Jakhoo Temple, Shimla: The Heavenly abode of Lord Hanuman

Situated on the topmost hill of the queen of hills, Shimla, Jakhoo (Jakhu) Temple is one of the oldest religious worship places in Shimla city. dedicated to Lord Hanuman, an Hinud deity with supernatural powers, Jakhu temple is a must visit, easily accessible tourist attraction in Shimla.

Lord Hanuman idol in the temple

History of Jakhu temple:

As per Hindu mythology, the authentic source, Shri Ramacharit Manas composed by Goswami Tulsidas ji, During war against Ravan, when Lord Lakshman (younger brother of Lord Ram) fell unconscious due to the supernatural effects of a vaana (arrow) aimed by Megnad (son of Ravan), then to bring him back to life, Lord Hanuman went to the Himalayas to fetch the Sanjivani booti (life giving herb). On his way, he rested for a bit at the Jakhoo Hill, where Rishi Yaako was performing spiritual meditation (tapasya). The divine and sacred footsteps of Lord Hanuman Ji are still kept safe in the Temple complex. The divine self generated idol (Saakshaat murti) of Lord Hanuman Ji enhances the glory and sanctity of the Sanctum Sanctorum (Gabh Griha) of the Jakhoo Temple.

It is a authentic and experienced belief that whosoever comes to this temple, with strong faith in the core of his heart, gets whatever he desires for.

108-feet Lord Hanuman Idol:

A wonder in itself, an idol with such a magnificence, grace and purity. I am talking about none other than, a newly created wonder of the world: The Tallest Idol of Lord Hanuman Ji, at the highest ever altitude of 8000 feet (2455 mtrs) above the sea level. Jakhoo Hill is the highest hill of Shimla city. This idol of Lord Hanuman Ji is 108 feet in height. With the erection of this statue, Jakhoo Temple, already world famous for its sacredness and sanctity, has added a priceless gem to its name. The installation of this idol has created a new World record of being the tallest statue ever erected at such a high altitude. The statue was unveiled on 4th November 2010 by Prof. Dhumal, in the presence of Mr. Abhishek Bachchan, Actor and Mr. H. C. Nanda, Founder of Nanda Trust (who sponsored the idol construction). The idol is visible within 7 kilometer of its vicinity.

Jakhoo Temple, Shimla

How to Reach there:

The temple is at a walk-able distance of 2.5 kilometres from The Ridge, Shimla. You can opt-in for a shared taxi from The mall though we would recommend a walk that would be through dense deodar, fir & pine trees, refreshing and adventurous.

NOTE: The temple stands guarded by Vaanar Sena (hundreds of monkeys), so beware of carrying eatables, hanging purses, shades/goggles or spectacles which would attract the monkeys not to attact or harm you but snatch these articles from you and bargain for packet of grams (chana) in return for your articles.

Have an enjoyable trip. Jai Shri Ram _/\_

To view a complete photo album of 108 feet statue, click the link below: link: http://picasaweb.google.com/sharmavishal35/108FeetHanumanIdolAtJakhooTempleShimla?feat=directlink

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose

Subhas Chandra Bose: Subhas Chandra Bose, affectionately called as Netaji, was one of the most prominent leaders of Indian freedom struggle. Though Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru have garnered much of the credit for successful culmination of Indian freedom struggle, the contribution of Subash Chandra Bose is no less and can never be ignored. He has been denied his rightful place in the annals of Indian history. He founded Indian National Army (Azad Hind Fauj) to overthrow British Empire from India and came to acquire legendary status among Indian masses.

Subhas Chandra Bose was born on January 23, 1897 in Cuttack, Orissa. His father Janaki Nath Bose was a famous lawyer and his mother Prabhavati Devi was a pious and religious lady. Subhas Chandra Bose was a brilliant student right from the childhood. He topped the matriculation examination of Calcutta province and graduated with a First class in Philosophy from the Scottish Churches College in Calcutta. He was strongly influenced by Swami Vivekananda's teachings and was known for his patriotic zeal as a student. To fulfill his parents wishes he went to England in 1919 to compete for Indian Civil Services. In England he appeared for the Indian Civil Service competitive examination in 1920, and came out fourth in order of merit. However, Subhas Chandra Bose was deeply disturbed by the Jallianwalla Bagh massacre, and left his Civil Services apprenticeship midway to return to India in 1921.

