• Low cost treatment in India attract Britons
• 'F1 can be alternative to cricket in India'
• Why garlic's good for the heart
• World military games open with a gala show
• Mystery buyers for barren border land
• Sacrifices of Indian soldiers in Italy remembered
• Terror-hit Afghanistan turns to Gandhi
• World master mulls

• Whole-grain cereals cut heart failure: Study
• Chicken Tikka Masala celebrates 60 years in UK, where else?
• Indian among 18 in chance to run the Olympic Torch Relay
• Classic moves
• Indian Air Force celebrates 75th anniversary
• India's Youth Set Sights Beyond Call Centers
• Orissa boys win World School Rugby title
• One more Chak De moment in the spring of Indian sport

Fear of contracting a fatal superbug and long hospital waiting times in United Kingdom are turning India into a popular destination for British health tourists who get comparatively cheaper and better treatment there. A survey has revealed that one-third of the patients go abroad, including India, because of rising hospital infections in the UK. According to Taj Medical Group, which specialises in India, superbug infections are one of the main reasons why Britons are seeking treatment abroad. Cost was another reason given for seeking treatment overseas, according to the survey, carried out by the information service Treatment Abroad. Indian hospitals charge 20 to 50 per cent less than private British clinics, according to a report in The Sunday Telegraph on Sunday. In Chennai, a single knee replacement can cost 4,200 pounds, compared with 9,500 pounds in Britain, it said. Last year, Taj Medical Group arranged treatment and travel for 400 Britons. Jagdish Jethwa, TMG director, said: "They go because they are fed up with long NHS queues, or they have had appointments cancelled three or four times. Some go because they are scared of rising MRSA rates and know a friend or relative who has been infected in a British hospital." A number of hospitals in India screen patients for MRSA, which they would treat before any surgery. Earlier this month, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said that Britain will adopt a similar policy within the year. Screening of emergency admissions could be in place within three years.

Courtesy: www.hindu.com, October 28, 2007

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Healthy eating is one of the most important habits to adopt if you want to avoid heart disease and stroke -- but just be sure to add whole-grain cereals in your breakfast. Yes, researchers in the United States have carried out a study and found that regular consumption of whole-grain breakfast cereal lowers the risk of heart failure in the long run. "Our recommendation is that a lay person consuming breakfast cereal should look at fibre. At least four grams of fibre (per serving), that should be sufficient," according to lead researcher Luc Djousse. In fact, Djousse and his co-researchers at the Harvard Medical School came to the conclusion after analysing data from from the Physicians' Health Study, which included more than 21,400 male doctors followed for 18 years. During the follow-up period, 898 of the doctors were diagnosed with heart failure. Compared to those who ate no whole-grain cereal, men who consumed two to six servings per week saw their risk of heart failure fall by 21 per cent, while those who ate seven or more servings per week reaped a 29 per cent risk reduction. "The Physicians' Health Study shows that even in a population with overall healthy behaviour, it is possible to see less heart failure in those who eat a whole-grain cereal breakfast," Djousse said. "This effect is due, in part, to the high levels of magnesium, potassium and fibre in those breakfast cereals. While the study included only men, there is no reason at all why the results shouldn't apply to women," he said. The findings have been reported in the latest issue of the 'Archives of Internal Medicine' journal.

Courtesy: www.hindu.com, October 23, 2007

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Asia provided some of Formula One's highlights in 2007, with memorable races in China and Japan,and the region will be even more in the thick of the action next season. The first floodlit night race in Singapore, as well as the first Indian team in tycoon Vijay Mallya's takeover of Spyker, will add to surging interest in an area of increasing importance to the sport. "Somebody once told me in America that Asians are slow starters, but once they get up to speed they go past pretty quick," Mallya said at Sunday's season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix.

