A BYTE OF LIFE Thursday, October 16, 2008

Adiga makes
Chennai proud
O n Tuesday evening, when a motley
group of book enthusiasts gathered
at British Council for a review of the
short-listed winners of the Man Booker
Prize 2008, Aravind Adiga was the dark
horse for a majority of them. In fact, for
FREE CIRCULATION Vol. 2 No. 198 the ‘Guess the Booker Winner’ contest,
which the library has been running for
over a week, only 18 people had voted
for Adiga. This, out of the 160-odd votes
cast. Was it a mere guess or had the
voters actually read the book to have
voted him their favourite is not clear.
However, for the judges of this
prestigious literary award, who
announced their decision in the wee
hours of Wednesday, the 33-year-old
Mumbai-based journalist was a favourite.
Adiga’s debut novel, The White Tiger, was
described as a “perfect novel” by the
judges, thus declaring him winner of the
prestigious Man Booker Prize for Fiction
for 2008.
Far away from all the joyous greetings
the writer has been getting was the
happiness of Chennaiites. Apparently, the
author was born in Chennai in 1974, later
moving to Mangalore and Australia. A
majority of the publishing houses and
writers we contacted were not aware who
this overnight hero from Chennai is. Fame
doesn’t reach all corners, obviously.
Ergo Correspondent

Check your wallet to see if the credit

and debit cards in it are yours

» PAGE 03
02 NAMMA CHENNAI
Wah, janab!
Enjoy and relive the luxury and
flamboyance of the bygone grandeur at
Navratna, Le Royal Meridien, which will be
hosting Dastak-e-Avadh, a festival of
exceptional and enigmatic Lucknavi cuisine.
The festival is on till October 20. The poetic
charm and elegance of the Nawabi era
combined with the exquisite Avadhi
delicacies is a dining experience to be
remembered. Some of the dishes from the
menu include appetizers such as badam
shorba, a mildly spiced almond soup, main
course such as kasturi jhinga which are
jumbo tandoori prawns with kasturi methi
and for the vegetarians, saalan taal
makhana, where puffed lotus seed will be
served with raw banana and spices in rich,
yoghurt gravy. And the chef especially
recommends nurgh bannu kebab, where
succulent boneless pieces of chicken are
marinated in rich cardamom flavoured
sauce, egg coated and cooked in tandoor.
What, when, where?
Event: Lucknavi food festival
Timings: 7 pm to 11 pm, till October 20
Venue: Navratna, Le Royal Meridien
Contact: 22314343/ 43534545
ERGO Thursday, October 16, 2008
Wardrobe watch
Amethyst presents Anuradha Vakil’s shimmering
gota, sensuous silhouettes and age-old weaves blend-
ed together in a contemporary language from 11 a.m.
to 6 p.m. till October 21 at 14/ 30, Padmavathi Road,
Jeypore Colony, Gopalapuram, Chennai.
Compassion
at the cinema
Movie director Krishnan Seshadri Gomatam combines
creativity and compassion in his successful debut venture
SRIYA NARAYANAN
pets@goergo.in
E
ver felt furious while watch-
ing a movie or ad where the
makers used animals care-
lessly or condoned cruelty?
Krishnan Seshadri Gomatam, di-
rector of Kollywood movie Mud-
hal Mudhal Mudhal Varai, is a
class apart. The movie, dubbed
by audiences and reviewers as
‘refreshingly realistic’ and ‘dar-
ingly different’ features the lead
character, Sindu, as a girl with a
zest for life.
He reveals that the main char-
acter (played by Anuja Iyer) loves
life. “We’ve shown her as some-
Director Krishnan Seshadri
one who’s fond of plants and ani-
Gomatam (inset) and a
mals and though she’s from an
still from his film
affluent family, she takes care of
street dogs. The social angle suit-
ed my script.”
Gomatam explains that the
comfort of the animals on screen
was his top priority and even “Anjali refused to be on camera did my friend from Bangalore
roped in a real-life animal welfare but was happy that these dogs got who cares for many cats.”
activist (Anjali Sharma, featured some screen time,” says the di- So what’s next? “M3V was for a
in this column dated July 31) to rector who believes that people in niche audience. A film for mass
help. Anjali, who feeds dozens of the creative arts can bring about audiences is up next,” he says, re-
homeless dogs everyday, was positive social change through ferring to a project that’s still in
present during the shooting so subtle messages in their work. the pipeline.
the heroine could watch and “Devika Khazvini who runs the We’ll be in touch and here’s
learn. Cattitude Trust motivated me, as wishing him luck. ■
LOOK INTO MY EYES
This female pup is
just over a month
old and is ready
for adoption.
Contact
amethystshop@yahoo.com
(Subject line:
Attention - Kiran)
These button-eyed kittens are three
months old and are waiting at Animal
Welfare and Protection Trust (AWPT).
Email: awptshelter@gmail.com
 Thursday, October 16, 2008

Kebabs, ahoy!
03
The Accord Metropolitan is orga-
nising a delectable kebab festival till
October 31 at Pergola, their roof top
restaurant. To make reservations,
call 2816 1000.

Credit card exchange fraud,

in a chain

Check your wallet to see if the credit and debit cards in it are yours
previously from another. cards intact. But when he re- the culprits belonged to people
PETLEE PETER Chennai City Police say this ceived another SMS, he took out who had lost their cards and cash
petleepeter@goergo.in
kind of card exchange fraud is his cards and examined them, in similar fashion. The owners of
prevalent in northern India, and only to receive the shock of his “The owners of the cards Krish- the cards

P
lastic money fraudsters
have found a new and in-
genious method to trick
their victims. Shockingly,
the culprits replace the victim’s
credit or debit cards with almost
similar-looking dummy cards,
i.e., card previously stolen.
The smart exchange is usually
realised very late by the victim,
which simultaneously gives more
‘working time’ for the thief with
the stolen cards. Police say it is a
long chain, where one victim’s
cards are replaced by those stolen
a software professional from
Chennai became the recent
victim.
Gopi Krishna (name changed),
a software professional from Pe-
rungudi, was returning from Del-
hi to Chennai in Tamil Nadu
Express on September 29. When
his train passed Bhopal, he re-
ceived two SMSes on his phone
regarding purchases made in
Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh using
his credit and debit cards. Krish-
na checked his wallet but found
his four credit and two debit
life.
All his six cards had been re-
placed with other cards with the
names of different people. By
then, the culprits had swiped his
for over Rs. 1.30 lakh at different
places in Ghaziabad.
A panicked Krishna called both
his banks and blocked his cards.
Upon reaching Chennai on Octo-
ber 1, he lodged a complaint with
the City Police Commissioner.
Upon investigation it was
known that the dummy cards
placed in the victim’s wallet by
na received have also been
tricked by similar-looking cards Krishna received
and had lodged police com- have also been
plaints in their respective areas.
We got to know that it is a long
tricked by
chain of credit card exchange similar-looking
fraud. A thorough investigation is cards and had
on,” informed a top investigating
officer. lodged police
The culprits are smart to place complaints in
similar-coloured dummy cards,
so that the victim will take a while
their respective
to realise it and, in the meantime, areas
they can wipe his account clean,
the officer added. ■
04 VILLAGE ERGO Thursday, October 16, 2008

Call me cutout
A woman has officially changed
her name from Jennifer to
CutoutDissection.com - in a bid
to protest animal dissections.

