The Sundarbans: Unique Ecosystem for Wildlife

   

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ISikkim, Kalpana Palkhiwala: The Sundarbans is the largest single block of tidal halophytic mangrove forest in the world. It is the estuarine phase of the

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Ganges as well as Brahmaputra river systems. It lies at the mouth of the Ganges and is spread across areas of Bangladesh and West Bengal, India,

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forming the seaward fringe of the delta. The typical littoral forests of Sundarbans comprises of a host of trees species adopted to the peculiar estuarine condition of high salinity, lack of soil erosion and daily inundation
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by high tides. The tidal forms and the mangrove vegetation in Sundarbans are responsible for dynamic eco-system vigorous nutrient cycling both terrestrial and aquatic. The whole eco-system is sensitive to change in salinity and the continuous cycle of erosion and deposition is affecting the plant continuously adjusting to the new conditions. The great fight goes on between nature and each individual here for survival, and survival for the

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fittest. The forest covers of 4,000 sq km are on Indian Side. It has been declared as a UNESCO world heritage site in 1997. The Sundarbans are separately listed in the UNESCO world heritage list as the Sundarbans for
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India and the Sundarbans National Park, Bangladesh, which is 6000 sq km area. Sundarbans was designated a Ramsar site on May 21, 1992. “Sundarban” literally means “beautiful jungle” or “beautiful forest” in the Bengali Language. The characteristic tree are the Sundari (Heritiera littoralis), from which the name of the tract has been derived It yields a 
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hard wood, used for building, and for making boats, furniture, etc. Other belief is that it is derived from “Samudraban” or “Chandra-bandhe” which was name of a primitive tribe. Read Full: The Sundarbans - Unique Ecosystem for Wildlife | iSikkim,

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Sharmila Qualifies for final stage of Ladies European Tour

The Indian young Golfer Sharmila Nicollet is playing in Ladies European Tour Q-School Tournament. A 20th year Bengaluru girl made a History in Indian Golf era. A tied 30th place is not something a golfer yearns for, but it was enough for India’s Sharmila Nicollet to script a new chapter in the history of Indian golf. As soon as she sank a six-foot birdie putt on the third play-off hole at the picturesque La Manga South Course in Spain, the 20-year-old Indian became the second and the youngest from the country after Smiriti Mehra to make the cut for the prestigious Ladies European Tour. Source: Medley News, Image: flickr.com

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Sonia completes 15years as Congress chief

New Delhi: Sonia Gandhi completes 15 consecutive years as Congress chief on Thursday, marking the longest run in the 128-year-old party and pulling past Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru. In May 1991, a few days after Rajiv's assassination, Sonia had summoned personal aide Vincent George to send away party supporters who used to gather outside 10 Janpath every day raising the slogan Sonia lao, desh bachao (Bring Sonia, save country). Eighteen hours after Rajiv's death, the Congress Working Committee (CWC), the party's apex decision-making body, met at headquarters 24 Akbar Road. Sitting cross-legged on white sheets and reclining on masnads (pillows), 12 members, two permanent and four special invitees had left the place meant for the leader vacant as a mark of respect for Rajiv. At the end of the meeting, over a dozen of the senior leaders requested Rajiv's widow to take over as Congress president. They included PV Narasimha Rao, K Karunakaran, Arjun Singh, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Balram Jakhar, Meira Kumar, Jagannath Pahadia, Rajendra Kumari Bajpai, HKL Bhagat, Buta Singh, Ram Chandra Vikal, Sitaram Kesri, Sharad Pawar, Janardhan Reddy, Pranab Mukherjee, Jitendra Prasada, ML Fotedar
and P Shiv Shankar. Arjun proposed Sonia's name and the others seconded. Several years later, Pawar claimed he had raised a mild objection — a contention challenged by almost all those who had attended the meeting. Asked to spell out his objection, Pawar said he wanted to know if Sonia had been consulted about the responsibility. The leaders present at the meeting disregarded the fact that Sonia was not even a "chaar anna" member of the Congress. An annual fee of chaar anna — four annas or 25 paise — was a prerequisite for membership. Mahatma Gandhi, credited with giving the Congress a mass base during the freedom struggle, had envisaged the chaar anna concept. While the CWC made the offer, no thought was given to Sonia's complete unfamiliarity with the methods and  

