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• Remembering The Career Highlights Of Michael Schumacher While He Is Fighting For His Life
• 8 Bollywood Celebrity Weddings That Shocked Us
• 7 Indian Writers Who’ve Really Stood Out In The World Arena
• 6 Must-try Traditional Chinese Restaurants in China Town of Kolkata
• 6 Interesting Facts About Lohri
• Samajwadi Party’s Spokesperson, Nawab Bukkal, is a Gem of a Cook. No pun intended.

Remembering The Career Highlights Of Michael Schumacher While He Is Fighting For His Life Posted: Michael Schumacher- the moment we hear this name, the first thought that comes to our mind is that of race tracks, fancy cars moving in full speed, stadiums filled with people and so on. The man is a legend in the field of F1 racing and cannot be replaced. However, not many people are aware of his interest and skills in other sports, like skiing. Unfortunately, on 29th December 2013, Schumacher met with a serious accident while skiing on the Dent de Burgin in the French Alps where he fell and hit his head on a rock leading to a critical head injury despite wearing a helmet. Fans and supporters across several countries are praying and hoping for a speedy recovery of their hero and hope to hear the good news about his better health soon. Let's have a look at some of Schumacher's greatest moments and achievements in his Formula One career. 1. Destroying all the record books, 2002: If the winning record of Sebastian Vettel seems unbelievable and highly impressive to you, then you would definitely be dumbstruck at Michael's record in the 2002 season where he clearly showcased dominance over the other racers. He showed a consistency in his performance by finishing either at the first or the second position in every race, with Malaysia as an exception. The reliability on his Ferrari in this season was absolutely stunning. 2. His first ever win for Ferrari in Spain, 1996: One of Schumacher's finest accomplishments was recorded at the time he won his first race for Ferrari. The race took place in poor conditions and with very low hopes. Schumacher started with a slow start and gradually overtook the leading driver, Jacques Villeneuve on lap 13 leaving him so far behind that it almost seemed as if he had disappeared and went on to win by 45.302 seconds. 3. The controversy related to his first title, Adelaide 1994: Michael Schumacher earned his first title of the world drivers' championship in a very controversial manner, which was his collision with Damon Hill on the track in 1994 at the Australian Grand Prix in Adelaide.  The incident was reported to be of a deliberate nature by Hill whereas Michael always maintained the same to be a mere racing accident. 4. Being branded as the "cheap sheet", 2006: Schumacher had already been a part of many controversies in his past including the much talked about Adelaide incident before being tagged as a 'cheap cheat' by Keke Rosberg, a former champion, due to his qualifying stunt in Monaco. His rival Fernando Alonso was surely determined to defeat him with his pole time when Schumacher tried to park up intentionally at a place with an intention to obstruct him. It made poor Alonso unable to complete his lap due to safety reasons arising at the Rascasse section within the circuit. 5. A remarkable first victory, Belgium 1992: A year after addressing himself to the world with his outstanding performance in the Grand Prix, Michael made a comeback to the Spa-Francor champs circuit to accomplish the first win in the sphere of Formula One. He started at the third position on the grid with the usual wet conditions at Spa but managed to end up in the first position with his skill and some luck in his hands. 6. The unexpected pole finish at Monaco, 2012: Michael Schumacher had achieved three poles before he made his final appearance at Monaco. To the shock and delight of the crowd, he ended up earning four poles for himself. This not only came as a surprise to everybody but to Michael himself. He marks this as one of his most memorable moments in his racing career. 7. The broken gearbox, Spain 1994: This race took Schumacher's credibility to a completely different level. The fact that he managed to stand second in this race despite a broken gearbox proved that a driver's true ability might be judged by his performance in adversity. Ayrton Senna was a name before Michael who was known to have won the race despite being stuck in the sixth gear in the Brazilian Grand Prix in 1991. However, Schumacher's race stood out to be more impressive and set a benchmark in the racing sphere. 8. Wet tires vs. Dry tires, Spa 1995: Schumacher was famous for his defensive driving apart from the known excellence in overtaking and qualifying. In this particular race, Michael was noticed to be way ahead of his rival Damon Hill after going through the last of stops. It was then observed that the rains had returned and that Schumacher was fighting against wet rubber tires while his tires were till dry. Schumacher decided to stay on with dry tires instead of pitting for wet ones. Luckily, Hill was unable to move past him and the former held a victory in the race. 9. Passing Senna on the grass, Belgium 1993: Things were never stable or friendly between the two title rivals Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher. The latter was reported to be engaged in a tiff with the former after his victory in the Belgium race, for the third place. Schumacher won this race by almost squeezing past Senna on two wheels on the grass when the latter tried to overtake him from the pit lane. It is still considered to be a worth watching experience. The post Remembering The Career Highlights Of Michael Schumacher While He Is Fighting For His Life appeared first on TopYaps.

