millenniumpost.in

SUNDAYmillenniumpostVOL. 4, ISSUE 7 | Sunday, 7 January, 2018 | Kolkata | Pages 16 | Rs 3.00PUBLISHED FROM DELHI & KOLKATA

RNI NO.: WBENG/2015/65962

STAR POWER

Superstars Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth wave to fans as they arrive at an event in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Saturday AP/PTI

NO HALF TRUTHS

SECOND FODDER SCAM CASE

DHIRENDRA KUMAR

RANCHI: RJD chief Lalu Prasad was on Saturday sentenced to three-and-a-half years in jail by a CBI special court in a fodder scam case relating to fraudu-lent withdrawal of Rs 89.27 lakh from the Deoghar Treasury 21 years ago.

CBI court judge Shiv Pal Singh, who had convicted Prasad, along with ten others on December 23, also imposed a fine of Rs 10 lakh on him for two cases in the scam.

He was fined Rs 5 lakh for each case, failing which he would serve another six months in jail, a CBI counsel said.

The court had convicted Prasad for offences of cheating, along with crimi-nal conspiracy, under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Prevention of Cor-ruption Act.

The scam is related to withdrawal of Rs 89.27 lakh from the Deogarh Treasury between 1990 and 1994 when Prasad was the chief minister of Bihar.

The 69-year-old RJD supremo, in a written plea on Friday, had sought leni-ency from the CBI court citing illness and old age, according to his counsel Chitta-ranjan Prasad.

The RJD went into a huddle imme-diately after the pronouncement of the

sentence.This is the second fodder scam case

in which Prasad has been jailed.He was sent to prison for five years on

September 30, 2013.The Supreme Court granted Prasad

bail after having spent over two-and-a-half months in jail.

Lalu Yadav has said his conviction is the result of political vendetta. After the sentencing, Lalu Yadav tweeted: “Rather

than practising BJP’s Simple Rule - “Fol-low us or We will Fix you”. I will die happily fixing myself for Social justice, harmony & equality.”

Tejashwi Yadav said, “He was chosen (by the people), and he’s in jail... those who had not been elected is now in gov-ernment... Amit Shah was scared of Lalu.” The former Deputy Chief Minister is in the opposition after Nitish Kumar dis-solved his alliance with Lalu Yadav and

the Congress and partnered with the BJP.A bail plea will also be moved in the

high court, Tejashwi told a press confer-ence at the residence of his mother and former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi.

“Lalu is not the name of a person but an ideology. We, his followers, will not be cowed down,” said the 28-year-old Leader of Opposition in the state assembly.

Tejashwi, against whom the CBI

court has issued a contempt notice for criticising it’s December 23 judgement whereby Lalu was convicted, said, “The lower court has pronounced its judge-ment which we respect. We have full faith in the judiciary”.

“We will study the judgement and then decide on what legal options to exer-cise,” he added.

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi said the CBI court had upheld the charges he and others had levelled against the RJD supremo before the Patna High Court.

Senior BJP leader Shahnawaz Hus-sain said, “Bihar’s people have finally got justice”.

The sentencing, which was expected last week, had been deferred twice. On Wednesday, the judge said they would proceed with the arguments on the sen-tencing in alphabetical order.

The fodder scam involved the embez-zlement of more than Rs. 970 crore in government funds during Lalu Yadav’s term as the Chief Minister of undivided Bihar from 1990 to 1997.

Seeking to distance itself from cor-ruption-tainted former Bihar chief min-ister Lalu Prasad, Congress on Saturday said that the party is in alliance with the RJD, and not any “particular individual”.

LALU SENTENCED TO 3.5 YEARS IN PRISON, TO MOVE HIGH COURT

KAMALA MILLS FIRE: Ex-Pune top cop’s pub owner son arrested

MPOST BUREAU

MUMBAI: The police on Sat-urday arrested Yug Pathak, the son of a retired IPS officer and one of the owners of the Mojo’s Bistro pub, in connec-tion with the deadly fire at the Kamala Mills compound here on December 29, which had claimed 14 lives.

Officials from the N M Joshi Marg police station arrested Pathak, the son of retired director general of police and former Pune police commissioner K K Pathak, the police said.

On Friday, the Mumbai

Fire Brigade, in its preliminary probe report on the fire, which had engulfed Mojo’s Bistro and the adjacent “1 Above” pub at the Kamala Mills compound in Lower Parel on December 29, had said the fire possibly started at Mojo’s Bistro due to the flying embers from a hookah.

The police on Saturday booked Pathak and his part-ner, Nagpur- based business-man Yug Tulli, under IPC sections 304 (culpable homi-cide not amounting to mur-der), 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering life and personal safety of others)

and other relevant provisions.The police had recorded

Pathak’s statement in the case earlier.

The names of Pathak and Tulli were added to the FIR, which was lodged on Decem-ber 29 against the owners of “1 Above” — Kripesh Sanghavi, Jigar Sanghavi and Abhijeet Mankar — said a police official.

“As of now, we have arrested Pathak, while his partner Tulli has been sum-moned as he is also wanted in the case,” senior police inspec-tor, attached to the NM Joshi Marg police station, Ahmed Pathan said.

BJP guilty on many such counts: Cong on Rahul noticeOUR CORRESPONDENT

NEW DELHI: Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday sent a privi-lege notice against Rahul Gandhi to Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan for fur-ther action, holding that “prima facie there is an issue of privilege”, sources said.

Naidu sent the notice to the Lok Sabha speaker for further action as Gandhi is a member of the Lower House.

A complaint against Gandhi is already pending before the Ethics Committee of the Lok Sabha, chaired by BJP veteran L K Advani after the speaker forwarded the same to it.

BJP leader and Rajya Sabha member Bhupinder Yadav had given the privilege notice against Congress President Gan-dhi over a tweet put out by him in which he questioned the authority of the Rajya Sabha and questioned its decision.

“On examination, prima facie there

is an issue of privilege,” Naidu said while referring the privilege notice to the Lok Sabha speaker, the sources said.

Yadav had alleged that there is a “breach of privilege” by Gandhi as he used deroga-tory words against Finance Minister and Leader of the House Arun Jaitley, by twist-ing his name.

Defending Rahul Gandhi over his tweet against Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, the Congress on Saturday said if it attracted a privilege notice, then the BJP should be held guilty on many such counts.

Hitting back at the ruling party, senior Congress leader Anand Sharma cited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks against his predecessor Manmohan Singh and Vice President Hamid Ansari during the recent Gujarat polls.

“If it comes to privilege, ministers in the government have made many such com-ments which will attract privilege notices. The prime minister made inappropriate remarks against people who held consti-tutional posts.

“Later the finance minister said the prime minister did not mean what he said. If political comments and tweets have to become privilege matters then the ruling party stands exposed and shall invite many breaches of privilege notices,” Sharma told reporters.

Gandhi had tweeted: Dear Mr Jaitlie - thank you for reminding India that our PM never means what he says or says what he means #BJPLies.”

NEW DELHI: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the resilience of the country’s banking system is under test and banks must restore their cred-ibility and work for the society as taxpayers are making sacrifices to keep them afloat.

Jaitley said it is taxpayers’ money which is being infused into the ailing banking system and now the responsibility is on the sector to improve health to help in pushing towards a robust economy.

The minister, while addressing UCO Bank’s Platinum Jubilee event here, said “the resilience of the banking system is under test”, with the sector facing severe challenges.

“It is extremely important for everyone, the government to do its bit, Parliament to support the government in doing that job, the employ-ees and management of banks to ensure that we restore the most important asset of the bank that is credibility. And that holds true to the banking system across the country,” Jaitley said.

NEW DELHI: The Income Tax Department on Saturday relaxed norms for levy of Minimum Alternate Tax (MAT) on companies facing cor-porate insolvency proceedings. As per Section 115JB of the Income Tax Act, MAT is levied on book profit after deducting the amount of loss brought forward or unabsorbed depreciation, whichever is less.

“With effect from assessment year 2018-19 (FY2017-18), in case of a company, against whom an application for corporate insolvency resolu-tion process has been admitted by the adjudi-cating authority under...the IBC, the amount of total loss brought forward (including unabsorbed depreciation) shall be allowed to be reduced from the book profit for the purposes of levy of MAT under section 115JB of the Act,” it said. MPOST

Taxpayers making sacrifices to keep banks afloat: FM

CBDT relaxes norms for MAT on firms facing insolvency

IED blast in Kashmir, four policemen killed

MPOST BUREAU

SRINAGAR; Four policemen on patrol duty were killed on Friday in an improvised explosive device blast by militants in a market in Sopore township, the first IED attack in Kash-mir since 2015.

The four personnel belonging to Indian Reserve Police-3rd battalion were on law and order duty in the township in north Kashmir, 50 km from here, when the IED planted by militants in the market, which was shut due to a separatist-sponsored strike, went off, police said.

Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) mili-tant outfit has taken responsibility for the attack, but the Kashmir police said it would have to verify the claim.

The slain personnel were identi-fied as assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Irshad Ahmad - a resident of Doda, Constable Ghulam Nabi - a resident of Rohama Rafiaabad area of Baram-ulla, Constable Parvaiz Ahmad - a resident of Vilgam, Handwara and Constable Mohammad Amin - a resi-dent of Sogam, Kupwara.

Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Munir Khan said the use of IEDs by militants had ended since 2015 and the security forces will have to chalk out a new strategy in the wake of the blast.

Denouncing the killings, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Meh-

booba Mufti urged the people to work shoulder to shoulder to break the “vortex of violence” in the state.

These young policemen were killed when they were on duty to pro-tect the people in the town. It is highly unfortunate, Mufti said.

Former chief minister Omar Abdullah tweeted: “Unfortunate news from #Sopore. May the four brave J&K police personnel killed in the line of duty today rest in peace.”

Giving details of the incident, ADGP Munir Khan told reporters that shops were closed and vehicles were off roads due to the strike in Sopore when the militants ambushed the police team.

A wreath-laying ceremony was held at District Police Lines Sopore to pay homage to the slain personnel.

11 bodies recovered from avalanche site in Jammu & Kashmir

MPOST BUREAU

SRINAGAR: Eleven bodies have been recovered from a spot in north Kashmir’s Kup-wara district where a passen-ger vehicle was hit by a huge avalanche of snow, an official said on Saturday.

A passenger vehicle was hit by a huge avalanche of snow at Khooni Nallah near Sadhan Top on the Kupwara-Tang-dhar road on Friday.

“Ten bodies were recov-ered today from the avalanche site,” deputy commissioner Kupwara Khalid Jehangir said.

The body of a Beacon offi-cer was recovered Friday night after rescue operations were launched, Jehangir said, add-ing that a total of eleven people were killed in the avalanche.

Three people have been pulled out alive from the ava-lanche site, he said.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti expressed grief and sorrow over the incident, an official spokesman said.

The chief minister con-

veyed her sympathies to the bereaved families, he said.

The spokesman said the chief minister directed the Kupwara district adminis-tration to ensure all possi-ble medical assistance to the injured.

Meanwhile, Minister for

Disaster Management, Relief Rehabilitation and Recon-struction and Floriculture, Javaid Mustafa Mir, on Satur-day announced a compensa-tion under the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF) of Rs 4 lakh each to the next of kin of those killed in the snow ava-lanche, an official spokesper-son said.

The minister also announced a compensation of Rs 12,600 each to the injured, he said, adding that the min-ister expressed his deepest condolences to the bereaved families and assured them of every possible support from the state government.

Mir also issued directions to provide better medical facil-ities to the injured, the spokes-man said.

FIRST IED ATTACK SINCE 2015

Senior police officers carry the coffin of slain police constable Mohammad Amin PTI

HIGHLIGHTS »Lalu Yadav’s lawyers had argued for the shortest jail term - 3 years - in view of his health »Lalu Yadav has said his conviction is the result of political vendetta »The sentencing, which was expected last week, had been deferred twice

Rather than practising BJP’s simple rule - “Follow us or we will fix you”. I will die happily fixing myself for social justice, harmony & equality — Lalu Prasad

CITY PAGE 3OC SEVERELY INJURED IN MOB ATTACK, ADMITTED TO ICU

NATION PAGE 4INTENSE COLD GRIPS N INDIA; FOG DISRUPTS RAIL, AIR TRAFFIC

FILM PAGE 16JACQ-POT QUEEN!

In today’s paper

...

Don’t be misled by making money and career your life POPE FRANCIS

CITY

METRO TO RUN WITHOUT MOTORMAN 3

NATION

SHAH TO VISIT POLL-BOUND TRIPURA 4

BUSINESS

SUSHMA FOR DEEPER TIES WITH ASEAN 5

INTERNATIONAL

ALL OPTIONS TO DEAL WITH PAK: WH 6

SPORT

PANDYA HELPS INDIA STAY AFLOAT 7

FOR ADVERTISING kindly contact at 9810195709

or mpostdelhi@gmail.com

FOR SUBSCRIPTION kindly contact at 8800854665

or millenniumpost.circulation@gmail.com

Massive fire at Mumbai’s Cinevista

studio, 2 serials were being shot

MPOST BUREAU

MUMBAI: A massive fire has broken out at Cinevista stu-dio in east central Mumbai on Saturday evening. Seven fire engines and four water tank-ers are at the studio - located in Kanjurmarg - trying to battle the blaze.

At the time of the incident, two TV serials were being shot at the studio - Bepanaah and Haasil. All actors and crew members exited the studio and are reported to be safe.

Videos on Twitter show the fire covering a massive area around the studio with smoke billowing into the sky, which could be seen even from a few kilometres away.

The fire department says it received a call at 8:07 pm and the fire engines reached the spot at 8:25 pm.

The blaze, according to preliminary reports, started at a generator in the studio. It is reported to be a level 3 fire, which calls for immediate evacuation and access only to firefighters.

“MILLENNIUM POST”, Printed & Published by Jaiyendra Kumar Sharma on behalf of Front Row Media Pvt. Ltd. and printed at Aaj Kaal Publishers Pvt. Ltd., BP-7, Sector-V, Bidhan Nagar, Kolkata - 700 091 and published from Tivoli Court 1A, Ballygunge Circular Road, Block-A, Flat-94, 1st Floor, Kolkata-700 019. Editor: Durbar Ganguly, Executive Editor: Arya Rudra. Email: durbarganguly@gmail.com, mpostcal@gmail.com. For marketing, contact: 9836292306, 9830532306. For editorial, call: 9836072100

Although every possible care and caution has been taken to avoid errors or omissions, this publication is being sold on the condition and understanding that information given in this publication is merely for reference and must not be taken as having authority of or binding in any way on the writers, editors, publishers, and printers and sellers who do not owe any responsibility for any damage or loss to any person, a purchaser of this publication or not for the result of any action taken on the basis of this work. All disputes are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of competent court and forums in Delhi/New Delhi only.

PVR - Diamond Plaza Mall, Jessore Road9:00AM 11:15PMPVR - Mani Square Mall, EM Bypass

9:00AM 10:45PM Carnival Cinemas - Down Town Mall, Salt Lake 9:55AM 12:05PM 7:20PM 11:00PMCinepolis - Acropolis Mall, Rajdanga Road12:25PM 2:50PM 8:10PMCinepolis - Lake Mall, Kalighat9:40AM 5:40PM 10:55PMINOX - City Center 2 Mall, Rajarhat9:00AM 4:00PM 8:55PM 11:15PMINOX - City Center Mall, Salt Lake8:50AM 1:35PM 6:20PMINOX - Forum Mall, Elgin Road9:00AM 3:20PM 8:35PM 10:55PMINOX - Metropolis Mall, Santoshpur8:55AM 1:15PM 6:10PM 11:05PMINOX - Quest Mall, Ballygunge9:45AM 2:50PM 10:20PMINOX - R D Mall, Liluah9:20AM 9:50PMINOX - Swabhumi, Phool Bagan10:45PMINOX Hind - Dharmatala9:00AM 5:00PM 10:15PMINOX Insignia - Quest Mall, Ballygunge12:10PM 7:45PM

Carnival Cinemas - Down Town Mall, Salt Lake 2:15PM 9:30PMCinepolis - Acropolis Mall, Rajdanga Road9:55AM 2:50PM 10:55PMCinepolis - Lake Mall, Kalighat9:25AM 5:25PM 7:40PMINOX - City Center 2 Mall, Rajarhat11:25AM 5:20PM 10:55PMINOX - City Center Mall, Salt Lake10:00AMINOX - Forum Mall, Elgin Road8:50AM 4:15PM 9:00PMINOX - Metropolis Mall, Santoshpur11:10AM 8:45PMINOX - Quest Mall, Ballygunge

12:05PM 10:20PMINOX - Swabhumi, Phool Bagan9:50AM 2:15PM 10:30PMINOX Insignia - Quest Mall, Ballygunge9:50AM 5:50PMPVR - Diamond Plaza Mall, Jessore Road9:30AM 11:35AM 8:35PM 10:40PMPVR - Mani Square Mall, EM Bypass11:15AM 3:35PM 10:30PMRDB Cinema - Salt Lake 2:10PM

Cinepolis - Acropolis Mall, Rajdanga Road7:30PMLali Cinema - Barasat 2:00PM 7:30PMPadma Cinema Hall - Sodepur 11:30AMTalkie Show House - Shyambazar11:45AM 2:30PM

Cinepolis - Acropolis Mall, Rajdanga Road11:55AM 5:15PM 10:35PMCinepolis - Lake Mall, Kalighat12:00PM 2:50PM 8:00PMINOX Insignia - Quest Mall, Ballygunge9:15AM 4:55PM 10:05PMPVR - Mani Square Mall, EM Bypass11:45AM 7:55PM

Bioscope - Axis Mall, Rajarhat11:30AM 3:20PMMoon Light Cinema Hall - Chittaranjan Avenue 12:00PMPadma Cinema Hall - Sodepur 7:30PMRegal Cinema - Esplanade 3:15PM 8:30PM

INOX - City Center Mall, Salt Lake 8:50PMINOX - Metropolis Mall, Santoshpur 2:00PMINOX - Swabhumi, Phool Bagan 12:00PMPriya Cinema - Rashbehari Avenue 7:15PM

Carnival Cinemas - Down Town Mall, Salt Lake 12:05PM 3:45PM 8:15PM 10:45PMCinepolis - Acropolis Mall, Rajdanga Road10:00AM 2:50PM 7:50PMCinepolis - Lake Mall, Kalighat9:30AM 12:05PM 5:00PM 9:50PMINOX - City Center 2 Mall, Rajarhat8:55AM 1:30PM 6:20PMINOX - City Center Mall, Salt Lake8:50AM 3:50PM 8:40PMINOX - Forum Mall, Elgin Road 9:20AM 11:15AM 1:45PM 6:25PM 11:10PMINOX - Metropolis Mall, Santoshpur3:35PM 8:30PMINOX - Quest Mall, Ballygunge9:05AM 5:10PM 7:45PMINOX - Swabhumi, Phool Bagan 8:10PMINOX Hind - Dharmatala 2:25PMINOX Insignia - Quest Mall, Ballygunge12:00PM 10:30PM

PVR - Diamond Plaza Mall, Jessore Road11:15AMPVR - Mani Square Mall P(XL), EM Bypass1:15PM

PVR - Diamond Plaza Mall, Jessore Road1:40PM 6:20PMPVR - Mani Square Mall, EM Bypass5:25PM Carnival Cinemas - Down Town Mall, Salt Lake 6:10PMCinepolis - Acropolis Mall, Rajdanga Road1:50PM 5:30PM 10:30PMCinepolis - Lake Mall, Kalighat4:30PM 10:10PMINOX - City Center 2 Mall, Rajarhat12:00PM 7:30PMINOX - City Center Mall, Salt Lake2:15PM 6:35PMINOX - Forum Mall, Elgin Road 1:10PMINOX - Metropolis Mall, Santoshpur4:15PM 6:30PM

INOX - Quest Mall, Ballygunge 5:10PMINOX - Swabhumi, Phool Bagan 5:20PM

Cinepolis - Lake Mall, Kalighat 2:40PMINOX - City Center Mall, Salt Lake11:20AMINOX - Forum Mall, Elgin Road 10:55AMINOX Insignia - Quest Mall, Ballygunge2:35PMPVR - Mani Square Mall, EM Bypass 9:30AM

PVR - Avani Riverside Mall, Shibpur9:00AM 10:45AM 12:15PM 2:00PM 3:30PM 6:45PM 7:45PM 10:00PM 11:00PMPVR - Diamond Plaza Mall, Jessore Road9:00AM 10:00AM 12:15PM 1:15PM 3:30PM 4:30PM 6:45PM 7:45PM 10:00PM11:00PMPVR - Mani Square Mall P(XL), EM Bypass3:45PM 9:30PMPVR - Mani Square Mall, EM Bypass9:30AM 1:15PM 4:30PM 7:45PM 11:00PM Cinepolis - Acropolis Mall, Rajdanga Road10:30AM 4:10PM 10:45PMCinepolis - Lake Mall, Kalighat10:00AM 1:15PM 6:50PMIndira Cinema - Bhawanipur12:00PM 3:00PM 6:00PMINOX - City Center 2 Mall, Rajarhat8:50AM 10:00AM 1:10PM 2:05PM 4:25PM 7:40PM 9:45PM 10:55PMINOX - City Center Mall, Salt Lake10:05AM 11:05AM 12:05PM 3:20PM6:35PM 9:50PM 10:45PMINOX - Forum Mall, Elgin Road10:00AM 11:55AM 1:10PM 3:10PM4:25PM 6:25PM 7:40PM 9:40PM 10:55PMINOX - Metropolis Mall, Santoshpur9:00AM 10:35AM 12:10PM 3:25PM 6:40PM 9:55PM 10:55PMINOX - Quest Mall, Ballygunge 9:00AM 10:05AM 12:15PM 3:30PM 4:30PM

Movies this week

PVR - Avani Riverside Mall, Shibpur 1:45PM

INSIDIOUS: THE LAST KEY

Basusree Cinema Hall - Kalighat12:30PM

BOXER

PVR - Avani Riverside Mall, Shibpur 4:00PM

MAYURAKSHI

PITCH PERFECT 3

HASEENA

THE GREATEST SHOWMAN

TIGER ZINDA HAI

RAY

Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle

ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD

2|

mp

Weekend BreakKOLKATA|SUNDAY, 7 JANUARY 2018|millenniumpost

-Astrid Noklebye Heiberg

Climate change is no longer a doomsday prophecy, it’s a reality

Although winegrowers seem reluctant to try new grape varieties apparently to pro-tect the taste of the wines,

new research suggests that they will ulti-mately have to give up on their old habit as planting lesser-known grape variet-ies might help vineyards to counteract some of the effects of climate change.