machinations of India's political system.The CWC decision was communicated to Sonia by a group of leaders that included Azad and Mukherjee. The meeting between them and Sonia lasted less than 10 minutes. Sonia did not say anything but she was reportedly taken aback by the timing of the request. A day later, she issued a brief statement refusing to accept the post. The note read: "The tragedy that has befallen me and my children do not make it possible for me to accept the presidentship of the Congress." Family friends of the time insist Sonia and her children had not even considered the idea. "It was deemed insensitive on part of the CWC to have made such a gesture when Rajiv's funeral had not taken place," one of them said, confirming there was no discussion even among close friends about the CWC offer. Mukherjee broke the news of Sonia's selection to a hostile media. "She is the only person who will be able to provide leadership at this crucial juncture and, under her leadership, the future of the Congress is bright," he said, summing up the CWC's deliberations. The former finance minister had an answer for everything. "How has the Congress accepted a leader who, until 1983, was not even an Indian citizen?" he was asked. He
replied: "She is an Indian housewife and has been exercising her franchise in the New Delhi constituency." Asked if she would be projected as the next prime minister, Mukherjee said: "We will cross that bridge when we reach it." "Had Sonia been consulted? Would she accept the job?" was another question. "She will accept," Mukherjee said stoutly. He claimed she had been consulted informally, something disputed by Sonia's aides. Mukherjee later admitted he was misinformed. The family faithful were just not prepared to accept Sonia's refusal. The outgoing Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) quickly endorsed the CWC's decision. In other words, if Sonia had accepted the offer, she would have been the party's candidate for prime minister after the elections in 1991. Eight years later, Sonia became party president, forced to take charge after a series of defeats, factionalism and ideological shifts. Sonia's own version is that the decision was guided by her sense of responsibility. "I have photographs of my husband and my mother-in-law in my office," she said in an interview in 2004. "And each time I walked past those photographs, I felt that I wasn't responding to my duty, the duty to this family and to the country. I felt I was being cowardly to just sit and watch things deteriorate in the Congress for which my mother-in-law and the whole family lived and died. So, at that point, I took the decision." - The Telegraph, Calcutta, Source: News-Bullet

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Out of 421 GCs passing out of IMA

Gentlemen Cadets (GC) from the country passing out at this year’s Indian Military Academy (IMA) parade on December 8, Uttar Pradesh has the maximum share with a total of 76 GCs coming from the most populous state of the country.The demographic statistics of GCs passing out of 131 regular and other parallel courses released by the IMA today had Uttar Pradesh topping the list followed by Haryana with 50 GCs. Uttarakhand stands third with 46 GCs (10.92 per cent). The youth of the small hill state of Uttarakhand with a population of over 1 crore have shown excellent results in terms of its representation in the academy in recent years.There are 30 GCs from Maharashtra, 25 from Rajasthan, 23 from Madhya Pradesh, 22 from Himachal Pradesh, 20 each from Punjab and Delhi and 11 from Kerala. Similarly, 14 GCs from the trouble-torn state of Jammu and Kashmir will pass out whereas four GCs are from the terror-infested Manipur in the North-East. Nagaland and Tripura have one GC each. There are 10 GCs from West Bengal and 13 GCs each from Andhra Pradesh and Bihar. Five GCs are from Tamil Nadu and nine are from the southern state of Karnataka.The Union Territory of Chandigarh has four GCs. Jharkhand too has five GCs. Five GCs are from Gujarat, four are from Assam, two from Chattisgarh, five GCs are from Orissa and two GCs from Meghalaya. Among other highlights of the parade, there is one GC from Nepal who has opted to join the Indian Army. According to the Indo-Nepal Friendship Treaty, Nepalese citizens can be absorbed as commissioned officers in the Indian Army. Source: Atrashastra, Image: photobucket.com

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Sitar maestro Ravi Shankar passes away at 92

