Arnab Nandy

arnabnandy87@gmail.com

The horse-trading season is here. The trading begins as soon as the election results are declared.

Suppose you are a first time MP just elected. On the first day, two guys walk into your house and offer you Rs 100 crore for supporting their party desperately trying to cobble up a government at the Centre. This is followed by two other groups offering half the amount but with a ministerial berth. This is not a scene from the flight of imagination but a typical behind-the-Democracy Wall operation to make democracy safe for the people.

Say a party needs 40 or 50 horses to form the government, then each horse may demand anything between 10 to 25 crore rupees. But if the fate of a party depends on just one or two horses, then the price rises dramatically. It might be as much as 100 crore per horse or even more! Like they say, ‘sky is the limit!’

When the people do not give a clear mandate, the major political parties have to pay the price. The bookies who have sharp business sense project the Congress at 160-170, yet short of the magical 255. Unless the Third Front, or Mayawati or Navin Patnaik helps, the Congress will find it an uphill task. BJP with 130-140 may find it harder this time than when Vajpayee cobbled a successful front. It might even prop up Maya or Navin to checkmate the Congress.

The Third Front has nothing to lose by playing the spoiler. After all, comrades Karat and Yechury have contributed to some of the finest TV shots during the nuclear deal debate.
But where do political parties get this kind of money? Your Swiss bank you can bank upon. On a conservative estimate, the Indian money in Swiss banks ranges from $500 billion (Rs 2,50,00,00,00,00,000) to $1400 billion (Rs 7,00,00,00,00,00,000). The professional estimate of the Global Financial Integrity study is $27.3 billion flowing out of India into secret bank accounts every year.

Did someone say anything about taxpayers’ money going to the drains?

Diksha Kamra

diksha.kamra@gmail.com

The Making of a Talk Show

Basking in reflected fame and glory

How do you produce a talk show— especially during elections? Arguments, debate, charges, counter-charges, heat and light. Battle for India on CNN-IBN hosted by youth icon Rajdeep Sardesai had the making of it all.

The studio had more cameras than people around. The cameras surrounded us from all possible directions. The flood of lights was like a canopy of stars. The audience, a bunch of politically-charged students enthusiastic to be a part of the show, were awaiting the drama to begin.

Rajdeep, the anchor, entered a few minutes later and had a tete-a-tete with the youngsters. “How many amongst you will vote for the Congress?” he asked. “How many for BJP? Do you want a young prime minister? Anybody outside politics you think should become the P.M?” The audience responded:“Aamir Khan” “Ratan Tata” and even “Sanjay Dutt” to which he gave a jabreaks. Please be an animated audience. Feel free to applaud and express your views on the speakers’ w dropping response; “Sanjay Dutt will be very bad.” But he nodded in agreement for Ratan Tata.

“We begin and end the show with a big applause. We do the same before and after the comments,” Rajdeep told the audience. An assistant stood behind him adjusting the mike. The three speakers representing BJP, the Congress and CPM entered and took their places on the podiums. And finally the show began!

Cameras from different directions were focused on a range of angles. One directed on the anchor, other to get the perfect gaze of the audience. And a huge video camera rested on a long chord, erupting from the back of the audience slowly zooming in on the face of the speakers.

The show was not telecast live. So the audience was asked to clap again and again, when the anchor went wrong with the opening shot. For instance, Rajdeep in an energetic tone started, “Hello and welcome to Battle for India,” and the audience clapped. Unsatisfied with the punch of the opening remark, he spoke into the micro-phone: “Sorry, I will take that again.” So he repeated his intro and the audience burst into an applause.

Again, in the middle of the show, he repeated the question to the BJP speaker, for better impact. That is the way it is in a talk show, especially when it is not live. Rajdeep Sardesai, with ‘Raj’ in his first name and ‘Sar’ in the surname, nevertheless lived up to his reputation, and emerged the King of the Show!

Television is for the rich

Muniba Kamal Musharrif, The News International’s columnist, talks to Creative Thinker.

