formula One Grand Prix.
F1 drivers praised the fast, smooth new course, and the wave-shaped main grandstand, rising like a mirage out of the
countryside, is the world’s second-largest at a race track.
10. Spot Fixing

The British judicial system set an example for other cricketing countries when it first conducted a swift but
thorough investigation of the spot-fixing scandal of 2010, and then handed out sentences to the tainted cricketers and the
conspirator bookie-manager.
However, the episode remains a blemish on the image of the game that had barely recovered from the stunning revelations of
2000. What remains to be seen is how the ICC’s anti-corruption unit raises its standards in order to protect the game.

Buzzwords
1. Do it for Sachin

The factual anthem of the 2011 Cricket World Cup might have been the unimpressive track penned by Shankar,
Ehsaan and Loy, but Team India clearly had only one anthem on their lips throughout the tournament – “We want to win it for
Sachin”. From Zaheer to Gambhir, Bhajji to Kohli – practically the whole team credited their motivation to lift the trophy to
the master blaster. National pride and a quest for cricketing excellence came a distant second.
Man of the Tournament, Yuvraj Singh even went to the extent of trying to create a bit of buzz around it by quoting early in
the tournament that he was playing for a certain special someone in his life. Much space in the media was devoted to
speculation on who that ‘special’ person was. After the final he revealed that it was none other than Sachin. But of course.
True to form, when India finally lifted the cup the team hoisted Tendulkar on their shoulders for their victory lap around
the ground. Fairytale stuff indeed.
2. Govind Tiwari

2011’s online sensation was in no doubt Govind Tiwari. The young man from Allahabad emerged from complete
obscurity with his blog- http://govindtiwari.blogspot.com/ that caught the imagination of India’s netizens. The blog that was
unearthed out of nowhere soon went viral on the web and began trending like nobody’s business on Twitter.
Suddenly anyone and everyone knew who Govind Tiwari was. His webpage’s main highlight was flashing stars and an overdose of
multimedia features added to multiple photos of himself that among other things enabled his eyes to blink. All of this was
accompanied with kitschy background music. The unlikely celebrity’s self-proclaimed aim was ‘for making good friend’.
Whether it was the sheer tackiness of the site or the creator’s ingenuity, Govind Tiwari definitely got more than his 15
minutes of fam
3. I am Anna

If 2011 will be remembered for one reason in India it might well be the movement against corruption. In Anna
Hazare, the common man found their hero. Even those who didn’t agree with his method had nothing but admiration for the
cause.
Soon sporting a ‘Anna topi’ became a status symbol and the words etched on them – ‘I am Anna’ quickly caught on as the
catchphrase of the movement. It represented showing solidarity with the ‘modern Mahatma’ and the struggle he gave voice
to.
4. Poschim Bongo

Our country’s politicians have taken it upon them to rename everything from cities to railway stations to maybe
even the local paanwala’s shanty. How then could state names be set in stone? At an all party meet West Bengal Chief Minister
Mamata Bannerjee decided to leave her imprint by renaming the state as ‘Poshcim Bongo’. This was apparently intended to
distance the state from its colonial heritage and bolster its dignity.
We’re not sure about the bolstering dignity bit but the new name went beyond becoming the topic of water cooler
conversations. It drew extreme reactions including ridicule and outrage from Bengalis and non-Bengalis alike. The verdict was
pretty clear – Bongo was clearly wrong-o.
5. i

2011 saw the passing away of several big names, but the most talked about amongst them all was Apple’s
co-founder, chairman and CEO – Steve Jobs. He died from complications arising out of his long battle with pancreatic cancer.
Jobs was regarded a visionary, a creative genius and a pioneer when it came to the personal computer industry. He was
considered to be someone who had changed the shape of the modern world and his death spawned tributes from all and sundry.
Common to them all was the use of ‘i’ – the letter and word that not only represented all Apple products like the ipod, the
iphone and the ipad but also Steve Jobs himself.
6. Her Royal Hotness

