TopYaps

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• Big Shame: Delhi Cop Caught On Camera Slapping Tribune’s Photographer
• Why Bihar & Odisha Have Been Favorite Tourist Destinations For Bengalis
• Delhi Ridge: Makes Delhi The World’s Second Most Bird Rich City In The World
• 12 Interesting Facts You Should Know About Kolkata Metro
• Straight From Nowhere, Deepak Chaurasia Barges In As No. 1 In ‘India’s Worst Journalists – 2014′ Of MediaCrooks
• 6 Arguments Against The Aryan-Dravidian Divide
• Bhupinder Singh Hooda Slapped By Desi Spiderman
• 7 Awesome Places For Book Lovers In Bangalore
• Blimey! Philip Seymour Hoffman Dies Of Apparent Drug Overdose, Cinema World In Deep Shock

Big Shame: Delhi Cop Caught On Camera Slapping Tribune’s Photographer Posted: 03 Feb 2014 08:07 PM PST A video clip surfacing on YouTube shows a cop of Delhi Police pummeling a photographer. Manas Ranjan Bhui, a lensman of The Tribune, fell to the ground after being slapped by Sandeep Twetia, a constable of Desh Bandhu Gupta Road police station. Bhui was snapping a reckless elephant in front of Rajghat when the Delhi cop slapped him for no particular reason at all. Twetia was later suspended for his misconduct, but also he left behind a proof how thugs look in uniform. Credit: bhadas4media The post Big Shame: Delhi Cop Caught On Camera Slapping Tribune’s Photographer appeared first on TopYaps.

Why Bihar & Odisha Have Been Favorite Tourist Destinations For Bengalis Posted: Take a survey of any tourist spot, during peak season (or not!), and you'd undoubtedly find the Bengali tourists ruling that area. This has reached to such an extreme that the salespersons of souvenir shops and the local guides across India even speak Bengali! Nowadays Bengalis travel across the world to satiate their thirst for exploration; however, this wasn't so 35 years ago. Since times immemorial, the staple retreat of the Bengalis would be the quaint and serene lands of Bihar and the spiritual town of Puri. Let's look at some reasons why the Bengalis preferred these two places ahead of the others— 6. The Pocket-Factor Bengalis love to travel—true that; but travelers come from different social back grounds and most of their reasons behind traveling (yes, they had one!) would be a "hawa bodol" (a "change"). Yes, there are innumerable places in India, which would provide a great "change" option, but keeping in mind a tight budget, the only affordable places would be the quaint but peaceful hill stations in Bihar or the good ol' beach-paradise, Puri. 5. Sorry, Please Repeat That in Bengali Another very silly, but undeniably true reason behind the monotonous choice of tourist spot is language. Yes, we know, the most spoken language in Bihar and Odisha is Bhojpuri and Odiya respectively, but then again, if you even visit Kashmir during the peak season, you would find guides and salespersons talking in Bengali. In other words, Bengalis have been adamant in using Bengali even in places outside Bengal, and this liberty would be granted only by Bihar and Odisha whose main income would come from the Bengali tourists. In fact, even if you visit Puri now, you'd be able to see that not only a majority of the hoardings but also most people speaking in Bengali. 4. No Catering Please, We're Health Conscious People The Bengalis would never be able to live without good food. In fact, more than the beauty of the place, the food appeals more to a Bengali, even now. So, especially in the older times, you would find Bengalis looking up for "holiday homes" in tourist places where they would go with all the ingredients (from turmeric powder to chilli powder and even asafetida) and cook "taaza" food. In fact, even today, seldom does a middle class Bengali can part with his "ghorer khabar" (homemade food). You should see Bazaars in Puri which would be filled with Bengali people hunting out for fresh fishes! But sadly, these options would majorly be available in Bihar and Odisha, so undoubtedly they would be attracted to these "tourist-friendly" places as against the other "modern" places. 3. Nostalgia If you want to get anything from a Bengali, just talk nostalgia. Yes, the Bengalis are very nostalgic, and anything served with a good spicing of nostalgia is bound to be sold. There can be numerous stories told in this line, however, let us concentrate on tourism. Earlier, it is said, that the Bengal Bihar and Odisha were one single state, so, in a sense, these states are equally for the Bengalis as they are for the Biharis and Odiyas. So what if politically those lands can't be ours, we can always make it our 2nd homes by traveling time and again to these places! 2. Health Concerns Bihar and Jharkhand, though it is unknown to many, have some exquisite hill stations which really have great weather all through the year. The places' serenity and pollution free climate would be a great way of replenishing the mind and body of people. And, since, these places would be only a few hours away from Kolkata, they would choose to visit them over the other costlier places. 1. Puri – The Beach "Dham" Considered one of the most pious places in India, Puri has always been the favorite retreat to every Bengalis.  Ask any Bengali, if they have visited Puri and only 2 in a hundred would say 'no'. And, among the rest, be rest assured that most people have visited Puri more than 6-7 times. It's a place loved by people of all ages—if the outrageous sea would be the attraction to the young, the old people's delight would be the famous Jagannath Temple. If you plan to visit Puri, don't miss out on bathing at the sea, which is the best thing—ever! And, did you know the Puri beach is considered as one of the best in the world? The post Why Bihar & Odisha Have Been Favorite Tourist Destinations For Bengalis appeared first on TopYaps.

