Mankatha/Mangatha Ajith's trailer on may 1st,latest trailer,ajith's birthday

Venkat prabhu's gift for ajith's birthday!!!

10 facts to know about Azim Premji!!!

Wipro bigwig Azim Premji once again featured on the Forbes richest list for 2011. Premji who owns close to 80 per cent in the soap-to-software empire, ended up richer by Rs 10,600 crore at the end of fiscal year 2011.

The chairman of India's third-largest IT company recently made news for getting rid of his joint CEOs and rightsizing his managerial strength. Also, in the largest act of philanthropy by an Indian, Premji pledged to give about Rs 8,846 crore ($2 billion) to improve school education in India.

1.Dropping out of Stanford at age 21 to take over the reins of Wipro following the sudden demise of his father. At that time, the company made hydrogenated cooking fat. (He completed his degree over 30 years later).

2.Three years after appointing two CEOs, Suresh Vaswani and Girish Paranjpe, to navigate Wipro, the duo was suddenly removed and replaced. The company says that the move was in keeping with the changes in the business environment , but sceptics find it hard to believe. The duo resigned from Wipro.

3.Leadership style: Knows every small detail of his businesses, but does not interfere with everyday operations of the various independent business heads.

4.Transferred 8.6% of his stake in the company, worth about Rs 8,646 crore, to the Azim Premji Foundation. This is the biggest act of individual philanthropy in India.

5.Husband to Yasmeen, father to Rishad and Tariq.

In January this year, Rishad Premji, Wipro's strategy chief, was given additional responsibility of leading the company's M&A pursuits.

Rishad, 33, who joined Wipro from consulting firm Bain & Co in June 2007, and became general manager (treasury & investor relations) in 2009, was promoted to replace Lakshminarayana KR as the chief strategy officer in 2010.

6.The blatant rise in corruption in India. Premji was a signatory to an open letter to Indian leaders questioning the current state of affairs

7.Wipro is the second-largest hydraulic cylinder company in the world.

8.Enjoys trekking and loves watching movies; he often turns to his senior executives for recommendations.

9.Was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 2011.

10."As you get bigger, you have to delegate. It's also an excellent way to get staff involved in the company's operations."

In a harsh criticism of the US "restrictive" policies, chairman of India-based Wipro Azim Premji told the gathering of global CEOs in January 2011 that the emerging economies are "more than fed up" of being lectured by the west to open their economies without any reciprocity. "I think they (emerging economies) are fed up of being needled for opening their economies,"

8.2 Earthquake to hit INDIA!!!

Bangalore/New Delhi: North India could experience a powerful earthquake, it could happen sooner than expected and wreak more damage than previously estimated, according to the findings of a research study by scientists at Bangalore’s respected Indian Institute of Science (IISc).
India is nowhere close to being ready to deal with a powerful seismic shock, according to an official at the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
The researchers analysed earthquakes over the years in the seismically-volatile northern Himalayan region. Their study will be published in next month’s issue of the Journal of Tectonophysics, a peer-reviewed journal.