Spyker to be Force India F1 team
I think the Asian giant is awake and that has been propelled by the awakening of the giant within the giant which is India." Mallya, whose business interests range from Scotch Whisky to commercial aviation, has asked the governing body to rename Spyker as Force India. He believes India, with a booming economy and youthful population, is ready for fuller immersion into Formula One. "A lot of young people in India want to have an alternative to cricket and I think Formula One is the right sport," said Mallya.

Indian First
There is still some way to go before another Indian driver follows Narain Karthikeyan who raced for Jordan in 2005, on to the Grand Prix starting grid but the signs are still encouraging. This year had a first with the Indian anthem sounding out at a Grand Prix weekend when Karun Chandhok took his first victory in the GP2 support series at Spa in Belgium.

Iceman finally gets his world crown
"I think he is at least a year away [from Formula One]" said Mallya. "I know that he is committed to GP2 for 2008 so we will see how he performs." India is also due to host a Grand Prix in 2010, with South Korea pencilled in for then as well and Abu Dhabi making its debut in 2009.

Courtesy: www.rediff.com, October 22, 2007

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It is about as Indian as 'Chicken Manchurian' or 'Sour Hot Soup' are Chinese. The latter, among the most popular dishes on the menu of any Chinese restaurant in India, have never been heard of in China. So too, 'chicken tikka masala' Britain's favourite 'Indian' dish, is by no means Indian; it is unknown to Indian restaurants or dinner tables or palettes. Yet, in a ringing affirmation of the rise of multi culturalism, this phoney Indian dish is celebrating its 60th anniversary in Britain this month. It is the country's most popular dish - mind, not just most popular Indian dish - according to Food Service Intelligence. Robin Cook, the former British foreign minister, has hailed it as "Britain's true national dish", relegating fish and chips to second place. It accounts for a quarter of the total turnover of 2.5 billion pounds of all the 9000 odd 'curry houses' in Britain, and won the Best in Britain Award (BIBA) for best dish in 2002. The organisers of the National Curry Week have estimated that if all the portions of chicken tikka masala consumed annually in the country were stacked on top of one another, they would form a tower 2770 times taller than the Greenwich Millenium Dome. The origins of the dish lie shrouded in mystery. If an apocryphal story is to be believed, it was invented by a Bangladeshi chef to please a demanding British customer. The first Bangladeshi restaurants - calling themselves 'Indian restaurants' of course - opened in Britain in the 1940s, serving mostly Punjabi cuisine, specially Chicken Makhani, Chicken Tandoori, Chicken Tikka. At one such restaurant a Sylheti chef served a customer a dry Chicken Tikka dish he had taken some pains over, and was expecting to be appreciated for. Instead the pukka sahib summoned him and hollered: 'Where's the gravy?' In disgust, the chef took the dish back into the kitchen and simply emptied a can of tomato soup into it, adding a few spices as well. When he brought back the altered dish, his customer was delighted. Thus was 'Chicken Tikka Masala' born. For long it was looked down upon by connoisseurs. Mahendra Kaul, who founded Gaylords in London in the 1950s, recalled TN Kaul, then India's deputy high commissioner in Britain, laying down a condition when invited for the opening: he would not come if chicken tikka masala was on the menu. But just as a thrashy Bollywood film can attain iconic status once it proves a blockbuster, chicken tikka masala has had the last laugh, marching triumphantly ahead, silencing all its critics.

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Chewing them can give you bad breath but garlic, an essential ingredient in Indian curry, can actually be a boon for your health. Scientists have now found why garlic can help keep the heart healthy. According to a team from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, garlic boosts the body's ability to produce a compound called allicin, that relaxes blood vessels, increases blood flow and prevents blood clots and oxidative damage. Scientists say that allicin, which is broken down into the foul-smelling sulphur compounds which taint breath, reacts with red blood cells and produces hydrogen sulphide which relaxes blood vessels and keeps blood flowing easily. To reach this conclusion, scientists injected crushed garlic juice in blood vessels of rats. This produced striking results - with tension within the vessels reducing by 72%. The researchers also found that RBCs exposed to minute amounts of garlic juice immediately began emitting hydrogen sulphide. Further experiments showed that the chemical reaction took place mainly on the surface of the blood cells, playing a vital role in helping cells to communicate with each other. It stimulated the cells that form the lining of the vessels to relax, causing the vessels to dilate. This, in turn, reduced blood pressure, allowing the blood to carry more oxygen to essential organs, and reducing pressure on the heart.