“It’s going to be very hard, given the amount of warming we’ve already com-mitted to... for many regions to con-tinue growing the exact varieties they’ve grown in the past,” said study co-author Elizabeth Wolkovich, Assistant Profes-sor at Harvard University.

“With continued climate change, certain varieties in certain regions will start to fail – that’s my expectation,” she said. The study, published in the jour-nal Nature Climate Change, suggests that wine producers now face a choice – proactively experiment with new vari-eties, or risk suffering the negative con-

sequences of climate change.“The Old World has a huge diversity

of winegrapes – there are over planted 1,000 varieties – and some of them are better adapted to hotter climates and have higher drought tolerance than the 12 varieties now making up over 80 per cent of the wine market in many coun-tries,” Wolkovich said.

“We should be studying and explor-ing these varieties to prepare for cli-mate change,” she added. Unfortunately, Wolkovich said, “convincing wine pro-ducers to try different grape varieties is difficult at best, and the reason often comes down to the current concept of terroir. Terroir is the notion that a wine’s flavour is a reflection of where, which and how the grapes were grown.”

Thus, as currently understood, only certain traditional or existing variet-ies are part of each terroir, leaving little room for change. The industry – both in the traditional winegrowing cen-

tres of Europe and around the world – faces hurdles when it comes to making changes, Wolkovich said. In Europe, she said, growers have the advantage of tre-mendous diversity.

They have more than 1,000 grape varieties to choose from. Yet strict label-ing laws have created restrictions on their ability to take advantage of this diversity. For example, just three variet-ies of grapes can be labelled as Cham-pagne or four for Burgundy. Similar restrictions have been enacted in many European regions – all of which force growers to focus on a small handful of grape varieties.

“The more you are locked into what you have to grow, the less room you have to adapt to climate change,” Wolkovich said. New World winegrowers, mean-while, must grapple with the opposite problem – while there are few, if any, restrictions on which grape varieties may be grown in a given region, growers have little experience with the diverse – and potentially more climate change adaptable – varieties of grapes found in Europe, the study said.

Just 12 varieties account for more than 80 per cent of the grapes grown in Australian vineyards. More than 75 per cent of all the grapes grown in China are Cabernet Sauvignon – and the chief reason why it has to do with consum-ers. “They have all the freedom in the world to import new varieties and how to make great wines from something you’ve never heard of, but they’re not doing it because the consumer hasn’t heard of it,” Wolkovich said. IANS

How climate changeCOULD CHANGE THE TASTE OF YOUR WINE

In order to protect the taste

of the wines, winegrowers will gradually have to shift

to new, lesser-known varieties

of grapes

With the change of season, it’s time to dig into food items that are not served throughout the year. Try

gajar pak, bathua ka saag or gucchi ki gala-wat that are mostly prepared with ingredi-ents only available during winter, say experts:

* Bathua ka saag: Bathua (Chenopodium album) is rich in iron and calcium, low on fat and tasty too. This season is all about sweets and fattening food, hence bathua is a good way to add the right balance. Also, this is the best season to consume as Bathua is abun-dantly found during winter.

* Green garlic sabzi: Another ingredient that is available in winter is the green garlic. Whilst the most common thing one can do is make chutney but you can also prepare green garlic sabzi. It has a lovely and bal-anced flavour which is noticeable but not overpowering.

* Undhiyu: For most Gujaratis, winter isn’t winter without the steaming bowls of undhiyu on their dining table. ‘Undhu’ which means upside down in Gujarati is a mixed vegetable dish that is a regional specialty of Surat. Definitely a must try in this season.

* Gajar pak: Winter is here, and it’s the season for vibrant red carrots. There’s nothing better than making some gajar halwa. Apart from that, you can even try gajar pak. It is same as halwa but presented in the form of a barfi.

* Daulat ki chaat: Daulat ki chaat is frothy and foamy treat which is a part of every

feast and celebration. This cottony pile of foam is made out of thick creamy milk and is topped off with sugar, cardamom, almond flakes and pistachios.

* Shorba-e-Gulzar soup: It is a tomato shorba prepared with fresh tomatoes and roasted cumin seeds. Murgh badami shorba is an extract of chicken with garlic and Indian spices with almonds. Shorba is traditionally prepared by simmering of meat or vegeta-bles and flavoured with aromatic traditional Indian spices and herbs.

* Gucchi ki galawat: It is a mouth-melt-ing patty of wild mushrooms infused

with smoked spices – perfect for vegetarians. Galauti kebab,

which is a soft succulent patty of lamb blended with exotic spices, is a trademark of Lucknow.

* Nalli nihari: Lamb shanks simmered over-

night in a silken golden gravy

with special Indian spices is again a Lucknowi special. IANS

Must-have Indian dishes in winter

- Mamata Banerjee

Bengal begins a new journey today with a new identity. The own official emblem of the State Government was launched today...City

mp| 3millennium post | KOLKATA |SUNDAY, 7 JANUARY 2018

‘Character building of students to be taken up from school level’

Kolkata Police Safe Drive Save Life Half Marathon in city today

3-day car painting fest at Eco Park draws admiration

Soon, Kolkata Metro trains to run without motorman

4 persons including 2 cops dead in 2 separate accidents

OUR CORRESPONDENT

KOLKATA: In the wake of back-to-back incidents of teachers being man-handled by college students in the last few days at a number of institu-tions across the city, the state Educa-tion department is mulling the idea of introducing value education right from the school level. The matter will be soon discussed with an expert committee on how should it be incorporated within the curriculum.

The department believes that there has been a degradation of moral values among a section of students and the time is ripe to address the issue.

“The respect for teachers among stu-dents is lacking. So we have to focus on character-building of the students and this needs to be taken up right from the school level,” a senior official of the Edu-cation department said.

State Education minister Partha Chatterjee also expressed his concern over the rise in such incidents and said that Chief Minister Mamata Baner-jee also speaks of moral values among students.

“In recent times, there have been cases when students have committed

suicide after being reprimanded by their parents. When a teacher advises stu-dents to be disciplined he/she is being assaulted. As an individual these inci-dents have made me feel ashamed,” Chatterjee said. He reiterated that he will soon speak with the expert com-mittee in this regard.

Charuchandra College and Desh-bandhu Girls’ College in South Kolkata have been on the boil last week where teachers were heckled by the students.

At Charuchandra, the shutdown

was withdrawn after Partha Chatterjee intervened into the matter and said col-lege should not have taken a unilateral decision without consulting the Higher Education department on the matter.

Chatterjee said he was neither in favour of the gherao of the principal’s office by the students nor the subse-quent decision of the college manage-ment to go for indefinite closure of the institution.

A section of the students had alleg-edly manhandled a teacher and a non-teaching staff of the college during an agitation at the principal’s office over removal of a security guard and inad-equate safety measures on campus.

Even Governor K N Tripathi con-demned the agitation and said students should not behave in a way that deviates from the tradition of showing respect to their teachers.

OUR CORRESPONDENT

KOLKATA: Hundreds of youngsters from all walks of life will take part in the Kolkata Police Safe Drive Save Life Half Marathon on Sunday, mark-ing the beginning of the road safety week.

The 21 kilometre marathon will start at 6.30 am followed by 10 kilometre run and 5 kilo-metre fun run at 8.30 am. The venue is Red Road next to West Bengal Basketball Association Court.

The members of different clubs will take part in the event. The participants in the 21 km route marathon after coming

out of the venue will take R R Avenue up to Netaji statue, then Government Place East and Esplanade Row East, Chit-taranjan Avenue up to Girish Park.

The runners will then take a right turn to Vivekananda Road, another right turn to Sealdah, Moulali, Mullickbazar to Beckbagan crossing. Then turn left to Ballygunge Circular Road, Gurusaday Dutta Road to Asutosh Chowdhury Avenue to Hazra Road, Kalighat Bridge, to Judges Court Road.

Then turn right to Alipore Road, National Library Ave-nue, Belvedere Road, Zeerat Bridge, Zeerut Island, Hastings

Crossing, Red Road and back to the venue.

There will be makeshift toi-lets for the participants along with ambulances which will be posted at important sites so that anyone falling sick will be attended to immediately,. There will be makeshift water stations too and those serving energy drinks.

It may be mentioned that Chief Minister Mamata Baner-jee had initiated the Safe Drive Save Life project.

The state Transport depart-ment has given several crores to Kolkata Police and the state police to implement the Safe Drive Save Life scheme.

TARUN GOSWAMI

KOLKATA: A three-day fes-tival to paint cars with artistic designs began at Eco Park on Saturday.

The motto behind the paintings of cars which has become a popular form of art is to construct a bridge between automobile and art and also to ensure that the owners main-tain their cars and do not drive recklessly so that the body of the vehicles land up getting damaged.

Interestingly, the motto of the paintings is closely asso-ciated with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s slogan “Safe Drive Save Life”. A group of “cartists” have arrived from Jai-pur and are painting are Honda

Citys and Maruti Zens in beau-tiful, vibrant colours.

Car paintings have become famous globally. It gained pop-ularity in the US when Harley Davidson motor cycles were painted in bright colours and displayed in New York at the annual Harley carnival.

Himangshu, who heads the team from Jaipur, said there is tremendous enthusiasm among car owners in Kolkata to paint their vehicles in bright colours with designs. “Our motto is to create a bridge between auto-mobile and art. Generally, brushes are used to paint vehi-cles but also spray paintings are done if desired by the owners. The paintings will be done free of cost. We want the owners to maintain their cars and they

should not drive recklessly so that the body of the vehicles get damaged,” he said, adding: “It expands the cultural domain of people which in turn will help build India culturally.”

Himangshu, who is orig-inally a vintage car restorer, started the show two years ago in Jaipur with budding artists.

It became popular instantly. Art materials in two huge trucks have been brought from Jaipur.

“We started our journey from Ahmedabad and then we have worked in Pune, Mum-bai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Cochi and Vijaywada,” said Himangshu adding: “Every-where the artist fraternity has

given us enormous support. In Kolkata also, they are sup-porting us to make it a grand success. The cars are painted in different colours and art-ists make various interesting designs. They take one day to complete a vehicle.”

The body of the car serves as the canvas. One or more artists work on one vehicle respectively.

The paintings include abstract art or scenery or scenes from a poem or a play. It is a new experience for the city-based artists.

Sanjukta Kar, a budding art-ist, said: “We have heard about such car paintings in foreign countries. On Sunday, we will go to Eco Park to see how it is being done.”

OC severely injured in mob attack, admitted to ICU

Former director of cinchona held over misappropriation of assets

Khadi Board to encourage use of vermicompost in tea gardens

OUR CORRESPONDENT

KOLKATA: Officer-in-Charge of Shyampur police station in Howrah was critically injured after being attacked by miscre-ants at Garchumuk area on Fri-day night.

OC Suman Das along with a team of policemen had gone to the spot after hearing that two groups of people were clashing against each other over a property dispute. Das has been admitted to ICU of a private hospital in Minto Park with serious head injuries. The police have arrested seven per-sons for the attack which also led to injuries to seven other cops including an ASI who had accompanied him.

It was around 1.30 am on Friday night when an informa-tion was received at the police station that there was a clash between two rival groups over a plot of land. Das accompa-nied by a handful of officers of the police station went to the spot for executing a warrant of the court related to the dis-puted land.

Suddenly, the OC and his team found themselves sur-

rounded by more than a dozen miscreants armed with rods and sticks.

Das and his team were attacked immediately and when he fell to the ground adja-cent to a pond in the area and was assaulted brutally with a piece of bamboo stick.

Soon, a large police force rushed to his rescue and with severe head injuries, he was brought to a private hospital in Minto Park.

Das has been admitted to the ICU and is presently under ventilatory support. CT Scan

revealed a deep injury on the back side of his head with a haemorrhage.

Doctors have decided to keep him under observation for 72 hours and though a minor plastic surgery needs to be conducted, he is presently not in a position to bear the pain of the operation.

“We have formed a medi-cal board of nine doctors from various disciplines. The patient is under sedition and still con-tinues to be in critical stage,” a spokesperson of the hospi-tal said.

A Sub-Inspector of 2000 batch, Das is a resident of Chat-terjeehat in Howrah. “We have already arrested seven persons from a hideout in Uluberia. Raids are on to nab the other accused,” Gourav Sharma, Superintendent of Police, How-rah (Rural), said.

A large police force along with RAF have been deployed at the spot to prevent further tension in the area.

Howrah City Police com-missioner D P Singh visited the spot and also went to the pri-vate hospital to enquire about the health condition of Das.

OUR CORRESPONDENT

DARJEELING: A former head of the directorate of cinchona and other medicinal plants has been arrested for alleged irreg-ularities at the largest public sector unit in the Hills under the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA).

G C Subba, the 65-year-old former director, is in CID custody after being arrested on Tuesday for alleged irregularities amounting to Rs 17.15 crore. “Subba is being interrogated. We hope to get important leads that could lead to others who are involved in the scam. In this case, there were multiple instances where

Subba claims to have acted under verbal orders from his superiors that resulted in the scam,” claimed a CID source. An FIR by the present direc-tor, Samuel Rai, led to Subba’s arrest. “He has been charged under sections of the IPC, including criminal breach of trust. The CID had asked for 14 days of remand. However, the Chief Judicial Magistrate remanded him to police cus-tody for 10 days,” stated Pankaj Prasad, Assistant Public Prose-cutor, Darjeeling. The cinchona plantation is the largest pub-

lic sector unit in the Hills of Darjeeling and Kalimpong dis-trict. It is spread over an area of 26,000 hectares and employs as many as 6,000 workers.

The irregularities include VAT deposits, handing over bank accounts to the present director after his retirement in December 2013, anomalies in making payments, issuing sup-ply orders, tender allotment, records, and work distribution.

There are instances of self-withdrawal of Rs 92 lakh and non-deposit of nearly Rs 3 crore.

SOUMITRA NANDI

KOLKATA: West Bengal Khadi and Village Industries Board (WBKVIB) has taken up a project to encourage the pro-duction and use of vermicom-post in the tea gardens across North Bengal. Vermicompost enriches the soil, increases har-vest yields and also suppresses plant disease and most impor-tantly enhances the flavour and quality of tea.

“We have identified 560 tea garden workers under Moyna-guri Block in Jalpaiguri district. We will provide them training for the production of vermi-compost and will supply the raw materials that are needed for the production. The qual-ity and flavour of the tea will be much greater with the use of this fertilizer,” a senior offi-cial of WBKVIB said.

It may be mentioned that four gram panchayats includ-ing Churabhander, Khagrabari I, Khagrabari II and Aamguri and 11 other places like Rath-erhat, Bhangamali, Bhangerhat, Churabahder, Dewarikamari, Huslu Danga, Bashilar Danga, Dhola Guri, Khagrabari, Teku-tuli, Uttar Khagrabari will come under the project.

A senior official informed that vermicompost is used as fertilizer in some of the tea gardens in North Bengal but in a sporadic manner through some individual entrepreneurs. “Such compost had to be pur-chased from entrepreneurs in Medinipur and some other places and the cost of transpor-tation was very high. We will be forming samitis and will pro-vide the necessary infrastruc-ture for large scale production,” the official added.

In recent times, there has been demand of vermi com-post from the tea gardens of Assam. The cultivation of pineapples and oranges have

also witnessed demand of vermicompost.

“We have been observ-ing that there has been a gap in demand and supply and so we have taken this initiative to plug it,” the official said. The state Finance department has allocated Rs 3 crore for the project.

Vermicomposting is the usage of earthworms to con-vert vegetable waste to a 100 percent natural plant fertilizer. The most important aspect of compost produced by earth-worms is that it is 100 percent organic. There are no harmful chemicals and it does not need to be mixed with anything.

OUR CORRESPONDENT

KOLKATA: Kolkatans are soon going to experience travelling “without a motor-man” in Metro trains, first in the country; as Kolkata Metro Railway Corporation Limited (KMRCL) is all set to intro-duce fully automated rakes in the East-West Metro corridor likely to be commissioned with a truncated route around June this year.

A sleek, all air-conditioned demo coach built by Banga-lore-based BEML Limited had reached Kolkata on Thursday. According to sources, alto-gether 14 rakes will be pressed into service among which around five are expected to arrive in the city within March this year. Each rake will have six coaches. Around Rs 900 crore would be spent for constructing the 14 new rakes, all of them would be of standard gauge. A rake of the East-West Metro will run from Salt Lake Sector V to Howrah Maidan and it will have six coaches. KMRCL has plans to start a trial run for the trains on the stretch of 5.3 km between Sector V and Salt Lake stadium on EM Bypass.

The stretch is likely to be thrown open for passenger train service from middle of this year following a successful completion of the trail run, a KMRCL official said. The East-West Metro Corridor covers a total distance of 16.6 km.

Prosenjit Chakraborty, Chief Engineer (Electri-cal) of KMRCL, said there

are many striking features of these Metro rakes which are being constructed at BEML. The new rakes will be oper-ated by following the Auto-matic Train Operation (ATO) and Automatic Train Protec-tion (ATP). Under the ATO system, the motormen will no longer be required to operate the rakes as they would func-tion through an automated mechanism. Each coach will have two surveillance cameras each on both sides. There will be CCTVs at the Metro stations which would help motormen to monitor on screen the boarding or de-boarding of passengers. It will have regenerative break-ing system.

According to the official, all these automated rakes will have the facility of operating trains without a motorman. A rake comprising six coaches will have a capacity of carry-ing 2,068 passengers at a time, of which there will be 286 seat-ing arrangements and around 1,782 passengers can stand while travelling in the train. Standard international proce-dure has been followed while constructing the rakes so that parts can be easily available in the international market. There will two AC machines each having a capacity of around 12 tonne at each end of the coach.

Unlike the existing Metros, all the doors of these rakes can be thrown open in case of an emergency evacuation so that the passengers can take the walkway to reach to the near-est station.

OUR CORRESPONDENT

KOLKATA: Three persons including two policemen were killed in a road acci-dent that took place under Arsa police station area on National Highway 32 on late Friday night.

In a separate accident, a youth who was glued to his mobile phone while walking along the railway track was run over by a speeding train in Has-banad, North 24-Parganas, on Saturday morning.

The first accident took place when the policemen were carrying out patrolling at Arsa on National Highway 32 in Purulia.

The police jeep was parked by the side of the road with the victims standing near it. A trailer suddenly lost control and rammed into the police jeep killing three including two policemen.

The victims have been identified as Arup Chel who was an ASI, Ramnath Manato, a constable and the driver of the police jeep Anil Tamang.

Another police personnel who suffered critical injuries in the incident was rushed to Purulia District Hospi-

tal where he is undergoing treatment.

The trailer had overturned after hitting the police jeep which was badly damaged.

The driver of trailer fled the spot after the accident.

After being informed, senior police officers rushed to the spot and the bodies were sent for autopsy. Raids are being conducted to nab the driver.

In another tragic incident, a youth glued to his cell phone while walking along the rail-way track was run over by a local train in the Sealdah-Hasnabad section on Saturday morning.

Police said that the victim was walking towards Cham-papukur station from Bhavla when a Hasnabad-bound train hit him.

The locals said that the motorman of the train blew horn for several times but the victim was talking on the phone with his earphones on.

Police have recovered the earphone from the railway track.

Railway police later recov-ered the body and started a probe in this regard.

OUR CORRESPONDENT

KOLKATA: Mystery shrouds the death of an Engineering student whose decomposed body was recovered from a pond behind the police quar-ters at Belgharia on Saturday afternoon.

The deceased has been identified as Deep Barik, a resident of Dakshineswar, who had been missing since December 31 after he left his house to attend a picnic at the quarters.

Deep’s family members have lodged a complaint of murder against one San-jay Burman and some of his friends who attended the picnic.

It was Burman who invited Deep to the picnic in the evening.

Deep along with a few peo-ple, most of whom reside in the police quarters, attended the picnic till late on that day. Deep did not return home, after which his family went there on the following day and asked around, hoping to find him, but they found no trace of him.

When his father spoke to Sanjay, he informed that Deep had complained of sickness and had left for home at around 12 in the night.

“It is Sanjay, along with several others, who forc-ibly pushed my son into the pond, which was filled with weed,” the deceased’s father alleged.

A missing diary was lodged at Belgharia police station and on Saturday his body was found floating in the pond at the backside of the police quarters.

“We have sent the body for post-mortem, which should reveal the cause of death. Apparently, there are no external injury marks on the body,” a senior official of Bar-rackpore Police Commission-erate said.

GC Subba has been arrested for alleged irregularities amounting to Rs 17.15 cr

A section of the students had allegedly manhandled a teacher and a non-teaching staff of the college during an agitation at the principal’s office over removal of a security guard and inadequate safety measures on campus

Partha Chatterjee

Engg student’s decomposed

body recovered from pond

No derogatory comments against Abhishek: Court to Babul SupriyoKOLKATA: The City Civil Court on Saturday passed an interim order restraining Union minister Babul Supriyo from making any derogatory statements

against Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee till February 5. Meanwhile, Supriyo has been asked to give a written objection in the meantime. On November 30, Supriyo made a statement that a syndicate of coal smuggling is going on and Abhishek Banerjee has been given anything between Rs 16 crore and Rs 17 crore. Earlier, the Court

had passed an interim order restraining Babul Su-priyo from making any derogatory statements till Saturday (January 6). The order has been further extended until February 5. OUR CORRESPONDENT

Suman Das

mp

Nation Arun Jaitley

Banks must work for society as taxpayers making sacrifices

4| KOLKATA|SUNDAY, 7 JANUARY 2018|millenniumpost

Intense cold grips N India; fog disrupts rail, air traffic

Shah to visit poll-bound Tripura today

SIMONTINI BHATTACHARJEE

NEW DELHI: During his three-day visit to the North-East, Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah will visit the poll-bound state Tri-pura on Sunday. On his one-day visit to the state, Shah will address two public rallies, will meet the local intellectuals, and will also address the par-ty's core committee members and office bearers.

The BJP chief will first address a public rally in Ambassa town in the morning and after that he will address another public rally in Udaipur area, near Tripura Sundari mandir.

He will also address ' Manthan', an intel-lectual forum on 'challenges for our country to become Viswa Guru'. The local BJP leadership asserted that the topic has been specified by the forum itself. "The people of the state want a developed country as well as 'vikas' in the state. So the forum is keen to discuss over the chal-lenges that India is facing to be called as 'Vuswa Guru'," central BJP in-charge for Tripura Sunil Deodhar mentioned.