“Is Media Jingoism fanning Indo-Pak tensions?” This was the topic hotly debated by five Pakistani and five Indian journalists at India International Centre (IIC) on Wednesday, April 15. A first timer amongst them was Muniba. After pouring her thoughts on the same in the panel discussion organized by Foundation for media professionals (FMC), we approached her for a chat.

Her lips widened in a warm smile. “Come let us sit and talk. Do you mind sitting there?” she asked directing her finger towards a table, “far from the maddening crowd.” Meanwhile she welcomes everyone approaching her (for a byte or an interview or just a chat) with a charming smile.

“Television represents only the rich and not the poor…” Don’t you think, even when poverty is made a part of television (big screen and small screen) only the evils of poverty have been focused?
Yes, but that is only our fault of overlooking their potential. In Pakistan, poverty is a part of the fabric of society. There is not much gap between the haves and the have-nots. Very rarely it so happens that poverty has been touched upon in television, the recent example being Slumdog Millionaire. But people in India have not rejoiced as much since a “foreigner” has made the movie. The reality of Dharavi, Asia’s largest slum, has not been portrayed by any Indian film-maker. We shun terrorists, but never try to find out why people turn to terrorism. Poor and illiterate, they have no goals in life. But it is our responsibility to reach out to them and make a difference.

How should poverty be shown in the media?
When I get a story and present it on television, people listen and connect. But people of our country respond even better to an Urdu channel than an English channel. Even if I am fluent in Urdu, there might be someone in a slum who can speak better Urdu and get better stories. But I have an edge socially and technologically. If only we can reach out to people from the slums, recognize their problems and provide them a platform where they can express their anxieties and real issues, then that will bring immense progress in both India and Pakistan.

How is Karachi as a city?
Karachi is to Pakistan what Mumbai is to India. Although Delhi is cleaner and more peaceful, Karachi is the heart of Pakistan.

How often have you been to India?
I am Karachi born and Karachi brought-up. I am really fond of Indian stars; people like Shahrukh Khan and Amitabh Bachchan rule the big screen. It is interesting to meet journalists from other parts of the world. We really can connect better.

SOUMI'S WORLD

Soumi Dey

soumi.4u@gmail.com

These are the prize-winning sketches of Soumi.

Arnab Nandy

arnabnandy87@gmail.com

THE APOCALYPTICAL HOUR

When you have 500 million educated young people unemployed, who have no hope of a decent living, or access to basic amenities like healthcare, you cannot expect them to add value to society. That is Narayana Murthy’s analysis of the current Indian scenario.

No wonder, politics today is ruled by lunatics and desperados who fish in troubled waters. A certain politician in his infinite wisdom wanted to ban computers and English! It rings bells to what a Pakistani maulana said the other day: ‘Democracy is anti-Islam’!

Just think of Salil, Rahim and Tony who had passed out of college two years ago but were still unemployed. They were sitting at a dhaba and smoking when the local leader of a political party approached them. “We are calling a rail roko next week. If you guys join us, we will give you Rs 500.” Would you blame the three unemployed for taking up the disruptive work? It’s only a Road to Terrorism. Then you wonder why terrorism succeeds so well in this land. You have human cannon fodder— intelligent, perceptive, innovative, ready to help at the drop of a hat.

You may say `Troublemakers are all over the country – Naxals, moral police, bandh monsters …’ The educated unemployed have so many choices before them, except of course a job profile.

If Pakistan had not descended to its present abyss of chaos, it would not have been sending misguided young men like Ajmal Kasav across the border. Now with the alarming rate of population explosion and burgeoning unemployment in India and Pakistan, it is the apocalyptical hour of Uriah Heep!

Sruthy Susan Ullas

ullassruthy@gmail.com

CHILDREN’S CONSTITUENCY

O Neta (leader), Our Neta, what do you promise us during this election? A land of rape, murder, kidnapping and carnage? We are the future of India, yet there is a conspiracy of silence about us in your campaign speeches. We are the hope of India, yet you give us no hope. We will be the torch-bearers of a great civilization, yet you have no word for us! You have no thought for India’s future; instead, you care only for vote-bank politics – counting (black) money, sending goons brigade to disturb peace and tranquillity, and count corpses as a short cut to your power game.