Courtesy: www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com, October 18, 2007

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An Indian mechanical engineer is among 18 finalists announced by Lenovo in the global search for torch-bearers for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Rajib Maitra, who hails from Kolkata, is one of the finalists alongside 17 others from eight countries, including Brazil, Argentina, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States, the company said. "It feels great to be nominated among the finalists and this is the biggest thing in my life. I am extremely excited about it. I am looking forward to a chance to participate in the Beijing 2008 Torch Relay," Maitra said. The official torch lighting will take place in Olympia, Greece, in March 2008. The torch is being planned to be taken to 21 cities in five continents before spending 97 days traversing more than 100 cities in China. It will arrive at its final destination in Beijing on August 8, 2008 for the start of the games.

Courtesy: www.zeenews.com, October 17, 2007

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Military personnel of 102 countries were ready to go to war - of the sporting kind, as the 4th Military World Games opened with a grand show at the G.M.C. Balayogi Stadium here Sunday. President Pratibha Devisingh Patil formally declared the event open at 6.32 p.m. after releasing a commemorative stamp for the historic games. International council for military sports (CISM) president Brigadier General Gianni Gola summed it up best in his address to the august gathering: "This is a historic moment when militaries of more than a hundred countries stand shoulder to shoulder, marching together.

"Never before in the history of the world have the armed force personnel of so many nations come together overcoming religious cultural, political and diplomatic barriers. "A few months ago this was considered a miracle. But now that miracle has happened and what better than the biggest democracy in the world to make it come about." The Italian army officer was also quick to point out that armed forces today "do not make war but peace" referring to the fact more service personnel are deployed in peacekeeping duties around the world than ever before. After a display by the bands of India's army, navy and air force, the helicopter display team of Sarang of the Indian Air Force (IAF) - ranking among the top 10 display teams in the world - captivated the capacity crowd at the 38,000-seat stadium with their breathtaking flying skills. The skydivers of the Akash Ganga team of the IAF followed with their precision landings, drawing hearty applause from the appreciative crowd, mostly families and friends of armed force personnel. South Africa had the honour of leading the march past as the marching order was decided by how the countries are named in French. Hosts India, as is the practice in international competitions, brought up the rear with Captain Vishal Tomar, an Arjuna Award winning shooter, having the honour of carrying the tricolour and also taking the oath on behalf of the participating athletes. Gaurav Mukherjee, the 22-year-old son of an army colonel, had the unique honour performing the theme song of the games live. The cultural pageant that followed the ceremonies was, as expected, a riot of colours symbolising the unity in diversity that is India and left the visiting military personnel spellbound as the dancers and martial arts exponents went through their routine. Bringing the curtain down on the gala evening was the laser show that focused on the motto of the games - Friendship Through Sport. The fireworks display as the finale for the evening marked the beginning of the games.

Courtesy: www.zeenews.com, October 14, 2007

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Viswanathan Anand's World Championship win at Mexico City will go down as one of his greatest achievements. Viswanathan Anand achieved his World Chess Championship win with customary finesse. He was undefeated through the event, and became the first non-Russian after Bobby Fischer in 1972 to hold the number one ranking and the World Championship simultaneously; the latest addition to his glittering resume will further impact the rapid growth of the sport in the country. The World Championship win at Mexico City will go down as one of his greatest achievements. He had earlier won the title in 2000 in a knockout format, but the absence of Vladimir Kramnik had taken some sheen off the win. This time though, he is the undisputed World Champion, after competing with eight of the world's best. He was the only undefeated player in the tournament and the only person to have won the World Championship undefeated in both the knockout and the round-robin format.