Royal weddings were clearly the flavour of the year what with Kate and William, The Prince of Monaco’s marriage
to an Olympic swimmer and The King of Bhutan’s wedding with a young beautiful commoner.
The one name however who even overtook Her Royal Highness Kate Middleton in the popularity stakes was none other than her
younger sister Pippa. The maid of honour at the wedding of the decade was the cynosure of all eyes. Her style and demeanour
(not to mention her rear hugging dress) won her many fans and soon enough she became the darling of the tabloids. The party
planner nicknamed ‘Her Royal Hotness’ continued to make news through the year – her presence at the French open, leaked
pictures of her partying in a bra, her break up with beau and ex-cricketer Alex Loudon and even her alleged flirting with
Prince Harry – everything became a subject for discussion. And the world had a new muse.
7. BayB

For a family that usually holds a grouse with the media, the Bachchans do their fair bit in encouraging the
intrusiveness, so to speak. Amitabh Bachchan chose to go public on his Twitter stream with news of daughter-in-law Aishwarya
Rai’s pregnancy and this triggered a whole gamut of wishes/ jokes/ one-liners on the impending Bachchan.
Chief among them was this one from funnyman Ramesh Srivats’: “Bachchan Household: Three generations of Bachchans – BigB,
WannaB, and now BayB.”
The BayB tag stuck, with both the public and media picking up on it in their day-by-day, minute-by-minute dissection of Ash’s
new arrival. So much so that proud papa Abhishek Bachchan (aided by starlet Shahana Goswami) went one-up on it and christened
the baby girl as Beti B till they officially named her.
8. Tihar

With scams and scandals being the order of the day, the most popular destination for India’s movers and shakers
turned out to be Tihar Jail.
It’s well known inmates in 2011 included former Telecom minister A Raja, Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi – both for their roles in
the 2G Spectrum scam, Suresh Kalmadi for corruption during the Commonwealth Games and former Samajwadi Party leader Amar
Singh. Why even social activist Anna Hazare was forced to pay a visit to India’s most well known jail. With so much VIP
activity in one place, it’s no wonder that Tihar turned out to be the most talked about location in India this year.
9. Kolaveri

‘Why this Kolaveri Kolaveri Kolaveri di?’ Chances are this song and its tune is ringing in your ears. The catchy
part Tamil/ part English track is from an upcoming Tamil flick ‘3’ that stars Danush and Shruti Hassan and is directed by
Danush’s wife and Rajnikanth’s daughter Aishwarya.
The song was leaked onto the web and that was when its creators decided to come out with an official promotional video of it.
In no time, ‘kolaveri’ went viral in cyberspace and garnered over 3 lakh hits within a week on Youtube. The track became a
pan-Indian sensation after being shared umpteen times on social networking sites.
What was meant to be a silly song with silly lyrics left scores of people wondering what ‘kolaveri’ actually meant. It’s
literal translation is ‘murderous rage’ but the people behind the song insist that the words in the song are just meant to be
a funny way of a boy expressing anguish over being dumped.
10. D K Bose

If the year ended with the nation humming Kolaveri, then it began with them asking D K Bose to run for it. The
song ‘D K Bose’ belonged to the Aamir Khan production ‘Delhi Belly’ and though it sounded like a common Bengali surname it
was also a play on a popular North Indian expletive.
That was enough to create a controversy, but the racy and cheeky track soon became a youth anthem. Some of the reasons behind
its popularity included the quirky lyrics, the innuendos hidden within, and the grunge rock tempo to it.

