PUBLISHER'S NOTE:

Then what of the vast millions who live in India’s villages or, for that matter, city slums? Are they going to fall by the wayside as the Indian IT juggernaut merrily moves along? Educator and researcher Sugata Mitra has come up with an exciting model to bridge the digital divide: Just give the kids a computer and let them learn on their own. His own study shows that in a matter months, even illiterate kids can teach themselves basic skills of computers without any sort of adult supervision at all. He must be on to something, because the World Bank has jumped on the bandwagon, providing him with financing. Now, 75 computers serve 7,500 kids in free public kiosks. Our cover story this month has details.

Filmmaker Satyajit Ray’s exquisite, humanist oeuvre has brought India great international acclaim. In fact, it is not an exaggeration to say that his films put India on the world map of cinema. This year marks the 50th anniversary of his classic debut film Pather Panchali (Song of the Road). The film, a deeply affecting, lyrical look at the travails of a poor Brahmin village family, has become an internationally recognized cinematic gem. It is only fitting that the Cannes Film Festival is opening its Classics Series this year with Ray’s film. Dilip Basu, an indefatigable champion of Ray who has founded the Ray Film and Study Archives at the University of California at Santa Cruz, reflects on this Ray gem and some of its darker moments in this month’s issue.

India has attracted global attention with its call centers—which corporations love but employees in the West eye with apprehension. Our issue carries a story of a call center scam which is the first instance, as far as we can tell, of a digital heist in India. Analysts say India better get its act together or its massive BPO advantage may be seriously undermined.

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When the idea of educating underprivileged kids comes up, most people are thinking basic reading and math skills. Not Sugata Mitra. This scientist believes communities can go a long way towards bridging the digital divide by simply exposing kids to a computer. Mitra has set up public kiosks for kids with state-of-the-art computers which kids can explore completely on their own with amazing results: In nine months an entire group of children in a village can reach the level of an office secretary, which means they can drag and drop files, they know downloading, they can play video and audio and they can surf the Internet. A Siliconeer report.

Village children in Tamil Nadu. Sugata Mitra’s program is targeted at village kids like this who are at a disadvantage when it comes to computer instruction. (AFP Photo) Insets: Minimal invasive education in action.

“Groups of 6 to 13 year old children do not need to be ‘taught’ how to use computers,” says the Web site for the innovative project “Hole in the Wall.” “In experiments conducted in India since 1999, it has been shown that children can self-instruct themselves to operate computers.”

Mitra says the kids can do it regardless of their educational background, literacy levels in the English language or any other language, social or economic level, ethnicity and place of origin or geographic location. He calls it Minimally Invasive Education.

After his initial experiment, currently 75 computers are serving 7,500 children. Computers have been made available in free public kiosks in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi and Maharashtra and abroad in Alexandria, Egypt, and Cambodia. The World Bank has pitched in, with funding from the International Finance Corporation.

Mitra, who works at NIIT’s Center for Research in Cognitive Systems, began the experiment in Kalkaji, New Delhi. The experiment later continued by CRCS and through a company, Hole-in-the-Wall Education Limited, set up in 2001 for this purpose. HIWEL is a joint venture company between NIIT Limited and the International Finance Corporation, the industrial financing arm of the World Bank.

Mitra said his studies show that an estimated 100 children can learn to do most or all of the following tasks in approximately three months, using the “hole-in-wall” arrangement with a single PC:

• All windows operational functions, such as click, drag, open, close, resize, minimize. menus, navigation etc.
  
• Draw and paint pictures on the computer
  
• Load and save files
  
• Play games
  
• Run educational and other programs
  
• Play music and video, view photos and pictures
  
• Browse and surf the Internet, if a connection is available.
  
• Set up e-mail accounts
  
• Send and receive e-mail
  
• Chat on the Internet
  
• Do simple troubleshooting, for example, if the speakers are not working.
  
• Download and play streaming media
  
• Download games
  
• In addition , local observers say the children demonstrate improvements in:
  
• School examinations, particularly in subjects that deal with computing skills.
  
• English vocabulary and usage.
  
• Concentration, attention span and problem solving
  
• Working together and self-regulation
  

“However, we do not know yet, if these latter effects are universal and evident in all children,” the Web site cautions..

So how does this work? According to the Web site: “One child explores randomly in the GUI (Graphical User Interface) environment, others watch until an accidental discovery is made. For example, when they find that the cursor changes to a hand shape at certain places on the screen.

“Several children repeat the discovery for themselves by requesting the first child to let them do so.

“While in step 2, one or more children make more accidental or incidental discoveries.

All the children repeat all the discoveries made and, in the process, make more discoveries and start to create a vocabulary to describe their experience.

“The vocabulary encourages them to perceive generalizations (“when you right click on a hand shaped cursor, it changes to the hourglass shape for a while and a new page comes up”).

“They memorize entire procedures for doing something, for example, how to open a painting program and retrieve a saved picture. They teach each other shorter procedures for doing the same thing, whenever one of them finds a new, shorter, procedure.

“The group divides itself into the ‘knows’ and the ‘know nots,’ much as they did into “haves” and “have nots” in the past. However, they realize that a child that knows will part with that knowledge in return for friendship and exchange as opposed to ownership of physical things where they could use force to get what they did not have.

“A stage is reached when no further discoveries are made and the children occupy themselves with practicing what they have already learned. At this point intervention is required to introduce a new ‘seed’ discovery (“did you know that computers can play music? Here let me play a song for you”). Usually, a spiral of discoveries follow and another self instructional cycle begins.”

However, for the project to work, certain conditions are import0ant:

The computer should be in an outdoor, public, and safe location. Children, and often their parents, are apprehensive of enclosed spaces such as closed rooms or “clubs.”

“Locating computers indoors, even inside a school, is associated with regimentation, control, “studying” and other negatives associated with formal schooling. Locating a computer in a school playground, on the other hand, is ideal,” said the Web site.

“Children should use the computer in heterogeneous groups. Since the MIE process depends on exploration and discovery, working in groups is essential. Collaborative constructivism is the main paradigm of MIE. Children teach each other very effectively and are also effective at self-regulating the process. That is how over 100 children are able to use one computer.

“There should be no adult intervention or supervision. Adults should not use the kiosk. All activity should be monitored remotely to ensure that the kiosk is being used for the right purpose.”
“We know that in nine months the entire group of children in a village would have reached approximately the level of an office secretary, which means they know dragging and dropping files, they know downloading, they can play video and audio and they can surf the Internet,” he told the BBC.

It costs about $1,900 for every computer put into a village, and Mitra believes it is worth it. The relatively high cost goes in maintenance as the technology has to withstand a tremendous pounding from the elements and the users.

Of course, not everybody is convinced. Economist technical editor Tom Standage is skeptical of such projects.

But after a trip to a village in Rajasthan, BBC Radio Four producer Mark Rickards found that the new computer for kids had children engrossed, and parents weren’t complaining either.

“The Internet is the future,” says one elder, “and our children have dreams.”

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“IGIB — a constituent laboratory of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research — has decided to set up country’s biggest super computer with 4 Tera flop peak capability with the help of Hewlett Packard,” IGIB director Professor. Samir K Brahmachari told reporters here April 28.

With the powerful 4Teraflops HP Cluster Platform supercomputer, the institute will get a boost to conduct research which could lead to the development of new technologies in various areas of life sciences, he said.

“The platform provides a scalable architecture that allows us to complete large simulation experiments such as molecular interactions and dynamics, virtual drug screening and protein folding in far less time,” he said after signing an agreement with Hewlett Packard.

The platform allows the researchers to quickly develop complex bioinformatic algorithms, facilitates easy sharing, pinless adoption and joint collaboration with the best tier institutions, CSIR director Dr. R.A. Mashelkar said.
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Cisco Eyes SMB Market
Cisco, the global leader in networking for Internet, April 26 announced a strategy to tap into India’s fast-growing small and medium businesses in auto component manufacturing, retail, textile and garment sectors.

This follows the successful implementation of its pilot SMB strategy in Tamil Nadu, which was rolled out about nine months ago, Cisco vice president Jangoo Dalal told a news conference here.

Under the strategy, Cisco will develop sub-vertical specializations such as networking solutions for SMBs in textiles, engineering, auto-components, he said.

Dalal said Cisco’s “go-to-market strategy” was aimed at tapping the fast-growing sectors of auto component manufacturing, retail, textile and garments.

“SMBs in these sectors are finding an increased need to adopt advanced inter-networking and telecommunication technologies such as VoIP (Internet telephony), IP-based video conferencing and Internet applications to stay competitive.

