Wedding guests die in India road crash
At least 17 people died when a speeding truck rammed into two tractors pulling trailers loaded with guests returning from a wedding in southern India.
The groom was among those killed. The accident took place in Warangal district in Andhra Pradesh state.
The bride and 19 other people were injured, police said.
The accident took place when the truck driver lost control of his vehicle and crashed into the tractors which were parked by the roadside.
Thousands of people die in India every year in road accidents. Most are blamed on bad driving or poor roads and vehicles.
Source>>BBC News
Indian magician performs death-defying act.
Indian magician Anand Akash performed a death-defying stunt on Sunday (June 20) at Visakhapatnam in India’s southern Andhra Pradesh state.
In his aptly named ‘Great Blast Escape’ Akash was first tied-up with iron chains, and then made to enter a wooden box. Then, the box was placed inside a cubicle covered by a cloth and within a couple of minutes, a truck driven at high speed rammed the cubicle, But before it caused the box to turn into a smoke bomb, Anand Akash had emerged, lying flat on his face on the side.
“I was planning for an underwater stunt here because we have very beautiful Bay of Bengal here, our beach is here, our harbour is here, naval base is here, and coast guard people are here. We can easily manage underwater escape. I am just looking for sponsorship…only if I get sponsorship I will do it,” said Anand Akash, magician.
Magician Anand Akash has shared his plans to set up a national academy of magic with chapters in every state capital of the country.
Reportedly, his name also features in the Guinness book of World Records.
Anand Akash, who is also the president of the All India Magicians Federation, said that the objective of the academy is to promote the art of magic and encourage budding talent.
Source–REUTERS . . . .
Father’s Day
Father’s day is a festival inaugurated in the early 20th century to honour fathers and forefathers. This festival is celebrated in many countries all across the world to express gratitude for fathers. This festival is celebrated by gifting cards, bouquets, artificial flowers, quotations, show pieces and other thoughtful gifts to their dear dad.
Father’s Day is celebrated on variety of dates across the world. Previously this festival was confined to pay gratitude to father only, but nowadays, people also with “Happy Father’s Day to their stepfather, grandfather, father-in-law, uncles or any other man who is as protective and caring as a father. involves gift giving and special dinners to fathers and family oriented activities.
The idea of Father’s day celebration was first given in 1909 by Ms Sonora Louise Smart Dodd, a loving daughter from Spokane USA. Sonora, who was very much attached to her father Mr William Jackson Smart, a Civil War veteran. She felt that if there is a day to honor mother then there should also be a day to honor father. Sonora struggled relentlessly to make the idea a reality. Finally, in 1972, President Richard Nixon made Father’s Day a national observance. Today, Father’s Day is celebrated in several countries across the globe. Though the date and manner of celebration differ, every where people take opportunity of the day to honor their father and express love for them.
Andhra Pradesh’s magician teaches road safety lessons…
“The traffic rules are designed in such a manner that if one followed them religiously, one can drive safe even blindfolded,” said Anand.<object width=”480″ height=”385″><param name=”movie” value=”http://www.youtube.com/v/8N21sVfY1Ow&hl=en_US&fs=1&”></param><param name=”allowFullScreen” value=”true”></param><param name=”allowscriptaccess” value=”always”></param><embed src=”http://www.youtube.com/v/8N21sVfY1Ow&hl=en_US&fs=1&” type=”application/x-shockwave-flash” allowscriptaccess=”always” allowfullscreen=”true” width=”480″ height=”385″></embed></object>
To prove his point, Anand, who started his stunt by driving through a ring of fire, had his eyes covered with a black cloth, and went around the crowded streets of on his bike.
Anand’s father Jadugar Anand, who is also a magician, said the performance was done to create traffic awareness in the city.
“This blindfolded motorcycle ride was carried out to create awareness, traffic awareness in the city. If a blind person can ride carefully keeping himself and other safe, then why not others. The numbers of road accidents throughout the world are much higher,” said Jadugar Anand.
After crisscrossing through the city blindfolded, Anand completed his run safely, as hundreds of curious onlookers cheered him on the way.
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White tigers cubs draw crowds at Visakhapatnam zoological park
Three white tiger cubs and their mother have become the major attraction at the zoological park in Visakhapatnam, leading to an increase in number of visitors.
The cubs born last year were released for the first time in an open enclosure at the Indira Gandhi Zoological Park in the city.
“This is basically a very popular animal. These are very popular animals among people. So people love to see white tiger. So we can release at a time three-four white tiger at least for a period of one year, because once the male grows up it has to be separated from the female,” said Rahul Pandey, curator at the zoological park.
