“The origin of a child is a mother, a woman… She shows a man what loving, caring and sharing is all about..” said Sushmita Sen, India’s first Miss Universe, in the final round of the contest. An answer which was greeted with tremendous applause and which probably, led her to win the crown.

Indeed a woman’s essence lies in her innate ability to care, love and sacrifice for the other. She plays an all-enveloping character of a mother, daughter, wife and sister as a friend, nurturer, guide and partner from time to time. Emotional and vulnerable, sometimes erratic, sometimes serene, she displays a wonderful range of emotions from being patient to being extremely courageous in times of crisis.

Tormented and subjugated throughout all times and ages, women have fought their way through exploitation, harassment, and have managed to secure their rights in the public domain. In spite of continuing exploitation and injustice against women both in the domestic and work sector today, several milestones have been achieved in terms of education, freedom of choice and liberty, equality etc. With growing literacy and financial independence women feel more empowered today to assert their right to a life of dignity and self worth. The International Women's Day celebrated on 8th March is a universal day for all women around the world. It endows them with a sense of honour, dignity and self respect for being the person that they are. This day marks a celebration of the economic, social, cultural and political achievements made by women over the years.

The idea of an International Women's Day first arose at the turn of the century, which in the industrialized world was a period of expansion and turbulence, booming population growth and radical ideologies. Following is a brief chronology of the most important events:

1909

In accordance with a declaration by the Socialist Party of America, the first National Woman's Day was observed across the United States on 28 February. Women continued to celebrate it on the last Sunday of that month through 1913.

1910

The Socialist International, meeting in Copenhagen, established a Women's Day, international in character, to honour the movement for women's rights and to assist in achieving universal suffrage for women. The proposal was greeted with unanimous approval by the conference of over 100 women from 17 countries, which included the first three women elected to the Finnish parliament. No fixed date was selected for the observance.

1911

As a result of the decision taken at Copenhagen the previous year, International Women's Day was marked for the first time (19 March) in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland, where more than one million women and men attended rallies. In addition to the right to vote and to hold public office, they demanded the right to work, to vocational training and to an end to discrimination on the job.

Less than a week later, on 25 March, the tragic Triangle Fire in New York City took the lives of more than 140 working girls, most of them Italian and Jewish immigrants. This event had a significant impact on labour legislation in the United States, and the working conditions leading up to the disaster were invoked during subsequent observances of International Women's Day.

1913-1914

As part of the peace movement brewing on the eve of World War I, Russian women observed their first International Women's Day on the last Sunday in February 1913. Elsewhere in Europe, on or around 8 March of the following year, women held rallies either to protest the war or to express solidarity with their sisters.

1917

With 2 million Russian soldiers dead in the war, Russian women again chose the last Sunday in February to strike for "bread and peace". Political leaders opposed the timing of the strike, but the women went on anyway. The rest is history: Four days later the Czar was forced to abdicate and the provisional Government granted women the right to vote. That historic Sunday fell on 23 February on the Julian calendar then in use in Russia, but on 8 March on the Gregorian calendar in use elsewhere.

Since those early years, International Women's Day has assumed a new global dimension for women in developed and developing countries alike. The growing international women's movement, which has been strengthened by four global United Nations women's conferences, has helped make the commemoration a rallying point for coordinated efforts to demand women's rights and participation in the political and economic process.

Increasingly, International Women's Day is a time to reflect on progress made, to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of women's rights.

Breaking the Glass Ceiling”

Women have been trained to speak softly and carry a lipstick. Those days are over.– Bella Abzug

Finally, and dramatically, public perception has changed!
Women in India have been making their mark from not only being a home maker, to have ruled over India and embarking the various sectors. Women in like Razia

Sultan,Rani Laxmi Bai, Sarojini Naidu, Indra Gandhi, Ashiwarya Rai and latest the entrant on the block is the Indra Nooyi, a superwomen, who has been placed 4th in the list of worlds topmost influential women’s by the Forbes Magazine.
- Naina Lal Kidwai is a familiar name in India's corporate sector and is the right epitome of a woman of substance.
- Shakuntala Devi is generally known as a 'Human Computer”apart from solving mathematical problems, she is utilising her amazing talent in the field of astrology.
- Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhonsle has ruled over the hearts of millions of music lovers throughout the world for years by the magic of their melodious voice.