“At Cisco, we are looking to tailor-make solutions that suit the business needs of these verticals, thus customizing our approach in every market,” he said.

Dalal said Cisco was concentrating on 50 towns and cities in India, whereby its officials would identify re-sellers of networking technologies to SMBs in these places.
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$6 Billion Deal for Boeing
In a deal worth over $6 billion, Air-India April 26 decided to buy 50 Boeing aircraft to be inducted into the fleet beginning next year, subject to necessary government approvals.

The much delayed fleet acquisition plan for eight Boeing 777-200 LR (long range), 15 Boeing 777-300 ER (extended range) and 27 Boeing 787, which is under production and due to be flown in 2008, was based on the recommendations of the in-house techno-economic committee appointed for examining the bids, an Air-India statement said here.

The 777-200 LR medium capacity ultra long range aircraft will seat 250 in a three class configuration and is presently undergoing test flights while the 777-300 ER medium capacity long range 350 seater is in service with several airlines.

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner with 25 percent fuel efficient engines will seat 250 in a two class configuration and is expected to enter commercial service in 2008.

On the controversy generated by Airbus regarding alleged changes made after the issue of the request for proposal, Air-India said no changes whatsoever were made after issue of the RFP.
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HCL BPO to Employ 40,000
HCL Technologies BPO Services Ltd, the BPO arm of HCL Technologies, said April 30 it would be expanding its staff strength to about 40,000 by 2009.

“The BPO arm started with 30 people in 2000 and today the division has grown into a 5,000 people organization. By 2009, the total strength of the BPO arm is expected to touch about 40,000,” HCL BPO chief operating officer N. Ranjit said.

Among the 40,000 people, only about 3,000-4,000 employees will be working outside India and the remaining staff will be based at Indian cities.

Addressing an international conference on “Emerging Opportunities in Infrastructure for IT/ITES Services,” organized by Infratech Infrastructure services, he said revenue of the BPO arm is expected to grow by nine times by 2009. The current revenue of HCL BPO is $100 million.

Quoting a McKinsey report, he said the BPO sector was expected to employ about 800,000 people in the next 3-4 years and about 120 million sq ft of space would be created for IT/ITES sector. “Last year we added about two lakh ft of space and this year we will add three lakh sq ft,” he added.
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Bharti Launches Service in Salem
Bharti Tele-Ventures April 30 launched Airtel broadband and telephone services in Salem and said it would invest Rs. 210 million to roll-out these services in Tiruchirappalli, Tuticorin and Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu.

“With the launch of services in Salem, Airtel broadband and services has expanded into eight cities in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry,” said Deepak Pande, chief operating officer, Bharti Infotel Ltd.

In Tamil Nadu, Airtel broadband and telephone services are currently available in Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Tirupur, Vellore, Hosur and Pondicherry.

“Airtel has redefined paradigms in all its regions of operation and with a range of customized and comprehensive communication solutions, Salem will be no different,” he said, in a press release here.

In Salem, the broadband and telephone service operations will be offered in Fairlands, Four Roads, Shevapet and Bazaar areas,” the release said.

Pande said Bharti has partnered with telecom majors like Siemens, ECI, Lucent and Duraline for its network.
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Israeli Firm, IndiaGames, Sign Accord
Israeli firm Cmate, which develops multi-player computer games for mobile phones, has entered into an agreement with Indiagames for distributing its games to Indian cellular carriers, a media report said.

The Israeli company hopes to earn between $1.5 million to $2 million in revenues from India during the agreement’s first year, business daily The Marker reported.

The attraction of the Israeli company’s offering lies in the multiple user aspect of each game, the report said.

Indiagames is one of the leading global mobile content publishers and develops and markets computer games designed for a range of platforms like the Internet, PCs, palm computers, game consoles and cell phones.
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Nanotech Center in Madras Varsity
Giving priority for programs in the area of cutting edge nanotechnology and nanosciences, Madras University plans to set up a Rs. 170 million nanotechnology and nanosciences centre.

A proposal to this effect was awaiting clearance from the Tamil Nadu government, university vice-chancellor Dr. S.P. Thyagarajan told reporters.

The centre would offer post-graduate and doctorate programs in this area, he said.

Referring to the memorandum of understanding entered with two other oldest universities in the country, Mumbai and Kolkata universities, he said the nanotechnology and sciences program there would be a collaboration between the three universities. The three universities April 27 signed an MoU in the presence of President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.

Thyagarajan said under the collaboration, Madras University will concentrate on nano-biometrics, Kolkata on nano-chemical materials and Mumbai on nano-nuclear materials.

He said joint degree program between Mumbai and Madras universities would commence from academic year 2005-06, while joint programs between Madras and Kolkata varsities would begin from the next academic year.

As part of the collaboration between the three universities, which would complete 150 years of existence in 2007, the first initiative was starting of a tele-education program for which Rs. 50 million each as the first installment has been granted by the University Grants Commission.
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CARTOSAT-1 Launched
India’s new and heaviest remote sensing satellite, CARTOSAT-1 and a piggyback micro-satellite, HAMSAT has been launched.

The 1,560-kg CARTOSAT-1 along with 42.5 kg HAMSAT was launched by the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle from the newly set up state-of-the-art second launching pad at Indian Space Research Organization’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh May 5.

India’s 11th remote sensing satellite, CARTOSAT-1, a Rs..2.5 billion project of ISRO, will be used for cartographic applications and the data from CARTOSAT-1 is expected to provide enhanced inputs for stimulating newer applications in the urban and rural development, land and water resources management, environment impact assessment and various other geographical information system applications.

HAMSAT is expected to meet the long-felt need of the amateur radio operators in the South Asian region who possess the required equipment and operate in the UHF/VHF band based satellite radio communication.

This is the first time ISRO launched “two Indian satellites” in one mission.

The new second launch pad at the SDSC has been constructed at a cost of Rs.4 billion. It has been built to accommodate all the vehicles of ISRO, including the advanced launch vehicle to be built in the next decade and beyond and it is expected to increase the annual satellite launch frequency.
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TRAI Order Quashed
In a setback to TRAI, the Telecom Dispute Settlement and Appellate Tribunal April 28 set aside the order on price reduction of international bandwidth which was challenged by VSNL.

TRAI had lowered international bandwidth prices by up to 70 percent projecting that the move would help tariff reduction of Internet and broadband services besides boosting their penetration.

Setting aside TRAI’s order, TDSAT asked the regulator to have a re-look at the entire exercise and share the full facts and basis of calculation with VSNL in a transparent manner.

VSNL, a major bandwidth provider, had challenged the order saying international bandwidth prices cannot be looked at in isolation and questioned TRAI’s methodology on arriving at the price ceilings.

According to VSNL, the price ceiling set by TRAI was below the basic cost of the company.

When contacted, D.P.S. Seth, member, TRAI, told reporters, “We shall study the order once we receive it and take appropriate action.”
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New Asian Era
India and Japan have resolved to usher in a “New Asian Era” to promote the vision of an Asian Economic Community as an “Arc of Advantage and Prosperity.”

In a joint statement signed April 29 by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and visiting Japanese Premier Junichiro Koizumi, the two leaders said both sides would take several measures for tapping the complementarities of the two economies and enhance bilateral trade.

India, the largest recipient of official development assistance from Japan, confirmed that the ODA will continue to be utilized to support the country’s efforts at accelerated economic development, particularly in infrastructure.

The two leaders directed the India-Japan Study Group, which is to be launched by June this year, to submit its report within a year, focusing on measures required for a comprehensive expansion of trade in goods, services, investment flows and other areas of economic relations between the two countries.

The two countries also called for a roadmap for increased ICT cooperation, including the idea of an IT databank.
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These fears were given a big fillip by a remarkable case of what could be called a digital swindle. A group of Indian call center employees sweet-talked American customers into disclosing what should be a well-kept secret — codes and passwords for their credit cards and bank accounts. The swindlers then opened fictitious accounts where money to the tune of half a million dollars were transferred. The plan was executed by former employees and a woman worker of MphasiS, a leading business and process outsourcing provider with help from former bank employees in the USA. The money was transferred into fake accounts from cyber cafes in Pune (a BPO hub in Maharashtra), before the police, following up on a complaint by Citibank account holders in the U.S. that was forwarded to Mphasis, swooped in.

Crooks these days use two methods to get confidential personal information. The technique used by the call center executives is called “social engineering,” a fancy name for plain, good, old-fashioned sweet talk wherein the customer is befriended and critical information unsuspectingly garnered. The other method is called “phishing,” a digital route wherein bogus e-mails are sent to an account holder asking him to fill in details about his account and passwords for verification. People have become more wary about the digital format due to frauds in the past.