” I have not seen white tiger; I have just seen the normal tigers. First time I am seeing the white tiger,” said Sangeetha Phalani, a visitor.
White tigers get their colour, blue eyes and chocolate stripes, through an unusual genetic condition and are sometimes bred intentionally as exotic zoo animals despite the risk of birth defects.
The overall population of tigers has suffered in India, driven by a demand for tiger skins and bones in China and the Far East for traditional medicines of the Orient.
Conservationists estimate that India is losing about 200 to 300 tigers a year due to poaching and other development projects, eroding the natural habitat of tigers and other animals.
ravan
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White tigers attract scores of tourists at zoological park in southern India.
Indian white tigers delight tourists
Three white tiger cubs and their mother have become the major attraction at a zoological park in Visakhapatnam city of India’s southern Andhra Pradesh state, leading to an increase in number of visitors.
The three cubs that were born last year were released for the first time in an open enclosure at the Indira Gandhi Zoological Park in the city.
“This is basically a very, very popular animal. These are very popular animals among people. So people love to see white tiger. So we can release at a time three-four white tiger at least for a period of one year, because once the male grows up it has to be separated from the female. For long time, we can show three animals, four animals, to the visitors and more number of animals means visitors, they appreciate more,” said Rahul Pandey, curator at the zoological park.
The cubs gambol and play around their mother, delighting visitors and giving them a rare opportunity to get them photographed.
“This is a very amazing type. We have not seen it so far so far. I have not seen white tiger; I have just seen the normal tigers. First time I am seeing the white tiger,” said Sangeetha Phalani, a visitor.
White tigers get their colour, blue eyes and chocolate stripes, through an unusual genetic condition and are sometimes bred intentionally as exotic zoo animals despite the risk of birth defects.
The overall population of tigers has suffered in India, driven by a demand for tiger skins and bones in China and the Far East for traditional medicines of the Orient.
Conservationists estimate that India is losing about 200 to 300 tigers a year due to poaching and other development projects, eroding the natural habitat of tigers and other animals.
Anxiety in Sudan over dealyed poll results.
Anxiety over delays in announcing the winner of Sudan’s elections and allegations of fraud have led to fears that what was mostly a peaceful election process still has the potential to cause instability.
Official results, scheduled for release on Tuesday (April 20), have been hampered by technical problems and delays in vote counting in the south.
Sudan is holding its first open elections in 24 years as part of a 2005 peace deal which ended more than two decades of north-south civil war.
Some residents in Khartoum hope the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) government will be able to contain any violence, should any ignite.
“The Government is expecting anything and is prepared for everything that could happen,” said Fatah Alrahman, a resident of Khartoum.
“We are assured that nothing will happen and nobody wants any violence here,” said Tawasol Ahmed, another resident of Khartoum.
Opposition groups in south Sudan accused soldiers and officials of tampering with ballots and intimidating polling agents during vote counting, in the latest accusations to mar landmark elections. Opposition supporters fear it is the government that will be the source of any violence.
“These elections can result in many new problems. We boycotted the elections because we were convinced they were going to be fraudulent. This delay points to how unclear it all is,” said Alamin Osman, another resident of Khartoum.
“The citizens do not possess any weapons to defend themselves if there is any violence. They can’t afford any weapons to resist the government. It is the government that is well-equipped,” added another resident, Yahia Hussein.
A wave of boycotts in the north tainted credibility there and participating opposition parties have already rejected poll results, alleging ballot-rigging.
Analysts say the polls are a test of democracy in Africa’s largest nation, particularly in its oil-producing south which is preparing for a referendum in January 2011 on whether to declare independence from the north.
“There are some rumours that when the declaration of the result come out, there be violence – in the northern Sudan particularly – because all the parties who boycott the election are contesting the results and they are contesting the voters because the voters are saying that the NCP have already rigged the elections,” said Yai Joseph, a political analyst in Khartoum.
Authorities in the north say “tension” is normal but not violence.
Khartoum’s governor, Abdulrahman al Kheder said the city he did not expect scenes of post-election violence witnessed in Kenya and Iran.
“We will not allow, with God’s help, Khartoum to become another Tehran or Nairobi. We are committed to this and this is our policy. The tension that we saw prior to the elections and during the elections will be the same now but they will pass without harm to anybody’s freedoms that are guaranteed by the Constitution,” said Kheder.
Observers have already said the elections did not meet international standards and the United States said on Monday (April 19) Sudan’s elections were neither free nor fair.
Govt rules out tax holidays for power sector, port trusts
The government on Friday rejected the demands for tax exemption on setting up power plants, state maritime boards and port trusts, saying it was inconsistent in a moderate tax regime.