After returning to India Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose came under the influence of Mahatma Gandhi and joined the Indian National Congress. There was much opposition to his rigid stand as the president of Congress, he resigned from the post and formed a progressive group known as the Forward Block.

Subhas Chandra Bose started a mass movement against utilizing Indian resources and men for the great war. There was a tremendous response to his call and he was put under house arrest in Calcutta. In January 1941, Subhas Chandra Bose disappeared from his home in Calcutta and reached Germany via Afghanistan. Working on the maxim that "an enemy's enemy is a friend", he sought cooperation of Germany and Japan against British Empire. In January 1942, he began his regular broadcasts from Radio Berlin, which aroused tremendous enthusiasm in India. In July 1943, he arrived in Singapore from Germany. In Singapore he took over the reins of the Indian Independence Movement in East Asia from Rash Behari Bose and organised the Azad Hind Fauj (Indian National Army) comprising mainly of Indian prisoners of war. He was hailed as Netaji by the Army as well as by the Indian civilian population in East Asia. Azad Hind Fauj proceeded towards India to liberate it from British rule. Enroute it lliberated Andeman and Nicobar Islands. The I.N.A. Head quarters was shifted to Rangoon in January 1944. Azad Hind Fauj crossed the Burma Border, and stood on Indian soil on March 18 ,1944.

However, defeat of Japan and Germany in the Second World War forced INA to retreat and it could not achieve its objective. Subhas Chandra Bose was reportedly killed in an air crash over Taipeh, Taiwan (Formosa) on August 18, 1945. Though it is widely believed that he was still alive after the air crash not much information could be found about him.

His love for India was unique in its own way. A dedicated patriot who readily sacrified his life for the nation. A youth icon in real sense. TSR Pulse feels proud in projecting Netaji as our Youth Icon of the week. J

Prema Jayakumar

Prema Jayakumar

Prema Jayakumar: Prema Jayakumar, CA (Chartered Accountancy) Examination 2013 topper is our youth icon of this week. It is great to be the national topper of CA entrance exam, but the greatness increases many-folds when the topper is a girl and that too the daughter of an auto rickshaw driver.

The results of the chartered accountancy (CA) examinations that Prema and her younger brother, 22-year-old Dhanraj, had been expecting were a big deal, but both siblings knew that they would clear the highly competitive exam; they had been working hard for it. For Prema’s parents, auto-rickshaw driver Jayakumar Perumal and home-maker Lingammal Jayakumar, the exam was one of a succession of academic hoops that their daughter had been negotiating with ease for years. But no one in the family guessed that Prema would score 607 out of 800, the highest in the country, and become an overnight celebrity.

Residing in a small (280sq.ft), room in Malad, a Mumbai surburb, Prema’s family of four have seen a lot of hardships but the good days are here for them. For Prema, however, the limelight is a distraction from her real purpose: to establish a firm economic foothold for her family, who moved to Mumbai from Tamil Nadu around 20 years ago, and, perhaps, to work for the Reserve Bank of India one day.

Prema’s father seems overwhelmed by his daughter’s success; at a loss for words except to repeat how happy she has made him. Perumal, from Sankarapuram in Villupuram district in Tamil Nadu, first moved to Mumbai in the early 1990s and took a job at a mill, before becoming an auto-rickshaw driver. When things got tough, he sold a patch of land the family owned in their native village. For a while, Prema’s mother worked at a factory that manufactured hair clips in Vasai, but left the job four years ago for health reasons.

The family was not well off and all of Perumal’s three children, two daughters and a son, attended local government schools. The eldest—Mahalaxmi—at 26, is married with two children. But Prema, the middle sibling, was focused on academics from the beginning. Prema was marked out as a particularly sharp student in 2008, when she was ranked second in Mumbai University’s bachelor of commerce exam, and decided to take up chartered accountancy.

Every year more than 30,000 students sit for these exams and less than 15% make it through. It’s a highly competitive course with three levels—the common proficiency test (CPT), the integrated professional competence course (IPCC) and the CA final. Prema passed all three in one go.

