Toll Free Numbers in India.

As contributed by my friend Deepak. Thanks to him!!!

Airlines
Indian Airlines - 1800 180 1407
Jet Airways - 1800 22 5522
Spice Jet - 1800 180 3333
Air India -- 1800 22 7722
Kingfisher - 1800 180 0101

Banks
ABN AMRO - 1800 11 2224
Canara Bank - 1800 44 6000
Citibank - 1800 44 2265
Corporation Bank - 1800 443 555
Development Credit Bank - 1800 22 5769
HDFC Bank - 1800 227 227
ICICI Bank - 1800 333 499
ICICI Bank NRI - 1800 22 4848
IDBI Bank - 1800 11 6999
Indian Bank - 1800 425 1400
ING Vysya - 1800 44 9900
Kotak Mahindra Bank - 1800 22 6022
Lord Krishna Bank - 1800 11 2300
Punjab National Bank - 1800 122 222
State Bank of India - 1800 44 1955
Syndicate Bank - 1800 44 6655

Automobiles
Mahindra Scorpio - 1800 22 6006
Maruti - 1800 111 515
Tata Motors - 1800 22 5552
Windshield Experts - 1800 11 3636


Computers/IT
Adrenalin - 1800 444 445
AMD - 1800 425 6664
Apple Computers - 1800 444 683
Canon - 1800 333 366
Cisco Systems - 1800 221 777
Compaq - HP - 1800 444 999
Data One Broadband - 1800 424 1800
Dell - 1800 444 026
Epson - 1800 44 0011
eSys - 3970 0011
Genesis Tally Academy - 1800 444 888
HCL - 1800 180 8080
IBM - 1800 443 333
Lexmark - 1800 22 4477
Marshal's Point - 1800 33 4488
Microsoft - 1800 111 100
Microsoft Virus Update - 1901 333 334
Seagate - 1800 180 1104
Symantec - 1800 44 5533
TVS Electronics - 1800 444 566
WeP Peripherals - 1800 44 6446
Wipro - 1800 333 312
Xerox - 1800 180 1225
Zenith - 1800 222 004


Indian Railways
General Enquiry 131
Central Enquiry 131
Reservation 131
Railway Reservation Enquiry 1345,1335,1330
Centralised Railway Enquiry 1330/1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9

Couriers/Packers & Movers
ABT Courier - 1800 44 8585
AFL Wizz - 1800 22 9696
Agarwal Packers & Movers - 1800 11 4321
Associated Packers P Ltd - 1800 21 4560
DHL - 1800 111 345
FedEx - 1800 22 6161
Goel Packers & Movers - 1800 11 3456
UPS - 1800 22 7171

Home Appliances
Aiwa/Sony - 1800 11 1188
Anchor Switches - 1800 22 7979
Blue Star - 1800 22 2200
Bose Audio - 1800 11 2673
Bru Coffee Vending Machines - 1800 44 7171
Daikin Air Conditioners - 1800 444 222
DishTV - 1800 12 3474
Faber Chimneys - 1800 21 4595
Godrej - 1800 22 5511
Grundfos Pumps - 1800 33 4555
LG - 1901 180 9999
Philips - 1800 22 4422
Samsung - 1800 113 444
Sanyo - 1800 11 0101
Voltas - 1800 33 4546
WorldSpace Satellite Radio - 1800 44 5432

Investments/ Finance
CAMS - 1800 44 2267
Chola Mutual Fund - 1800 22 2300
Easy IPO's - 3030 5757
Fidelity Investments - 1800 180 8000
Franklin Templeton Fund - 1800 425 4255
J M Morgan Stanley - 1800 22 0004
Kotak Mutual Fund - 1800 222 626
LIC Housing Finance - 1800 44 0005
SBI Mutual Fund - 1800 22 3040
Sharekhan - 1800 22 7500
Tata Mutual Fund - 1800 22 0101

Travel
Club Mahindra Holidays - 1800 33 4539
Cox & Kings - 1800 22 1235
God TV Tours - 1800 442 777
Kerala Tourism - 1800 444 747
Kumarakom Lake Resort - 1800 44 5030
Raj Travels & Tours - 1800 22 9900
Sita Tours - 1800 111 911
SOTC Tours - 1800 22 3344