SHOOT THEM ALL
Not with Bullets but through Ballots

If Oscars could win elections, Manmohan Singh is already prime minister for the second term. Indian heartthrobs have won beauty contests, Indian cricket teams have won world cups, Indian brains have helped crack the nutty Y2k problem, Indian business magnates have acquired global status, and India has emerged as the second fastest growing economy. As the Father of India’s Economic Reforms that made things possible, Manmohan Singh deserves credit. The man has shined in every post he occupied, from a professor at Delhi School of Economics to RBI governor to Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission to Finance minister to Prime Minister. Manmohan Singh is indeed the best prime ministerial candidate, but does that mean anything to the electorate?

L K Advani, projected as the saffron prime ministerial candidate, has very little to show on the performance side. His public statements have been disproved more than once, suggesting a possible credibility gap. He lacks the stature of Atal Behari Vajpayee, the acceptability of Sushma Swaraj, the ebullience of Arun Jaitley. His Machiavellian machinations have added numbers decisively but have also multiplied enemies within who could bring him down. Not a front runner in any of the popularity polls, he will be least acceptable for other party political wigs who would be king-makers in the post-poll scenario.

Look at Mayawati’s spectacular rise and her potential to challenge any serious contender. On her own she can win more seats than Advani or Manmohan. But on her own, she cannot get the magic number. She needs the Third Front and the Congress to realize her prime ministerial ambition. Without getting closer to the Third Front, she has left her options wide open – for friends, former friends, future friends, and even friend’s enemies. She knows in politics friendship is all about numbers.

Do not underestimate Pawar. In a horse trading game, he could outwit the winnable, with Maharashtra’s sugar lobby backing him. If the Left get a sizable number, which is unlikely, Pawar could be Mayawati’s nemesis.

In Andhra, Chandrababu Naidu has nowhere to go. He will not be averse to a stint in Delhi, if the Left hand it over to him on a platter. Jayalalithaa won’t mind playing `the tail wagging the dog’ as she did with the rickety Vajpayee government of the first term. But don’t be surprised if Maya finds that the 09 polls was a big maya!

Now a word of caution: Don’t trust pollsters and psephologists because they are wrong all the time. And look at the comedy of Indian politics. The moral police in Mumbai are thrashing north Indians for purely moral reasons. The moral police in Orissa are raping nuns for purely moral reasons. The moral police in Mangalore are beating up girls in the pub for purely moral reasons. The moral police elsewhere break windowpanes and glasses on Valentine’s Day for purely moral reasons. In the brave new world of Indian politics, morality and brutality are synonyms. In cold blood, our morality has divorced humanity and decency.

At a public function, a retired general once said: ``To solve all the problems of our country, line up all the politicians and shoot them ‘’. Shoot them indeed, but not with bullets but through ballots. For which, there must be a Digital Revolution – hundreds of blogs and websites shooting politicians, not with bullets but with words. The new medium, the internet, is the power of the people, is the voice of the people, is truly the alternate media, when the established media have failed the people. In a democracy, public opinion tilts the balance of power. The vision and brainpower of the youth must ignite a Digital Revolution, and the Ballot Revolution will follow, throwing all our discredited politicians into the Arabian Sea. That is India’s audacity of hope. Onward Indian youth!

Barack Obama

These Tabloids are brought out by the students of the Times School of Journalism (TSJ)

Abhimanyu Chakravorty

FANTASY SELLS

The Slumdog Millionaire has joined the Super fantasy Club of Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings. While J.R.R Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings is set in a pure magical world, Rowling’s Harry Potter meshes the two worlds, magic and real. In Slumdog Millionaire, it is fantasy realized in real world, termed magic realism.

Why do grown-ups love fairytales? Especially, the adaptation of a book titled Q & A by Vikas Swarup that would have almost gone unnoticed? There is something horribly wrong with our society that makes bloodshed, rape, robbery and hatred a stark reality that we would want to escape from. And Swarup could never have dreamt of so many Oscars for the adaptation of his book.