Delhi Ridge: Makes Delhi The World’s Second Most Bird Rich City In The World Posted: New Delhi is one of the busiest cities in the world, but it does have its space for fresh air for the city folks tired of pollution! The Delhi Ridge is your ultimate companion here for fresh breathing and even better – bird viewing! It is sometimes called the green lungs or the green cover because of the immense protection it provides by blocking hot winds from Rajasthan. The ridge in divided into four separate zones – Old Delhi and Northern Ridge, New Delhi or Central Ridge, Mehrauli or South-Central Ridge, Tughlaqabad or Southern Ridge. But that which makes Delhi stand out is that it is the world's second most bird-rich city in the world – the first being Nairobi, the capital of Kenya. Out of the 202 species, here is a list of bird species found in the Delhi Ridge and the places where you can find them: 5. The Out of Ordinary Birds at JNU! The Delhi Ridge is a favorite of both the aged and the young! It is an attraction which many cannot resist! If you are a lover of birds, the exotic species which are not always seen, then this is the place for you! The Jawaharlal Nehru University is home to a whooping 127 species of birds! Being for about 13.8 sq km it is the abode of birds like the Blue Throat, Black Redstart, Red Throated Fly Catcher, Lesser White Throat, Yellow Wattled Lapwing, Alexandrine Parakeets, Sirkeer Malkoha, Plum Headed Parakeets, Grey Indian Hornbill, Common Hawkand the Cuckoo! Finding these birds on any other part of Delhi is a rarity! Take a camera and rush! 4. Pigeons galore everywhere! You are bound to find if not more at least two of these beauties – the Rock Pigeon and the Yellow-footed Green pigeon! The Yellow-footed green pigeon is sometimes known as wearing a parrot's suit! They are bright green in colour and their legs have yellow feather! Mostly living in the woods, they can be spotted in many parts of Delhi! The rock pigeon on the other hand has a grey colour on their body and found mostly in urban areas and the domes of temples and mosques. 3. The Housemen – House Sparrow and House Crow! Well, the saddest part is that the sweet house sparrows are dangerously dwindling in Nature. But you can spot them in abundance at the Delhi Ridge, the Asola Sanctuary and the Jamia Nagar! They were the first discovered avians, but are getting eradicated at an alarming rate. Much less is to be told about the house crows! They are, to begin with, very different from other birds in terms of appearance! Intelligent and unscrupulous, they are the most cunning hunters in town! Rather than viewing their body it's far more amusing to watch them look for food! 2. The Policeman! The Black Drongo is also known as the 'sheriff' or 'police'! It is black in colour (as the name suggests!) and has a slender, thin tail with a slit in the middle! They are known to be extremely ferocious to fellow birds who try to come enter their areas! They also chase away eagles! You can look for them in abundance at the Okhla and Asola Sanctuaries. But, maintain a distance while clicking! 1. Move over eagles, it's the Kite! No, those brown big birds with forked tails are not eagles, as you knew it! The tails are the signifiers! Vultures, as you know, are on the verge of extinction, so these kites are to dominant species in the sky! They fly the highest and again are capable of viewing at great lengths in search of food! They are also a treat to watch when they hunt for food and especially the ones which have babies! It is a bit difficult to spot them but once found they are remarkable to follow! It is especially very appealing to watch the black-shouldered kite! When it is saving its prey it can even fight birds bigger than its size! Under no circumstances is it ever ready to part with its prey! You can try to capture it from a close distance but if you a little too close – be ready to lose it! The kite will understand your vicinity and fly away within seconds! The post Delhi Ridge: Makes Delhi The World's Second Most Bird Rich City In The World appeared first on TopYaps.

