Is America dream over????

America has much dependent on Indian techies for its IT industry. With recession many Banks became bankrupt and many companies asked US government bail out plan. When President Obama took over charge of reins of America, he has promised American people that he will restore jobs to Americans. With thousands of jobs being cut by US companies almost daily over the past few months, there have been widespread apprehensions that these positions could go to low-cost foreign workers or might be outsourced to places like India.

To revive economy Obama has introduced $ 787 billion stimulus bill to revive economy. The US Congress has barred firms receiving government bailout from hiring Indians and other foreign workers through the skilled worker visa (H1-B) programme, if they are replacing American workers. A dozen banks which are getting over USD 150 billion as the bailout money have sought visas for over 21,800 foreign workers in past six years to replace sacked Americans. These banks have announced at least one lakh job cuts in the recent months

Indians account for a majority of those with H1-B visa, issued to non-immigrant skilled workers for up to six years. Restricting hiring of H1-B visa holders forms part of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, (the stimulus bill), that was passed by the Congress.

The government data for 2008 shows that about 5.7 lakh Indians were issued H1-B and other non-immigrant visas. About two years ago, the US had cut down the H1-B visa limit to 65,000, from 1,95,000 a year previously

Congress' move would certainly impact hiring of H1-B visa holders, thus affecting in a big way the engagement of Indian techies in the US, but might not affect outsourcing of jobs to places like India. It is believed that the provision in stimulus bill to restrict hiring of H1-B visa holders would deprive the US of the best global talent which comes in the form of highly trained and talented people.

There is wide spread job cuts in IT,BPO, Gems, Textiles, Real estate, infrastructure industry in India and many companies have freezed recruitments and cutting the salaries to cut the expenditure. The service industry depends on IT and infrastructure also badly affected. America is biggest consumer in the world and every country economy is linked with American economy. I feel countries should reduce dependency on USA and there should be reasonable salary structures in private sector, so that the companies also can pay salaries to employees with out job cuts.

Because of high salary structures in private industry, many companies are unable to pay employees salaries during recession hence pink slips. It is also believed that with high salaries there is wide gap in the society, where lot of money flow into the system and raising the prices of real estate, commodities etc. Prime Minister Dr Manmohan sigh has appealed to the private industry to have reasonable salary structure to the private sector employees. President Obama is appealing the private banks and Wall Street companies to have a reasonable salary structure.

With emerging economy, 7-8% annual growth, India is a land of opportunities. The honey in USA is over, many Indians are returning to India.

East or West , India is best

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VALENTINE DAY: MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING.

Valentine's Day started in the time of the Roman Empire. In ancient Rome, February 14th was a holiday to honour Juno. Juno was the Queen of the Roman Gods and Goddesses. The Romans also knew her as the Goddess of women and marriage. There are varying opinions as to the origin of Valentine's Day. Some experts state that it originated from St. Valentine, a Roman who was martyred for refusing to give up Christianity. He died on February 14, 269 A.D., the same day that had been devoted to love lotteries. Legend also says that St. Valentine left a farewell note for the jailer's daughter, who had become his friend, and signed it "From Your Valentine". Other aspects of the story say that Saint Valentine served as a priest at the temple during the reign of Emperor Claudius. Claudius then had Valentine jailed for defying him. In 496 A.D. Pope Gelasius set aside February 14 to honour St. Valentine. The lives of young boys and girls were strictly separate. However, one of the customs of the young people was name drawing. On the eve of the festival of Lupercalia the names of Roman girls were written on slips of paper and placed into jars. Each young man would draw a girl's name from the jar and would then be partners for the duration of the festival with the girl whom he chose. Sometimes the pairing of the children lasted an entire year, and often, they would fall in love and would later marry.

Gradually, February 14 became the date for exchanging love messages and St. Valentine became the patron saint of lovers. The date was marked by sending poems and simple gifts such as flowers. There was often a social gathering or a ball. Many view this day as harmless fun, an opportunity to show love and affections towards spouses and partners by exchanging cards, giving flowers and having candle lit dinners etc.