New Delhi: Indian sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar passed in San Diego today morning at 6am. He was 92. Watch: Pandit Ravi Shankar passes away at 92 l Indian music's global ambassador l He was a national treasure: PM l Lata mourns Shankar's demise l He gave identity to classical music: Modi Shankar, whose health had been fragile for the past several years, underwent a surgery on Thursday at the Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla, California where he breathed his last. The music icon was admitted to the hospital last week when he complained of breathlessness. "It is with heavy hearts we write to inform you that Pandit Ravi Shankar, husband, father, and musical soul, passed away today," his
wife and daughter, Sukanya and Anoushka Shankar, said in a joint statement. He is survived by his wife Sukanya; daughter Norah Jones; daughter Anoushka Shankar Wright and husband Joe Wright; three grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. "Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of the surgeons and doctors taking care of him, his body was not able to withstand the strain of the surgery. We were at his side when he passed away," the joint statement said. A three-time Grammy award winner, Shankar last performed in California on November 4 along with his daughter Anoushka Shankar. Shankar has also been nominated for the 2013 Grammys for his album "The Living Room Sessions Part-1" and was pitted against Anoushka in the same category. He was active as a professional musician till the end and was one of the contenders for the next Grammys. Pandit Ravi Shankar has been described as the most known

In Pic: Pandit Ravi Shankar and his daughter Anoushka Shankar perform in Kolkata on February 7, 2009. AFP PHOTO.

contemporary Indian musician. In 1999 Shankar was Reactions, condolences offered: awarded India's highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna and has received three Grammy Awards. Shankar was born 7 April 1920 in Varanasi to a Bengali Brahmin family as the youngest of seven brothers. Shankar's Bengali birth name was Robindro Shaunkor Chowdhury. • Prime Minister condoles the passing away of Pandit Ravishankar- A national treasure and global ambassador of India's cultural heritage • Narendra Modi: Sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar was the legendary musician who gave new identity to Indian classical music. May his soul rest in peace. • Vishwa Mohan Bhatt: Pandit Ravi Shankar’s death is a
huge loss for Indian  classical music. He was a cultural ambassador. • Shivkumar Sharma, Santoor player: Beatles’ George Harrison was his greatest fan. He experimented with his music and westerners connected a lot to him. He was a foodie and loved eating fish. I consider myself very lucky to have performed with him. • Anoop Jalota, Bhajan singer: Pandit Ravi Shankar's death is a big loss to the country. He spread Indian music in the entire world. • Prasoon Joshi: Indian music got the much needed recognition because of Pandit Ravishankar. He was a teacher to many and his loss will be deeply missed. • Kishore Amonkar, classical Indian singer: His death is tremendous loss to us. He was a renowned musician admired all over the wold. I offer my condolences to his family during this hour of grief. • Anupam Kher: Pt. Ravi Shankar’s Sitar played for our souls. His music helped us sooth our nerves. His smile was like his music- DIVINE. RIP. • Lata Mangeshkar: I wished him good health when the last time he spoke to him. I know him since 1948. His space cannot be filled in the Indian music industry. I learnt a lot from him during a song recording. Source: News Bullet

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President for inculcating scientific temperament among students

Voicing dismay over Indian educational institutions not finding a place among the world's top universities, President Pranab Mukherjee on Friday sought revitalisation of efforts to inculcate scientific temperament among students and providing them with facilities to achieve this. “I feel it necessary to share with you my sense of dismay on seeing that not a single Indian university or institute of higher learning, including the premier IITs, figure in the list of 200 top-rated universities of the world. “To my mind the more important question is why? Why are we, a 'rising economic superpower', not able to promote our standards to be rated, indisputably, among the top ten or even top 50 or 100,” Mukherjee said at the 57th convocation of the prestigious IIT. Trinamool Congress chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who had set a 72-hour deadline to the government for withdrawal of the decision on opening FDI in multi-brand retail, and party leader Mukul Roy stayed away for the function. The President said it was “necessary to start now with the urgent task of developing in our students, a scientific temperament. It is necessary to design, without delay, appropriate learning experiences for our students”. Maintaining that there was no reason why the most modern methods and teaching aids should not be made available to teachers and students, he said, “Our younger generations should be encouraged through all means to learn and explore more and contribute more to the society.” Mukherjee said adaptation and application of new technology to Indian conditions and requirement would open up new market opportunities and these must be made “an integral part of the courses that our students attend”. The President, who was accompanied by an alumni of IIT Kharagpur and Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh, took part in a function which also marks the culmination of the institution's Diamond Jubilee celebrations. He strongly recommended “more collaborations, exchanges and cross-pollination of ideas with the best minds in India and abroad” and asked the IITs to take the lead in ensuring “continuous revitalisation of institutions through research, experimentation and innovation”. Delving into history, Mukherjee said the main building that houses IIT Kharagpur was “hallowed by some of India's great freedom fighters. The original location of this Institute is the very spot where two great soldiers of the freedom movement -- Santosh Kumar Mitra and Tarakeswar Sengupta, had served their sentences”. When they were shot dead by the police on September 16, 1931, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose himself came to the Hijli detention camp, as it was known then, to take possession of their mortal remains. “This incident had galvanised national leaders including Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore and the spirit of the Indian people to carry out the freedom struggle,” Mukherjee said.  Source: Indian Express