After eight Oscars and scores of prizes, Slumdog has finally reached Beijing. It is now being screened across China, over 2,000 theaters, attesting to its world-wide appeal. But there is a ring of realism in the movie. Remember Amitabh Bachhan’s show Kaun Banega Crorepati? (Who wants to be a millionaire?). When the success of the show went beyond reasonable limits, it aroused the suspicion of even tax collectors. Then the serial was stopped but the suspicion remains.

It connects to Hamlet’s suspicion about getting caught. When climax of the play is about to unfold, King Claudius cannot stand it anymore and finally orders the play to stop. Fiction is moulded reality, the reality which people wish to live in. But as they say, Truth Hurts!

After the flamboyant success of Danny Boyle's 'Slumdog Millionaire'- a fantasy turned reality- millions of viewers across the globe have discovered an inherent message linked to fantasies that revolve around the idea of HOPE.

Unlike the Harry Potter series and The Lord of the Rings, it’s impossible to lose yourself in Jamal’s story when you know that each vignette is one of a fixed number. Because by pure coincidence, each answer has a personal connection to Jamal. Even though Slumdog Millionaire is much more contrived yet the similarity between all stories is the fact that most of the things in the plot revolve around bringing the protagonist to a victory at the end. However, when it was amply clear that the answer to each question lay in his life's experiences, the host Anil Kapoor and the police were convinced that there is an element of truth in his confession.

The victory of Jamal was inconceivable at the beginning since he was a slum dweller and that it was impossible for Prem Kumar and the police to come to terms with it. How can a slum boy possibly crack all the questions is what baffled the authorities. His idea was to participate in a game show and catch the attention of his love, Latika, who was kept in captivity by his brother. When he was just a question away from winning two crores, he used the option phone a friend. He got in touch with Latika but she couldn't express herself within the stipulated time. Ironically, he was able to crack the last question. And there he was 'The Slumdog Millionaire'.

While Harry Potter and Frodo Baggins emerge victorious with their magical powers , Jamal does it with something even more magical, hope. To some extent, it is the brutal realism attached to Jamal's character that help viewers connect with him much more than Harry Potter or Frodo Baggins do.

Clubbing all the three characters under the tag of classic 'underdogs', the three movies are a potential source of courage and determination. In the case of Harry Potter, not only is he the underdog but for a viewer who is watching him for the first time she would mull over his ability to perform magic and more so, even underestimate his magical powers. For Harry is not only the underdog, which a lot of heroes tend to be, but he is also a bit puny. He is skinny, he has knobbly knees, he wears glasses for crying out loud, and he appears to be rather average in his abilities. All such heroes develop with what and who is around them. For Harry, Hermione is the one with the fabulous intelligence, and Dumbledore is the one who is magically powerful. J.K Rowling, by making Harry human, has helped us identify with him more closely, and to see that true heroes are not always unafraid and do not always know what to do.

What makes the characters special is that they try their very best to do the right thing even if it is not easy, even if they are afraid. And that courage is not the absence of fear, it is acting in spite of it. Jamal displays absolute courage, Harry Potter survives the deathly challenge posed by the evil wizard Voldemort and his minions and Frodo defies fear and destroys the Ring.

Lord of the Rings is a story about the journey. A journey that is filled with light, peace, and hope. It presents the path as a shared struggle. It's an adventurous trek from the blissful, peaceful land called The Shire to battle the forces which are seeking to dominate Middle Earth with their lust for power.

Another compelling symbol is the hero status. It isn't an immortal elf-lord who must destroy the fellowship of the Ring, but a frightened, mortal, little hobbit. Frodo Baggins, for instance, is a hobbit who lives a peaceful and serene life in the Shire. Suddenly, he is jolted out of his happy-go-lucky life and thrown into a bloody battle to save Middle Earth from the dark forces of Sauron. For a boy of his age and stature, viewers would come to believe that he is a good-for-nothing raggedy little boy. But after he gets the ring, there is a sudden reversal in the attitude of the viewer who then visualize him as the Saviour of mankind. His comrade, Sam, who is also a hobbit, displays tremendous willpower to accompany Frodo in his journey to Sauron's Castle. The horrifying images attached to the ring keep haunting Frodo till he gets rid of it. But he resists the trauma and moves ahead with the mission.

