Brit men having moob jobs on the rise

London, Sep 18 (ANI): It has emerged that more and more Brit men are having cosmetic surgery to get rid of their “moobs”.

According to the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), there has been a 44 per cent year-on-year rise in the number of men wanting to get rid of their ‘man boobs’.

The AGM of BAAPS in Cardiff heard that the procedure is now the fifth most popular cosmetic op for men, with more than 1,000 men forking out more than 2,000 pounds to get rid of their flabby breasts in the last 12 months.

Delegates were told over the past five years the numbers of men losing their moobs have shot up by an amazing 1,000 per cent.

“We are seeing men of all ages coming in to have their breasts made smaller,” the Sun quoted plastic surgeon Douglas McGeorge as saying.

“They are losing their inhibitions about the operation and deciding to undergo an operation which previously was a women’s operation,” he said.

McGeorge, who is based in Chester, revealed that a recent patient, who had never taken his shirt off, was typical of the men queuing up for the op.

“It was a grandfather who had never taken off his T-shirt in his life because he was so embarrassed about the size of his breasts,” he said.

“He had never been able to strip to the waist on the beach in front of his own children – but was determined not to be in the same position with his grandchildren,” he stated.

The moob jobs pushed out facelifts to become the fifth most popular plastic surgery for British men after nose jobs, eyelifts, ear corrections, and liposuction.

“Reasons for the upsurge include men being more open now about their physique than years ago,” plastic surgeon Fazel Fatah said.

“And they can get more and more information about it from internet sites which encourage them to have the op,” he added. (ANI)

Japanese woman performs Hindu ancestral worship rites in Gaya

Gaya (Bihar), Sep 11(ANI): Tomoko Lee, a Japanese national, offered ‘Pinda Daan’, a Hindu ancestral worship rite in Gaya on Friday.

Lee said that it was dedicated to her grand parents.

“Yes, ‘Pinda Daan’ I have done for my grandfather and grandmother. Grandmother died about two years ago and grandfather died about a half year ago,” Lee said.

Ashok Pandey supervised the rituals. He said Lee may have been impressed by the way Hindus remember their ancestors and resolved to follow suit.

“She developed the urge for performing ‘Pinda Daan’ for her grandparents after seeing the faith of others,” said Pandey.

‘Pinda Daan’ is an annual ritual performed for ancestors.

Lee, a Buddhist, is a research scholar of Indian culture at the University of Tokyo. (ANI)

Israel accuses HRW of hitting a new low by hiring expert who collects Nazi memorabilia

Jerusalem, Sep.10 (ANI): Human Rights Watch’s employment of a man who trades and collects Nazi memorabilia as its “senior military expert” is a “new low” for the organization that frequently criticizes Israel, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s policy director Ron Dermer said Wednesday.

“I thought that nothing could top a human rights organization trying to raise money in Saudi Arabia, but I was apparently wrong,” said Dermer.

According to the Jerusalem Post, Dermer was referring to reports, both in the blogosphere and the press, that Marc Garlasco, HRW’s senior military expert, who has written numerous reports condemning Israel, is an avid collector of Nazi memorabilia.

Omri Ceren, on a blog called Mere Rhetoric, wrote that Garlasco was “obsessed with the color and pageantry of Nazism, has published a detailed 430-page book on Nazi war paraphernalia, and participates in forums for Nazi souvenir collectors.”

Dermer said the revelations made it “easier to understand how an organization that was initially called Helsinki Watch, and was dedicated to helping brave Soviet dissidents fight against tyranny, has turned into an organization that facilitates the assault of some of the worst regimes and terror groups against the very democratic countries that uphold human rights.

HRW issued a statement saying that Garlasco’s family experience on both sides of WWII – his grandfather was in the German army and his great-uncle was in the US air force – led him to collect military memorabilia from that period.

HRW emphatically denied that Garlasco was a Nazi sympathizer because he “collected German [as well as American] military memorabilia.”