G8 summit on financial crisis Six Indians

The Group of Eight world industrial powers will hold
a special summit this year to find ways out of the cities among
current financial crisis, German Chancellor Angela
Merkel said on Wednesday. Developing countries leading BPOs
would also be invited to sit down with the world’s Six of India’s cities
richest nations – Britain, Canada, France, Germany, feature among the top
Italy, Japan, the United States and Russia – and find eight emerging global
ways of preventing a similar meltdown from outsourcing cities.
happening again, Merkel said in a speech to the Bangalore, Chennai,
Bundestag, the German lower house of parliament. Delhi (National Capital
Merkel said as EU leaders were gathering in Brussels. Region), Hyderabad,
AFP Mumbai and Pune are
the cities, says a study
by CyberMedia Global
Services and Tholons, a
MySpace Karaoke puts amateur global investment advisory firm. Dublin (Ireland) and
Makati City (The Philippines) are the two other cities.
crooners on camera India’s representation in the top 50 Emerging Global
MySpace on Tuesday launched an overhauled karaoke Outsourcing cities has grown to four, from last year’s
channel that lets amateur crooners post online video of three, with the addition of Jaipur to the list at number 31.
themselves in all their vocal glory. The other Indian cities in the list include Kolkata at
The MySpace Karaoke redesign includes improved number six, Chandigarh at 12 and Coimbatore at 17, says
recording, upload and website navigation capabilities. In the study.
the six months since its launch the channel has attracted Cebu City (The Philippines), Shanghai and Beijing lead the
more than four million visitors and amassed a half-million list of top 50 Emerging Global Outsourcing cities. Though
recordings “making it the largest karaoke venue in the India’s domination of the BPO sector continues, the
world,” according to Chinese are fast catching up.
MySpace general PTI
manager Nimrod Lev.
MySpace has
arranged licensing
deals with music Frankfurt Book Fair opens
publishers to spare The Frankfurt Book Fair opened for business on
users of its karaoke Wednesday, with world publishers to spend five
channel from hassles days trading book rights and discussing how to
regarding song cope with the internet age. Some 280,000 visitors
copyrights. Those are expected at the annual event, which is being
licensing restrictions held in Germany for the 60th time. This year
have resulted in Turkey is guest of honour. Publishers from 100
MySpace Karaoke countries are exhibiting books in a bid to drum up
only being available translation and export deals. Among key issues
in Canada and the worrying the traditional book trade is the spread
United States. of digital publishing, especially of non-fiction.
AFP DPA

Look who’s talking B-School lingo

The humble postman to get months to design the course
module.
management school training “The idea is to help officers
learn modern management
to market postal schemes techniques and concentrate
on rural India where they al-
ready have the advantage of