Healthcare
Best on Health - 1800 11 8899
Dr Batras - 1800 11 6767
GlaxoSmithKline - 1800 22 8797
Johnson & Johnson - 1800 22 8111
Kaya Skin Clinic - 1800 22 5292
LifeCell - 1800 44 5323
Manmar Technologies - 1800 33 4420
Pfizer - 1800 442 442
Roche Accu-Chek - 1800 11 45 46
Rudraksha - 1800 21 4708
Varilux Lenses - 1800 44 8383
VLCC - 1800 33 1262


Insurance
AMP Sanmar - 1800 44 2200
Aviva - 1800 33 2244
Bajaj Allianz - 1800 22 5858
Chola MS General Insurance - 1800 44 5544
HDFC Standard Life - 1800 227 227
LIC - 1800 33 4433
Max New York Life - 1800 33 5577
Royal Sundaram - 1800 33 8899
SBI Life Insurance - 1800 22 9090

Hotel Reservations
GRT Grand - 1800 44 5500
InterContinental Hotels Group - 1800 111 000
Marriott - 1800 22 0044
Sarovar Park Plaza - 1800 111 222
Taj Holidays - 1800 111 825

Teleshopping
Asian Sky Shop - 1800 22 1800
Jaipan Teleshoppe - 1800 11 5225
Tele Brands - 1800 11 8000
VMI Teleshopping - 1800 447 777
WWS Teleshopping - 1800 220 777

Others
Domino's Pizza - 1800 111 123

Cell Phones
BenQ - 1800 22 08 08
Bird CellPhones - 1800 11 7700
Motorola MotoAssist - 1800 11 1211
Nokia - 3030 3838
Sony Ericsson - 3901 1111

Caution: This list is not verified, but I hope it is compiled in good spirit.

UPA Government Survives

As a citizen of the Indian Union, I am happy to see the UPA government survive the trust vote yesterday. As for the way it survive could indicate lots of trouble for democracy in India, but I still am happy to see it survive for quite a few reasons:
1. One of the two demons standing against Indian economy for last 6 months dies with this trust vote. The fear of left intervention in the economic policy decisions (rather halting of decisions) was killing the economic growth. This trust vote fixes this. However, the bigger demon of inflation still lies, but I am hopeful that with more clearer policy and a same economics coalition at helm with be able to take care of the same, given that election year is about to come, so government will by no means would like this demon to survive till then.
2. We survive early election, which would have led to higher inflation, and poorer economy.
3. Manmohan Singh finally was able to prove that he is not weak (err... weakest) Prime Minister. Instead his defiance to the largest coalition partition gives us the proof of how strong the character of the man is.
4. The strongest of the reason is that it has made every polical party weaker. This will mean that people will benefit. Congress is in survival mode for last couple of years, it will continue to do so till the elections.

Why I Want To See ICL Succeed Over IPL

Now that IPL is about to be launched and ICL is about to reach the concluding phase of its second successful edition, I find this an opportunity to express my feelings toward both of the leagues.
At present ICL seem to be my favourite, even though I have been able to witness just one match in the ground (Delhi Giants v/s Hyderabad Heroes at TDL Stadium Gurgaon), it seem to have inspired enough confidence in me to state on a public blog that I want this league to be successful.
IPL on the other hand is in news for quite a while now. It has got enough star power. But it is yet to be launched in front of public.
Coming to the reasons why I prefer ICL over IPL. The first and the foremost reason is that while ICL is the original idea, IPL is a reaction to ICL from the most influencial organization of the Cricket world (read BCCI). Their intentions are destructive as their actions regarding the people associated with ICL indicate, while ICL represents creativity and dare-devilness (with all apologies to Delhi IPL team.)
Second reason is that ICL despite all the blockage and hooliganisms from ICC and its super-boss BCCI has maintained the dignity and remained humble in the war of words, while the IPL team (captained by Mr. Lalit Modi) seem to indicate that they want to ruin their opponents at every cost.
The third and the foremost reason is that despite maintaining the flavor of T20 and glamour ICL has been able to keep the focus on the main thing - cricket. They have played cricket with passion, shown adaptability to whatever kind of wickets that were on offer. On the other hand IPL has already gone overboard with glamor factor. At the launch of each and every team it was obvious that glamor what the boss and cricket (or read cricketers) was just a slave to them. So obviously any cricket lover would opt for ICL over IPL. However, people wanting to look for beautiful faces may opt for IPL.