“The representations were examined and were not found feasible considering the need to phase out exemption as these are inconsistent with a moderate tax regime,” Minister of State for Finance S.S. Palanimanickam told the Lok Sabha in reply to a query related to proposals from various states asking for restoration of tax exemption for port trusts and state maritime boards.
To a different query regarding tax holidays for setting up power plants, he said the power sector, particularly the private sector, has significantly matured, benefitting from direct tax holidays for almost two decades and there was no need for any extension.
“There is no proposal under consideration of the government to provide further extension of tax holidays for setting up of power plants in terms of direct taxes,” he said.
The minister added that tax incentives like exemptions and deductions are economically inefficient, inequitable, lead to revenue loss, breed rent-seeking behaviour, increase compliance costs and enhance the administrative burden.
“The case for tax incentives is further weakened in the existing tax regime of moderate tax rates. Therefore, as a matter of principle, government has taken a considered policy decision not to support tax incentives and to allow minimal exemptions and deductions,” he said.
However, in the power sector, as far as indirect taxes are concerned, all items of machinery and equipments required for initial setting up mega power projects are fully exempt from duties and customs.
All such goods domestically procured for initial setting up of mega power plants awarded on an international competitive bidding basis or tariff-based bidding are also fully exempt from payment of central excise duties.
“These exemptions are available without any specific time limits,” Mr. Palanimanickam said.
Defence Minister M.M.Pallam Raju says Army can only lend logistic aid to counter Maoists.
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India’s junior Defence Minister M M Pallam Raju observed that the Army as an establishment could only provide logistic support to the paramilitary forces in countering the Maoists insurgents.
He expressed these views on the sidelines of the function to mark the launch of bulk carrier m.v Good Pride at the Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) in the port city of Visakhapatnam in India’s southern state of Andhra Pradesh on Monday (April 12).
Raju said in the context of Maoist ultras who had fatally ambushed 76 personnel of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), a paramilitary outfit on Tuesday (April 06), near a dense forest area of Taadmetala village in Dantewada district of the central state of Chhattisgarh.
The attack was the deadliest by the Maoists in the four-decade-old insurgency and has highlighted the strong presence of rebels in large swathes of India, especially remote rural areas left out of the booming economy and also the lack of intelligence inputs.
The country’s armed forces have been reluctant to join the fight against the Maoists who have intensified their attacks over the last two years across eastern and central India.
Consequently, there was nationwide debate about roping in the army to counter the Maoists at which the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) is reported to have said that the army personnel can’t be deployed against the country’s citizens.
Further, the COAS had also noted that the Indian Army had not trained the 62nd Battalion of CRPF in guerrilla warfare and tacking ultras.
It was a section of this battalion that met the unfortunate fate of becoming the victims of the ambush laid by the Maoists.
“As a policy, there is no agreement to participate in the internal security situations but for logistical support to the paramilitary forces because there must be an implication that our forces (the army) cannot be used on our citizens,” said M M Pallam Raju, India’s junior Defence Minister.
Earlier, Raju accompanied by D Pureandeshwari, the federal junior Minister of Human Resources Development had launched m.v Good Pride, the first biggest 53,000 DWT Diamond series bulk carrier built by the HSL. This ship has been exclusively built for the Chennai-based Good Earth Maritime Limited.
Further in his interaction with the media persons, Raju mentioned that subsequent to the 2008 Mumbai attacks, security along the Indian coastline has been stepped up.
“After the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, Ministry of Defence has endeavoured to strengthen the coastal security as well as total surveillance mechanism. Lighthouse modernisation is also taken up. By strengthening the surveillance mechanism, we are sure the coastal security measures will be tightened up,” added Raju.
In November 2008, around ten heavily armed militants entered the financial capital Mumbai city by sea and opened fire indiscriminately killing over 166 people.
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Text of Home Minister’s statement ON Telangana
Following is the text of the statement issued by P. Chidambaram, Union Home Minister, in New Delhi on Wednesday (December 23, 2009):
“At a meeting of all political parties convened by the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh on December 7, 2009, a consensus emerged on the question of formation of a separate State of Telangana. A statement was made on behalf of the Central Government on December 9, 2009 on receipt of the minutes of the meeting.
“However, after the statement, the situation in Andhra Pradesh has altered. A large number of political parties are divided on the issue. There is a need to hold wide-ranging consultations with all political parties and groups in the State. Government of India will take steps to involve all concerned in the process.
“Meanwhile, it is necessary that peace and harmony are restored in Andhra Pradesh and the State Government is allowed to focus on governance and development.