D
on’t be surprised if
your postman exhibits
skills of a professional
marketing executive to
sell schemes. Postmen and
front-line officers of India
Post are set to undergo a
management training pro-
gramme in a leading B-
school to bring about a
change in their attitude and
to develop a professional ap-
proach in selling products
and services successfully.
The focus of the trained
staff will be on rural popu-
lace who have little knowl-
edge on products like postal
savings account and postal
insurance.
An understanding has
been reached between Min-
istry of Communication and
Information Technology and
Xavier Institute of Manage-
ment, Bhubaneswar (XIMB)
in this regard, with both
working for over three
reach and established cred-
ibility over their competi-
tors,” said programme
director of XIMB, Niraj Ku-
mar.The latest initiative is
being attributed to a com-
prehensive circular issued by
the Department of Post in Ju-
ly 2007, asking its front-line The idea is to help officers learn modern management
staff to reorient themselves techniques and concentrate on rural India where they
in line with the present day
requirements of the market. already have the advantage of reach and established
■ credibility over their competitors
PTI
 Thursday, October 16, 2008
Bargain yacht
A luxury yacht has been sold for
just $37 (GBP20) after the owner
made a mistake on an internet
auction website.
BBC in ‘its last stages’
T
he BBC is now in ‘its last
stages’ because budget cuts
will make it increasingly dif-
ficult to maintain standards,
the corporation’s world affairs
editor has warned.
John Simpson, one of BBC’s
longest serving news reporters,
said the corporation’s future is
bleak as the world service was
paying the price of the licence fee
being ‘chopped away’.
“The future? Well, I don’t think
that it’s going to look very good
for the BBC.
I think the BBC we have
known, for good or worse, is now
in its last stages,” the veteran cor-
respondent, whose career at the
BBC spans more than 40 years,
told an audience at the Chelten-
ham Literature Festival.
According to Britain’s Daily
Telegraph, the sixty-four-year-
old foreign correspondent, who
has visited 120 countries, said the
BBC was “already cutting back on
operations across the board, as a
result of the effective cut in the
licence fee”.
The grim assessment of the top
editor, who fears that he may be
sacked soon “in horrible circum-
stances”, comes as the corpora-
tion has been forced to cut 2,500
posts and slash budgets for news
and current affairs as the result of
Tendulkar has a special preference
for hot milk with turmeric
More about the likes of Indian and Aussie cricket teams
T he next time Sachin Ten-
dulkar sends the leather
flying out of the park when
India take on Australians in
the second cricket Test at Mo-
hali on Friday, the power be-
hind his shot may well come
from hot milk with a dash of
turmeric mixed in it.
“Tendulkar has a special
preference for hot milk for his
breakfast the day he has to
play a match. Last time too he
had asked for it and whenever
he asks for it we give it to him
with some turmeric which he
mixes in the milk,” Ramit
Kohli, senior chef at the Taj,
where the two teams are cur-
rently staying, told PTI in
Chandigrah.
He said Tendulkar also rel-
ishes bananas, banana shakes
and eggs for breakfast.
05
This day, that year
It was on October 16, 1951 that
Liaquat Ali Khan, the Prime Minister
of Pakistan, was shot dead while
addressing a public meeting in
Rawalpindi.
the lower than expected licence
fee settlement.
Simpson’s warning comes
soon after Terry Wogan, the vet-
eran Radio 2 presenter, claimed
the corporation had lost it stand-
ing as the finest broadcaster in
the world. ■
PTI
John Simpson,
one of BBC’s
longest
serving news
reporters,
said the
corporation’s
future is bleak
as the world
service was
paying the
price of the
licence fee
being
‘chopped
away’
AFP
How can I be McCain!
spreads and fresh variety of
cut fruits and juices,” he said.
However, on specific re-
quests made by any player
the hotel supplies them wha-
tever food they order.
For example, the Indian
team had a lot of “crispy par-
anthas without oil” while the
Aussies relished dosas al-
though their skipper Ricky
Ponting had “poached eggs
for breakfast” on Wednesday.
Kohli said in routine the Taj At the hotel’s Al Fresco,
serves the players ‘power which is an open area, players
breakfast’ which is high in ca- usually enjoy a range of
loric value and includes a lot grilled varieties.
of fibres and energy drinks. “Chicken satays, Indone-
“We give them a mix of sian and Thai food is also in
continental which contains demand with the cricketers. 쒀 US Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama laughs
chicken or fish, baked beans, Mongolian barbeque, too, is with a supporter after her granddaughter mistook
breakfast cereals, high calo- in hot demand,” he revealed. him for John McCain saying ‘hello John McCain’
ries like multi-grain bread ■ at Oregon. AFP PHOTO
muessli, choice of cheese PTI
06 SPORT
Champions Trophy may
have permanent venue
The International Cricket Council
may fix the Champion’s Trophy to
a permanent venue instead of
staging it in different countries
owing to volatile security
situation across the world if its
Executives Board accepts the
member nations’ proposal to this
effect. Sources in the Pakistan
Cricket Board said the proposal is
to have the event every two years
in Dubai Sports City, where a new
stadium is due to be completed
later this year and the ICC has also opened
its Global Cricket Academy.
“The proposal to have a permanent venue
came up because of the prevailing security
situation globally,” one source said. “Some
countries feel the format of the competition
should also be changed to make it more
interesting,” he said. The ICC Executive
Board at its meeting in Dubai discussed the
proposal to have the tournament at one
venue every time instead of rotating it. The
source, however, said the ICC would stick to
its programme of reviewing afresh the
security situation in Pakistan after the Indian
team completes its tour of Pakistan early
next year.
PTI
Gill requests FM to allow
duty-free import of pellets
Sports Minister M S Gill has requested
Finance Minister P Chidambaram to extend
duty exemption to air pellets, saying such a
move would help the country unearth
champion shooters in the future. In a letter
to the Finance Minister, Gill thanked him
for exempting, in the previous budget, the
import of air weapons by renowned
shooters from any customs duty. However,
he rued the absence of such concession to
import of air pellets, saying, it has become
quite unaffordable for most of the
upcoming shooters. Gill said India has
emerged as a shooting powerhouse and
cited Abhinav Bindra’s gold medal feat at
the Beijing Olympics as a testimonial to the
fact.
“In view of the growing popularity of
shooting as a sport among the young
generation, it would be highly desirable to
extend duty exemption to air pellets
on the same lines as has been done
in case of air weapons,” Gill wrote.
The Sports Minister also cited that
Member of Parliament Naveen Jindal,
himself a shooter, has been pursuing
the same issue for quite a while.
“After consultation with all the
stakeholders, including National Rifle
Association of India, I have no hesitation in
endorsing their request,” Gill said. “This
step will go a long way in promoting
shooting in the country and help in
generating many champions,” he added.
PTI
ERGO Thursday, October 16, 2008
Asif’s counsel object to IPL’s procedure
Suspended fast bowler Mohammad Asif’s legal counsel has expressed confidence that his
client will be cleared of the doping offence, claiming serious discrepancies in the
procedure followed by the Indian Premier League in the positive dope tests.
Nadal
roars off to victory
R
afael Nadal thrilled a sold- in Madrid with the frustrated
out home crowd with a co- 11th seed crashing out to on-
meback performance to form Frenchman Gilles Simon
win his 78th match of the 3-6, 6-1, 6-4. Simon, winner of
season as he began the chase for two titles since July, pounced on
a second title at the Madrid Mas- 46 unforced errors to hand Blake
ters. The top-seeded world num- his fifth loss in the Spanish cap-
ber one who claimed his only ital and put the American in grave
trophy in the capital in 2005, on danger of dropping in the race for
Tuesday rallied past upcoming the season-ending Masters Cup
Latvian Ernests Gulbis 7-5, 3-6, in Shanghai. The 16th-ranked Si-
6-3 riding a late break in the final mon is riding a wave of form after
set to victory. Nadal, holder of winning Indianapolis and Bu-
eight titles this season including charest in recent months. Blake’s
Paris, Wimbledon and the Olym- potential for a spot in China is
pics, has stalled in the quarter- endangered if Swiss Stan Waw-
final at the last two Madrid edi- rinka can do well this week while
tions. standing tenth in the points race
He was playing for the first one spot behind the fading Blake.
time since leading Spain in- In first-round matches, Germa-
to the Davis Cup final ny’s Philip Kohlschreiber stopped
against Argentina three Spanish hero Carlos Moya 6-2,
weeks ago. The 6-2 while Marcel Granollers of
Spanish hero Spain beat Frenchman Paul-Hen-
failed to con- ri Mathieu 6-4, 6-4. Weekend
vert on his Vienna finalist Gael Monfils con-
first match tinued his indoor success as he
point against the 20-year-old beat Italian wild card Fabio Fog-
Gulbis, but reached the third nini 6-2, 6-4. Stockholm semi-
round on his second opportunity. finalist Jarkko Nieminen re-
“It was a very tough match and versed a run of three losses
important one to win,” said the against Mikhail Youzhny,
relieved Nadal. “Gulbis is young ousting the Russian 7-5,
with a great future ahead of 3-6, 6-2. The 2005 semi-fi-
him. He fought back well in nalist Robby Ginepri of the
the second set, winning US beat Frenchman Mi-
the important games. I chael Llodra 6-4, 6-4, with
pulled out my best Swede Robin Soderling adding
game when I had to. another French loss with his de-
It was tough to attack feat of Florent Serra
him, and this was 6-3, 6-4. ■
my first match in a AFP
few weeks to I have
things to
improve.”
Nadal will play
on Thursday
against French
15th seed Richard
Gasquet, a winner
over Mardy Fish 6-7
(3/7), 6-4, 6-3. Scot
Andy Murray stormed
to the third round as
good fortune ran out for
Italian lucky loser Simone Bolelli
GASQUET,
6-0, 2-1 retired. The Italian, who
earned a place in the draw when MURRAY
HAVE
Marat Safin withdrew with injury,
threw in the towel after 47 min-
utes after treatment on an upper
arm and shoulder.
Blake disappoints
EASY
American James Blake main-
tained his dismal, winless record PHOTOS: AFP WINS
 Thursday, October 16, 2008
‘‘
The belief that I have in my team, and the belief that the team has in me
is what matters the most. When I decide to make a final bow, I’ll go on
my own terms.
Table-toppers and gate-crashers
AYON SENGUPTA
ayon@goergo.in
T
he Formula One cartel will take a short hop
over the East China Sea from the cool sur-
roundings of Mount Fiji to hot and sultry
Shanghai for the penultimate round of the
2008 Formula One season. The Chinese Grand Prix
at the Shanghai International Circuit has been on
an area of reclaimed marshland some 40km from
the centre of China’s most densely populated city.
With McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari’s
Fellipe Massa locked in an intense battle for the
driver’s championship (five points separate the
two) and a revitalised Fernando Alonso in his Re-
nault looking forward to upset all predictions, the
race is expected to take an altogether new dimen-
sion. Hamilton, who had a horrific weekend in Fiji,
will be eager to shrug off his recent error-prone
driving which had also robed him of a driver’s
championship at the fag end of the last season.
Robert Kubica of BMW (72 points) also has the
chance of spoiling the party for both McLaren and
Ferrari and a win at Shanghai will make the last
race at Sao Paulo more interesting.
Nine of the 11 teams competing at this year’s
championship have registered themselves in the
points table and for the wooden spoon holders
Force India and Super Aguri-Honda, Shanghai will
provide them another chance to redeem their sea-
son. “Although the ultimate result of Japan was
disappointing, we could see that the level of per-
formance we demonstrated in Monza, which al-
lowed us to go through to Q2, had returned. We
07
Anil Kumble
need to keep this motivation and improved pace
until the end of the season and not let our heads go The Chinese Grand Prix will
down. There is so much to still keep working for,”
be keenly watched for the
Vijay Mallya, chairman and managing director of
Force India said.
Rookie Adrian Sutil, who was running at the 10th surprises it might throw up
position in Japan before a tyre puncture robbed
him of a possible championship point, said:
“Shanghai is a very interesting circuit for the driv-
ers, with a modern layout. I think with a whole
year’s experience behind us we have started to per-
form much better and I hope in the last two races
we can actually last the distance and grab some
much-needed points.”
Giancarlo Fisichella, who had a podium finish in
2006, hopes to continue his love affair with the
circuit. “Shanghai is a great circuit and I have had
some good results there. I’ve competed in every
race since it came onto the calendar in 2004 and
actually finished in all of them, so I will want to
keep up this record. My best result was a podium
in 2006 and in 2005 the points I got from fourth
position secured Renault the manufacturers’ title,
so I’ve got good memories there,” he said. “I think
we now have to keep pushing until the end of the
year. I’ve gone too long without points and I don’t
want to get to the end of the year without any on
the board.” ■
08 ROADSTER ERGO Thursday, October 16, 2008