For at least three decades now, seismologists have been unanimous that a major quake (exceeding magnitude 8.2) is imminent somewhere between Bihar and Nepal, and Kangra (Himachal Pradesh), referred to as the central conflict zone, as well as around Delhi and Uttarkashi. The IISc scientists point out that those studies assume that the last major quake that rocked the region happened 500 years ago, whereas their calculations and on-site excavations suggest that such a quake happened 1,000 years ago.
Nirmal Chander Vij, former army chief and vice-chairman of NDMA, headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in a note published on the authority’s website earlier this month, said that India is “likely to take between 10 to 15 years to reach a minimum satisfactory level in terms of preparedness for earthquakes” and that “some very serious shortcomings persist in the preparedness levels because of our overall complacency towards this subject (preparedness for high-intensity earthquakes)”.
An 8.2 magnitude earthquake can release at least 30 times more energy than the one in Bhuj, Gujarat, in 2001, that killed at least 20,000. Pressure in the region’s crust is building up and could be released far more powerfully than previously imagined, the researchers warn.
“In our research work, where we have revisited the Himalayan region, an earthquake of larger magnitude happened 1,000 years ago and so the strain could be building up. So it (the quake, when it happens) has greater potential to be dangerous,” said Kusala Rajendran, one of the researchers of the study and faculty member at the Centre for Earth Sciences at IISc.
Previous studies, Rajendran said, used geological data based entirely on superficial global positioning system models, while their study that spanned 12 years included archaeological and geological data, such as the age of rocks and implements at different surfaces of the earth as well as ruptures and strains on old temples and buildings in the region.
“We also visited old structures to study the damage due to seismic activities,” said C.P. Rajendran, another IISc researcher involved in the study.
Earthquakes frequently alter the soil structure in a region and this can be used to determine the timing and frequency of quakes.
The 2,500km-long Himalayan mountain range, one of the active plate regions in the world, has experienced three great earthquakes during the past century.
Kusala Rajendran said that the 500–800km segment of the Himalayan arc between the rupture zones of the 1934 Bihar–Nepal and 1905 Kangra earthquakes, known as the central seismic gap has been “still” for a really long time. The plates in the zone are moving 5cm every year, which suggests a uniform movement and, therefore, the pressure ought to be released at periodic intervals, which is not happening, she added. This stretch in the central Himalayan region has not seen any earthquake, she said.
Vij’s note, published in the aftermath of the 11 March quake in Japan and the subsequent tsunami in Fukushima, said that the enforcement of and compliance with earthquake-resistant building codes for buildings and all other types of infrastructure is “woefully lacking because of vested interests” and needs to be improved substantially.
“There is a need to expeditiously carry out risk assessment and vulnerability analysis, strengthen multi-hazard preparedness, and prepare disaster management plans at national, state, district and block levels. This exercise was commenced some time back and needs to be finished urgently, and then rehearsed Army style,” said Vij.
Narender Kumar of the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology said that there was still considerable debate on the timing of such an earthquake. The paper by IISc scientists is “interesting”, he said, but a better understanding of when an earthquake could strike will come only by deeper monitoring of the earth’s crust with more sophisticated measurement systems. This process had begun seriously only since the early 2000s, he added.

Did Saibaba died on April 24th???

Sri Sathya Sai Baba was reported dead on April 24. But on a day when he was laid to rest, a fresh controversy sprung out of the grave to haunt those who allegedly ordered the freezer box as early as April 4 — his condition had officially worsened only on April 15 after being admitted on March 28.

While it is not uncommon to order a freezer box in advance, the response of the Central Trust members as well as the district administration that they have no information on it has, in fact, led to many doubting the reported date of his death.

The controversy was birthed on Wednesday after a firm making freezer boxes claimed the one in which the 'godman' was kept as its own and said it was ordered on April 4.

The order was placed by Rajendranath Reddy of Bangalore to the Malleswaram (Bangalore) branch of Coimbatore-based Kumar and Co. International. The cost of the glass freezer was quoted at Rs 1.07 lakh and an advance of Rs 57,000 was paid by cheque to the company on April 4.

"The box was transported from Coimbatore to Ulsoor in Bangalore on April 4 and reached Puttaparthi on April 5," said Vishwanath, a staff in Kumar and Co.

The connection of Rajendranath Reddy with Sathya Sai Central Trust still a mystery. However, according to sources, the powerful Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust had a role in ordering the freezer box.

Lakshmi, the owner of Kumar and Co International company, told the media on Wednesday that she recognised the freezer box as made by her firm after seeing it on TV.

"We did not know it was meant for Sai Baba," she said. According to Lakshmi, her colleague Ganesh called Rajendranath to confirm this. "He confirmed the same and told Ganesh not to discuss the matter with anyone," Lakshmi said.

While Trust member S S Naganand said that the freezer box was arranged by the godman's family, another member ex-justice P N Bhagwati said: "I am not aware when the freezer box was ordered or brought to Puttaparthi. I also have no information as to who ordered it and when. Anantapur district collector B Janardhan Reddy also said that they had no information on the freezer box.

DMK to fight 2G scam!!!

