INDIA NEWS

Upgrading India’s Engineering Colleges

2011-12-03T12:45:00.000+05:30

Given India’s large population of 1.2 billion, typically demand far outstrips supply in almost everything. When it comes to infrastructure in particular — be it transportation, housing, health care, education, etc. — the constant refrain is that the country needs more.For instance, with over half of India’s population less than 25 years of age, there is usually a scramble for seats in educational

Bulgaria 'jails' asylum seekers

2011-11-06T20:40:00.000+05:30

Bulgaria routinely locks up asylum seekers, despite EU law banning the use of detention centres, forcing migrants west. "What crime have I committed to be held a prisoner?" "When will they set me free? They are telling me six months, why six months?" "On what grounds are they detaining me? I am a refugee, not a criminal." Visiting the Liubimets detention centre on the Turkish-Bulgarian border is

Sacred Souvenirs

2011-11-06T20:33:00.001+05:30

Pilgrims heading back home from Makkah not only carry memories of an unforgettable spiritual and historical journey, but they also take gifts and souvenirs for their loved ones who were not lucky enough to travel with them to Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia offers a variety of gift selection that is perfect for pilgrims to take back home and share with family and friends. Gifts vary from books,

'Terrorism a lucrative industry in J&K’

2011-10-31T21:24:00.000+05:30

“Bandits and criminals” have been taking advantage of militancy in Jammu and Kashmir to rape, murder and extort money using mafia practices only to later lay the blame on security forces for such crimes, says a Europe-based think tank. In its recent report, the Belgian Association for Solidarity with Jammu and Kashmir said that while bandits and criminals are there in every society, in J&K

Writing as Social Service: The Literary Compass of Mahashweta Devi

2011-10-30T13:57:00.001+05:30

By M H Ahssan My India still lives behind a curtain of darkness, a curtain that separates the mainstream society from poor and the deprived. But then why my India alone? as the century comes to an end, it is important that we all make an attempt to tear the curtain of darkness, see the reality that lies beyond and see our own true faces in the process.’ (Mahasweta Devi, Ramon Magsaysay

Splendor of the Spectacle

2011-10-30T13:50:00.000+05:30

By M H Ahssan A Scene from Nalacharitham-Nala and Hamsam (Swan)Kathakali, the classical art form of Kerala is a spectacular blend of dance, drama, mime and song and is over 300 years old. One can debate whether Kathakali is a stylized dance-drama or a pantomime or a classical ballet. Rabindranath Tagore was deeply impressed by the aesthetic range and the narrative

NATIONAL RURAL LIVELIHOOD MISSION

2011-10-29T20:02:00.005+05:30

Sights On A Strong Lokpal

2011-10-29T19:55:00.003+05:30

By Arvind Kejriwal Our UP yatra just got over. We spread the following message amongst people: “Annaji has received a letter from the prime minister assuring that a strong Lokpal Bill will be passed soon. Annaji believes in the PM’s assurance and has requested you to keep a watch on the winter session.” Unfortunately, the PM’s letter had come too late. The people of Hisar had asked for

Short History of Hajj - An historical prespective

2011-10-29T00:41:00.001+05:30

Hajj literally means 'to set out for a place'. Islamically however it refers to the annual pilgrimage that Muslims make to Makkah with the intention of performing certain religious rites in accordance with the method prescribed by the Prophet Muhammad . Hajj and its rites were first ordained by Allah in the time of the Prophet lbrahim [Abraham] and he was the one who was entrusted by

Zil-Hajj moon sighted, Eidul Azha on November 7, 2011

2011-10-29T00:38:00.000+05:30

The Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee has sighted the Zil-Hajj moon, with the first of Zil-Hajj falling on Saturday October 29, and Eidul Azha to take place on Monday November 7, 2011. The government announced a holiday on the eid day. Most gulf countries had their moon sighting yesterday (Thursday) and are due to celebrate Eidul Azha on November six. With the date of Eid decided, it is expected

HAJJ – Pilgrimage to the House of Allah in Mecca

2011-10-29T00:35:00.000+05:30

1. Introduction Hajj or pilgrimage to Mecca is one of the five pillars of Islam. Hajj was made obligatory in the 9th year of Hijra. The Holy Prophet sent off 300 Muslims under the leadership of Hazrat Abubakr Siddique (may Allah be pleased with him) to Mecca so that they could perform Hajj. That was the year when it was banned for the Mushrikeen (those who associate partners with Allah) to

REMEMBERING MY BELOVED FATHER....!

2011-10-27T14:51:00.006+05:30

By M H Ahssan I originally wrote this memorial death poem in September last year as part of an art and poetry collection that I was developing. The original poem was inspired by an abstract 'web history painting' that I had named "My Fathers Mask". Then today as I got ready to post the original poem on my blog I realized that it was February 26, the anniversary of my father's death. You may call

Celebrations galore at India Inc.