MphasiS vice-chairman Jeroen Tas said in a statement: “There is no evidence of a breach or audit failure in the processes or systems employed by MphasiS and its client as it appears to be a case of password/PIN sharing and compromise. However, in the light of this incident, we are conducting full external audits on processes and compliance.’’

Interestingly, the heist was not committed by nerds out on an ego trip to achieve a technological feat considered impossible to achieve, the way it is with virus writers. There was no infringing of firewalls or decoding encrypted software. The crooks simply identified the right personnel to execute the job smoothly and share the booty after the passwords were accessed. The crime was perpetrated by young people, both Indian and American (former bank employees), some with MBA degrees, who coaxed sensitive information out of unsuspecting clients.

The five who have been caught are under 30, with three of them below 25, from middle-class families with no criminal backgrounds. These youngsters who form the core of the young Indian BPO industry, are given to flashy lifestyles and are at the vanguard of the consumerist culture pervading urban India. Recently two young BPO workers committed suicide (one shooting himself and a girl on a drug overdose) in New Delhi, the reason ostensibly being the inability to cope up with stress of work and matching lifestyles.

Indeed, the MphasiS-heist is the kind of attention that India’s BPO could have done without, given the antipathy that exists in the West against India’s back end office operations. The last thing that India needs is digital fraud as a further tool in the hands of the implacable enemies of outsourcing.

Financial frauds happen across the world to the tune of billions of dollars every year, so it would be unfair to pin down the Indian BPO industry only. Earlier this month hackers stole details of 1.4 million credit cards of a large U.S. retail chain. The police in New Delhi recently arrested two people in possession of details of thousands of credit cards.

But this is the first instance of such fraud in the still incipient Indian call center and outsourcing industry. The MphasiS crime been labeled by the Indian media as the country’s “first outsourcing cyberfraud.”

India needs to be extra cautious, with a strict deterrent mechanism in place. In times of excessive competition, image counts for a lot apart from protecting consumer/customer interests.

“Credit card fraud is a worldwide phenomenon but because it happened in India, which has emerged as the most preferred BPO destination, this incident was a bit over-hyped,’’ an MphasiS spokesperson has said.

A prominent voice from the Indian BPO industry, requesting anonymity, said: “We need to create a robust framework of processes which ensures that minimal needed information access is given to the minimum number of people.”

There is a lot at stake. A recent McKinsey report on the Information Technology enabled sector has revised the previous figure of $17 billion to $21-24 billion by the year 2008 with India slated to garner 25 percent of the offshore market, with the U.S. the largest source providing 60 percent of business. Estimates suggest that 200,000 to 400,000 jobs have moved from the U.S. since the outsourcing trend began in the 1990s, which is still a fraction of 138 million jobs in the U.S. The most high-end projection is by Forrester Research—a loss of 3.3 million jobs by 2015, including 1.7 million back-office jobs and 473,000 IT jobs.

The ultimate protection, however, is for the customer to be vigilant, whether in India or abroad. Giving out private information without checking out who is asking for it is simply asking for trouble. Whether it’s a Western twang or Indian accent, one has to guard against danger that can lurk behind the sweet voices stationed anywhere in the world today.

- Siddharth Srivastava is India correspondent for Siliconeer.
He is based in New Delhi.

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CULTURE:
The Big Bangla Bash: Second Indo-Bangla Awards - A Siliconeer Report
A virtual who’s who of artists from Kolkata and Dhaka performed in two U.S. shows. A Siliconeer report.

Usha Uthup (2nd from l) sings as other Kolkata stars cheer her.

The two events were a Bengali’s dream come true. It’s as if a virtual who’s who of Bengali performing artists had been airlifted into California, that too from both Kolkata and Dhaka. Bay Area based Kala Music and Play hosted two mammoth events for the International Indo-Bangladesh Kala Music Awards April 23 in Hollywood for films and April 24 at Chabot College in the San Francisco Bay Area for television and music. This was their second, expanded version of the event they started last year in New York.

Never ever have so many Bengali stars been brought together in one stage, not even in West Bengal or Bangladesh.

Bangladeshi film and television stars with presenter Rupa Chakrabarty

From Kolkata came the likes of Mithun Chakraborty, Rupa Ganguly, Sabyasachi Chakraborty, Chiranjeet, Mamata Shankar, Indrani Halder, Gautam Ghose, Sandip Ray, Usha Uthup, Arati Mukherjee and Indrani Sen, from Dhaka came Runa Laila, Subhash Dutta, Kumar Biswajit, Syed Abdul Hadi, Gazi Mazharul Anwar and Chashi Nazrul Islam.

The events themselves tried to recreate some of the glitz of big American awards ceremonies—dance acts were an East-West fusion with special lighting effects, nominees/ nominations were announced with brief audio visual introductions projected on a movable screen preceded by pretty snazzy graphics and music.

The show had its flaws, to be sure, and the most egregious among them was the penchant of pretty much most of the singers to lip-synch their popular hits rather than actually perform. Surely this is a grave injustice on the audience who paid good money to see their favorite singers perform.

(L-R) Show presenter Debu Ghosh, Mithun Chakrabarty and Sandip Ray

That said, the effort was a remarkable attempt to bring together popular artists from both India and Bangladesh. At a time of a historic thaw in relations between arch rivals Pakistan and India, the relations between both Bengals remain in a curious limbo, notwithstanding the enormous interest in both Bangladesh and West Bengal in the arts and culture of the neighboring Bangla-speaking regions.

Debu Ghosh, whose organization hosted the events, is determined to continue the annual Bangla bash. His aim is to promote Bangla culture globally, and Ghosh says he is willing to take the show out of the U.S. after a couple of years to the U.K., the Middle East and even Europe.

Given his track record, only a fool would dismiss his grand dream, however implausible it may sound today. So, notwithstanding the shows’ flaws, here’s a hurrah for the gutsy event manager who not only has the fearlessness to dream and think big, but also the chutzpah to make it happen.
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SPORTS:
Ball 1, Ball 2, Howzzat?
Cricket in Saratoga - By Aroon Vijayakar
A childhood passion for cricket followed him from Bangalore to Saratoga, Calif., where he and his brother Nikhil have started the high school cricket club, writes Saratoga High sophomore Aroon Vijayakar.

Aroon Vijaykar practices his stance in the garage of his home.

I turned around and faced him with a determined look. He returned an insolent stare. Then I began to jog and broke into a run toward him. My heart pounded harder and faster than my feet did upon the soft even grass. As I approached the pitch, I wound up and hurled the ball. I lost my footing and stumbled. I heard some exclamatory sounds, but couldn’t tell what they meant. Yet, when I looked up, there were 10 white blurs bearing down upon me. When I finally managed to break out of the throng of cheering teammates, I saw only two stumps standing at the other end. It felt as though the entire crowd erupted, even though nearly 50,000 empty seats surrounded us in Chinnaswamy Stadium. Yes, Bangalore’s Chinnaswamy Cricket Stadium.

This was perhaps the first time that I realized how much cricket meant to me. As it is, it was an honor to play on this magnificent field for my school team; the same field that players like Kapil Dev and Rahul Dravid had performed on. But to get someone bowled on this pitch with an extra punch as the stump flew out of the earth just confirmed my feelings. I loved cricket.

When I was eleven, my family moved back to the United States. I couldn’t bring everything that I had accumulated over five years in India, but the one thing that I wasn’t willing to leave behind was cricket.

I had dreams of running a cricket camp for my new American friends and visions of interschool matches. At the same time, that I would be successful was inconceivable. How would I inspire my friends to appreciate a game that is so similar to the popular baseball? Who would have thought that, nearly five years later, my friends would be more excited than me about the India vs. Pakistan series.

The first innings. As I entered the sixth grade in Redwood Middle School, I hoped that my passion for cricket would rub off on others. Not so simple. All I heard about in school was baseball, this odd evolution of cricket. I would tease my friends about how baseball players were so weak that they needed gloves to catch the ball or I would suggest that they make the bat bigger so they could actually hit some shots. I casually introduced them to cricket. But it seemed they had no clue. They still thought I was talking about cricket.

When I started eighth grade, my brother Nikhil was a junior in high school. He shared my inner passion for cricket. It’s not fair that he got placed earlier in the lineup and reached high school, where he had the opportunity to start a cricket club, long before I did! That was when he founded the Saratoga Cricket Club at Saratoga High School.