Top 10 Car Launches
1. Maruti Swift


Perhaps the most anticipated car ever? A car that had been the subject of speculation for over a year and clocked nearly 50K
pre-launch bookings. When launched, Suzuki had done a commendable job of not tampering with the Swift persona while giving it
a head-to-toe facelift. Every body-panel of the new Swift is spanking new. The car has an energetic and vibrant front fascia
thanks to the swept-back, rather large headlamps, completely reworked grille and a smiling central air intake. If you said
the Swift is identical to its predecessor, eat your words. Step inside the cabin. Apart from the gear knob and power window
switches, everything has been given a chic makeover. The dashboard sports the Kizashi family look with the ‘waterfall’
central console that houses a six-speaker music system with USB support and climate control on the top variants. The new
Swift is powered by the same 1.2 litre K-series petrol engine, further tweaked with the VVT (Variable Valve Timing)
technology. The result: Increased power delivery of 87ps @ 6000rpm and torque of 114Nm @ 4000 rpm. The 1.3 litre DDiS diesel
motor is already a champ, and so remains unchanged. However, the overall weight of the car has been reduced by 15 kg and 30
kg respectively on the Petrol and Diesel variants, boosting overall performance and fuel efficiency. The new car is 90mm
longer, with a 40mm longer wheelbase. Those who quibbled about lack of ample rear legroom can now rejoice. Despite the car’s
added heft, boot space is still cramped. The new Swift doesn’t launch a new era for the hatchback segment. It’s just going to
continue the momentum its forerunner has built and, of course, in a terrific way.
2. Hyundai Eon


When you think Hyundai, the word ‘style’ pops unbidden to mind. Whether it’s an i10, Verna, Sonata or Santa Fe, the company
never compromises on style and seamless finish. Underscoring this fact is Eon, the latest offering from the Hyundai stable
that hit the Indian market at a jaw-dropping price of 2.69 lakh. The Eon is an amalgamation of style, comfort, utility and
economy. Eon’s fluidic design has exceeded the expectations of the entry-level segment customer. Currently, Eon is available
with 0.8 L iRDE engine delivering 56PS@5500rpm of maximum power and 7.65Kgm@4000rpm of peak torque. mated to a 5-speed manual
transmission, the 814cc petrol engine gives a mileage of 21.1kmpl (ARAI certified) making it the most fuel-efficient car in
the segment. Despite being a small car, Eon has ample cabin and boot spacein an attempt to offer high-end safety features
even for low compact segment customers, Hyundai has equipped the Eon with driver’s airbag, front fog lamps and an immobilizer
that prevents the car from starting without the correct key. In short, Hyundai Eon is true value for money.
3. Tata Indica Vista


Read it — Tata Vista. The Indica badge at the car’s rear has shrunk. So has its Indica-ness. The car’s first major makeover
in three years is Tata’s clear attempt to get deep into the premium hatchback segment and make it a popular choice among
those who hesitate to proudly say, ‘I drive a Tata Indica’. The new Vista shares its front fascia with its elder sibling
Manza. The chrome grille and larger triple barreled head lamps make its face more belligerent – and upmarket. The interior is
where the new Vista makes the real difference. Available in four trims, the car offers integrated six-speaker music system
with steering-mounted audio controls, USB support and Bluetooth connectivity on all but the base variant. Steering-mounted
controls on the lower variants – isn’t that a revolution in this segment? The basic underpinnings of the newcomer are carried
over from the previous-generation car. Petrol buyers can choose from 90PS Safire90 and 65PS Safire65, while the diesel
line-up consists of a 71PS TDi and a 75PS Quadrajet. Yahoo! India Autos’ favourite is the 1.3 litre CRDI Quadrajet, which
really loves to rev and delivers 75PS of max power at 4000 RPM. The new Tata Vista is claimed to deliver a mileage of 22.3
kmpl for diesel and 16.7 kmpl for petrol. While the car lives up to Tata’s promise of “more car per car”, the company needs
to relook at the service quality and durability concerns so that the new Vista gets an edge in the overcrowded B-segment.
4. Honda Brio