“The Central Government appeals to the people of the different regions of Andhra Pradesh and to all political parties and students to withdraw their agitations and maintain peace, harmony and brotherhood.”———-
Flood Threat To gunturu & Vijayawada
When it rains in Karnataka, it’s deluge in Andhra Pradesh. Especially when the bosses in Bangalore have no sensitivity about happenings in the neighbouring state. This in a nutshell describes the flood havoc in AP caused by continuous massive inflows of river water from the neighbour. Late on Saturday night, the scene was shifting away from the marooned Kurnool district to downstream Krishna and Guntur districts that face the brunt of the deluge. This was even as the official death toll in Kurnool and Mahbubnagar districts rose to 33. But this is grossly underestimated with no official machinery in place to count the deaths. Since morning there have been an exodus of people from Kurnool town.
Chief minister K Rosaiah informed the media on Saturday evening that he had requested his Karnataka counterpart B S Yeddyurappa twice during the day and that the latter had given him an assurance that the surging waters of Tungabhadra and Krishna rivers “would be arrested” at the reservoirs within that state. But this was a promise observed only in breach.
The Srisailam reservoir received 14.52 lakh cusecs of waters from the neighbouring state on Saturday while water from Almatti contributed to another four lakh cusecs. With the water level at Srisailam hovering at full 10.5 feet over the full storage level of 885 feet, the irrigation officials had no choice but to allow the entire inflow to go downstream.
As a result, Nagarjunasagar dam downstream received 14.52 lakh cusecs of water and in turn released 9 lakh cusecs of water further downstream to Prakasam barrage. By Saturday-Sunday midnight, the barrage is expected to receive as much as 10 lakh cusecs of water, a factor that is keeping the residents of Vijayawada
city and Krishna and Guntur districts on tenterhooks as they apprehend massive flooding due to the excess flow of water. The last time Prakasam barrage received 10 lakh cusecs of water was 45 years ago in 1964. While Rosaiah told the media that there was no danger to the Srisailam dam structure, power officials told STOI that the 770-MW hydro power house at Srisailam is under water and that it will be only by January that it can be restarted. The state government said that Kurnool and Mahbubnagar districts are slowly limping back to normalcy. In all, 3.83 lakh people were evacuated from the affected districts on Saturday by deploying 254 boats, almost 1,000 swimmers, 550 army personnel and 6 helicopters. The authorities have set up 227 relief camps to accommodate 2.75 lakh displaced people. Nearly 4 lakh food packets and another 4 lakh water packets were distributed to the affected people. Apart from sending a team of 250 doctors, voluntary agencies have been pressed into service for the relief and rescue work, Rosaiah said.
The government also announced an ex gratia of Rs one lakh each to the next of kin of the dead, Rs 4000 for each fully damaged house and Rs 3,000 for each partially damaged house. In addition, the affected families have also been promised free supply of 20 kg of rice and five litres of kerosene. Collectors in the flood affected areas have been given discretionary powers to extend the Dasara holidays for schools if need be.
Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy Funeral
Lakhs of people paid their last respects to Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy when his body was taken round the State capital and later laid to rest in his Idupalapaya Estate, a favourite sojourn of YSR, in his native Kadapa district.
Tearful mourners thronged the sprawling estate nestled between hills when YSR’s body was buried with state honours keeping with the decision of the Union government. Army jawans carried the coffin from the helipad and it was lowered into the grave amid prayers by Christian priests and a gun salute by the State police.
Ms. Vijayalaxmi, wife of the charismatic leader, son Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and daughter Sharmila led the mourners in placing handfuls of soil on the coffin, while YSR’s supporters standing at a distance raised slogans. YSR had personally supervised the raising of orchards and teak plants in the estate, but surrendered nearly 1,000 acres of land following a controversy over the legality of its ownership.
The crowds were so huge that the well-laid out arrangements went for a toss and Chief Minister K. Rosaiah was himself caught in the melee. He was escorted to safety by the former Home Minister, K. Jana Reddy. Telugu Desam president N. Chandrababu Naidu, APCC president D. Srinivas, Praja Rajyam chief K. Chiranjeevi, several ex-Ministers, MPs and MLAs were among the thousands who could not attend the funeral due to massive traffic jams. Mr. Naidu returned from a point 10 km away from Idupalapaya having been held up for over three hours.
UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi, Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram, BJP leader L. K. Advani, the former Prime Minister, H.D. Deve Gowda, a host of Union Ministers and Chief Ministers, including Sheila Dixit, Ashok Gehlot and Ashok Chavan, earlier paid floral tributes to YSR, whom many described as “a man of the masses.” Normal life throughout Andhra Pradesh came to a standstill even as the government declared a holiday and ordered that the national tricolour be flown at half mast.