Toyota IQ
Toyota Motor introduced its new compact car ‘IQ’ at a preview
in Tokyo on October 15, 2008. Toyota will begin selling in Japan
the four-seater on November 20 with prices ranging between
1.4 million yen (13,700 USD) and 1.6 million yen (15,700 USD)
including five percent consumption tax. AFP PHOTO

Rajendiran showing some sketches of

his dream cycle PHOTOS: PETLEE PETER

쒀 Rajendiran’s third bicycle, which

is on the verge of completion

THE BICYCLE MAN

Rajendiran’s odd two-wheeler might be a
familiar sight for many, but it’s the flying
bicycle that is his dream
 Thursday, October 16, 2008
09
Volvo’s R-DESIGN
Volvo Car India launched Volvo XC90 R-
DESIGN in New Delhi on Wednesday. Volvo
XC90 R-DESIGN comes with the powerful 32
valve V8 4.4 litre petrol engine delivering
315bhp and 440 nm torque.

쑺
The unfinished cycle which
Rajendiran claims will fly

cycle, which is longer than a San- Interestingly, the cycle man

tro car, stunningly has 10 shock
absorbers, 6 sprockets, 2 chains,
a back pedal, an interesting
wheel alignment and seating
and weighs a total of 70 kgs. The
cycle might be familiar to many
of Chennai’s roadies as it’s often
claims that his fourth cycle (still
in the workshop) sporting paral-
lel wheels (see pic) can fly when
completed. “It can take off to up
to 50 feet. Only 20 per cent of
the job is complete as I didn’t
have enough funds to pursue it,”

I
f a bicycle is to be modified,
the maximum you or I might
do is fix some glinting acces-
sories and a gear system. But
here is a Chennaiite who we can
call the ‘Godfather of Cycle Cus-
tomisation’. Ergo introduces G.
Rajendiran of Villivakkam, a 45-
year-old lathe worker who
doesn’t prefer simply pedalling
regular bicycles but has designed
rides for his own in a way that
only he could explain (see pics).
Rajendiran’s first innovative
Rajendiran’s ride to commute
between work and home.
The cycle man says his obses-
sion began after a dream in May,
1998. “Immediately after that I
started gathering junk from Pu-
dupet and soon started working
late nights in my lathe shed. I
completed the first cycle in six
months and it cost me about Rs.
3,000,” adds Rajendiran, who
now has four innovative cycles,
of which two are yet to hit the
road.
laments Rajendiran, who says he
needs Rs. 50,000 more to com-
plete his dream cycle. This bicycle
builder asserts that he prefers to
work all alone at night inside his
brother’s lathe shed in Villivak-
kam. “I don’t get any assistance
from anyone as there is a possi-
bility of my ideas getting leaked
out,” informs Rajendiran after
showing us a bunch of plan 쒀 Rajendiran’s first bicycle, which
drawings on his dream cycle is often seen on the road
which he is determined to com-
plete. ■
10 FLICK ERGO Thursday, October 16, 2008

HBO Films president leaving to start company

HBO Films president Collin Callender will leave HBO by the end of this
year to start his own entertainment production company, he told the
New York Times in an interview on Tuesday. Two executives who have
worked with Callender in overseeing the production of films and mini-
series at HBO will split his duties, the company told the paper.
Reuters

