Pranab, Tendulkar, Tata, Mittal get Padman Vibhushan
External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, cricket hero Sachin Tendulkar, veteran singer Asha Bhonsle besides corporate captains Ratan Tata, LN Mittal and NR Narayana Murthy were among those named Friday for India's second highest civilian awards ahead of the country's Republic Day.
The other recipients of Padma Vibhushan include Everest hero Edmund Hillary, who has been honoured posthumously, world chess champion Vishwanathan Anand, former chief justice AS Anand and former civil servant PN Dhar, who was principal secretary to late prime minister Indira Gandhi.
The list of 119 Padma awardees represent the best in their spheres, including public life, arts, science and business. But, unlike previous years, there appeared to be more from the trade and industry and the arts, and less of people from politics and public affairs.
As expected no Bharat Ratna was awarded this year, perhaps because of the political controversy surrounding it. The last recipients of the Bharat Ratna were Ustad Bismillah Khan and playback singer Lata Mangeshkar in 2001.
As many as 35 people were named for the Padma Bhushan that included commentator, Jasdev Singh, author, Dominique Lapierre, former home secretary K Padmanabhiah, sociologist TK Oommen, London-based economist Lord Meghnad Desai and Indian American astronaut Sunita Williams.
Corporate India was big in the Padma awards this year as were literary personalities. Apart from Tata, Mittal and Infosys chief Narayana Murthy, hotelier PRS Oberoi was also honoured with the Padma Vibhushan.
ICICI managing director, KV Kamath, software entrepreneur, Shiv Nadar and Citigroup CEO Vikram Pandit were chosen for this year's Padma Bhushan indicating the increasing recognition of contribution of achievements in the business and economy sector that has given the country global recognition.
Unlike last year when the announcement of the awards was inordinately delayed, the list came well in time this year.
Five foreigners figured in the list of Padma awardees this year including Prof Ji Xianlin from China, Yuli Mikhailovitch Vorontsov (posthumous), former Russian ambassador to India who became the country's foreign minister. They were honoured with the Padma Bhushan. Russian artist Gennadi Mikhailovich Pechinkov and Canadian biochemist Joseph H Hulse were named for the Padma Shri. Hillary, a native of New Zealand, was awarded posthumously.
News television's star anchors Barkha Dutt and Vinod Dua of NDTV and Rajdeep Sardesai of CNN-IBN were named for Padma Shri awards. Prof Amitabh Mattoo, vice-chancellor of Jammu University, was also named for the award.
Literary personalities also constituted a huge chunk of the awardees. Prominent among those included Prof Kaushik Basu, Padma Desai (Padma Bhushan) and Sukhadeo Thorat, Surjya Kanta Hazarika (Padma Shri).
Thirty-five people have been named for Padma Bhushan while 71 for Padma Shri.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Sachin blasts Bhajji for missing ton
Indo-Asian News Service
Saturday, January 26, 2008 7:25 AM (Adelaide)
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Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh missed a golden opportunity to score his first Test century and got "royal scolding" from Sachin Tendulkar for getting out on 63 on the second day of the fourth and final Test against Australia on Friday."I got a royal scolding from Sachin. He told me Sardaron wala kaam kiya hai (You have acted like Sardars)," he said and laughed while speaking to reporters after the day's play.Harbhajan, whose career highest score is 66, admitted he should have aimed for a century."It was an opportunity missed. In Sydney, I got out on a good ball, but here I am the one who is responsible for my dismissal. People learn from their mistakes. Hopefully, I'll play good when my team will need it," he said.Harbhajan (63, 103 balls, 7x4s) and captain Anil Kumble (87, 205 balls, 9x4s) defied the Australian bowling attack for 35 overs to score 107 precious runs for the eighth wicket to help India to 526 in their first innings at the Adelaide Oval.It was Harbhajan's second half century of the series. A beaming Harbhajan said that he felt confident while batting in the company of Kumble."Every bowler also works on his batting. After scoring [runs] in Sydney, I had the confidence with the bat. I was playing the shots, though I got lucky in the beginning,'' he said, referring to the reprieves he got.On his partnership with Kumble, Harbhajan said: "We looked to bat as long as we can. Our first target was to get to the 400-run mark, then 450. I kept telling Kumble that you keep on