Perfect ambassador
Consistency has always been the 37-year-old's forte. He has remained in the top-3 since 1997 (he's No.1 now), and has not finished outside the top-3 in a tournament since May 2002. Besides that, he has performed exceptionally in both the classic and the rapid formats. Consistency, versatility and a single-minded focus have taken him where he is now. His calm and modest demeanour is very unlike that of the eccentric geniuses that the sport produces, and has helped him maintain his focus. Anand's pioneering role in Indian chess is common knowledge, and this win will only help in inspiring a lot more children into taking up the sport. His subsequent achievements after becoming India's first Grandmaster in 1987 sparked off massive interest in the game. India now has 15 Grandmasters and many potential ones. Chess is a sport that is suited to Indians, and it was just a matter of time before more Indians started dominating the game. Anand is also a perfect ambassador for the sport in India, and is aware of his responsibilities in improving media coverage for chess and taking the sport to the rural areas across the country. When in the country (he is based in Spain), he is actively involved in promoting the game. The World Champion can presently afford to rest on his laurels and has some time on his hands before his match against Kramnik next year. One of India's greatest sportsmen is playing some of his best chess, and is enjoying it. The good news is that he wants more.

Courtesy: www.hindu.com, October 12, 2007

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The land of the Thar desert adjacent to the India-Pakistan border in Rajasthan's Barmer district grows nothing. But buyers from other states are queuing up to buy plots in this region. In the last six months, over 85,000 bighas of land has been sold by local farmers in Gadra tehsil of Barmer district. The state government has asked the district administration for a report on the sudden rise in land deals. According to sources, buyers from states like Punjab and Haryana have purchased over two lakh bighas in the border area. "Even land adjacent to the border fencing is sold out. It is a new phenomenon in this desert. We don't know these buyers are," said Ganpat Singh, a villager from the border area.

Rajasthan revenue minister R.N. Doodi said he finds nothing wrong in such land deals, saying, "Any Indian citizen can purchase land here. What is wrong in it?" But state home minister Gulabchand Kataria said the issue has been brought to the notice of the government. "I have asked the local administration to send a report on it. It is serious when people from other states purchase land in the Munabao area," he said. The issue has caused concern among the local people, who submitted memoranda to the government. "The desert people preserved their culture and traditions against all odds for centuries. These aliens may cause a threat to our culture," said Seemant Lok Sangthan [SLS] president Hindu Singh Sodha. Barmer MP Manvendra Singh also expressed concern over the land deals. "The Centre and state governments should jointly probe such land deals. I sent a letter to the Prime Minister in this regard," he told mediapersons in Barmer. The border are has a mixed population of Hindus and Muslims who enjoy good relations and maintain communal harmony. Mr Sodha fears outsiders may spoil this. According to the villagers, the price of land was Rs 1,000 per bigha but has now increased to Rs 8,000 per bigha. "Shiva tehsil of Barmer got 17 land deals registered in a single day on September 16," said Mr Ganpat Singh, a local resident. District magistrate Subeer Kumar told this correspondent he had sent a report to the government. "It could be possible that real estate companies are purchasing land here to build their land banks because land is so cheap here," he said. The size of Barmer is 28,234 sq km, but the population density is only 69 persons per km. Agriculture is based on monsoon rains and average rainfall just 277 mm. But the district received 549 mm of rain between August 16 and August 26 in 2006, which resulted in more than 100 deaths and huge losses. "We have a list of 80 buyers who belong to other states. We are contemplating moving the high court to seek justice against such deals," said Mr Sodha of the SLS. "We cannot understand the reason why outsiders are purchasing land (in Barmer)," said Mr Harish Choudhary, a local Congress leader. "It may be that middlemen and property dealers are projecting Barmer as a new investment destination after the discovery of oil and the reopening of the Munabao-Khokhrapar rail route between India and Pakistan," said D.S. Bhati, a Barmer resident.