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Bollywood pays Tribute to Prabuddha Dasgupta

The Ace Fashion Photographer who rule the industry for more than Three Decade, died on Sunday 12, August 2012. He was 58. A versatile personality, Dasgupta was recipient of many grants and awards, including the Yves Saint Laurent grant for photography in 1991. His work is also featured in many institutions like the Museo Ken Damy at Brescia (Italy) and Galleria Carla Sozzani at Milan. Many Bollywood Celebrities were connected to this legend, they all have expressed deep condolence for him. Here are the Twits of B-Town Celebs who paid Tribute to the Prabuddha Dasgupta through Twitter.Lara Dutta : 'I hear from twitter that Prabuddho Dasgupta has passed away!:-( . He shot me 4 the Femina cover rght after I won Miss India. It was every...Womans dream to be shot by Prabuddho! No one captured a woman like him. May his soul rest in peace. :- Model Padma Lakshmi : 'RIP Prabuddha Dasgupta. Huge loss. Lucky to work with such a master, artist & friend. So sad for Lakshmi & his girls.' Arjun Rampal : 'Devastated, Prabhudo Dasgupta, a genius and dear friend is no more, he has gone way before his time. My prayers & strength for his family. RIP.' Shekhar Kapur : 'Yesterday i passed brilliant photographer #PrabhudaDasgupta studio in Bengaluru promising 2 drop by next time.Today he passed away.' Actress-model Lisa Ray ‏: 'Shocked at the news of Prabuddha Das Gupta's passing. A true artist, original and friend. Saddened. My heart is with Lakshmi and his girls.' Farhan Akhtar : 'One of the finest photographers and a dear friend, Prabhuda, passed away. RIP. This has been a dark week.' Dia Mirza : 'Prabudha Das Gupta...the wonder you created will live on but I will miss looking at you and then the 'self' that only you could capture. RIP.' Model Ujjwala Raut : 'In memory of Prabuddha Dasgupta, beautiful moments captured for Vama Campaign! Lucky me to be photographed by a LEGEND. Source: Page3 ***

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Wander Into The Mist Of Lepchajagat , Darjeeling

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Lepchajagat, is an offbeat destination in the district of Darjeeling in West Bengal. It lies on the road connecting Darjeeling (19 km) with Mirik. Located on a hill slope covered with rhododendron and oaks forests, Lepchajagat offers a rich diversity of nature. It is a place for those who enjoys serenity and calmness far from madding crowds, hotels, markets of popular hill stations. The town of Darjeeling is visible from this place and an illuminated

Darjeeling in the night makes an eye-catching view. The sight of the sunrise over Kanchenjunga is awe-inspiring. I often wonder why people visits Darjeeling and not Lepchajagat ..... But then, this is the reason you would enjoy this place so very much. The curious play of colors in the sky strikes you straight away. Partly black and white clouds drift from one hillto another. The other places close by that are not to be missed

include Jorepokri, Mirik and Pashupati. Lepchajagat, although a mere 16 km away from Darjeeling, this hamlet somewhat miraculously has been able to maintain its pristine atmosphere. The weather here is unpredictable - sunny spells interfered most of the times by the foggy surroundings. The enchanting thick foggy weather gives one a mystic feel. If ‘doing nothing’ is your holiday motto then Lepchaghat is the ideal destination for you. The skyscraping trees, clean mountain air and unpretentious natural beauty of Lepchaghat mesmerize the onlooker. The meaningless wandering in the village nestled in fog and mist also leaves a mark on one’s memory forever.