8 Bollywood Celebrity Weddings That Shocked Us Posted: Indian cinema has never failed in its attempt to mirror the dreams and illusions of ordinary people. It is an inspiration for some and an obsession for the others, while some just treat it as a worthy way of killing time. Most of us watch a movie and come out of the theatre wishing we were a part of that film, too, and could live a life that they do. A strange but strong fondness develops in our hearts for actors and actresses and we tend to be affected by whatever they do in their reel and real lives. An all-time heartbreak for fans is to see their favorite celebrity getting married in REAL. I'm sure all of us must have had that sinking feeling inside our hearts and it feels as if all our dreams have been crushed regardless of however unreasonable they may be. Let's have a look at a few such celebrity weddings that not only broke our hearts but also gave us the shock of our lives by being unexpected and surprising. 8. Sunil Dutt and Nargis: The magic happened on the sets of 'Mother India', where Nargis met Sunil Dutt and began to grow fond of him. The couple came closer after Sunil saved Nargis from a fire accident that took place on the set and dragged her out of danger. Their relationship was speculated and judged by many due to their diverse religious backgrounds. The book, 'Darlingji- The True Love Story' of Nargis and Sunil Dutt, written by author Kishwar Desai presents a true picture of their bonding. They had to keep their relationship a secret until the movie 'Mother India' was released as they were playing the roles of mother and son in it. They speculated that the news of their relationship at that time could be looked down upon and it was better to wait. They got married in the year 1958 soon after the release and success of the movie. 7. Boney Kapoor and Sridevi: They say that love has no boundaries. This was true in the case of Boney Kapoor and Sridevi. Both first met on the sets of 'Mr. India' and it was love at first sight for Boney. He told a reporter during an interview once that he was very impressed and wowed by her simple and innocent nature. The fact that Boney was married and had two kids made his love story a one-way thing for a very long time. The tables turned when Sridevi was going through a rough patch in her personal life due to the death of her father and her mother being seriously ill. Boney's considerate behavior and affection got the two close and they decided to get married. This news shocked everybody as Boney had yet to seek a divorce from his first wife, Mona Kapoor, this leading the two to keep their marriage as secret for about six months till their divorce was finalized. 6. Shammi Kapoor and Geeta Bali: Their love blossomed while they were on an outdoor shoot for their movie 'Rangeen Raatein'. But it was not easy for both of them. Since Geeta was the bread winner of her family and was a year older to Shammi, they were suspicious as to how the Kapoor family would respond to the two being together, and decided to keep it a secret.  After various discussions and speculations, the couple got married in a temple in the year 1995 with a common friend as their only witness and later went to the Kapoor house to seek their blessings. 5. Saif Ali Khan and Amrita Singh: The stunning and extremely talented Amrita Singh and the handsome Nawab of Pataudi met at a friend's party where they spoke, and Amrita invited Saif to come over to her house. In no time, Saif was at her door and he confessed in an interview that he never left thereafter. Their relationship was a shock to everybody since Amrita was 12 years older than Saif. However, the couple seemed to be carefree about the numbers and logistics since they were in love and went on to get married in the year 1991. Sadly, 13 years later they divorced. 4. Dharmendra and Hema Malini: This relationship is a true example of diversity. They came from backgrounds that were poles apart. Hema's family disapproved of the couple as she belonged to South India and Dharam was from Punjab. Things weren't easy on Dharmendra's side as well since he was already married and had two sons. Hema decided to get married to Dharmendra after the death of her father. However, it wasn't that simple. Dharam's first wife was not ready to give him a divorce, so they both decided to convert into Islam and got married in a secret Nikah ceremony and later in the year 1980 renewed her wows in an Iyengar style wedding. 3. Ranvir Shorey and Konkana Sen Sharma: Since this couple had always been very secretive about their personal lives including their relationship, their wedding came as a real surprise to everybody including many in the film fraternity. They got married in Mumbai in the year 2010 and had a very close-knit circle invited to the event. 2. Dr.Sriram Nene and Madhuri Dixit: This wedding made a lot of jaws drop and hearts break. It is a question that still pops into people's minds: Why did the dhak-dhak girl go for an arranged marriage? This wedding took place in USA with immediate family members of the couple. Of course, both being from diverse backgrounds appears to have helped the two in their respective careers. 1. John Abraham and Priya Runchal: After his break up with his eight year long girlfriend, Bipasha Basu, John shocked everyone with his marriage to Priya Runchal. Priya and John met through a common friend and had been seeing each other for the past two years and were nowhere close to getting married as per many sources. It was through John's tweet on New Year's eve that leaked the news out as he signed off tweeting – John and Priya Abraham. This news left everybody surprised. The post 8 Bollywood Celebrity Weddings That Shocked Us appeared first on TopYaps.