In a crucial high-level DMK committee meeting, a statement was issued on Wednesday that stated there was an attempt to defame the party. The party would face the issue legally and were surprised that Kanimozhi has been named in the CBI chargesheet in connection with the 2G scam.

The meeting is on in Chennai to decide the party's future course of action in the wake of the CBI naming chief minister M Karunanidhi's daughter Kanimozhi in the second chargesheet in the 2G spectrum scam.

Karunanidhi and other top leaders would seek to work out ways of dealing with the situation arising out of the CBI chargesheet that has brought fresh trouble to the party's ties with UPA lead partner Congress.

Kanimozhi, a Rajya Sabha MP and a prominent face of DMK, has been named as 'co-conspirator' in the scam, bringing the party's first family in sharp focus for the first time.

The DMK patriarch is reportedly upset over the fresh development, but party sources said a drastic action like pulling out of the UPA ministry was unlikely.

Party sources have said DMK was unlikely to do anything to precipitate matters with Congress, particularly at a time when results of the April 13 assembly polls are to be announced on May 13.

In the first blow to DMK, its Dalit face and former telecom minister A Raja was chargesheeted and lodged in prison.

Of late, DMK's relations with its seven-year-old ally Congress have been uneasy, more so before the recently held assembly polls.

All eyes are now on today's meeting where DMK is expected to work out strategies to wriggle out of the present situation.

DMK has already made known its displeasure over the "publicity exercise of gargantuan proportions" given to CBI questioning Kanimozhi, Karunanidhi's wife Dayaluammal and Sharad Kumar, all stakeholders in Kalaignar TV, which allegedly received loans from DB Realty in a 'circuitous route.'

Karunanidhi has so far steered clear of speculation about pulling out of the UPA ministry.

Team India's coach is appointed!!!

Former England coach Duncan Fletcher has been approved as the Indian Cricket Coach by the BCCI on Wednesday.

Duncan Fletcher to take over as India Coach from West Indies Tour.

This comes after World Cup winning coach Gary Kirsten's quit the post.

Sachin cried for the first time in public!!!

Worlds tallest womens!!!! WOW

2G scam note warned PM!!!

The brazenness with which arrested telecom minister A Raja bent rules to distribute telecom licences and 2G spectrum allegedly in exchange of bribes could not have surprised Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

An internal note warned Singh that the telecom ministry under Raja intended to ignore advice to refer allocation of 2G spectrum to an empowered group of ministers (EGoM) and that such a course of action violated rules of government business.

The note, put up to the PM in November 2007 in the wake of rising concern over Raja's bid to ram through the 'first-come, first-served' policy, clearly said that differences between law and telecom ministries over the need for wider consultations should be resolved by the Cabinet.

The PM did ask his office to examine issues, but despite the pitfalls in Raja's interpretation of his policy domain, the DMK leader not only pushed ahead with his controversial implementation of his preferred policy but also managed to subvert the cabinet system in the process.

If these revelations contained in PMO and Cabinet Secretariat's communication with the Public Accounts Committee find reflection in the committee's report likely to be submitted this week, it will set off fresh confrontation between the government and opposition. The PAC, headed by BJP leader M M Joshi, is expected to refer to systemic failures in the 2G episode.

The PMO assessment followed Singh himself asking his office for a note on "whether the action proposed to be taken by the (telecom) ministry is correct or not; whether it is justified in doing what it plans to do." Raja had insisted in a November 2, 2007 letter to the PM that the EGoM route was "totally out of context''.

Significantly, the PMO is not clear on whether it should have stopped Raja from having his way. Responding to criticism that it failed to ensure his adherence to the 2003 Cabinet decision that pricing of airwaves be jointly decided by telecom and finance ministries, the PMO told the PAC, "Not giving effect to a Cabinet decision is tantamount to varying or reversing the same… it is incumbent on the department to bring it before the Cabinet."

However, it did not agree that PMO was mandated to ensure the former telecom minister played by rules. "There is no specific requirement for PMO to enforce cabinet decisions nor is this the general practice," PMO told the committee.