At first, about 10 students signed up for this club. We then found the perfect pitch: the outdoor basketball courts in my middle school. Okay, it wasn’t so perfect, but it was all we had. I was granted an honorary membership to the club, as an assistant coach to Nikhil. In any case, there was no way that he could keep me out of this. I smelled a revolution.

We unearthed our dusty cricket kits and found our old bats that we could use. Of course, using a leather ball was still out of the question until the basics of cricket were taught. We settled on used tennis balls. Sunday afternoon practices began. Dedicated members were still Nikhil’s friends. The guys picked up on the basics surprisingly fast and we even started having practice matches. But the cricket bat would still be flung to the side after a hit and they would still ask about “foul balls.”

In two years we had managed to expand our membership to about 15 guys which included my freshman classmates. I was finally a full time member with total voting rights. We had upgraded to a baseball diamond (we could just imagine those poor baseball players peering curiously into the three mysterious holes scarring their beloved turf). Next we played two memorable cricket matches against the adult-run California Cricket Academy. The CCA coaches looked on aghast at our unconventional style of play and attire. It was reminiscent of the motley Lagaan team.

As much as I hated the idea of my brother going off to college, I couldn’t wait to fill his shoes as the captain. By the end of Nikhil’s senior year, our club held elections for the new officers. In retrospect, I need not have been so nervous. I was unanimously elected as president of SCC for the ’04-’05 season.

The second innings. With new freshmen, the club now contains nearly 20 players. After two years of training, we agreed that the team was now ready to use a leather ball. This meant that our equipment would have to be more sophisticated. So out came my old pads, gloves, and helmet. But this wasn’t enough. Thanks to a buildup of a modest club fund and the Internet, we ordered more gloves, pads, stumps, and another helmet. We were set to change our amateur image.

This was probably our year of exciting discovery. Besides finding that Homestead and Monta Vista High Schools had cricket clubs as well, we discovered that the Bay Area was in fact dotted with cricket pitches. Blackford High School became our home ground.

We lost our first leather ball match against CCA by three runs last year in October. However, more recently, we teamed up with Homestead and Monta Vista to play a tournament against CCA. After losing one match, we worked hard for a week and came back to thrash the opposition in the second match.

However, the club’s achievement cannot be measured by our record. Perhaps our single most important achievement has been introducing American students to the sport, and showing them how much fun cricket really is. While I initially expected all of our players to be Indian-American, SCC has had 3 Caucasian members, 2 Persian members and 2 Chinese members. In fact, one of our opening batsmen is a Caucasian, who scored 26 runs for us in our first match. This definitely proves the success of our club; reaching out to the local community.

Now, my goal is to help make cricket an official school sport within the next few years. The challenge was and will continue to be to maintain the members’ interest in SCC. Like the game itself, there are always highs and lows, but that powerful memory of that triumphant afternoon at Chinnaswamy Stadium will always keep me fired up about cricket.

- Aroon Vijaykar is a sophomore at Saratoga High School.
SCC currently practices on Saturdays at Dilworth Elementary School.
Anyone interested in further information can contact aroon@vijaykar.com.

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HEALTH CARE: A DOCTOR'S WORD
The Medicine Cabinet: Spring Cleaning for Health - By Deborah Gould, MD

When cleaning home in the springtime, take a look at the medicine cabinet, advises Deborah Gould, MD.

As people go through their houses to clean out the vestiges of winter in the springtime, everyone should consider what’s in their medicine cabinet. I suggest to the families I see at my clinic that they make a once-a-year effort to go through the household items that are important to their family’s health:

Medications. Clean out your medicine cabinet.

Medications have a shelf life just like foods do. When they reach the date of expiration, you need to throw them out. The reason is that as the product degrades, your liver and kidneys may not be able to metabolize it properly. A drug that was once helpful could now be ineffective or even harmful. This rule applies not only to prescription drugs, but also drugs you buy over the counter, such as acetaminophen and other pain relievers. You can find expiration dates in places like the label, the bottom of the bottle or at the base of the tube.

Makeup. For women, you need to go through your makeup. Women tend to keep their makeup for a long time, even years. Just like medicine, makeup doesn’t last forever.

Deborah Gould, MD, is chief of pediatrics at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Oakland, Calif.

The Food and Drug Administration doesn’t require cosmetics companies to print expiration dates on their products, so consumers need to be sure to monitor the age of the products they use. Bacteria build up in your makeup because it is repeatedly exposed to the bacteria on your skin.

Makeup that you use around your eyes should be replaced often. Replace mascara three months after you buy it. If it becomes dry, throw it away. All-natural products, those that have plant substances, may have shorter shelf life. Toss unopened packages after about 18-24 months. Don’t keep opened packages for more than three months. Powders, foundations and other topical ointments can be kept a little longer after they are opened. I recommend throwing those away after six months.

To take the first step toward making sure the medicines you and your family use are safe, talk to your doctor.

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CAREER DEVELOPMENT:
On the Job Skills: New IT Programs - A Siliconeer Report

Santa Clara Adult Education offers two job-oriented programs that provide a real-life corporate working environment. A Siliconeer report.


View of the class room at the Santa Clara Adult Education Center where Mastermind holds its classes. Seen in the picture is Mastermind's Deepak Vyas (center).

Santa Clara Adult Education and Mastermind Educational Services have joined hands in providing specialized trainings at non-profit prices to the community. Two unique job-oriented programs at Santa Clara Adult Education launched this spring provide candidates with real-world skills of systems administration and web technologies. The programs have been carefully crafted to enable job seekers understand what it takes to don the role of a systems administrator or a web developer.

The programs have been developed by Mastermind Educational Services Inc., a leading provider of UNIX and network security training. Mastermind CEO Deepak Vyas says that the programs fill the vital gap of providing the practical skills that employees look for.

“Most employers face a common problem while interviewing candidates for systems administration or web development positions, as the candidates do not possess the necessary ‘hands-on’ skills required on the job,” Vyas said. “Though they have theoretical knowledge in the subject, they commonly lack practical hands-on skills which the job demands”

Mastermind’s programs focus on setting up a network infrastructure for a simulated corporate environment that has multiple operating systems and has many different requirements. The training gives real-life experience in dealing with interoperating in such an environment, creating a domain structure, installing and compiling software for the development team, designing the backup strategy, configuring RAID, installing and configuring SAMBA, Email, FTP, DNS, Web services and network monitoring software.

Deepak Vyas, the chief architect of this program, heads the systems administration workshop. Haricharan Ramachandra, who an enterprise application developer who provides Java trainings at Mastermind, heads the Web technologies job-oriented program.

“The web technologies program gives participants an opportunity to develop enterprise web applications as a team working towards a common project, and creates an environment where candidates take up different role as team leaders, developers, test engineers, etc, and develop system specifications, design documents, test plans, to implement and deploy a real-time corporate portal,” says Ramachandra.
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REPORT:
Sixer for Literacy: Kapil Dev in Bay Area - A Siliconeer Report
Legendary Indian all-rounder and architect of the 1983 World Cup victory visited the SF Bay Area and helped raise $13,000 for Literacy India, which supports education for poor Indian kids. A Siliconeer report.

Kapil Dev signing a bat for a fan at a fundraiser in Fremont, Calif.

The year 1983 may seem a long, long time ago, but you wouldn’t think so at all had you been present April 17 at the Golden Peacock in Fremont, Calif. When the legendary Indian cricketer Kapil Dev entered the auditorium, the entire audience of about 150 people cheered and milled around him as if his 1983 triumph of leading India to its only World Cup victory had happened yesterday.

Kapil Dev may have been India’s indispensable pace attack for years, but he was never known to one of India’s more articulate spokespersons of the game. No matter. There is a fetching down-to-earth charm about this tall Haryanvi, his shy boyish smile, that has inspired enormous affection over the years, and it was evident in full force at the event.

Kapil was here for a noble cause—he was here to help raise funds for a literacy program for underprivileged kids started by another remarkable woman—Indraani Singh. Indraani is Asia’s first Airbus 300 pilot, and brings a no-nonsense commitment to her Literacy India project. By the end of the evening, thanks to Kapil’s heartfelt pleas (“We don’t just need your money, we need your love and support”) and Indraani’s evident affection for the underprivileged, Literacy India raised donations and pledges of $13,000.

Kapil Dev (r) with local volunteer Viren Rana and Literacy India secretary Indraani Singh.

Literacy India works with children from under privileged background in rural and peri-urban areas. At present it works in the villages around Palam Vihar,Gurgaon.

