The Hindu : Briefly

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Feb 17, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Briefly

New DDA Vice-Chairman

NEW DELHI FEB. 16. Madhukar Gupta was today appointed Vice-Chairman of the Delhi Development Authority (DDA). He succeeds Anil Baijal, who has taken over as Union Home Secretary.

According to an official release here, the appointment of Mr. Gupta, an IAS officer of the 1971 batch, was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet. He will move from the Central Department of Mines where he was holding the post of Additional Secretary.

Minister made patron falsely

NEW DELHI FEB. 16. The Union Home Minister of State, Swami Chinmayanand, has directed the Delhi Police Commissioner, K.K. Paul, to conduct an inquiry against an organisation that falsely showed him as its patron.

As per the direction issued today by the personal secretary to Swami Chinmayanand, LIC Policy Holders Association issued a letter on January 29, in which it showed him as its patron. The order said the organisation seemed to be bogus with no clear identity of its office-bearers or writer of the seized letter.

Clarifying that Swami Chinmayanand was not associated with that organisation in any way, the order stated that people should be made aware of this fact so that they do not fall into its trap.

Russian pianist's concert

NEW DELHI FEB. 16. Irina Chocurindina, a gifted young pianist from Russia now on a performance tour of India, presented a concert at Hotel Intercontinental Grand here over the week-end under the auspices of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in India, Russian Centre of Science and Culture and Hotel Intercontinental.

She presented another concert at the Russian Centre for Science and Culture on February 14 in co-operation with the Delhi Music Society. Both functions were attended by members of the diplomatic corps, mediamen and music lovers of the Capital.

Unique Valentine's Day

NEW DELHI FEB. 16. Valentine's Day was celebrated in a unique way here over the week-end by an exchange of greeting cards and resplendent roses among boys and girls. The younger generation, irrespective of sex, showed kindness towards animals - by distributing pamphlets in which kind words were written about animals.

As a mark of appreciation, Circle of Animal Lovers -- an organisation that works for the betterment of animals -- also distributed chocolates and roses. Apart from advocates of animal rights, lovers of animals also attended the event.

On the occasion, Irani Mukherjee, honorary founder and chairperson of the Circle of Animal Lovers said: "Animals have the right to love and to be loved. Actually they are the epitome of love".

Magic show on books

NEW DELHI FEB. 16. The ongoing World Book Fair at Pragati Maidan witnessed a unique magic show on "Books" on Sunday evening. The well-known magician, Professor Kamesh, demonstrated the tricks of the trade before a bustling crowd of spectators. He not only riveted the crowd with his magic but also made an attempt to make them become bookworms and present books as gifts to their near and dear ones.

The show was organised by the National Book Trust and Ministry of Human Resources Development.

Some of the very special `Tricks on Books' presented by Kamesh were instant conversion of imaginary paint brush strokes on a glittering silk into Leo Tolstoy's quote, "I need only three things in life - books, books and books".

Kamesh, whose name is synonymous with theme shows, said, "This is my method of magical marketing of books".

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