More than most fantasies, Lord of the Rings depicts the internal part of the struggle as well as the external—Frodo's struggle is less against those who are trying to seize the Ring, and more against his own weakness against temptation. The temptation to think and perceive that with more power, more good can be accomplished.

The idea of collective action is clearly displayed in all the three fantasies. Readers come to know that Harry is never a self-centered and an independent hero, but instead relies on his inclusion in a larger group: his friends, Gryffindor House, Hogwarts, and the entire non-Muggle world. Further, the Harry Potter series valorizes collective action, as the conflicts always require action by cohesive communities. As for LOTR, it is not only Frodo but also heroes like Gandalf, Aragorn, Boromir, Gimli, Legolas, Pippin who collectively destroy Sauron and his Ring. In that sense, Slumdog Millionaire is slightly different from the other two fantasies. The Protagonist, Jamal, draws inspiration from his life's experiences and the varied people he meets. His decision to participate in the game show partly stems from his love for Latika.

Another point of similarity that one experiences is the caste and class system. A caste system is well established in Harry Potter: wizards and witches are better than Muggles and Mudbloods; giants are outcasts and house-elves are considered as sub-human. Whereas in LOTR, the hobbits are the smallest and weakest people who are always protected by other senior charachters in the novel like the Elves, their leader Gandalf, Prince Aragorn, the Bow and Arrow man Legolas, the Sturdy dwarf Gimli etc.

Fantasies not only provide edge-of-the-seat thrills and chills but also impart a sense of hope and courage to stand up for what is right. Even though Slumdog millionaire has bagged a whooping 8 oscars, it has drawn a lot of criticisms and is touted to have brought forth the introduction of a new term: Poverty porn. Cynics are of the opinion that the adaptation has shown India in bad light. And that India is home to SLUMDOGS.

No movie is ever free of controversies. Slumdog is no exception. Fantasies are selling. And they will continue to sell as long as they connect with the audience.

Prerna Garg

prerna.garg1412@gmail.com

How To Win A Boy’s Heart

It's fun to talk about boys. Boys with gorgeous eyes, groovy hair, cute smiles, rippled stomach muscles and a great gait. There comes a time in every girl's life when she is helplessly drawn to some guy. Hey girls, you can't be a silent spectator in the Cupid’s game. Turn your dreams into reality, but fear no rejection.

First of all, the guy must know you exist. ‘‘I don’t want a girl who no one has a clue about,’’ says Suresh. ‘‘But she should not be too possessive and start nagging,’’ cautions Ankit.

Girls, don't flirt too much; it might scare the guy off. You have to have that Lady-like charm. Greet him with an honest smile. “A captivating smile is what attracts me to a girl. Dimples would be like a cherry on the cake,” comments Anirudh.

Guys don’t like girls with oodles of make-up. Let him get a glimpse of the real you. Don't go overboard with the war-paint. Just try to look nice and clean. ‘‘Skin-show is a big turn-off,” thinks Jimmy. “I don’t want someone brand-crazy and my girl should know how to carry herself”.

Eyes are a great attraction. They can do wonders and can reveal the hidden layers of personality that words cannot. ‘‘Don't be afraid to look straight in the eyes. We guys love it,” admits Anwesh. “Her eyes should be full of life. Passionate eyes are what I want”.

A cheerful face lights up the heart. Most guys get bewitched by humor, one of the top five qualities they seek. “I wouldn’t like my girl to be a lachrymose or a sobbing machine. She should laugh heartily; cracking jokes win brownie points,” says Shray.

“A financially independent girl is an asset,’’ believes Gagan. ‘‘I wouldn’t like to date a girl who makes a dent into my pocket”.