HRW said the “accusation is demonstrably false and fits into a campaign to deflect attention from Human Rights Watch’s rigorous and detailed reporting on violations of international human rights and humanitarian law by the Israeli government.” (ANI)

8-year-old Brit boy hopes to become world’s youngest wing-walker

London, Aug 19 (ANI): An eight-year-old boy is hoping to become the youngest person in the world to wing-walk.iger Brewer, from London, will be taking to the skies on the wing of his grandfather’s biplane.

His grandfather is Vic Norman, who operates the only formation wing-walking team in the world.

Tiger will be soaring through the skies in Gloucestershire at 100mph and flying high at about 1,000 feet.

His mum, Zoe, is completely unfazed by what her son is up to.

“My siblings and I have all grown up doing all sorts of weird things and I wouldn’t let him do it if I didn’t think it was perfectly safe,” Sky News quoted her as saying.

“He’s with my father and I trust him absolutely,” she added.

Tiger, meanwhile, is ‘excited, and a teeny bit nervous – and happy’.

“I’ve stood on a biplane but I’ve never flown on one,” he said.

The world record is presently held by Guy Mason, son of Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason, who first wing-walked in 2001 at the age of 11.

Norman is hopeful his grandson will fly into the record books.

“It will be wonderful to fly with Tiger on my wing, he shares my passion for flying and it will be a very special experience for us both,” he said. (ANI)

Zardari’s daughter to join politics after finishing studies

Islamabad, July 8 (ANI): Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has informed the PPP workers that his daughter Bakhtawar, who is studying in Scotland, would join politics after finishing her education.

“Her (Bakhtawar) and Bilawal’s active participation in politics will be the continuation of the valiant struggle that their mother and grandfather had waged,” Zardari told PPP’s Central Executive Committee on Monday.

The News quoted a senior PPP leader, as saying that Zardari talked about the political plan for his daughter when he spoke on the empowerment and involvement of women in different spheres of life.

“There are some people and families, which love to live for others contrary to the general lot,” he said while referring to his daughter’s future participation in politics.

Zardari added that the objective behind making his sister, Faryal Talpur, chief of the PPP’s women’s wing, was to give women an important say in PPP’s affairs.n the implementation of the Charter of Democracy, Zardari said it was now for the 27-member parliamentary committee’s prerogative to suggest constitutional reforms.

He also pointed out that just two parties – the PPP and the PML-N – were signatories to the CoD while all other parties have nothing to do with this document.

“We can’t close the door on their proposals and should produce a consensus constitutional amendment bill taking all the parties along,” a source quoted Zardari, as saying.(ANI)

Rupert Grint says he doesn’t know what to do with all his money

New Delhi, July 6 (ANI): Rupert Grint, who plays Ron Weasley in the ‘Harry Potter’ film franchise, says that he doesn’t know what to do with all his money.

Grint, 20, only realised how rich he was when he was featured in Forbes’ list of top earning young superstars in 2007, reports the China Daily.

“There was a moment where I remember thinking, ‘I have no idea what I’m going to do with all this money,’ ” he said.

Despite his worries, the star has made every effort top put a dent in his wealth, buying a pick-up truck, banjo, ice cream van, hovercraft and a home for his parents – but still prefers other aspects of fame.

“Money isn’t the only good thing about the job. I’ve gotten to meet heroes like Robin Williams. Although, my grandfather spent the whole time doing Mrs. Doubtfire impressions,” Rupert said.

Rupert has also revealed that both he and Daniel Radcliffe have crush on their ‘Harry Potter’ co-star Emma Watson.

He told FHM magazine: “Emma’s a pretty girl. Have Daniel or I ever hit on Emma? Well, she’s quite popular with the cast. As for who has the worst crush on her – me or Daniel – I’d rather not say.” (ANI)

Jacko bleached skin, rebuilt face to avoid looking like his ‘bullying’ dad

London, July 2 (ANI): Late King of Pop Michael Jackson reportedly did not want to look like his “bullying” dad, and that is why he bleached his skin and butchered his face with surgery.