Compilation 1: Drivers of Delhi

As suggested by Delhi LG Mr. Khanna, North Indians seem to be enjoying while breaking laws on Delhi roads. His statement does not seems to be amusing me being a North Indian, being a regular commuter. If he seems to feel that it is North Indians who take pride in breaking laws on Delhi roads, I feel he could have even narrowed down the culprit group - the real culprits are the family members of influential people in North India. The group contains:
1. Relatives of all politician leaders of North India.
2. Relatives of all rich businessmen of North India.
3. Relatives of all bureaucrats working in North India, this group may contain people from other parts of India.
4. Relatives of all Delhi Police and Delhi Traffic Police personnel.
5. Relatives of all people having social/business links with either of the above, this group may contain people from other parts of India.
6. DTC and influential Transport vendors vehicles drivers.

The group does not contains the people who are forced to bribe the traffic police, when caught because 90% of time they commit mistakes because they don't have proper traffic signs visible, rest 10% are due to ignorance. And once they suffer, they never repeat it.

The group does not contains the North Indian people who pay challans, which they have to pay because they don't have any link with influntial Delhites.

And Mr. LG, the group even comprise of your relatives. I have witnessed lots of time, when you have got challaned for the same offense and people with same offense got away with just one call to people like you.

The list of reasons a lot of people seem to be committing traffic offenses in Delhi is as follows:
1. Improper/ Invisible traffic signs.
2. Improper Road designs, a lot of places you have to break the law or stand stranded on road.
3. Encroachments on Roads by civic authorities sans Delhi Metro, e.g. you will see their hoardings on roads even after they have completed their work.
4. Buses from DTC and other influential transport vendors, who block most of the roads at the Bus Stops.


You drive one day on Inner Ring road as anonymous person and you will find everything I have written here.

Its very easy to give a problem statement, but very difficult to solve it. I have taken resolution to drive as per rules several times, but failed miserably. None of the stints could last a day. And I am ashamed of that and not proud as you have suggested.

No Bharat Ratna this year

Very understandably to its nature the UPA govt has decided not to confer the 'Bharat Ratna' to anybody. This was their political weakness that led to this scenario, because if they choose a Congressman for the award, their UPA colleagues will cause turmoil to the life of poor Manmohan Singh. If they give it to any of their non-left allies, they face the music from comrades. Even comrade Jyoti Basu would have caused a stir in their own ranks. The main opposition party played their own cards by suggesting the name of Mr. Vajpayee.
As a citizen of the Indian Republic, I am more than happy to see the award being not conferred, rather than being conferred to somebody who is not deserving. I would have been more than happy to see the award being not conferred to Sachin Tendulkar, than it being conferred to somebody like Karpuri Thakur or Kansi Ram or even Comrade Basu. Even though my choice would have been Sachin, with Mr. Vajpayee being a distant second.
People may treat my opinion to be negative, but even though I prefer to choose the options positively, here it is more than a choice. In fact the moment you discuss any award associated with the pride of the country the choice should be restrictive rather than the inclusive. The reason is that it is not just an award, but it reflects how a nation wants it icon to look like. Whether he should be a originator or supporter of divisive politics like Kansi Ram, Vajpayee; or whether he should be a man whose integrity lifts the mood of whole nation, even at a time when they are on a low (If anybody has any doubts see the smile on the face of a stock trader, having suffered in market this week, after Sachin's century at Adelaide).

Hailing India’s greatest Test victory ever

On the final day of Perth test Sunil Gavaskar rated the win as the best by india in the 35-40 years of cricket he has covered. I was amused, not because I felt happy being able to witness the occasion, but also to see the admission from a guy who had been part of the same setup that the current lot of players are best bunch ever to represent India ever.
It may seem funny for older player, but I have seen the Indian cricket evolve from a bunch competing to represent India to a bunch competing to assert India. Right now I does not seem to be just a one-off effort, rather the Team India is delivering goods consistently for over last 7-8 years. They are not only winning on Indian dust-bowls, but on African skidders, English swingers, West Indian jumpers, and Australian fliers.
The other aspect I saw in the Perth day was that evolving of Team India from a one-star team to an all-star team, where contributions all over won you a match rather than single individual efforts.