Trembling in their shoes, literally

G eorge Clooney and Ewan McGregor were left trembling after
a huge earthquake shook the foundations of their new film’s
sets.
The duo was shooting in Puerto Rico for their anti-war satire,
Men Who Stare At Goats, when they were hit by a strong
quake.
Though the officials reported no injuries, the quake was said to
be the country’s strongest in 20 years.
Interestingly, the quake came on the 90th anniversary of the
most major earthquake ever recorded in the Caribbean that
killed 118 people, reports Contactmusic.
The forthcoming movie, which stars Clooney sporting an unusual
look, including a moustache and long hair, was chosen to be
shot at the island for its closest resemblance to a war zone. ■
ANI

The fedora isn’t

headed anywhere
H
arrison Ford has brushed aside
rumours that his Indiana Jones’ co-
star Shia LaBeouf will take over
Harrison Ford his role as the action hero in
the film’s new instalment.
kicks rumours The rumours started when the Star
Wars actor was seen passing his signa-
of Shia ture archaeologist hat to LaBeouf,
who plays his son in 2008’s Indiana
LaBeouf taking Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal
Skull. Ford, however, has insisted that the
over his gesture was not a symbolic one. “No,
that’s never been (the idea)... I think it just
doesn’t work that way,” Contactmusic quot-
Indiana role ed him as telling Moviefone. ■
ANI