Amid all this, the 25 year old remains focused. All this publicity will help her live her dreams, she hopes. “First of all I want my dad to rest, want to buy a house now.”

Being the daughter of an auto-rickshaw driver never put her down, Prema says. “Now I say with my held head high that my father is an auto-driver and he did all he could to educate me and make me what I am today.”

Rarest of the rare are those who surprise this materialistic world by their outstanding performance despite tough and adverse circumstances. Prema is one of them. TSR Pulse proud to project her as our youth icon of the week. Heartiest congrats for her outstanding achievement. J

Sushil Kumar

Sushil Kumar

       Sushil Kumar: Sushil Kumar (born May 26, 1983) is an Indian World Champion wrestler who won the gold medal in the 66 kg freestyle competition at the FILA 2010 World Wrestling Championships, a silver medal in the Men's 66kg Freestyle Wrestling event at the 2012 London Olympics and a bronze medal in the Men's 66kg Freestyle Wrestling event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, which made him the first Indian to win back to back individual Olympic medals.

On July 2009, he received the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna - India's highest honour for sportspersons. On 3 October 2010, Sushil Kumar was the final baton bearer who handed the Queen's Baton to Prince Charles in the Queen's Baton Relay for the 2010 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony.

SushilKumar belongs to a Jat family & comes from the village Baprola, near Najafgarh in South West Delhi. Kumar's father Diwan Singh was a DTC bus driver and mother Kamla Devi a housewife. He was inspired to take up wrestling by his cousin Sandeep and his father who was himself a pehlwan (wrestler). The most important fact is thathe is a vegetarian.

Kumar is presently employed to the Indian Railways as Assistant Commercial Manager.

Kumar started training at the Chhatrasal Stadium's akhada at the age of 14. Trained at the akhada by Indian pehlwansYashvir and Ramphal, and later by Arjuna awardee Satpal and then at the Railways camp by coach Gyan Singh, Sushil endured tough training conditions which included sharing a mattress with a fellow wrestler and sharing a dormitory with twenty others. At the age of 18, he became state champ.

His first success came at the World Cadet Games in 1998 where he won the gold medal in his weight category. He followed this up with gold in the Asian Junior Wrestling Championship in 2000.

Moving out of the junior competition, Sushil Kumar won the bronze medal at the Asian Wrestling Championships in 2003 and followed that up with a gold medal at the Commonwealth Wrestling Championships. Sushil Kumar placed fourth in the World Championships in 2003, but this went largely unnoticed by the Indian media as he fared badly in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, in the 60 kg class placing 14th. He won gold medals at the Commonwealth Wrestling Championships in 2005 and 2007. He ranked seventh in the 2007 World Wrestling Championships and won a bronze medal in 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. He also qualified for 2012 Summer Olympics taking place at London and won a silver medal by defeating a wrestler from Kazakhstan.He also became the first Indian to win 2 Olympic medals.

Asked as to why he refused a liquor advertisement, he replied, "I didn’t want to be associated with a liquor brand in any form as it would send a wrong signal to the youth. The sporting tradition that I have been raised in values discipline way above money."

Upholding such high traditions and value system along with the attainment of name and fame in the international arena, Sushil Kumar deserves to be the youth icon of the week. J

Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam

Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam

Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam: Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam, usually referred to as Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, is an Indian scientist and administrator who served as the 11th President of India. Kalam was born and raised in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, studied physics at the St. Joseph's College, Tiruchirappalli, and aerospace engineering at the Madras Institute of Technology (MIT), Chennai.

Before his term as President, he worked as an aerospace engineer with Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Kalam is popularly known as the Missile Man of India for his work on the development of ballistic missile and launch vehicle technology.He played a pivotal organizational, technical and political role in India's Pokhran-II nuclear tests in 1998, the first since the original nuclear test by India in 1974.

He has received several prestigious awards, including the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour. Kalam is known for his motivational speeches and interaction with the student community in India.

