TATA MOTERS

Tata Motors, a Company that cares about the future... True to the tradition of the Tata Group, Tata Motors is committed in letter and spirit to Corporate Social Responsibility. It is a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact, and is engaged in community and social initiatives on labour and environment standards in compliance with the principles of the Global Compact. In accordance with this, it plays an active role in community development, serving rural communities around its manufacturing locations.
Tata Motors believes in technology for tomorrow. Our products stand testimony to this.Our annual expenditure on R&D is approximately 2% of our turnover. We have also set up two in-house Engineering Research Centres that house India's only Certified Crash Test Facility. We ensure that our products are environmentally sound in a variety of ways. These include reducing hazardous materials in vehicle components, developing extended life lubricants, fluids and using ozone-friendly refrigerants. Tata Motors has been making conscious effort in the implementation of several environmentally sensitive technologies in manufacturing processes. The Company uses some of the world's most advanced equipment for emission check and control.
Tata Motors concern is manifested by a dual approach - 1) Reduction of environmental pollution and regular pollution control drives2) Restoration of ecological balance.
Our endeavors towards environment protection are soil and water conservation programmes and extensive tree plantation drives. Tata Motors is committed to restoring and preserving environmental balance, by reducing waste and pollutants, conserving resources and recycling materials.
Reducing Pollution:Tata Motors has been at the forefront of the Indian automobile industry's anti-pollution efforts by introducing cleaner engines. It is the first Indian Company to introduce vehicles with Euro norms well ahead of the mandated dates. Tata Motors' joint
venture with Cummins Engine Company, USA, in 1992, was a pioneering effort to introduce emission control technology for India. Over the years, Tata Motors has also made investments in setting up of an advanced emission-testing laboratory.
With the intention of protecting the environment, Tata Motors has upgraded the performance of its entire range of four and six cylinder engines to meet international emission standards. This has been accomplished with the help of world-renowned engine consultants like Ricardo and AVL. These engines are used in Tata Motors vehicles in the Indian market, as well as in over 70 export markets.
Tata Motors is constantly working towards developing alternative fuel engine technologies. It has manufactured CNG version of buses and followed it up with a CNG version of its passenger car, the Indica.
Restoring Ecological Balance: Tata Motors has set up effluent treatment facilities in its plants, to avoid release of polluted water into the ecosystem. In Pune, the treated water is conserved in lakes attracting various species of birds from around the world thus turning the space into a green belt.
Tree plantation programmes involving villagers and Tata Motors employees, have turned acres of barren village green. Tata Motors has planted as many as 80,000 trees in the works and the township and more than 2.4 million trees have been planted in Jamshedpur region. Over half a million trees have been planted in the Poona region. Tata Motors has directed all its suppliers to package their products in alternate material instead

The winning captain BRIANLARA

The bleary-eyed disposition of West Indies skipper Brian Lara at his first press conference seemed to scream out just one question: Why are we playing in India, when we should be getting used to the new stadiums and conditions back home?

India is in the midst of preparing for cricket’s biggest tournament, the 2007 World Cup, which will be held in the West Indies. Yet, instead of going to the West Indies and trying to gain some first hand knowledge about the conditions, India have the hosts down to play a four-match ODI series in India.

The journey from the West Indies to India takes approximately 24 hours and getting rid of the jet lag might just take a little bit longer. By the time of the first ODI, the West Indian players would have just about started getting acclimatised to the conditions.

“It would have been much better for the Indians to have come to the West Indies. It would have benefited them as well as us,” said Lara. “But we needed to get some international cricket under our belt.”

The West Indies last played some international cricket during the series against Pakistan. The final ODI of that series was on December 16 and for more than a month now, while other nations are tuning up for the big tournament, they have been languishing at home. They are some who say that India was in West Indies in June 2005 but the pitches they played on would have changed by now. The pitches were then virgin wickets, slow and low — by now they would have firmed up and they will play differently.

In recent times, West Indies have dominated India in the one-day arena, winning 6 of the last 7 matches. Before the series against the West Indies in May, India were on a winning streak of their very own. Their record since the tour of Sri Lanka when Dravid first took over as skipper was 17 wins and just four losses. Since then, India have managed to win just 3 more ODIs and their record now stands at 20 wins and 16 losses.