From five kids in 1996, Literacy India had grown to 350 children by March 2004, with more than 50 percent girls coming from nearby villages and construction worker’ slums, according to a Literacy India brochure. In eight years, Literacy India increased its reach from Ansal’s half constructed buildings and with two rooms in Chiranjeev Bharti School to Vidyapeeth Center in Chauma village, Palam Vihar, Gurgaon, Haryana, expanding to satellite centers (with the help of local village groups) in villages like Bijwasan, Caterpuri, Daulatabad, Sarai, Rajendrapark, Shankar Vihar and Ganga Vihar.

“Children in any environment need affection, loving care and a sense of security besides food shelter and clothing,” the NGO’s Web site says. “In lower income groups, especially the underprivileged due to poverty, the mother is invariably working in odd jobs and seldom can devote time for the children, who fend for themselves or in the care of sibling brothers and sisters. A mother or a father figure is usually missing. We at Literacy India begin our work on this theme. We corset parents that since they cannot find the time sending children to our school, we will ensure that the child, especially girls, will be in tender and loving hands. Apprehension slowly turns into Hope as they start sending the child to school usually with a brother or sister to see what we are up to.”

Depending on the age and whether the child has been to a school earlier, the NGO puts them in one of its projects. The first step is personal grooming. A new set of clothes, personal hygiene and cleanliness; a regular nutritious mid-day meal ensures freshness and energy for the child. Frequent visits by eminent personalities in the school help and inspire the children.

“Entertainment learning is another novel way to reach out to these children,” the Web site adds. “Performing arts have always fascinated children, after all who does not aspire to be a film hero like Shah Rukh Khan or a heroine like Sridevi. Literacy India provides a platform for drawing out talent from these children so that they can even dream. Over 40 students participated in our production Alibaba aur Chalis Chor staged in Kolkata and Delhi and two children have shown an intrinsic artistic talent. Already one child has been selected and appeared in a nationally telecast teleserial. So it can happen even with the underprivileged-they need a helping hand and guidance.”

Kapil Dev signing a copy of his book “Straight from the Heart” at a fundraiser in Fremont, Calif. (Som Sharma/DIGITAL IVISION photos)

Kapil has supported Indraani in her efforts for years, she said. She recalled a time when she went to a dingy, smelly slum to clean it up. The local legislator went AWOL, but Kapil stood by her, and exhorted the slum dwellers to literally clean up their act.

At the Fremont fete, he was equally passionate. “I’m a desi Jat,” he said with endearing modesty, explaining why he couldn’t make fancy speeches. But he did add that we all loved our country and wanted to do something for it.

Between selling autographed bats and his autobiography “Straight from the Heart,” he managed to prove that when it comes to reach someone’s heart, one does not need fancy speeches: all you need to do, as Kapil did so well, is to talk straight from the heart.

Interested readers can find more information about Literacy India at www.literacyindia.org.

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REPORT:
Campaign for Oneness:
Mahavir Mahatma Awards - A Siliconeer Report
(L-r) “Times of India” chair Indu Jain, Home Minister Shivraj Patil, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and composer A R Rahman.

The Mahavir Mahatma Awards was accompanied by the launch of the Oneness Forum which aims to unite global humanitarian organizations for collective action. A Siliconeer report.

Indu Jain, chair of Times Group which publishes the Times of India, issued a call on everybody to unite in creating oneness not only in small communities but across the globe at the first national Mahavir Mahatma Awards recently in Delhi.

On hand were spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Home Minister Shivraj Patil, Defense Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Soka Gakkai dignitaries from Japan, industrialist B.K. Modi, Bollywood composer A.R. Rahman.

“The purpose of the Oneness Forum is to unite global humanitarian organizations for collective actions to save and transform mankind by social, political and spiritual awakening,” said a press release from the Times Group. “The Mahavir Mahatma Awards are being conferred on youthful and active members of various socio-economic, spiritual and religious groups at ceremonies which shall be held at district, state, national and global levels.”

“The forum is a helipad, a launching for everyone. Come let’s begin your campaign of oneness from here,” Jain said. “You can achieve anything you want if you help enough people to get what they want.”

Sri Sri said: “Nature is diverse yet it is one. There is one human race, one truth and that’s why this Endeavour becomes significant.”


Honorees at the recently-held Mahavir Mahatma Awards in Delhi.

The awards for the national and global levels were given away to Martha Merchant of the Baha’i Foundation, Hiromasa Ikeda on behalf of Dr Daisaku Ikeda from Soka Gakkai International, Tushar A. Gandhi from Mahatma Gandhi Foundation, Brahmatej Ji from the Art of Living Foundation, Swami Nisarga from Isha Foundation, Shulamith Ezekiel Malekar from Judah Hyam Synagogue, Ranjit Makkuni and Dr. Madhu Khanna from Sacred World Foundation, musician A.R. Rahman, Namman Ji from Oneness University and Shashi Kumar Nair from Mata Amritanandamayi Ashram. The Times Group sponsored in-kind prizes worth Rs. 1 million.

“I am honored to get this award. I hope this Endeavour beings people together,” A.R. Rahman said. Expressing his father’s “lasting gratitude to (the) Times Foundation for conferring this award,” Hiromasa read out Dr Daisaku Ikeda acceptance speech.

“Given the greatness of the two giants whose names adorn this award, its recipient bears an enormous weight of expectation for he or she must be actively engaged in the worthiest of endeavors to establish lasting peace for humanity.”
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COMMUNITY NEWS IN BRIEF:
Actor Honored ... Writing Contest ... Festival of Cultures ... Asian-Indian-American Day ... Baisakhi at Gadar Hall

Actor Honored

Kavi Raz receiving an achievement in films and television award from Alexander Folk at the San Fernando Valley International Film Festival.

Hollywood-based Indian actor Kavi Raz was honored with a an achievement in films and television award at the recently held San Fernando Valley International Film Festival in Hollywood.

Raz has appeared in over 200 films and television shows. His recent appearances on TV have been in JAG, Strong Medicine, NYPD Blue, and Homicide among others.

Raz has just wrapped up shooting for Big River a feature film in which he plays the leading role of Ali, a Pakistani man in search of his missing wife. He will also be seen in Albert Brook’s upcoming (yet untitled)  film produced by Warner Brothers.

Raz is currently in post-production on his own venture entitled The Gold Bracelet, a drama centered around a Sikh family set against the tragic events of 9/11. The film is slated to be released later this year.
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Writing Contest
Insight Education, in conjunction with local bookstore Books Inc. in Mountain View, Calif., has announced its third annual creative writing contest, “Musings of the Mind’s Eye.” The contest is open to any high school student in grades nine through twelve living within the cities of Cupertino, San Jose, Los Gatos, Saratoga, Sunnyvale, Mountain View, Palo Alto, East Palo Alto, Milpitas, Fremont, Union City, Hayward and San Mateo. This year’s theme is tradition, and submissions will be accepted beginning immediately; entries must be received via e-mail or postmarked by May 29, 2005. “Insight and Books Inc. encourage students to be as creative and original as possible, and to keep in mind that the theme can be interpreted in a wide variety of ways,” a press release from Insight Education said.

Entries must be short stories no longer than 1,500 words, double-spaced, typed and accompanied by an application, which can be printed out online at www.insightcollege.com or picked up at Insight’s Cupertino Office. The requirements are as follows: paper submissions should include two copies both with a cover page stating the title of the story, word count and grade level, but not the author’s name in order to ensure that the judging is anonymous. Author’s name should only be on the application entry form. One copy of each for e-mail submissions is enough.

There will be two different divisions: one for freshmen and sophomores; and one for juniors and seniors. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prizes will be given in each category, as well as honorable mention certificates for many runners-up.

The first place winner will win a $50 gift certificate to Insight Education; second place winner will get a $25 gift certificate to Books Inc., and the third place winner will get a Kepler’s Book prize.

For more information about the creative writing contest or about Insight, readers can e-mail Ajit Jain at ajit@insightcollege.com or log onto www.insightcollege.com
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Festival of Cultures
The San Jose Jazz Society will present the 2005 Festival of Cultures, sponsored by Arts Council Silicon Valley featuring twelve performing arts groups from in and around the Bay Area, including jazz, Brazilian, Indian, Chinese, Mexican, Brazilian, and hip-hop, June 9 through 12. “The festival will bring together San Jose’s diverse cultures under one roof at the California Theater in downtown San Jose, California,” said a press release from organizers.

One of the Bay Area’s premier South Indian classical dance organizations, the Abhinaya Dance Company of San Jose, will participate. This year marks the Abhinaya’s 25th anniversary in the Bay Area.