7 Indian Writers Who’ve Really Stood Out In The World Arena Posted: Although strings of literature have been the ball game of the Europeans majorly (specifically the English and the French), but Indians haven't been too far. Since Indians began learning the language, English literary scenario has seen some brilliant Indian writers—some residing in India while the others of diasporic identity. Let's have a look at some of the Indian fiction writers who made it big in the international scenario. I mentioned fiction, because if we sit to count the non fiction writers as well, there would be no ending to it. 7. Rabindra Nath Tagore: Although essentially a Bengali writer and philosopher, his fame was spread across the world with Gitanjali winning the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913. Tagore's poems are an amalgam of simplicity and high philosophy which even W.B. Yeats craved to write. In fact, it was Yeats who was responsible for Tagore's world-wide fame. If you still have not read any novel or poem by him, we suggest you to read "Ghare Baire" and "Nashtanir". 6. Amitava Ghosh: A personal favorite, Amitava Ghosh is a Bengali, living in the US, who has yet not been able to rip off his Bengali roots and memories. Almost all his novels are based in and around Calcutta (definitely not all) with traditional Bengali characters with whom he could identify. Ghosh is a wordsmith whose Hungry Tide, Sea of Poppies, The Calcutta Chromosome and River of Smoke are must read! From the prestigious "Prix Médicis étranger" and Sahitya Akademi Award to the David Dan Prize, he's numerous prestigious awards in his bag! 5. Vikram Seth: Vikram Seth can well be referred to as a living icon with his novel, A Suitable Boy being one of the longest novels ever published in a single volume in the history of English literature, and had around 591,552 words! Apart from this, he has written innumerable poems and quite a few novels which fetched him distinguishable awards. Among other awards, our favorite is his featuring in the list of The 25 Greatest Global Living Legends in the World. Amazing, isn't it? 4. Kiran Desai: Born and brought up in India and residing in the USA, one cannot distinguish the Indianness from her novels. Although her first novel brought accolades from notable writers like Salman Rushdie, it was her second novel, The Inheritance of Loss, which won her international fame and recognition. In fact, it is for this novel that Desai had won the Man Booker Prize in 2006 and the National Books Critics Circle prize. She's also the Nobel laureate, Orhan Pamuk's beau. 3. Jhumpa Lahiri: Think diasporic literature; think Jhumpa Lahiri whose forte is Bengalis and other Indians living lives of strangers (figuratively) in an alien land. Although within a few years she has more than 4 books (novels and short stories) under her belt—a single trope of identity and existential crisis tying them in one thread. The debut short story collection of this American writer of Indian origin, "The Interpreter of Maladies", won her the Pulitzer Prize in 2000. 2. Salman Rushdie: One of the best known and foremost writers in the history of English literature, Salman Rushdie has made his mark as a British-Indian novelist and essayist. Although his first novel was applauded, it was his second novel that drove laurels home with the Booker Prize in 1981. He fame also, to some extent, resides in his fourth novel being banned because of blasphemy (The Satanic Verses). We recommend his "Joseph Anton: a Memoir", his autobiography surrounding the controversy of The Satanic Verses. 1. R.K. Narayan: There's perhaps no Indian who haven't watched or read the marvelous accounts of Swami and his Friends, or that of the Malgudi Days. Reading these books transport us into a world of guileless innocence and child-like wonder. Narayan was a humanist (in the style of Guy de Maupassant) who liked to focus on the earthy Indianness of the country and its people. He was far from showcasing the materialistic aspects that the country was gradually stooping into. Among all his works, we recommend you Swami and Friends, which will surely transform you into an innocent child up for pranks! The post 7 Indian Writers Who've Really Stood Out In The World Arena appeared first on TopYaps.