Ms. Gandhi and Dr. Singh drove straight from the airport to YSR’s residence where they met his family members and consoled them. A while later, the body was taken to the Congress headquarters, Gandhi Bhavan, and then to the Lal Bahadur stadium before being flown to Idupalapaya. Throughout the day, Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy responded to the gestures of the mourners with folded hands while standing atop an Army vehicle towing the gun carriage.
India’s nuclear submarine will be launched on July 26 at Visakhapatnam
The Eastern Naval Command at Visakhapatnam is gearing up for a unique milestone in India’s defence history on July 26 wherein Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will launch the indigenously-built nuclear-powered submarine that is tentatively named INS Arihant.
July 26 is celebrated as ‘Vijay Diwas’ which marks India’s triumph over Pakistani intruders in Kargil. Launch of the indigenously-built nuclear-powered submarine has been planned for July 26 to coincide with Vijay Diwas. A host of Navy and defence officials are expected to grace the occasion.
Though the Navy authorities haven’t yet officially confirmed the programme, A senior Navy official told that everything related to the event was being taken care of by Navy higher officials in New Delhi.
“Right now we have no information about the event as such,” the Navy official added. Said to be built under the Advanced Technology Vessels (ATV) Programme at a cost of 2.9 billion USD at the Naval Dockyard in Visakha patnam, the 6,000-tonne submarine will be put on sea trials for two years before being commissioned into full service. In the two years, the submarine will also undergo harbour trials of its nuclear reactor and other systems.
India previously used a leased Russian-built nuclear submarine INS Chakra under then Capt R N Ganesh from January 1988 to January 1991.
With the launch of the indigenously-built nuclear-powered submarine, India will join the exclusive club of US, Russia, China, France and the UK with similar capabilities. The ATV will give India the additional power of a nuclear weapon strike from the sea, apart from surface and air which it currently possesses.
The ATV has been developed jointly by the Indian Navy and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The nuclear reactor of the submarine has reportedly been developed at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam, while the vessel is based on the Russian Akula-I class submarine.
Chinese students learn yoga in andhraprades
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In 2008,Over a dozen Chinese students learn yoga as a part of a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Institute of Yoga and Consciousness of Andhra University and Planet Yoga of Hong Kong in a bid to tap lucrative yoga market in China. For the students of Planet Yoga of Hong Kong, yoga is not just a way of life but means a lot more to them.
Lok Sabha polls 2009
Lok Sabha polls will be held in five phases from April 16 to May 13, the Election Commission announced on Monday.
The five phased polls will be held in Jammu and Kashmir and Uttar Pradesh while Bihar will have four-phased elections, Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami told a press conference here.
Maharashtra and West Bengal will witness three phased polls while Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and Punjab will have elections in two phases. Remaining 15 states and seven union territories will have one-day polling. The counting of votes will take place on May 16 and the 15th Lok Sabha will be constituted by June 2.
In the first phase, 124 constituencies will go to polls on April 16. 141 constituencies will witness balloting in the second phase on April 23, 107 seats in the third phase on April 30, 85 seats in fourth phase on May 7 and 86 constituencies in the last phase on May 13.
Elections to assemblies in Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim and Orissa will be held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha polls.
Photo electoral rolls will be used for the first time in 522 out of the 543 constituencies, Gopalaswami said.
As many as 499 constituencies have been redrawn in the delimitation exercise.
Delimitation could not be undertaken in Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Jharkhand, Manipur and Nagaland, Gopalaswami said.
At least 71.4 crore will be the number of eligible voters, an increase of 4.3 crore over the 2004 figure of 67.1 crore.
The Commission will be using around 11 lakh electronic voting machines for the exercise to be held in eight lakh polling stations.
Around 40 lakh civil staff and 21 lakh security personnel will be deployed for the smooth conduct of elections, Gopalaswami said.
AR Rahman visits ‘Dargah’ in Kadapa
After two wins at the Oscars, music maestro AR Rahman visited a dargah today (February 27), to pay homage to his almighty.
The music maestro visited a Madrasa-a-Ameeniya in Kadapa in Andhra Pradesh on the day of his arrival in India (February 26).
Double Oscar winner Allah Rakha Rahman on Thursday dedicated the golden statuettes he won for his score in “Slumdog Millionaire” to Indian artistes and their aspirations and said he was only their representative. “This is an award for Indian artistes and their aspirations. I am their representative,” Rahman told reporters in Chennai.