Jackson’s pal John Randy Taraborrelli, a journalist who has known him for 40 years, has revealed that he was petrified he would grow into an identical version of Joe.

Taraborrelli’s statement has come at a time when, amid speculation over whether Jacko really fathered his three children, rumours have started to circulate that the star’s hatred of his violent dad stopped him from reproducing, as he feared they would look like their grandfather.

Taraborrelli, 53, said that Jackson was traumatised by regular beatings from his dad, now 79.

“His motive for cosmetic surgery was not, as many surmised, too look more like his idol Diana Ross,” the Daily Star quoted him as saying.

“It was so that he would look less like his father – the man who had so mistreated him and whose strong, broad-nosed face he saw looking back at him from the mirror,” he added.

As Joe managed his kids to success as The Jackson 5, he would punish anyone fluffing up in rehearsals for big shows.

Since Michael led the group, he inevitably took most of the flak.

“The violence worsened as the boys got older and the music business became their life,” Taraborrelli said.

“When he was late for one rehearsal, Joseph came up from behind and shoved him. Michael fell and was badly bruised.

“Michael was spirited enough to fight back, once he hurled a shoe at his father but Joseph screamed: ‘Boy, you just signed your own death warrant.’

“He then held Michael upside down by one leg and pummelled him over and over,” he added.

However, said the journalist, Jackon’s obsession with surgery ruined his looks.

Taraborrelli said: “His appearance was becoming increasingly bizarre. He had also begun using a skin-bleaching cream, which he bought by the crate. Gone was the brown-skinned, broad-nosed youth with an Afro whose natural charisma charmed an audience.”

The journalist added: “In his place was a fragile, doll-like man it was impossible not to stare at in disbelief. He had achieved his goal of transforming himself, but at a barely imaginable price. In the public’s eyes, all this made him not only a freak but a joke.” (ANI)

Che Guevara’s granddaughter poses semi-nude for PETA

London, June 19 (ANI): Cuban revolutionary leader Ernesto “Che” Guevara’s granddaughter is at the forefront of a PETA campaign for a vegetarian revolution.

PETA spokesman Michael McGraw said that Lydia Guevara has posed semi-nude in the campaign that tells viewers to “join the vegetarian revolution.”

He said that the print campaign is expected to debut in October in magazines and posters.

It will be launched first in Argentina, where Che Guevara was born, and then internationally.cGraw said that PETA approached the 24-year-old in recent months after finding out she was a vegetarian.

In the ad, Lydia Guevara wears camouflage pants, a red beret, and bandoliers of baby carrots while standing with one fist on her hip and the other outstretched.

“It very much evokes the tag line of the ad, which is ‘Join the vegetarian revolution.’ It’s an homage of sorts to her late grandfather,” the Telegraph quoted McGraw as saying. (ANI)

Ice cream maker jets in Italian tenor to sing to cows to get creamier milk!

London, May 16 (ANI): Ice cream maker Frank Frederick has jetted in an Italian opera tenor to serenade his herd of cows, hoping they will produce creamier milk.

Frederick, who is re-launching a 100-year-old brand based on an old family recipe, flew in renowned tenor Marcello Bedoni to Lancashire to create a merry environment for the animals.

“My grandfather always sang to the cows before milking and in our quest to recreate the gelato my brother and I enjoyed as children, we are sticking faithfully to his recipe,” the Telegraph quoted Frederick as saying.

“The cows will enjoy the recital and this will be reflected in the quality of the milk they produce for us. The passion of the music will be reflected in the product.

“We also plan to stage opera performances within the Antonio Federici factory this summer for our work force so that everyone enjoys the benefits of this wonderful music,” he added.