Courtesy: www.asianage.com, October 10, 2007

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The Indian Air Force celebrates its 75th anniversary today which is being marked by an air display by 75 aircrafts. The display will form part of the Air Force Day Parade Cum investiture ceremony. The Air Force is organising these functions at Air Force Station Hindon in Ghaziabad. Rehearsals for the air display have been going on since October 3, 2007. The areas over which aircraft will be flying at low levels are Wazirpur bridge- Karwalnagar - Afjalpur - Hindon, Pilkhowa - Nahal - Kusalia - Sadarpur - Guldhar - Hindon and Hindon - Chandinagar - Dhakauli - Pilana. The flying display will commence with performances by a Streak Shadow microlite aircraft, a para-motor and aero-models. This will be followed by a paradrop by 75 members of the Akash Ganga Team marking the 75th Platinum Jubilee year of the IAF. Three Mi-17 helicopters carrying the IAF ensign will fly past at low level during the parade. At the end of the parade and the investiture ceremony, the Air Warrior Drill Team will put up a display of Arm Drills. The main part of the air display will commence thereafter. In the lead will be the Microlite aircraft and pilots that recently created the world record for flying around the world in 80 days. This will be followed by 'Big Rotor' formation of one Mi-26 helicopter, two ALH and two Cheetah helicopters, 'Chakra' formation comprising three Mi-35 helicopters, and 'Spectrum' formation comprising one Avro, two An-32 and two Dornier aircraft. 'Mixedbag and Vulcan' formation comprising one IL-78 refueling tanker with two Mirage aircraft will follow. The Mirages will pull up steeply in front of the spectators. Four aircraft each of Jaguar, Mig-21 Bison and Mig-23 will then approach head-on, followed closely by three aircraft each of Mig-29 and Mirage-2000, all of which will perform split manoeuvres in front of the dais. Three Su-30 MKI aircraft will fly in Vic formation and perform the magnificent Trishul manoeuvre. After this, two Su-30 MKI aircraft will cross each other at low level at high speed. The grand finale will be a scintillating display of formation aerobatics by the renowned "Surya Kiran" Team with nine aircrafts. Their routine will include take off in Vic formations of three aircraft in front of the spectators, followed by a breathtaking display of synchronized low level manoeuvring in close formation. A Searcher UAV will be airborne prior to commencement of the parade to keep an eye on the entire proceedings.

Courtesy: www.saharasamay.com, October 08, 2007

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As India's economy booms, its young workers are no longer so keen on trying to soothe the irate customers of the global companies that outsource their call center jobs in the country. Industries like aviation and retail are among the new favorites for job seekers, says a study. The business process outsourcing sector, which now has attrition rates ranging from 25% to 30%, could see that number climb to 30% to 40% over the next two years, says the study on urban youths' emerging career choices, conducted by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