APJ ABDUL KALAM was born on 15 October 1931 in a Muslim family to Jainulabdeen, a boat owner and Ashiamma, a housewife, at Rameswaram, located in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. After attending school, Kalam distributed newspapers in order to financially contribute to his father's income. In his school years, he had average grades, but was described as a bright and hardworking student who had a strong desire to learn and spend hours on his studies, especially mathematics.

"I inherited honesty and self-discipline from my father; from my mother, I inherited faith in goodness and deep kindness as did my three brothers and sisters." Dr. Kalam

In his book India 2020,Kalam strongly advocates an action plan to develop India into a knowledge superpower and a developed nation by the year 2020. He regards his work on India's nuclear weapons program as a way to assert India's place as a future superpower.

A. P. J. Abdul Kalam's 79^th birthday was recognized as World Students' Day by United Nations. He has also received honorary doctorates from 40 universities. With so many achievements to his name, the humble, simple living & high thinking philosophy of Dr. Kalam makes him stand out of the masses. He has proved that age is not a limit to win the hearts of the young. And hence we feel proud in projecting this 81-year ‘young’ scientist as our TSR Youth Icon of the Week. J

Cyrus Mistry

Cyrus Mistry

Cyrus Mistry: Cyrus Pallonji Mistry, a 44 year old business tycoon, has been appointed the Chairman of the Board of Tata Sons (Tata Group) with effect from December 28^th 2012, after the retirement of Ratan Tata. Mistry will be the sixth Chairman of Tata group and the second not named Tata after Sir Nowroji Saklatvala to to hold this prestigious position. Apart from the Tata Group, he also serves as a Director on the Board of several other companies, including Shapoorji Pallonji & Co. Forbes Gokak, Afcons Infrastructure and United Motors (India). Born on 4^th July 1968, Cyrus is the youngest son of Irish construction magnate Pallonji Mistry.

Mistry attained his education at the Cathedral & John Connon School in Mumbai. He graduated from the Imperial College, London with a BE in civil engineering and holds a Master of Science in management from the world-renowned London Business School. He is also the fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers.

Cyrus Mistry is the youngest son of Pallonji Mistry, an Irish-Parsi construction tycoon. Mistry's grandfather first bought shares in Tata Sons in the 1930s, a stake that currently stands at 18.5 percent, which is in the hands of Mistry's father, the largest single shareholder in a firm mostly controlled by trusts. Mistry is married to Rohiqa Chagla, the daughter of lawyer Iqbal Chagla. Together, Mistry and his wife have two sons.

Taking a look at his bright career, Cyrus has been managing director of Shapoorji Pallonji & Company, which is part of the Rs 15,000-crore Shapoorji Pallonji Group (SP Group). He got the chance to join Tata Sons' board a year after his father retired as director in 2005 and has been serving in the capacity of a director of Tata Sons since September 1, 2006. He served as a Director of Tata Power Co. Ltd until September 18, 2006.

In 2012, Mistry was appointed as the chairman of the Board of Tata Sons. He also serves as Director of various companies including Forvol International Services Ltd, Shapoorji Pallonji & Co. Ltd, Cyrus Investments Ltd and a chain of other companies. He is also a founding member of the Construction Federation of India. He is a trustee of the Breach Candy Hospital Trust, Mumbai and is also on the board of Imperial College India Foundation.

Becoming the Chairman of Tata Group, world-renowned for its business amalgamated with ethical values, at a mere age of 44 years replacing Rattan Tata (75 years), who is actually the real Rattan (Jewel) of Indian corporate class, is a great achievement in itself. Cyrus thus deserves to be our Youth icon of the week. J

Capt. Saurabh Kalia

Capt. Saurabh Kalia

Capt. Saurabh Kalia: Captain Saurabh Singh was an officer of the Indian Army who died during the Kargil War after being held as a prisoner of war by the Pakistani security forces. He along with five other soldiers of his patrolling team was captured alive and kept in captivity where they were badly tortured and their bodies mutilated.

Saurabh was born on 30^th June 1976 at Amritsarto Mrs. Vijay and Dr. N.K. Kalia. His schooling took place in the KendriyaVidyalaya, Holta Camp Palampur followed by B.Sc. (Med.) from H. P. Agricultural University, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh in 1997. He excelled at school, securing first Division and winning scholarships throughout his academic career.