Hayley Campbell-Gibbons, Dairy Adviser to the NFU said: “Soothing sounds or music can reduce stress and induce relaxation and a healthy, contented cow is likely to produce more milk and anything that enhances that can only be a good thing.”

Bedoni added: “I am looking forward to the concerts – the cows are such gentle beasts and have a good ear for opera. I have put together a special repertoire for my audience including soothing arias and Napolitan songs. I am steering clear of rousing numbers like Wagner and Carmina Burana!” (ANI)

Queen Mary’s letters to friend to go under the hammer

London, May 14 (ANI): A collection of personal letters and photographs addressed to a friend by Queen Mary have come into the limelight for the first time and are set to go under the hammer.

The collection, spanning half a century, unravels the correspondence between the royal and her friend, Kate Rube, and later Rube’s daughter Elizabeth Gillman.

The set includes details of the birth and christening of Queen Elizabeth II, cheques made out to Queen Mary from her pal, Christmas cards from the Queen, messages of thanks, photographs and telegrams.

And now Rube’s great granddaughter, Ann Wilton, has decided to sell the family treasures.

“I have no idea how my great grandmother became friendly with the Queen. I would really like to know, but the details have been lost in the mists of time,” the Telegraph quoted Ann as saying.

“I know my great grandfather was wealthy and put a lot of money towards building the Royal Albert Hall, so maybe that was how they met. The Queen and my great grandmother remained friends and after she died the Queen continued to correspond with my grandmother,” she added.

The collection of more than 50 items of correspondence is expected to fetch more than 1,000 pounds at the auction at Duke’s of Dorchester in Dorset on May 30.

Deborah Doyle from Duke’s, said: “This amazing collection of Queen Mary ephemera must be one of the largest and varied important collections to come onto the open market. The collection is sure to appeal to many collectors.” (ANI)

Arizona University guests to brave scorching sun for Obama’s speech

Washington, May 8 (ANI): President Obama will address the Arizona State University’s commencement on a day when temperature will hit 98 degrees. People who want to see Obama speak are likely to bake in sun for hours.

Around 65,000 people are expected to attend Obama’s address, and they are being told to come at least four hours in advance to clear security checks. Many are complaining.

Sharon Erickson, the mother of a graduate student receiving her masters’ degree on Wednesday, said she’s appalled.

“I’m an upset mother. People are very upset about this. There is no shade in the football stadium where the ceremonies will be held,” Foxnews.com quoted Erickson, as saying.

Erickson added that her daughter is the first to earn a post-graduate degree in the family but that her 81-year-old grandfather won’t be able to attend because he can’t sit in the heat for that long.

The university is telling guests and graduates to begin arriving in groups starting at 3 p.m. local time that day. Bachelor’s graduates are supposed to arrive first, followed by master’s graduates at 3:30 p.m. Doctorate recipients are told to arrive a half-hour later, followed by all other guests at 4:30 p.m. Obama doesn’t speak until 7 p.m.

But university spokeswoman Terri Shafer said there’s nothing Arizona State can do.

“If we don’t do it that way, people will be jammed up at the gates. In an ideal world, we’d love to bring them in as late as possible. It’s just not physically possible,” Shafer said while adding that doors open four hours early to make sure that everyone can clear the metal detectors in time for Obama’s address.

She said the university would be providing water, as well as entertainment, for those stuck in the stadium for hours.

The university previously held graduation ceremonies in the indoor Wells Fargo Arena. Shafer said the university eventually was planning to move out of that arena because the crowds were getting too big, and that Obama’s arrival was an “incentive” to do so. (ANI)

Interesting Facts and Figures: Johnny Lever

He was born Janardhana Rao aka ISHAAN NATH

Janardhana Rao famously known as Johnny Lever (born 14 August, 1956) is an actor in Hindi cinema known as a comedian of great regard, who has appeared in several films since the 1980s playing comic supporting roles.