2011-10-26T23:48:00.000+05:30

This Diwali, India Inc made sure their employees celebrated the festive times with much meaning and cheer. Newsindia tells you how they did it like never before. Cash, contests and celebrations This year, British Telecom celebrated Diwali with a special theme of CASH – celebration, affection, smiles and health. The celebrations bundled with games, ethnic dress contests, creative office

'Diverse' Festivities

2011-10-26T23:46:00.000+05:30

A culturally diverse workforce often tends to bring out a fresh perspective to the table. Here's why such a workforce stands apart from the rest. Though cultural diversity is an important aspect, it is often ignored at the workplace level. Every company is a mesh of employees coming from different religions, locations, communities and cultures. The more the variety, the more challenging it is

The Fermenting India

2011-10-25T11:58:00.000+05:30

India these days seems to be in ferment. If one picks up a newspaper one gets hit by headlines that certainly do not bode well for the country, at least, not in its immediate future. While one can discern a severe churning taking place in the country’s social, political and economic life, the government, at the same time, is largely perceived to be drifting along. Protests against

DIWALI 2011 - ADVERTISEMENTS

2011-10-24T15:22:00.002+05:30

Healthy Business: Will Medical Tourism Be India’s Next Big Industry?

2011-10-21T12:17:00.000+05:30

No Other Choice: Why Medical Tourism Continues to Thrive: President of the United States Barack Obama recently urged Americans to seek medical treatment at domestic health care facilities, rather than traveling overseas. In India, where so-called "medical tourism" (known internationally as the global health care delivery system) is a booming industry, his statements have created quite a stir. In

India's Corporations Race to Train Workers and Avoid Being Left in the Dust

2011-10-21T12:08:00.000+05:30

Infosys Technologies, the icon of the Indian IT industry, has one of the largest corporate training establishments in the world, with more than 320 computer science faculty. At its sprawling 335-acre campus in Mysore, Infosys can train more than 13,500 people at once. "We have invested over $450 million in our training institute," says T.V. Mohandas Pai, director, and head of education and

Importing Efficiency: Can Lessons from Mumbai's Dabbawalas Help Its Taxi Drivers?

2011-10-21T12:00:00.001+05:30

Mumbai has 150,000 licensed taxi drivers. It has 5,000 dabbawalas, organized porters who carry cooked lunches to office workers. The former, along with about 450,000 auto-rickshaw (three-wheeler taxi) drivers, are constantly in the news for reports of bad behavior, overcharging and even violence. The dabbawalas, on the other hand, are icons of efficiency. They have even made it to the Harvard

Diabetes Unravelled

2011-10-16T00:23:00.001+05:30

By Aarti Narang This isn’t someone else’s problem: India has 41 million diabetics. It could rise to 70 million by 2025. If you have diabetes, the problem is basically this: you have too much glucose in your blood. Glucose is our main source of energy, derived from eating carbohydrates, and is absorbed into our cells with the help of the hormone insulin. If our body has a problem with

The India You Don’t Know

2011-10-16T00:16:00.000+05:30

By M H Ahssan Travellers in India usually have their itinerary all mapped out—it’s generally the tried and tested routes. The Golden Triangle (Delhi-Agra-Jaipur) or Goa. And since unstable Kashmir is out, Kerala is in. That is an Indian holiday in a nutshell. There are a few who do special interest tours. Lakshadweep and Andamans for the diving, Kipling Country for jungle safaris, the

TAKE AS DIRECTED BY YOUR DOCTOR!

2011-10-16T00:09:00.001+05:30

By Aarti Narang Many of us stop taking our medicines before we should. Why playing doctor can be a dangerous game. A colleague of mine wants his story told. Like innumerable people in Mumbai, he got conjunctivitis during the monsoons last year. His GP prescribed a week’s course of antibiotic drops. Antibiotics are used to fight bacteria, my colleague was aware, but after he read a

Beyond Bureaucracy Challenge: How do Organizations Conquer Bureaucracy?

2011-10-13T23:45:00.002+05:30

By M H Ahssan To sustain high performance, organizations must build the capacity to learn and keep changing over time. If you’re like most senior executives, you want your organization to be exemplary. But if you’re honest with yourself, you also know that it’s not and that, in fact, you’re not even sure what exemplary means or how you’ll ever get there. Most management writing won’t help:

A Possible Remedy for Poor Health Care in India

2011-10-13T10:37:00.000+05:30

By M H Ahssan India wants to be a preferred destination for medical tourism, but its health care offering for its own citizens is lacking. The doctor-to-population ratio for the country is 6:10000, compared to a global ratio of 14:10000. It is estimated that over the next two decades, India will need twice as many doctors, three times as many nurses and four times as many paramedics it has at

Apple Without Steve Jobs: How the New CEO Can ‘Think Different’

2011-10-13T10:28:00.000+05:30

By M H Ahssan When people think of Apple, in addition to thinking of now-iconic products like the iPhone, iMac and iPad, they think of Steve Jobs, standing on a stage in his ubiquitous black turtleneck and jeans unveiling the latest in a string of innovative products from the company he co-founded in 1976.On Wednesday, Jobs announced his resignation as CEO, ending a 14-year run that brought the