Energetic and cheerful, as the name suggests, the Honda Brio is a perfect package for a new era, embodying the
best of Honda’s technologies to deliver fun and agile driving, fuel-efficiency, spaciousness and safety. Brio’s energetic
exterior concept features a ‘Double Triangle’ design, conveying vibrant energy from nose to tail, and a sleek look that
emphasizes its width and advanced styling. Brio has an impressive interior design that leverages its innovative packaging to
offer occupants an open and spacious interior. The Brio’s design takes Honda’s “man maximum, machine minimum” concept to a
new level. The Brio’s is powered by a four cylinder 1.2-litre i-VTEC engine that delivers maximum output of 88 PS @ 6000 rpm
and Torque of 109 Nm (11.2 kg-m) @ 4600 rpm, while giving an excellent fuel economy of 18.4 km/l, as per test data. Brio is
available in 5-speed manual transmission with optimized gear ratios, which offers good low rpm acceleration and smooth high
rpm making it fun to drive. The Brio features Honda’s active and passive safety technologies including dual SRS front
airbags, Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD), front pretensioner seat belts that pre-emptively
tighten the belt to prevent the occupant from jerking forward in a crash and impact-mitigating headrests.
5. Beat Diesel

The Chevrolet Beat belongs to 22nd century. With its futuristic styling, Beat can be considered as the most
unique model in the current crop of hatchbacks in India. The little monster got smarter with an all new 1.0 XSDE SMARTECH
Common Rail Diesel engine that Chevrolet made exclusively for India. With an amazing power output of 58.5 PS and a whopping
torque of 150 Nm, this engine promises a certified mileage of 24 kmpl. The car feels most comfortable at speeds under 80-90
kmph, but post that it doesn’t seem to have the p to go comfortably past 100-110 kph. Fixed Geometry Turbocharger with vacuum
operated wastegate ensures smooth, efficient operation and superior torque delivery from very low engine RPMs for a peppy
drive. The Diesel Beat, like its petrol sibling, represents the new face of Chevrolet. Even though the car is cramped inside,
the amount of storage spaces it offers is incredible. Under the skin, the Beat is pretty conventional, but step inside, the
imposing interior quality makes the Beat quite a special place to be in. Beat is a very competent vehicle that rides well and
comes with decent comfort and practicality. The vehicle is destined to make a statement with an innovative design that would
go far beyond a typical mini-vehicle and set new standards for the segment. In short, the Beat is an easy-to-drive city
commuter for those who would otherwise buy a petrol i10, but would want a diesel given the skyrocketing petrol prices.
6. Nissan Sunny

Sunny, Nissan’s premium sedan for India, catches the eye with well-sculpted exterior, with every line carved to
perfection. Attractive and sleek, featuring Nissan’s signature grille and jewel-like headlamps, the Sunny displays a
pronounced high running beltline that slopes from the headlamps, with the roof inclined elegantly to the rear, giving it the
appeal of a coup&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;eacute;. The Sunny’s USP is space, especially in the backseat. You can cross your legs comfortably even when the
front seats are pushed back completely. You have to agree with Nissan’s claim that the interior space matches that of the BMW
5-series or Mercedes-Benz E-class. However, Sunny has a lot of Micra in it. Apart from the instrument panel, music system and
A/C vents on the centre console, everything else has pretty much been inherited from the Micra. Behind the wheel, the Sunny
impresses with its smooth, quiet ride and is adept on demanding country roads. Only the merest flutter of wind noise is
noticeable even at 120 kmph, and although some road noise intrudes on rough surfaces, it’s never a bother. The 1.5 litre
petrol engine develops 98 bhp at 6,000 rpm and 134 Nm of torque at 4000rpm, which makes it more powerful than many others in
the segment. The meaty part of the torque is at the low end of the rev range, making it responsive and easy to maneuver.
Overall, it’s hard to think of a box that the Nissan Sunny doesn’t tick.
7. Tata Aria 4X2