Johnny Lever started off as a comedian in real life while still at school. His beginnings as a comedian in his village consisted mainly of imitations of his teachers, his father and his grandfather. He could not study much though and dropped out of school when he was in seventh grade.

Lever got his first break in Indian cinema was in the film Dard Ka Rishta, thanks to the late Sunil Dutt, who saw him perform at a charity show organized by Kalyanji-Anandji. Since then, Johnny has worked in more than 160 films.

Even though he mimics many people, he has created a style of his own which makes him unique.

His younger brother Jimmy Moses, is too, a stand-up comedian and mimcry artist.

He also starred on Zee TV on his own show called Johny Aala Re. In 2007.

He also appeared as a judge on the stand-up reality show Comedy Circus.

He often appears in cameos with Shahrukh Khan.

On 8 December 1998, Johnny Lever was convicted and sentenced to seven days imprisonment for disrespect to the Indian National Anthem and Indian Constitution during a private performance in Dubai. According to the Police, this private performance was on the occasion of birthday party of the son of Anis Ibrahim, brother of international smuggler and terrorist Dawood Ibrahim.

He is married to Sujatha and they have two children Ishak and Jesse.

Here’s everything you wanted to know about Obamas’ pooch!

New York, April 13 (ANI): A 6-month-old Portuguese water dog is set to become the envy of his fellow pooches when he paws into the house and lives of the US First Family, the Obamas.

President Barack Obama had promised his daughters Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, a puppy during the campaign.

And now the much-loved leader has kept his word by settling on the black and white pup, whom the little girls have decided to call Bo.

According to the Washington Post, both Malia and Sasha chose their pooch’s name after their cousin’s cat Bo, and also because their grandfather was nicknamed Diddley, after rocker Bo Diddley.

The ‘First Dog’, adorable with black fur, a white chest, white paws and a white goatee, comes from a kennel in Texas and was originally with another family.

But breeder Art Stern said things were “not working out” with the previous owners and “It wasn’t a problem with the puppy.”

“He is a very nice, easygoing puppy … typical Portuguese water dog, very smart,” the New York Daily News quoted him as saying.

“He’s got a very good temperament for a family with a lot of hustle and bustle and activity. He’s easygoing, adaptable, loves everybody,” he added.

Bo is allegedly a gift from Senator Ted Kennedy, a proud Portuguese water dogs owner, who said: “We couldn’t be happier to see the joy that Bo is bringing to Malia and Sasha.”

Bo was dubbed as a natural fit for the first-time dog owners Obamas keeping in mind Malia’s allergy.

And the canine was claimed to have already become a family favourite during a secret acquaintance at the White House.

The Post reported: “He sat when the girls sat, stood when the girls stood. He made no toileting errors and did not gnaw on the furniture.

A source at the meeting said: “He’s sooooo cute. It’s very exciting. They had a great meeting.” (ANI)

A Thackeray daughter-in-law debuts in electoral politics

Mumbai, April 7 (IANS) She is a Punjabi born in Uttar Pradesh, but she has been fielded in the Lok Sabha elections by the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), a party widely perceived to be anti-north Indian. What’s more, she is a Thackeray.

Shalini Thackeray, 40, is the first daughter-in-law from the politically powerful Maharashtrian family to enter the heat and dust of electoral politics.

She is the wife of Jeetendra Thackeray, a cousin of MNS founder Raj. Going around her constituency of Mumbai North West, meeting people from all walks of life, she seeks to dispel many myths about herself and her chosen party.

‘I am into this because of my conviction and faith in Raj’s policies and his vision for Maharashtra,’ she said.

‘(There is this) wrong image that my party is against north Indians living or working in the state, or that I am a novice from the Thackeray family entering politics just for kicks. Mind you, I have been working with MNS for three years and heading my family business for many years, so I am no Rabri Devi,’ Thackeray said and smiled.