The Rules are Changing
You no longer have to dress like a man or act like a man to reach upper management—the level that was forbidden by the glass ceiling. You can act in a style that’s comfortable to you as long as you show others they can have confidence in you.

What Must You Do?
Individually, we have to remove gender bias—along with racial and ethnic bias—from our subjective promotion criteria. I need to emphasize here that it doesn’t matter if the reviewing manager is male or female. We’ve been comparing our employees to men at the top. So, it’s up to each of us to do our part to conduct unbiased reviews—making sure the glass ceiling stays in the past.

5 Steps for Moving Up
Here’s what you can do to speed your ascent into the realm of upper management.

1. Believe that the glass ceiling is obsolete and that it won’t affect you. You know, act as if there’s no sexism left in business. Remember that others who still hold that belief are hanging onto a passé dogma.

2. Make a point of showing you’re a decision maker. You can solicit input, but assume your role as the final decision maker on projects. You must overturn that erroneous stereotype that women are indecisive. Management studies show female managers are good at making decisions.

3. Force yourself to be more of a risk taker. Women are more risk averse than men, and sometimes miss business opportunities. So, up your risk taking by 15%, 20%, or whatever takes you slightly out of your 100% safety zone.

4. Speak up when others will notice—remember, you’re now a player. Act like one.

5. Get help at home—help with the cleaning, help with the children, help with your elders— don’t assume you have to do it all. You’ll still have moments when you feel overwhelmed with your “other life duties,” but try not to complain at work. Your superiors might decide you can’t take on higher assignments.

Source :
http://womensmedia.com/lunchtalk/category/glass-ceiling/

“Role of Women in Healing the world”

In the field of healthcare also women as doctors and nurses can give a healing touch to patients. It has been found that women on account of their tender hearts are better nurses and due to their naturally delicate and soft hands they are better doctors. Therefore it can be said, “A woman’s voice is a cure and her touch a balm”.

Florence Nightingale, the lady with a lamp, made history and showed the way to womankind and how efficiently and nobly women can mitigate the sufferings of humanity in war and epidemic. Even in the area of family planning women can render admirable service of explaining to the village women the importance of family planning by taking into them confidence and can guide them by creating awareness about different methods of birth control. If all educated women accept the challenge of time and make up their mind to serve the nation in checking the population growth, it will greatly put in to the socio-economic evolution of the nation.

In addition to the 1979 Nobel Peace Prize, Mother Teresa has received other awards for her work with the needy. Awarded the Nobel prize for chemistry Dorothy Hodgkin work on critical discoveries of the structure of both penicillin and later insulin. Annie Besant was famous as a social worker, educationalist and journalist.

“The Hand that Rocks the Cradle Rules the World”

Mothers of the next generation are the ones who are molding the future! Motherhood is just about the greatest calling in the World!

Motherhood is a big job! It takes the strength of Samson, the wisdom of Solomon, the patience of Job and the faith of Abraham, the insight of Daniel and the courage and administrative ability of David!

The thing that makes a mother so wonderful is that self-sacrificial spirit that is willing to sacrifice her own time, her strength and even her health for the sake of that child. Any mother can have a baby, but it takes a real mother to learn how to "train up a child in the way he should go!"

"The bravest battle that ever was fought,
Shall I tell you where and when?
On the maps of the World you will find it not,
It was fought by the mothers of men!"

