Posts Tagged ‘Interviews’
He won gallantry award from Pandit Jawarhal Lal Nehru at the age of 14, but now at the age of 64, he lives the life of an unsung hero in the by-lanes of Chandi Chowk, Old Delhi, India
- An icon at the age of 14 and an insignificant person at 64. This is Harish Chander Mehra, the first gallantry award winner who now lives unsung in the bylanes of Katra Neel in Chandni Chowk.
- The honour was bestowed on him in 1958 by then Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, whose life he had saved. Still then, the awards are now given to children annually on Indian Republic Day and they pass through Rajpath, near India Gate, sitting on an elephant.
- The reminiscences are stamped in Mehra’s heart and the pain of having been elapsed once the short dalliance with famous person’s status died.
- Recollecting the incident Mehra quoted “On October 2, 1957 evening, during the Ram Lila celebrations in Old Delhi’s Ramlila Ground, Nehru along with his daughter, Indira Gandhi and some foreign delegates was watching the fireworks that preceded the function. Suddenly, some sparks fell on the tent in which they were sitting and it caught fire.”
- The congested place had people running haphazardly to accumulate their lives. Mehra, then a boy scout, was standing at the entrance hall of the pergola. He entered the flaming tent and ran near Nehru and instantaneously pulled him in the direction of the dais. In a fraction of seconds, he climbed on to one of the poles, pulled out the scouts’ knife and cut off the burning tent. In the scuffle, Mehra’s hands got rigorously blistered and he gone unconscious.
- Mehra was presented with a certificate on the nexdt morning by Minister Jagjivanram. After three months, while studying in Class 8, his Principal, Tej Bhan Sethi entered the classroom and took the dazed child to the string of media persons and photographers waiting for him on the school grounds.
- In the same year,The following year, a special programme was organised to honour Mehra and he was presented the Gallantry Award by Nehru at Teen Murti Bhawan.
“Nehru had said that I needed no introduction, as he was himself an eyewitness to the whole account. He said it would be better if we could have more children of undoubted courage,” says the shuddering Mehra.
- Newspapers published Mehra’s profiles and interviews. A documentary film was made followed by an invitation to participate in the Republic Day parade held on January 26, 1959. A civilian boy was made to lead the parade for the first time. Five years later, due to economic crisis, Mehra had to quit studies. He took up a job as Lower Divisions Clerk in Union Public Service Commission.
- After few years he was transferred to the Controller of Publications with no incentive and promotion. He retired from there on February 27, 2004.Apart from the populace in close proximity to him, no one ever since remembered Mehra. Every year, Mehra sits with his three sons and four grandchildren to gaze at the Republic Day parade on TV. The award winning children surpass all the way through Rajpath, memoirs draw closer once again for Mr Mehra.
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Hindi Movies top stars and Bollywood icons Amitabh Bachchan, Shahrukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai sustain as further go-ahead role models for youngsters than share of the phenomenal figures from history, a wider see about by the University of Leicester suggests.
The reconnoitre in the University of Leicester Department of Media and Communication examines regard in celebrities and rumour about them. It was carried out by Charlotte De Backer who sought in her take up to get together influence in popular figure culture.
She said: “Life is about learning, gaining involvement and in that commotion we have a bias to light upon and describe the actions of others. Ideally we imitate what makes others moneymaking and ice ill-fated actions others have trailed (and paid for).
“In reality, race seem to have the liking to characterize the overall street tracing of massed grade or supplementary successful others.
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After a double merriment recently, New Year and her birthday on January 1, Vidya Balan is back to work. Her link-up with Shahid Kapoor and the undisclosed new glam look are the gossip of Bollywood today. Vidya reveals all!
- How did you celebrate your birthday this year?
I spent it at home with my parents and close friends. I’m not the late-night “partying” kind of girl; I’d rather spend time with my folks. This is how I’ve been celebrating my birthday and the New Year ever since I can remember. I believe what you do on the first day of the New Year, you end up doing the same for the whole year, so I spent the day reading, exercising and listening to my favorite music.