Thackeray told IANS that contrary to certain perceptions, MNS was simply against the unchecked influx of people into Mumbai and elsewhere in Maharashtra.

‘We are not against any group or community or caste or religion, but against influx. Uncontrolled influx leads to a spurt in crime and builds pressures on the state’s limited resources such as water supply, housing and infrastructure.

‘If I am elected as MP, I shall definitely examine how to tackle this issue without compromising anybody’s interests,’ Thackeray said.

Her qualifications – including an MBA in marketing from Massachusetts – have made her realise the importance of better coordination among elected representatives at the municipal, assembly and parliament levels to solve people’s problems effectively.

‘Apart from being concerned with national or international issues, why can’t the MP be concerned about local issues? I shall initiate appropriate steps to ensure that even MPs can exercise some authority or control over local developmental issues,’ said Shalini.

The third important cause she promises to champion concerns women. Though women have made great strides, Thackeray feels that a lot needs to be done on the education, health and financial fronts.

Thackeray is unfazed by the stalwarts pitted against her, including Shiv Sena’s Gajanan Kirtikar, the Congress’ Gurudas Kamat, the Samajwadi Party’s Abu Asim Azmi and others.

When Raj Thackeray launched the MNS three years ago, like many other professionals and technocrats, she too joined him and worked in and around Mumbai’s north-western suburbs.

She hails from a family of freedom fighters who were displaced during India’s partition.

Born in Bareilly town in Uttar Pradesh into a Punjabi family as Shalini Bhagat, her grandfather Bhagat Ram Talwar was a confidant of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

She married Jitendra Thackeray, a former Ranji cricketer whose grandfather Damodar was the uncle of Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray.

Before joining the MNS, Shalini was engrossed in the family’s traditional business.

‘I can prepare both ‘puran poli’ (traditional Marathi sweet dish) and ‘pakora curry’ (a Punjabi accompaniment) with ease,’ she said. ‘I think I fit the MNS ideology to the core.’

French star sets goals for street kids

NEW DELHI: On a talent hunt mission, his `goal’ is clear. To help the streetchildren of India beat poverty and embrace football as a way to a better
and secure future. On Saturday morning, former French football star VikasH Dhorasoo whose grandfather migrated from India did just that, motivating street kids and connecting with them.

For 30 kids, it was a special day as they took the field at St Columba’s School with the sport icon, showcasing their skills in a football match between teams headed by Dhorasoo and Indian team vice-captain Renedy Singh. Organised by UK-based Consortium for Street Children (CSC), the match between Dhorasoo XI and Renedy XI was the first in a series for choosing the best talent.

The excitement, both on and off the field, was palpable. Ram Kewal, adjudged player of the match for striking three goals for Dhorasoo XI, was all praise for the former French midfielder. Speaking after the game, Kewal, a class X student of DAV School, Chitragupt Road, said: “It is a dream come true to play with Dhorasoo. The passing, combination strategy were amazing. Hope I will play for India one day.”

“We have seen him on TV and today we played with him. He taught us a few techniques. I still feel it is a dream,” said Anis, a class XII student of DAV Pusa Road and a fan of Manchester United and Kaka.

Dhorasoo also connected with these children, for he himself has fought his way up against poverty, racism and discrimination in France. “I know football can change life as it did for me. I also came from a humble background. I was born in the poor district of Le Havre in France and therefore I can relate to these street children. I want to motivate them so that they can live their dreams.”

Dhorasoo said that his visit to India is not to find an international footballer, but to help the street children through the game. “My work is not to make great footballers, but to make football a way of life. My aim is to take football beyond entertainment,” he said.

The FIFA World Cup footballer approached the CSC showing his interest to do something for street children in India. With football his forte, he decided to make the game as a tool for uplift of the underpriviledged kids. “I hope a partnership will grow out of this. This is definitely not my last trip to India and I am open to help Indian football at the grassroot level. This event will help identify talented young players and we will sponsor their education as well as train and expose them to professional football.”