The view of Kanchenjunga turning red during sunrise is unforgettable. Watch the sun slowly come out and as soon as the crimson rays fell on the Kanchendzonga range, the magic begins. For the next 30 minutes or so will be your turn to get mesmerized by the amazing beauty of the mighty Himalayas. Slowly the snow peaks turn from pink to orange to gold and then the whole range come out in its dazzling white attire. The Kanchendzonga, Kabru, Kumbhakarna all are tantalizingly close, looking ethereal against a clear blue sky. No matter how many times you have watched this spectacle, this always comes up with an unprecedented

beauty.Lepchajagat could also be in a different mood the very next day. You may find it draped in thick fog and the visibility was almost zero and may realize that Lepchajagat with its misty mood is even more attractive than in a sunny day. So the next time you are in Darjeeling make sure to visit this sleepy serene hamlet. Source: The Holiday India Travel

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Darjeeling To Hosted Tea and Tourism Festival

By: Mayank Gupta, This December Gorkha Janmukti Morcha will organize Tea and Tourism festival in Darjeeling. The aim of the festival is to aid Darjeeling tourism following the recent earthquake. For past three years tourism in Darjeeling has taken a beating due to the agitation by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) over the Gorkhaland. The violent protests by the GJM saw sharp decline in tourist arrivals to the Darjeeling. Things started to look bright for the Darjeeling after an agreement between West Bengal CM Mamta Banerjee and GJM that ended the conflict. But soon after that another tragedy strike Darjeeling and tourism industry paid the price. The earthquake in North East India has affected tourism in Darjeeling. Tourist arrivals has once again dropped in the region following the earthquake To help Darjeeling tourism, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has decided to organize Tea and Tourism Festival in December. The aim of the event is to extend tourist season in Darjeeling that ends in November. The festival will offer tourists a chance to see tea processing in the factories. Tourists will be offered delicious local cuisine as well several other activities to promote tourism and extend tourist season to December and January. The festival will begin on December 20 and end on January 5. Source: Easy Destination Blog

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Our marriage was not a long affair: Big B

GaramGossips: Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan have been wedded for 39 years now. The pair celebrated their wedding anniversary on Sunday. June 3, 1973 was the day Amitabh_jaya entered maritial bliss and have been blessed with two children – son Abhishek and daughter Shweta. “39 years! And just made it to the blog in time to write. A minute more and all the headers would have had to undergo change. Greetings have been exchanged, family has gathered round with wishes…and dear occupy most of the space in the house…Now .. a time to reminisce, to go back and relive those moments, to remember all that transpired,” the 69-year-old wrote on blog. Recalling those past moments, Amitabh tells, “‘Zanjeer’ had just released. And Jaya and I and a few dear friends had decided that if the film did well we would all go to London for a holiday. After a few anxious days on the results of the box office, it was time to put our decision ‘in line’. So I told my parents, who I had now invited to come and live with me, as is the culture in our land, about our decision. And my Father came down heavily on me – ‘If you are planning a holiday with this girl, you will have to marry her and go, else your decision is denied.’ “I was an obedient child! I got married the very next day in a quickly organized wedding with family and some dear friends, without any fanfare, and left for the holiday that very night,” he further wrote. Big B tells that his marriage was not a long affair. “Marriages and weddings entail great amount of ritual and protocol and decorum and priests and pundits and maulvis. They last for days with great fanfare. Ours was a simple Bengali pundit wedding, exchange of flowered garlands, the mangal sutra, the sindoor and it was all over before the women from Jaya’s side could stop their finger in mouth screams of ‘odododooooo’ … or words to that effect,” he further added.Source: GaramGossips

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Amitabh - Jaya celebrate 39th wedding anniversary