Lava-Kusa (1963)
The story of the post-Sri Rama coronation (pattabhishekam), well known as ‘Uttara Ramayanam’, moves around the twins born to Sri Rama and Sita, during her exile. Sri Rama sends Sita to forests, basing on a comment made by a washerman. Sita gives birth to twins Lava and Kusa. They learn from Valmiki how great was Sri Rama and then sing his story as a ballad. Later they confront him, his brothers and Anjaneya as a result of halting the horse sent by Sri Rama as part of his Aswamedha Yagam. It ends with the union of Rama with his twin sons, but he gets separated from his wife Sita, who enters into her mother – earth.
Devaki Bose in Bengal made the first ever-Indian film on this subject, with Prithviraj Kapoor playing Sri Rama. This was made under the banner of East India Film Company. This was based on a stage play that was popular by then. C Pullaiah who was also working there was attracted to this subject. The Film Company wanted Pullaiah to make this in Telugu. The script is same for both. Set material like chariots and costumes are same. Balijepalli wrote the script in Telugu. He thought of employing a new actor who carries some feminine charm, as a sloka in Ramayana described Sri Rama so. They scanned the Telugu theatre and found Parupalli Subba Rao, playing Radha in the stage play ‘Radha-Krishna’. Sriranjani (Senior) was chosen to play Sita. They also scanned for artistes to play the three brothers of Sri Rama, having features a bit nearer to Parupalli, to give an impression that they were all born to one father. This was all 1934 story. The film was a hit.
Then the same subject was again made in Geva color 24 years later, in 1958, by Lalitha Sivajyothi’s A Shankara Reddy. But Modern Theatres’ Tamil film ‘Alibaba and forty thieves’ was the first South Indian film in Geva color. Telugu cinema was behind in this aspect. Better late than never was the moto of Shankara Reddy and decided to make this in Geva color. Lava–Kusa is recorded today as the first color film in Telugu film history. NT Rama Rao as Rama, Anjali Devi as Sita, Nagaiah as Valmiki suited most to these roles. Sadasiva Brahmam was the dialogue writer and Ghantasala took charge of composing music. Samudrala and Kosaraju penned songs. ‘Jayamu Jayamu’, ‘Ye Nimushaniki Yemi Jaruguno’ and ‘Ramanna Ramudu Kodanda Ramudu’ were Kosaraju’s lyrics that won popularity overnight. Ghantasala’s music score is one of his best efforts. It earned the admiration of Nagaiah, who was listening to these songs in the office of Shankara Reddy. It is said that he predicted that this film would be a great hit.
Vauhini Studios was the choice to make this magnum opus. There was a big garden in Ramavaram, opposite MGR’s house, where the set of Valmiki Ashram was laid. The film was made in Telugu and Tamil languages simultaneously. NTR, Anjali Devi and Nagaiah figured in both the versions. The script too is the same except that Telugu film has many verses. However, the film was to be halted suddenly because of early commitments of the artistes to play in other films. The production of Lava-Kusa was postponed, for almost four years, after the completion of eight thousand feet edited version. Another twelve thousand feet film was yet to be shot. The sequences set in the Ashram was completed. But Sri Rama’s scenes in the huge palace were pending. The climax was also due. Producer Shankara Reddy got into financial troubles. He was upset. But he was a man of courage and wanted to complete this project. By the time he could collect the needed money to re-launch the production, another problem arose. Director Pullaiah fell sick. He could not even move. Who would complete this film was the big question. Sundarlal Nahata, its distributor suggested the name of Pullaiah’s son CS Rao. The latter met BN Reddy who was planning to make a film on the subject of Sita. CS Rao requested him to take up the making of the remaining part of Lava-Kusa. BN politely refused and advised CS Rao to continue the work of his father, as ‘the film belongs to you and to your father, you will succeed’. Rao completed the film, which became a history in Telugu cinema.
But this gap of nearly five years made some artistes look old – especially the boys who played Lava and Kusa. You wont miss that when you watch them taller in some scenes and shorter in other scenes. The Tamil version faced a different kind of problem. Lava’s role was given to a girl. By the time the film was restarted, she grew into a young woman. Therefore Lava cannot be shown bare-bodied any more. These characters of the twins in Telugu are shown just wearing a small cloth covering their shoulders. But in Tamil, the cloth was replaced with deer’s skin on the shoulders of both Lava and Kusa. It was released in the year 1963. The great effort and the relentless struggle of the producer Shankara Reddy and CS Rao’s skillful handling on the footsteps of his father bore fruit. The film was a great hit.
