Oldest handmade paper mill dying

The country's oldest Handmade Paper Institute in Pune that provided paper for the first edition of our Indian constitution is struggling for survival.

I saw the coverage on NDTV 24x7. I wasn't even aware of the Paper mill in Pune until I saw the news.

The same institute also printed invitations for Rajiv and Sonia Gandhi's reception on 26th February, 1968.

The likes of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi had come visiting the institute. And all its historic achievement has been documented on the institute walls with pictures and frames.
Institute's aim was to propagate environment-friendly manufacture of paper. But for various economic reasons the institute is now facing the threat of closure.

The only hope now is the few odd customers, mostly foreigners who come here to buy handmade paper.

The Indian government should grant it the status of Heritage Structure. This might help the premises to counter the sands of time. NDTV 24x7 is a must for Indians in the US, it's the best way to stay in touch with India-centric news. The incisive news channel is provided by DirecTv in the US.

UK Hindus blame British for caste system

I saw this news on NDTV 24x7. The news channel brought the news as it is but left me wondering what is the point in blaming the British. I am sure the next time this news is covered an analysis will be offered by NDTV 24x7.

A Hindu organisation in the UK on Friday blamed the British for the caste system in India, saying the ''current adulteration'' of the varnashram system is a result of ''generations of British colonial bureaucracy''.

The report included quotations from Hindu scripture in support of the concept of egalitarianism and cites many sacred texts - respected by people of all castes - that were written by ''Dalits,'' or ''outcastes'', in an attempt to prove that in Hinduism, caste was never intended to be hereditary.

''It was the British who single-handedly formulated the caste schedules that remain in place today''

The result of several months research, the report lifts the lid on rarely-heard Hindu perspectives on a subject assumed by most non-Hindus to be always a gross form of unjust discrimination, an alleged feature of Hinduism so maligned it justifies attempts by Christians to convert Hindus in the UK, in India and elsewhere, the report said.

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Australian police denies compensation to Haneef

I saw the coverage on NDTV 24x7 about Indians abroad. Much of the airtime was dedicated to Dr. Haneef.
Australian police spent a whopping $7.5 million probing Mohammed Haneef, who was wrongly accused of terror charges, the country's police chief said on Monday while claiming that the Indian doctor did not have a case for compensation.

Mick Keelty told the Senate Estimates Committee that the Australian Federal Police (AFP) investigation of Haneef in connection with the failed UK terror bombings last year involved 470 police and customs officers.
Keelty, who has ducked calls for his resignation after the Haneef episode, which caused severe embarrassment to Canberra, said there had been an internal investigation but no changes had been made to processes inside the force.

Lawyers of the 28-year-old Bangalore doctor, who was forced to return to his country even after dropping of charges, have spoken of $9 lakh compensation claiming his career has been ruined by police's actions.

I watch all the news related to India on NDTV 24x7. The news channel is available in the US only through DirecTv, here is the URL for DirecTv:
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PM seeks security of sea lanes

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said that India's initiative to forge working cooperation among navies of the Indian Ocean region is of 'paramount importance'. He said that the move will prove beneficial in tackling threats of terrorism from the seas.

He said high level of trade and economic growth was being witnessed in the region, which dictated the need to ensure safety and security of the sea-lanes.

Pointing that recent years had seen rise in crimes like terrorism, piracy and smuggling of narcotics and ammunitions in the ocean region, the Prime Minister emphasized on the need for cooperation among the navies of the littoral states to prevent these transnational crimes.''The perpetrators of these crimes are well organised and well-funded transnational syndicates who take full advantage of the vastness of oceans''

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Dilshan leads Lanka to victory

The current Australia-India-SriLanka cricket matches are being played at odd times. I can't watch a single match due to the time difference between Australia and the US. DirecTv is doing a fantastic job of providing NDTV 24x7 in the US. Atleast, I can watch the post-match analysis. Today was a disaster for the Indian cricket team. They somehow manage to put up a good score and the Rain-Gods and the D/L method spoil it for the Indian Team.

Sri Lanka beat India by eight wickets owing to the Duckworth-Lewis method in their rain-shortened tri-series one-day international at Manuka Oval on Tuesday

Earlier, another spell of rain brought down the target for Sri Lanka to 154 in 21 overs.India had scored 195 in 29 overs when the match got underway after a rain-delay, but another shower during the innings break forced a revision of the target.

Sharma, who took 20 balls for his first 10 runs, struck some lusty blows to finish with 70 runs off 64 balls and shared a rollicking 68-run fourth wicket stand with skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (31).

I think NDTV 24x7 is a must for Indians in the US. The news channel is available through DirecTv. Here is the URL >>
http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/packProg/channelChart2.jsp?assetId=1200042
There are absolutely no interruptions as DirecTV delivers a digital signal 99.9% of the time. I also ordered a high-speed Internet connection with the service.

The Force

I saw the news on NDTV 24x7 about Force India rolling out its car for this year's 18 Formula1 races. Giancarlo Fisichella and Adrian Sutil will race the cars and Vitantoniio Liuzzi will be the test-driver.

Force India, India's entry in the 2008 Formula One World Championship, unveiled its car and team colours for the upcoming season, which begins in Melbourne on March 16.
Calling it a "red letter day in the history of Indian motorsport", Force India owner and liquor baron Vijay Mallya unveiled the new car and the team's three drivers dressed in the team colours of white, tungsten, gold and red at a ceremony at the historic Gateway of India in South Mumbai.

The car, called VJM01, is expected to have its first run during the next test session of the team to be held in Barcelona from February 25 to 27.

I prefer watching NDTV 24x7 as it is India’s most respected news channel and the news coverage is ‘to the point’ unlike other news channel where every news is a breaking news.

The experience only improves as I have subscribed to DirecTv.

There are absolutely no interruptions as DirecTV delivers a digital signal 99.9% of the time. I also ordered a high-speed Internet connection with the service.

The most important benefit is that my cable & internet bills have reduced.

So what do you think? Mallya wants a podium finish in the 1st race of the 2010 F1 season, Is it possible?

The Spirit of Bombay: Kalaghoda festival

If I was in Mumbai this time of the year I would definitely be at Kalaghoda to witness the decade old festival that echoes the spirit of Mumbai. All I could get is the News coverage on NDTV 24x7. I would like to share with you what I gathered while watching NDTV.

The Kalaghoda festival is a unique platform for showcasing new talent and attracts hundreds of enthusiasts.

This year the Kalaghoda art festival looks bigger, brighter and more colourful. The otherwise commercial lanes of a business district now turn themselves into art exhibits.

Space is created for artists who feel that, art cannot be bound by closed walls and class divides of traditional art galleries.

True to the spirit of a street festival, day one had traditional acrobats from rural Maharashta.

If you are an Indian living in the US (like me), you should immeidately subscribe to DirecTv because:

• It is the best TV service provider in the US in all respects.
• NDTV 24x7 is the best Indian news channel.
• DirecTv is the sole provider of NDTV 24x7 in the US.

Here is the URL: http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/packProg/channelChart2.jsp?assetId=1200042