He was selected in the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun in August 1997 through Combined Defense Services and was commissioned on December 12th, 1998.

On May 15, 1999 Saurabh Kalia along with five other soldiers had gone for a routine patrol of the Bajrang Post in the Kaksar sector in the rugged, treeless Ladakh Mountains. After a continuous cross fire with Pakistan armed forces from across the LoC, he and his troops ran out of ammunition. They were finally encircled by a platoon of Pakistan rangers and captured alive before any Indian reinforcement could reach for their help. No trace of this entire patrol was left meanwhile Radio Skardu of Pakistan announced that Lt. Saurabh Kalia had been captured by the Pakistani troops.

Captain Kalia and his men were in captivity for over twenty-two (May 15, 1999 – June 7, 1999) days and subjected to torture as evident from their bodies handed over by Pakistan Army on June 9, 1999. The postmortem revealed that the Pakistan army had tortured them prisoners by burning their bodies with cigarettes, piercing ear-drums with hot rods, puncturing eyes before removing them, breaking most of the teeth and bones, fracturing the skull, cutting the lips, chipping of nose, chopping off limbs and private organs of these soldiers besides inflicting all sorts of physical and mental tortures and finally shooting them dead, as evidenced by the bullet wound to the temple. The postmortem report also confirmed that injuries were inflicted ante-mortem (before death).

A youthful soldier of just 23 years sacrificed his life for the safety of his motherland. It is evident form the forms of torture that Pakistani army was willing to get the information of strategic importance from these soldiers but the love for their motherland and sincerity towards profession prevented these patriots from revealing anything. Saying that I love India is a prerogative of everyone but the one who proved this fact deserves to be called a nation hero and of course our Youth icon of this week. Bharat mata ki Jai. J

Chetan Bhagat

Chetan Bhagat

Chetan Bhagat: Chetan Bhagat is a famous Indian author, columnist, and speaker. Born on 22^nd April 1974, Bhagat is the author of five bestselling novels, Five Point Someone (2004), One Night @ the Call Center (2005), The 3 Mistakes of My Life (2008), 2 States (2009) &Revolution 2020: Love, Corruption, Ambition(2011). All five books have remained bestsellers since their release and two have even inspired Bollywood films (including the hit film 3 Idiots).

In 2008, The New York Times mentioned Chetan Bhagat to be "the biggest selling English language novelist in India's history".
An alumnus of Indian Institute of Technology Delhi and Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, Bhagat is seen more as a youth icon than as an author. Time magazine named him as one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World.

Chetan was born, brought-up and attained his schooling for Delhi. After attending the Army Public School, New Delhi,he studied Mechanical Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi followed by MBA from the Indian Institute of Management.

Bhagat met his wife, Anusha at IIM Ahmedabad. They married in 1999. Later, they moved to Hong Kong and worked there for 11 years before coming back to India. Now based in Mumbai, Chetan is focusing on his writing career. Bhagat and Anusha are the parents of twin sons, Shyam and Ishaan. Chetan’s bestseller creation, 2 States: The Story of My Marriageis inspired from his real-life love story.

Chetan deserves to be the youth icon of India as he is the most-read author of the country with entire focus on youth instincts. Novels are the best friend of youth. So, the person who writes the bestsellers is automatically the one they admire as an icon. J

Pranav Mistry

Pranav Mistry

Pranav Mistry: Pranav Mistry, the inventor of revolutionary Six Sense technology is a well-known name amongst the youth of India. In fact, every engineering graduate of India looks up to him as an icon. The magical Techno-Freak from India has gained a worldwide admiration with his astounding works in the fields of technology. Frankly speaking, Pranav's thinking starts a thousand kilometers ahead of the point where the normal human imagination ends. His latest gadget and a bouquet of numerous exciting and surprising inventions have taken him to sky heights.

