India holds the commanding heights in beauty and wealth, according to two new reports that have been published this weekend in London. Readers of celebrity magazine Hello! have voted Aishwarya Rai the world's most beautiful woman, beating Kei Knightley and Nicole Kidman who came second and third respectively in the same poll. Former Miss World Aishwarya has gone from strength to strength since winning her title in 1994. To date she has starred in 27 films and is currently in negotiation with the makers of the Bond movies to star alongside Pierce Brosnan in the next 007 blockbuster. What Aishwarya is to the world of beauty, Lakshmi Mittal and the Hinduja brothers are to the world of finance. At least that is the conclusion of an Evening Standard newspaper assessment, which ranks Mittal and the Hindujas as the third and seventh richest citizens of London.

Courtesy: www.rediff.com, January 17, 2004

Back to Index

Whenever one thinks of Swami Vivekananda, the word 'courage' comes to mind. In a letter to Sister Nivedita, Swamiji once wrote, "And fear? I'm the fear of fear, the terror of terror, I am the fearless Secondless One, I'm the Rule of destiny, the Wiper-out of fact..." Vivekananda still has a universal appeal, particularly to the youth, all because of those 'burning words'. His inspiring personality was well-known both in India and in America during the last decade of the 19th century and the first decade of the 20th. The unknown monk of India suddenly leapt into fame at the Parliament of Religions held in Chicago in 1893, at which he represented Hinduism. His vast knowledge of eastern and western culture, as well as his deep spiritual insight, fervid eloquence, brilliant conversation, broad human sympathy and handsome figure made an irresistible appeal to the Americans who came in contact with him. People, who saw or heard him once, cherished his memory even after more than half-a-century. In America, Vivekananda's mission was to interpret India's spiritual culture, especially in its Vedantic setting. He also tried to enrich international religious consciousness through the rational and humanistic teachings of Vedanta philosophy. In America, he became India's spiritual ambassador and pleaded eloquently for better understanding between India and the 'New World' in order to create a healthy synthesis of East and West, of religion and science. Swami Vivekananda once spoke of himself as a 'condensed India'. Philosopher William James called the Swami the "paragon of Vedantists". Orientalists Max Mueller and Paul Deussen held him in genuine respect and affection. "His words," writes Romain Rolland, "are great music, phrases in the style of Beethoven, stirring rhythms like the march of Handel choruses.

Courtesy: Hindustan Times, January 08, 2004

Back to Index

Actress Kirron Kher's powerful performance as a middle-aged woman caught between the forces of fundamentalism on either side of the Indo-Pakistan border in the film `Khamosh Pani' has been awarded at the Karachi Film Festival in Pakistan. The film, which makes a hard hitting statement on the growing fundamentalism under the rule of General Zial-ul-Haq, also won the award for best screenplay (Paromita Vohra) and a special jurors award at the festival held recently. Kirron had earlier been awarded for her performance at the Locarno and Cape Town film festivals.

Courtesy: The Hindu, January 05, 2004