Shah, who is also known for his election engineering and political management will hold meeting with 25 office bearers and core commit-tee members of the party in the capital city of the state. Meanwhile, the local party leaders feel that BJP has managed to strengthen the party since last year in Tripura with joining of 7 MLA—six from Trinamool Congress, one from Congress and five leaders from Indigenous People's Front (IPFT) in the last week. Sources said that to give a boost to the saffron party, the top leadership is looking for an alliance with the Tribal party.

"After 25 years, there is anti-incumbency and IPFT is looking for a separate Tipraland. But if anybody with having no personal agenda wants to join our party, they are welcome. The party feels that will have 2/3 majority with an alliance with IPFT," Deodhar claimed.

Recently, the CPI (M) politburo member Brinda Karat alleged that the saffron party was misusing power and restoring to "dirty tricks" to destabilise the incumbent Left government. The charge comes after BJP observers urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to appoint the micro-observers in the poll-bound state from outside with deploying a maximum number of paramilitary forces.

The Assembly elections are scheduled in the next month for 60 seats in the state of Tripura.

Notice Inviting Re E Tender Tender ref. Name of work Estimated

Amount Last date of bid submission

Tender-Id:-2018_DOFR_147177_1

CONSTRUCTION OF GROUP-D QUARTER AT BUXA MONITORING RANGE AT DAMANPUR, ALIPURDUAR UNDER MONITORING (NORTH) DIVISION

6,60,665/- 13-01-2018 Up-To-18.00

Tender-Id:-2018_DOFR_147215_1

CONSTRUCTION OF BOUNDARY WALL AT BUXA MONI-TORING RANGE AT DAMANPUR, ALIPURDUAR-UNDER-MONITORING(NORTH)DIVISION

2,36,000/- 13-01-2018 Up-To-18.00

Details can be seen in the Official Website http://westbengalforest.gov.in. For all details and online tender submission visit https://wbtenders.gov.in.Corrigendum or addendum if issued will be published only on website Sd/-S. Gajamer IFS

Divisional Forest OfficerMonitoring (North) Division

Government of West Bengal Directorate of Forests

Office of the Divisional Forest Officer Monitoring (North) DivisionBalaidas Chatterjee Road, Hakimpara, Siliguri 734001

BRIEFSNATIONKAUTILYA AWARD TO ACHYUTA SAMANTA

GUNTUR: Dr. Achyuta Samanta, Founder, KIIT & KISS has been conferred with first ever Kautilya Award by Indian Economic Associa-tion (IEA) on December 27 2017. Dr. Samanta was conferred with this prestigious award on the 100th an-nual conference of the IEA organ-ised in Acharya Nagarjun University in Guntur of Andhra Pradesh. Prof. Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Peace Prize winner handed over the award to a representative of Dr. Samanta in his absent.

NORTH CENTRAL RLY GOES GREEN, TARGETS 11.12 MW SOLAR POWER GENERATIONNEW DELHI: The North Central Railway under the guidance of GM/NCR M C Chauhan, Solar Power Plants with an installed capacity of 4.92 MW have been installed in NCR till December 31, 2017. Of these 3.80 MW have been installed under a new sanction of 10MW. Thus in the new year, the Zonal Railway is all set to take this figure up to 11.12 MW.

BENGAL URDU ACADEMY TO TAKE PART IN NEW DELHI WORLD BOOK FAIR

NEW DELHI: The West Bengal Urdu Academy, a parastatal under the Department of Minority Affairs and Madrasah Education, Govt of West Bengal is in its 3rd year of participation at the New Delhi World Book Fair. The West Bengal Urdu Academy has been undertaking a lot of programmes and has organised a series of seminars, workshops, mushairas and other events and is publishing a number of books on a regular basis. The stall of West Bengal Urdu Acad-emy at the New Delhi World Book Fair in Hall 12 A, stall no. 363-364 will be inaugurated by Jb. Gulzar Delhavi, the famous poet on January 7.

MPOST BUREAU

NEW DELHI: Cold wave swept parts of north India with snowfall in the higher reaches of the Kashmir Valley, and Delhi recording its lowest minimum tem-perature of the season at 4.2 degrees Celsius, while dense fog continued to disrupt rail and air traffic. Punjab and Haryana reeled under intense cold wave while dense fog engulfed most parts of both the states delaying some trains and affecting flight operations.

In Delhi, due to poor visibility, the Railways had to cancel 36 trains, reschedule 30 while 85 trains were run-ning late. High-altitude areas of Jammu region experienced light snowfall over the past few days, as a result of which several parts, including Bhaderwah and Banihal, were reeling under sub-zero night temperature.

Meanwhile, 11 bodies have been recovered from a spot in north Kash-mir's Kupwara district where a passen-ger vehicle was hit by a huge avalanche of snow yesterday. Three people were pulled out alive from the avalanche site.

Leh in Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 15.6

degrees Celsius while a few areas in the higher reaches of Kashmir Valley received fresh snowfall.

There was light snowfall in Gulmarg, Pahalgam and few other areas in the higher reaches of Kashmir last night.

Srinagar recorded a minimum tem-perature of minus 1.2 degrees Celsius while Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 9.4 degrees Celsius.

Kashmir is currently under the grip of 'Chillai-Kalan', the 40-day harshest winter period in Kashmir, when the chances of snowfall are maximum and the temperature drops considerably.

In high-altitude areas of the Him-achal Pradesh, the mercury stayed between minus 15 and minus 22 degrees Celsius while lakes, springs and rivulets there have frozen.

In Haryana, Ambala braved bone-chilling weather at 5.6 degrees Cel-sius while Hisar registered a low of 2.6 degrees Celsius, four notches below normal. Chandigarh airport recorded the lowest minimum temperature of 1.8 degrees Celsius, followed by Bathinda in Punjab which shivered at 1.9 degrees Celsius. Adampur in Jalandhar district, Pathankot and Halwara recorded mini-mum temperatures of 2.3 degrees Cel-sius, 4 degrees Celsius and 4.3 degrees Celsius respectively.

Uttar Pradesh witnessed dense to very dense fog at many places as cold wave swept some parts of the state, with Fursatganj in Rae Bareli recording the lowest minimum temperature of 2.6 degrees Celsius.

Cold wave conditions prevailed in northern parts of Rajasthan with Sri-ganganagar being the coldest recorded place at 1.9 degrees Celsius while dense to very dense fog occurred at isolated parts of the state.

Bikaner, Dabok, Jaisalmer and Jodh-pur recorded minimum temperatures of 4.6 degrees Celsius, 6.5 degrees Celsius, 7.2 degrees Celsius and 7.9 degrees Cel-sius respectively.

Stranded passengers look at the time-table as trains get delayed due to dense winter fog, in Allahabad on Saturday

BJP president Amit Shah offers prayers at Kamakhya Temple before commencing his tour in the north-east from Garo Hills in Guwahati on Saturday

OUR CORRESPONDENT

NEW DELHI/PATNA: No one is above the law, the BJP and its ally JD (U) said on Sat-urday after a special CBI court sentenced Lalu Prasad to jail in a fodder scam case, while the RJD said its leader has fallen prey to a "conspiracy" by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and the saffron party.

The special CBI court in Ranchi sentenced Lalu to three- and-a-half years in jail and imposed a fine of Rs 10 lakh on him in the fodder scam case relating to fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 89.27 lakh from the Deoghar Treasury 21 years ago. BJP leader Shahn-awaz Hussain said the verdict shows the law is equal for all.

"The court has done its job, and this is a message that if anyone robs the country of its wealth, however important, then the law is equal for all. This is justice for the people of Bihar because it was their money that was looted," Hus-sain told reporters.

Janata Dal (United) Secre-tary General K C Tyagi said a new political chapter has begun with the court's deci-sion and it means politicians

will be afraid of committing any such wrongdoing.

"It will now be difficult to keep the RJD together and people in politics will be fear-ful," he said, when asked about the significance of the court's verdict.

"This is the end of a chapter that started with Laluji's lead-ership, where there was politics of corruption, nepotism and non-governance," Tyagi told reporters.

Meanwhile, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi said the CBI court at Ranchi, by sentencing Lalu Prasad to jail in a fodder scam case, had upheld the charges he and others had levelled against the RJD supremo before the Patna High Court. The senior BJP leader also rubbished the “conspiracy” allegation levelled by the RJD against his party in connection with Prasad’s con-viction by the court.

“In the PIL filed in the Patna High Court, Shivanand Tiwary, Lalan Singh and I had levelled the charges against Lalu Prasad with solid evi-dence. By awarding punish-ment to him, the court has upheld our charges,” Modi said here in a statement.

UDHAMPU (JK): A crowded mini-bus on Saturday fell into a deep gorge here, leaving six passengers including four women dead and 26 injured, police said.

The private mini-bus skid-ded off a hilly road and fell into the 100-ft gorge at Karowa near Pingla Mata mandir, about 30 kms from here, at around 1.30 pm, resulting in the death of six passengers and injuries to 26 others, a police spokesman said.

While four persons died on the spot, two others suc-cumbed to injuries at a hospi-tal, the spokesman said.

The mini-bus was on its way to Ram Nagar from Udham-pur, he said adding rescuers immediately swung into action after hearing about the acci-

dent. They managed to retrieve the bodies from the scene and helped the injured.

The condition of seven of the injured was stated to be critical, of whom four are undergoing treatment at Mili-tary Hospital.

Three others were referred to a hospital in Jammu for spe-cialised treatment, he said.

Earlier in the day, the spokesman said, a cab, travel-ling from Himachal Praesh to Udhampur, rammed into a tree at Paldai Majalta in the district at around 4.30 am, resulting in injuries to six passengers.

The injured were given ini-tial treatment at Public Health Centre Majalta. Later, they were referred to Government Medi-cal College Hospital Jammu, the spokesman said. AGENCIES

OUR CORRESPONDENT

PATNA: RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Saturday said a spe-cial CBI court verdict sentenc-ing his father Lalu Prasad to three-and-a-half years in jail in a fodder scam case will be chal-lenged in the high court.

A bail plea will also be moved in the high court, Tejashwi told a press confer-ence at the residence of his mother and former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi.

The special CBI court today sentenced RJD chief Lalu to three-and-a-half years in jail and imposed a fine of Rs 10 lakh on him in the fodder scam case relating to fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 89.27 lakh from the Deoghar Treasury 21 years ago.

"Lalu is not the name of a person but of an ideology. We, his followers, will not be cowed down," said the 28-year-old Leader of Opposition in the state assembly.

Tejashwi, against whom a contempt notice has been issued by the CBI court for criticizing its December 23 judgement whereby Lalu was convicted, said, "The lower

court has pronounced its judgement which we respect. We have full faith in judiciary".

"We will study the judge-ment and then decide on what legal options to exercise," he added.

If the quantum of sentence was less than three years, the bail plea would have been moved before the trial court itself, he said.

"Since that does not appear to be the case, we will have to do so before the high court where we will also appeal against the conviction."

Tejashwi also charged Chief Minister Nitish Kumar

and the BJP with "conspiring against Lalu, whose immense mass appeal and willingness to courageously take on commu-nal forces have always left his detractors insecure".

Tejaswi was speaking after a RJD meeting, at Rabri Devi's bunglow, which was attended by senior party leaders includ-ing state chief Ramchandra Purve, Jagdanand Singh and others on the future course of action of the party.

During the meeting, Jag-danand Singh read message of Lalu Prasad written to party-men before going to the Ran-chi jail after the conviction on

December 23.Tejashwi said the party

would go to people after makar-sankranti to make them aware of the "conspiracy" hatched by Nitish Kumar and the BJP against Lalu.

"Lalu is paying the price for his uncompromising stance against the BJP. Had he com-promised, his detractors would have been comparing him to Raja Harishchandra," the for-mer Deputy CM quipped.

He also dismissed sugges-tions the party may disintegrate with its top leader being behind the bars, saying "The more we are harassed, the stronger will be the public support in our favour. Lalu resides in the peo-ple's hearts".

"He is in jail, yet everybody is being talking about him.

The only reason is that the people of Bihar are with us and this scares our opponents," he added.

Yadav also took potshots at the ruling JD(U)-BJP combine, saying, "Let the double engine do something for the better-ment of Bihar. They should set their own house in order instead of wasting their energy on the future of RJD".

CBI verdict sentencing Lalu will be challenged, says Tejashwi

Law equal for all, say BJP & ally JD (U) after Lalu verdict

OUR CORRESPONDENT

NEW DELHI: Concerned over doubling the income of farm-ers, the government is giving a push to alternative methods of farm practices in the coun-try. “On the front of foodgrains production, our farmers have done a commendable job, now we have to focus on increasing their income from farming,” said Union Agriculture Minis-ter Radha Mohan Singh.

“Now farmers have to look beyond conventional patterns of farming by adopting tech-nologies like crop rotation, integrated farming, organic farming, double/triple crop-ping system to increase their income,” the minister said while addressing a gathering at the North-East Regional Agri-culture Fair 2018, which was

organised by ICAR Research Complex for North Eastern Hill (NEH) Region, Umiam, Meghalaya.

“The government has ini-tiated different flagship pro-grammes for the welfare of people living in rural areas, especially farming communi-ties by improving the current farming systems and thereby doubling their income from agriculture and allied sectors,” Singh said.

Highlighting the impact of adoption of new technologies, Singh said, “The productivity and farmers’ income can be increased through the adoption of improved technologies. The superior quality horticultural crops such as orange, pineap-ple, flowers, etc. can be pro-duced in the region, while the surplus produce can be mar-keted with the effective supply chain management.”

Slamming Meghalaya gov-ernment, the minister said, “The utility certificate of Rs 1.59 crore allocated in FY 2016-17 has not yet been sent to the Centre. The funds allocated by the Modi government in the last four years under oilseeds and oil palm mission wasn’t utilised between 2014-15 and 2015-16. In FY 2016-17, only Rs 57 lakh has been spent.”

Leader of opposition Tejaswi Yadav addressing a press conference along with RJD senior leader Rabri Devi in Patna on Saturday

Mini-bus falls into gorge in Udhampur, 6 killed, 26 injured

North Central Railway GM M C Chauhan

OUR CORRESPONDENT

LUCKNOW: Facing flak for giving a bright saf-fron coat of paint to the boundary wall of the UP Haj Committee office here, the BJP-led state government on Saturday went into damage con-trol mode and admitted "laxity" on part of the contractor tasked with the job.

"Secretary of the UP Haj Committee R P Singh has taken immediate cognisance of the matter, and issued directives for its rectifica-tion," a statement issued by the government said.

Singh said, "There was laxity by the contrac-tor in the painting and maintenance work of the UP Haj Committee office.

On inspecting the boundary wall of the office, it was found that there has been laxity, and a dark shade of paint has been used con-trary to the instructions issued".

"Further painting of the boundary wall has been stopped, and instructions have been issued to officials that painting and maintenance of the boundary wall should be done as per direc-tives," he said.

He also ordered action be initiated against the erring contractor.

The boundary wall of the Uttar Pradesh Haj office, opposite the state legislature building in the heart of the capital had been given a saffron look overnight, days after the secretariat build-ing facade was given the same coat.

The work was done by the UP estates depart-ment late on Thursday night and the Haj office staff was not immediately available for a reac-tion, Friday being a holiday.

The saffron colour, mostly associated with Hinduism and especially with the Sangh Pari-var of which the ruling BJP is a part, was also painted on the front portion of the Lal Bahadur Shastri Bhawan Annexe where the offices of the chief minister and top bureaucrats are located.

The move prompted the opposition Sama-jwadi Party to accuse the BJP government of

indulging in "blatant saffronisation"."The BJP is a party known for changing

colours. It is indulging in these antics only to hide its faults and failures. If the BJP really con-siders the saffron colour as sacrosanct, it should not indulge in politicisation of the colour and indulge in blatant saffronisation," SP spokesman Sunil Singh Sajan said.

All India Shia Personal Law Board spokes-person Yasoob Abbas took strong exception to the change in colour. "What is this? The BJP will paint it saffron, the SP will choose green and the BSP blue...This is politics of colour and should be avoided," he said.

Commenting on the matter, the lone Mus-lim minister in the UP government had yester-day said, "I fail to understand the problem of those having issues with the new colour. Is saf-fron an anti-national colour? Saffron is a colour which symbolises 'ujala' (brightness) and 'urja' (energy)".

"When the first rays of the Sun fall on the Earth, it comes with saffron light," Minister of State for Minority Affairs Mohsin Raza had said.

"Saffron is a colour, which is synonymous with positivity. It is a gift of God. I think those who are against the usage of saffron colour on the (boundary) wall of the UP Haj committee office, may also object to saffron on the national tricolour," he said.

Agri Minister asks farmers to adopt technologies to increase income

UP govt blames contractor for saffron on Haj office wall

The outer wall of State Haj house is repainted on Saturday after UP government on Friday painted the walls saffron, in Lucknow

On the auspicious occasion of New Year, blankets were distributed late in the night to the poor and underprivileged sections of the society under the CSR initiative of the Punjab National Bank. Dr. Ram S Sangapure, Executive Director of the Punjab National Bank, Rashika R Sangapure, Vice President of PNB Prerna along with B N Mishra, General Manager of the bank distributed blankets to the patients in different wards of Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi. Blankets were also distributed to the cold ridden people in slum area, footpath and railway station of Gurugram by J K Gupta, General Manager and other senior officials of the Bank

| 5

mpmillennium post | KOLKATA|SUNDAY, 7 JANUARY 2018

Business A decline in economic activity and growth meant loss of millions of jobs

P Chidambaram

Pradhan opens symposium and photo exhibition on Chilika

Sushma calls for deeper economic ties with ASEAN

MPOST BUREAU

NEW DELHI: Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas, Skill Development and Entrepreneur-ship, inaugurated a unique sympo-sium and photo exhibition titled ‘The Mangalajodi Inheritance”, organised by ONGC in association with the The Bhubaneswar Bird Walks, at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, on Saturday.

The objective of the symposium and photo exhibition is to bring together opinions of experts from diverse fields to strategise a way forward towards Chilika – the largest brackish water lake – to obtain heritage status from UNESCO. Pradhan highlighted that the Chilika ecosystem is an integral part of the Odia psyche, history and culture and therefore its preservation is crucial.

“Chilika has immense potential to be developed as an eco-tourism destination. ONGC has shown great passion in taking up the project for con-servation and holistic development of Chilika, and for accordance of status of UNESCO ‘World Heritage Site’ for Chilika Lake. It is a commendable ini-tiative”, he said. “India is committed to fulfill its responsibilities towards lower-ing carbon footprint under the leader-ship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi by building an ecological economy to ensure sustainable development”, he said. The minister appreciated the pub-lic sector oil companies for playing a

stellar role to accomplish this objective. From environment protection to focus on bio-fuels and 2nd Gen ethanol fuel, many initiatives have been taken.

Japanese Ambassador to India Kenji Hiramatsu appreciated India’s role in conservation of bio-diversity in Chilika and reaffirmed Japan’s support towards skill development, knowledge transfer and technology induction.

Shashi Shanker, ONGC CMD, said that ONGC has taken many initiatives towards environment conservation such as plantation of Ringal Bamboos in Himalayas, Mangrove plantation on the western coast, and many heritage conservation projects. The project at Chilika is one such intervention. “Our

CSR footprint extends from beaches of Rameshwaram to the peaks of the Himalayas,” he said, adding that in the coming days, ONGC is planning to take up skill development and all round development of infrastructure in areas around Chilika and make Chilika a World Heritage site.

D D Misra, Director (HR) ONGC reiterated ONGC’s commitment towards environment and heritage con-servation. Misra said that ONGC and UNESCO have agreed to launch a con-servation linked sustainable develop-ment initiative in Chilika with aim to monitor climate change, observe bird migration patterns, map local ecology and engage in fishery studies.

“ONGC is aware that conservation efforts at Chilika require the involve-ment of the people of Mangalajodi. Through our CSR programme, we soon propose to undertake Projects at Man-galajodi to create a sustainable model of development”, he said.

Sanjeev Sarangi, Founder of Indian Grameen Services (IGS) was felicitated for creating a sustainable eco-tourism model that has already created mean-ingful impact. The IGS has embarked upon a strategy that synergized capacity building of local communities. Ecotour-ism is used by IGS as the main vehicle for enabling livelihoods through Man-galajodi Ecotourism Trust (MET). Over 200 families have now been trained suc-cessfully to operate ecotourism services in Mangalajodi.

ONGC, and UNESCO have jointly conducted survey to bring Chilika on the World Heritage map and giving global recognition to Mangalajodi for conservation measures. A tripartite agreement between ONGC, Govt. of Odisha and UNESCO is in the process of finalisation. UNESCO has assured all support towards this objective. ONGC has also charted out a systematic plan for development of Mangalajodi village in Chilika through CSR activities. Man-galajodi is a 10 sqkm wetland lying on the north eastern fringe of Chilika. This freshwater zone hosts more than three lakhs migratory birds between Novem-ber and March each year.

Public Works Department, Government Resolution No. CAT-2017/C.R.8/Building-2, Dated 12th Apri1,2017 Form-1

Government of Maharashtra Public Works Department Office of The Executive Engineer, Public Works Divison, Dhekusim Road, Amalner Dist. Jalgaon

Email address:- amalner.ee@mahapwd.com Telephone /Fax No.(02587)-224112 / 226506E-Tender Notice No. 26 For 2017-2018

E-Tender for the following works in B-1 form is invited via online e-tendering system from Public Works Department Registered Contractors in appropriate class who fulfill the Terms and Conditions of Tender, by The Executive Engineer, Public Works Division, Amalner Dist. Jalgaon on behalf of The Government of Maharashtra. Tender Documents are downloaded from Government of Maharashtra portal http://mahatenders.gov.in . The Superintending Engineer, Public Works Circle, Jalgaon Dist. Jalgaon is reserved the Rights to Accept or Reject the Tender. Conditional Tenders are not Accepted.

1) http://mahatenders.gov.in 2) http ://mahapwd .com if any change made in this e-tender is informed on above portal. 3) Notice board in the office of the Executive Engineer, P.W. Division, Amalner Dist. Jalgaon O.W. No./Tender/ 6004/2017 Sd/- (P.V.Morankar)Office of the Executive Engineer, Executive Engineer,P.W. Division, Amalner Dist. Jalgaon Public Works Division, AmalnerDate :- 26/12/2017 DGIPR/2017/2018/5202

Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Dharmendra Pradhan, addresses the audience

WASHINGTON: The move to end extension of H-1B visas would be "bad policy" and is contrary to the goals of a merit-based immigration sys-tem, the US Chamber of Com-merce said on Saturday over the Trump administration's reported plan that could result in self-deportation of around 700,000 Indians.