6 Must-try Traditional Chinese Restaurants in China Town of Kolkata Posted: 10 Jan 2014 04:55 AM PST If you ask any Calcuttan about their favorite cuisine, 8 out of 10 people would inevitably go for Chinese. Well, it's definitely not that people here do not have any access to other cuisines but because Calcutta has a rich heritage of Chinese cuisine which can be traced back to the late 18th century. In the 18th century, innumerable Chinese families had come to Kolkata in search of jobs and settled in some specific areas of the city—fondly known as the China Towns. Now, among the two China Towns in the city, the one near Tangra is particularly famous for delectable gastronomic delicacies. Let's have a look at some of the best restaurants therein. 6. Think China-Town, Think "Beijing": Undoubtedly one of Kolkata's best, according to the locals, "Beijing" serves purely authentic Chinese food. Located in Tangra's China Town, this is perhaps one of the most expensive restaurants in the area with a three course menu for two costing around 800 bucks! If you're in Kolkata and want to try out this some authentic Chinese cuisine, Beijing is the place to be. We recommend their prawn starters and main course as they are pretty renowned for their sea-food! 5. Kim Ling: Located off South Tangra Road, Kim Ling is another gem in that area. A gastronomic paradise, this place serves traditional Chinese food at great rates: a sumptuous meal for two would come around 700 bucks. And, like every restaurants in China Town, they serve alcohol at much cheaper rates than any other non-China Town restaurant. If you're at here, one of China Town's oldest restaurant, then do try out their crispy starters, we bet you'll be craving for more! 4. Golden Joy: Rated 4/5 on Zomato, this restaurant again offers some delectable traditional Chinese cuisine at awesome prices. Cheaper than the above restaurants, a meal for two here will cost around 700 bucks including taxes but excluding liquor. We know, after seeing the pricing, you might think twice of visiting the restaurant; but do visit, you'll be mesmerized. The nicely done décor, the ambience and the quality of food make it one of the most sorted after family restaurants in the city. Once you're there at Golden Joy, you must taste their Sichuan Chowmein—your taste buds will surely crave for more! 3. Big Boss: Let's get it straight: one of the main reasons people visit China Town is cheap, authentic Chinese food and even cheaper booze. And, if you want to savor both at an amazing bargain, this is definitely the place to be. If you're in a group, you can even buy files of alcohol than splurging over small and large pegs. Now, as far as food is considered, Big Boss is one of the most renowned restaurants of the China Town—though nothing like Beijing or Kim Ling. However, you'll never be dissatisfied and regret your decision if you're here. Besides, if you've to treat a large group of people and you cannot afford to over-splurge, then Big Boss is the best and safest option! 2. Fung Fa: Located almost beside Science City and the Milan Mela Prangan, this restaurant is located near the entrance of the China Town. If you're in a hurry and don't want to get into the town, but still want to satiate yourself with some great Chinese food, then Fung Fa is the place to be. We recommend their crispy chicken gravy which is almost like a modified version of the good old chilly chicken. It's almost a semi dry variety of the same dish with the chicken balls being replaced by extremely crispy chicken balls alongside spicy gravy. Although a bit on the costlier side, you'll never regret visiting this delectable gastronomic address! 1. Kafulok: Again another famous address at Tangra, this place is mainly for the middle income group who want to savor good but budget food. But that definitely mean they compromise on their quality! However, this is perhaps one restaurant in that area where bar facility is unavailable. So, if you're looking for boozing as well, then Kafulok isn't the place for you. If you're there, do try out the traditional, regular Chinese dishes—you'll love them! The post 6 Must-try Traditional Chinese Restaurants in China Town of Kolkata appeared first on TopYaps.