You probably think a mid-life makeover of the Tata Aria isn’t worth your time. You might be making a hasty
judgment there. The Tata Aria 4×2 is not just another makeover. It extends the range to new segments and redefines several
benchmarks by slashing prices by a whopping Rs. 1.3 lakh. If that isn’t incentive enough, take it on a drive to find out
whether Aria 4X2 will be a game changer for Tata. The angular, wrap-around dual-barrel headlamp with projector beam and the
signature Tata grille that we saw on Vista and Manza give Aria an aggressive look. Step in, oh sorry, walk-in (Passengers can
simply walk into the Aria, rather than having to climb up or get down, thanks to the low-floor design) and you’ll be quite
impressed, rather surprised. The incredibly spacious cabin has three-row seats that are strategically arranged to provide
passengers with acres of head, leg and shoulder rooms. Tata had taken safety to new heights with the Aria 4X4. Aria 4X2 also
benefits from the same features, both active and passive, that only vehicles over Rs 30 lakh can boast of. While active
features like ABS , EBD and all disc brakes aid steerability and control in emergency braking, driver and passenger airbags
ensure protection from front impacts. At the heart of the Tata Aria is the same 2.2 litre Direct Injection Common Rail
(DICOR) engine that powers the 4X4 Aria. Belting along a resplendently smooth mountain road that leads to Lavasa, the Aria
didn’t gasp. The potent motor has an astonishing spread of power, pulling hard from low in the rev range and getting
progressively and fantastically stronger all the way to the 4,400rpm red-line. You feel really confident behind Aria’s wheel,
thanks to precise steering response, tremendous braking and laudable cornering capabilities.
8. Etios and Liva Diesel

2011 was a remarkable year for Toyota in India. After the success of the Etios and the Etios Liva, Toyota
further expanded the product range by launching the diesel variants of Etios and Etios Liva. The twins are powered by the 1.4
litre diesel engine that also powers the Corolla Altis diesel. These cars are exceptionally practical vehicles in terms of
their design, space and pricing. Like the petrol variants, the engine is tuned for efficiency rather than performance. A
distinctive front grille with a smile line, sculpted surface and dynamic character-line in the front and rear enhance the
presence of the Etios and Etios Liva. The roof has a unique design for better aerodynamics and clean appearance. While the
cars offer good rear seat space, large boot and airy interiors, cheap plastic quality and mediocre fit and finish are quite
unbecoming Toyota. However, the flat type rear floor design is unique and offers comfortable seating for three and ease of
movement for rear seat passengers. The cars have various active and passive safety features like energy absorbing body shell,
driver and passenger air bags and ABS with EBD. Its centrally located combimeter reduces eye movement and apparently the
driver can concentrate on the road. The Etios and Etios Liva diesel might not be the most exciting diesels around, but they
are practical and versatile diesel machines.
9. Hyundai Fluidic Verna

The Fluidic Verna boasts of futuristic looks, luxurious interiors, cutting-edge technology and premium appeal.
It pioneers a host of premium and futuristic design elements based on the Fluidic Sculpture Design Philosophy. The car’s
futuristic design sports a coupe like side profile, which is further refined by elegant lines. The interiors have luxurious
elements and textures including two-tone beige and black high gloss interiors with wood finish. One of the unique features of
the Fluidic Verna is the cluster ionizer that improves the quality of air inside the cabin by producing ion-plasma that traps
bacteria and other impurities and comes into operation automatically as the AC is switched on. The rear end of the car is
fitted with dual chrome tipped exhaust which adds on to the sporty feel. The Verna will be available with four engine options
- 1.4 litre VTVT, 1.6 litre VTVT, 1.4 litre CRDi and the diesel 1.6 litre VGT CRDi. The Fluidic Verna is an amalgamation of
practicality and quality that is more upmarket and stylish, making it a serious threat to the City and Vento.
10. Mahindra XUV 500

The Mahindra XUV 500 came as a surprise to Indian car enthusiasts. Conceptualized with the aim of creating an
altogether new category between the Scorpio and high end SUVs, the XUV500 is the next generation SUV targeted at Generation
X. At Rs 10.80 lakh, this gargantuan of a vehicle is worth every penny you shell out. The XUV 500 is a vigorous style
statement. Two versions of the vehicle will be available, the W6 and W8 in both two-wheel and four-wheel drive. Base models
will be front wheel drive while another version will have an all wheel drive layout with a torque on demand mechanism. The
XUV500 is powered by a 2.2-litre M-Hawk engine that develops 140bhp and a whopping 330Nm of torque. The XUV 500′s interior
gets sporty instrument panel, elegant leather wrapped dashboard, cool box, voice-command activated centre console, lounge
lighting for different mood etc. It has an ARAI certified fuel efficiency of 15.1 kpl, which makes it the second most
fuel-efficient vehicle in Mahindra’s passenger SUV portfolio after the Bolero. Unique features of the Xuv 500 include full
touch integrated audio system, hill-descent control, airbags, ABS, ESP and blower controls for the third row.