Born on 17^thDecember 1982 in Gujarat, India, Pranav is presently pursuing his Ph. D from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA (World’s best engineering institute). Before joining MIT, Pranav worked as a UX Researcher with Microsoft. Pranav holds a Master's degree in Media Arts and Sciences from MIT and Master of Design from Industrial Design Center, IIT Bombay. He has completed Bachelors’ degree in Computer Science and Engineering. Mistry is best known for his work on SixthSense. Among some of his other work, Pranav has invented Mouseless – an invisible computer mouse; SPARSH – a novel way to copy-paste data between digital devices; Quickies – intelligent sticky notes that can be searched, located and can send reminders and messages; Blinkbot- a gaze and blink controlled robot; a pen that can draw in 3D; and a public map that can act as Google of physical world.

Pranav's research on SixthSense was awarded the 2009 Invention Award by Popular Science. He was also named to the MIT Technology Review TR35 as one of the top 35 innovators in the world under the age of 35. In 2010, he was named to Creativity Magazine's Creativity 50. Mistry holds a position among the top ten best inventors alive in the world.

Technology is a boon if mastered upon and a bane if enslaved by. By mastering the technology, Pranav has proved his worth and hence deserves to be the Youth icon in the real sense.J

Arvind Kejriwal

Arvind Kejriwal

Arvind Kejriwal: Arvind was born on 16^th June, 1968, in district Hisar of Haryana. He completed his mechanical engineering studies in the year 1989 from IIT Kharagpur, West Bengal. After graduation he joined Tata Steel and worked there till 1992, when he cracked civil services examination. He got selected for Indian Revenues Services and joined as a Joint Commissioner at Income tax office in New Delhi. But he took leave from the office in the year 2000 and started a NGO named Parivartan. In February, 2006 he formally resigned from the job and started working actively in various social causes.

Parivartan is one of his prominent moves to work towards a corruption free nation. It is run by few volunteers who had indeed helped several people in overcoming their problems while standing hard against corruption. Parivartan has done extensive work in the fields of public distribution system and education. It is still active in bringing out the maximum benefits from RTI.

Arvind Kejriwal had worked extensively for implementation of Central Right to Information Act. He had followed the right to information act, Delhi. In the year 2006, he was awarded with Ramon Magsaysay Award for Emergent Leadership. He invested all the prize money in his NGO for various social causes.

Another movement which has gained him fame and brought in lime light is the recent struggle for implementation of Lok Pal Bill in its true form. Being an active member of drafting committee and a strong follower of Anna Hazare, he has carved his own niche.

During his life time, he had met Mother Teresa and was highly impressed by her selfless service attitude. During that period he had actively served people in Kaalighat in West Bengal and followed the way shown by Mother Teresa.

His main motto is to create a corruption free society. He received overwhelming response on the national as well as global front. He sees corruption as a symptom and not as the main problem. He also integrates it with prevailing poverty in the country. Lack of basic amenities and shortage of resources give rise to corruption.

To tackle this problem he believes in granting more governing power in hands of people. He emphasizes on decentralization of the power and distributing it to the smaller factors of governance. Empowering panchayats and gram sabhas is his next plan of action.

Arvind Kejriwal is a striking example of emerging youth power of the nation. By playing an active role in core committee of Anna Hazare and leading masses from front, he has emerged as a youth icon. He has recently been appointed as the founder chairperson of the newly floated anti-corruption political party: Aam Aadmi Party.

He lives in National Capital region near Delhi with his wife Sunita and two kids. He has made a team of capable and enthusiastic persons from various walks of life and together they are working for the betterment of the country's future. Arvind Kejriwal has a clear vision and an effective plan to execute it. Being a youth icon he realizes his responsibility and has a long way to go. Hope youth supports him and we achieve a corruption free India.

Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar: Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar (born 24 April 1973) is an Indian cricketer widely considered to be the greatest batsman of all time, after Don Bradman. In 2002, just 12 years into his career, Wisden ranked him the second greatest Test batsman of all time, behind Donald Bradman, and the second greatest one-day-international (ODI) batsman of all time, behind Viv Richards. Tendulkar was a part of the 2011 Cricket World Cup winning Indian team in the later part of his career, his first such win in six World Cup appearances for India. He was also the recipient of Player of the Tournament award of ICC World Cup, 2003 held in South Africa.