With regard to then finance minister P Chidambaram's January 15, 2008 letter on the need to review telecom ministry's decision to price spectrum, the PMO said: "Prime Minister saw the finance minister's note. No action was formally taken by PMO on the note." It also said that Chidambaram's objections seem to have been resolved by July 2008.The response is in sync with the PM's assertion that in the final analysis finance ministry agreed with Raja's stand that spectrum need not be auctioned.

Both PMO and Cabinet Secretariat make it clear that the decision in December 2006 to delete pricing of spectrum from the terms of reference of a group of ministers set up in February was approved by the PM. The PMO informed Cabinet Secretariat on November 27, 2006, that the PM had "approved the revised terms of reference", on the urging of Raja's predecessor Dayanidhi Maran.

When various concerns were brought to his notice even after his November 2, 2007 letter to the PM, Raja did not budge and wrote on November 15 that he was only continuing with the existing spectrum policy.

Later on December 12, 2007, the telecom ministry candidly told PMO that new licences would be granted to those who fulfilled the letter of intent conditions. The ministry anticipated a rush of applicants as it said "an applicant who fulfils LoI condition first will be granted licence first, although several applicants will be issued LoI simultaneously."

Raja assured the PM that "discussions with the external affairs minister and the solicitor general (Goolam Vahanavati) have further enlightened him to take preemptive and pro-active decisions. PMO says that it outlined a course of action for the PM's consideration but does not spell it out.

Is it a crime to catch corruption redhanded!!!

2G scam,2nd charge sheet against whom???

The CBI in its second charge sheet likely to be filed tomorrow may name Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi's daughter Kanimozhi, wife Dayalu Ammal and several others for allegedly getting benefits out of the allocation of 2G spectrum to certain telecom firms.

The chargesheet to be filed in the court of Special CBI Judge O P Saini may give details as to how over Rs 200 crore was illegally routed by jailed former telecom minister A Raja, his slain aide Sadiq Batcha and Shahid Usman Balwa, the former Managing Director of DB Realty to DMK-owned Kalaignar TV, jointly owned by Kanimozhi, Dayalu Ammal and Sharad Kumar.

Kanimozhi, Dayalu Ammal and Kumar, Managing Director of the TV, have 20, 60 and 20 per cent shares in the channel respectively.

The CBI had earlier told the court that Rs 200 crore connected with the 2G spectrum scam had travelled from a partnership firm of Balwa to Kalaignar TV.

The agency had said the money travelled through a "circuitous route" through Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables Pvt Ltd, a DB group company and Cineyug Films Pvt Ltd.

"Investigations have also revealed that in furtherance of the conspiracy, Dynamix Realty, a partnership firm of DB Realty Ltd and other DB group companies, paid Rs 200 crore to Kalaignar TV Pvt Ltd during December 2008 to August 2009, following a circuitous route through Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables Pvt Ltd and Cineyug Films Pvt Ltd (DB group holds 49 per cent equity in it)," CBI said in its first charge sheet filed on April 2.

Besides, the second chargesheet may also throw some light on the role of Batcha who died in mysterious circumstances last month (March).

Names of Asif Balwa, cousin of Shahid Balwa, and Rajeev Agarwal, Directors of Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables Pvt Ltd, who are presently in judicial custody, are also expected in the supplementary charge sheet.

Raja and eight others, including former telecom secretary Siddharth Behura and three telecom companies were on April 2 indicted in the 2G spectrum allocation scam by CBI, which pegged the loss to the exchequer at Rs 30,984 crore.

The first chargesheet has named Behura, Raja's former PS R K Chandolia, Unitech MD Sanjay Chandra, Swan Telecom promoters Shahid Balwa and Vinod Goenka, Reliance ADA group's Gautam Doshi, Surendra Pipara and Hari Nair, Reliance Telecom, Unitech Wireless and Swan Telecom.

The CBI has informed the Supreme Court that the supplementary chargesheet will be filed before April 25 in the special court of Justice O P Saini and the probe in the case will be completed by May 31.

The new Hitchhiking Ghosts finale!!!