Facepalm Moments
1. Miss India Universe on Twitter

Training on how to employ social media needs to be made mandatory for all Miss Universe participants. Miss India
Universe contestant Vasuki Sunkavalli face-palm moment was to tweet the posts of US-based columnist Sadanand Dhume without
attribution.
Dhume responded to this Twiter protocol heresy by saying, “Beauty pageant ethics ain’t what they used to be (sic). At least 7
of Miss India Universe 2011 @vasukisunkavali’s 29-odd tweets lifted from me…”
Vasuki hadn’t thought too much about it, since she was blissfully unaware that it wasn’t accepted Twitter practice to copy
somebody else’s posts and put them as your own. When confronted, she admitted, “It wasn’t accidental. I can’t possibly copy
and paste accidentally now can I? Just dint know the technical know how of “re-tweeting.”
Now that’s a quote worth re-tweeting.
2. Rakhi Sawant’s Marriage Aspirations

Rakhi Sawant, the item bomb, dropped a big one earlier this year when she declared her love for Yoga-guru Baba
Ramdev, and said that she wanted to marry him.
Sawant is no stranger to controversy. A few years back she kicked up a huge fuss about being kissed by singer Mika. Then the
reality TV show, ‘Rakhi Sawant ka Swayamvar’; where she was courted by 15 men to win her hand in marriage was revealed by
News 24 in a sting operation to be a sham. Well-known for her ample assets, she was constantly asked about whether they were
acquired through plastic surgery, to which she retorted, “’Jo Bhagwan nahi deta woh doctor deta hai,” (What God doesn’t give,
the doctor does).
Going by the past of the queen of controversy, one thing is for sure, this wont be the last time that she embroiled in
something controversial.
3. BSY’s Nobel aspirations

In July this year, former Karnataka chief minister BS Yedurrappa, was facing a political maelstrom, when
accusations of corruption and nepotism swirled threatening to derail his government. He decided the best way to deflect this
was to make a statement that reeked of being delusional and out of touch with reality. Yedurrappa declared that he was the
first chief minister in the country to have gotten rid of illegal mining and that he should get a Nobel for his efforts.
This statement was immensely laughable, especially since Yedurappa was dodging daggers from the opposition, who were accusing
him of graft, some of these charges were related to illegal mining. Allegations of corruption finally felled him. He was
arrested and jailed on October 15th, and currently languishes there, awaiting a bail plea scheduled for November 28th.
4. Dirty, dark Tamils – Maureen Chao

Yes, South Indians will make fun of North Indians and call them ‘uncultured’ and the North Indians, will call
all folks down South, ‘Madrasis’. But, Indians will go ballistic if a foreigner makes any references to color, caste or
religious beliefs. Maureen Chao, US Vice-consul committed hara kiri when she said, “I was very dirty and dark, I was looking
like a Tamilian,” referring to a train journey during her first visit to India.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister was quick to condemn the remarks saying that it smacked of racism and demanded an unconditional
apology.
Chao was swift with the apology and issued a statement regretting her remarks. But the damage had been done. Within two weeks
of making the seemingly racist comments, Chao resigned her posting, and left the country.
5. Ghulam Nabi Azad on Homosexuality

What is a disease that is unnatural and comes from foreign shores? If you were to ask Ghulam Nabi Azad, union
health minister, he’d say its homosexuality. In July, this year, he claimed that men having sex with men was ‘unnatural’ and
a ‘disease’ that needs to be faced by Indian society.
Homosexuality may have been decriminalized in 2009, when the Supreme Court overturned Section 377 (the anti-sodomy law) of
the Indian Penal Code, but in the mind of Azad it remains something that isn’t ‘good for Indian society.’ NGOs, gay rights
groups and certain sections of civil society were quick to condemn Azad’s gaffe.
But, there was no apology forthcoming from Azad.
6. Swami Agnivesh’s Rant on Video