Call center jobs, which have limited job security and entail working odd hours and in shifts, are losing their sheen as new sectors like hospitality, aviation and retail gain popularity. These three sectors are also seeing workforce shortages of between 25% and 30%, creating ample opportunities. Outsourcing centers are also cutting back on operating costs amid stiff competition and the appreciation of the rupee, which eats into the cost rationale for sending jobs to India. The Indian currency has appreciated over 11% against the dollar since the start of 2007. A majority of 12th-grade graduates, whose predecessors made a beeline for jobs in BPOs and call centers, "are now curious to join other leisure[-related] yet attractive areas of animation, journalism, designing (apparel, jewelry) and entertainment, besides aviation, hospitality and retail," said chambers of commerce President Venugopal Dhoot, who ranks No. 26 on the most recent Forbes India rich list. Aviation, expanding at a rate of 30% annually, is expected to create more than 200,000 jobs by 2012, as airlines like Jet Airways and Kingfisher add to their fleet. The industry will add 140 airliners to the current fleet of 270 airliners as it copes with high growth, especially in domestic travel. Hotel management courses are also gaining popularity as new projects spring up over the country. To meet demand for hotel rooms for the 2010 Commonwealth Games that will be held in New Delhi, 34 new hotels are coming up in the "national capital region" in and around the city. The survey estimates that more than 95,000 trained personnel will be required by the hotel industry over the next five years. India's retail revolution is likely to generate 200,000 jobs by 2012, of which 40% will be captured by young people in the cities. The retail market, estimated at about $350 billion, currently consists overwhelmingly of mom-and-pop stores. But large companies like Reliance Industries and global giants like Wal-Mart (nyse: WMT - news - people ) are making inroads into the sector. Ground is expected to be broken for around 250 malls over the next few years. In a country where more than 50% of the population is under 25 years of age, there's a large English-speaking workforce. But as development proceeds apace and the economy grows at rates in excess of 9% annually, problems like the lack of industry-specific training and intense competition for talent that induces frequent job hopping are making the going tough for employers across the spectrum of services. (See: " India Struggles With Labor Shortages")

Courtesy: www.forbes.com, October 08, 2007

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Rome: In a rare gesture, touching tributes were paid to 5,782 Indian soldiers who laid down their lives during the World War II, fighting for Italy against fascist forces. The ceremony was held for the first time since 1945 at Cassino on Thursday to honour Indian soldiers. In all, about 50,000 Indian troops mostly between the ages of 19 and 22, had fought for freedom in Italy. Close to 50 per cent of them were injured in the war. Out of 20 Victoria Cross decorations given for bravery during the war in Italy, Indian soldiers won as many as six. The story of their bravery and their sacrifice is still talked about in Italian cities and villages that they helped to liberate, the Indian Ambassador to Italy Rajiv Dogra said on the occasion. The Deputy Defence Minister of Italy Emidio Casula attended the ceremony. Ambassadors of a number of countries and Mayor of Cassino Dr Bruno Scittarelli and Senior Generals of Italian and Indian Army were present.

Monte Cassino was the scene of the most fierce battle of the Italian campaign on the Gothic Line of defence of the German army. Recalling that battle, the Chief of Army Staff of Italy General Fabrizio Castagnetti said: "The fourth, eighth and tenth Indian Infantry Divisions were employed in the battle for the capture of Monte Cassino and in the bitter campaign that followed for the breaching of the Gothic Line." Field Marshal Wavel wrote thus about the heroic effort of the Fourth division: "The fame of this Division as one of the greatest fighting formations, will be remembered in military history, just like the Tenth legion, the Light division who fought in the Peninsular War and the old Napoleonic Guard." Speaking on the occasion, the Deputy Defence Minister Emidio Casula recalled the sacrifice of the Indian soldiers that led to the defeat of fascism and the victory of freedom and democracy. He said Indian soldiers were still remembered for the discipline, valour and friendship. The winners of the Victoria Cross were Sepoy Kamal Ram, 3/8 Punjab, Nk Yashwant Ghadge (Posthumous), 3/5 Maratha Light Infantry, Sepoy Namdeo Jadhav, 1/5 Maratha LI, Rifleman Sher Bhahadur Thapa, 1/9 Gorkha Rifles, Rifleman Thaman Gurung (Posthumous), 5 Gorkha Rifles and Sepoy Hyder Ali, 6/13 Frontier Force Rifles. The Italian Army arranged a special Guard of Honour by a large number of soldiers signalling the importance attached to the role of the young Indian soldiers in liberation of Italy. The main cemeteries where Indian soldiers were buried are Arezzo, Sangro, Cassino, Forli Indian Army War Cemetery and Rimini Gurkha War Cemetery. Among the cities that the Indian soldiers helped liberate are Perugia, Luca, Florence, San Marino, Cesena, Forli, Ferrara and Bologna.