Elvis Aaron Presleya - the most popular American singers of the 20th century acknowledged that the most important woman in his life was his beloved mother, Gladys Love Presley. Barack Obama referred to his mother as "the dominant figure in my formative years. Sanjay Leela Bhansali has adopted the middle name “Leela” as a tribute to his mother, Leela Bhansali as his It is his sensitive tribute to her strength and sacrifice. Some mothers play a big role in their children’s lives, like Tina Knowles, who designs outfits for her superstar daughter Beyoncé, or Ashanti ’s momager, who also guides the career of her Grammy-winning daughter. President FD Roosevelt mother Sarah was both the great constant in his life and the most important influence.

Woman in Sports:

"Feminism is about freedom: the individual and collective liberty to make decisions. Sports have freed women, and continue to free women, from restrictive dress, behaviors, laws and customs-and from the belief that women can't or shouldn't achieve or compete or win"

The importance of studying women in sport is inarguably one of the most influential and overlooked topics of the women's movement. In the sports arena women are given the opportunity to level with men. To be given the opportunity to succeed is a landmark milestone in itself throughout women's history. The overall importance of this topic is further summed up by Mariah Burton Nelson: "sport alters the balance of power between the sexes. It changes lives. It empowers women, thereby inexorably changing everything.

P. T. Usha the first Indian woman athlete to reach the final of an Olympic event. Chris Evert is one of the most popular women athletes the United States has ever produced is Chris Evert. Saina Nehwal has been catapulted to the league of top India sports persons after her gold medal winning show at the Commonwealth Games. Martina Navrátilová - is the greatest women's tennis player in the history of the sport. Dawn Fraser is regarded as the greatest female swimmer in the world, being the first woman who swam the 100-meter event in less than a minute. Famous Women chess player WGM Natalia Pogonina is one of the best female chess players in the world. Janica Kostelic nicknamed the "Snow Queen of Croatia," the 27-year-old Zagreb native may well be one of the greatest skiers of all time.

Source :
http://www.festivalsofindia.in/id/wd /
http://www.merinews.com/article/role-of-women-in-social-transformation/15751822.shtml
http://www.beautywithbrain.com/success/indra-nooyi-one.htm
http://www.whereincity.com/india/great-indians/women/naina-lal-kidwai.php
http://www.lucidcafe.com/library/95aug/motherteresa.html
http://www.ndtv.com/article/sports/saina-nehwal-65346?cp
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-534272/The-mother-making-Barack-Obama--waking-4am-private-lessons-school.html
http://profiles.incredible-people.com/sanjay-leela-bhansali/

Holi Recipes

Indian festivals are known for their unique way of celebration. Apart from maintaining various traditions and rituals during the festivals, people also prepare delicious food items to make the occasion more special.

There are famous and delicious dishes prepared during Holi. After playing color one enjoys eating these foods with great pleasure. Holi is also famous for the variety of sweets that are offered to the visitors that come to apply colors and enjoy the sweets offered by the host.

Aloo Poori Recipe

For Alu:

For Puri:

For the puri :

Place the flour in mixing bowl with the salt. Make a well in the middle of the flour and gradually stir in yogurt, mix well to form a supple dough. Add water if needed.

Knead the dough for 7-10 minutes until it is soft. Leave it for 20 minutes to get more soft. Make balls out of this dough. Roll out each piece on the well floured surface into a big circle (usually it will be bigger than a normal poori) Heat oil in a Kadhai or wok (frying pan). Deep-fry the pooris in hot oil for a minute, turn the side and fry till it is puffed and golden in colour.

Repeat this process until all the pooris are made.

Source:
http://www.indianfoodforever.com/holiday-recipes/holi/aloo-puri.html

Kanje ke vade

Makes about 1 Kg.