The old tradition of love on Valentine ’s Day became multibillion dollar business. With modernity young people celebrate this festival. The greeting shops like Archies will make big business. The tradition of valentine day which symbolises love became controversy in India and abroad. Some Hindu and some Muslim religious groups openly opposing the valentine day saying that this not the culture of the country. I feel that, with change of time there will changes in culture of any country.

Modern days one has to accept things as long as valentine day is celebrated with dignity and decent way of showing love towards partner. These things should not be treated by religious groups as bad things. Every religion has taught love towards partner. How can one say that celebrating festival of love is uncultured? If anyone shows the vulgarity it should be questionable!!!! By any one.

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A.R.REHMAN DESERVES OSCAR AWARD

Since Roja hit movie screens in South India in 1992, A.R. Rahman has been redefining the country's widely popular film music. Generally regarded as the finest Indian film composer of his time (and certainly the most commercially successful), Rahman produced music for nearly 35 wide-screen releases during his first five years in the industry. He has worked with many of his country's brightest music stars. As for Rahman, this year's Golden Globes (best original score for Slumdog Millionaire).featured his first nomination and win. He's known as a leading Bollywood artist back home, however, and has nabbed nine Filmfare Awards and four Silver Lotus Awards in India.

Born A.S. Dileep Kumar on January 6th, 1966, in Madras, India, Allah Rakha Rahman was exposed to music from the time he was a child, entered in classical piano studies by his parents at the age of four. At 16, he quit school and was following in his father's footsteps (K.A. Sekhar was a successful film musician, arranger, and conductor himself), working full-time as a session musician on soundtracks under the popular South Indian composer Illaiyaraja. The following awards were won by A.R.Rehaman , there are many other awards like MTV awards which were not listed below and he has been nominated for Oscar awards and others internationally.

National Civilian honors

•1995 - Kalaimamani oGiven by the Government of Tamil Nadu for contributions to music

•2000 - Padma Shri (India)

•2004 - National Lata Mangeshkar Award

•2005 - Mahavir-Mahatma Award Annual film awards

•Bollywood Movie Awards (India)

o2002 - Best Music Direction - Lagaan

o2003 - Best Music Direction - Saathiya

•Dinakaran Cine Awards

o1998 – Minsara Kanavu

o1999 - Jeans

o2000 – Kadhalar Dhinam / Mudhalvan

•Filmfare Awards South (India)

Filmfare Best Music Direction

o1993 - Roja

o1994 - Gentleman

o1995 -Kadhalan o

1996 -Bombay

o1997 -Kadhal Desam

o1998 -Minsaara Kanavu

o1999 - Jeans

o2000 - Mudhalvan

o2001 - Alaipayuthey

o2002 - Kannathil Muthamittal

o2006 - Sillunu Oru Kadhal

o2007 - Sivaji

•Filmfare Awards (India)

o1996 - Rangeela

o1999 - Dil Se o2000 - Taal

o2002 - Lagaan

o2003 - Saathiya

o2003 - The Legend of Bhagat Singh

o2005 - Swades

o2007 - Rang de Basanti

o2008 - Guru •Global Indian Film Awards (GIFA)

o2007 - GIFA Award for Best Music - Rang De Basanti

o2007 - GIFA Award for Best Background Music - Rang De Basanti

•International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA) (India) o

2000 - IIFA Best Music Direction - Taal

o2002 - IIFA Best Music Direction - Lagaan

o2003 - IIFA Best Music Direction - Saathiya

o2007 - IIFA Best Music Direction - Rang De Basanti

o2008 - IIFA Best Music Direction - Guru

o2008 - IIFA Best Background Music - Guru

o2008 - Outstanding contribution by an Indian in International Cinema InternationalFilm awards