The H-1B programme offers temporary US visas that allow companies to hire highly skilled foreign profes-sionals working in areas with shortages of qualified Ameri-can workers. But since taking office last January, President Donald Trump has been crack-ing down on the scheme.

The proposal to curb H-1B

visa extensions which was part of Trump's 'Buy Ameri-can, Hire American' initiative that he vowed to launch during his election campaign trail, is being drafted by the Depart-ment of Homeland Security, reports said.

"It would be tremendously bad policy to tell highly skilled individuals who are apply-ing for permanent residency and have been working in the US for several years that they are no longer welcome," a US Chambers of Commerce spokesperson said.

"This policy would harm American business, our econ-omy, and the country. Further, it is inconsistent with the goals of a more merit-based immi-

gration system," the spokesper-son said. He was responding to reports that the administration is discussing a move to curb extensions to H-1B visa hold-ers who have completed their two-three years of H-1B visa terms and have been receiv-ing extensions because of their pending Green Card applica-tion status.

Such a move would impact some 500,000 to 750,000 highly skilled Indian technol-ogy professionals, academi-cians and research scholars in the US and result in their mov-ing back to India.

Indian American Con-gressman Raja Krishnamoor-thi hoped the administration "immediately rejects" the

proposal."I fully support efforts

to reform the H-1B system, and while our priority must continue to be improving advanced training for our domestic workforce, ending H-1B visa extensions would kneecap our economy and encourage companies to fur-ther offshore jobs, instead of making those investments here. It would also tear fami-lies apart and hurt businesses here. I hope the administra-tion immediately rejects this proposal," he said. The US is currently facing a skills gap of over six million jobs, and com-panies are struggling to find talent to fill these open posi-tions, Krishnamoorthi said. PTI

JAKARTA: India wants to evolve a regional architecture based on the twin principles of shared security and shared prosperity, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Saturday as she called for a deeper economic integration with the "dynamic" ASEAN region. Swaraj, who inaugu-rated the 5th Round Table of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) India Net-work of Think Tanks here, emphasised on enhancing mar-itime security, trade and invest-ment, education and cultural heritage among the grouping.

"These are important mark-ers in our engagement with South East Asia, in enhancing our strategic ties with ASEAN across 3 Cs. These 3Cs are com-merce, connectivity and cul-ture," she said.

Swaraj, who arrived here yesterday from Thailand on the second leg of her three-nation tour, said both India and ASEAN countries are maritime nations, with a rich and glori-ous history of maritime trade.

"We have energised our ancient links in a contempo-rary setting, to become a driv-ing force in Asia's resurgence," she said. "As a mature and responsible nation, one of India s foreign policy interests, is to evolve a regional architecture

based on the twin principles of shared security, and shared prosperity," she said.

"This was enunciated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015, in his vision of SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region). It recognises the central role played by the seas and oceans around us in pro-moting sustainable economic progress in a secure and stable environment."

She said the Indo Pacific region is increasingly seen as a connectivity pathway - much of the worlds trade passes through these oceans.

"These waters must not only get better connected, but remain free from traditional and non-traditional threats, that impede free movement of people, goods and ideas. Respect for international law, notably UNCLOS, in ensuring this is, therefore imperative," she said.

She said India and ASEAN

share a common vision for global commerce and maritime domain and New Delhi looks forward to working closely with the grouping in a range of activities.

She called for cooperation in blue economy, coastal sur-veillance, building off- shore patrolling capabilities, hydro-graphic services and infor-mation sharing for increased maritime domain awareness.

She noted that a deeper economic integration with the "dynamic" ASEAN region, is an important aspect of India's Act East Policy. ASEAN is India's 4th largest trading partner, accounting for 10.2 per cent of India s total trade.

India is ASEAN's 7th largest trading partner. Trade is back on track and registered an 8 per cent increase in 2016- 17, as compared to the previous year.

She said India wants to pro-mote dialogue among ASEAN and Indian business and trade associations to further enhance bilateral trade and investment.

She invited the scholars, academics and think tanks present at the round table to offer new ideas, for a greater integration of ASEAN Eco-nomic Community with India and identify collaborative opportunities in investment, trade and services sector. PTI

CORPORATE KALEIDOSCOPE

Usha Ananthasubramanian, MD and CEO, Allahabad Bank inaugurated, Aadhaar Enrolment Centre at its Kolkata Main Branch, 14 India Exchange Place Kolkata. The General Manager of the Bank for Financial Inclusion Sudhanshu Gaur, Deputy General Manager, Financial Inclusion P S Azad, Deputy General Manager & Branch Head Kolkata Main Branch Pawan Lata Kaul, the customers of the bank and staff members of the Bank were present on the occasion

SINGAPORE: Indian ports are expected to generate a profit of Rs 7,000 crore this year, Road Transport, High-ways and Shipping Minis-ter Nitin Gadkari said on Saturday.

Addressing some 3,000 delegates at the Asean-India Pravasi Bhartiya Divas here, he highlighted the profitability of investments in Indian projects, and underlined the potential of a wide range of projects.

"For this year, we are expecting a profit of 7000 crore from port operations (as) all ports are making prof-its," said Gadkari, pointing out that it would be more than double from Rs 3,000 crore three years ago.

Six new port projects were being planned, said Gadkari, who inaugurated the gather-

ing where over nine sessions are being held on all aspects of business opportunities in India.

He invited Asean investors to participate in Indian infra-structure projects, as the pace of development is accelerated.

He pointed out the 28 km per day of road completion, up significantly about three years ago. The target is to com-plete 40 km per day, added Gadkari.

He also gave a progress update on projects, saying 60-70 per cent of work has already started on India's road connection to Myanmar, Ban-gladesh, Bhutan and Nepal. The Mumbai special economic zone has attracted 40 com-panies, including one from Taiwan which has offered Rs 6,000 cr investment. PTI

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia announced on Saturday it had boosted stipends and bene-fits for citizens to cushion the impact of economic reforms including the kingdom's first ever taxes after an oil price slump.

Most working Saudi Arabi-ans are employed by the state and, like nationals in other energy-flush Gulf monarchies, have long benefited from a generous welfare system.

After the 2014 oil market crash, Saudi Arabia as well as the neighbouring United Arab Emirates announced a five percent value-added tax on most goods and services which took effect at the start of this year.

In a move that aims to "soften the impact of economic reforms on Saudi households," King Salman issued a royal decree late Friday ordering a 1,000 riyal ( 267, 222 euros) living allowance for military personnel and public servants.

Student stipends will be increased by 10 percent, an official statement said.

The oil-rich Gulf has long been a tax-free haven for both high-income households and migrant labourers, who fre-quently rely on remittances to support their families back home. PTI

NEW DELHI: Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Saturday hit out at the government over lower growth estimates for the current fiscal, saying the worst fears of an imminent economic slowdown have come true. There is a decline in new proj-ects and fresh investment, Chidambaram claimed in a statement.

The informal sector is reeling under the ill effects of demonetisation. Job creation is abysmal, exports are plunging, and manu-facturing sector growth has slowed down. The agriculture sector has been hit hard and rural despair is abundant, he claimed.

Job creation remained the "single big-gest failure" of the BJP government. The bank credit growth was extremely slug-gish and it did not bode well for the econ-omy, he said.

"The worst fears of an imminent eco-nomic slowdown have come true. The Modi government’s tall claims of India growing at a robust growth rate have evap-orated in thin air,” Chidambaram said.

"No amount of sugar coating, false bra-vado and rhetoric along with headlines management can conceal the stark reality. Our fears and warnings have proved true," the Congress leader said.

He said the recent social discontent could be a "direct manifestation of this eco-nomic slowdown, which the government was conveniently hiding". It was time the government stopped making tall claims and did some solid work, he said.

Citing government data, the former finance minister said the GDP growth rate was 8 per cent in 2015-16, 7.1 per cent in 2016-17. It is estimated at 6.5 per cent in 2017-18, "which proves there is a slowdown".

A decline in economic activity and growth meant loss of millions of jobs, he said. While the GDP growth is estimated at 6.5 per cent during 2017-18 as compared to 7.1 per cent in 2016-17, the anticipated growth of real GVA at basic prices in 2017-18 is 6.1 per cent as against 6.6 per cent in 2016-17, he said.

Retail inflation soared to a 15-month high of 4.88 per cent in November and industrial output hit a three-month low of 2.2 per cent in October, he pointed out.

"The investment picture remains bleak... The manufacturing sector has seen the sharpest fall and fiscal deficit is likely to overshoot the budget estimates of 3.2 per cent of GDP," the Congress leader said.

Indian ports set to double their profit, says Gadkari

Fears of imminent economic slowdown have come true: PC

Saudi boosts citizen benefits as taxes bite

Ending extension of H-1B visas bad policy: US body

6| KOLKATA|SUNDAY, 7 JANUARY 2018|millenniumpost

mp

WorldAll options on table to deal with Pak: WHWASHINGTON: The US is keeping “all options” on the table apart from sus-pending about USD 2 billion in security aid to Pakistan to put pressure on it to take decisive action against the Taliban and the Haqqani network and elimi-nate their safe havens, the White House warned on Saturday.

The US on Friday suspended about USD 2 billion in security aid to Paki-stan over it failure to crack down on militants. The freezing of all security assistance to Pakistan comes after Pres-ident Donald Trump in a New Year’s Day tweet accused the country of giving nothing to the US but “lies and deceit” and providing “safe haven” to terrorists in return for USD 33 billion aid over the last 15 years.

“The US does have a range of tools that we’re looking at beyond just the security assistance issue to deal with Pakistan and to try to convince it to crack down on the Taliban and Haqqani network,” a senior Trump administra-tion official told reporters. “Certainly no one should doubt the US resolve to address this threat and all options I would say will be on the table,” said the official on condition of anonymity.

The suspended amount include USD 255 million in the Foreign Mili-tary Funding (FMF) for the fiscal year 2016 as mandated by Congress.

It also includes USD 900 million in the Coalition Support Funds (CSF) money to Pakistan for the fiscal year 2017. In addition, the Department of Defence has suspended other unspent money from previous fiscal years.

While some policy makers have been asking the White House to revoke the non-NATO ally status of Paki-stan and put pressure on the country through multilateral institutions like

the International Monetary Fund and the United Nations, Pentagon generals have indicated unilateral actions.

However, the official refrained from divulging any of the options that the administration is considering against Pakistan.“I’m not able to comment on specific steps at this time.But nobody should doubt our resolve in trying to address these threats. We’re looking at all options. We hope that we can coop-erate with Pakistan. But we do have options that we’re considering,” the offi-cial said.

The US wants action against the existing safe havens of the Taliban and the Haqqani network and demolish its ability to carry out strikes across the border in Afghanistan, the Official said and expressed hope that Pakistan would take actions that the US was seeking.“...that will allow the relationship to return to a more positive trajectory,” the offi-cial said.

In August, while unveiling his new

South Asia strategy, Trump had accused Pakistan of giving “safe haven to agents of chaos, violence, and terror,” and said the time had come “for Pakistan to dem-onstrate its commitment to civilisation, order, and to peace”.

Trump’s new policy, the official said, is driven by the his desire to have a suc-cessful strategy in Afghanistan.

“We firmly believes that for the future of the region, Pakistan needs to crack down on these terrorist ele-ments. Unless they take a comprehen-sive approach to the terrorism problem it is going to threaten US interests and everybody’s interests including Pakistan s,” the official said.

He said the announcement of the suspension of the security assistance to Pakistan clearly reflected the US’ frus-tration over Pakistan’s failure to crack down on all terrorists who find shelter on its territory. “There has been ample time for Pakistan to show it is taking our request seriously. Unfortunately, we

have not seen the kind of meaningful action that we were seeking,” the White House official rued.

Responding to a question, the offi-cial said US has “a number of tools in its toolkit” and can “take unilateral” steps.

But at this time, the US prefers to cooperate with Pakistan and is hopeful about it, the official said.And we want to indicate Pakistan our seriousness about the issue of dealing with safe havens,” the official said.

Meanwhile, Defence Secretary Jim Mattis said the US would restore the suspended security assistance to Pak-istan if it takes action against terror-ist groups.

“We would restore the aid if we see decisive movements against the terror-ists, who are as much of a threat against Pakistan as they are against us,” Mattis told reporters.

The US is still working with Paki-stan, he said, but refrained from going into details.

“The specific individual things we’re doing are best handled in private, to ensure that we can be most productive.

And that’s what we’re working now,” he said. Mattis had travelled to Pakistan last month for talks with the top Paki-stani leadership.

“There’s a campaign plan now that starts regionally. So we started thinking about India and Pakistan and Afghani-stan. We reinforced some of our forces there.

So we started thinking about India and Pakistan and Afghanistan. We rein-forced some of our forces there, because we found some forces didn’t have the American advisers they needed, and the ones with advisers seemed to always win. The ones without them did not fare so well,” he said. AGENCIES

China remains on snowstorm alert, 13 lives

lost so far

Iran Foreign Ministry

The Iranian people see no value in the opportunistic remarks by American officials and Trump

GOVERNMENT OF MAHARASHTRA Public Works (South) Division, Pune - 411 001

Phone No. 020/26121765 Web-www.mahapwd.com & e-mail-integratedpune.ee@mahapwd.com

SHORT E-TENDER NOTICE NO.24 FOR 2017-2018. On line e-Tenders in B-2 Form for the following work invited by Executive Engineer, P.W.(South) Division, Pune. From Reputed and experienced Contractors / Firms who fulfill the terms and condition of tender and having experience of similar type of work. Bids document can be downloaded from website https://maharashtra.etenders.in Superintending Engineer reserves all rights to accept or reject bids. Conditional bids will not be accepted.

Note :- 1. All eligible/interested contractors are download and mandated to get enrolled on e-tendering portal “http://

maharashtra.etenders.in” and further need to empaneled online on sup portal “http://pwd.maharashtra.etenders.in” in the appropriate category applicable to them.

2. The process of online tenders Quarries and Digital certificate contact mention below address :- Sify Technotigies Ltd Nextenders (India) Pvt. Ltd. On 020-25315555/ 25315556 (Pune)

3. It is mandatory to submit all tender papers on line and all the payment towards EMD and cost of Tender forms will be done online only.Generally RTGS/NFT requires time to update , hence Time will 23.00 hrs. is given to bidder please note that you should complete activity at least one day before for safer side)

4. Other term and condition Displayed in online e-tender forms. Right to reject any or all online bid of work without assigning any reasons there of is reserved.

5. Above Tender Notice is displayed on P.W.D. website “www.mahapwd.com” Sd/-(D.N. Deshpande) Executive Engineer,

DGIPR/2017/2018/5218 Public Work (South) Division, Pune 1.

Hafiz Saeed slaps ̀ 100 mn 'defamation' notice on Pak min

LAHORE: JuD chief Hafiz Saeed has served a Rs 100 million legal notice to Paki-stan's defence minister for "defamation", days after the government banned the Jamaat-ud- Dawah from col-lecting donations following US President Donald Trump's out-burst against Islamabad's shel-tering of terrorists.

"I call upon you (minister Khurram Dastgir) to send a written apology to my client (Saeed) within 14 days and seek his forgiveness and promise to be careful in future, failing which criminal proceedings under section 500 of Pakistan Penal Code punishable for two years will initiated against you," said the notice by lawyer A K Dogar who served it on behalf of Mumbai attack mastermind Saeed.

Pakistan banned JuD and FIF and other organisations from collecting donations on Monday, after Trump accused Islamabad of giving nothing to the US but "lies and deceit" and providing "safe haven" to terrorists.

Dastgir had said that action against JuD, Falah-i- Insa-niat Foundation (FIF) and other organisations had been taken so that "terrorists can-not open fire on schoolchildren

anymore".Dogar claimed the JuD has

no nexus with Lashkar-e-Taiba and the UN resolution against it is "illegal".

He alleged the minister had caused "immense damage" to the "reputation" of Saeed and JuD by issuing an "irrespon-sible" statement.

Dastgir had also said that Pakistan did not act against Jamaat-ud- Dawah and FIF under "pressure" from the US but after "serious deliberations".

The government has banned companies and indi-viduals from making donations to the JuD, the FIF and other organisations on the UN Secu-rity Council's sanctions list.

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan also issued a notifica-tion prohibiting the collection of donations by JuD, the front organisation of LeT. AGENCIES

BEIJING: China has main-tained its blue alert for intense snowfall in the central parts of the country, which has so far killed 13 people, the National Meteorological Centre said on Saturday.

The NMC issued a blue snowstorm alert, the least severe of its four-tiered alert system after red, orange and yellow, for both Saturday and Sunday.

The agency said it expected blizzards to dump 4 to 8 cen-timetres of snow in parts of Shaanxi, Shanxi, Henan, Anhui and Hubei provinces and some areas could be hit with more than 10 centimetres, Xinhua news agency reported.

The NMC warned resi-dents of the affected areas to stay indoors and asked authori-ties to take precautionary mea-sures for roads, highways and electric and telecommunica-tion systems. The first snow of 2018 affected large parts of northwestern, central and east-ern China since Wednesday, killing at least 13 people and damaging houses, agriculture and power facilities, according to local authorities.

The affected area was spread over 13,100 hectares of farmland, out of which more than 900 hectares had been destroyed, causing a loss of $78.6 million. AGENCIES

SAN FRANCISCO: Once again sidestepping whether Donald Trump's tweets vio-lates its terms of service, the micro-blogging platform has clarified that it will not block world leaders from tweeting.

Although it didn't directly name Trump, in a blog post called "World Leaders on Twit-ter", the company said on Fri-day that there has been a lot of discussion about political figures and world leaders on the platform.

"Blocking a world leader from Twitter or removing their controversial tweets would hide important information people should be able to see and debate," the company said.

"It would also not silence that leader, but it would cer-tainly hamper necessary dis-cussion around their words and actions." Twitter did not block Trump for his "nuclear button" tweet that stormed the social media which, many thought, raised prospect of nuclear war with North Korea.

Trump declared that his nuclear button was "much bigger" and "more pow-erful" than North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's after the latter threatened the US

about Pyongyang's nuclear capabilities.

A number of users reported to the tweet, Tech-Crunch reported, with the

expectation that threatening a war one is capable of starting should violate Twitter's revised "Terms of Service", given the company's recent crackdown on violent threats.

In December, Twitter began enforcing new rules around violent and hateful content posted to its platform to reduce the amount of online abuse, hate speech, violent threats and harassment asso-ciated with its service.

"You may not make spe-cific threats of violence or wish for the serious physical harm, death, or disease of an indi-vidual or group of people," as per Twitter's rule about vio-lent threats.

In response to Trump's threat on Twitter, the com-pany earlier said that it had reviewed the case and "found that there was no violation of the Twitter rules against abu-sive behaviour".

Moreover, the rules do not apply to whatever Trump posts because of who he is and the "newsworthiness" of his state-ments, Twitter added.

In the latest blog post, the company said it reviews tweets by leaders within the political context that defines them, and enforce its rules accordingly.

"No one person's account drives Twitter's growth, or influences these decisions.” AGENCIES

Twitter clarifies why it won't block Trump

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian government has approved a new attempt to find the wreckage of Malaysia Air-lines Flight 370 in the Indian Ocean, the transport minister said on Saturday .

A US-based company early this week dispatched the search vessel Seabed Constructor to look for debris in the south-ern Indian Ocean, three and half years after the Boeing 777 disappeared on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 227 passengers and 12 crew.

The governments of Malay-sia, China and Australia called off the 1,046-day official search on January 17 last year without solving the mystery.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau’s final report on the search conceded that authorities were no closer to knowing the reasons for the plane’s disappearance, or its exact location.

“The basis of the offer from Ocean Infinity is based on ‘no cure, no fee,’” Malaysian Trans-port Minister Liow Tiong Lai

said Saturday. It means that payment will be made only if the company finds the wreckage.

“That means they are will-ing to search the area of 25,000 square kilometers pointed out by the expert group near the Australian waters,” he said.

However, he said, “I don’t want to give too much hope ...

to the (next of kin).” He said

his government was commit-ted to continue with the search.

He did not offer other details.

Ocean Infinity said in this week’s statement that the ves-sel, which left the South Afri-can port of Durban on Tuesday, was taking advantage of favor-able weather to move toward “the vicinity of the possible search zone.” AGENCIES

Malaysia gives nod to new search for missing airliner

WASHINGTON: A United Airlines flight was forced to make an unscheduled stop in Alaska after two of the air-craft’s toilets were vandalised with excrement, officials said.

The plane, carrying over 200 passengers from Chi-cago to Hong Kong, landed in Anchorage on Thursday evening due to a “passenger smearing faeces everywhere”, Fox News reported on Friday.

The police said the man, a US resident of Vietnamese ori-gin, made no threats. It was not clear what led to the incident taking place.

“We received a report of a passenger who had messed up the bathrooms with his own faeces,” Anchorage Airport police spokesman Joe Gam-ache said. The passenger, a 22-year-old whose name was not released, was co-opera-tive and faced “no appropriate charges for anything criminal”, Gamache added. The man was handcuffed by the police at the Airport. AGENCIES

Flight force lands due to fliers faeces DHAKA: A new UN study

has revealed that over 90 per cent of the recent Rohingya refugee arrivals in Bangladesh are under-nourished despite receiving emergency food assistance.

The World Food Pro-gramme (WFP) Rohingya Emergency Vulnerability Assessment and food secu-rity sector partners study in November and December 2017 raised concerns over limited access to a well diversi-fied and balanced diet, deputy UN spokesman Farhan Haq announced on Friday.

As a result, he said, the WFP will scale up its e-voucher pro-grammes in 2018 to reach new arrivals in Cox's Bazar district, reports Xinhua news agency.

Some 90,000 people are enrolled in WFP's e-voucher programmes where they receive a monthly amount on a pre-paid debit card which can be used in allocated shops to buy 19 different foods, includ-ing rice, lentils, fresh vegeta-bles, eggs and dry fish, Haq said.

The e-programmes contrast with WFP's food distribution program for new arrivals which include rice, vegetable oil and lentils. It's an emergency ration designed to provide basic cal-ories, but lacking in dietary diversity, the spokesman said.

The study also recommends the scaling up of a livelihood support programme within host communities prioritising especially women who have no income, he said, adding that the WFP is providing food and food vouchers to more than 700,000 refugees.