Ingredients

Method Soak urad dal overnight and grind to a fine paste. It should have the consistency of cake batter. Put it n a vessel and whisk it very well so that the mixture is fluffy. Heat oil well in a deep frying pan. Test if the oil is ready by dropping a little of the mixture into the pan if it fluffs up and floats to the surface the oil is ready. Take a piece of wet cloth on your left palm. This allows the vadas to slide off into the pan without difficulty. Put some of the mixture onto the cloth and flatten it, shaping it into round one-inch vadas. Slide these off one by one into the oil, and deep fry. They should be fried through and through, and have a golden brown colour. Take care not to make the vadas too thick. Keep a tawa on the fire and put the crystals of hing on it. Take a matka or an earthenware pot, and as soon as the hing emits an aroma, turn the matka upside down on the tawa to soak up the smell. Take it off the fire and fill it with warm water. Mix the rai, salt, red chilli powder and whole red chillies into the water. The fried vadas are now put into the matka. The top of the matka is covered with a clean muslin cloth and securely tied. The matka is left out in the sun during the day for eight days. It is then ready to be served.

Source:
http://www.holihangama.com/holi/recipes/index.html

Namakpara Recipe

Ingredients

Source:
http://www.indianfoodforever.com/holiday-recipes/holi/namakpare.html

Annar Ki Thandai

Ingredients

Source:
http://www.ayushveda.com/womens-magazine/holi-special-recipes/

At the top, burj Khalifa experience

No building in modern history has aroused so much curiosity and intrigue as has Burj Khalifa. Your At The Top, Burj Khalifa visit will answer all your questions. From your vantage point on level 124 of the world’s tallest building, you will experience first-hand this modern architectural and engineering marvel and know at last what it is like to see the world from such a lofty height.

Your At The Top, Burj Khalifa visit begins in the reception area on the lower ground level of The Dubai Mall. Here and throughout your journey, you will be entertained and informed by a multi-media presentation that chronicles Dubai’s exotic history and the fascinating story of Burj Khalifa.

Leave the reception area aboard the 65-metre-long travelator on a trip that transports you through time, from the earliest days of Dubai to the present. Pause briefly at a unique viewing point for your first close-up view of the soaring Burj Khalifa, seen through a skylight framing its awe-inspiring height.

Begin your vertical ascent to the observation deck in a high-speed elevator, travelling at 10 metres per second. As the doors open, floor-to-ceiling glass walls provide a breath-taking unobstructed 360-degree view of the city, desert and ocean. By night, sparkling lights and stars compete for your attention.

Special telescopes provide virtual time-travel visions of the scenes beyond and below. You’ll see close-up real-time views as well as the past and the future, by day and by night. You can also walk the entire perimeter for the most comprehensive views. If you wish, adventure outside onto the open-air terrace to enjoy another perspective of the sweeping views below. You can even shop At The Top, Burj Khalifa and take home a truly unique souvenir of your visit.

The At The Top, Burj Khalifa tour typically last 1 hour. However, you can linger as long as you like before making the return journey to the base of Burj Khalifa. You’ll be taking with you a fuller appreciation of this architectural wonder and a deeper understanding of Dubai’s remarkable vision.

'At The Top' Observation Deck Ticket Information
By day and night At the Top provides unparalleled views of Dubai. A standard visit to At the Top lasts approximately 60 minutes, allowing ample time for you to relax and enjoy the Dubai skyline at your leisure. Tickets may be purchased at the ticket office near the entrance to At the Top on the lower ground of The Dubai Mall.

For more information please refer the link below
http://www.burjkhalifa.ae/language/en-us/observation-deck/at-the-top-experience.aspx

10 Best Spas in India
From Refreshing Mountain Hideaways To Exotic Beach Retreats.

The spa industry in India has seen some phenomenal growth in recent years.

As well as skin treatments and massages, most spas in India have now evolved to include a number of different therapies, such as reflexology, hydrotherapy, aromatherapy, and meditation. All you need to do is lie back and enjoy being pampered!

Here are the 10 best luxury spas in India.