He won the 2010 Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for cricketer of the year at the ICC awards. He has been recommended for the receipt of the Bharat Ratna award, in fact it has been speculated that the criteria for the award of the Bharat Ratna was changed to allow him receive the award. He is also a member of RajyaSabha of Parliament of India. Tendulkar passed 30,000 runs in international cricket on 20 November 2009. After a two-month break he is likely to return to test arena with the series against New Zealand commencing in late August 2012.

Tendulkar has been honoured with the Padma Vibhushan award, India's second highest civilian award, and the Rajiv Gandhi KhelRatna award, India's highest sporting honour. Tendulkar became the first sportsperson and the first person without an aviation background to be awarded the honorary rank of Group Captain by the Indian Air Force. He has received honorary doctorates from University of Mysore and Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences. Sachin holds 12th rank in ICC Player Rankings for Test batsmen as of August 2012. On 1 August 2012, Sachin Tendulkar was nominated for the ICC People's Choice award for the third time.

Sachin Tendulkar was conferred with the membership in the Order of Australia (AM) in Mumbai on Tuesday (November 6). Simon Crean, minister in the Australian cabinet, presented the award to Tendulkar. Julia Gillard, the Australian Prime Minister, was on an official visit to New Delhi in October and had announced Tendulkar's name as the latest recipient of the award.

(Courtesy/Source: www.wikipedia.com)

BJP all set for Mission Repeat

Vishal Sharma, Hamirpur Correspondent

            CM Prof. Prem Kumal Dhumal said that even the congress high command knows that BJP will win the forthcoming elections. This is the reason why the congress has refrained from declaring the chief ministerial candidate before the elections. The BJP is receiving positive vibes from the residents of the state. The best party is that each day a new scam of UPA government is coming to light making the people aware of the misdeeds of congress.

He said these words while addressing the multitude of people and media personnel after filing his nomination papers in Hamirpur. Answering a question pertaining to the existence of third front, Prof. Dhumal said that the people have never supported and will never support the third front. Past is an example that the third front has never have been successful in the past.

Responding to questions about the last election fo Virbhadra Singh, he said that it has been an all-time strategy of Virbhadra Singh to make such comments during elections to attain political mileage. His old age and health does not permit him to work actively anymore. He should take volunteer retirement from active politics now. Huge multitude of people was present at Hamirpur when he filed his nomination.

Who will win the capital?

Vishal Sharma, Shimla Correspondent

With assembly polls less than a month away, the speculations have already started as to who will next MLA from Shimla? Each individual has his or her own views in this regard. Bharatiya Janta Party stole the scene by declaring the sitting MLA from Shimla (Urban) Mr. Suresh Bhardwaj, as its candidate from the constituency in the first list of candidates released by it. The Congress was somewhat lost in the blame-game and infighting, so couldn’t choose the candidate at the earliest.

Former Mayor, Mr. Harish Janartha has been declared as its candidate by the Congress party. Sensing the public resentment against the congress and the BJP, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has also fielded Deputy Mayor Shimla, Mr. Tikender Panwar as its candidate. The fight on Shimla seat has always been 3 sided for the past many years.

In the 2007 assembly polls, BJP candidate Mr. Suresh Bhardwaj remained victorious followed by CPI (M) candidate Mr. Sanjay Chauhan, whereas Congress candidate Mr. Harbhajan Singh Bhajji remained at third position. The speculations are on as to who will win the capital this time. Some locals are well-satisfied with the development worked undertaken by the present government; whereas others say that Mission Repeat will be impossible to be materialized as BJP will have to face anti-incumbency as well.

Virbhadra will be CM for 6th time: Vidya Stokes

Vishal Sharma, Shimla Correspondent

            Once considered to be the two opposite poles of Himachal congress, Virbhadra Singh and Vidya Stokes have exhibited a great sense of unity just prior to the state polls. Addressing a congress working committee meeting at Rajeev Bhawan, Leader of Opposition, Mrs. Vidya Stokes said that the congress party will remain victorious in the forthcoming assembly polls under the leadership of Virbhadra Singh and that the PCC President will definitely hold the position of state chief minister for the 6^th time.

Making a sarcastic remark, PCC president said that it would really be interesting to see that who remains victorious with a greater margin, he or Mrs. Stokes. The meeting was held in the congress state headquarters to welcome NSUI ex-president Mr. Atul Sharma back into the party fold. Virbhadra Singh said that he was ready to welcome any person back into the party provided the person was willing to uproot the present BJP regime.