More than 650,000 Rohing-yas have fled Myanmar for Ban-gladesh since August 25, 2017, when rebel Rohingya militia launched deadly attacks against security forces in Myanmar's Rakhine state.

The action allegedly trig-gered retaliation attacks by Myanmar vigilantes and gov-ernment troops, forcing Rohingyas to flee into Bangla-desh. There already were about 300,000 Rohingyas who had fled earlier into the neighbour-ing country. AGENCIES

90% Rohingya refugees in B’desh under-nourished: UN

Pakistani religious students protest against U.S. President Donald Trump in Lahore, Pakistan. PIC/PTI

Pakistan banned Jamaat-ud-Dawah and FIF and other organisations from collecting donations

Govts of Malaysia, China and Australia called off the 1,046-day official search on January 17 last year without solving the mystery.

Imran Khan marries for third time? Aides deny report

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's opposition leader and cricketer-turned politician Imran Khan is believed to have tied the knot for the third time with a woman he used to visit for spiritual guidance, a Pakistani daily claimed.

The leaders of his party have, however, rejected the report. The News reported that Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman tied the knot on the night of January 1 in Lahore and next day went straight from there to appear before the anti-terrorism court in Islamabad that granted him bail.

The daily claimed that the 'nikah' was performed by Mufti Saeed, a member of the party's core committee.

The report said the wedding ceremony took place in Lahore at the residence of a close confidante of the bride who also happens to be a friend of the leader.

The daily claimed that the bride filed for the dissolution of her marriage with a government servant some months back. It said that Khan

came in touch with the woman for spiritual guidance a couple of years ago.

Khan's political secretary Awn Chaudry and his party's spokesman Naeem Ul Haq categorically denied the reports.

"Ridiculous! When SC (Supreme Court) deprives IK's detractors from doing accusatory stories of corruption, they create stories of his "marriage"! Somewhat pathetic too! tweeted party leader Shireen Mazari. AGENCIES

The report said the wedding ceremony took place in Lahore at the residence of a close confidante of the bride who also happens to be a friend of the leader

Manchester City FC CEO Ferran Soriano

India is a major opportunity for football because there is talent and passion and we are very positive about the development of football in the country

mp

Sportmillennium post | KOLKATA|SUNDAY, 7 JANUARY 2018 | 7

South Africa force India to get all-out for 209 runsCAPE TOWN: South Africa reached 65 for two in their sec-ond innings after bowling India out for 209 on the second day of the opening Test at New-lands here on Saturday.

The hosts have taken a lead of 142 runs as Harik Pandya’s fighting knock of 93 lifted India out of the hole but that didn’t stop South Africa from getting a 77-run first-innings lead.

Cheteshwar Pujara battled hard as India batted sedately to reach 76 for 4 at lunch against South Africa on the second day of the first cricket Test.

At the break, Pujara was unbeaten on 26 (91 balls, 5 fours) while Ravichandran Ashwin was batting on 12 (22 balls, 2 fours).

Only 48 runs were scored off 25 overs during the first ses-sion in which Rohit Sharma (11, 59 balls) was trapped leg before by Kagiso Rabada after he did all the hardwork during the first hour.

Starting from overnight score of 28 for 3, Pujara and Rohit were ready to show patience and frustrate the opposition bowlers.

They were content playing out deliveries and preserving wickets rather than scoring runs.

Vernon Philander (1/14 in 10 overs) didn’t concede single run in his first five overs, keep-

ing a tight leash on Rohit.He beat the batsman on

a few occasions but it wasn’t enough to induce an edge.

Morkel (1/17 in 8 overs) came on as first change just before the drinks’ break and immediately he extracted more bounce from the surface.

India then crossed 50 in the 27th over. The visitors only added 17 runs in the first hour

of play.The big moment came

when Rabada (1/15) came on to bowl.

He looked like taking a wicket from the very start as he troubled Rohit with pace, bounce and movement.

Finally, in the 29th over, he succeeded in doing so, trapping Rohit plumb in-front. The bats-man used up a DRS review but the decision stayed in South

Africa’s favour.Pujara and Rohit had added

30 runs off 121 balls for the fourth wicket.

Ashwin and Pujara batted out the remainder of the ses-sion. The former looked for scoring opportunities more than his partner and quickly moved into double figures to give some respectability to the Indian total going into the lunch break. AGENCIES

Ganadeep guides Minerva to a 1-0 win over Gokulam in ISL

KOZHIKODE: Bali Ganadeep’s solitary strike in the first half helped Minerva Punjab FC notch up a 1-0 win over hosts Gokulam Kerala FC in an ISL match here on Saturday.

Ganadeep’s 19th minute goal made all the difference as Minerva left the EMS Corpora-tion Stadium here with all three points, while hosts Kerala were left empty-handed.

Odafa Okolie could have made his Hero I-League debut for the Kerala-based side mer-rier, had he found the back of the net with his first touch in the first minute of the game.

After making some posi-tive move earlier in the match, Gokulam Kerala FC slowly slipped into the shell as the visi-tors started to dominate.

The Bhutanese playmaker Chencho, who’s fondly called as CG7, made the damage work down the left flank and Gagan-deep made no mistake tapping his cross home in the 19th min-ute to open the scoring.

After the goal, the Punjab-based side continued to push harder to double the lead but they couldn’t breach the Ker-ala FC defence anymore till the halfway mark. Minerva Pun-jab FC unsettled Neroca FC from the second spot with 16 points from 7 matches whereas Gokulam Kerala FC dropped to the ninth spot with mere 4 points having played the same number of matches. AGENCIES

Aus take the lead over Eng as Khawaja nears Test best

SYDNEY: Australia took the lead over England as Usman Khawaja closed in on his high-est Test score in the final Ashes Test here on Saturday.

The Australians passed England’s 346 total nearing tea in the chase for a big innings lead to put pressure back onto the tourists heading into the final days of the match.

At tea on the third day, Khawaja was unconquered on 166 off 368 balls and just off his highest Test innings of 174 scored against New Zealand in Brisbane in 2015. Shaun Marsh reached his fourth half-century of the series and was 54 not out with Australia 365 for three, representing a lead of 19 runs with seven wickets intact.

It was the Pakistan-born Khawaja’s sixth Test hundred

and first in Sydney and came at a time when some critics were calling for his sacking despite scoring two half-centuries ear-lier in the series.

Marsh survived a review on 22 for a catch behind off Joe Root after the “Snicko” and “Hot Spot” technology could not find supporting evidence.

England earlier claimed Steve Smith’s prized wicket before lunch for 83 when, with a fourth century of the series beckoning, Moeen Ali caught and bowled the Austra-lia skipper.

Smith, who looked untrou-bled batting patiently through the morning session, left the field shaking his head after bat-ting for 253 minutes and facing 158 balls.

Smith and Khawaja seized

the momentum for Australia with a 188-run stand as Eng-land chase a face-saving win after trailing 3-0 in the series.

The skipper has been the difference between the two sides in the series with three centuries, including a Test best 239 in Perth.

Smith has now amassed 687 runs in the series at an average of 137.40.

There was drama in the final over before lunch when Khawaja, on 132, survived a review for leg before wicket but only after debutant leg-spin-ner Mason Crane had been found to have overstepped for a no-ball.

To rub further salt into England’s wounds, the ball would have have hit Khawaja’s stumps. AGENCIES

Federer remains unbeaten at

Hopman CupPERTH: Roger Federer’s perfect start to the new year continued when he dismantled the game of world num-ber four Alexander Zverev in the final of the mixed teams Hopman Cup on Saturday.

Unbeaten in his three singles matches in the tournament prior to the final as he prepared for his Aus-tralian Open title defence, the 19-time Grand Slam champion dropped the first set against Zverev, but recovered to win in three sets, 6-7 (4/7), 6-0, 6-2.

It gave Switzerland a 1-0 lead in the final, with Federer aiming to add to the title he won in Perth with Martina Hingis in 2001.

Zverev came out all guns blazing in a high-intensity first set where both players produced moments of brilliance, with both holding multiple break points.

However, the young German managed to prevail in the tie- breaker as he aimed to repeat his singles win over Federer at the Hopman Cup last year, when all three sets were decided by tie-breakers.

Federer’s frustration was obvious, dropping his racquet after missing an easy volley and then launching a ball towards the roof.

It soon passed as he started to blunt the German’s power and his superior court craft turned the momentum. AGENCIES

Kyrgios too good for Dimitrov in Brisbane Int’l

BRISBANE: Controversial Australian Nick Kyrgios pro-duced two sets of superb ten-nis to see off top seed Grigor Dimitrov and reach the final of the Brisbane International.

Kyrgios came back from losing the first set to win 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 and set up a decider against American Ryan Harrison.

Harrison had earlier ended the fairytale run of 18-year- old wildcard Alex de Minaur 4-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 in two hours and 37 minutes.

Kyrgios admitted after his quarter-final win over Alex-andr Dolgopolov that he some-times turns his talent on and off “like a tap”.

And as he has done all week, he started slowly against defending champion Dimitrov, losing the first set to a single break of serve.

But he came out firing in the second set, breaking Dimi-trov twice and taking just 30

minutes to level the match.Kyrgios served superbly in

the second and third sets, win-ning over 80 percent of points on his first serve and facing just one break point.

Dimitrov, on the other hand, has struggled with his serve all week and Kyrgios was able to take full advantage, with his returns keeping the Bulgar-ian under constant pressure.

He cracked at 3-3 in the third set and was broken, and the way Kyrgios was serving, the match was as good as over.

“I hadn’t beaten him before (so) going into Saturday, I knew that I was going to do some-thing a little different,” Kyrgios said. The Australian said he wanted to disrupt Dimitrov’s rhythm and be aggressive.

“He played a pretty solid first set, I played a pretty loose game to get broken,” Kyrgios said.

“From then on, I felt pretty in control of the match.” AGENCIES

Aizawl FC stand in way as Mohun Bagan eye revivalKOLKATA: Mohun Bagan will seek a revival of fortunes under new coach Shan-karlal Chakraborty when they face reign-ing champions Aizawl FC in an I-League fixture at the Salt Lake Stadium here on Sunday.

Having kicked off their campaign in style that included a 1-0 win over bitter foes East Bengal in the Kolkata derby, Mohun Bagan’s title aspiration has dwindled as they slipped to fifth place in the table after seven matches.

Mohun Bagan last won against Churchill Brothers on December 10 and dropped points for three consecutive

matches before suffering their first-ever home defeat.

The Mariners succumbed to a 1-2 defeat to a 10-man Chennai City FC, their first defeat of the season that came at their home ground, and moments later their 2014-15 I-League winning coach Sanjoy Sen stepped down.

Sen’s understudy, Chakraborty, was ele-vated to the chief coach’s position and his first priority would be to help the players regain self-confidence.

“Keeping in mind Mohun Bagan’s sup-port base, when the team suffers back-to-back setbacks, more than technical you

need to bring back the self-confidence of the players. And that’s my priority at this point of time,” Chakraborty said after tak-ing over.

The key to success will be the recov-ery of linchpin, Sony Norde, who missed Bagan’s last two matches and consulted Dr Anant Joshi for his torn meniscus in right leg. Their defence will be bolstered by a fit-again Arijit Bagui. Both the teams are on 10 points but Mohun Bagan are just ahead of Aizawl FC on goal difference.

The champions look to have shaken off a rusty start to the season with two wins on the trot. AGENCIES

HALEP WINS SHENZHEN AS SVITOLINA TAKES BRISBANE TITLESHENZHEN: World number one Simona Halep and number six Elina Svitolina continued their preparations for the Australian Open with contrasting tournament wins. Halep recovered from losing the second set at the Shenzhen Open in China to beat reign-ing champion Katerina Siniakova 6-1 2-6 6-0. Earlier, Svitolina claimed the first WTA title of the year at the Brisbane In-ternational. The Ukrainian beat finalist Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-2 6-1. AGENCIES

Hardik Pandya scores 50 on the second day of the first Test between South Africa and India at Newlands Stadium, in Cape Town, South Africa on Saturday PIC/PTI

Chhattisgarh Rural Roads Development Aency Vikas Bhawan, Civil Lines, Raipur (CG.)

Press Notice NIT No. 240/262 /RC-4/CGRRDA/2018 Raipur Date 04.01.2018

Superintending Engineer / Convener (Tender Cell) Chhattisgarh. Rural Road Development Agency, Vikas Bhawan, Civil Line, Raipur, invites on behalf of Governor of Chhattisgarh EQI and tender for engagement of project implementation consultant (PIC) for Supervision and Quality Control of roads, Bridges and culverts including balance work under Mukhya Mantri Gram Sadak Vikas Yojana in district (Korba, Mungeli, Bilaspur, Raigarh, Janjgir champa, Balodabazar-Bhatapara, Raipur, Dhamtari, Gariyaband, Mahasamund, Rajnandgaon, Durg, Bemetara, Balod, Kabirdham, koriya, Balrampur, Surajpur, Ambikapur and Jashpur) of Chhattisgarh. The consultancy firm who are willing to do this work shall submit their EOI, EMD and tender in separate envelops. Tender document can be downloaded between 09.01.18 to 24.01.2018, 5.00 PM from Notice Section of website (https://eproc.cgstate.gov.in) . The tender document completed in all respect with all other information as desire in tender document should be submitted to Superintending Engineer / Convener (Tender Cell) Chhattisgarh Rural Road Development Agency, Vikas Bhawan, Civil Line, Raipur upto 31.01.2018, 5.00 PM Detailed NIT and other details can be viewed and downloaded from our website http://eproc.cgstate.gov.in ( Notice Section) after 09.01. 2018, 5.00 PM. In future any related corrigendum would be seen in the notice section of the website. samvad 84439/3 Sd/-

Superintending Engineer/converer ( Tender Cell)Chhattisgarh Rural Roads Development Agency

Vikas Bhawan, Civil Lines, Raipur (C.G.)

mp8| KOLKATA|SUNDAY, 7 JANUARY 2018|millenniumpost

In retrospect

Entering the Capital’s famed Hauz Khas Village (HKV) one can spot innumerable bars and restaurants, and people going about enjoying

the nightlife of the city. “It feels as though we are in another world. You have good food to eat, you can dance and if anybody wants liquor it is also there in abundance, all under one roof called Hauz Khas Vil-lage,” defined Aditi a regular visitor of the party den.

More than 1400 kilometres away in Mumbai, a fire which broke out in Kamala Mills killed more than 20 people shocking the entire nation, on December 28, 2017. It was an alert-like situation for several areas across the country, especially in the Hauz Khas area, to take serious steps in prevent-ing fire disasters.

“One commercial lane of 600 meters have around 21 bars and restaurants, and needs to take proper precautions to pre-vent fire,” said Satinder Sarna, President, Hauz Khas Village traders association. He further added that they were alert post the incident in Mumbai and are also trying to make sure that no similar incident occurs here in the Village, which is claimed to be more than 200 years old. According to the restaurant owners precautions for fire is being taken as per existing guide-lines in the law.

Narrow lanes and stairs feature the Vil-lage which connects restaurants to bars or tattoo shops. One such building numbered 30 in the area, is owned by Raj Kumar Dhingra, and has around six to seven res-taurants operating presently. According to the owner, the building has its own pump-ing system through which they can control the situation if a fire breaks out at any part of the building.

Explaining the engine pump, Anil a plumber who attends to the machine told Millennium Post that they have sev-eral engine pumps; one type can be run through diesel while another through electricity and every floor of the building has proper fire safety measures. Dhingra also expressed his regret on the Kamala Mills fire incident, calling it a sad news. “There should be proper precautions for fire. Every building should have fire safety measures for the security of partons,” said Dhingra.

Another restaurant owner, who wished to remain anonymous stated that in case of fire, it is controlled via teamwork. There was a small electric fire in HKV last year and all the restaurants got together and controlled it in 10 minutes.

The fire department has done fire drills in HKV. He further stated, “In the last 25

years there has never been any serious fire issue – although we are trying to com-municate with the concerned authorities to help us in solving this issue.” Being the president, Satinder Sarna also has two res-taurants, he stated in the New Years eve an alert was there. They had taken proper precautionary steps for the safety of the party-goers, from medical attendants to fire tenders, all were arranged.

The village is not only the hub of Delhi-ites but also foreign tourists come to enjoy here. One of the visitors, Aditya, a resident of South Delhi, who was there with his female friend stated that they have seen the fire incident in Kamala Mills in news. “Pre-caution is important, Hauz Khas has been a tourist hub, I have never seen any fire break out here, and hope nothing happens. It’s a fantastic place to be in,” said Aditya.

According to the traders association, in

the past few years, they have seen a major development in the growing number of pubs and restaurants. With less than 40 pubs in HKV, they all claim to be fully compliant with every single license includ-ing fire NOC and tourism license.

“The old feel of the village is retained, in the architectural influence of the build-ings, the creative interiors and above all

the beckoning charm of history, culture with a feeling which is old but still warm,” said Sarna.

Reasons behind high casualties:The Delhi Fire Service came to help the

people who visit bars and pubs for celebra-tions. Talking to Millennium Post, Chief Fire Officer Atul Garg said that there are

several reasons owing to high causalities in pubs.

“In most pubs there is a single entry and exit point and if a fire breaks out, it can be tough to escape,” said Garg. He fur-ther described some other reasons being the dim lighting and the artificially-created smoke in the pubs which might disable people from identifying a fire in the first place. Other than these, mostly people are under the influence of liquor in pubs due to which they cannot sense a fire. Because of the artificial smoke already present in the interiors, many might mistake a real fire accident to be artificial smoke, until it’s too late,” said chief fire officer.

According to Delhi Fire Service, if any person goes to a pub for celebrations he or she should make sure that they know the escape routes which will be vital if any fire incident takes place.

Only 400 restaurants have NOC in Delhi:

When asked how many restaurants have No Objection Certificates (NOC), a fire official stated that approximately 400 restaurants have them in the entire city. The official further added that if the restaurants have a seating capacity of less than 50 persons, they will not require ‘no objection’ certificates; and many restau-rants avoid the NOC procedure claiming to have less than 50 seats.

In Hauz Khas only four restaurants have NOCs. According to chief fire offi-cial, “In case there is a big fire, the streets in the village are not wide enough for a fire tender to move easily in case of an emer-gency. You cannot turn fire tender in the market as space is very less and it is con-gested,” said the fire official.

Delhi Police held meetings:Not only Fire Brigade but Delhi Police

have also conducted safety audit meetings recently with the restaurant and other eat-ery owners in which they have discussed about the safety and security of the pubs. “We told them to take care of few issues, like if there are any dark spots nearby their restaurants they, must make sure to install proper lighting and CCTV cameras,” said a senior police official. Deputy Commis-sioner of Police (South) Romil Baaniya recently held a meeting with the restaurant and pub owners in South District regard-ing the safety audit to keep a close watch on troublemakers helping police in main-taining public safety during celebrations.

Inspection unearths negligence:Taking the note of the ghastly incident

of Kamala Mills fire in Mumbai, Delhi Fire Service (DFS) conducted an inspection in restaurants especially in the crowded places to check whether they are follow-ing safety norms, and found that nine res-taurants lacking safety measures. When asked about the location of the restaurants, the senior fire official claimed that most of them are situated in Connaught Place.

Security concerns at bars:A recent case in Greater Kailash 1 has

raised a serious concerned about the secu-rity inside the bar. On December 31, a 30-year-old man was shot after an argu-ment over dance. Police claimed that the accused was caught by the public and later was arrested. The license of the bar where the man was shot at has been suspended by the licensing branch. Police claimed that they have also taken action against the concerned police personnel.

HAUZ KHAS VILLAGE: TRAGEDY WAITING TO HAPPEN

In context to the recent Kamala Mills fire accident in Mumbai, how safe is Delhi’s youth-famous party den Hauz Khas Village? Abhay Singh finds out whether the place has enough resources

and proper precautionary measures to prevent or fight off a fire accident

Trader association’s demand for more safety » The traders association wants no parking on the stretch of Aurobindo market to the village barrier.

» The main stretch of Hauz Khas village parking street should be declared a pe-destrian street as they have a DDA parking of more than 800 cars.

» There should be an underground water tank of a capacity of one lakh litres of water, provided in the DDA parking connected by a hydrant ring. For the move-ment of fire vehicles, there should be an emergency exit gate as well.

mp9| millennium post | KOLKATA|SUNDAY, 7 JANUARY 2018

Safari

With clock ticking at 12 in the daylight of September 6 2016, Govindi Devi of Talla Gaujini village, wrapped up her daily chores as usual and went

into the jungle to collect fodder for the cattle. She had been following this routine since the time she came to this village as a bride. Talla Gaujini is located just on the fringes of the southern boundary of Corbett National Park.

When she did not return home for hours, the family members along with other villagers started search in the jungle. Blood trails lead them to the partially eaten body of Govindi. Unfortunately, it was too late.

There were some pugmarks around her body. The news spread like a fire in the neighbouring villages. Forest officials and hundreds of villagers rushed to the spot and at first, the pugmarks were assumed to be that of a leopard. However, since the sugarcane and paddy harvest season was round the corner, and fields packed of full grown sugarcane and rice crop, the pugmarks could not be traced for a longer distance. The death of Govindi Devi resulted in frayed tempers in the villagers.

Initially, the forest department took it as a chance encounter but before the situation could have been analyzed, another incident was reported on 12th September 2016 from the adjoining Gor-akhpur village. This time the victim was Paramjit Singh. The dead body of young Paramjit was still holding on the sickle which had some Tiger hair signifying that he could give a blow before falling to the Jaws of death.

This killing was however important from the point of view of authorities… This incident made it clear that the accused was actually a tigress and not a leopard. Though, tigress was not reported on the scene, it was only her pugmarks which later became the evidence for the authorities.

The fear had embraced the villages neighboring Dhela range of the Corbett National Park. Agitated villagers had started making things difficult for the authorities. They carried out Protests and Agitations in the entire area.

Soon after the second incident, the forest department geared itself for action. Cage and camera traps were installed, a team of forest guards were deployed in the region and members of Rai Sikh community (trained in tracing blue bulls and other animals) were also included in the operation. Trained elephants from Corbett started patrolling the area… but the killer remained an enigma, and seemed unruffled by the developments.

To call tigress a man-eater at that moment would have been nothing, but a claim made in haste. Time went by as days turned into weeks but the for-est department could only locate her Pugmarks. All maneuver to corner her failed miserably. Moreover, the full grown sugarcane and paddy crop/fields giv-ing full camaflouge were making things much more

difficult for the authorities.In the meantime, the tigress made her

third move on September 26. The vic-tim was SumanNegi of Sewalkhaliya vil-lage. She was badly injured but fortunately, still alive. The entire village plummeted into panic right after this tragic episode. The forest depart-ment’s inability to tackle the menace made the vil-lagers livid with anger and forced the authorities to issue a death warrant.