12 Interesting Facts You Should Know About Kolkata Metro Posted: The 'City of Joy', Kolkata, offers an array of interesting places to the inquisitive knower! Apart from all its historical possessions, the most out-of-the-box is the Kolkata Metro Railway! It connects the city with the adjoining districts of North 24 Parganas and South 24 Parganas in West Bengal. Yes, it is the underground railway system, which you can only come across in Delhi and Bangalore other than in Kolkata! You might wonder what's so interesting about the metro in Kolkata! Here is a list of 12 of the most interesting facts about the Kolkata Metro, which you must know!   12. You'll find Its Presence in Movies More than Any Other Metro In India! Films in Kolkata almost always have its portrayal on the silver screen but even in Bollywood films you get a glimpse – remember the Vidya Balan starrer Kahaani! That famous scene of her being pushed on the railway tracks is, well, the Rabindra Sarobar Station again! 11. Occasional Air-Conditioned Rakes! Now this is tricky! You might wonder what's interesting in that! But, on a hot summer day, inside the station, the sight of an Air-Conditioned rake is like a sudden shower – it's much greater fun isn't it when it's occasional rather than always (makes you feel lucky too!) 10. Perfect Place for Lovers! It is underground, it is busy and it is huge! Hence the metro is the perfect place for lovers who want to find a safe shelter for chatting and spending time with each other (being huge down there, it is unlikely that you'll ever get discovered by any familiar face!) 9. Alternative To 6.2% Roads in Kolkata! It is a fact that roads, which take us from one place to the other, cover only about 6.2% of the land surface in Kolkata. Hence, the metro was initially conceived as an alternative transport system to decrease the transport woes of the city public which went on to become the Kolkata metro! 8. Historically significant – What Calcutta Thinks Today, India Thinks Tomorrow There is a saying that many of you will be able to recognize with, here goes – 'What Calcutta thinks today, India thinks tomorrow'! After more than two decades of the metro railway serving the city, Delhi has got one and Mumbai is thinking of having one! True saying indeed! 7. Fastest Mode of Transport in Kolkata! The Metro will take you from the southernmost tip of the city to the northernmost part within few minutes (who wants to stand for hours in traffic-snarls!). Better to get your way through by hopping on to one of the trains underground! 6. Ten Stations Are Named After Famous Bengali Personalities! Named after towering Bengali freedom fighters, these stations are – Girish Park (after theatre personality Girish Ghosh), Jatin Das Park (after freedom fighter Jatin Das), Kavi Subhash, Kavi Nazrul (after the poet Kazi Nazrul Islam), Mahanayak Uttam Kumar (after Bengali star actor Uttam Kumar), Mahatma Gandhi Road (after Mahatma Gandhi), Masterda Surya Sen (after freedom-fighter Surya Sen), Netaji, Netaji Bhavan (after Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose), Shahid Khudiram (after freedom-fighter Khudiram Bose). 5. It is the Spookiest! This is for the mystery lovers – it is a fact that the maximum number of suicides takes place in the Rabindra Sarobar Metro Station! People have report to have seen apparitions after the last train having left the station! So you never know you might get a chance to encounter you-know-what-I-mean at night! 4. It is completely Air-Cooled! The huge underground system is maintained by air-cooled ventilators and not air conditioners – so there are pockets which allow cool air to pass through it making it very comfortable for people suffering from lung disorders! 3. Cheapest fares in the World! Believe it or not, the lowest fare for the five kilometer distance is Rs.5, the lowest anywhere in the world! Rates have been revised from the ten kilometer distance until very recently! 2. Most Crowded among All! The Kolkata Metro carries close to five lakh passengers daily (a tough deal for passengers)! (Passengers in fact were ready to pay higher ticket prices to feel roomy inside the trains!) 1. The Oldest Metro in India! It is the oldest Metro Station in India which started its journey in the year 1984! The foundation stone was laid by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in the year 1972, while construction started in the years 1973-74! The post 12 Interesting Facts You Should Know About Kolkata Metro appeared first on TopYaps.