Courtesy: www.sify.com, October 05, 2007

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Indian sports is on an upswing and nothing captures it better than the fact that a group of young boys from Orissa's tribal belt have won the World School Rugby title. Hailing from a non-descript corner of Orissa, young tribal boys of the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) got the Indian flag fluttering in London, when they beat South Africa to win the Under-14 World School Rugby title. For the young boys from Orissa, to win an international trophy in a game that isn't really a mass sport in India is nothing short of a huge achievement. "We are simply speechless. We have no words to express the feeling. We went there as underdogs and were not considered a team also. South Africa were the strongest but we won," Summit Aagrwal, a student of the KISS, said. Homecoming couldn't have been any sweeter for them as coming from one of the most backward areas in India, they sure knew how to come up with their best tackles as they fought other teams from across the world. "All of us are very proud from the moments we got the news that our children from Orissa and particularly tribal children from our state have done so brilliantly in an international rugby tournament in UK. All us from our state are very proud and will certainly popularise rugby as a sport even more," Orissa Chief Minster Naveen Pattnaik said. "Cricket and football are popular sports in India but rugby is new to us. We also represent the country. We do the same things that cricketers and footballers do," Bikash Murmu, captain of the rugby team, said. Now a group of boys from the tribal belt of Orissa have shown that India can be world beaters even in a sport that is not very popular in the country.

Courtesy: www.ibnlive.com, October 04, 2007

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For the first time the Gandhian ethos of non-violence and peace were celebrated in the terror-hit Afghanistan on Bapu's 138th birth anniversary. The students of the famous Habibia High School sang Mahatma's favourite bhajans Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram and Vasishnav Jan before a distinguished audience on Tuesday and read out compositions on Gandhi that they had prepared. A message from President Hamid Karzai was also read out, extolling Gandhiji's message of non-violence that had captivated freedom fighters across the world. India's ambassador Rakesh Sood spoke of the non-violent struggle of the Mahatma by which he galvanised millions to participate in India's freedom movement, an event that electrified the world and inspired freedom fighters everywhere, including Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King. A photo exhibition on the Mahatma was also inaugurated. Habibia, the school that Karzai and many other distinguished figures of this country went to, was started in 1903 with an Indian headmaster. When the school marked its century, India helped reconstruct its building.

Courtesy: www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com, October 03, 2007

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In the season of celebrating the Power of Blue, the apprehensions were probably genuine. A Made-in-India guy who learnt chess from his mother and went on to script the mother of all triumphs - twice. Even in the ecstasy of an Indian sporting high, would he get the accolades a King deserves? It had taken hockey coach Joaquim Carvalho to protest bitterly for India to realise that another set of our boys in blue hadn't got their due for being Asia's best. Thus the fear: A day after cueist Pankaj Advani, another world champion, refused a government award to protest the law of unequal returns that govern India's evaluation of sporting excellence, would Viswanathan Anand's conquest remain just another news flash? Maybe, maybe not. The good thing is that the man himself probably doesn't give a damn. India's first grandmaster has also been its most consistent achiever in sport. Given that chess is officially played in 161 countries, he is our only global icon. Multi-lingual, suave and intelligent, he is also the emblem of India that is young and hot at 60. By being the world's number one chess player, by challenging Garry Kasparov at the World Trade Centre, by consistently doing well at pilgrimage spots like Linares and Wijk aan Zee, by winning a hattrick of chess Oscars, this self-effacing GM has sparked a silent revolution in Indian chess. On Sunday morning, Anand continued the trend of the sports pages giving us more good news than usual from the day India turned 60. On August 29, NP Pradeep turned us Syrian killers in the Nehru Cup. On September 9, the men's hockey team served up a magnificent seven to conquer Asia. Two days later, Delhi chess prodigy Tania Sachdev became Asian champion. At Flushing Meadows, Leander Paes went within a match of the mixed doubles crown, while Sania Mirza broke into the top-30. And Jeev Milkha Singh keeps reminding us that he is a worthy son of a worthy father. The ultimate high of course came last week, when a new drug called MSD revived an old Indian addiction. A bunch of kids-turned-men came home with coveted cylindrical silverware, to scenes unseen - and unexpected - even in cricket-crazy India. Chess is more esoteric than fast 'n' furious T20 - but be it the Wanderers, Johannesburg or Mexico City, it was India shining all the way. Reason enough to raise a cheer to Indian sport. One that's not just about cricket.