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan celebrates their 39th marriage anniversary today. Big B says it has brought the memories of the their wedding day flooding back. The couple got married June 3, 1973 and have two children - son Abhishek and daughter Shweta. "39 years! And just made it to the blog in time to write. A minute more and all the headers would have had to undergo change. Greetings have been exchanged, family has gathered round with wishes...and dear occupy most of the space in the house...Now .. a time to reminisce, to go back and relive those moments, to remember all that transpired," the 69-year-old posted on blog bigb.bigadda.com. Amitabh says he and Jaya had planned a holiday in London to celebrate Zanjeer success, but his father Harivansh Rai Bachchan wanted them to get married before going on the vacation. " Zanjeer had just released. And Jaya and I and a few dear friends had decided that if the film did well we would all go to London for a holiday. After a few anxious days on the results of the box office, it was time to put our decision 'in line'. So I told my parents, who I had now invited to come and live with me, as is the culture in our land, about our decision. And my Father came down heavily on me - 'If you are planning a holiday with this girl, you will have to marry her and go, else your decision is denied.' I was an obedient child! I got married the very next day in a quickly organized wedding with family and some dear friends, without any fanfare, and left for the holiday that very night," he further posted. Big B says that his marriage was not a lengthy affair. " Marriages and weddings entail great amount of ritual and protocol and decorum and priests and pundits and maulvis. They last for days with great fanfare. Ours was a simple Bengali pundit wedding, exchange of flowered garlands, the mangal sutra, the sindoor and it was all over before the women from Jaya's side could stop their finger in mouth screams of 'odododooooo' ... or words to that effect," he added, Source: The Hans India, ***

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Now, Aamir Khan to connect through radio

New Delhi, After being widely appreciated for his TV show 'Satyamev Jayate', actor Aamir Khan will now connect with millions of radio listeners in a programme called 'Dil Pe Lagi Aur Baat Bani'. From tomorrow, the show anchored by Aamir will be broadcast every Saturday at 11 am on primary channels of All India Radio covering Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan and West Bengal. It will be also available on all Vividh Bharati stations of AIR on Saturdays at 3.30 pm, a statement by Prasar Bharati said. 'Dil Pe Lagi Aur Baat Bani' aims at stringing together real-life incidents touching a common chord across people of the country. Source: Indian Express 

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Dada Saheb Phalke, National Film Awards presented

Hindustan Times, PTI, New Delhi: Legendary Bengali actor Soumitra Chatterjee was today conferred the prestigious Dada Saheb Phalke award by Vice-President Hamid Ansari who also gave away trophies to the winners of the 59th National Film Awards here. Gurvinder Singh from Punjab won a Swarna Kamal and Rs. 2.5 lakh for the best director award for his film 'Anhe Ghorey Da Daan', which also won awards for best cinematography and best Punjabi film. 77-year-old Chatterjee was given a huge round of applause and a standing ovation by the audience as he received the Swarna Kamal (golden lotus) medallion, a cash prize of Rs. 10 lakh and a shawl. He hurried back to his seat only to be stopped and requested to the dais by Information and broadcasting minister Ambika Soni to speak. "I'm really not in the frame of mind to say anything. I have always been in doubt about my work. I always thought that entertainment business was not worthwhile.... For 50 years, I have been accepted and loved by my countrymen. They are the reason I have come this far," he said. Making his debut in Satyajit Ray's 'Apur Sansar', he went on to enjoy a great actor-director relationship with Satyajit Ray by starring in classics like 'Charulata', 'Ghare Baire', 'Devi' and 'Aranyer Din Ratri'. The best feature film trophy was shared by Umesh Kulkarni directed Marathi film 'Deool' and 'Byari'. It comprises a Swarna Kamal and a cash prize of Rs. 2.5 lakh. Bollywood was represented by actress Vidya Balan, who accepted her best actress trophy for 'The Dirty Picture'. "It is a huge honour and I have come with my parents. I am lucky to be the part of the industry at a time when roles are being written for Indian heroines. They are not simply good or bad. They are portraying characters with different shades," said the 34-year-old star, who wore a pink saree. 'Deool' lead star Girish Kulkarni accepted the trophies for the best actor and best dialogue writer at the awards. The best actor and actress get a Rajat Kamal and Rs. 50,000 each. "It is great honour not only to our film but for the regional cinema and Marathi film industry. Filmmaking is a team effort and we all feel happy to get our film recognised. "I have won two awards, so the happiness is double for me," Girish said. Source: Hindustan Times