Wildflower Hall Spa, Shimla

Set amongst cedar forests, with fresh air and a view of snow capped mountains, the Spa Pavilion at the Oberoi's Wildflower Hall Resort is a haven of tranquility. Twice voted "India’s Best Spa Resort" in the World Travel Awards, the spa uses plant and flower essences in its aromatherapy and Ayurveda based treatments.

What's Good: The luxurious Himalayan Retreat spa program, which includes body scrub, Indian head massage, full body massage, and Himalayan cedar bath.

Click to know more:
http://goindia.about.com/od/yogawellbeing/tp/top-spas-india.htm

The Mahindra Rodeo. It’s an object of desire for most. Not just for the style it oozes, but also for the 125cc beast that lurks beneath. This 8 bhp, 4- stroke engine gets you places in no time and ensures that you don’t settle for anything less than the front seat.

Rodeo, the PowerScooter from Mahindra, has everything to sensitize your riding experience.

The Mahindra Rodeo surely is, designed for you, your partner, your world, your belongings and everything in between.

Technical Specification

Rodeo's 124.6 cc, 4 stroke engine guarantees a rush every time you hit the throttle, and its superior supercharged battery ensures a clearer horn, brighter headlamp and an instant start-up. Complete digital access to all the vital signs with a tachometer, trip meter, acceleration indicator, odometer, speedometer, fuel gauge and a clock make life on the road convenient.

Streamlined bodywork makes it a wind cheater and its chiselled body to use airflow to your maximum advantage. And for all the times you burn the tar roads at night, there's a choice of seven backlights.

Source:
http://www.mahindra2wheelers.com/product_rodeo_overview.php

VAIO E Series - Everyday PC that fits into your life

VAIO E Series offers a choice of screen sizes – 14 (35.6 cm) for more mobile use, plus 15.5 (39.4 cm) and 17.3 (44cm) for more comfortable viewing at home. It offers up ample space for Web surfing and gaming. The way you enjoy VAIO E Series is up to you, but no matter which room you take it to, you can always count on a beautiful view.

Full HD* 15.5 (39.37 cm)Real Wide display

VAIO E Series is equipped with a 15.5 (39.37 cm), 16:9 Real Wide display that delivers crisp, high contrast images. Its Full HD* 1920 x 1080 pixel array lets you experience all the beauty of Full HD video as well as high-resolution video games.

Find out more:
http://www.sony.co.in/productcategory/it-pc-series-vpce

Instyler Hair Styler

The InStyler rotating hot iron is a totally new styling and straightening tool unlike any hair styling product ever invented! It's not a brush. It's not a flat iron. It's not a curling iron. It's the InStyler rotating hot iron! The secret to the InStyler iron lies in its rotating heated polishing cylinder, along with four rows of precision-aligned bristles.

How it works: when you run the InStyler rotating hot iron through your hair, the first set of bristles gently sort and separate your hair strands. Then the rotating heated polishing cylinder gently glides over your hair, smoothly polishing, straightening, and styling each strand. Finally, the second set of bristles puts the finishing touch on your hair, leaving you with shiny, silky, hair! It's truly amazing! And the best part is, because of the InStyler rotating hot iron's patented design, your hair won't get smashed and baked by the super-intense heat of a flat iron or other "hot" tools.

Find out more:
http://www.esuppliersindia.com/shopping-home-india/instyler-hair-styler-in-styler-india--pr2622370-sTL-swf.html

Packing Tips For Motorcycle Trips

Motorcycle trips demand far more planning than the equivalent journey in a car. Though riding provides an inherent sense of freedom, practical limitations require motorcyclists to think ahead when choosing to hit the open road.

For starters, most motorcycles are limited in their storage capacity. Though all-out touring bikes such as the Honda Gold Wing and the BMW K1200LT offer numerous hard cases for the storage of extra clothes and gear, long distance riders are often forced to make tough decisions about the details of their trips, and how much of what items they need to pack.