“We are fortunate to live in one of the most richly diverse communities in the world,” said Bruce Davis, executive director of Arts Council Silicon Valley presenting sponsor of the event. “The California Theater will be the backdrop for this unique and distinct group of artists which literally spans the globe on talent, drive and creativity. This event promises to be both thrilling and inspiring for people of all ages and cultures.”

The Festival of Cultures opens with “Modern Jazz Meets The Great Brazilian Songbook.”

Other performances include “Dance Underground” a vibrant dance showcase collaboration featuring San Jose-based Visual Rhythm Dance Company with special guests: Filipino hip hop group Nu Origins, theatrical hip hop group Mobility, and San Jose’s Asian hip hop group Bsyde.

Interested readers can get more information at the following Web site: www.sanjosejazz.org
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Asian-Indian-American Day
The Indian-American Community presents a free program on Asian Indian-American Day on Sunday, May 22 at the Santa Clara Library. This event is supported by Friends of Santa Clara Library.

“This is a part of Glimpse of India- Heritage Series as a celebration of Asian American Heritage Month,” said a press release from organizer Sam Rao. The program includes exhibits, cultural program and informational literature about Asian Indian heritage and the community’s contributions to the social fabric of America.

The Month of May has been declared as Asian American Heritage Monthunder an executive order by President George Bush Sr.

“Asian-Indian” is a term recognized by Census 2000 and revealed that over 150,000 Asian-Indians make the San Francisco Bay Area their home.

Indians have migrated to U.S. for 100 years, and California was one of the earliest destinations. For example farming in California owes a lot to the Asian-Indians-especially from Punjab, many of whom work the farms till today, tending up to 75 percent of the state’s peach farming.

“With an ancient tradition, culture and civilization of over 5000 years, people of Indian-origin have contributed to the philosophy, spirituality and civilization of the world and the U.S. for many generations,” the release added. “Come and join us to celebrate and enjoy a Glimpse of India as a part of a fascinating and rich cultural fabric of USA.”

Interested readers can contact Sam Rao by phone at (510) 228-6417 or email him at indianamericanorg@gmail.com for more information.
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Baisakhi at Gadar Hall
Indians from all faiths celebrated Baisakhi at the Gadar Memorial Hall in San Francisco April 13, according to a press release. Baisakhi greetings were exchanged by chief guest San Francisco Consul General B.S. Prakash, and Vikram J.S. Bajwa of the Indian National Overseas Congress. Chief editor of Punjabi American news Quami Ekta Harjeet S. Sandhu and members of other associations and members of local Gurdwaras also attended.

Prakash highlighted the importance of Baisakhi for the Sikh faith. He said it was good to see how well the overseas Indian community is still connected with it’s roots.

The celebrations were started with traditional Sikh prayers performed by members of the Sikh Gurdwara and Bay Area Center of Sikhs, El Sobrante. Several community members were recognized: Harry Gill (businessman and senior Akali member from Caruthers), Surinder S. Atwal, (businessman and convener sports from Tracy), Paul Sihota (president Selma Gurdwara, California), Dr. Harmesh Kumar (Concord); Bhai Sahib Giani Ji. S (Los Angeles, California), Kulwant Khera (senior Sikh leader from San Jose, California), Chakot Radhakrishnan (Kerala Association of America), Param Singh (managing editor of IndUS News), Sukhwant Khera (San Jose, California), Dr. Rashid Ali Khan (Sacramento), Dr. Mike Patil (Bakersfield) among others. Kapil Sibal (Department of Ocean Development, India) was present in San Francisco along with delegation of Confederation of Indian industries.

Interested readers can get more information by reaching Gurpreet S. Sandhu at gurpreet@indus-news.com.
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ADVERTORIAL:
Real Estate and You: Seven Selling Mistakes to Avoid - By Raja Ahluwalia
Selling your property? Real estate consultant Raja Ahluwalia offers some tips on how to do it right.

Mistake 1 — Pricing Your Property Too High
Every seller obviously wants to get the most money for his or her product. Ironically, the best way to do this is not to list your product at an excessively high price! A high listing price will cause some prospective buyers to lose interest before even seeing your property. Also, it may lead other buyers to expect more than what you have to offer. As a result, overpriced properties tend to take an unusually long time to sell, and they end up being sold at a lower price.

Mistake 2 — Mistaking Re-finance Appraisals for the Market Value
Unfortunately, a re-finance appraisal may have been stated at an untruthfully high price. Often, lenders estimate the value of your property to be higher than it actually is in order to encourage re-financing. The market value of your home could actually be lower. Your best bet is to ask your realtor for the most recent information regarding property sales in your community. This will give you an up-to-date and factually accurate estimate of your property value.

Mistake 3 — Forgetting to “Showcase Your Home”
In spite of how frequently this mistake is addressed and how simple it is to avoid, its prevalence is still widespread. When attempting to sell your home to prospective buyers, do not forget to make your home look as pleasant as possible. Make necessary repairs. Clean. Make sure everything functions and looks presentable. A poorly kept home in need of repairs will surely lower the selling price of your property and will even turn away some buyers.

Mistake 4 — Trying to “Hard Sell” While Showing
Buying a house is always an emotional and difficult decision. As a result, you should try to allow prospective buyers to comfortably examine your property. Don’t try haggling or forcefully selling. Instead, be friendly and hospitable. A good idea would be to point out any subtle amenities and be receptive to questions.

Mistake 5 — Trying to Sell to “Looky-Loos”
A prospective buyer who shows interest because of a “for sale” sign he saw may not really be interested in your property. Often buyers who do not come through a realtor are a good 6-9 months away from buying, and they are more interested in seeing what is out there than in actually making a purchase. They may still have to sell their house, or may not be able to afford a house yet. They may still even be unsure as to whether or not they want to relocate.

Your realtor should be able to distinguish realistic potential buyers from mere lookers. Realtors should usually find out a prospective buyer’s savings, credit rating, and purchasing power in general. If your realtor fails to find out this pertinent information, you should do some investigating and questioning on your own. This will help you avoid wasting valuable time marketing towards the wrong people. If you have to do this work yourself, consider finding a new realtor.

Madan “Raja” Ahluwalia Real Estate Consultant Keller Williams Realty Mobile: 650-430-4023 email: raja@kw.com www.rahluwalia.com For a complimentary market evaluation of your home, please send me your request at raja@kw.com

Mistake 6 — Not Knowing Your Rights & Responsibilities
It is extremely important that you are well-informed of the details in your real estate contract. Real estate contracts are legally binding documents, and they can often be complex and confusing. Not being aware of the terms in your contract could cost you thousands for repairs and inspections. Know what you are responsible for before signing the contract. Can the property be sold “as is”? How will deed restrictions and local zoning laws affect your transaction? Not knowing the answers to these kinds of questions could end up costing you a considerable amount of money.

Mistake 7 — Limiting the Marketing and Advertising of the Property
Your realtor should employ a wide variety of marketing techniques. Your realtor should also be committed to selling your property; he or she should be available for every phone call from a prospective buyer. Most calls are received, and open houses are scheduled, during business hours, so make sure that your realtor is working on selling your home during these hours. Chances are that you have a job, too, so you may not be able to get in touch with many potential buyers.
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AUTO REVIEW
Style, Safety & Comfort: 2005 Nissan Frontier Crew Cab
By Sally Miller Wyatt
For busy families with places to go and things to see, the Nissan Frontier Crew Cab is just the ticket, writes Sally Miller Wyatt.
Many families are so busy and going in so many directions, it takes a highly efficient time management expert to get through it all. Believe me, I know. With three children in a myriad of activities, I had an appointment calendar that was, on occasion, right down to the minute. I once had a neighbor comment he had never seen a garage door go up and down so many times in a single day as did ours. With that kind of lifestyle, a versatile vehicle is the only way to go.

Crew cab pickups are a great solution for some activity-packed families and Nissan’s Frontier is worth consideration because it offers all the best of a pickup without all that girth.

Although classified as a mid-sized truck, Nissan tries to pack more into its 2005 versions. It is a bit larger and a tad more powerful, and it has more towing and cargo hauling capacity. Its versatility lies in its styles — it comes either as a king cab or a crew cab — and in its driveline configurations. You can choose from either 2WD or 4WD, and from several transmissions, such as a five-speed automatic, a six-speed manual transmission or a five-speed manual transmission.

We had the Crew Cab for a test drive recently, and I was again reminded of just how terrific this style can be for busy families. Here you have seating for five and a truck bed that is large enough to carry all the stuff that children seem to require.