Courtesy: www.hindustantimes.com, October 01, 2007

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Viswanathan Anand last night became the world's first undisputed chess champion since Garri Kasparov 14 years ago, but appeared to wonder if his countrymen realised how big the achievement was. The world No. 1, who had just won his second world championship in seven years, was asked if he expected the same reception in India as the one given to Mahendra Singh Dhoni's Twenty20 team. "Yes, I heard about it. It would be interesting to see what kind of reception I get when I come to India by the end of October," PTI quoted the Chennai-born player as saying at the tournament venue, Mexico City. "But my friends from chess would certainly be there as always. Here (in Mexico) everyone understood the importance of this event…. You can imagine how I feel." Anand, 37, had won his first world championship in 2000, but the chess world had already been split by Kasparov who walked out of the official body, Fide, in 1993 and formed a rebel association. The two rival bodies unified last year, enhancing the value of this year's title. "Being the undisputed world champion is a relief…. I am the absolute world champion," Anand said.

Indian Chess Federation secretary D.V. Sundar said the reception for Anand was yet to be planned, but it should be similar to the welcome he had received after his first world title. An open carriage, drawn by a decked-out horse, had driven him the last few hundred yards to his home in Chennai before cheering fans - a far cry from the cricketers' airport-to-stadium victory parade on Wednesday. "Vishy (rang us) at 1.20am," mother Susheela said in Chennai. "In a choked voice, he said 'Amma, I have won'." Anand, who retains his No. 1 ranking achieved in April, has now crossed the prestigious Elo rating of 2800 for the second time in his career. Just three other players - Russia's Kasparov and Vladimir Kramnik and Bulgarian Veselin Topalov - have ever crossed 2800, with the retired Kasparov holding the record of 2851, achieved in 1999-2000. The Indian replaces Kramnik as world champion, winning the tournament on points after tying with Hungarian Peter Leko on the 14th day of a contest he dominated from the start. He was the only undefeated player in the tournament, scoring four wins and 10 draws, and with three rounds remaining needed only draws to lay his hands on the $390,000 (Rs 1.55 crore) winner's cheque. "As my win was quite sure with three rounds to go, people were already coming to me and congratulating me, which was making me uncomfortable, a kind of jinx," he said while it was still Saturday in Mexico. "It came quite easy, obviously…. It dawned on me yesterday that I was going to win it, but still I had to come and finish the work today." His father Viswanathan said: "We are very happy. It is a proud moment for us and India." Anand became the country's first grandmaster at 16 and won the world junior title in 1989. "He has been our one-man army," national chess body secretary Sundar said. The country has showered him with official awards. Anand won the first Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna - India's highest sporting honour - in 1991. At 17, he became the youngest ever Padma Shri and then received the Padma Bhushan, too. Some other non-cricketing champions, however, have been left feeling bitter by the "discrimination" in favour of cricketers. Yesterday, world billiards title-holder Pankaj Advani refused the Karnataka government's Ekalavya sports award, given to 82 men and women, saying it was "too little, too late". Earlier this week, Asia Cup-winning hockey players had threatened a hunger-strike against what they saw as the government's bias in rewarding cricketers and ignoring the rest.

Courtesy: www.telegraphindia.com, October 01, 2007

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