- Tell us about your new look in Aziz Mirza’s Lucky Charm?
It’s a classy look – that of a sophisticated young city girl. I have consciously worked hard on changing my appearance and I hope my fans like it. In the past, I have received a lot of criticism for my looks, but I’ve taken these in my stride. I was lazy once but I don’t want to give my fans a chance to criticize me anymore.
- What’s going on with your Lucky Charm co-star Shahid Kapoor? Is it true you have been watching films and spending lots of time together?
I have been reading a lot in the newspapers about my relationship with Shahid. I don’t know where people get such information. There’s no truth to all these stories. I think I’m slowly becoming a most wanted with the buzz mills; and when it comes to me, they start working overtime. I’m not the kind of girl who would ever hide her relationship. If I were in love, I’d be very proud of it.
Which guy in Bollywood comes closest to your idea of Mr. Right?
- What changes do you see in yourself today?
I think I’m not as guarded as I used to be when I was a newcomer. During my Parineeta days, I was still exploring the industry and was fortified, but now I’m more aggressive.
Tags: bolly, Bollywood, Buzz, coming, day, Don, film, First, Girl, home, in, India, Indians, Interviews, Kapoor, King, list, Lot, Men, most, Movies, Music, New Year, News, of, reveals, Shahid Kapoor, Star, Today, UP, Vidya Balan, with, Year
- She’s
gorgeous, intelligent and very much her own person. Sarah-Jane Dias, Pantaloons Femina Miss India-World 2007, talks on her preparations for the Miss World pageant.
Age:24 yrs
Height:5’9’’
Stats:35-27-37
Was the Femina Miss India contest always part of the larger plan in life, or was it just something you decided to enter?
It was unquestionably not on a impulse. I’d always wanted to be a Femina Miss India since I was a little girl. Then I read an ad in the paper this year and knew it was time. I was 24… I didn’t want to look back at 60 and regret not having given it a try.
You dreamt of being famous?
Yes. I enjoy being famous. Initially, it was a attraction, now it’s a job.
How do you feel being among the Femina’s 50 Most Beautiful Women in India?
I can’t believe it. For someone as low profile as me, it was overwhelming.
You are thinking of getting into Bollywood?
For now, I’d really like to stay focused on the contest. But I also want to do a lot of things in the future, Bollywood, etc. And I definitely want to have an album of my own some day.
What is your dream role?
Any role in ‘Shantaram’. I’d have the best of both worlds. I mean, it’s Johnny Depp and Amitabh Bachchan!
Tell us your fitness mantra.
I’ve been in training for about three months now. Deanne Pandey is my trainer and she is really the best. She’s extremely dedicated and constantly updates my workout so that I don’t get bored. I do a bit of kick boxing, yoga,weight training and cardio and I eat healthy.
Your advice to the young girls who would like to experience Femina Miss India.
Young girls out there should not let anyone control their minds. If you give up your autonomy, you’ve lost a massive part of yourself.
The worst analysis you have received so far?
Bodily criticism is the easiest way to affect a girl. I got a lot of that during the pageant. I decided to get healthy, and lost six kilos in three weeks.
The secret to your beauty..
Water. I try to drink at least three to four litres a day. It’s wonderful and flushes out all the toxins.
What do your carry in your make up box?
I always carry some sort of gloss, because my lips tend to get chapped a lot. So I have my gloss from The Body Shop.Also, transparent mascara and of course the Bobbi Brown eye shadow, blusher and bronzer in one.
The obsession you disgust about yourself..
I’m very hard on myself…
Do you have boyfriends?
I’m single… but have no time for a relationship. I’m dating a couple of
guys though.
The biggest support you have..
My family.Although they live in Muscat, I know they are always there for me. I gain my strength from them.
Where do you see yourself after an year?
Travelling around the world, hopefully as Miss World!
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I find her UGLY! she is not going to win MISS WORLD FOR SURE! She is the worst to happen to The Miss Indian contest since..umm ever?
Quote of the day:
We have so much time and so little to do. Strike that, reverse it. - Roald Dahl
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