Disney has posted a tantalizing behind-the-scenes look at the technology behind the new Hitchhiking Ghosts finale at the Haunted Mansion in Walt Disney World, in which ghosts in the mirror playfully swap heads with your reflection and play other pranks.
There's not a ton of technical info here, but the sharper pictures really show how great this effect must be in person. On the other hand, I still worry that once everyone can do this in their living room with something like this via Kinect-style systems, it will lose its lustre. Of course, Disney can continue to try to come up with stuff that's two years ahead of the state-of-the-art to continue surprising, but that's an expensive and fraught treadmill to get aboard.

Russell Brand full interview!!!

Rajinikanth wants to meet Anna Hazare!!!

Anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare, who hogged international attention after his last week’s fast in New Delhi, received support from Superstar Rajinikanth on Wednesday, a day when Tamil Nadu went to polls.

Speaking to reporters after casting his vote at Stella Maris College in Chennai, the top actor of Tamil cinema expressed his admiration for Hazare. “His determination against corruption is really great,” said Rajini.

And the Superstar went on to say that he would even like to enrol himself in Hazare’s movement. “I had in fact planned to meet him last week itself. But my ill-health didn’t allow me,” he said.

Rajini also said that price rise is affecting the people a lot and the government should do something to check rates of essential commodities. “The downtrodden are suffering due to spiraling prices,” he said.

who will run the Rs 40,000 cr Sathya Sai Trust

With the passing away of spiritual guru Sathya Sai Baba on Sunday morning, it will now be the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust which will control the Rs 40,000 crore spiritual empire.

There will be no individual managing the trust, but Baba's close aides, Satyajith (his personal care giver) and Ratnakar (his nephew) will form part of this trust and have a more powerful say in it.
The trust will have its work cut out as it would have to manage the health facilities, educational institutions apart from a host of assets which spread over nearly 100 countries.
Sai Baba has over 6 million devotees ranging from various classes including the high and mighty who have had to drop protocol when they visit the ashram. The donations which keep pouring into the trust have been exempt from tax and this has fuelled speculation of misappropriation of funds in the past several times. However the trust claims that there have been checks and balances and these allegations are baseless.
However, devotees refuse to believe these allegations against the trust and say that when they come into Puttaparthi they feel as though they are in magical land. They point to the public services that Baba has rendered -- the 220-bed Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Medical Sciences, the Sathya Sai University, a religious museum, railway station, stadium, music college, an airport and also the famous super speciality hospital in Bangalore.
The devotees say it is not humanly possible to provide such expensive medical care for free and only Baba could have achieved this. At Bangalore alone the hospital has conducted over 4 lakh heart surgeries free of cost. In addition to all this the trust of which Baba was the chairman had funded drinking water projects in Ananthapur district of Andhra Pradesh and also helped in lining the sides of the Kandaleru canal to provide drinking water to Chennai.
The trust will also be responsible to 1,300 ashrams worldwide. The main centres were however Puttaparthi and Whitefield in Bangalore. Puttaparthi has always been the headquarters but the Whitefield ashram was where Baba used to be during the summers. The trust also runs the Radio Sai Global Harmony and also the famous Sathya Sai Baba Educare Programme.
The key personalities in the future would be K Chakravarthi, an IAS officer, who was a district collector. He had quit his job and decided to serve Baba. He is the secretary of the Shri Sathya Sai Central Trust.
S V Giri who resigned as Central Vigilance Commissioner in 1998 and joined the ashram as the vice-chancellor of the Sri Sathya Sai University. The other key member is Justice P N Bhagavati, former chief justice of India who is a member of the trust. Indulal Shah, a chartered accountant by profession is also a key member of the Sai Baba organisation.
The new entrant to the trust is Ratnakar, nephew of Sai Baba who was included into the trust after the death of his father Janakiram. In the days to come the trust will also see Satyajith, Baba's personal caregiver. His name will be included on the instructions of Baba himself who had said last year that Satyajith should be given a more important role and hence should be made part of the trust.

SAIBABA to return stronger!!!