Mrs. Stokes even praised Virbhadra’s son, Vikramaditya for his dedication and hard-work. She said that it could be her last term as an active politician and wished the party would write new records of success and glory with young and enthusiastic members.

Ticket condenters raise voice against denial of ticket

Vishal Sharma, Shimla Correspondent

            With the denial of tickets to various ticket contenders, the so called ‘party loyalists’ have started saying goodbye to their respective parties. More than two dozen prominent people have left their respective parties and joined hands with other parties. Rohru MLA Khushi Ram Balnatah has left the BJP and joined Himachal Lokhit Party. He is expected to be fielded from Kasumpti constituency on HLP ticket.

Rampur Bushahar BJP leader Brij Lal has left the BJP and joined congress alongwith his followers on denial of party ticket. Ex- MLA from Kinnaur, Chet Ram has also left the BJP and is expected to contest either independent or on HLP ticket. Ex-MLA from Karsog, Joginder Pal has also said goodbye to BJP on denial of ticket.

The atmosphere is not congenial in the congress party fold too. Kasumpti block congress president resigned in resentment against the congress ticket allotment to Mr. Anirudh Singh ignoring the candidature of Mrs. Pratibha Singh. The Kasumpti block congress has decided to field Jyoti Sen as the independent candidate to oppose the ticket allotment to Anirudh Singh, who according to them is an outsider. The candidate from Paonta is also facing opposition from the supporters of Kirnesh Jung. Party workers from Sulah, Arki, Baijnath & Dharamshala are also opposing the ticket allotment in their respective segments.

Some interesting facts about elections in HP

Vishal Sharma, Shimla Correspondent

With Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls round the corner, here we present some interesting electoral facts about the hill state.

·        Himachal Pradesh has a total of 45.15 lac voters, half of them being below 40 years of age.

·        HP state legislative assembly has 68 seats.

·        State’s highest polling station is situated in Charaf Batori in Chamba district which is at a height of 16,000 feet above sea level.

·        Sulah Assembly constituency has the maximum numbers of voters i.e. 87,091 in contrast with Lahaul & Spiti which has minimum number i.e. 22,077.

·        In previous 2007 assembly polls, highest voting percentage of 83.18% was recorded in Nalagarh Assembly constituency in contrast with the lowest voting percentage of 61.90 recorded in Solan Assembly segment.

·        Country’s first polling station for the first general election in Free India was set up at Kalpa in Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh.

·        Mr. Shyam Saran Negi, aged 95 years, is the oldest and the first voter of Independent India. He lives in Kalpa, Kinnaur.

Relatives, friends to fight against each-other

            Vishal Sharma, Shimla Correspondent

            These elections would really be very interesting as the elections have brought about rivalry and a sense of competition in many families in the state. Some examples are:

·         From Banjar Assembly seat, elder brother Mr. Maheshwar Singh is contesting on Himachal Lokhit Party ticket whereas younger brother Mr. Karan Singh is contesting against his elder brother on a congress ticket.

·         Newly formed Dalhousie constituency will see two erstwhile best friends, Mrs. Renu Chadha on BJP ticket and Mrs. Asha Kumari on congress ticket. Though this segment was known as Banikhet in the previous elections, the candidates remain the same.

·         From Jogindernagar seat, Revenue & PWD Minister Thakur Gulab Singh is contesting on BJP ticket whereas his nephew Surinder Pal Singh will contest against him on the congress ticket. Surinder Pal Singh had defeated Thakur Gulab Singh in the 2003 elections, whereas Thakur Gulab Singh remained successful in winning the seat in 2007 elections.

·         A unique coincidence has occurred on the Una (Sadar) assembly seat. The coincidence is that in both the cases, the winner and the looser will be Satpal. BJP has filed the sitting MLA and its state president Satpal Singh Satti as its candidate whereas Congress has given its ticket to Satpal Singh Raizada. People can be heard gossiping in local languages, “Jo Marji Jitti Jaye, Jitna Taan Satpal Hi Hai”.