Guys look for more than the exterior. “Intelligent talkers are always attractive. I don’t want an arm-candy who just looks beautiful but is empty-headed,” says Spandan. Girls, don’t play the doll. Believe in what you are and stand for it. Don't show jealousy, lest he should gauge your insecurity.

”Don’t fake. That’s the biggest turn off,’’ advises Abhishek. ‘‘After all, he will find his lady love in you’’.

How To Win A Girl’s Hand

Seen that girl with pearl-black eyes and flowing silky hair? A stunning figure with a disarming smile! Wondered how to get her attention! In fact, strange are the ways in which a girl’s mind works. Most guys have no clue about their enigma.

A strong personality attracts most girls. “I will choose a guy who has a mind of his own, knows exactly what he wants in life, and follow exactly what he wants, rather than someone who is passive and always acted upon,” opens up Priti. ‘‘He should be the one who captures instant attention,’’ adds Jhanvi.

Confidence is an instant winner. ‘‘I get attracted to guys who are positive and assertive. I keep away from boys who dither,’’ says Shruti. So boys, hold your head high, don’t fidget, and look straight into the eyes of girls, especially the one you wanted to woo.

Maturity brings rich dividends. “Drinking beer till it comes out of your ears and falling virtually dead on three pegs will turn you into a comedian, and distances yourself from your coveted love,’’ feels Megan, who has dumped half-a-dozen inebriated suitors.

A good sense of humour is an instant armour. ‘‘I am looking for a guy who can make me laugh at all times,’’ says Amrita who has an insatiable belly for laughter.

It’s a myth that girls prefer macho men, the opposite is the truth. ‘‘I want my guy to be sensitive, someone like Shahid Kapoor from Jab We Met!,” chips in Anuja. Perhaps a heady cocktail is what most girls find irresistible!

Opening up is the key to winning confidence. Open up when you have something nice to tell or something that upsets you; share your heart with her as a prelude to winning her. Then you will be surprised that she warms up to you. “When a guy tells me what he really feels, I will feel secure,” says Alisha.

Girls obviously go for good looks and a decent body, but surprisingly they come low on the list of priorities. ‘‘I don’t want my guy to be a Prince Charming; presentable looks are okay, says Joselyn.

So boys, put your worry behind, and focus on the things that matter to girls. Now that you know their minds better, floor the one you choose with your charisma and be her dream boy.

All the Best!

Diksha Kamra

(diksha.kamra@gmail.com)

THE SECRET OF BARACK OBAMA

Every leader has a secret number. Even the one that rules the world. Let’s do some calculations. You may call it numerology.

He was born on August 4, 1961
4+8+1961= 20 2+0=2
His name begins with B—the 2nd alphabet in English language.

His full name is Barack Hussein Obama ‘II’— the number 2 is in the name. Commonly called as ‘Barack Obama’; his name has 11 letters = 1+1=2

His personal life:
His parents got married on February 2, 1961.
They separated when Obama was TWO years old and divorced in 1964
(1+9+6+4 = 11, 1+1 = 2)

His father died in an automobile accident in 1982 (1+9+8+2 = 2)
Obama's mother was survived by her Kansas-born mother, Madelyn Dunham until her death on November ‘2’, 2008. He got engaged with Michelle in 1991 (1+9+9+1 = 2)

His Professional Life:

Obama became a community organizer to confront the issues of race and poverty in the year 1982. In the same year, he was accepted to the Harvard Law School. He successfully carried out several projects, including school reform, hazardous waste cleanup and establishing a job training center.
All this in the same year. 1+9+8+2= 2

Another remarkable year in his life was 1991:
He graduated from Harvard. He began to write his autobiography, ‘Dreams from My Father.’ And it would be important to note that 1+9+9+1= 2!

Obama’s biggest political miscalculation was his 2000 bid against Bobby L. Rush. He lost the election by a ‘2’ to 1 margin. He was a 38 year old State Senator at that time. 8+3=11, this comes to number 2.

In July 7, 2004, he delivered an inspiring speech which is viewed as a defining moment in his political career. 7+7+2+0+0+4 = 2!
He was elected for the U.S. Senate on ‘2nd’ November 2004.