Showing his Indian side, Dhorasoo, a movie buff, said, “I look like an Indian”, before singing the first few stanzas of `Jimmy Jimmy jimmy Aja Aja Aja’.

97-year-old daredevil skydives from plane at 10,000ft!

London, April 5 (ANI): A 97-year-old man braved a hair-raising jump from a plane at 10,000 feet to raise money for the Royal National Life-Boat Institution.

Pensioner George Moyse, Bournemouth, Dorset, succeeded his first skydive with Instructor Mike Jeng at Netheravon Airfield in Wiltshire.

“It was lovely, I really enjoyed it, I wasn’t frightened at all. It was the first time but it won’t be the last,” the Telegraph quoted him as saying.

George thanked his stars for letting his health and mobility to allow him to be a daredevil.

He said: “I do not sit around. I get about, I go for a walk every day and I do my own cooking, washing, ironing, everything. I have just been lucky to be so agile.”

His 43-year-old grandson Edward Brewer also took the parachute plunge with another trainer to help the Royal Air Forces Association.
He said: “This is all my grandfather’s idea. He has supported the RNLI all his life so they were the obvious beneficiaries when he decided he really wanted to do the jump.

“Both the volunteer lifeboat crew and lifeguards do a fantastic job to keep us safe on and in the water and as a charity they receive no government funding at all so to be able to do something so amazing and raise money for them is something my grandfather really wanted to do and if he can do it, so can I.” (ANI)

Family heirloom getting spoilt? Help is at hand

Chandigarh, April 2 (IANS) Want to learn how to restore an old black and white photograph of your grandmother, your grandfather’s watch, antique furniture, a lucky cup or an old painting? Experts from the government museum here will show you how.

Last week, they were even coming home to do so, in an initiative of the Outreach Activity Centre of the Government Museum and Art Gallery. The centre’s week-long mobile conservation workshop ended Wednesday.

During the workshop, art restoration experts travelled to schools and colleges, prominent tourist destinations and residential neighbourhoods of this city to create awareness about the techniques of conservation and restoration.

‘This is the first time such a workshop is being conducted in northern India,’ Navjot Randhawa, director of the museum and art gallery, told IANS. ‘Our main aim behind this mobile workshop is to create awareness among masses about the heritage wealth that they have right in their own houses.

‘In India, we have a tendency to throw things out once they are outdated, but in western countries, this conservation process is quite common. People in those countries are ready to spend huge amounts to preserve their old accessories.’

Well-known conservator Namita Jaspal, who was coordinating the workshop, said: ‘Everything of the past has some special history related to it and it is the duty of the current generation to safeguard this, so that even the future generations can enjoy its beauty.’

Explaining the concept and scope of restoration, she said: ‘It is the process to preserve the ancient items for years to come. There is a wide scope in this area of study and many universities are also offering specialised courses in conservation.’

Jaspal said that the restoration process could be applied to sculptures, buildings, monuments, silver articles, antiques, wood and ancient artwork. It helped to preserve valuables and extend their life and beauty, she pointed out.

‘One can bring anything (to the museum) from his family heirloom, like pictures, albums, old inherited furniture, jewellery, coins, textiles, hand-written letters, documents. We have solutions for everything.’

Many residents and young artists took keen interest in the workshop.

‘The tips that they are giving to prolong the life span of our creations are really useful. Normally we use adhesives or tapes to preserve our work but here we came to know that they are the biggest adversaries of the art work,’ Sidhartha Chatterjee, a painter and a student of fine arts here, told IANS.

K.D. Sharma, a retired army official, said: ‘I invited the mobile van of conservators to my home as I have an assortment of over 100-year-old antique pieces rusting in my store room. It is really praiseworthy that they are providing these services free.’