On the evening of September 27, I received a call from a friend and former warden of Cor-bett National Park, Mr Upadhayay. As soon as he informed me about the warrant that had been issued, I realized the urgency of the situation and rushed to the spot along with my cameraman

Shahnawaz and friend AnkurAjmera. Upadhyay was waiting at the junction road at karanpur, some 5 kilometers from Ramnagar. I immediately moved to study and understand the area. A man eating tigress to be operating within just 8 sq kms of agriculture field for almost a month was an unprecedented and a very strange phenomenon.

This particular confrontation had indeed turned out to be much of a film sequence wherein helicop-ters and drones in the air and elephants as well as a team of more than 150 forest guards on the ground for almost month trying to corner the man eater. The tigress too, was smart enough to have fooled all of them. She was posing for the camera traps, enjoying the baits while making a narrow escape from the guns of the official hunters.

Next morning, while I was patrolling the area along with the search team, she crossed the gyp-sies with a blink of an eye. Before the hunters could have loaded their guns, she faded into the sugar-cane fields.

But, there was something else which stopped the hunters from shooting and that was likelyhood of somebody getting an accidental shot in the mob.

The gathering of onlookers seemed to be the biggest challenge for the department. Helicopters and drones did not seem to be the best gadgets to handle a man-eater. I stayed back for two days but was disgusted with the way a man-eater was being handled and decided to return back to Delhi leaving Shahnawaz there to cover the operation.

On the 3oth September when I was midst of a meeting, Shahnawaz called. I just crossed my fin-

gers while hoping that the tigress had been caught but to my dismay, No! The tigress had her best laid plans. Within just four days, she had attacked another women, Bhawani Devi of the same village where she had started her attacks from.

After her last attack on Gauri Patwal of Bha-wanipur Village on October 5, she went missing. Gauri was injured and undergoing treatment at a Hospital in Haldwani. No causalities had been reported after this, nor had she been trapped till then. Her last pugmarks were found near Dhanak-purGhati, a place just a stone’s throw from Corbett Jungle. She was probably moving back from where she had come.

On October 19, the Rai Sikhs which were included in the patrolling team traced the tigress near Gorakhpur village, where she made her sec-ond kill. This time they had decided to keep it con-fidential and waited for the morning. She was shot dead on the morning of 20th October, just hundred meters away from the house of Paramjit, the unfor-tunate second casualty.

Though calm had returned to the villages of Dhela range however there were many questions unanswered. Nestled amidst the foothills of the Himalayas, is the quaint state of Uttarakhand, embraced by the enchanting beauty of sal and oak, snow clad peaks and lush mountains. The state attracts hundreds and thousands of tourists every year and then there is Corbett National Park, the first to hold the baton of Project Tiger.

This beautiful state has its own set of problems. Besides the jaw dropping locales, there is something

rare, something unusual about this beautiful state which many among us are not aware of. Well, the place has a history of producing man-eaters, pre-cisely from the time of Jim Corbett.

Year after year, or rather I say month after month the state makes it to the headlines, and all for the wrong reasons. You may believe it or not, but according to one of the reports, around 400 people have died in some 14,000 villages that exist in prox-imity of the forests between the year 2000 (when the state of Uttarakhand was formed) and 2015.

Of these 400 people, around 241 were believed to have been killed by leopards. Further, these man-animal encounters have killed 800 leopards, 90 tigers, and 280 elephants during the same very period.

My statement, that the state has history of pro-ducing man-eaters, might have made you curious and probably looking for the reason behind it. I am sharing few of the recent incidents which will jus-tify my statement.

Jim Corbett managed to check-mate a wily leop-ard, but that was 90 years ago. The region is still not free from the menace of man-eating tigers & leop-ards, or an occasional elephant deciding to go on a rampage. The man-eating tigress which emerged here in 2014 had unleashed the same primal fear amongst masses which had gripped Rudraprayag in the days of Corbett.

The man-eating tigress had appeared unan-nounced in and around Uttar Pradesh’s district of Moradabad and Bijnor last year too. These are the districts on UP-Uttarakhand border. She killed six people in shockingly short span of 16 days.

Her tell-tale pugmarks at the scene of each kill-ing were the only evidence of her presence. The ter-ror which this tigress triggered in Uttar Pradesh is unheard of in recent memory but it too, vanished back into the Corbett.

For us who breathe in the comforts of cities, “man-animal conflict” is nothing more than a phrase which we all have read sometime in some column of a newspaper. But have we never ever realized the bitter realities linked to it?

Man-animal conflict in Uttarakhand has now reached an alarming proportion. Rapid changes in the forest ecosystem, mainly owing to excessive human intervention, climate change, food chain loss as well as occasional territorial fights have been coercing wild animals to stray into human habita-tions often and this will continue to happen – only locations and circumstances will change.

A bitter truth is, humans are indeed to be blamed. We have ruined jungles to build our homes and with that we have destroyed their natural habi-tat and prey base. Many people in the affected Uttarakhand region

have little idea of India’s success in tiger and leopard conservation. And here lies the crowning irony. The very same animals which are priceless to the world are but a monster to them. So who is more skewed in this particular instance, one may ask?

(For already published stories and films on wildlife by the writer, which have run on National Geographic channel, Doordarshan National chan-

nel and Doordarshan (India), please log on to www.rahejagroup.org)

Man eaters of UttarakhandPHOTOS & TEXT: NAVIN M RAHEJA

When in the wild, don’t behave like one. You are simply an outsider and its their domain. So behave carefully

“In an area in which an established man-eater is operating everyone suspects their own shadows, and every sound heard at night is attributed to the man-eater” – JIM CORBETT

NAVIN M RAHEJA is a wildlife enthusiast and a passionate photographer. In the past 40 years, he has made several contributions in the field of conservation at various levels. A former member of the Project Tiger’s steering committee, under the Ministry of Environment & forests, he worked persistently to ensure that the big cats survive in India. He is also Chairman of the Wildlife Conservation Society of India. With a holistic vision and being one of the top Real estate Developer, Raheja believes that development and protection of environment can happen simultaneously

A bitter truth is, humans are indeed to be blamed. We have ruined jungles to build our homes and with that we have destroyed their natural habitat and prey base

Inland10| KOLKATA|SUNDAY, 7 JANUARY 2018|millenniumpost

mp

‘A chip off the old block,’ goes a popular say-ing. But there can also be a new chip off the old block. The old block was Dada Sachin Dev Burman and a new chip was his off-

spring Baba Burman, ie Rahul Dev Burman, fondly addressed as Pancham by his near and dear ones.

RD Burman was born on June 27, 1939, in Calcutta, the only child of Burmans who inherited music from his parents, but brought up by his maternal grand-parents since senior Burman was composing music in Bombay.

Delving into his childhood, Pancham da once narrated an episode, “Baba and my mother came to Calcutta to find out what their pet was doing. Baba took a look at my mark sheet, and I waited, but he had no reason to complain. Baba, my mother and nani went to the terrace while I went to play football in the courtyard.

When I encountered him again, he asked me, ‘What have you decided about your future?’

‘I am keen on sports and want to become a Tennis player,’ was my answer.

‘Be serious, what is it you can fairly do well?’ he persisted.

‘I can play my own tunes on the mouth organ.’‘What do you mean playing your own tunes? Let’s

hear you play.’I played what I knew, but I used to play others’

tunes. Baba heard me and said, ‘Good or bad, play your

own tunes. I am going to Bombay, will be back in three months. Meanwhile, you learn to play on tabla.’

‘Tabla? What’s there to learn about tabla?’ I asked.‘Plenty. You want to be a composer and for that,

you must develop a sense of rhythm.’This was the guru mantra of Baba and I learnt tabla

from Brijen Biswas and sarod from Ustad Ali Akbar Khan. Tabla educated me about rhythm when I became an independent composer.”

Pancham da became an assistant to his father along with his mother Meera Burman, Jaidev and N Datta. While Dada Burman was composing for Guru Dutt’s Pyaasa, Pancham da was his assistant. Guru Dutt observed Pancham da while music was being composed and recorded. He was so impressed that he made Pancham da compose ‘Sar jo tera chakraye’ for the same film. Guru Dutt also offered him to com-pose music for his forthcoming production Gauri (a remake of Kedar Sharma’s Gauri), wherein Geeta Dutt was to play the lead. Pancham da recorded some songs for Gauri but the project was shelved after few reels were shot.

In 1961, when comedian Mehmood produced Chhote Nawab, his first choice was Dada (SD) Burman, but he declined the offer due to the low fee and advised Mehmood to ask some newcomer. And that newcomer was none other than his own son Rahul Dev Burman who composed as an independent music director.

Chhote Nawab didn’t do well but Pancham da duly showcased his talent in a classical number ‘Ghar aaja ghir aaye badra sanwariya’ based on Raga Mal-gunji, and a foot-tapping numbers, ‘Aaj hua mera dil matwala’, with a touch of Latin American and Arabic music, besides the heart-rending dua (prayer), ‘Elaahi tu sun le hamari dua,’ became immensely popular. His next film Bhoot Bangla was also with Mehmood. Pan-cham da did a cameo role in this film and composed offbeat numbers.

He got Teesri Manzil with great effort when Dev Anand walked out and Shammi Kapoor replaced him. The producer Nasir Hussain and director Vijay Anand wanted Pacham. But Shammi Kapoor was adamant to have OP Nayyar or Shankar Jaikishan. Eventually, Shammi Kapoor got convinced after listening to almost dozen tunes played by Pancham da at his residence. Rest is history. The numbers, ‘O mere sona re sona re’, ‘Aaja aaja mein hoon pyaar tera’, and ‘Tumne mujh ko dekha’ based on Nepali folk. The super hit music of Teesri Manzil continues to sell. Mehmood’s Padosan became a cult classic because of its music.

In the mid-70s, music saw a sea change, and Pan-cham da too swam with the tide. His unforgettable numbers in silver jubilee Kati Patang became super-duper hits: ‘Pyaar deewana hota hai’; ‘Ye shaam mas-tani’ with whistling by Manohri Singh; ‘Jis gali mein tera ghar na ho balma’ set in Raga Bhairavi; and the sensuous cabaret number, ‘Mera naam hai shabnam’.

His number ‘Gulabi aankhein’ (Rafi) in The Train; ‘Rekha O Rekha’ in Adhikar; ‘Bhali bhali si ek surat’; ‘Aayo kahan se Ghanshyam’ in Buddha Mil Gaya; ‘Chanda O chanda’ and ‘Jogi O jogi’ in Lakhon Mein Ek; ‘Rut hai milan ki’ in Mela based on Punjabi folk; ‘Yaari ho gai yaar se lak tunoo tunoo’; and ‘Kaali palak teri gori’ (Lata/Kishore) in Do Chor became memorable.

Pancham da created a new style with new sounds and a rhythmic pattern in Dev Anand’s Hare Rama Hare Krishna. Based on the hippie culture of the 60s, the film’s number, ‘Dum maro dum’, attained a cult sta-tus. Shot in Nepal, Pancham da brilliantly used Nepali folk in ‘Kanchi re Kanchi re’, ‘Ho re ghungru kya bole’, and the brother-sister rendition, ‘Phoolon ka taaron ka’. His music was instrumental in the tremendous success of this movie. After Kati Patang, Shakti Samantha and Pancham da were back in Amar Prem.

After Teesri Manzil Pancham da became a favou-rite of Nasir Hussain and did Caravan with him, giving scintillating numbers for this film. The cabaret, ‘Piya tu ab to aaja’ and Pancham da’s ‘Monika, O my darling’, enhanced the film to another level. Other numbers also became a nationwide rage.

His compositions, ‘Dekha na hai re socha na’ in Bombay to Goa, ‘O mere dil ke chain’, ‘Kitne sapne kitne arman’, ‘Diwana leke aaya hai’ in Mere Jeevan Saathi, were Kishore’s most popular numbers. Gulzar and Pancham da’s collaboration commenced with Parichay (inspired by Sound of Music) and the latter composed one of his best numbers, ‘Musafir hoon yaaro’, and other classical numbers, ‘Beete na bitaye raina’ and ‘Mitwa bole meethe bole’ became super hits. In Nasir Hussain’s Yaadon ki Baraat, Pancham da was again at his best. Its songs were most popular in the 80s.

In J Omprakash’s films, Aap ki Kasam and Aan-dhi, Pancham da proved his talent all over again. Aap ki Kasam had soulful numbers like ‘Karvatein badalte rahe,’ ‘Suno kaho suna kaha kuch hua kya,’ the timeless number, ‘Jai jai Shiv Shankar’, and Lata’s catchy num-bers, ‘Paas nahin aana,’ ‘Chori chori chupke chupke’ were truly lauded. With Aandhi’s evergreen numbers, ‘Tum aa gaye ho,’ ‘Tere bina zindagi se koi shikwa to nahin,’ and ‘Kis mod se jaate hain’, Gulzar and Pancham da were at their creative best. This duo also worked together in Khushboo, Kinara, Kitab and Libaas and the music of these films is still cherished.

The all-time box-office blockbuster Sholay is also remembered for its songs: ‘Koi haseena jab rooth jati hai’ and ‘Mehbooba O mehbooba’ by Pancham da was inspired by Demis Roussos’s ‘Say you love me’; the Holi song, ‘Holi ke din,’ and the eternal friendship song, ‘Ye dosti hum nahi todenge’. Director Shakti Samantha’s Mehbooba also had some great songs like ‘Sapna mera toot gaya’ which became a trendsetter.

Nasir Hussain’s multistarrer Hum Kisi Se Kam Nahin was a runaway hit with its robust music, ‘Aa dil kya’, ‘Tum kya jaano mohabbat kya hai’, and a bub-bly number, ‘Mil gaya humko saathi mil gaya’, Rafi’s ‘Chaand mera dil and qawwali number’, ‘Hai agar dushman zamana gam nahin’ and Rafi’s National Award-winning song, ‘Kya hua tera vaada.’

The musical score of Ghar became a timeless hit with some of its rhythmic numbers: ‘Aaj kal paon zameen par,’ ‘Tere bin jiya jaaye na,’ ‘Phir wahi raat hai,’ and a mischievous number, ‘Aapki aankhon mein’.

Pancham da was born for music given the quantum of his work in 332 films in Hindi and other languages – thrice the number of his father.

He worked with all the eminent producers and

directors. Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s Gol Maal, Khoob-surat, Rang-birangi and Namak Haram, RK Films’ Dharam Karam and Biwi O Biwi, BR Chopra’s Mazdoor, Karam and The Burning Train, Prakash Mehra’s Mela and Samadhi, Shekhar Kapoor’s Masoom, Raj Khosla’s Sharif Bad-maash, Nehle Pe Dehla, Sunny, Maati Mange Khoon, Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s Parinda, Raj Kumar Santoshi’s Ghatak, Priyadarshan’s Gardish, Ram Gopal Verma’s Drohi and Yash Chopra’s Joshila and Deewar among others.

Besides being a brilliant composer Pancham da was a singer too, singing for Hindi and Bangla films. Known for his innovative experiments, he created music from glass and spoon, broom and comb, and even from empty beer bottles. He was a happy-go-lucky man, fond of cooking and wearing flashy clothes. A sports fanatic, a gourmet and gourmand, he enjoyed cooking, besides his passion for cars. Extremely amia-ble and accessible, it made him very popular in the film fraternity, and he was affectionately called ‘The Boss’.

But Pancham da’s last days were very agonising as he saw a downturn with two dozen flop films in a row. Producers started ignoring him and the last blow came when Subhash Ghai replaced him with Lakshmikant Pyarelal in Ram Lakhan. Asha, his second wife (the first marriage with Rita Patel had derailed), was the only pillar of strength for him.

During this crisis, his old friends like Vidhoo Vinod Chopra came forward and offered him to score music for 1942 – A Love Story and Pancham da gave his best but alas, he was not around to savour the suc-cess of his work. At 55, he suc-cumbed to a massive heart attack on January 4, 1994.

Winner of three Filmfare Awards for Sanam Teri Kasam, Masoom and 1942 – A Love Story, besides the Sur Singar Academy Award, Lata Mangesh-kar Award, IMPPA (Indian Motion Picture Producers Associ-ation) Award, BFJA (Bengal Film Journalist Association) Award, Pancham da had four gold discs and three silver discs to his credit. He would always be remembered for a new musical wave that he created for the youth and shall remain the heartthrob of suc-ceeding younger generations.

The King of RhythmRD Burman:

Pancham da was born for music given the quantum of

his work in 332 films in Hindi and other languages – thrice the number of his father, SD

Burman. He also worked with all the eminent producers and directors, writes Sharad Dutt

Dev Anand with RD Burman

Maruti Rao, RD Burman and Badal Bhattacharya

mp

Read| 11millennium post | KOLKATA|SUNDAY, 7 JANUARY 2018

WHERE WISE OWLS DARE Author: Gautam Prasad BaroowahPublisher: Notion PressPrice: `250

This futuristic socio-political fiction book talks about the significant issue of conserva-tion of Unicorn Rhinoceros in Kaziranga. Kaziranga National Park hosts two-thirds of the world’s great one-horned Rhinoceroses. Poaching is the main threat to the survival of Rhinoc-eroses today, driven by demand for their horns.

SHATTER MEAuthor: Tahereh MafiPublisher: HarpercollinsPrice: `399

One touch is all it takes. One touch, and Juliette Ferrars can leave a fully grown man gasping for air. One touch, and she can kill. No one knows why Juliette has such incredible power. It feels like a curse, a burden that one person alone could never bear. But some sees it as a gift, and her as an oppor-tunity. An opportunity for a deadly weapon.

ART OF MINDFULNESSAuthor: Emma FarraronsPublisher: BoxtreePrice: `350

Emma Farrarons offers beautiful templates for you to colour and complete with your own hands. Offer-ing more than colouring in, there are drawings to imitate in perfect symmetry, patterns to create, letter-ing to copy and pages of guided sketching and doo-dling. It contains everything you can do with a pen and paper during a busy day.

BREACHAuthor: Nirmal JohnPublisher: India PortfolioPrice: `299

Full of riveting stories of hackers, police and corpo-rates, Breach reads like a thriller. The book brings to light several incidents which till now were brushed under the carpet with instances of piracy, data theft, and phishing. John takes great pains to show links between underground international networks working to under-mine data security.

FRESH OFF THE SHELF

MAYABHUSHAN NAGVENKAR

Reams of paper have been inked and gigabytes of data published online lauding,

berating, reporting and analysing in breathless fashion the impact of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s controversial decision on Novem-ber 8, 2016, to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes. So what makes this book on the contentious sub-ject by Arun Kumar, a former economics professor at the Jawa-harlal Nehru University, relevant a little over a year after the major decision?

In a paragraph, the book cuts away the rhetoric and breathless commentary to provide a system-atic argument as to how the move, which was meant to eliminate or largely minimise corruption in India, didn’t live up to its billing. The book also supplements logi-cally articulated arguments with cold facts to make its point that demonetisation was a dramatic, authoritarian and political step taken to fool people, rather than to eliminate corruption.

Arun Kumar also makes a broader point about how the exer-cise of demonetisation has wors-ened the already existing deep social divide in the country by triggering a social and economic crisis, painting a grim end-of-the-rainbow picture of political and social instability in the country.

Over 300 pages, the author juxtaposes Modi’s statements and the gradual shifting of goalposts by the government after realising that the biggest demon-etisation drive in the world, which was aimed at pull-ing back 86 per cent of the currency in circulation, was not panning out accord-ing to plan.

It also gives a sectoral break-up of the impact of demonetisation as well as delves in detail into how it

failed to tackle the menace of black money.

“Demonetisation was a tech-nical device that does not impact the causes of generation of black economy, namely, the political or social aspects. It would do noth-ing to change the ethics of the elite who generate black money. They would continue to do so. It does not address the issue of account-ability of the rulers, which is so crucial to check the growth of the black money,” Arun Kumar says in his assessment, while also being critical of the manner in which the media – which as a sector also suf-fered a blow by the economic exer-cise – indulged in shrill reportage about a serious subject, misleading the people.

Describing demonetisation as “one of the most important eco-nomic events in the country” over the last two decades, Arun Kumar asserts that the long-term impact of the exercise would be adverse. The book also highlights the lack of advance planning by the government, citing reasons of secrecy about the dramatic move, as a major lacuna in the lead-up to the decision. The book also tries to mend the misconception that “black means cash” and warns that shortage of money in the economy was a serious matter which has seriously impacted the organised and unorganised sectors. For the author, demonetisation is a “big failure” of an “ill-conceived pol-icy” and one whose cost outweighs any perceived benefits in the near or distant future, akin to chop-

ping off the nose to cure a cold. In sum, the book serves as a ready primer which decodes the socio-economic impact of one of the big-gest decisions of the National Demo-cratic Alliance gov-ernment, which is expected to show demonetisation as a key achievement in the next general election scheduled for 2019. AGENCIES

Price: `499Publisher: Penguin

If black economy could be turned into white...

Stretching from icy mountains to the boundless oceans and from arid des-erts to tropical forests with more var-ied topography in between, India’s

geographical diversity is well complemented by its political, religious and cultural plural-ity, and a variety of issues, problems and con-tradictions, both generic and specific, that have affected, and will continue to affect, the country’s course.

A free nation for seven decades now, India still faces contests over its “idea” of itself with the concept so far being challenged by a new dominant political force. A country which has managed to reach the Red Planet is still riven on the ground by social dispari-ties and abuse. A nation which prides itself on a universal and well-integrated diaspora still has sections who distrust foreigners.

While Indians are making their name globally, there are still those – including min-isters – who would seek to confine them to primal, parochial identities that arise from circumstances of birth rather than conscious choice. Any one who seeks to make sense of the country or frame projections where it is heading, or can head, have their work cut out for themselves – but that doesn’t stop many from the ambitious but necessary venture. Like public policy professional and writer Atul Thakur, who engages an eclectic ensem-ble of experts, established and emerging, to examine the future in all aspects.

Here politicians, bureaucrats and acade-micians are also joined by authors and jour-nalists. For, as academician and author Sunil Khilnani observes in the foreword, “Where journalism and the social sciences are devel-oped, professional fields designed above all to improve our judgment and choices, it behoves practitioners in those fields to offer us some illumination along the way.”