He reached Washington ahead of his inauguration by train. Obama and his family left from Philadelphia at 11 a.m. (1+1=2) and reached Washington, covering 137-miles (1+3+7=2).

His term as the U.S. president will begin in the year 2009 (2+0+0+9= 11, 1+1= 2).
He takes oath on January 20th, it is a Tuesday, the 2nd day of the week. And that too, when he is 47 years old.
(7+4=11, 1+1=2).
This is definitely the year of Obama. Hope he makes the world TWICE as better.

ONE in a BILLion

According to the Forbes magazine, Bill Gates is the richest man in the world and has held the number one position for many years.

The world's greatest philanthropists, he is number ‘ONE’ in everything he does. William Henry Gates was born in 1955, on October 28, in Seattle, Washington.
2+8=10, 1+0=1

While at Harvard, Gates co-wrote Altair BASIC, which became Microsoft’s ‘FIRST’ product.
He met his wife, Melinda French, in 1987 at a Microsoft press event in Manhattan while she was a worker for the company. Gates was married on Jan. ‘1’, 1994, to Melinda French Gates.

Gates oversaw Microsoft's company restructuring in the year 1981, which re-incorporated the company in Washington and made Gates President of Microsoft and the Chairman of the Board. Now, 1+9+8+1= 1!

In 1999, Gates wrote Business @ the Speed of Thought, a book that shows how computer technology can solve business problems in fundamentally new ways. (1+9+9+9=1)

Both of his books, The Road Ahead and Business @ the Speed of Thought have both been at the number ONE position of best seller lists. The Road Ahead, published in 1995, held the No. 1 spot on the New York Times’ bestseller list for seven weeks.

Bill Gates announced his decision to retire from Microsoft in 2008 to focus his attention on the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, aimed at fighting infectious disease and improving high schools. (2+0+0+8=1)

If you look at this office, there isn't much paper in it. He says, “On my desk I have three screens, synchronized to form ONE single desktop.”
“I get about 100 e-mails a day. We apply filtering to keep it to that level—e-mail comes straight to me from anyone.” Now, 1+0+0=1 again!

Most people will have read the recent reports of how Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates has had his personal net worth soar over 100 billion dollars and then drop down to 55 billion. (5+5=1)
The one-time high school computer enthusiast - whose worth passed the $100bn mark in 1999 - said he wanted to immerse himself again in the work he loves most.

It is said if Bill Gates were a country, he would be the 37th richest country on earth. Again, 3+7=1!

He was not just ONE in a million; he was a ‘revolution’! Even the number of letters in this word often associated with him, comes up to number one! (10 letters, 1+0 = 1)
Bill Gates has created the world's largest company, he is the world's richest man and he has become the biggest charitable giver in history.

Today Microsoft is the world's most powerful supplier of Web browsers, and Gates really has it made. The U.S. Justice Department is suing Microsoft for throwing its weight around illegally, hitting companies like Netscape below the belt. The trial is under way. Whoever wins, Gates will still be the No. 1 man in the industry.

THE SECRET OF DIANA

All the events of her life revolved around that number – her birth, wedding, divorce and finally her exit.
She was born in 1961, on the 1st of July. The number 1 began her life.
She was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales. Now, Prince Charles is the FIRST son of Queen Elizabeth II.
Now if you think, this is just a coincidence, then let us delve deeper in the various important events of her life.

Her engagement was announced in 1981.A reporter asks if they are in love--Diana: "Of course". Charles: "Whatever 'in love' means". Now, if you add 1+9+8+1= 19, 1+9= 10, 1+0= 1.

In 1983, on July 1--Charles and Diana returned from their first visit to Canada, Atlantic region, Ottawa and Edmonton. It was July 1.
Her marriage fell apart in the early 1990s, an event at first suppressed, then sensationalised, by the world media. Again, 1+9+9+0= 19, 1+9= 1.