Did Sathya Sai Baba have premonition 10 years ago that he would fall seriously ill? Yes, claim his followers. According to them, Sai Baba had predicted in 2000 that he would be indisposed for 40 days but would come back strong to give darshan to his devotees.

This was revealed in a book 'Tapovanam — Bhagawan Sri Sathya Saibaba Satcharitra Nityaparaya-nam' in which the author Jandhyala Venkateswara Sastry has written an essay on Baba's ill-health. Sai Baba had told his students at his Sai Shruti ashram in Kodaikanal in 2000: ''Though most of my disciples fall at my feet, they don't know my real value. A time would come when I would vanish and take a walk across the skies. During that phase, my body would face serious health problems and devotees would be desperately praying for my recovery.''

The Baba goes on to say that several gun-toting cops would be guarding the premises where he would be hospitalised. As Saturday marked the 27th day of his stay in the hospital, many devotees said Baba would soon give darshan. 

Sathya Sai Baba passes away:

Sathya Sai Baba, who had millions of followers across the world, is no more. Baba's heart stopped beating at 7.28 am on Sunday morning.

He had been on ventilator support for many days with all his vital parameters failing. He was being treated at the super speciality hospital that he himself had created for the masses. Doctors confirmed that Sai Baba died of cardio-respiratory failure.

Baba's body will be kept for darshan at Sai Kulwant Hall in Puttaparthi for two days - Monday and Tuesday. Arrangements will be made for darshan after 6:00 pm today at the hall. About 4 lakh people are expected to come to Puttaparthi, a small town of 25,000 in Andhra Pradesh's Ananatpur district. This includes VVIPs, VIPs and common devotees from across the globe and India.

Andhra chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy has left for Puttaparthi to pay tributes to Baba.

A pall of gloom descended on this town, 450 km from Hyderabad, as the news of Sai Baba's death spread. His family members, four ministers and government officials rushed to the hospital following reports that Sai Baba's condition had deteriorated further. (Read: Pall of gloom descends on Puttaparthi)

There has been a complete shutdown in the town since morning following reports about deterioration in the condition of Sai Baba.

For the first time since Baba was admitted to Sathya Sai Baba super speciality on March 27, the doctors did not issue a morning bulletin on Sunday.

Although everybody was preparing for the inevitable for the last few days, a decision had been taken by representatives of Baba's family and members of the Sathya Sai Central Trust to not pull the plug from the ventilator.

Devotees had been praying for a miracle and had kept their faith that the 86-year-old Baba would rise once again and give darshan to the faithful.

The Central trust was headed by Sathya Sai Baba himself and had luminaries like PN Bhagwati, former chief justice of India, SV Giri, retired central vigilance commissioner as members amongst others. A nephew of Baba, Ratnakar was also part of the trust. The trust secretary, K Chakravarthi, who influenced by Baba resigned from the IAS to devote himself to the service of the godman, executed all the programmes of the organisation.

Since this is all powerful body, it has to be seen as to who becomes the new chairman. But indications are that nephew Ratnakar who otherwise runs a cable TV operation and a gas agency will play a more active role.

Satyajit, the personal caregiver of the Baba and a product of the university at Puttaparthi set up by the godman will also play a key role. It is believed that Satyajit, still in his early thirtees, has the support of most trust members and also that of Chakravarthi. A whole array of philanthropic activities including water supply is carried on by the trust. 

A village boy who became demi god:

Sathya Sai Baba, who died on Sunday, was seen as a reincarnation of god by millions, having preached an eclectic blend of Hindu religion since the time he claimed to be an 'avatar' at a young age of 14.

The many attacks by rationalists on him and what he stood for did not derail the immense following he achieved as he grew from this once obscure hamlet to achieve demi god status in India and abroad.

Born as Sathyanarayana Raju in November 23, 1926 in Puttaparthi, his devotees claimed he started singing Sanskrit verses, of which he had no knowledge, one day in March 1940 after being apparently stung by a scorpion.

Within two months, the teenager claimed to be a reincarnation of the more famous Shirdi Sai Baba, who had reportedly stated before his death in 1918 that he would reappear in the then Madras Presidency eight years later.