The saffron-robed God-man Swami Agnivesh would have never have seen this coming. Once part of the core team of
Lokpal Bill campaigner Anna Hazare, he was quickly distanced and sidelined once the video of him chastising Hazare surfaced.
He apparently called Hazare a ‘pagal’ (madman) in the video. A fall-out between the two quickly ensued.
Agnivesh tried to make amends later. After an early exit from the reality show ‘Bigg Boss’ he spoke about wanting to mend
ties with Hazare. The latter responded by saying that he’s open to talking with the Swami.
A truce is still forthcoming.
7. UPA sends Hazare to jail

The UPA may have knowingly or unknowingly shot itself many times in the foot in the past year. But the incident
that must really make them smart was the handling of Anna Hazare’s decision of going on an indefinite fast demanding a strong
Lokpal.
Hazare’s threat to go on an indefinite fast was no doubt, against prohibitory orders, but the UPA’s decision to arrest him
sent the nation into a tizzy. The Gandhian who always had the moral high ground suddenly had wrested full control of his
face-off with the UPA.
The UPA quickly did a quick volte-face after Rahul Gandhi’s intervened to have Hazare released the same evening. By then the
UPA’s image had been shattered irreversibly.
8. UB Group ‘Have I made it large?’


In India spoofs on ads don’t go down too well. The UB Group learned that the hard way when they were forced to withdraw their
controversial ad that spoofed the Royal Stag ad. The original ad which talks about success has Saif Ali Khan, Harbhajan Singh
and a few other celebrities who end the ad with the question, ‘Have I made it large?’
The UB Group roped in the India cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni to produce a spoof of the ad through McDowells No.
1 soda. In the ad featuring a look-alike of Harbhajan, the Indian off-spinner gets slapped by his father for creating
gigantic iron balls in his attempt to ‘make it large’ at the ball-bearings workshop. At the end he asks, “Have I made it
large?” to which Dhoni replies, “Forget large, do something different.” Singh, as expected was not too please and slapped the
UB Group with a legal notice claiming the ad mocks him, his family, and the Sikh community. The ad that’s mocks Khan also has
something similar, where he’s referred to as the ‘junior’ and Dhoni urging him to stop thinking ‘large’ and aim for
‘different’ instead.
9. Kiran Bedi on Traveling Economy

Kiran Bedi the super cop, and winner of many awards, like the Magsaysay Award and the United Nations medal
muddied her image in October this year. Bedi, a member of the core team of the Lokpal campaigner Anna Hazare, was accused of
over billing the companies and institutions that host her.
The allegations leveled against her: that she travels economy and charges business class, and she doesn’t pass on the
discount she gets from Air India, being entitled to it having won the President’s gallantry award.
Bedi, initially tried to defend herself, but soon had to agree to return the excess fare that she had charged. She, however,
continued to say that she had nothing wrong.
10. S M Krishna reads Wrong Speech

External affairs minister S.M Krishna is no stranger to the faux pas. He has a long history of saying the wrong
things. But reading his Portuguese counterpart’s speech for a full three minutes at the UN Security Council meeting, and
being unaware of gaffe, was inexcusable. Luckily for him India’s chief diplomat at the UN pointed this out to him and gave
him the correct speech. Could it be age that’s catching up with Krishna or is it just sheer negligence?
Gaffes and Krishna are joined at the hip. When a foreign journalist asked him about Afghanistan, he answered saying that
India and Afghanistan may not be ‘immediate neighbors’ but it’s following up on the activities there. The journalist must
have been shocked at Krishna’s lack of geographical knowledge. In another case in the Rajya Sabha, Krishna was asked about a
Pakistani doctor Mohammad Khalil Chisti jailed in India, and he misunderstood the prisoner to be an Indian who was behind
bars in Pakistan. He had replied by saying that Pakistan will have to consider his release based on humanitarian grounds.