New Year in Dubai

T om Cruise and Katie Holmes have turned
to Dubai to welcome the New Year in
style.
The star will be hosting a lavish party to
welcome 2009 at Dubai’s new Atlantis The
Palm Resort.
According to U.S. TV news show Extra,
the A-list couple is hoping to make the New
Year’s Eve party a grand star-studded affair.
Atlantis is built on an artificial island
called Palm Jumeirah. The 1.5-billion-dollar
resort boasts of beaches, water parks,
nightclubs and even a Nobu restaurant. ■
ANI
 Thursday, October 16, 2008
Alicia Keys leads American Music Award nominees
R&B singer Alicia Keys picked up five nominations for the American Music Awards, while rock
bands Coldplay and the Eagles scored four each, organisers said on Tuesday. All three will
compete for artist of the year, alongside rapper Lil Wayne and R&B star Chris Brown, who have
three nominations each.
‘It could have
been a terrible
mistake…’
S
ir Paul McCartney has said
that his new album, Electric
Arguments, could ruin his
whole career. The ex-Beatle
has completed work on the new
album, an ambient record with
his side project, The Fireman.
The 66-year-old veteran has
said that the album is a result of
rigorous improvised sessions, re-
ports the China Daily.
“I had to make a disclaimer to
the engineers. I said this could
be the most embarrassing
moment of my life. It was
thrilling, but it could have
been a terrible mistake. I
could ruin my whole ca-
Paul
McCartney
fears new
album could
ruin his
career
reer,” he said. Macca, who com-
posed most of the early Beatles
hits with the late John Lennon,
also said that he hates working
alone. He said that it gets too
lonely if you don’t have other
musicians to discuss ideas with.
He added: “I like having a collab-
orator. Otherwise, I get the feel-
ing of being an absentminded
professor alone in his laboratory
all day. I did the first solo McCart-
ney record all on my own. It
seemed a bit lonely.”
“There’s a track on there that’s
about 10 minutes long.
Try playing maracas for
10 minutes in a row on
your own. I was stand-
ing in the room
thinking, ‘That’s it
– I’ve really lost
the plot,’” he
said. {Zsqf}
ANI
11
Reuters
Madonna to divorce: report
Madonna is to divorce her British film director husband Guy
Ritchie, the Sun reported on Wednesday, saying an
announcement was imminent.
After months of media speculation about strains in the
eight-year marriage, Britain’s Sun tabloid cited a “highly-
placed source” as saying the split was being pushed for by
40-year-old Ritchie.
“It’s very sad. They were a great couple and brilliant
parents. They just couldn’t live together any more,” said the
unidentified source, adding that they “can’t bear to live
with the pretence any longer.”
Madonna’s spokeswoman Barbara Charone said: “We’re not
going to know anything until the US wakes up,” adding
that she was not even clear if there would be an
announcement at that stage.
According to The Sun, Ritchie – famous for gangster films
including Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels – has
become frustrated, seeing her as a “dead weight around his
neck” and now wants a divorce to be agreed quickly.
“Guy’s said if they were going to split, it has to be now –
and their marriage will finally be over in a matter of
weeks,” the source told The Sun.
The newspaper said that a statement “confirming their
marriage is over has been prepared and is set to be
released imminently.” ■
AFP
3 years’ prison for
Anne Hathaway’s ex
A n Italian businessman who
dated Hollywood actress
Anne Hathaway and
admitted to a fraudulent real
estate scheme based on links
to the Vatican should get
three years in prison, his
lawyer said on Tuesday.
Raffaello Follieri (30) pleaded
guilty in September to a
scheme in which he
fraudulently obtained more
than $2 million by
misleading investors to
believe he had Vatican
connections that enabled
him to buy the Roman
Catholic Church’s unwanted
U.S. real estate properties at
a discount. ■
Reuters
12
Wednesday’s Question:
Which celebrity’s shoes
would you like to step
into for a day, and why?
■ I would get into the shoes of actor
Vadivelu. I could make everybody happy.
9884025071
■ I’d like to step into Vadivelu’s shoes to
see, epdi usupethi usupethi odambu
ranagalamagudhunu,
Bragadeesh,
VDSI
■ It’s none other then de master of
masters, A R RAHMAN. Coz I am more
than great fan of him. I jus wanna know
whether he has some magical powers in
him. Manivannan P CGSL
■ The one and only A.R.Rahman... Coz he
is my music God.
Robz, Wipro
■ John abraham. So that i cn spend a
whole day wid bipasha basu. (sorry john,
bips deserves a beter guy lyk me)
9840594953
■ I like to get into the shoes of ragava
lawrance because at present he is acting
with five heroines-
Jefferson,
RR DONNELLY
■ I would like to step into RAMARAJAN
shoes. Because it is very colorful one.
9841911183
■ I would like to wear superman shoes....
Because where ever i want to go i can fly
know.. Using his shoes.....( to my office
also )
Nirmala ARS TEAM
perot systems
■ I would say Ajith. Though i’m not a
great fan of him, a day’s shoot with
Nayantara will be my all time dream come
true.
-dilip_kumar02 (Infosys)
■ It would be ’David Bekham’, cos i
wanna dropped from my work and get
paid for sitting IDLE :)
9841652450
■ Big B as he is the only mascot of
manliness and is a personification of style
n fashion world.
Syed magdum peer,
Hexaware Technologies
■ Any hollywood actor who s playing a
hero with cameron diaz in the cast at
present.. 9894369726
■ Would like to be Jackie chan ...cos
wanna hit and kick my pm like he hits his
enemies in movies
9940541850
■ I wud like to be in our Chennai Mayor’s
shoe and I’ll issue strict orders to the
staff’s of chennai corporation those who
are not doing their cleaning job as proper
and not helping to keep the’singara
chennai’ as clean.
Dhananjayan,
Scope international
■ My idea of a magnetic celebrity..Karan
Johar...down to earth,no airs,heart
ERGO Thursday, October 16, 2008
warming smile n a man passionate
about his work.
Shirley,
Hexaware Technologies.
■ Superstar. So that we can go in
different path(En vazhi thani vazhi).
9884093005
■ I would like to step in Osama Bin
Laden’s becos cannot get that in any of
the stores -
99625 93931
■ I would like to step into our Super
Star Rajinikanth’s (BABA) Shoes to
make a cost cutting in Deepavali
Cracker... 9884484475
■ NO ONE, Because I feel myself as a
celebrity -
Jags, Polaris
■ I want to be sachin and want to feel
how it is when he breaks lara’s record!
Rafiq,
Wipro
■ Any of software company’s boss! So
that i can increase the salary of all
9962456567 Sonu Mahla of Infosys Technologies nominates her team mates as
■ I would choose erstwhile president of Partners in Crime. They clicked this pic at Blue Lagoons.
US Bill clinton for his charismatic look
and captivating speech.
Mahmood Lebbai, TCS
■ I like 2 be a any 1 of government
employee, bcoz no tension, no dead
line, no firing, and i wanna take rest..
Sivaa.G, Birlasoft
■ I like to become jothika so that i can
live atleast one day with surya. . . .
Merlin, TCS
■ I would like to be rajni to feel how it
is to be adored by fans and also to feel
the pain when fans demand u to do
somethin against ur will.
9789798807
■ I want to have Steven Gerrard’s shoes
as he is always scoring goals when his
team needs with his shoes and I believe
that his legs are Gods gift:)
SAN
■ T Rajendar . . To know how much he
is criticised by his near and dear .
Jhenu, TCS Pramod of CSS Corp nominates his team members as partners in
■ Definitely Imran Khan at this point. Crime. They clicked this pic at Yelagiri Hills.
Look at all the girls he can get.
Ranjit Kumar L
Ergo Pick
■ I want to be my girl friend. . Because
she thinks that she is a celebrity and
says this guy is following me.. Thats guy
is trying to propose. . My neighbour
peeps into my room. . Watchman is
looking . . Auto driver is looking . . And
the list goes on and on . . .
Sam- ATW, Perotsystems
Today’s Question:
What is the one song
that you would like to
sing to your boss, so Sivan Sashidharam of Hexaware Technologies nominates his friends
as Partners in Crime
that he gets the hint?
 Thursday, October 16, 2008
■ Dear Sangeetha,
Ergo is really doing a nice job by providing lots of useful information. Growing old is mandatory; growing up is
The one thing I love is that Ergo has given lots of information about optional. Wishing you all the best in the
the concerts yet to happen. And I have attended many concerts based year to come. May your days be filled
on the time and date given in Ergo, which were really good. with sunshine and beautiful colours. And
But several times I’ve regretted seeing the news about conducted may your nights be filled with comforting
concerts published after the event is over. Likewise, even today (Tues- dreams and wishes to come. We are
day, October 15) I felt I could have attended the concert which was wishing you many more happy returns of
mentioned in page 2, but I did not know about it. the day. Have non-stop happiness in your
So it would be really great if Ergo gives news about these happen- life. We will be with you forever :-)
ings in advance so that we can attend these. Giving them in a small Best Wishes from, Jeyanthi, Geetha, Srimathi,
column will be more than enough. Rathna & Kalaivani, TCS
Since this is the only source for us to get information about all these ■ Hi JPR,
happenings it would be really fantastic if this is done... Thank you... May your special day be filled with
Ergo is rocking in the software industry. memories and flowers, friendship and
S. Vinoth Khanna, Satyam Computer Services Ltd happy hours. Lot’s of people are thinking
of you on your birthday; I just wanted to
let you know I’m one of them. Have a
wonderful day!
M.Kumaresan, Tech Mahindra, Friends, New Age
Software and Solutions, Karthik Ramakrishnan,
HCL Technologies, Senthil Kumar M, Satyam
Computer Services
■ Dear Karthi,
Wish U Many more happy Returns of the
day. May the gift of blessings fill your
birthday and the year ahead with
Rajalakshmi everlasting joys. Have fun & enjoy your
Narasimhan of day.
Systems Tech- With lots of love & care,
nology Group Venkatesh (TCS)
doodled this ■ Hi Chandrasekar,
Wish you many more happy returns of the
day. At least this year spent some money
and confess to your Hi...girl.
Warm Regards, Santhosh, CMS
■ Hi ALCATEL Guys,
Happy Journey to the Gang going to
Kodaikanal this weekend. Njoy the days &
Have fun. Happy Journey
Vijayasankar
■ Dear Karthika,
Today is a lovely and extra-special day,
With all my heart I pray that every dream
of urs come true ! Be happy and smile
always ! Wishing u a very very happy
b’day !!!
Luving Husband,
Girish.
■ Dear/Dearer/Dearest,
How do you expect us to remember your
birthday when you never look any older?
Belated Happy Birthday.
With lotsa luv, Satka and Satki Polaris
■ Dear Raghu,
Belated Birthday Wishes Buddy. May god
bless you a happy & prosperous life.
Sakthi, Madhan, Deepak, Arun, Saravanan,
Muthuhari, Ramesh, Siva, Sheikh, Ram, Arun,
Sudhakar & 807,808,809 Batch Mates, Satyam
Computer Services.
Gold vachi gold chain pannalam ana cycle vachi cycle chain panna ■ Dear Chandru (The School Boy),
mudiyuma???? May the gifts of peace, hope, love, health
Iron boxaala iron panna mudiyum Aana pencil boxaala pencil and happiness be yours throughout the
panna mudiyaadhu!! year to come your way. Have a colourful
Senthil Arjunan, California software limited & cheerful Birthday.
Cheers from all of us @ Payments, Citigroup
On a rainy day Tamil teacher to an new NRI student of his class. Global Services Ltd
Teacher: Translate “Malai Paeyeuthu” into your beautiful English. ■ Hi Riku,
Student: Pardon! Please come again May each hour & minute be filled with
Teacher: Ok. Listen “Malai Paeyee Ithu”. delight and Wishing u many more happy
Student: Very simple “This is a mountain ghost”. returns of the day !!!! Have a nice year
Nixson T Mathew, Infosys ahead, God bless you.
Guess who ????????????
13
Hexaware Technologies.
■ Hi Goutam(Family man),
Many More Happy Returns of the Day,
We wish for you that whatever you want
most in life, it comes to you, just the way
you imagined it or better.
With Lots of Luv, Mona, Muthu, Sai, Harini,
Hexaware Technologies
■ Dear Jai & Suba,
Wish you many more happy returns of the
day. Hope all ur wishes come true.
Birthdays are ordinary days sprinkled with
stardust.
With lots & lots of luv,
Priya & family.
■ Hi Anver,
Many more happy returns of the day.
Wish you all success.
Cheers, Sajini, Manju, Nagarajan, Senthilkumar,
Chandrasekar, Ghouse, Muthukrishnan, Selva,
Srinvas, Selvam, Nithya, Sajith, Hemanth and
Srikanth, TATA Consultancy Services
■ Hi Satish,
On your birthday I wish you much
pleasure and joy. I hope all of your wishes
come true.
Happy Birthday to you..
Lotus Notes Team, CSS Corp.
■ Hi Priyapathi,
Wish you many more happy returns of the
day. May each day be filled with joy and
delight. God will make all your dreams
come true and he will be always lead you
in a joyfull way. Pirantha Nall Valthugal
Priyamudan, Lakshmiramesh, Hexaware
Technologies
■ Hi Kavi,
Happy Birthday our dear friend! Let all
your sorrows turn into joy. I wish you
good health, good friends (you already
have), long life, and no bad days in your
life.
With tons of Luv, InterGlobe Friends
■ Hi Nantha (Nandu/ Gundu),
Wish you a very happy and safe journey.
Bon voyage!
Anite team, CSS Corp
■ Dear Sangu,
Wish You Many more Happy Returns of
the Day. We feel very happy to wish you
on this special occasion. Hope we are
filling yr mind with joy and pleasure as
how you make to feel us when we are
with you. May all the seasons of your
heart be evergreen.
Ur EverLoving Friends from, Hexaware, HCL &
MM Technologies
■ Dear Moni (Gomathi),
Enna Gomo’s ithu, For you the candles
cost more than the cake. Any way happy
candle day sorry BIRTHDAY.
Bring BIG cake to light this
candlessssssssssss
Cheers 125 TCS “MOST DECENT GUYS” (Captain
Shilpa, Kadalai Kamal, Ladder Senthil, Big Bala
,Slim Deepa, Blade Dinesh)
■ Dear Karthi,
Wish U Many more happy Returns of the
day...May the gift of blessings fill your
birhtday and the year ahead with
everlasting joys. Have fun and enjoy your
day.
With lots of love and care,
Venkatesh (TCS)
14 TRAFFIC JAM ERGO Thursday, October 16, 2008