For 2005, Nissan has made several changes. First of all, the truck’s wheelbase is 9.8 inches longer, which enhances ride and stability. Width and height dimensions have also been increased, and yet despite all the added dimensions, the truck did not seem oversized.

The 2005 Frontier has an all-steel double-wishbone front suspension, as does the larger Titan truck. It also has a more powerful engine. A new, 4.0-liter V6 produces 265 horsepower and 284 lb-ft of torque, and according to Nissan’s press materials, these numbers are the highest for any available V6 truck engine.

If you do a lot of off-roading, you’ll be interested to know that the Frontier now offers an advanced off-road traction system on the 4WD models. It includes a four-wheel limited slip system which enhances grip on low traction surfaces by transferring power to the drive wheel.

Also, a new Hill Descent Control feature provides drivers with the option of slowing their hill descent without having to apply constant brake pedal pressure. HDC is engaged via a switch by the driver. Hill Start Assist is a feature that allows the driver to release the brake pedal and not roll back for up to two seconds, allowing enough time to move the foot from the brake to the accelerator. This nifty feature is available on 4WD models. When properly equipped, the Frontier has a 6,000-pound maximum towing capacity, and 1,600 pounds of maximum payload.

As for safety features, the Frontier has front and rear crumple zones, and Advanced Air Bag system and three-point front seat belts with retensioners. Front seat side-impact air bags and supplemental curtain air bags are available.

All Frontier truck beds are protected by a spray-in bedliner, which is a nice touch, as well as an utilitarian tie-down system, which will help keep items secure when on the road.

Behind the wheel, I found the seats were comfortably firm. Visibility to the front and rear was good, and somewhat obstructed to the sides because of wide door pillars.

On the road, the Frontier handles very well, has a tight turning radius and terrific acceleration. Road noise at freeway speed is not noticeable.

The 2005 Nissan Frontier is a good-sized truck with a great road presence. For busy families with places to go and things to see, this truck is certain to get you there in style, safety and comfort.

- Sally Miller Wyatt is a freelance writer
who writes family-oriented auto reviews for newspapers, magazines and the Web.

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Guftugu

An Ode to Om
It couldn’t have happened to a nicer man, though the guy has played many a compelling villain in his vast number of films. The British Council in Mumbai screened select English films of Om Puri during a special film festival April 18 to 21, to celebrate the recognition of the Indian actor with an honorary Order of the British Empire.

The films, never screened in India before, are Second Generation, Murder, White Teeth and Canterbury Tales

Second Generation, a story about love, family and identity, is a romance set in a vibrant world traversing Brick Lane to Bollywood, the Asian Underground music scene, curry factories and East End homes of London’s second generation Bengalis.

Based on the award-winning novel by Zadie Smith, and set against London’s racial and cultural tapestry, White Teeth revels in the diversity of modern life, flirting with disaster, confounding expectations, and embracing the comedy of daily existence.

Murder centers on the impact a tragedy has on the protagonist and those around her. Angela’s (Julie Walters) world is torn apart when her 21-year-old son Chris is brutally killed. Delivering a twist on the familiar whodunit, Murder centers on the impact the tragedy has on Angela and those around her.

John McKay’s The Canterbury Tales is set in the Asian Community in Gravesent and explores the role of the Asian Godfather to his community abroad. Jetender is a wealthy money-lender and importer/exporter: an Asian ‘Godfather’ figure to his community. He goes into business with the young Pushpinder, who falls in love with Jetender’s beautiful and extravagant wife, Meena.

Puri had been conferred the OBE July last year for his contribution to the British film industry.
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Tied in Knots
Poor Vivek Oberoi. Instead of tying the knot, he has tied himself in knots. The dashing hero recently told a television channel that he is going to marry Ash in 2006. However, before you could say shaadi mubarak the guy backtracks, and now is getting downright cranky.

When a pesky reporter asked him how come pretty Ash has kept a stony silence on their relationship, Vivek retorted: “I respect her decision about not talking about our relationship. It’s her choice. Anyway, I don’t see why the media wants us to keep on talking about our love lives. Every celebrity deserves some privacy. If we talk about ourselves, it’s fine, otherwise why should people keep on speculating about our relationship?”

Now, now, calm down, Vivek. Getting antsy will only make the media smell blood and get into a feeding frenzy.

Meanwhile, the rumor mill has it that the two have split. “It’s a free country,” Vivek hits back. “You can speculate as much as you want. Aishwarya and I are in love. And the fact that we are contemplating marriage should silence folks once and for all. But it’s not going to happen in 2006.” We are contemplating marriage? But we haven’t Ash say so, so how do we know? Never mind, we don’t want to upset poor Vivek.
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Height of Admiration
Trust Tamil fans to go overboard with a film star. I know I can hear a few yawns already, and who can blame you? There’s hardly anything novel about Tamil fans going ga-ga, we are the first to admit.

But still, once in a while some fans come up with such cockamamie schemes it’s hard not to laugh. Recently a bunch of fans of Rajinikant, for instance, have taken the concept of idol worship to a new high — literally. They have brought out a mega poster of his recently released Tamil film Chandramukhi measuring 10 feet by 120 feet.

The poster, brought out by the megastar’s fans’ association in Tiruchirappalli had been brought out in the name of his “die-hard fans” and designed in 55 days. The printing took 27 days and several copies had been made, said G. Raju who was in charge of the poster.

The poster has been split into 126 pieces which are pasted in three rows.

The much-awaited film, coming after a considerable gap since Rajinikant’s last venture Baba, which failed at the box office, was released on Tamil new year’s day April 14 and has created a lot of hype among his fans.

Still, the going hasn’t been entirely smooth for this group of fans.

“Selecting a giant wall for pasting the poster itself is a big problem. Though we have allotted 10 copies for Tiruchirappalli, we could locate only five spots. We have made 44 posters to be pasted all over Tamil Nadu, including Chennai, and Bangalore,” Raju said.

“The cost of one poster is about Rs. 2,000 including the labor for pasting it. We wanted to draw the attention of cinema goers by our mega-effort, and we have achieved our goal,” he added.

Now that’s fan following for you.
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All Covered Up
Okay, all covered up is not the first thing that comes to mind when one thinks of the sexy Mallika Sherawat. But that’s exactly what you are going to get in an episode of the Star One television channel weekly show Sarabhai vs Sarabhai.

Come again? Mallika Sarabhai all covered up is like Amitabh Bachchan without dialogues. Not to worry, the show’s producers say, adding that our Mallika plays a role that is, shall we say, very apropos.

Apparently Mallika plays a Haryanvi con girl who fools the dowager of the house and has the menfolk of the household eating out of her hands. By the time she is through, the matriarch of the house has much to be rueful about.

According to producer J.D. Majethia, “Mallika is a big fan of the Sarabhais.”

Sherawat shot for Sarabhai at Kanjur Marg studio. “It was through the channel (Star One) and common friends that Sherawat agreed to star in the TV serial,” says Majethia. 

Meanwhile, meanspirited Bollywood gossips are having a field day. “Well, I for one am quite ready to believe that Mallika will be spectacular in her role,” sneers one veteran Bollywood gossip. “I mean, playing a Haryanvi con woman? That should be a cakewalk for her. All she has to do is be herself!”
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Prankster Sallu
Sometimes you wonder whether Bollywood’s enfant terrible Salman Khan gets a bum rap. Sure, he has his little temper tantrums, and he is currently defending himself in two cases, one of reckless driving that claimed a few lives, and another of illegal hunting in Rajasthan. Then there are the stories of his rough treatment of Ash.

But the man has a kind side, as many who have benefited from his generosity are ready attest. Now comes the news that he also has a quirky sense of humor.

Take this incident in St. Petersburg. Salman, Mithun Chakraborty and debutante Sneha Ullal were shooting for their film Lucky. After the shoot, where Salman, Sneha and other stars were relaxing a scruffy stranger suddenly turns up. True to his bad boy image, Salman gets into a loud argument, and both Salman and the stranger get progressively more aggressive.

The situation almost came to blows when, seeing Salman fighting fiercely with a stranger, poor Sneha started screaming for help. She was almost shaking with fear, when she suddenly noticed that the two men were rolling on the floor and were not fighting, but laughing.

What gives? Turns out that the stranger is Mithun Chakrabarty in disguise, and Sallu and Mithun had planned the prank together. The whole thing was a hoax to scare the living daylights out of poor Sneha, who had to grin sheepishly and bear it all.

Which goes on to show that our Sallu isn’t all bad.
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Dumping the Couch
Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt is all worked up about the recent controversy over the casting couch following Shakti Kapoor’s reckless propositioning to a woman posing as a wannabe Bollywood starlet.