6 Interesting Facts About Lohri Posted: 10 Jan 2014 01:33 AM PST In India the beginning of a new year is followed with one of the most popular and celebrated festivals known as Lohri. The festival has a deep rooted connection with the ancient cultures and traditions of India. There are numerous tales from the past that can be put together for the origin of this festival. On the eve of this festival people gather around a bon fire and celebrate while dancing and singing traditional songs. The festival is generally celebrated on January 13th mostly around the northern provinces of the country like Punjab and the states neighboring it. Let's take a look at some more interesting facts about Lohri. 6. The Punjabi Lohri is celebrated with the greatest fervor and pom: The festival of Lohri is best celebrated in the state of Punjab. According to Punjabi traditions the festival marks the beginning of the harvesting season at the end of winters. On this festival night family members, relatives and neighbors come together and perform bhangra and giddas around a bon fire. Dinner comprises of traditional preparations, ending the meal with several sweets. People exchange sweets just like Diwali and young lads go from door to door dancing on the beats of bhangra asking for Lohri gifts. 5. New Bride Lohri – the bride brings with her promise of success and prosperity: Especially in North India, the first Lohri a bride celebrates with her husband's family is considered very special. Her presence makes the occasion more majestic with bridal dressing as she accompanies her husband who is dressed in colorful turban (of course if he's a Serd). The newlywed couple is the center of attraction and is gifted with clothes and jewelry from their in-laws. Receiving blessing from elders, the new bride promises to bring success and prosperity to her new family. As a new member of the family, the new bride performs gidda (a traditional female dance of Punjab) with her in-laws around the bon fire. 4. Origin of the word Lohri – introspecting numerous theories: There are various stories that direct us to the origin of the word "Lohri." Some believe that the festival got its title from the wife of Sant Kabir called Loi. Whereas, some stories state that the name of this festival was developed from til and rohri (til & rohri shortened as Lohri) which are considered as an important part of the sweet dishes on this day. According to the Hindu mythology, Lohri was the sister of Holika who survived with Parladh. The word Lohri is also believed to have an origin from the word regional word loh which means warmth and light of fire. 3. The tale of Dulla Bhatti and its connection with Lohri: The festival of Lohri is often related to the legend of Dulla Bhatti who was a heroic character during the Mughal Empire. As the Robin Hood of Punjab province, Dulla once rescued a young from kidnapers and adopted the girl as her daughter and made all possible formalities for her marriage. Similar to this, there were several other incidents that described the great heroic character of Dulla Bhatti. In the present times, the festival of Lohri is celebrated in honor of Dulla Bhatti with folk songs describing his brave saga. 2. Lohri for Farmers – Lohri celebrations for them marks the coming of spring: Punjab, being the wheat bowl of India, the festival of Lohri has a real meaning to the farmers of this state. They regard the festive day as the winter solstice and a beginning of spring season. On this day, bon fires are done at almost every place signifying the end of winters. Farmers relate the festival with harvesting of crops like rabi and by gifting sweets or money to the poor folks, they pray that the upcoming season will bring prosperity of their lives. 1. Lohri is dedicated to fire and the Sun God: A festival essentially dedicated to the fire and the sun God, Lohri is associated with the concept of life and health in the Hindu religion. On the one hand it represents the sun with the rays and on the other gold. During this time the sun transits from the zodiac sign Capricorn and moves north. This new configuration lessons the impact of winter, replenishing its warmth. The bon fire is also lit to ward off the cold winds and welcome the spring warmth. This is the reason why the bonfire is worshipped and venerated as a deity. People propitiate the fire by offering peanuts, popcorn, and sweets. The post 6 Interesting Facts About Lohri appeared first on TopYaps.

Samajwadi Party’s Spokesperson, Nawab Bukkal, is a Gem of a Cook. No pun intended. Posted: “Look, there is no harm in watching dance performance. If an artist is presenting a dance performance, they should be supported, and our government encourages artists.” – Nawab Bukkal, Spokesperson, SP Have a look at a never before seen ‘performance’ by Nawab Bukkal. The post Samajwadi Party’s Spokesperson, Nawab Bukkal, is a Gem of a Cook. No pun intended. appeared first on TopYaps.

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