UMRAO JAAN

Recereating classics seems to be the latest fad in Bollywood. Following the success of “Devdas”, most production houses are recreating old success stories. The recent “Don”, “Shiva”, and the upcoming “Sholay” are classic examples.
Based on Mirza Muhammad Hadi Ruswa’s novel, the film is a tale of Umrao Jaan Ada, a royal courtesan in 19th century Lucknow. Kidnapped and sold at a tender age from a lower class family, Ameeran (Aishwarya Rai), is rechristened as Umrao by the brothel owner Shabana Azmi (Khanum Jaan). Therein begins Umrao’s journey into the magnificient world of elegance and flair, where her job is to entertain regal clients with her dance and poetic skills.
Comparisons to the original adaptation of “Umrao Jaan” starring Rekha are obvious, but this version holds it own and is not a frame-by-frame remake.
However the film does have its share of flaws. J.P. Dutta goes completely overboard with the development of his subplots. Nothing is left to imagination. He has paid a great level of attention to the intricacies of the film, and most of the running time is spent elaborating on those aspects. We have seen films of this grandeur in the past, with “Devdas” taking the lead, and “Umrao Jaan” offers little more.

GURU

Guru unfolds with the story of a simple young villager, who has the nerve to fly high and the vision to grow. Grow bigger than life itself.
Grukant Desai, who hailed from a small village named Idhar in Gujarat, was the son of a headmaster. Although his father strongly believed that dreams and reality did not go hand-in-hand, Guru was too rooted in his dreams, which grew with him everyday. Raving to explore opportunities, he left behind his father's mental setup and went to Turkey to work for an oil company. His hard work and determination soon earned him praise and promotion. But life was meant to be beyond the small success and it was this foresight which brought him back home. He wanted to work for himself. He wanted to write a success story of his own.
Directed by Mani Ratnam, who has written the script with Suhasini Mani Ratnam and Vijay Krishna Acharya, Guru is said to be a mature love story. Shooting for the film took place in Turkey and Badami, Karnataka, as well as in Chennai and Madurai, Tamil Nadu. The music is composed by A.R. Rahman, with lyrics by Gulzar. Cinematography for the film is handled by Rajiv Menon. Current reports state that the film is based on the life of India's biggest petrochemicals tycoon, Dhirubhai Ambani. With choreography by Saroj Khan and Brinda, Guru, produced by Ratnam and G. Srinivasan, is to be released on January 12, 2007.
GURU ranks amongst Mani Ratnam's finest attempts. In fact, it wouldn't be erroneous to state that the film is at par with his most accomplished works like NAYAKAN, AGNI NAKSHATRAM, GITANJALI, ROJA and BOMBAY. Every sequence in GURU bears the stamp of a genius and the outcome is tremendous.

SHILPA the BIG BROTHER

With servants to wait on her as a child and her mother chaperoning her on Bollywood film sets, actress Shilpa Shetty led a luxurious and sheltered life.
Sheltered, that is, until she decided to walk into Celebrity Big Brother, the British reality TV show.
"We brought her up like a princess," her mother, Sunanda Shetty said.
"This is the first time in her 31 years that she has travelled without me. And now she is getting a taste of the outside world."
Reduced to tears by insults from fellow competitors, Shetty's family says the show has been a reality check for the tall, sultry actress who has said her treatment smacked of racism.




Bride Groom India USA UK UAE Canada Australia Pakistan Saudi Arabia Kuwait South Africa 18 - 24 25 - 30 31 - 35 36 - 45 46 - 50 50+ Hindu - Assamese - Bengali - Gujarati - Hindi - Kannada - Malayalam - Marathi - Marwari - Oriya - Punjabi - Sindhi - Tamil - Telugu Muslim Christian Sikh Parsi Jain Buddhist Jewish Other No Religion Spiritual
Britain's media watchdog has been flooded with complaints against the show, Europe's biggest mobile phone retailer has pulled its sponsorship and the Indian government has asked Britain to check if race laws had been broken.
Shetty and her main tormentor, loud-mouthed former dental nurse Jade Goody, have been shortlisted for eviction by fellow housemates on the show and face off in a public vote on Friday. Goody is hot favourite to be kicked out.
Beginning her career as a model, Shetty has enjoyed only a few hits among her 40 or so films in Bollywood. She has been overshadowed in recent years by up-and-coming film stars.
She could never have dreamt of the kind of publicity she has so far received on the British show.