Straight From Nowhere, Deepak Chaurasia Barges In As No. 1 In ‘India’s Worst Journalists – 2014′ Of MediaCrooks Posted: Deepak Chaurasia. Naam to suna hi hoga.  Yes, the notorious dadhiwala anchor of India News, who is often machine gunned with long-length gaalis on social media has been recently conferred a prestigious title, meant only for renowned ’prestitutes’ around. Compiled by MediaCrooks, a progressive blog dedicated to monitor the feats and foibles of Indian journos, this list dwells around folks who lack journalistic rigor but shamefully enjoy the status in mainstream. The list India’s Worst Journalists – 2014 explores 10 faces of Indian journalism that are enforcers of corporate lobby and known for twisting stories only for the interests of rich and powerful. Let’s have a quick glance at them: 10. S. Varadarajan 9. Kumar Ketkar 8. Nikhil Wagle 7. Nidi Razdan 6. Karan Thapar 5. Rajdeep Sardesai 4. Ashutosh 3. Sagarika Ghose 2. Barkha Dutt 1. Deepak Chaurasia The post Straight From Nowhere, Deepak Chaurasia Barges In As No. 1 In ‘India’s Worst Journalists – 2014′ Of MediaCrooks appeared first on TopYaps.

6 Arguments Against The Aryan-Dravidian Divide Posted: One of the greatest historical stories about India that has been doing the rounds since ages is about the famous Aryan-Dravidian divide. Now, this debacle has been taken up by numerous historians who cite different opinions (sometimes culturally and racially discriminable) to sustain their views. Let's look at some of the theories doing the rounds— 6. The Language Barrier According to some historians, the language barrier between North Indians and South Indians is suggestive of the Aryan-Dravidian divide. This notion was based on the great German historian, Max Mueller's assumption. However, this theory had been, and is still now, being questioned by many modern as well as Vedic scholars. According to many historians, like Mr. S. Kalyanaraman, there are numerous similarities between the aboriginal languages of India, like Munda, and Sanskrit. Even the great Vedic scholar Sri Aurobindo was of the same view and suggested that this similarity can happen only if they had a common mother language. Now, many people say that one culture cannot produce two different set of languages, but we have to keep in mind that the sages, who were the pioneers of Hinduism and Culture, could've had different dialects which may have transformed, over the uncountable years, into a different set of language all together. Besides, topography also impinges its dominance over the language of an area. Keeping in mind these debates, one cannot just pinpoint at this theory and prove it as a reason for the Aryan-Dravidian debacle. 5. Cultural Difference According to another set of historians, there is apparently a huge rift between the Dravidian and Aryan Culture. But, this theory too has come under much speculation. According to the Vedic history, Tamil is the oldest Dravidian dialect which owes its inception to Agasthya Muni who is regarded as one of the most powerful sages in the Rid Veda. In fact, on many occasions, we have seen Dravidian kings depicting themselves as Aryans and have even traced their descent till Manu, who himself has been referred as a South Indian king in the Matsya Purana. Besides, both the South and North Indians, or the "Aryans" and the "Dravidians" share a singular religion and, perhaps, a single mother language too. 4. The Shaivite Culture It is said predominantly that the Dravidians follow a Vaishav Culture as opposed to the Shaivite and Brahminical Culture of the Aryans. However, looking at the great many temples of Lord Shiva in South India, and North India being the birth place of Lord Krishna (an "avatar" of Vishnu), we can only term this division as a part of the complex theological structure than Hinduism is steeped in. 3. The Preservers of Indian Culture Although it's the North Indians who are the flag bearers of Aryan culture and civilization in India, it is a renowned fact that the numerous major Vedic pundits of India have been Dravidians, and it is the Dravidians who have been able to secure the entire Vedic Culture and have also been the preservers of all the major customs, rituals and traditions propounded by the Vedic alias the "Aryan" culture. On the other hand, the Aryan culture is always on a decline among the "original" Aryans—the North Indians. 2. The Racial Difference The Aryans have always been referred to as the descendents of the Europeans whereas the Indians were a mere conglomeration of aboriginal tribes. On the lines of racial analysis, the Aryans were segregated from the Dravidians by numerous historians. But, if we closely and practically look at the topography of India, we would be able to point out at the basis of this division—we cannot really expect a Kashmiri to be dark skinned as we cannot expect a person residing near the hot and humid climate of Chennai to be exceptionally fair skinned. 1. A Post-Modern Study According to a recent study by Kumaraswamy Thangarajan, a Senior Scientist with the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, it has been proved, after analyzing the genetic structures of numerous people all over India, across numerous tribes and social classes, that the genetics across all the sections of Indian society weren't systematically different, and hence, it was impossible to account for any North-South divide. The post 6 Arguments Against The Aryan-Dravidian Divide appeared first on TopYaps.

Bhupinder Singh Hooda Slapped By Desi Spiderman Posted: 03 Feb 2014 02:03 AM PST Okay. Bhupinder Singh Hooda failed to qualify the prestigious shoe list but fell to the hands of a common man. During a road show in Panipat, Kamal Mukhija, an employed youth popped from nowhere and poured down his frustration on Haryana Chief Minister. Reminding everyone of 90s Ajay Devgan, the youth bounced all the way to demonstrate hand’s political point. Watch out the comic situation here: Credit: GK News   The post Bhupinder Singh Hooda Slapped By Desi Spiderman appeared first on TopYaps.