PPP leaders anxious about Bilawal Bhutto’s security

Karachi, Mar. 27 (ANI): Pakistan People’s Party leaders are concerned about the security of party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, who is currently in Pakistan to attend the joint session of the Parliament and the death anniversary of his late grandfather Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

Bilawal Bhutto has been moving across the country publicly leaving people quite surprised.

He was spotted shopping in the Clifton and Defence area, and also stepped out of his bulletproof vehicle in Larkana to buy fruits from a local stall.

Senior party leaders are concerned about his security being handled by the same people who were responsible for Benazir Bhutto’s security prior to assassination.

Bilawal plans to meet party leaders and consult them on party and government affairs.

Sources said Bilawal is keen to bring back old party leaders into the decision-making process, is also having reservations about some government affairs.

Party cadres are happy to see Bilawal active in the country.

“I am not worried about the party’s future. Bilawal Bhutto is our chairman and the party will unite under his leadership,” a senior party worker told The News. (ANI)

J. K. Rowling, Britney, and Becks’ London roots revealed

London, March 27 (ANI): Renowned ‘Harry Potter’ author J. K. Rowling, pop princess Britney Spears, and ace footballer David Beckham may check out their family trees on the Internet within seconds, for their ancestors have been found in London records.

A register from All Saints church in Mile End New Town, east London, a 19-year-old blacksmith named William Rowling married his sweetheart Frances Andrews on December 8, 1872.

Publicly available records show that William and Frances had seven children, including a son called Frank, born a decade after their marriage.

According to the Telegraph, Frank Rowling’s son Ernest, born in 1916, in turn had a son called Peter in 1945, who is J. K. Rowling’s father.

As regards Britney’s family tree, a 1923 register from St John’s Church in Tottenham, north London, shows the marriage of her great grandfather George Portell, a Royal Naval seaman, to 25-year-old Lillian Lewis.

The newspaper also reports that David Beckham’s great-great-great grandparents John Beckham and Sarah Chandler appear on an 1868 marriage register from St Stephen’s church in Southwark. (ANI)

Tushar Gandhi terms return of his great grandfather’s belongings a ‘miracle’

Mumbai/New Delhi, Mar 6 (ANI): Tushar Gandhi, the great grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, today termed the return of his grandfather’s items as a ‘miracle’.

Expressing his joy, Tushar said he was grateful to liquor and airline magnate Vijay Mallya for coughing up 1.8 million dollars for the treasured icons.

“Ever since this happened, I’ve been saying that a miracle can happen in an instant, and yesterday, a miracle happened again. We never expected that Mallya would step in and save the nation’s pride in this manner. And what he has done, is a case of great patriotism. I bow my head to him. I think this is an admirable act that he has done,” he said.

“It’s worth all the troubles and it’s worth all the tensions. Its worth all the hard work that I had to put in for so many days. I think the reward is much more than what I had expected,” a relieved Tushar said.

He said it would have been a disgrace if India had lost all the articles to some other bidder.

“If by any chance, we had lost these things to somebody else, it would have been a national disgrace. India would have been turned into a laughing stock in the world that we could not even save something that we feel so passionate about. So, I think it’s wonderful that our honour has remained intact,” he said.

Expressing satisfaction, Union Tourism Minister Ambika Soni said the government was limited by its own restrictions, and therefore, could not have taken a more direct approach.

“The government has many restrictions. Firstly it has to be seen which ministry will bid at the auction and to what extent, and which ministry has set aside money for the auction in its budget. No ministry has set aside so much money,” said Soni.

The controversial auction had gone ahead in New York, despite protests from India, and the United States-based owner James Otis’ last-minute attempt to halt it.

The items to be auctioned included Gandhi’s round glasses, a pocket watch, leather sandals, plate and bowl for sale. Otis decided to withdraw from the auction only after the bidding had begun.

The auction was sharply criticized in India. Many view the items as part of the national heritage and want them placed in a museum.

Some Indians said the sale went against the philosophy of a man who shunned material possessions and led an ascetic life. (ANI)