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Visvabharati to get Rs. 150cr from Centre

Asian Age,  PTI,  New  Delhi:   As  a  tribute  to  Rabindranath  Tagore  on  the ocassion of his 150th birth anniversary, the government on Monday announced a grant of `150 crores to the Nobel Laureate’s abode — Visvabharati University — for restoring it to its old glory. On the closing day of the year-long celebrations to mark the anniversary that saw a flurry of activities both in India and outside, the government said the first ‘Tagore International Award’ will be presented to sitar maestro Pandit Ravishankar. Announcing Ravish-ankar’s name, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee said Ravishankar will receive the award that carries a cash prize of `1 crore and citation from the President of India at a ceremony later. Leaders from India and Bangladesh paid rich tributes to Tagore as Bangladesh foreign minister Dipu Moni said he would continue to inspire “every Bengali” at every point of life. Source; AsianAge, Image: flickr.com

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Kaziranga, where rhinos roam

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Hindustan Times, Sneha Mahale, Mumbai: Two national parks in India — the Sunderbans in West Bengal and Kaziranga in Assam — have captured the imagination of tourists and wildlife enthusiasts unlike others. It could be that their apparent inaccessibility or unusual topography add to their aura. Or is it the chance to get that once-in-a-lifetime image of a tiger emerging from the swamps or of an one-horned rhino staring out of the elephant grass at against the backdrop of the setting sun? Who knows. But both find a mention in every wildlife enthusiast’s bucket list. So, when the opportunity to

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visit Kaziranga came calling, it was obviously not one to miss. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the globally famous national park draws in foreign and Indian tourists by the hordes, all hoping for a glimpse of the endangered one-horned rhino. Once poached to the brink of extinction, these gentle giants are making a big comeback in the 430 square kilometres reserve, and today account for nearly two thirds of the Great Indian Rhino population in the world. Yet, forest guards take no chances, and are always alert, guns strapped around them. The very experience makes the threat seem more real. The park itself is tourist-friendly, and in a complete rip-off of a concept made famous by Kenya’s Masai Mara, boasts of the must-see ‘Big Five’. Boards at the gate welcome visitors to catch glimpse of the rhino, tiger, elephant, swamp deer and bison. And if the roads leading to the park and the several resorts around are indicators, the government too takes an interest in promoting tourism here. Something that can't be said about the rest of the North-East region, especially Arunachal Pradesh. Inside, the park is divided into four zones but tourists aren’t allowed into the core park area. Our own trip commenced with an elephant ride scheduled at 6.30 am. These rides happen only for two-three hours in the morning and evening, so be on time. If you miss your one-hour ride or

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are late, there is little to no chance of a refund. Also, booking another elephant ride will be difficult. We reached the park by 6 am and since the elephants and mahuts were ready, we started off immediately. Being late November, the weather was chilly, not that it mattered to the huge animal we were seated on, who just strutted past huge trees, swamps and even walked over a few logs. And then, a few metres ahead, was our first rhino. Yes, no drama. No waiting for the perfect moment or luck. It was right there. And before we could react to its presence, another rhino and her calf

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made their appearance. We even had swamp deer, elephant, wild boar and bison sightings. Later, we were told that the jeep safari in the evening would not offer much scope as the animals remain hidden by the elephant grass. But it isn’t true. We saw as much, if not more animals, including several rhinos. The climax was a herd of elephants and their calves coming to see us off as we exited the park. So does Kaziranga live up to its promise? Yes, and in more ways than one. Source: Hindustan Times, 

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Dinesh Trivedi quits as railway minister, Roy to replace him

Hindustan Times, Agencies, New Delhi: Succumbing to pressure by Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee, Dinesh Trivedi today resigned as railway minister, according to reports. Earlier, Dinesh Trivedi reportedly called up Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Sunday evening and agreed to resign from his post. Mamata Banerjee told reporters, "Dinesh Trivedi called in. He will resign tonight." According to Mamata, Trivedi said he will abide by the party.On her visit to Delhi, Mamata said there is no specific reason of her visit to Delhi. Source: Hindustan Times 