LAUNCHING OF GSLV BY ISRO

The Indian Space Research Organisation on Friday deferred the much-awaited full-duration test of its indigenous cryogenic stage for the Geo-Synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle due to anomalous readings.

ISRO Chairman G Madhavan Nair said, ''We could not go through the long duration test because we found some anomalous readings.

''We will conduct the full duration test in three to four weeks.'’

The various parameters were tested. The engines were also tested.

''But we could not go for long duration as we found some anomalous readings,'' he said.

‘Dravid needs to be more aggressive’

NAGPUR: During his tenure as skipper, Mohammad Azharuddin led India to a then-record 14 ODI wins. But the team’s record outside the sub-continent remained abysmal. He was also privy to the treatment that a captain was meted out by the media and the public after an unsuccessful tour. So when he speaks about Rahul Dravid’s captaincy, he has a fair idea as to what he is talking about.
“Dravid been a captain for only about a year now and he hasn’t done too badly. Of course, there are things that he can improve. For instance, he needs to be more aggressive on the field and he also needs to demand more from his players,” said Azharuddin in Nagpur.
Azharuddin also prefers having Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly bat at the top of the order in ODIs.
“Sachin has so much experience and it would be a pity to waste it lower down the order. The same goes for Ganguly too. He has done well since he has come back into the team. I believe that our top five batsmen should bat out the majority of the 50 overs,” said Azharuddin. “Having the No.7 or other batsmen bat up the order is okay once in a while, but doesn’t always work.” The 43-year-old believes that Virender Sehwag’s chances of a comeback are very slim and they depend on how the others will perform in the lead-up to the World Cup

KHUMB MELA

The Khumb Mela of 2001 is believed to be the largest congregation of humanity in history. Some 60 million pilgrims visited this Hindu festival between the 9th of January and 21st of February. The Hindu belief is that gods and demons once fought a battle for a khumb (pitcher) containing the nectar of immortality. Four drops were spilled
at four towns along the Ganges: Allahabad, Hardiwar, Nasik and Ujjain. A huge mela (fair) is held every 12 years at these holy places. The Khumb at Allahabad is the largest and most significant of all. Pilgrims from all over India mass to bath where the three holy rivers cross: Ganges, Yamuna and the invisible, mythological river of Saraswati. The holy confluence of the three rivers is called Sangam. On the 24th of January an incredible 30 million people are believed to have made the holy bath

Dolphin

Description: bright greenish blue above, yellow on sides, with capability of flashing purple, chartreuse, and a wide range of other colors; body tapers sharply from head to tail; irregular blue or golden blotches scattered over sides; anterior profile of head on adult males is nearly vertical; head of females more sloping; the single dark dorsal fin extends from just behind the head to the tail; anal fin margin concave and extending from anus to tail.
Similar Fish: pompano dolphin, C. equisetis. The pompano dolphin has squarish tooth patch on tongue (oval tooth patch on dolphin) and fewer dorsal rays (48 to 55 versus 55 to 65 on dolphin).
Where found: OFFSHORE in warm waters.
Size: common to 30 pounds.
*Florida Record: 77 lbs, 12 ozs.
Remarks: one of the fastest-growing fish, thought to live no more than 5 years; swimming speed is estimated at 50 knots; spawns in warm ocean currents throughout much of the year; young found in sargassum weed; feeds on flying fish and squid.

VOLCANO MAKING

Make a Volcano with this 3 3/4" volcano you build yourself. Quick-dry plaster is easy to mold and paint.
You can paint & decorate it with lava flow, landscapes etc. Put baking soda and vinegar into the "crater" and perform an amazing eruption in front of your friends and class. Your very own volcano will really erupt with bubbly, fizzy lava. It's an awesome science project and it makes a cool desktop decoration too. The eruption can be performed repeatedly and the fun is unlimited.
Comes with 1 volcano mold (2parts), 2 fine quality plaster mix, six colors of paint, 1 paint brush, 1 stirrer, 1 blister cup, 1 sheet of fun graphics for decoration, 1 set instructions with fun facts and recipe for eruptions.