7 Awesome Places For Book Lovers In Bangalore Posted: "Literature is my Utopia. Here I am not disenfranchised. No barrier of the senses shuts me out from the sweet, gracious discourses of my book friends. They talk to me without embarrassment or awkwardness", said Helen Keller. Love of literature is universal and nothing can stop people from falling in love with books. They are good friends and company to those who seek them. Book lovers tend to read, admire and occasionally collect books. Booklovers usually tend to seek havens, where they can find what they are looking for, with an ambience that makes them feel at home surrounded by books. Book lovers in Bangalore are in for a treat, as the city is buzzing with awesome places where they can relax and enjoy. Even though there are numerous commercial setups in Bangalore where you can buy books, there are those 7 special book houses which will impart a special experience for book lovers that they can cherish forever. 7. Crosswords At crosswords you can browse through what appears to be limitless collection of books welcoming you from the shelves. Apart the books, you can find here films, music and wide range of games and toys as well. From Fifty Shades of Grey to King Lear, you have it all under one roof in this bookstore. It has an adjoining café as well, if you decide to sit and read some books over there. Though not unique, the bookstore is popular as it offers all types of books. 6. SANKARS SANKARS are the book people who began their business in the year 1967-68. SANKARS never stopped with opening a regular bookstore for booklovers, but they brought in new innovative ideas to please their customers. Their latest venture on Madras bank Road is not just a storehouse for books of all categories, but they have created opportunity for readers to intellectually interact with the authors.  With entertaining play area and food available, your children are never going to interrupt your book browsing here. 5. Bookworm For those who seek steal deals on books, Bookworm is the right place to haunt. The second hand book shop has received wonderful reviews from book lovers from Bangalore, especially for the exceptional way it makes you feel. Bookworm is a bookshop that has helped to keep the romantic feeling of buying and reading books alive. It is also a great place to find discounts or hunt for a rare book which is not found in general commercial book shops. 4. Atta Galatta Atta Galatta is special not just for those 5 oaks that stand guard outside the building, but also for housing and promoting Indian authors. The only books by foreign authors are found in the children's section. One of the attractive features has been the book reading sessions held here by authors, which has fascinated sincere book lovers from Bangalore to visit the bakery-cum-bookstore. They have an amazing range of books available in Kannada, Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu and Hindi, besides books by Indian authors writing in English. 