•Golden Globe Awards (United States)

o2008 - Best Original Score - Slumdog Millionaire

•British Academy of Film and Television Arts

o2009 - Anthony Asquith Award for Best Film Music - Slumdog Millionaire

•New York Film Critics Online Awards (United States)

o2008 - NYFCO Best Score Award - Slumdog Millionaire

•San Diego Film Critics Society Awards o2008 - Best Score - Slumdog Millionaire

•Satellite Awards (United States)

o2008 - Satellite Award for Best Original Score - Slumdog Millionaire

•Black Reel Awards

o2008 - Best Original Soundtrack - Slumdog Millionaire

•Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards

o2008 - BFCA Critics' Choice Award for Best Composer - Slumdog Millionaire

•Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards (United States)

o2008 - Best Music Score - Slumdog Millionaire

•Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards

o2008 - Best Original Score - Slumdog Millionaire

Other awards

•1995 - Malaysian Award oContributions to music

•1995 - Mauritius National Award oContributions to music Nominations International

•Academy Awards

o2009 - Academy Award for Original Music Score - Slumdog Millionaire

o2009 - Best Original Song - "Jai Ho" - Slumdog Millionaire

o2009 - Best Original Song - " O Saya" - Slumdog Millionaire While accepting the BAFTA award

A.R.Rehman said “It is a great feeling…. It is getting better and better and let us hope for the biggest one…the Oscar. I think it is important to know who the composer is. People started liking the scores of the movie (Slumdog Millionaire)and it is a great feeling. The journey has been unbelievable and thanked my beloved fans all over the world” The music moghal of India should definitely get the Oscar, if one has talent, he can achieve anything without god fathers, A.R.Rehaman has proved that. He deserve Osacr award, Every India should wish him all the best…

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BETTER DAYS TO SENIOR CITIZENS.

The number of senior citizens in India is close to 80 million and is growing by the day. In another two decades, it is expected to touch 137 million, due to rising life expectancy. The burgeoning old age homes is enough indication that all is not well in the Indian family scenario. India is land of traditions, customs and rich culture. We were known for our respect and love for elders. Parent-child relationship bond is considered most sacred in India. When a child enters goes to school, the first thing he is taught is the verse from Taittiriya Upanishad that says, "Matru devo bhava, Pitru devo bhava, Acharya devo bhava, Atithi devo bhava," [Let you be one who worships mother, father, teachers and guests as God.] This is something that everyone knows in India. Parents take lot of pains to grow their children and sacrifice a lot to upkeep their children and to help them to be in better position. In olden days, people used to live together in combined families. As per our culture it is duty of the son to look after his parents. Parents live with any one of their sons in their old age till their last breath.
Now, the Indian society seems changing very fast and so also its moral values. Family structure has seen sea changes. Combined families are getting divided into Nuclear families. Many people are not keeping or looking after their aged parents. Aged parents are either living alone or kept in old age homes.

Seeing the difficulties of old age parents and senior citizens Govt has enacted the act namely
“Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007” to provide for more effective provisions for the maintenance and welfare of parents and senior citizens guaranteed and recognized under the Constitution and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. A senior citizen including parent who is unable to maintain himself from his own earning or out of the property owned by him, shall be entitled to make an application under section 5 in case of— (i) parent or grand-parent, against one or more of his children not being a minor; (ii) a childless senior citizen, against such of his relative referred to in clause (g) of section 2.

If children or relatives, as the case may be, neglect or refuse to maintain a senior citizen being unable to maintain himself, the Tribunal may, on being satisfied of such neglect or refusal, order such children or relatives to make a monthly allowance at such monthly rate for the maintenance of such senior citizen, as the Tribunal may deem fit and to pay the same to such senior citizen as the Tribunal may, from time to time, direct. Appellate Tribunal for each district to hear the appeal against the order of the Tribunal. The State Government may establish and maintain such number of old age homes at accessible places, as it may deem necessary, in a phased manner, beginning with at least one in each district to accommodate in such homes a minimum of one hundred fifty senior citizens who are indigent.
Whoever, having the care or protection of senior citizen leaves, such senior citizen in any place with the intention of wholly abandoning such senior citizen, shall be punishable with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three months or fine which may extend to five thousand rupees or with both.
Since there is no social security system in India like USA, this is one of the welcome move at least with the act senior citizens will live happily with dignity.