ABHISHEK BACHCHAN "THE GURU"

New Delhi, (IANS) Actor Abhishek Bachchan hopes his upcoming film "Guru" will be his best ever and says ace director Mani Ratnam is truly inspiring.
"Mani Ratnam always inspires you not only by his work but also the kind of work he takes out of you. I was not confident when he offered me Lallan Singh's role in 'Yuva' but I will always respect Mani for having confidence in me - which I didn't have in myself at that time," Abhishek said at a press conference here Sunday.
Asked which film he rated as his best, Abhishek said none of them could fit the bill.
"I hope Guru does that. It was challenging to play the journey of a man which starts at age 15 and goes on till 70," he remarked.
Ratnam, who was also present at the conference, said essaying the role of 'Guru' was a big responsibility.
Quizzed about Abhishek's growth as an actor, Ratnam replied: "You don't make an actor. An actor is there ... you just have to give him the opportunity and chance to show his skill. He always has the capability. 'Guru' is a huge role and it is a huge responsibility as well and Abhishek is okay in the film."

Historical CHARMINAR

The famed Charminar is a majestic edifice standing at the heart of the old walled city of Hyderabad, this hooch triumphal arch, which has become the city symbol, was built by Mohd. Quli Qutub Shah in 1591 supposedly to commemorate the eradication of plague from Hyderabad. With its 56 Metre tall slender minarets with spiral stair cases and huge arches on each side , the structure is built with carefully finished stucco ornamentation and is plastered with line mortar. On the top most floor is space for a mask. Around the Charminar is a bazaar where some of the best bargains can be struck in goods forms silk, Metal work, pearls and Bangles to rare Urdu books and manuscripts. A special market is held on Thursdays. The structure is illuminated every evening

CHIRANJEEVI CHARITABLE TRUST

Chiranjeevi Charitable Trust (CCT) was started by megastar of Telugu cinema Chiranjeevi with the able guidance of Allu Arvind on 2nd October 1998. The two major wings of CCT are blood bank and eye bank. In a span of five years, CCT has collected 38,200 units of blood. 79% of these blood units (30,500) were given to poor and downtrodden for free of cost and remaining units were given to corporate hospitals at a nominal fee. CCT has collected 390 pairs of eyes and 780 blind people were benefited through cornea transplant at CCT. CCT also won the prestigious "Best Voluntary Blood Bank' award by State Government of AP for the years of 2002 and 2003.
To make sure that the CCT gets global reach, a website www.chiranjeevitrust.org is developed. This site was officially launched at a function organized at Jubilee Hall of Public Gardens today at 11:30 am.
The celebrities that graced this occasion include Mohan Kanda (Chief Secretary of AP State Government), Jaya Prakash Narayan (Convener of Lok Satta), Dr. Kakarla Subba Rao, Padmasri Dr. Habibulla, Dr. Vithal Rajan (Political economist), Dr. Kasu Prasad Reddy (Director of Chiranjeevi Eye Bank), Murali Mohan and Padmasri Allu Ramalingaiah
Addressing the gathering, Sharad Marwar - a key person of CCT and executive producer of Geeta Arts - explained the birth and growth of CCT and its various activities. He also explained the future plans of CCT and he said that a new building equipped with ultramodern medical devices is coming up very soon.
Mohan Kanda unveiled the English version of www.Chiranjeevitrust.org and Padmasri Dr. Habibulla launched the Telugu version. Dr. Vithal Rajan released the English version of 1st newsletter of CCT and Dr. Jaya Prakash Narayan released the Telugu version.
Speaking on this occasion, Dr. Kakarla Subba Rao said that