Important Points to Consider

The first questions you'll want to ask yourself when planning a trip pertain to how long you plan on being gone, where you intend to go, and what you have in mind for lodging.

First on your list of "must pack" items is a safety and repair kit, which we've covered in a separate article.

Unless you're riding a fully fledged touring motorcycle, you'll probably need to invest in some type of storage bags; backpacks don't count. Options include saddlebags (which rest straddle the seat and rest on either side of the rear wheel, and are also known as panniers,) and tank bags, which sit directly atop the fuel tank (and often have handy clear plastic windows for displaying maps.) While hard bags offer more weather protection than soft bags, they are also costlier, add more weight, and require more involved installation. Centrally positioned tail bags are another option if you need even more storage.

Inspect Your Bike

While more detailed inspection and maintenance practices can be found in our motorcycle maintenance section, the Motorcycle Safety Foundation's T-CLOCS method is an efficient way to inspect your bike before traveling:

• T: Tires.
  Make sure both tires are properly inflated, using an air pressure monitor that you bring with you on rides. Don't risk riding on tires that might need replacement; if suspect a tire will not last long enough for a ride, have it replaced.
• C: Controls.
  Are your cables (clutch and brakes) and controls intact and working?
• L: Lights.
  Make sure your headlights (high & low beam), turn signals, and brake lights work.
• O: Oils & fluids.
  Check everything from engine oil and coolant to brake fluid.
• C: Chassis.
  Ensure that the frame, suspension, chain, and fasteners are all secure and intact.
• S: Stands.
  Make sure the center stand and/or side stand isn't cracked or bent, and that springs properly hold the assembly away from the pavement when stowed.

Packing Tips

Packing for a long distance motorcycle ride is a delicate balance between bringing enough items to ensure comfort, and not overloading yourself with unnecessary weight and bulk. After you've planned your route, you'll want to check the weather forecast and get an idea of what to expect in terms the elements.

A good touring suit is an excellent investment, and when choosing your clothes, consider packing several thin layers of clothing, rather than a few thick ones. Flexibility is the key to staying comfortable; it's far better to have the option to stop and shed or add layers as necessary, than to shiver or sweat your way through what would otherwise be an enjoyable, scenic route.

Be sure to bring energy bars or trail mix and water; if hunger or thirst strikes while you're far from convenience stores or gas stations, the nourishment will come in handy and keep your riding skills sharp.

When loading up your bike, always put heavier, more solid items on the bottom and sides closer to the bike (to centralize weight.) Lighter items should go on top. If you don't have saddlebags or tank bags, you should consider using bungee nets to secure loose items. If you must travel with items secured by a bungee net, ensure that they are snug and will not get loosened by winds or g-forces. Again, placing heavier , wider, and more stable items at the bottom will provide an anchor for looser, floppier pieces (like sleeping pads or pillows.)

Finally, equip yourself well. Always wear a full-face helmet for maximum protection-- not only against accidents, but also from the elements. Full-face helmets can provide a shield from rain and cold winds, and if constructed with ventilation, can also provide a certain level of comfort in warm weather. It may feel constricting in heat, but the overall benefits of choosing safety over style are vast when considering your long-term health and well being.

Plan, Plan, Plan...

Though it's tempting to hit the open road and simply follow your nose, don't forget that you're more vulnerable to the elements, fatigue, and potentially serious injury on a motorcycle. Prepare yourself with clothing appropriate for the weather. Plan a route and, if you don't have a portable GPS system, do whatever it takes not to get lost-- even if it means taping directions to the top of your fuel tank. Err in the direction of filling up with gas too frequently; because of their relatively low cruising range, most bikes will barely make it across some of the North American stretches of highway that are sparsely populated. When in doubt, fill up.

Pace your travels realistically. Don't try to ride so many hours in a day that it might affect your reflexes or decision making ability; after all, most of the fun is in the journey, not simply in reaching a destination. While riding, be sure to stop whenever necessary-- whether for a snack, a stretch, or a nap. The simple act of taking a breather will make the ride all the more enjoyable.