The divorce was finalised on 28 August. Now, 2+8=10, 1+0= 1.
Their black 1994 Mercedes-Benz S280 crashed into the thirteenth pillar of the tunnel. The two-lane tunnel was built without metal barriers in front of the pillars. None of the four occupants wore seat belts. Did you notice the number of her car? It was 280.
2+8= 10. Again, it comes to number 1.

Now you thought I ignored the ‘S’ in the car’s number? No, I did not. If you observe, S is the 19th alphabet in the English alphabets.
Since February 1999, Dodi's father, Mohamed Al-Fayed claimed that the crash was the result of a conspiracy, and was orchestrated on the instructions of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. 1+9+9+9= 1 again.

A jury decided in the year 2008 that Diana had been unlawfully killed by the grossly negligent driving of chauffeur Henri Paul and press photographers.
(2+0+0+8 = 1, 1+0=1).

The following day Mr. Fayed announced he would end his 10 year campaign for the sake of the late Princess of Wales's children. Now that too comes to number 1.She began as well as ended her life with this number!

JOHN F. KENNEDY

Number 7 in the Hebrew language etymologically means complete or full, signifying perfection. JFK was indeed a perfectionist and an idol of millions across the world in the 60s.
He was born on May 29, 1917 in Brookline, Massachusetts. (29+5+1917 = 7)
He was 6 feet 1 inch tall. (6+1=7)

He became a Presidential Nominee in the year 1960. (1+9+6 = 7). He became President at the age of 34. (3+4=7)

He is—JOHN FITZGERALD JACK KENNEDY; the sum of the alphabets total to SEVEN. (25 alphabets- 2+5=7)
The nation lovingly called him Kennedy which has 7 letters.
His life was ruled by number 7 even in the minutest way. As President, he visited NATO on January 7, 1961 (7+1+1961= 7).

Kennedy first made the goal for landing a man on the Moon in speaking to a Joint Session of Congress on May 25. (2+5=7)

USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67), formerly CVA-67, was a decommissioned super carrier of the United States Navy. Nicknamed Big John, she was named after him. And it was not a coincidence that the word ‘Big John’ had 7 letters.

In October 1951, (1+9+5+1=7) during his third term as Massachusetts 11th district congressman, the then 34-year-old Kennedy embarked on a 7-week Asian trip to Israel, India, Vietnam and Japan with his then 25-year-old brother Robert. This 25,000-mile (2+5=7) trip was the first extended time they had spent together and resulted in their becoming best friends in addition to being brothers.

Apart from his leadership traits, he along with his wife, Jacqueline, was famous for yet another reason which was—FASHION. Kennedy’s clothes were expensive, always neat and tidy. He knew his large wardrobe completely. His wife was a trend setter too. In his Presidential days, he and his better half were no less than style icons, influencing fashion trends and becoming the subjects of numerous photo spreads in popular magazines.

It is again surprising to know that even the word he was associated with has SEVEN letters. (‘Fashion’ has seven alphabets).

Since 1964, Kennedy's portrait has appeared on the United States half dollar coin, replacing Benjamin Franklin. And the word engraved on the coin—liberty is a seven letter word.

And what is more? He was assassinated on November 22, 1963. (22+11+1963=7)

Of all his associations with the number seven, his assassination is the most significant. The man, who was born with the number 7, had to die with the same.

On that day, in Dallas, Texas, each car was tagged with a small square of paper bearing a number which indicated the planned position of that particular car in the motorcade. Kennedy was to ride in the open 1961 Lincoln Continental limousine marked with the number "7." But the limousine was placed 2nd in line, due apparently to a mix-up. It was at that time when he was killed by an assassin's bullet, which caused him 7 wounds leading to his death.

Television was the primary source by which people were kept informed of events surrounding John F. Kennedy's assassination. U.S. television networks suspended their regular schedules and switched to all-news coverage from November 22 through November 25, 1963, being on the air for not more than 70 hours! (7+0=7)

Today, 45 years after President John F. Kennedy was fatally shot on November 22, 1963, 7 out of every 10 Americans still believe there was a conspiracy to kill him and that the suspected assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald, did not act alone.