playing, runs will come automatically."The pitch, according to Harbhajan, was good and should help the bowlers."It is a slow sort of a wicket. We have got two left arm seamers, so we will look to take the wickets, like Mitchell Johnson did for Australia today. As the game moves on and more balls are bowled, hopefully more spots will be created," he said."It is a good wicket, so if we bowl at the right areas and take our catches then we have a good chance to win the match. I will try to bowl round the wicket tomorrow," he said, probably in an attempt to take advantage of the rough created by bowlers.During his knock, Harbhajan, while taking a single, collided with speedster Stuart Clark. But unlike the controversial second Test in Sydney, there was no confrontation this time around."The same happened with [Brett] Lee in the Sydney. I had said 'good ball', but it all started into something else," said Harbhajan.The off-spinner also said he is under no pressure from the impending disciplinary hearing into the racial abuse allegation against him."I have no effect on me because of the hearing. My job is to play cricket. I play tough cricket. People are there to take care of the hearing. Tomorrow is a crucial day for me. I want to relax and bowl tomorrow," he said.The hearing will take place after this Test match
Saturday, January 26, 2008 7:25 AM (Adelaide)
Email Print Comments: Read(0) Post
Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh missed a golden opportunity to score his first Test century and got "royal scolding" from Sachin Tendulkar for getting out on 63 on the second day of the fourth and final Test against Australia on Friday."I got a royal scolding from Sachin. He told me Sardaron wala kaam kiya hai (You have acted like Sardars)," he said and laughed while speaking to reporters after the day's play.Harbhajan, whose career highest score is 66, admitted he should have aimed for a century."It was an opportunity missed. In Sydney, I got out on a good ball, but here I am the one who is responsible for my dismissal. People learn from their mistakes. Hopefully, I'll play good when my team will need it," he said.Harbhajan (63, 103 balls, 7x4s) and captain Anil Kumble (87, 205 balls, 9x4s) defied the Australian bowling attack for 35 overs to score 107 precious runs for the eighth wicket to help India to 526 in their first innings at the Adelaide Oval.It was Harbhajan's second half century of the series. A beaming Harbhajan said that he felt confident while batting in the company of Kumble."Every bowler also works on his batting. After scoring [runs] in Sydney, I had the confidence with the bat. I was playing the shots, though I got lucky in the beginning,'' he said, referring to the reprieves he got.On his partnership with Kumble, Harbhajan said: "We looked to bat as long as we can. Our first target was to get to the 400-run mark, then 450. I kept telling Kumble that you keep on playing, runs will come automatically."The pitch, according to Harbhajan, was good and should help the bowlers."It is a slow sort of a wicket. We have got two left arm seamers, so we will look to take the wickets, like Mitchell Johnson did for Australia today. As the game moves on and more balls are bowled, hopefully more spots will be created," he said."It is a good wicket, so if we bowl at the right areas and take our catches then we have a good chance to win the match. I will try to bowl round the wicket tomorrow," he said, probably in an attempt to take advantage of the rough created by bowlers.During his knock, Harbhajan, while taking a single, collided with speedster Stuart Clark. But unlike the controversial second Test in Sydney, there was no confrontation this time around."The same happened with [Brett] Lee in the Sydney. I had said 'good ball', but it all started into something else," said Harbhajan.The off-spinner also said he is under no pressure from the impending disciplinary hearing into the racial abuse allegation against him."I have no effect on me because of the hearing. My job is to play cricket. I play tough cricket. People are there to take care of the hearing. Tomorrow is a crucial day for me. I want to relax and bowl tomorrow," he said.The hearing will take place after this Test match
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Gilly to Retire
The Aussies left hander wicketkeeper bat Adam Gilchrist is to announce his retirement from both form of game.Playing record 96th test continuously,the Adilade test will his final one.Gilly has played 95 test before playing his last at Adilade oval,has made 5556 runs at a average of 47.89 with 17 century with a strike rate of 82.
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