In no time, the boy gathered a following as he stepped into the world of spirituality. Word spread that Raju could make objects such as food and sweets materialise out of thin air.

As time went by, and he came to be recognised for his mane and flowing orange robes, the boy transformed into Sathya Sai Baba, frequently producing with a flick of his hand 'vibhuti' (sacred ash) and small objects such as Shiv lings, rings and necklaces.

Puttaparthi became his base, eventually transforming the once small village into a lively pilgrimage centre, with its own railway station and air strip.

The spiritual guru built a temple in 1944. Four years later he founded Prasanthi Nilayam (Abode of Supreme Peace) at Puttaparthi.

He also opened ashrams at Whitefield on Bangalore's outskirts and at Kodaikanal in Tamil Nadu. He made it a point to tell his followers not to give up their original religion.

He preached: "My objective is the establishment of sanatana dharma, which believes in one god as propitiated by the founders of all religions."

Sathya Sai Baba, however, ran into critics who repeatedly challenged him to make the objects materialise in "controlled conditions" -- to prove that he was not indulging in trickery.

The godman brushed away the attacks, which abated over the years, even as his spiritual empire expanded. Today, his devotees are spread over some 130 countries and number in millions.

Simultaneously, Sai Baba plunged into charitable work.

His movement began providing free medical treatment, both in Puttaparthi and Bangalore, as well as free education for the poor.

Sathya Sai Baba was also credited with unveiling drinking water schemes in drought-prone Anantapur district, where Puttaparthi is located, and to the city of Chennai.

Food is sold at hugely subsidized rates at his ashram here - even to those who do not follow him.

In 2001, the digital radio network, Radio Sai Global Harmony, was launched to spread Sai Baba's message of harmony and peace.

He acquired a huge following that included political leaders, film stars and industrialists -- and millions of ordinary folk.

But controversies always dogged Sai Baba.

He was accused of sexual abuse. The BBC once produced a documentary that showed him in poor light.

Sai Baba remained single. Not much is known about his personal life.

The killing of four alleged intruders into Sai Baba's bedroom by police in 1993 still remains a mystery.

From 2005, Sai Baba had been using a wheelchair and his failing health had forced him to make fewer public appearances.

Two of his elder sisters, an elder brother and a younger brother have died. Some of the children of his sisters and brothers are today active in the trusts formed by him.

Many believe he died a day after he was admitted to the hospital March 28 and that his relatives waited for an auspicious time to make the announcement.

Sachin says no to his 38th birthday celebration!!!

Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar, who turns 38 on Sunday, has decided not to celebrate his birthday and remains doubtful for the Indian Premier League (IPL) match against Deccan Chargers in view of the worsening condition of the spiritual leader Sathya Sai Baba.

Tendulkar is an ardent devotee of the 85-year-old Baba, whose condition is very critical.

Tendulkar said he is praying for Baba's quick recovery.

"I am praying for Shri Sathya Sai Baba's quick recovery. Hope everyone will join me in praying for his return to good health," Tendulkar said on Twitter.

The Mumbai Indians captain did not arrive with the team Saturday for the match against Deccan Chargers on Sunday, but is expected to come later in the day, according to sources in the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA).

He is, however, uncertain for the match and has also decided not to celebrate his birthday, sources said.

"He may stay away from Sunday's match so that he can visit Puttaparthi, the pilgrim town in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh, in case of any eventuality," sources said.

Tendulkar, who has visited Puttaparthi on several occasions to seek Baba's blessings, had planned a party in the hotel to celebrate his birthday. The Mumbai Indians management and HCA officials had even made some arrangements for the party.

Manmohan singh's secrecy!!!

Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh opened secret talks with Pakistan Army chief ten months ago to build on the cricket-inspired diplomatic thaw between the two countries, a media report said on Saturday.

Singh "appointed an unofficial envoy to make contact with General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, Pakistan's chief of the army staff who exercises de facto control over foreign policy," The Times reported.

The talks, through a back channel, have encouraged the UK and US believe that the countries competition for influence in Afghanistan could be better managed during efforts to start a peace process, it said.