PARACHUTE

A parachute is usually a soft fabric device used to slow the motion of an object through an atmosphere by creating drag. Parachutes are generally used to slow the descent of a person or object to earth or another celestial body within an atmosphere. Drogue parachutes are also sometimes used to aid horizontal deceleration of a vehicle (a fixed-wing aircraft or space shuttle after touchdown, or a drag racer). The word parachute comes from the French words para, protect or shield, and chute, the fall. Therefore parachute actually means "fall protection". Many modern parachutes are classified as semi-rigid wings, are quite maneuverable, and can be flown as a glider.
Parachutes were once made from silk but now they are almost always constructed from more durable woven nylon fabric, sometimes coated with silicone to improve performance and consistency over time. Originally silk was used for parachute suspension lines, but was replaced by nylon during the Second World War. When square (aka ram-air) parachutes were introduced, manufacturers switched to low-stretch materials like Dacron or zero-stretch materials like Spectra, Kevlar, Vectran or high modulous aramids. Kevlar is rarely seen except on reserve canopies

AIR POLLUTION

Air is the ocean we breathe. Air supplies us with oxygen which is essential for our bodies to live. Air is 99.9% nitrogen, oxygen, water vapor and inert gases. Human activities can release substances into the air, some of which can cause problems for humans, plants, and animals.
There are several main types of pollution and well-known effects of pollution which are commonly discussed. These include smog, acid rain, the greenhouse effect, and "holes" in the ozone layer. Each of these problems has serious implications for our health and well-being as well as for the whole environment.
One type of air pollution is the release of particles into the air from burning fuel for energy. Diesel smoke is a good example of this particulate matter . The particles are very small pieces of matter measuring about 2.5 microns or about .0001 inches. This type of pollution is sometimes referred to as "black carbon" pollution. The exhaust from burning fuels in automobiles, homes, and industries is a major source of pollution in the air. Some authorities believe that even the burning of wood and charcoal in fireplaces and barbeques can release significant quanitites of soot into the air.
Another type of pollution is the release of noxious gases, such as sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and chemical vapors. These can take part in further chemical reactions once they are in the atmosphere, forming smog and acid rain.
Pollution also needs to be considered inside our homes, offices, and schools. Some of these pollutants can be created by indoor activities such as smoking and cooking. In the United States, we spend about 80-90% of our time inside buildings, and so our exposure to harmful indoor pollutants can be serious. It is therefore important to consider both indoor and outdoor air pollution.

manisha koirala

Manisha Koirala has been braving a storm of rumors ever since she set foot in Bollywood. But that didn't prevent her from giving brilliant performances in films like 1942: A Love Story, Bombay, Dil Se, Khamoshi and Grahan. However, despite an extremely promising start she somehow failed to reach the heights she deserved. But she is not one to brood over failures

Q: Where has the Manisha Koirala of Khamoshi gone?I'm still committed to doing those kind of films. Unfortunately actresses aren't often provided with those kind of opportunities here. But I've always taken the initiative to go beyond conventions. When I did ' Bombay ', no leading actress from Mumbai was willing to touch a South Indian film as they didn't want to be labeled as a regional actress.

Q: You were supposed to get married in March?No. I won't get married for at least another two years. I have to work harder than ever before and I want to be remembered as a good actress and wipe off all the negative things that people have heard about me.

Fish is good for the BRAIN

“Fish are an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, which may protect against coronary heart disease and stroke, and are thought to aid in the neurological development of unborn babies,” said Joshua Cohen, lead author and senior research associate at the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis at HSPH. “If that information gets lost in how the public perceives this issue, then people may inappropriately curtail fish consumption and increase their risk for adverse health outcomes.”
Fish are a major source of mercury exposure, a neurotoxin that may cause subtle developmental effects in utero, like the loss of a fraction of an IQ point, even at the modest exposure levels typical of the American population. As a result, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have issued advisories warning women of childbearing age about mercury in fish.
Because fish are also a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, the advisories have had to walk a fine line. The most recent U.S. government advisories emphasize that other adults need not worry about mercury in fish. They even advise women of childbearing age to keep eating fish, although they caution that group to keep away from some species (shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish) likely to contain more mercury and to limit total fish intake to about two meals a week