Pulichintala
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy inaugurated the Rs 11-crore Pulichintala bridge project in Krishna district.
satyam s news (off Maytas deal)
Even as Satyam’s deal to buy Maytas had to be hastily annulled in the wee hours of Wednesday morning as the company lost 52% on its ADR
listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), a credibility crisis has begun to grip India’s fouth largest IT company. “How can we trust the management of this company and its board of directors after it tried to enter into a deal that prime facie would benefit only the promoters who just own 8% of Satyam ? We have to examine whether the management needs to be changed,” cried analysts in a reflection of the deep anguish caused by the now stymied move.
Maytas CEO’s arrest
Infra gave a guarded reaction on Wednesday to the arrest of its CEO P.K. Madhav along with K.S. Raju in connection with a case of Nagarjuna Finance Company. The company said that its business would not be affected by the turn of events. CFO of the company V.V.R. Raju said: “Maytas Infras is not connected with the action taken on P.K. Madhav, CEO. The case in question is related to his association as a professional with a different organisation several years back. ” –
ys jagan rise from Kadapa
The Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, suggested that his son, Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy, could contest from the Ka-dapa Lok Sabha seat during the forthcoming polls. “It is for the high command to finalise his candidature; as far as I know he is aspiring to become the MP from Kadapa,” Dr Reddy said. The seat is represented by Mr Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy, the Chief Minister’s brother.
In the meantime, Dr Reddy said, his son would campaign for the party as he draws good crowds. In comments to the electronic media, Dr Reddy confirmed a report in these columns that 72 sitting MLAs would be denied renomination. “We will utilise their services and involve them in party work,” he said, adding that the dropped MLAs would believe his promise.
TD leader opposes
The Telugu Desam (TD) leader, Mr R. Raja-gopal Reddy, said that only some leaders were supporting the formation of a Telangana state for political benefit and people were not demanding it. Speaking to newsmen here on Friday, he said that the Andhra state was formed in 1953 on the basis of linguistic states.
Mr Rajagopal Reddy said that Mr Uppunuthala Purushottam Reddy and Mr G. Venkataswamy had not bothered about a Telangana state when they were ministers. Mr Rajagopal Reddy said that the state would be further divided if a Telangana state was formed. He said that if necessary, the chief minister’s post should be given to leaders from Telangana, instead of dividing the state.
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Lord Venkateswara Vaikunta Ekadesi by SVS seva samiti
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Lord Venkateswara Vaikunta Ekadesi by SVS seva samiti
AP minister misuses power for daughter’s wedding
Andhra Pradesh Minister Botsa Satyanarayana Rao is being accused of misusing his position and utilising the service of government officials for the wedding of his daughter. Botsa Satyanarayana Rao is the Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee Chief. He is also the Minister of Transport in the Andhra Government. He is a sitting MLA and a former MP from Bobbili. The marriage of Botsa Satyanarayana Rao’s daughter brought the entire district to a standstill. Throwing caution to the wind Botsa blatantly misused public funds and public authority. It was indeed a show of extravagance and pomp.
Government officials at minister’s service
It is being called the mega wedding of Andra Pradesh. Nearly 700 constables, 35 DSPs and 120 SHOs were reportedly deployed to ensure the wedding of Congress chief Botsa Satyanarayana’s daughter went off smoothly. Spilling into crores, the wedding has been called by some as the mega wedding of the year.
Anusha, a medical student, tied the knot with the scion of a realtor group, Somi on Friday night. The star-studded guest line-up included ministers Chiranjeevi, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Pallam Raju along with governor ESL Narasimhan, K Rosaiah and Karnataka governor HR Bharadwaj.
misusing his position and utilising the service of government officials
Andhra Pradesh Minister Botsa Satyanarayana Rao is being accused of misusing his position and utilising the service of government officials for the wedding of his daughter. Botsa Satyanarayana Rao is the Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee Chief. He is also the Minister of Transport in the Andhra Government. He is a sitting MLA and a former MP from Bobbili. The marriage of Botsa Satyanarayana Rao’s daughter brought the entire district to a standstill. Throwing caution to the wind Botsa blatantly misused public funds and public authority. It was indeed a show of extravagance and pomp.
minister misuses power for daughter’s wedding
minister misuses power for daughter’s wedding
Vizianagaram (AP), November 03, 2012
Last Updated: 20:01 IST(3/11/2012)
Controversy is not new to Andhra Pradesh transport minister and state Congress president Botsa Satyanarayana.
Botsa, who has been in the eye of storm on earlier occasions including alleged mafia activities, does not seem to shy away from courting controversies. Now, he is
accused of abusing his official position for the wedding of his daughter Anusha, a medico, in his native Vizianagaram on Friday night.