While some of the over three dozen essays included here have come out else-where earlier, they remain relevant and Thakur supplements them with many espe-cially commissioned for this volume, the sequel to his ‘India Since 1947: Looking Back at a Modern Nation’ (2013). But the

present work is not intended to be a “prog-nosis (which is often confused with pre-diction) but rather an inquiry into futures based on current happenings”, by maintain-ing a “causal linearity” to arrive at the “like-liest” scenario.

The essays, divided into five areas – poli-tics and governance, economics and devel-opment, security and foreign policy, society and culture, and language and literature – not only go into the issues and problems of the topics they discuss but also take the percep-tions about them, which, as brought out, can be as tough to tackle.

In the first section, Ramchandra Guha sets the pace with an illuminating exposi-

tion on selecting the greatest Indians and Shashi Tharoor weighs in on Dr Ambedkar’s contribution. But compelling reading here is Singapore-based academician Robin Jeffrey’s penetrating pitch about the chequered course of land reforms in India and its impact on the realty sector.

Two bureaucratic contributions also stand out. TSR Subramanian, a well-regarded Chief Secretary in Uttar Pradesh before he rose to become Cabinet Secretary, gives a well-reasoned overview of corruption, and Wajahat Habibullah, who served extensively in Jammu and Kashmir, writes about the troubled state’s future with insight and pas-sion but is not too optimistic on the future.

One of the outstanding contributions is in the social and culture component, where journalist Daipayan Halder brings out the “subaltern voice”, of the Dalits specifically, in a riveting piece that will challenge our perceptions of our progress on the equality issue despite the Constitution’s high ideals and the pious protestations of politicians of all shades. Other sections also have absorb-ing entries.

In all, it is a valuable compendium of well-reasoned, persuasive (but never dog-matic) and jargon-free views on a host of major issues – and this is important. For these are not just the provinces of the gov-ernment to be confronted but also need dis-cussion at the citizens’ level. IANS

In our workplaces, our homes, in the smartphones we flash around and everywhere else, computers, in all shapes and sizes, have become such

an integral and ubiquitous part of our life that some cannot visualise a world without them. But do we ever wonder what com-pulsions and leaps in human intellect and ingenuity led to their genesis?

Or for that matter, why businesses and bureaucracies find them so useful, or how their concept and working relate to the organisation of human society?

And providing answers to these and more pertinent but perplexing questions in the fields of human endeavour and thought in this installment of Icon Science’s special series chronicling a dozen ground-break-ing moments in scientific history, author Jon Agar shows how and why the devel-opment of computers also qualifies among them. Agar, Professor of Science and Tech-nological Studies at the University College, London, however begins his exposition

into the computer’s complexity – and ver-satility – by a comparison with the handy Swiss knife, and the lawn-mower or even a sharpened stick to show how it is the “uni-versal machine” with diverse applications.

But that is not the issue, for “comput-ers present a strange case in the history of technology”. Or as he puts it: “The question is the same as asking: What sort of society would ever need such a thing?”

Towards answering this, he takes us on a whirlwind voyage from explorations into mathematics from the ancient Greeks to the cloisters of 20th century Cambridge, from the requirements and challenges of government and business in 19th century Britain and America to the universities and scientists drafted by both sides in the Sec-ond World War, and from analog to digital thinking and processing.

The journey also seeks to show how the invention of computers was not some spontaneous stroke, but a sustained and collective effort involving a host of gifted

minds over at least two centuries, catalysed by requirements of the world.

And these minds span Charles Bab-bage, perceived as the “father of the com-puter”, to the brilliant but persecuted Alan Turing, whose contributions in mathemat-ics facilitated computing, but also include many other significant but not-so-well-known figures – American mechani-cal engineer Herman Hollerith, applied mathematician Charles Aiken and German aeronautical engineer Konrad Zuse, whose

contribution has remained mostly obscure.Then the forerunners of the modern

computer are dealt with, in their histori-cal context and requirements – Babbage’s Difference Engine and the more ambitious Analytical Engine (again only completed in a fashion by his son Henry Babbage four decades after his death); Hollerith’s punched cards and pin box type tabula-tor; Zuse’s home-based Z3 and Z4; Aiken’s

Automatic Sequence Controlled Calcula-tor, the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer (ENIAC) and so on.

One of the best sections is on the code-breaking efforts, in and before the Second World War, especially at Bletchley Park with Agar drawing a fine analogy of this vital centre being a computer itself with the various huts being distributed processors.

Interspersed with the fascinating bits of technological history is a discussion of the underlying theory of computing, and how it reflects our increasingly compli-cated world. The treatment is mostly lucid, except the part on the mathematics which requires some specialised background to comprehend. Though the story finishes soon after the World War with the first computer in Britain, rather strangely called “Blue Pig”, and Turing’s tragic fate, it also includes quite a bit of debates on artificial intelligence, specifically if computers could be made to think like humans.

At its length and style, this is by no means a comprehensive history, but rather an overview that informs, but also inspires us to think about making that leap that makes marvellous inventions possible. In that only lies our salvation. IANS

A marvellous device of many applications: A short history of the computerInterspersed with the fascinating bits of technological history

is a discussion of the underlying theory of computing

The essays, divided into five areas not only go into the issues and problems of the topics they discuss but also take the perceptions about them, which can be as tough to tackle, writes Vikas Datta

Price: `399Publisher: Icon Sci-ence/ Icon Books

AN ATLAS OF PRESENT FAULTS AND FUTURE COURSES

Price: `695Publisher: Niyogi Books

Routes

Though Hyderabad is the capital of the newly-formed state of Telangana, the images that the name conjures take one back to the era of the Nizams. The epochal

Charminar, the Golconda Fort and its mine that produced the Kohinoor, the imperial Falaknuma Palace complete the picture with tinted glasses and decadent grandeur.

Steeped in history, this place has two distinctly different characters. The first is a combination of the splendour of a bygone era, its majesty, and its heritage. The second is far younger and replete with more modern and contemporary structures. This other pole is Hi-Tech City and other neighbour-ing districts like Banjara Hills and Jubilee Hills that abound with flaunting shopping malls, multiplexes, clubs, pubs and tempting restaurants.

The Hussain Sagar Lake geographically divides Hyderabad from Secunderabad, its twin city. Spread across an area of 5.7 square kilometres, the Hussain Sagar Lake was built by Ibrahim Quli Qutub Shah in 1563. A large monolithic statue of Gautam Bud-dha, erected in 1992, stands on Gibraltar Rock at the centre of the lake. Hussain Sagar, a heritage site of India, was declared as the “Heart of the World” by UNWTO on September 27, 2012.

Home to the largest one-man collection of antiques in the world, including the Veiled Rebecca, Salar Jung Museum also boasts of the double-figure wooden statue of Mephistopheles and Margaretta along with Aurangzeb’s sword and many other marvels. The Veiled Rebecca, described as a “melody in marble,” is one of the four copies created by 19th-century Italian neoclassical sculptor Giovanni Maria Benzoni. Rebecca, according to the Hebrew Bible, is the bride of Isaac who appears to be draped in a wet garment. This life-sized sculpture is the epitome of purity and grace as Benzoni exquisitely draws an outstanding artistic creation of a transparent veil with every fold and pleat vividly visible.

This vast collection was amassed by Mir Yousuf Ali Khan (Salar Jung III), who was briefly grand vizier to the seventh Nizam. The 39 galleries include early South Indian bronze and wood and stone sculptures, Indian miniature paintings, European fine art, historic manuscripts and a room of jade apart from the remarkable Veiled Rebecca.

The symbol that represents Hyderabad globally is the massive Charminar. Built by Mohammed Quli Qutb Shah in 1591 to commemorate the founding of Hyderabad and the end of epidemics caused by Golconda’s water shortage, the colossal four-column, the 56m-high structure has four arches facing the cardinal points with minarets atop each column (hence the name Charminar — four minarets).

Standing tall at the heart of Hyderabad, this structure was constructed in the intersection of the historical trade route that connects the markets of Golconda with the port city of Machilipatnam.

The structure is made of granite, limestone, mor-tar and pulverized marble. Initially, the monument with its four arches was so proportionately planned that when the fort was opened one could catch a glimpse of the bustling city, as these Charminar arches faced the most active royal ancestral streets.

Each minaret is crowned by a bulbous dome with dainty petal-like designs at the base. Unlike the Taj Mahal, Charminar’s four fluted minarets are built into the main structure. There are around 149 winding steps to reach the upper floor. The monu-ment is also known for its profusion of stucco deco-rations and the arrangement of its balustrades and balconies.

A mosque is located at the western end of the open roof with the remaining part serving as a court during the Qutb Shahi times. The actual mosque occupies the top floor of the four-storeyed structure. A thriving market exists around Charminar: Laad Bazaar is known for its jewellery, especially exquisite bangles and the Pather Gatti which is famous for its pearls. Overlooking the dusty Deccan foothills, sit-uated on the western edge of the town lies the city’s most impressive and awe-inspiring Golconda Fort.

Built in the 16th century atop a 120m high gran-ite hill surrounded by massive ramparts, all ringed by further necklaces of crenellated fortifications, 11 km in perimeter, the monumental fort would take at least three hours to explore.

Golconda Fort was first built by the Kakatiya dynasty as part of their western defences along the lines of the Kondapalli Fort. By the time Qutb Sha-his took control, Golconda Fort had already existed for at least three centuries under the Kakatiyas and Bahmani Sultanate and was already famed for its diamonds, which were mostly mined in the Krishna River valley, but cut and traded here. The Qutb Sha-his moved to their new city of Hyderabad in 1591 but maintained Golconda as a citadel until Mughal emperor Aurangzeb annexed it in 1687 after a year-long siege, ending the Qutb Shahi rule.

Golconda’s massive gates were studded with iron spikes to obstruct war elephants. Within the fort, a series of concealed glazed earthenware pipes ensured a reliable water supply, while the ingenious acoustics guaranteed that even the smallest sound from the entrance would echo across the fort complex.

The 21 imposing domed granite Qutb Shahi tombs, with almost as many mosques, sit serenely in landscaped gardens about 2 km northwest of Golconda Fort, where many of their occupants spent large parts of their lives. Seven of the eight Qutb Shahi rulers were buried here, as well as family members and a few physicians, courtesans along with other aides. Among the finest is that of Mohammed Quli, the founder of Hyderabad, standing 42m tall on a platform near the edge of the complex, with views back towards Golconda.

A trip to Hyderabad is not complete without visiting the 200-year-old Chowmahalla Palace that was the main residence of several nizams, com-prising several grandiose buildings and four gar-den courtyards. Most dazzling is the Khilwat Mubarak, a magnifi-cent Durbar hall where nizams held ceremonies under 19 enormous chan-deliers of Belgian crys-tal. Its side rooms today house historical exhibits, arts and crafts and exhib-its of Nizams’ personal possessions. In the south-ernmost courtyard is a priceless collection of car-riages and vintage cars including a 1911 yellow Rolls-Royce and 1937 Buick convertible.

Modelled after the Shah’s Palace in Iran, the grand complex will simply take your breath away with its beautiful marble pillars and architecture. The Taj Falaknuma Palace, the former residence of the Nizams, is as nawabi as it gets, with embossed leather wallpaper, 24-carat ceiling trim and crystal chandeliers.

Nowhere is the nawabi legacy more preva-lent than in Hyderabadi cuisine, a unique blend of Mughlai and Arabic with a local Telugu undertone that will leave you drooling.

If you are a true foodie in heart and spirit, Hyder-abad is a must-visit. A plate of Nihari in the Old City would mean a sumptuous stew of goat tongue and shanks slow-cooked overnight, ready to be devoured with a Phulka (roti). Foodgasm guaranteed!

Like the Charminar, the Hyderabadi biryani is

another synonym asso-ciated with

the city. Options are many in this regard — from Shahdab, Paradise, to Shah Ghouse where the mut-ton and rice are layered and cooked in a dough-sealed vessel.

For that kick on a slow day, Mirchi ka Salan is a must try. The perfect balance comes from the coconut paste that is added to a supremely refreshing flavour. Other must-try dishes are Maghaz Masala, Boti kebab, Khatti Dal, Gosht Pasinde, Qabooli Biryani, Tunday Kebabi and Hyderabadi Marag.

For evening snack and tea, coupled with buttery sweet-and-salty Osmania biscuits, a stop-over at Nampally Market is a must. Hyderabad’s very iconic Karachi Bakery deserves a mention here as well.

For ice-cream lovers, it’s best to try the seasonal fruit ice-cream at Famous Ice-cream in Mozamjahi Market. The ice-cream here is made in a sancha (hand-churner) using fresh fruit pulp. As the tastes melt, it is time to ponder upon the fortunes of Hyderabad — straddling a decadent legacy of sheer historical excellence and at the same time nurturing the gloss and madness, under its grit, and retaining the cultural moorings of its past.

12| KOLKATA|SUNDAY, 7 JANUARY 2018|millenniumpost

mp

Like all storied cities, Hyderabad might seem like nothing more but the sum of its iconic Charminar, Golconda Fort, pearls and the lip-smacking Hyderabadi biryani. But beyond these intoxicating features, it is a place that judders around with its historical immortality and much more, writes Kaushikibrata Banerjee

Candid TalkSTORIES IN A FRAME

GA

STR

ON

OM

Ymp

Trending| 13millennium post | KOLKATA|SUNDAY, 7 JANUARY 2018

The rich cultural heritage of Madhya Pradesh signifies a delightful treat to all the tourists and locals. A perfect blend of rich Indian history, courage, alluring architecture and romance, the Jhansi Fort, Orccha Fort and Jayvillas Palace have strongly upheld the pride of medieval and colonial India since then.

PRIDE OF MP

Which was your first musical instrument?Keyboard and HarmoniumWhat describes you the best?Calm and composedIf you could be a superhero, who would you be? Yoda!!Favourite cuisine: Japanese and Labenese foodFavourite movie: The Before Sunrise franchise, Grave of the fireflies5 things you cannot do without: Sanam, mom, dad, yuki and kai (my pets)First instrument: Keyboard and HarmoniumIdea on an ideal weekend: Just sit at home, chill and meditate.Favourite actors: Tom Hardy, Jennifer Lawrence, Aamir KhanIf not a musician, what other profession would you pursue?I'd have been a cricketer, as I used to be a fast bowler.

Samar Puri; lead guitarist with SANAM

PICS: PORNI BANERJEE

Finish the proverb:

He who is destined for __________ does not have to

fight for it.

BRAIN DRAINSUDOKU WORD SEARCH

chuc

kles

A VISIT TO THE ZOOA lorry driver is driving 200 penguins to London Zoo when his lorry breaks down on the motorway. The driver gets out of the cab and is looking at the engine when a second lorry driver stops in front of him and asks if he needs help. The penguins' driver explains that he is taking the penguins to the zoo and asks if the other man would take the penguins there. He agrees. Some hours later, the 2nd lorry driver drives past the first one, who is still waiting on the motorway. The penguins are still on the lorry, and look happy. "I thought I asked you to take those penguins to the zoo," shouted the first driver. The second replied, "I did, but I had some money left, so we're going to the cinema now."

SEND YOUR ORIGINAL SNAPS ALONG WITH YOUR NAME AND A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE STORY BEHIND THEM TO MPSUNDAYPOST@GMAIL.COM. IF WE LIKE THEM, WE'LL PUBLISH THEM!

ALL OF MEANNIE HALLBABEBEING THEREBIGBOB ROBERTSBULL DURHAMCARSCAT BALLOUCITY SLICKERSCLERKSCLUELESSDUCK SOUPELECTION FLETCHGHOSTBUSTERSHAPPY GILMOREHARVEYHOLIDAYHOTSHOTSLEGALLY BLONDE

LIAR LIARLOCAL HEROMALLRATSMANHATTANMEATBALLSMOONSTRUCK spacer OH, GOD!PLAZA SUITEREPO MANRUSHMORESHREKSLACKERSLAP SHOTSLEEPERTHE RUTLESTOOTSIETRADING PLACESUNCLE BUCKYES MAN

speed to high and beat the frosting for an additional 2 minutes.

FOR CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE ICING :1. Heat the fresh cream in a broad non-

stick pan on a medium flame for 1 minute, while stirring continuously.

2. Switch off the flame, add the chocolate and Kahlua Liqueur mix well till the mixture is smooth and no lumps remain. Keep aside to cool for 2 minutes.

HOW TO PROCEED :1. Slice the chocolate sponge cake

horizontally into 2 equal layers.2. Place the bottom layer of the cake

on a turntable or a serving plate and sprinkle half the soaking syrup evenly over it.

3. Spread half of the chocolate butter cream evenly over it and sandwich it with the top layer of the sponge cake.

4. Sprinkle the remaining half of the chocolate butter cream soaking syrup over it.

5. Spread the remaining of the evenly over it and along the sides of the cake.

6. Keep the cake in refrigerator for 10 minutes till the butter cream is set.

7. Take out the cake, pour and spread the chocolate truffle icing evenly over it and along the sides of the cake.

8. Garnish with chocolate garnishes and refrigerate for 1 hour or till set.

9. Cut the cake into 6 equal wedges and serve chilled.

(Courtesy: Sanjay Kumar Kasley, Demi Chef De Partie, The Ashok)

METHOD:FOR SPONGE:1. Preheat the oven at 180 o C.2. With the paddle attachment of an electric mixer,

beat the butter or shortening at medium speed until it is smooth and creamy.

3. Add the sugar and beat at medium speed for eight to ten minutes or until it is light and fluffy.

4. Add the eggs one at a time, creaming after each.5. Combine the refined flour, baking powder, almond

flour and cocoa powder together6. Add about one-fourth of the dry ingredients to

the creamed mixture. Mix until just combined. Do not over-stir or you may reduce the entrained air

in the creamed mixture.7. Add about one-third of the beer and stir them in.8. Repeat with the dry ingredients and the wet

ingredients until all the ingredients are added. You should end by adding the dry ingredients.

9. Place in baking tray and bake for 20-25 minutes until an inserted skewer comes out clean. Allow to stand for 5 minutes before turning on to a wire rack to cool.

FOR BUTTER CREAM:1. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle

attachment, beat the butter on medium speed until it is smooth, about 1 minute.

2. Add the confectioners’ sugar and cocoa powder to the bowl and beat until combined. Increase the

ALMOND TIPSY CAKE Crispy Chicken with Thai Basil sauce

INGREDIENTS:Beer 200 mlRefined Flour 100 gmAlmond Flour 70 gmCocoa Powder 60 gmButter 115 gmBrown Sugar 200 gmEggs 2 noBaking Powder ¼ tspFor IcingIcing Sugar 60 gmCocoa Powder 75 gmButter 150 gmKahlua Liqueur 2 tbspDark Chocolate 200 gmCream 100 gmAlmonds 10 gm

INGREDIENTS: For Crispy Chicken:Chicken Thigh washed & cleaned around 2.10 gmsAll purpose flour for coating: 2 table spoonCorn Flour : 3 table spoonEgg: 1 no.Salt: According to tasteBlack pepper: 1 pinchStep 1 - (Mix all ingredients together & keep it aside for 5-10 min) Deep fry chickens till it becomes golden brown, after that takes it out and make it rest for 2 minutes & then cut it in finger shape.For Thai sauce: Cooking oil : 20 ml.Chopped garlic: 20 gms.Lemon (Kafir) leaf: 2-3 pcs.Lemon grass sliced: 10 gms.

Thai ginger: 20 gms.Basil leaves: 5 pcs.Coriander stems fine chopped: 10 gms.Tomato ketchup: 2 table spoonRed chilli paste: 5 gms.Sugar: a pinchWhite vinegar: 10 ml.Dark Soy Sauce: 5 ml. Salt: 3 gms. or according to tasteChicken Broth or stock: 5 ml.Step 2: Take oil in non stick wok or deep pan, after heat, put chopped garlic & sauté & then put all ingredients of sauce together, once the sauce is ready put crispy fried chicken in to it & toss it few times on high flame. Serve it hot with garnish of coriander sprigs & spring onion leaves.Preparation Time 20-25 Min.

(Courtesy: Executive Chef Randhir Tiwari, Londoners Bistro & Pub)

mp

COURTESY: www.horoscope.com

You

shar

e you

r bir

thda

y with

Born on January 7, 1964, Nicolas Kim Coppola known professionally as Nicolas Cage, is an American actor, director and producer. Since his film debut with a minor role in ‘Fast Times at Ridgemont High’ (1982), opposite Judge Reinhold and Sean Penn, Cage has appeared in a wide range of films, both mainstream and offbeat. He auditioned for the role of Dallas Winston in his uncle’s film The Outsiders, based on SE Hinton’s novel, but lost to Matt Dillon. He was also in Coppola’s films ‘Rumble Fish’ and ‘Peggy Sue Got Married’. Cage made his directorial debut In 2002 with ‘Sonny’, a low-budget drama starring James Franco. Cage’s producing career includes ‘Shadow of the Vampire.’ Cage is a fan and collector of painter and underground comic artist Robert Williams. Cage has been nominated twice for an Academy Award, winning once for his performance as a suicidal alcoholic in Leaving Las Vegas. His other nomination was for the portrayal of screenwriter Charlie Kaufman and Kaufman’s fictional twin Donald in Adaptation. Films like ‘National Treasure’, ‘Lord of War’,’Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans’, ‘Kick-Ass’,’Ghost Rider’ and ‘Knowing’ were box office successes.

NICOLAS CAGE

The full Cancer moon on January 1 in your sector of communication suggests that you’ll be busy inter-

acting with others and having a fabulous day. You might also find yourself dream-ing of travel and other adventures, espe-cially those that are a little bit out of your reach. But as Mercury aligns with Uranus, insights into your mindset could encourage you to move out of your comfort zone.

Taurus (April 21–May 21)

The full moon at the start of the week could see you enjoying time with family and friends, as well as

looking ahead to your plans for the future. Try to give yourself a reduced schedule on January 1. The full Cancer moon says make the most of this opportunity for fun and relaxation. However, other aspects this week could alert you to new possibili-ties.

Aries (Mar 21–April 20)

With a full moon in your sign on January 1, the year could get off to an emotional yet very nurtur-

ing and satisfactory start. You’ll enjoy being with family and close friends as 2018 gets underway. Your thoughts could also linger on opportunities to get away from your everyday routine and perhaps enjoy a short break or longer vacation. If you have the chance, go for it.

Cancer (June 22–July 22)

The year 2018 gets off to a very lively start with a full Cancer moon in your social sector en-

couraging you to enjoy any New Year’s celebrations. At the same time, you could be busy with creative projects or enjoy-ing a budding romance. You may find someone’s company very inspiring over the coming days, particularly as luscious Venus ties with ethereal Neptune.