LAGE RAHO MUNNABHAI

The movie is excellent when it is on the Munna-Gandhi track, but the same cannot be said when it chooses to focus on Munna and Jhanvi. Not only does their love seem rushed, the contrivance that the screenplay falls back on to create tension between the two is very lame, as are the gang of oldies. The forgotten elderly are there as an analogy to Gandhi and his forgotten values, but frankly a very obvious one. The movie works best when it doesn’t try to force anything down your throat. Take for instance the wonderfully written scene where an old man tries to reason with a corrupt government official without losing his temper or getting frustrated but by simply demonstrating his predicament and disrobing himself! Munna’s first visit to Mahatma Gandhi Library(hinted at Mani Bhavan) is underlined by a poignant moment of sadness when the old caretaker almost cries at the sight of a visitor keen to learn about Gandhi. In fact Lage Raho Munna Bhai has lesser moments of hilarity than its predecessor, and more moving ones.
The truth is that the film could have been a lot better. But the honesty of the effort shows and Hirani is able to capture many emotional moments from the film. The film may not have released at many multiplexes in India due to differences between the producer and the multiplex owners, but is bound to take the single screens by storm. Emotional moments like the one where Munna apologises to Arshad Warsi after slapping him, or when Jimmy Shergill who plays a strayed youth returns to the righteous path after hearing Munna on radio hold the film up.
Munna [Sanjay Dutt] is in love with the voice of popular Radio Jockey Jhanvi [Vidya Balan]. Her effervescent greeting of 'Good Morrrrning Mumbai' on her daily radio show makes Munna's heart skip a beat each time he listens to her. As Munna tries to sort out this minor entanglement in his otherwise perfect life, Circuit [Arshad Warsi] comes up with a bright solution. And then, the most unusual thing occurs in Munna's life. He comes face to face with Mahatma Gandhi. Shantanu Moitra's music is soothing. 'Samjho Ho Hi Gaya' and 'Bole To Bole Kaisi Hogi Hai… Lage Raho Munna Bhai' are the best tracks, but what elevates the tunes is their picturization. Both the numbers are full of vibrant colors and imaginatively filmed. 'Pal Pal Har Pal' also comes at the right place and even its filming is eye-catching. Cinematography [Muraleedharan C.K.] is first-rate.
Arshad Warsi is superb. Boman Irani proves yet again that he's an actor with an infinite range. Vidya Balan is only getting better with every release. If she was confident in her debut film PARINEETA, she acts like a complete pro in her second outing. Jimmy Shergill has a brief part and he does it well. Ditto for Dia Mirza; she's perfect. Abhishek Bachchan, in a cameo, adds to the star quotient. Dilip Prabhavalkar [in the role of Mahatma Gandhi] is up to the mark. Sanjay Dutt lives the character of Munna. He gets the best of lines and delivers them with relish.

BEACH DRESS TO WEAR

But with so many beaches scattered throughout the world, how do you ever decide on which one you should visit? Ranging from white sandy beaches, to rocky beaches, there's sure to be a beach perfect to suit your desires, and with a little research you're sure to find it.
Ideal for swimming and snorkeling because of its clear water and sandy beach, the Polo Beach of Hawaii is a well-loved beach to visit. It has a hot-spot location, South Maui and is it fronted by the luxury beach vacation resort of Fairmont Kea Lani Maui, certain to ensure a delightful stay.
If you would like to walk down the longest stretch of white sand in Jamaica, the Seven Mile Beach of Negril may be what you're looking for. It is on the western tip of Jamaica, near Negril. It is beautiful and perfect for relaxing, as there are coconut palm trees, caves, and seven miles for other visitors to stretch over. So find a good spot under a coconut palm tree and relax.
Tropical paradise is more reachable than you may think. Atlantis Paradise in the Bahamas is known for its tropical climate, making for long romantic walks on the white sandy beaches of the Caribbean. This beach is perfect for beach lovers.
Scuba divers may be drawn to the Great Barrier Reef in the Heron Island beaches in Austria. With over 20 different diving sites, you're sure to witness amazing marine life and simply drift away as you immerse yourself in this surreal water world.

DHOOM 2

Sanjay Gadhvi know well that movies featuring a thief as an anti-hero have a seductive effect on the audience. Remember the old Cary Grant-Grace Kelly film To Catch a Thief? Of course, we all fell in love with beautiful Frances (Grace Kelly) but it's the memory of the cat burglar John Robbie (Cary Grant) that has stayed with us over so many decades. You see, we all like to be bad, real bad. It's just that most of us don't have the balls.