State governor ESL Narasimhan, chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and several other ministers flew in a special chartered aircraft from Hyderabad while Union minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and others came from New Delhi for the wedding.
Governors of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, K Rosaiah and HR Bhardwaj, were in attendance along with a host of political bigwigs from the state.
All star hotels in Visakhapatnam, which served as the base camp for the VVIP guests, were booked while a number of SUVs were “seized” by the transport authorities for the service of their boss.
Alleging that the minister has abused his official position for the “lavish wedding”, former Union power secretary EAS Sarma wanted to know who had footed the bill.
nbvfty
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Rupee saved is a Rupee that earns
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Rupee saved is a Rupee that earns
Kotak Mahindra Bank has launched a new advertisement campaign which highlights the bank’s attractive customer value proposition for its Savings Bank (SB) Accounts manifested in higher than normal return on account balance
Virat Diwanji, Executive Vice-President, Head-Branch Banking, Kotak Mahindra said that the advertisement featuring ‘Subbu’, (played by versatile Bollywood actor Vinay Pathak) an easy to relate, next door character, who epitomizes smart money management, is at the heart of Kotak Mahindra Bank’s customer value proposition. In the advertisement, ‘Subbu’ in his inimitable style brings to life the premise that ‘a rupee saved could earn up to 6%’, denoting profitability and convenience for the customer who chooses to open an SB account with Kotak Mahindra Bank. The advertisement does this by drawing attention to how banking with Kotak Mahindra Bank ‘increases’ customers’
Launching of Vizag Go Global
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Air India’s proposal to provide a link between Visakhapatnam and Dubai has evoked great enthusiasm not only among the people in Visakhapatnam but also those living in Dubai.This is seen as the first step for other airline operators to commence international operations from the “destination city” and exploit the potential of the region.
India’s Muslim outfit to observe ‘6th Dec’ as black day
United Forum against Hindutva Fascism (UFAHF), a radical Muslim outfit announces to observe 6th December, the day when hard-line Hindu activists demolished Babri mosque, as black day in Hyderabad city, provincial capital of India’s southern Andhra Pradesh state.
The UFAHF on Saturday (December 4) stated that they have declared 6th December as black day to show solidarity against the fascist Hindu groups, who demolished the Babri mosque on this day in 1992.
“We would like to appeal to the local people that they should observe 6th December as a black day to strengthen our fight against Hindu radical groups,” said M. Raju, Forum, Convenor.
According to Lateef Md. Khan, the judgment delivered on September 30 this year by the Lucknow High Court is equivalent to any judgment that is passed in a feudal society.
“We are observing the black day against the court judgment that was delivered on September 30 on Babri Masjid (Mosque). That judgment dose not satisfies the Muslims. Moreover, it seems more like a judgment delivered in a feudal society,” Khan said.
Khan further added that there is hardly any evidence which can prove that Babri mosque was built on the birthplace of Ram (Hindu God).
The forum also demands the mosque to be rebuilt again.
UFAHF would also organise rally on December 6 to observe the day.
Babri Mosque located in Ayodhya city of Faizabad district of India’s northern Uttar Pradesh state was built by Mughal king Babar in 1527.
In 1992 activists of various radical Hindu outfits destroyed the mosque, provoking a inter religion riot involving around 1, 50, 000 people. Soon the rage spread all over the country and more than 2000 people got killed during the riots in major cities of India including Mumbai.
On September 30, a three-judge Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court had pronounced its judgment that the 2.77 acre disputed land in Ayodhya be divided into three parts among Hindus and Muslims. It held that the place where the makeshift temple of Lord Rama currently exists belongs to the Hindus.
Non-profit organisation demand for schedule caste categorisation in andhrapradesh
The members of non profit organisation, Madiga Reservation Porata Samithi (MRPS) which is stands for human rights and dignity of scheduled caste, staged a protest rally in India’s southern state of Andhra Pradesh against the government and demanded to categorise them into Schedule Caste on Saturday (December 04).
The president of organisation, Krishna Madiga, told media that their demands should be fulfilled before the parliament session ends else they would proceed to the residence of state chief, Kiran Kumar Reddy.
“Before the end of the parliament session, our demand should be fulfilled. We had demanded to take us to New Delhi. If they agree to fulfill our demand by 1 O’clock, then we will go home peacefully otherwise we will go to chief minister’s (Kiran Kumar Reddy) residence. Vara Prasad (education minister of India’s southern state of Andhra Pradesh) had talked to the chief minister to take us to New Delhi,” added Madiga.
The organisation has been fighting for the categorization of scheduled castes since 1994.
Andhra news online 