Virgo (Aug 24– Sept 23)

The full Cancer moon in a more secluded sector of your chart encourages you to forget about work

or duty for the day and take time out to celebrate the new year. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to get back into the swing of things during the rest of the week. In fact, this could be a particularly busy time of year for you, so making chances for relaxation is very important.

Leo (July 23–Aug 23)

A part of you may wish you were traveling as the new year gets un-derway. A very potent

focus on communication and your local environment suggests that you could be kept very busy in your own area. There might be creative opportunities you can turn your hand to. As the Sun aligns with Neptune, one encounter might even enhance your reputation.

Scorpio (Oct 24–Nov 22)

You might have bold ambitions as 2018 gets underway, and it could be a very positive ex-

perience to contemplate all you hope to achieve. However, there is also a very strong focus on home and family affairs that could last for some time. As Venus aligns with Neptune, you might find yourself offering to help out and get more involved in general.

Libra (Sept 24– Oct 23)

With a full moon in your sector of relating, Janu-ary 1 could be a very heartfelt and soulful

occasion. You may feel a connection with family and loved ones very acutely, and this could leave you quite emotional. At the same time, you’ll be eager to get key projects underway and be very excited at the possibilities open to you. Your social life positively sparkles.

Capricorn ( Dec 22– Jan 20)

Although you might have expenses from the holi-days to handle, January 1 and beyond could still see

you eager to splurge, especially if you’re tempted by items in the post-holiday sales. Say yes to such purchases as investments, and try to make them as wise and use-ful as you can. With Mars aligning with Jupiter in a spiritual sector of your chart, helping others can bring rewards.

Sagittarius ( Nov 23–Dec 21)

Your social life seems to be extremely lively, and the full Cancer moon on January 1 adds to this.

The year 2018 gets off to a boisterous start, and this could fuel your intention to make it the best year ever. At the same time, you could be eager to explore new paths and ready to move out of your comfort zone. Sharing any experience can make it more enjoyable.

Pisces (Feb 19 –March 20)

Although the January sales may beckon, 2018 could get off to an expensive start if you decide to

splurge. Therefore, go easy if you’re shop-ping, and keep track of all receipts. Visions of what might be possible can reveal themselves, and this could influence you to try harder and perhaps set yourself a few goals that are outside your comfort zone. However, you also need to be practical.

Gemini (May 22– June 21)

Lighten your schedule on January 1, if possible. The full Cancer moon encour-ages you to listen to your

feelings. With a major focus on your spiri-tual sector, you might need time to reflect on issues and resolve them. If you can talk about them with a close friend, it might help you let them go. Relieving yourself of any emotional baggage can help get 2018 off to a positive start.

Aquarius (Jan 21–Feb 18)

14| KOLKATA|SUNDAY, 7 JANUARY 2018|millenniumpost

Insight

Maneka Sanjay Gandhi, MP & Union Cabinet Minister, also an eminent animal rights activist and environmentalist answers Millennium Post readers queries related to animal welfare issues

Heads

tails

Is it legal to have monkeys dancing on the street ?

Monkeys are trained to “dance” through beatings and food deprivation. Their teeth are pulled out by the madaris so that the animals cannot defend themselves.

The government of India has prohib-ited the use of bears, monkeys, tigers, pan-thers and lions for street performances. All species of monkey are protected under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. This act declares that all Indian wildlife is govern-ment property and prohibits the capture and possession of monkeys.

Under Section 2(b), of the Performing Animals Rules, 1973, Performing Animals means any animal which is used for the purpose of any entertainment to which

the public is admitted through the sale of tickets. 

Section 22 of The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960 restricts the exhibi-tion and training of performing animals, unless the person interested in exhibiting and training the animal is registered in accordance with provisions of the Act. No animal can be exhibited or trained, where the Central Government, by notification in the Official Gazette, has restricted the exhibition and training of such animal. These following animals can’t be exhibited or trained: 1) Bears 2) Monkeys 3) Tigers 4) Panthers 5) Lions

My cow hasn’t been eating well for the last two weeks and there is a drop in milk production as well. Her udders are swollen and red as well. What should I do?

Mastitis, or inflammation of the mam-mary gland, is the most common disease of dairy cattle throughout most of the world. The person milking her hasn’t cleaned his hands, or been rough in milking her or hasn’t cleaned her teats properly after-wards.  Although stress and physical inju-ries may cause inflammation of the gland, infection by invading bacteria or other microorganisms (fungi, yeasts and possi-bly viruses) is the primary cause of masti-

tis. Infections begin when microorganisms penetrate the teat canal and multiply in the mammary gland. In severe cases of acute, clinical mastitis - in many instances caused by E. coli infections - the cow may appear very ill indeed. In contrast, subclinical mastitis can result in few symptoms and may only be detectable in a higher than normal Somatic Cell Count.

Most of the indicative symptoms, such

as the swelling, heat, redness and the milk abnormalities are a result of an immune response in the cow, the changes in milk constituents in particular caused by infec-tion-fighting white blood cells attempt-ing to eliminate the infective organisms which may further be responsible for pro-ducing toxins which damage the milk-producing glands within the udder, and can be responsible for permanent udder

damage in some cases.In some instances the cow’s immune

response is sufficient to efficiently gen-erate a self-cure for the illness, usually in mild cases of the disease where the cow is strong and has a good immune response.  The effective drugs are sulphonamides, penicillin and streptomycin.

My cow has a moist circular patch on the muzzle and tips of her ears. Should I be concerned?

Rain scald is a skin disease seen in all ages of cattle, but particularly young animals. It is caused by a bacteria and is com-monly associated with wet weather..

It begins as a moist circular patch, often with matted hairs which give a characteristic paint brush appearance. It is typically seen on muzzle, tips of ears, withers, but rapidly spreads - can involve up to half the skin area in severe cases.

There is no completely effective treatment, par-ticularly for severe cases. Many antibiotics are effec-

tive, particularly penicillins. Keeping the skin dry (i.e. bringing the cattle indoors) is often more effective than any treatment. Injections of anti-inflammatories signifi-cantly improve cow well-being and help to restore the cow to normal production. Local disinfection and treatment are nec-essary in more severe cases.

(Views expressed and information pro-vided are personal; Send your questions to

manekaanimallove@gmail.com)

BOVINE DISEASES AND SYMPTOMSIn some instances the cow’s immune response is sufficient to efficiently generate a self-cure for the illness, in mild cases

18it is!

ROOPSHA DASGUUPTA RAY

Every New Year is a fresh new chapter. We feel motivated, positive and wish to spend the 365 days in the best possible

way. It’s 2018 and here is a list of the 18 most important things to do if you want it to be a brighter year.

1. Plan the plan: it is important to plan. Professional, financial as well as personal life always require advance planning. Try and plan life for the next 60 days. Mark and maintain a calen-dar for self assessment. Though life and time often has its own plan yet it is cru-cial to have ours ready.

2. Discuss: Discuss your plan, dreams, aspirations with people who matter to you. Talk it out with only those who bring out the best in you. Suggestions or views might open a new window that you didn’t even con-sider. Great minds often discuss before exploring.

3. Self appreciation: Achievements can be small or large. Do spend a few seconds to pat your own back for any-thing good you have done. Don’t get affected if your boss or in laws fail to appreciate. You are your best judge. Cel-ebration can always begin with you.

4. Travel: check the yearly calendar and mark the dates in advance. Plan short, medium, or long trips with peo-ple who don’t stress you. Do remember to take the senior members of the fam-ily for at least one good holiday. Spend-ing time with your family is absolutely rewarding. Plan now to save and get your life sorted accordingly.

5. Make new friends: don’t remain stuck to the little gang you hang around with always. Meeting new people from diverse cultures will open your mind to a whole new world. The friends I’m referring to are not the extensive social media friends who are always e-present. Spend time with like minded people.

6. Eat well. Eat right: Eat what is healthy and suits your body type. Do consider the fact that with age comes restrictions. Enjoy the present and eat what makes you happy.

7. Exercise: not just to look hotter but to feel healthy. Let all the extra kilos melt and shape you up. Start slow but do begin. There is never an alternative to a healthy body.

8. Buy things: not just the really expensive stuffs for yourself but small gifts for the world beyond you. A small token bought and gifted with love will speak volumes. Make a list of the people who have been there for you through thick and thin. Do try to buy something for those who qualify.

9. Enjoy the ‘me time’: not with the mobile or laptop but with yourself. Each time you are handling a gadget in your free time, you are not spending any ‘me time’. Enjoy short but sweet time relax-

ing, dreaming and exploring everyday. 10. Get entertained: movies, the-

atres, concerts are always there but how about getting entertained by doing something else. Meet someone who makes you laugh, gang up with old bud-dies, go for a solo trek. Do something to feel lighter and merrier.

11. Express: don’t hold on to anger, grudge, depression. Try to explain and express it there and then. Allowing dark clouds to form isn’t healthy for our mind and relationships. Shout it out, write or jump around. Do whatever it takes but express to let go.

12. Forgive: not easy but try it for sure. Learning to forgive is a big step towards mental peace.

13. Love without conditions: just love without expecting anything. Love everyone for who they are. Kindness, understanding and love go hand in hand. Love as much as you can to set

example for the world which is just get-ting mechanical and self centered.

14. Learn to appreciate: the life you have got. Comparisons and competi-tiveness never yeild great happiness. Be generous with your appreciations. When you learn to appreciate you will spread happiness.

15. Dress well. Smell better: consult your styling need from someone who will be a good guide. It is not just about buying brands but it is about how you carry. The wardrobe basics have to be fixed before anything else. What you wear and how you smell speak a lot about you.

16. Make and save money: earn and save it for future. Your financial stabil-ity is crucial for mental peace. Plan your finances in a way that you do keep some to celebrate yourself.

17. Be kind: not just to your own people but with all. Your words, actions should always be kind enough for peo-ple to love you more.

18. Say no to negativity: run away from those who tamper your positive self. Have the courage to protest neg-ative people and help yourself. Neg-ative people have the ability to make you feel miserable, nervous even on a bright sunny day. Hope the New Year is great for all.

(Send your questions to roopshashotm@gmail.com)

It’s 2018 and here is a list of the 18 most important things to do if you want it to be a brighter year

Heartof the

Matter

Meet someone who makes you laugh, gang up with old buddies, go for a solo trek. Do something to feel lighter and merrier

Ultimate Test

mp| 15millennium post | KOLKATA|SUNDAY, 7 JANUARY 2018

The fact that the last year was full of achieve-ments for the Virat Kohli led Indian cricket team is undeniable. They secured number one ranking in Tests and ranked second in

One Day Internationals. They triumphed over every team they were pitched against. Right now, the team is on a nine-Test series winning streak, though most of the winning came from home matches on batting friendly wickets. The series against Sri Lanka was kind of a walk-in park for the top-ranked Indian Test cricket team. The Sri Lankan team was a weaker opponent and at large, it was a one-sided affair. Still, the men in blue deserve praise for their consistent and match winning performances.

Now, the Indian cricket team is in South Africa to challenge the world number two Proteas in their own den. They will participate in three Tests, six One Day Internationals and three T20Is over the following two months. According to cricket pundits, this is going to be the toughest challenge the Indian team will face after securing number one Test rank-ing. Meanwhile this year’s first Test match is being played in Cape Town. India bowled out South Africa for 286 in first innings. In reply, they were 112/7 at Drinks on the second day.

It seems like Indians are again on backfoot against South African pace attack, which is not new. Team India has always been criticised for their performance on foreign soil. It has been their ten-dency to collapse in a difficult situation, and they have a long history of surrendering to the tougher competitor. Their record against South Africa is no exception. India has never won a Test series in South Africa. Indian team has played 17 test matches against Proteas in South Africa and has managed to win only two. They lost eight, while seven tests resulted in a draw. Their best performance till date came in 2010-11 when the MS Dhoni-led team

managed to draw a series in South Africa with 1-1 result. Last time when the team visited South Africa in 2013, Virat Kohli was the captain. India lost that two-match Test series to 1-0.

But the past is past. Everything is done and dusted now. After that series, the team has improved in every aspect of cricketing. Data sug-gests that the current team has the highest over-seas win percentage in last 3 years among all the cricketing nations. Since January 2015, the Indian cricket team has played 70 overseas matches out of which they have won 45. The team lost 18 matches, while 4 were drawn, and 3 ended with no results. It shows that the team has managed a win percentage of 64.29% in overseas matches.

Whereas, South Africa participated in 67 matches played on foreign soil. They managed only 28 wins while losing 27 and maintaining a win percentage of 45.90%. 13 members of the Indian squad including Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara, and Ishant Sharma have already played on South African soil, so more or less, they have an idea about the pitch condition and what to expect. The squad also include players like Hardik Pandya and Parthiv Patel who are the newbies for the alien environment.

Captain Kohli is in his best form nowadays, and can alone help the team to put a decent score. Dur-ing the last tour to South Africa, he had scored 272 runs in 4 innings with an average of 68.

Given the chance, Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay and KL Rahul are ready to provide a solid start as opener batsmen while the middle-order is trust-worthy with the presence of Cheteshwar Pujara, and Ajinkya Rahane.

Wriddhiman Saha, Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja might provide balance to the team with their all-rounder performance.

But someone who can be a game changer for

this series is a fast bowler. The team has Moham-med Shami, Umesh Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ishant Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah in the fast-bowl-ing squad. The team’s hope for historic series win depends on these bowlers. It looks more promising as the South African pitches are pacer friendly. These bowlers will have to prove their mental strength this time around. They will have to get rid of the lower middle-order of the Proteas if they want to stop South African from putting a mammoth score.

R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja will have to con-test for the lone spinner’s spot in the team because team India is more likely to play with 3 pacers and one spinner.

Additionally, the lower middle-order of the team will have to perform same as they were doing on home grounds. Overall, the team has the backup for almost every position and is well balanced.

But underestimating South Africa will be a grave

mistake, which India would never want to commit. Since 2015, South Africa has played 25 matches at home and have lost only four. They have dominated in the last three series on their home grounds having clean sweep victory over their opponents.

Nevertheless, Indian batsmen have always been vulnerable to swing and seam attack. The Kolkata Test against Sri Lanka is its proof. Batsmen struggled to put up a decent score against the moving ball. South Africa will definitely try to exploit this weak-ness of Indian team as the pitches are conducive to fast bowlers. Moreover, in last 18 months, South Africa has not made any change in their batting line-up. It has largely remained the same, and con-sistent in performance. The team is at full strength for this series. Aiden Markram and Dean Elgar are doing well as an opening pair. South Africa’s one of the most reliable batsman Hashim Amla will be securing the ground at number 3. Captain Faf du Plessis, Temba Bavuma and Quinton de Kock will be shielding the middle order. And most impor-tantly, AB de Villiers has returned to the team after a long time and will try to make a huge score during this series.

Team India needs to beware of the deadly pace attack of South Africa which includes the player like Dale Steyn and Chris Mor-ris who have finally recovered from their injuries. Steyn will put all his effort to get five wickets to become South Afri-ca’s most successful fast bowler while surpassing Shaun Pollock’s tally of 421 wickets. Vernon Phi-lander, Morne Morkel along with Kagiso Rabada can prove to be lethal for the Indian batting

order. All these bowlers are

in red-hot form and will create trouble for our bats-men. Also, the South Afri-can team will be fighting to

secure the number one spot in test ranking which they last

held in January 2016. Though this is very unlikely as they also will have to defeat Aussies 3-0 in upcom-ing four-test match series.

The Indian team’s solid form and data suggest that this could be the best chance to beat South Africa on their own ground and bring the Freedom Series trophy home. But we can’t ignore the fact that the Proteas will be darling of the locals as they are playing on the home ground. They will have the

INDIA VS SA, 2018:

Game On

The Indian team’s solid form and data suggest that this could be the best chance to beat South Africa on their own ground and bring the Freedom Series trophy home, writes Shashwat Sajal

The Indian cricket team is all set to challenge the Proteas in their own den, as they will participate in 3 Tests, 6 ODI and 3 T20Is over the following two months

upper hand as players are accustomed to the home environment. No matter how strong team India is, it will not be easy to defeat South Africa. At least not on their home ground. So Indians will have to break a sweat to continue their winning streak.

16| KOLKATA|SUNDAY, 7 JANUARY 2018|millenniumpost

mp

- Al PacinoI always tell the truth. Even when I lie

From a newcomer who didn’t know anyone in the film industry to being one of the top contenders in com-mercial cinema today, what has

your journey been like?I think it was just a little more work in

terms of adjusting to a new city, to a new language. I don’t see myself as any different from other people even though I started from scratch. I guess everyone has to learn a new skill, has to go through the process of understanding what it takes to become an actor, or a star, and learning the ropes. It’s funny but I don’t feel as if I have done anything different from other newcom-ers. The struggle is pretty much the same for everyone.

What is that one thing in a script that makes you say ‘yes’?

One thing… umm.. It has to be a film that I would, as a regular movie-goer, pay money to watch in the theatre. Would this be an actor I want to watch or is this a story I would enjoy watching? I think it really comes down to what my opinion is.

There is a lot of effort that goes into being a commercial actor, maintaining a certain reputation, physical form etc. What is your take on that?

Yeah, I think they do not realise, they take it for granted, and we have to make it look effortless. Most of the time, commer-cial actors create an illusion of effortless-ness, as if we wake up every morning like this! We are genuinely good at dancing, style and glamour. But the truth is we also

spend hours and hours on ourselves, to make sure our styling is done by the best team, hours of training in dance, working on our lines, on our diction, the make-up, the hair… we have to look into all this consistently. That’s what the audience wants to see. That’s what the audience is expecting. And we make it look effortless. That’s why people think everything is flawless, which it is not.

Two of your films this year, A Gentle-man and Judwaa 2, drew very differ-ent results at the box office. How do you handle the failure and success of a film?

Honestly, pretty much everyone goes through failure and success. It is not the most shocking thing that hap-pens in an actor’s life or anyone’s life. And I am used to all kinds of ups and downs as every film has its own des-tiny. A film doesn’t determine who I am. Every film can be a success as long as you have done your part. You can’t dwell on something for too long, not even success! That too keeps you back because it puts you in a comfort zone.

Speaking of Judwaa 2, what was your first reaction when you heard the script? What was your reaction when you saw the response from the audi-ence and industry?

My first reaction when I heard that Nadiad (Sajid Nadiadwala) was making Jud-waa 2, and he told me that he wanted me to be a part of the film, I was like, I need to see the film first. Also, David (Dhawan) sir met me while we were shooting for Dishoom, and he told me that he wanted me to be a part of this film, and that Karishma had played this part so beautifully. He said, ‘It is going to be quite a challenge for you.’ He asked me to watch the film, and to watch her closely, and let her inspire me.

When we started promoting Judwaa 2, people were already treating it like a hit. There was so much positivity and curiosity coming in. So Varun and I were under a lot of pressure all the time! We shot for this film and thought it was going to be okay. But, all of a sudden, we realised that people’s expec-tations were very high. We began to feel that we might have bitten off more than we could chew, but it was just amazing. It did so well, and it was a load off our shoulders.

You have been part of many sequels, and you will be part of Race 3 as well.

I am always in a sequel; my life has become a sequel. I am Jacqueline 2.0! My very first success was a sequel, which was Murder 2. From there, it hasn’t ended. Race is a franchise; Housefull is a franchise. The cool thing about that is you get repeated in the franchise. In Housefull, I was there from the item song onwards; I was a part of Race 2, and now a part of Race 3. Also Judwaa 2! I hope they make a Judwaa 3, and I will be a part of that as well. It has always been rewarding to be able to work in franchises that are continuing.

Cinema is becoming more and more con-tent-driven. Do you often face questions like, what’s stopping you from exploring dark, content-oriented films?

I don’t agree with that question. Com-mercial cinema and blockbusters have always been content-driven. You would not watch a film that will become a success

unless it has good content. Dangal was a huge hit and a blockbuster and it had con-tent. Sultan had the same thing going for it. You can’t segregate the two. Just because one is set in a commercial setting doesn’t mean it doesn’t have content, a backstory or a script.

You have learnt a lot of new skills thanks to all your films, like fencing for Race 3, and mixed martial arts.

Yes, yes. What has been amazing for me is that with every single project, I am able to explore so many different things. I like

to discover what they are as well. The process excites me. Like when we were doing Gentleman, I didn’t know what to do with this character. So I thought, let’s do something innovative. Since we were based in Miami and my character was very adventurous, I thought maybe she can do a pole dance. When you can add a dimension to your character, even if it hasn’t been handed to you, you can take it on.

Do you feel that success brings popular-ity, and it enhances your image as an actor or a brand ambassador?

That happens with any kind of success. You responsibility, of course, increases, because people wait for what you are going to deliver next. After the success of Judwaa 2, I am wonder-ing what else I can deliver in my next film. But box office success is beneficial because everyone benefits when a film does well.

You will be reuniting with Salman Khan after Kick and Race 3. How does it feel to work with him again?

It is really cool. I just shot my first scene with him a few weeks ago. I was like, ‘I know Salman and have worked with him before. Then, during the first scene with him, I started sweating pro-

fusely. I fumbled all my lines and did not remember a thing.

The thing is the energy on a Salman Khan set is very different, everyone is on their toes. But the coolest thing about him is that, poor guy, he doesn’t do that on pur-pose. He naturally creates that energy on the set. He tries to calm everyone. He is so help-ful on the set. I sometimes feel he has got a director in him. He is just amazing at what he does. That’s what makes him amazing.

Tell us something about your next film Drive.

Drive is something I am pretty much done with right now. We have got one more song. For both me and Sushant (Singh Rajput), the experience really has come from working with Tarun (Mansukhani). There are directors that push you because at the end of the day, you really want some-one who is keeping an eye on you, on your performance. He will not let up until he is 100 per cent happy, also because he knows what he can get out from you. That’s what Sushant and I love about him. BOX OFFICE INDIA

Jacq-Pot Queen!The Sri Lankan beauty has dramatically transformed herself since her debut film with Riteish Deshmukh in Aladin. And now, she has top-banner films lined up

with industry A-listers

Film

‘I am always in a sequel; my life has become a sequel. I am Jacqueline 2.0!,’ says the Judwaa 2 actor about being a part of franchise movies. Next she will be seen with Salman in Race 3.

Still from ‘A Gentleman’

Jacqueline in ‘Judwaa 2’

Still from the song ‘Disco Disco’Jacqueline with Salman in ‘Kick’