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The Last Man-eater: Killer Tigers of India

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Screen Shot On Linked Video All Rights Reserve To the national Geographic Society

Uploaded by WildDocumentary, Share Link: DP World The only place on earth where Man is not at the top of the food chain. The Last Maneater is a spectacular documentary about the last tigers in the world to hunt, kill, and eat humans. They live in the Sunderbans, gnarled fingers of thick impenetrable mangrove forest swamps in eastern India. It's a place where the daily  quest  for  a  net   full   of   fish,   or  even  an   armload   of   firewood

Screen Shot On Uploaded Video All Rights Reserve To the national Geographic Society

gathered from the forest floor, can prove fatal. Here, up to 80 people every year are killed and eaten by tigers. The villages here are filled with orphans... and widows. And people who have harrowing tales of survival. An adult Bengal tiger can weigh as much as 500 pounds. When it decides to attack, the results are almost always lethal. Guns and armor are of little use in this area where a stealth attack from the rear can occur with no warning. It is the reality  of  life  in  the  Sunderbans.  People  here   understand  the  risk. They

Screen Shot On Uploaded Video All Rights Reserve To the national Geographic Society

understand... that in the Sunderbans, humans are not the most dominant animal. That if a tiger decides to kill... it can... and will. This is a place where tigers don't live in fear of people. Here... tigers reign supreme. All rights belong to The National Geographic Society.

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The chief minister's appeal to SRK for becoming the West Bengal brand ambassador!

GaramGossips, By Gahoi Ad Online Media: Bollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan has formally accepted West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's proposal to become the state's brand ambassador. This was disclosed by Banerjee at the state secretariat Writers' Buildings Monday. Sources told Shah Rukh's acceptance came in the form of a letter to the chief minister. Banerjee had put the request to the film icon during a tête-à-tête after the inauguration of the 17th Kolkata film Festival last November. Shah Rukh had then verbally agreed to the chief minister's appeal. Source: GaramGossips

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Uninor offers RED FM channels across India on mobile

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By: Swati Arya, Patna: Uninor has announced a first of its kind tie up with RED FM powered by Hungama Mobile, to bring the radio experience in various languages for its customers. The tie-up will enable Uninor customers to enjoy a wholesome music experience, in their preferred language from their hometown radio station, now easily accessible on mobile handsets, for example a Gujarati in Bangalore can listen to the RED FM of Ahmedabad or a Bengali in Mumbai can listen to the Kolkata radio Station. Customers can avail this Value Added Service by simply dialing toll free number 55935 from their Uninor number. The customers can access 8 RED FM stations from across the country for a maximum charge of Rs 10 for a week with usage upto 100 minutes. Customers will enjoy nonstop music without any advertisement breaks. The service would be easily available at different pocket friendly subscription charges from Rs 10 to Re.1 bundled with free minutes of music streaming. Read Full: Uninor offers RED FM channels across India on mobile ***

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Mamata Banerjee a best-selling author at Kolkata Book Fair

Hindustan Times, PTI: Guess who is the hottest-selling author at the ongoing Kolkata Book Fair? Not Chetan Bhagat or Vikram Seth, but West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Sales figures at the annual book fair, deemed one of the largest in the world, demonstrate that Mamata has emerged quite a literary sensation. “The response has been overwhelming for us. We are already running out of stock,” Sudhangshu Dey of Deys’ Publishing told PTI. Publishing her books since 1995, he said that thousands of copies of her books have been sold since the last five days. Last year, books worth Rs 10 lakh authored by Banerjee were sold ,earning her a cool Rs one lakh in royalty. “The sales of her books had equalled popular Bengali authors like Mani Shankar Mukherjee and Buddhadeb Guha last year. The sales are even better this time with the rise in her popularity graph,” the publisher said. A regular writer and a poet besides being a feisty politician, Banerjee has so far written around 33 books, three of which were released last week during the inauguration of the fair. Bibliophiles have queued up at many stalls including her party Trinamool Congress’ stall ‘Jago Bangla’ to read her works. In spite of her very busy work schedule, Banerjee has made it a point to release her books at every edition of the book fair for the last few years. Source: Hindustan Times, Image: photobucket.com

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