3. Leaping Windows This place is paradise for comic and graphic novel lovers. The unique library has a large collection of DC, Marvel, Manga and other comics, which are quite expensive for people to buy. The place has great ambience where you can flop down on a comfy pouf to enjoy the comic of your choice. To make your experience perfect, there is a café on the first floor where you can get beverages and snacks. You will be coming across nearly 15-20 new books every month. 2. Strand Book Stall Founded loving by Padmashri T. N. Shanbhag 60 years ago, Strand Book Stall is one of the most loved book houses in Bangalore. Apart from having a highly refined selection of books, the store is popular for offering 20% discount on books. Strand Bangalore was the first bookshop to start innovative concept of book readings. These interactions between authors like Shashi Deshpande, Sudha Murty, Shashi Tharoor, Anita Nair and their readers became a huge hit with booklovers. Strand is not just a bookstore, but it is legacy left behind by an ardent book lover. 1. Blossoms If there would be voting held for most lovable bookstore in Bangalore, Blossoms would win hands down. This is not just treasure trove of new titles, but also an amazing place to find second hand books in good condition. The discount you can get here is incomparable to any other place.  For the merriment of booklovers, there are more than 50,000 titles available here. Nothing can match the joy of browsing through the books, with a piping hot cup of tea which the store offers you. The post 7 Awesome Places For Book Lovers In Bangalore appeared first on TopYaps.

Blimey! Philip Seymour Hoffman Dies Of Apparent Drug Overdose, Cinema World In Deep Shock Posted: 02 Feb 2014 11:48 PM PST Philip Seymour Hoffman, the Academy Award winner actor was found dead at his Manhattan apartment on Feb 2, 2014. Considered as one of the most multi-talented actors in contemporary Hollywood cinema, Philip’s body was discovered from his bathroom with a needle sticking out of his left arm. According to law enforcement officials of New York, he died of an apparent drug overdose. The news of Phil’s sad demise is a terrible blow to all of his fans who have enjoyed his outstanding performances in several Hollywood blockbusters. From a career spanning nearly 25 years, let’s have a look at some of the most popular characters played by him demonstrating his versatility. 1. Truman Capote in Capote (2005)   2. Lancaster Dodd in The Master (2012)   3. Gust Avrakotos in Charlie Wilson’s War (2007)   4. Father Brendan Flynn in Doubt (2008)   5. Lester Bangs in Almost Famous (2000)   6. Allen in Happiness (1998)   7. Jon Savage in The Savages (2007)   8. George Willis, Jr. in Scent of a Woman (1992)   9. Phil Pharma in Magnolia (1999)   10. Paul Zara in The Ides of March (2011)   11. Andy Hanson in Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead (2007)   12. Scotty J. in Boogie Nights (1997)   13. Rusty Zimmerman in Flawless (1999)   14. Jack in Jack Goes Boating (2010)   15. Plutarch Heavensbee in  The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)   16. Caden Cotard in Synecdoche, New York (2008)   17. Joseph Turner White in State and Main (2000) The post Blimey! Philip Seymour Hoffman Dies Of Apparent Drug Overdose, Cinema World In Deep Shock appeared first on TopYaps.

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