Bhatt April 14 said guidelines were being formed which will help the industry get rid of the problem.

“It is a reality that the casting couch exists in Bollywood, but it cannot be allowed to continue,” he told reporters here.

“With the help of the National Commission for Women, certain NGOs and the film industry, we are thinking of formulating certain strict guidelines which will help the industry get rid of the casting couch menace,” Bhatt said.

“I have already talked to Congress leader Girija Vyas (who is also the chairperson of National Commission for Women) in this connection. Members of the industry along with some NGOs will pool our resources and create certain norms would be formed to bring order to the film industry and get rid of this social malaise,” he said.

It’s all fine, but it remains to be seen whether any plan, however well-intentioned, can work. The fact of the matter is that Bollywood is filled with men in high places dying to get inside the pants of nubile women, and women who would do anything to get into films isn’t all that scarce either.

Add it all up, and you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure out what the natija is going to be.
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Bollywood really seems to be changing. Oh, I don’t mean its relation to reality (always tenuous) or logic (pretty much nonexistent), what I mean is that there have been a recent spate of movies that are beginning to look and feel different from the standard masala potboilers.

Lord knows it’s about time. Despite the hype and hoopla outside its foreign audience that has adored Bollywood since Raj Kapoor’s days, Hindi films have hardly made any inroads abroad, and the hardest nut to crack has been the Western audience.

Lagaan and Asoka tried, but only limited success. However, if films like Lucky continue to be made, that might change.

Now don’t get me wrong: This is not Bollywood’s answer to The Sound of Music, but it does eschew the tacky Bollywood production values that make Hindi films such a hard sell abroad.

Of course, films should be made to entertain its own target audience, and it appears that savvy filmmakers are latching on to the fact that even desi audiences, thanks to exposure to global entertainment through satellite television, have developed more sophisticated tastes.

Set in St. Petersburg and exquisitely photographed, the film feels Western, and that’s a very special compliment to filmmakers Radhika Rao and Vinay Sapru. The sensibility is still very Indian, but in production values and pace, it has a truly international flavor that’s especially praiseworthy.

Soft beautiful schoolgirl Lucky (Sneha Ullal) is a dreamer. She runs into the ambassador’s son Aditya (Salman Khan), a drop-dead gorgeous guy who can make schoolgirls swoon at will. Fate brings them together and suddenly what follows is both a nightmare and a dream-come-true; because they get caught in a violent insurgency but they also fall in love. As they go through an unforgettable journey, from burning highways and moldy cemeteries to abandoned theaters and icy snowdrift, stalked by violence and tragedy, love blossoms.

Amidst all of this, in comes Colonel Pindidas Kapoor (Mithun Chakraborty), for whom cheesy Hindi film dialogues hold the wisdom of the oracles, and who is looking for them to grab them and get them to join the Indian diplomatic contingent waiting in the airport to be airlifted out of the area to safety.

Spectacularly framed scenes and touching, lifelike dialogues helps Lucky develop into a classic love fable.

It’s done with style and class, but alas, the filmmakers fail to avoid the perennial pitfall of Bollywood—a scant regard for plausibility— and illogical gaffes abound.

Aditya’s beloved car, (a Volkswagen Cabriolet) has a bullet-damaged windscreen that miraculously becomes okay when Pindidas recovers it and again, even more miraculously develops the old cracks and bullet holes when it’s bye bye time and Pindidas promises to ship it to India. Okay, so the continuity folks messed up big time here, right? But how on earth did Pindidas recover the car? Well, let’s not even go there.

Then there’s Lucky, who at one time is game to eat fish, and at another time is a vegetarian. And she must have quite a constitution, because after being hypothermic, ill and shivering, she suddenly bursts into a dance in a flimsy party gown – and then runs miles to meet Aditya.

Pindidas is supposed to be an ace intelligence man and great at disguise, but even then his meeting them at a museum raises more questions of plausibility.

The acting, though, is quite competent (read fantastic for a Bollywood film, where annoying mannerisms can ruin many a performance). Salman acts with ease and is a natural, and looks good in his outfits. Sneha Ullal, despite similarity in looks and mannerisms with Aishwarya, acquits herself very well indeed for a debutante.

In a nutshell, the film is a very positive sign that Bollywood is headed in the right direction. Its flaws, though, are a reminder that we are not quite there yet.

Rating: *** (Good)

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Various questions pop up in the mind as one enters the theatre. Is it a role suited for the Superstar and how will he look in this film? After all, Baba had given us an unpleasant jolt in more ways than one. Then again, with claims and denials doing the rounds, is Chandramukhi a rehash of a Malayalam film? And if it is, how do the adaptation and the changes fit in? And, finally, does Jothika rise to the demands of the role in the crucial final scene?

Yes, Chandramukhi undoubtedly is a rehash of the Fazil-directed Manichitrathaazhu. Whatever the variations brought in, the backbone of the film is its strong storyline and script, making it a different and an interesting psychological thriller. Vasu, while keeping most of the original scenes in tact, had brought in slight variations in the Kannada version which he’d directed earlier, and that’s the one we get to see in Tamil.|

But what one can’t deny is that Vasu has blended all these ingredients, both borrowed and his own, the subtle and the gross, all into a coherent whole, in a fairly neatly packaged entertainer, albeit with a sensibility different from the original. The camera and the music have been used to add tempo to the narration and create an eerie, suspense-filled ambience of the palatial bungalow, the legendary story connected to it, and the strange happenings.

Jothika and Others
Jothika gets her share of action towards the end, after playing the passive wife of Prabhu for the most part. And with the total focus on her, it’s to the actress’ credit that she rises to the demands of the character, her eyes flashing hatred and vengeance. There’s Prabhu (the film’s producer) fitting in suitably well as Senthil, shocked by his wife’s strange behavior. But one does feel sorry for the actor, who in both his recent releases (Vasoolraja... and Chandramukhi, both remakes) is short-changed and gets less to do than the actors who’d played them in the original. Yet another casualty of the star-syndrome! Nayanthara, with her pretty soft looks, is adequate in the few scenes she gets, and also gets to romance the Superstar.

The Superstar
Last but surely not the least, how did the Superstar do? The film opens with a dramatic introduction of Rajinikant fighting some ruffians. The actor looks trim and good here. Playing Saravanan, a U.S.-trained psychiatrist who comes to visit his friend and his wife Ganga, and gets caught up in their problems. Rajini s in his element, the role giving him enough scope to indulge in comedy, fights, some serious scenes and some wicked humor towards the end, when he tauntingly provokes Chandramukhi with his “laka laka laka” refrain (the Superstar is more interesting to watch here than in the earlier scenes).

We get to see sparks of the Rajinikant of earlier films, and feel he can still deliver if given the right roles. But what is distracting is the jarring make-up, making him stand out like a mime-artist from the rest of the cast. And as the narration proceeds, the good look of the opening scene goes missing, the make-up only highlighting the deficiencies. There’s only that much of correction and camouflage that make-up can do. What it can’t do is turn the clock backwards.

If the Superstar understands that, he can concentrate less on his make-up and more on doing challenging, suitable roles. There’s no doubt that he’s still a force to reckon with, and his charisma is still intact.

— Malini Mannath

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1 packet Chinese noodles
½ cup bean sprouts

(The following vegetables have to be chopped lengthwise)

2 carrots
1 bell pepper
1 big size onion
½ cup French beans
1 tbsp crushed peanuts
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp vinegar
1 tsp ketchup
1 tbsp Thai chilli sauce
Salt to taste
2 tbsp cooking moil
1 tbsp cumin, garlic and ginger mixed powder

Method

Take two large glasses of water in a pan and bring to a boil. Add noodles. Wait till noodles are almost cooked. Drain noodles.

Heat oil in frying pan. Add spice powder mixture. Stir for 30 seconds. Add onions. Stir for two or three minutes. Add all vegetables and salt. Stir for five minutes. Add noodles. Add sauces and ketchup. Mix well. Fry for 1-2 minutes.

Garnish with crushed peanuts and bean sprouts.

Side dish: Stir-fried Broccoli

Ingredients

• 1 tsp oil
  
• ½ tsp ginger powder
  
• 2 Thai chillies finely chopped
  
• 1 broccoli cut into florets
  
• Salt to taste
  
• ½ tsp pepper
  
• 1 tsp lemon juice

Method
1 tsp in oil in heated pan. Add green chilli and ginger powder. Stir for 30 seconds. Add the broccoli. Add salt and pepper. Stir for 2-3 minutes, and remove from stove while broccoli is still crunchy. Add lemon juice.