Ringing hell
A British bell ringer has been
left partially deaf after holding
the post for 25 years.

sudoku

Mithun Sarkar
of TCS clicked
this picture of
the Ichamati
river in West
Bengal on a
low tide day.
The boats seem
to be moving
on the muddy
banks.

KAKURO
So you think you would make a terrific photographer but never really had the
platform? Mail us your best work and we’ll publish it in this space, with credit.
E-mail: clickpick@goergo.in

TEAM
Editor: Karthik Subramanian
karthik@goergo.in

Sr Dy Chief Designer: J.A. Prem Kumar

Dy Chief Designer: R. Ravi Kannan
Illustrator: R. Venugopal

Technical Support:
V.R. Vasudevan, K.G. Gurumurthy
N. Ravichandran, E. Baskar

Head of Advertising:
Sriya Narayanan
ads@goergo.in

Head of Circulation:
M.G.M. Sharief
copies@goergo.in

SNAIL MAIL
859/860, Anna Salai,
Chennai - 600 002
mail your feedback to
feedback@goergo.in
FAX 2857 6691

ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES
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Advertisement Manager
at 2857 6695.
email: ads@goergo.in
Website: www.goergo.in

Printed and Published by S. Karthik on behalf of

KASTURI & SONS LTD., at Plot B-6 & B-7,
CMDA Industrial Complex, Maraimalai Nagar,
Chengleput Taluk, Kancheepuram Dist., Pin:
603209 & at Kasturi Buildings, 859 & 860,
Anna Salai, Chennai-600002. Editor: S. Karthik
(Editor responsible for selection of news under
the PRB Act). RNI No. TNENG/2007/24553
 Thursday, October 16, 2008
15
Lazy dog walker Word’s worth
A man from Newcastle, north east England, has "Jectigation" (jeck-ti-gay-
been named as one of the laziest men in the shun) a wagging or trembling
U.K. -- after he was found walking his dog movement. From a Latin word
while sitting in his car. meaning ’to throw.’

B.C

ARIES MARCH 21 - APRIL 20

If you will begin any project today, it will surely
reach to desired end in due course of time. If any
project is ongoing, you may take important
decisions. You may shower your lover with sweet
words, which in turn will care you.

TAURUS APRIL 21 - MAY 20

You will be very firm in your decisions but ensure
that others do not take this as your reluctance. Day
favours technically complicated work. On the
personal front, You will be in a mood to cheer up
your partner with all possible ways and means.