The visit of Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to watch the semi-final match between India and Pakistan in the cricket World Cup last month has sparked hope of a diplomatic thaw between the two neighbouring countries.

Kayani visited Kabul this week to meet members of the high peace council, a body set up by Afghan President Hamid Karzai, to build contacts with Taliban groups.

The army chief was accompanied by General Ahmad Shuja Pasha, head of Pakistan's powerful Inter-Services Intelligence agency.

Dhoni ahead of OBAMA!!!

Indian cricket captain M S Dhoni, who inspired the country to its first ODI World Cup title in 28 years, has been ranked above US President Barack Obama and global soccer icon Lionel Messi in Time magazine's list of 100 most influential people in the world for 2010.

Dhoni, ranked 52nd in the chart, was the only Indian sportsperson to make the list. The other Indians named were Mukesh Ambani (No. 61), V S Ramachandran (79), Azim Premji (88) and Aruna Roy (89). While Obama was ranked No. 86, Messi followed at No. 87. The list was topped by Wael Ghonim, the Google executive who became the 'spokesman for a revolution' in Egypt.

The 29-year-old Dhoni, who has 2,925 runs in 54 Tests and 6,049 runs in 186 one-dayers, is the most successful Indian captain, under whom the team also won the inaugural Twenty20 World Championship in 2007. The magazine described Dhoni as "captain fantastic". "Dhoni is now universally acknowledged as India's best captain ever. He's also its most likeable, exuding both cool confidence and down-to-earth humility.

As astonishing as Dhoni's talent is his background. Indian success stories are usually associated with pedigree, connections and power. Dhoni, from a small-town family of modest means, had none of these, but he's shown India that you can make it with only one thing: excellence," read the accompanying profile penned by noted author Chetan Bhagat. "Dhoni doesn't just lead a cricket team; he's also India's captain of hope. And he didn't just win India the World Cup, he also taught India how to win."

Dhoni is only the second Indian sportsman after Sachin Tendulkar to make the prestigious list. The other celebrities on the list are Hillary Clinton (43), Mark Zuckerberg (6), and Julian Assange (9).

Which country is polluted more???

Data centres, that powers most of the internet are big energy guzzlers, says a study conducted by Greenpeace, non-governmental environmental organization. In 2007, the data centres run by companies like Google, Akamai, Yahoo and Apple etc consumed 662 billion kWh energy. In comparison, India consumed 568 billion kWh.

The report — titled How Dirty Is Your Data — states that if the internet had been a country, it would have occupied fifth position in the list of most polluting nations. The report says that even though most IT companies understand the need for energy efficiency and strive to save as much power as possible, they do not show any urgency to seek clean energy. As a result, many data centres and IT-related infrastructure are powered by energy obtained from coal.

"Server farms are expanding and multiplying rapidly. In our technologically interconnected world, data centres are the factories of the 21st Century," the report says. "The technologies of the 21st century are still largely powered by the dirty coal power of the past, with over half of the companies (studied for the report) relying on coal for between 50% and 80% of their energy needs."

The Greenpeace report specifically takes a look at India's "mobile revolution" and the effect it is likely to have on environment. "In India, nearly 40% of three lakh telecom towers exist in rural and semi-urban areas where either the grid-connected electricity is not available or the electricity supply is irregular ... (in such areas) telecom operators are turning to diesel generators to produce adequate electricity to power the network, which adds a new and heavy source of air and carbon pollution," says the report.

"The consumption of diesel by the telecom sector currently stands at a staggering two billion litres annually, second only to the railways in India," says the report.

Greenpeace also lambasts IT companies for their secretive ways when it comes to show accountability on energy consumption. "There is currently a double standard in the IT sector when it comes to transparency. IT companies want consumers to trust them with greater and greater access to their personal information, but are unwilling to be transparent about their own energy and carbon footprint," says the report.

Among the IT majors, Yahoo! has been deemed greenest while Apple, largely because of its iDataCentre in North Carolina, was found to have the worst 'green rating'. Among India companies, Greenpeace lauds Wipro for demonstrating "greater transparency" on its energy consumption.