नानो कार फैक्ट्री केस निरस्त

मैंने अपनी पहली हिन्दी पोस्ट के लिए नानो कार फैक्ट्री केस निरस्त को चुना, क्योंकि ये वह मुद्दा है जो मेरे दिल के काफी करीब था। मैं वैचारिक रुप से स्वयम को मार्क्सवादी विचारधारा का प्रबल विरोधी मानता हूँ। परन्तु ये एक ऐसा मुद्दा था जहाँ पर पश्चिम बंगाल कि मार्क्सवादी सरकार ने जमीनी सच्चाई को स्वीकार करते हुए निर्णय लिया था। ये निर्णय यद्यपि विपक्षी पार्टियों कि विचारधारा से मेल खाता था फिर भी सिर्फ विरोध करने कि खातिर उन लोगों ने सिंगुर में विरोध शुरू कर दिया।
यहाँ पर भारत कि सभी राजनैतिक पार्टियों कि असलियत जाहिर होती है कि उन्हें लोगो के फायदे नुकसान से ज्यादा अपने राजनैतिक नफे नुकसान से मतलब होता है। खास तौर पर अगर विरोधी पार्टी अगर कोई अच्छा काम भी करती है तो उसका श्रेय भी उन्हें देने मैं इन्हें कष्ट होता है।
खैर अब जब कोलकता हाई कोर्ट ने टाटा के प्लांट को हरी झंडी दिखा दी है तो मैं रतन टाटा, टाटा मोटर्स, एवं पश्चिम बंगाल सरकार को बधाई देता हूँ कि इतने विरोध के बावजूद भी वो अपने सही निर्णय पर टिके रहे और अंतत एक नए युग कि शुरुआत के सूत्रधार बने।
विरोधी त्रिनामूल कांग्रेस को भी मेरी सलाह है कि अगर कोई सरकार जनता के फायदे का कोई निर्णय लेटी है तो उसे सराहने मैं कोई संकोच नहीं होना चाहिऐ.

Kumble joins 600 club

It is one of the most privileged occasion for me as a cricket fan to see Indian Cricket Captain Anil Kumble join 600+ club.
A gentleman of cricketer in this era of so-called flamboyant cricketers, this humble looking cricketer has proved that to be a successful cricketer all you need is to prove your point on the field by delivering goods for your team. You don't need dancing or romancing skills (Sree and Yuvi, I hope you read it), neither you need to sledge or humiliate your opponents by your words.
I still remember him taking wickets on hard bouncy surfaces in South Africa ahead of Kapil, Prabhakar, and Srinath leading English coach to treat him as a medium pacer. In turn Kumble did not reciprocate in front of media, but proved on Indian turners that he is a spinner as well, forcing Mr. Fletcher to eat his own words.
The greatest tribute for the humble 'Jumbo' comes from his rival for ages Steve Waugh. "Any fair-minded cricket fan would have enjoyed Anil Kumble's 600th Test wicket even though it was Australia's potential saviour Andrew Symonds" Waugh wrote in his column for the 'Daily Telegraph' after the second day's play in the ongoing third Test.
Congrats Anil!!!

Quota for minorities being considered

With reference to the article from The Hindu 'Quota for minorities being considered' stating that "Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil said on Wednesday the government was exploring the possibility of providing reservation to minorities in educational institutions and jobs."
My question is that is the government actually solving the problem by providing correct solution to the problems of minorities?
My observation is that this way the government is making another mistake, creating another divide between the reserved ones: 'the elite reserved' and 'the ordinary (or say needy) reserved'. The elite reserved are the ones who are financially good and then even do not need any reservations. They educate their children in good schools, premier colleges and then take benefit of reservation to get cream of the reserved jobs. This keeps on happening for ages. Now what happens is that their needy counterparts remain needy as always. This means by no way their casts can be included in the non-backward classes, even if the reservation continue for ages.
If the government is serious about handing reservation as tool to the needy section, then they need to make the 'token' reservation. Once you have used your share of token you are no longer a backward or needy. Now you have got your engine running, so take care of it.
This will help enormously in providing the reservation to the really needy people. The policy takes care of making sure that the needy will get their share of opportunities.