GEMINI MAY 21 - JUNE 20

Today, you may work very hard to achieve a specific
BORN LOSER target but unfortunately you may not be able to
finish it. There can be some technical problems. At
home, you may have cool time with your family
members which is the complimentary factor.
CANCER JUNE 21 - JULY 20
You may have investigative mind today so it will
help you solve technical quests. If you have to talk
to authorities, this is the right day. You may remain
highly emotional. Your partner may treat you nicely
and you will spend money to woo ’sweetheart’.
LEO JULY 21 - AUG 20
Today you may be very determined so may not
waste single minute behind chatting, but may just
keep your head in work. There can be positive
change in your work profile. You may treat your
beloved one or life partner very nicely.
VIRGO AUG 21 - SEPT 20
This is a favourable day for counting things in
FREE RANGE WORKING IT OUT percentages, like which project has reached to
which level. You will remain practical regarding
work. At home, Ganesha finds you having good
time with life partner. A favourable day to propose.
LIBRA SEPT 21 - OCT 20
You may be put in charge of organising
conferences. So you will remain busy through out
the day. By the end of the day you may be tired
and may just want silent company of your partner
or beloved but may not wish to discuss anything.
SCORPIO OCT 21 - NOV 20
The day indicates mental pressure so you may be
paying too much attention to your work. Your
analytical abilities are good today. In relationship
matters you may be adjusting and loving. This in
turn will make your partner shower love on you.
SAGITTARIUS NOV 21 - DEC 20
You may be confused about one or the other matter
today. Generally you finish off work in time but
today you may require more time to think over
various technical solutions. In love life, you may be
submissive. Let your partner plan the evening today.
CAPRICORN DEC 21 - JAN 20
If you want to discuss any important issue at office,
you are advised to reorganise it. Day is favourable
for inclusion of team member. You may be very
tender today. Your partner may wish to express him
or herself to which you will respond sympathetically.
AQUARIUS JAN 21 - FEB 20
PREVIOUS You may have important meetings. Technical work
may need to be handled carefully. It is day to rectify
ISSUE’S issues related to your systems and softwares. In
personal life, the case is reversed, ensure that there
SOLUTIONS is no issue created because of your carelessness.
PISCES FEB 21 - MARCH 20
You may be thinking about some technical stuff
which might be bothering you. Day doesn’t favour
permanent solutions but you can surely fix the
problem. Day favours love affairs so if you want to
propose or go for the first date, just go ahead.
Predictions by Bhavesh N. Pattni
16 ! ERGO Thursday, October 16, 2008

Arm bait
A German fisherman got the shock
of his life when he thought he’d
hooked a big fish - and found it
was a severed arm instead.

Say no to nose
After shedding his cap, singer
turned actor Himesh Reshammiya
has now done away with his nasal
twanged singing style in his new
film Karzzzz.
All is not lost, yet
“Yes, the song ‘Ek Haseena Thi’ is
the first song I have sung without
any nasal twang. Since it was a
Kishore Kumar song, I did not
change its style,” Himesh told PTI.
“Normally, I sing songs in high
octave. That gives it a nasal twang,
but for this song, I sang in medium
octave,” he explains.
Karzzzz, a remake of Subhash Ghai’s 1980
blockbuster Karz is scheduled for release
this Friday.
PTI

Roberto Saviano is tired

The author of a hard-hitting bestseller on
the Camorra plans to flee Italy after
learning that the Naples-area mafia wants
him dead by Christmas, a news report said
Wednesday.
“I will leave Italy, at least for awhile, then
we’ll see,” Roberto Saviano, author of
Gomorra, told the daily La Repubblica. “I
think I deserve a break.”
La Repubblica had reported on Tuesday
that the Camorra’s most powerful Casalesi
clan, one of the most violent, had decided
to kill Saviano and his bodyguard by
Christmas because his book “has made a
great deal of noise, created a mess.”
Filmmaker Matteo Garrone’s screen version
of Gomorra won second prize at the Cannes
film festival in May and is in the running
for an Oscar.
Private parties should come forward to support wildlife
“I want a life, I want a home. I want to fall
in love, to drink a beer in public,” said
conservation, says WWF India species director
Saviano, who has lived under police
protection for two years. AYON SENGUPTA the black-necked crane and sau- and the recent rise in numbers
AFP ayon@goergo.in rus; reptiles like gharials and sometimes leaves you dejected
crocodiles, and amphibian and and disheartened,” Banerjee

Gecko glue 10 times
stickier than Spidey suit
Liming Dai of University of Dayton, Ohio,
and Zhong Lin Wang of Georgia Institute of
Technology have revealed that they have
successfully used nanotubes to make a
material that is 10 times sticker
than some gecko lizards feet, and
can also be easily unstuck with a
tug in the right direction.
Gecko’s superhero toes are covered
in microscopic hairs, known as
setae, with even smaller branches at
the tips, called spatulae, which
ensure that its foot has a large
surface area in contact with any
surface, maximising the weak but
ever-present attraction between
adjacent molecules known as the
Van der Waals force.
Liming Dai and Zhong Lin Wang said that
they developed their artificial setae by
growing nested carbon nanotubes on a
silicon wafer.
ANI
T
he fast dwindling forest cov-
er (Forest Survey of India
2008 report states India’s
forest cover at 20.06 per cent
of the country’s total land area) in
India is creating panic among na-
ture lovers across the globe. The
sudden drop has adversely affect-
ed the large variety of wildlife in
Indian forests (the 2008 census
says the number of tigers stands
at 1411 in India, a dramatic fall
from 3600 tigers in the 2002 cen-
sus.) and the government and
various NGOs, including the
World Wildlife Fund (WWF), are
finding it increasingly difficult to
provide a safe, conducive envi-
ronment to the endangered spe-
cies.
But all is not lost and a syste-
matic and dedicated approach to
wildlife conservation can prevent
a catastrophe. WWF India species
director Sujoi Banerjee says:
“WWF India is working on a host
of species, ranging from mam-
mals such as tiger, lion, elephant,
rhino, nilgiri tahr, red panda and
gangetic dolphin to birds such as
marine species, including the tur-
tle and tortoise. I am happy with
the work of the species conserva-
tion programme, and the guys in
the field are very passionate and
dedicated and are executing
works which have a great conser-
vation impact on the site we are
working in.”
Facing a lot of hindrance in
their field work, various conser-
vation agencies are increasingly
finding it difficult to continue
with their work. “Despite the best
of efforts, wildlife is under con-
stant threat, and so are their hab-
itats. It is sometimes quite
frustrating to learn about wildlife
being killed in road-rail accidents
or by poaching. We are helpless
in dealing with these problems
Despite the best of
efforts, wildlife is
under constant
threat, and so are
their habitats
says.
Calling the government and
private players to play a more
positive role in conservation ac-
tivities, WWF India along with
various other bodies has drawn
out a roadmap to make Indian
forests healthier for their inhabi-
tants. “I feel that conservation ef-
forts need to be up-scaled and a
serious thought and successive
action with due support in terms
of logistics and funding need to
be provided if we want to see ani-
mals in the wild beyond the first
half of this century,” Banerjee
opines. “I also feel that private
parties should come forward to
support conservation. In today’s
time, we have large industrial
houses which are undertaking ta-
keovers of international compa-
nies. But their contribution to
conservation of forests and wild-
life is null. If the private sector
even commits as low as 0.5% of
its turnover for conservation,
there will be no dearth of money
for conserving wildlife in India.”
■