...But Don't Overplan!

Once you've prepared sufficiently, enjoy the possibility of the unexpected. Riding requires a certain amount of discipline and logistical planning, but part of the joy of the journey is the process. Be open to re-writing your plans when necessary, and you'll have a blast no matter where you end up.

Source:
http://motorcycles.about.com/od/touringtips/a/PlanningTrips.htm

25 Ways to Relieve Anxiety

Source:
http://www.stop-anxiety-panic-attack.com/blog/25-ways-to-relieve-anxiety

Ramping up a financial plan for your child! Here’s how!

All parents dream of fulfilling all the requirements and desires of their kids. They want to give the best to their juniors. Best of education, best of toys, best of health, best of everything! The only problem with these best things is that these have the best (read expensive) price tags too!

Let's take education as a case. After paying Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 5,000 per month in play school, a father takes his kid to the best private school in town. This school makes him forcefully pay huge sums of donation, though donations were meant to be paid wilfully. After this donation which runs into a few lacs of rupees, every month the parent is required to pay tuition fee of his/her kid, which may be again around Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 4,000. And, if the parents have chosen an air-conditioned, well-built school with all upgraded infrastructure facilities, then the monthly outgo maybe around Rs. 7,000. But what can a father do, after all it is about the child's future. Or is this really the case? Maybe something could have been done. Some financial planning and some investment based on such a plan, perhaps? A cynic says this of planning - "planning might not yield best results but saves from the worst ones!".

But what is special about investing for kids, one may ask. After all it is just money to be saved and invested. However, investment is not just putting aside some x amount of money in a trading account with a broker and have it invested in any x-y-z security.

Broadly speaking, investment can be said to be a function of purpose, duration and risk tolerance. Let us put this in perspective with investment for children.

The purpose for kids could be - secondary education, higher studies (in India or abroad), marriage, house, other facilities like car, etc. So one has to enumerate what all is required to be catered to. Each of these items has a cost - some cost many more times than other. Take higher studies for instance. A typical coaching institute may charge anywhere between Rs. 1-2 lacs for say, an IIT JEE exam. A good car may cost Rs. 5-7 lacs. Providing a house is another challenge in itself with housing prices increased exponentially in past five years, especially in metros like Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Haryana and so on. A simple 3 BHK flat in a nice locality now is a matter of about Rs. 50 - 90 lacs. But these are current cost estimates. Imagine what these figures will grow into when inflation adds in them for so many years. Going by our above estimate for cost of car of Rs. 5 lacs and an inflation estimate of say 5%, the cost after 25 years stands at Rs. 16.93 lacs. By now, one must have figured out that it is not a cake walk preparing for such needs.

Duration depends on when planning is started. It is no-brainer in investment world that the sooner we start, the better it is, and for a very basic reason - the magic of compounding. Think of a parent who started planning for their kid even before it was born and begun investing when the little one arrived. They had a pretty long time (about 18 years for higher studies and 25 years for marriage and house). With such a long period one can think of an equity skewed portfolio. Even though this couple might face some black years like 2008, it can still work out to a respectable net worth at the end of 18 or 25 years. Imagine the couple saved Rs. 40,000 a year for their nestling. It could have Rs. 33.88 lacs after 25 years, taking annual return of a meagre 9%.

Lastly, risk tolerance is what varies with one's portfolio duration, value, liabilities and return expectations. But in case a couple is looking for such a big time horizon (more than 15 years), risk tolerance should cover all other variables. Equity investments, as shown by countless researches, are best suited for long-term investment durations.

Based on the above analysis one may look at various financial products available in the market. Looking at investment options that provide more exposure to equity is something one should look for. For passive investors, those who find stock symbols like chemical formula, investing directly in equity mutual funds, exchange traded funds (these replicate the performance of an index) could be a preferred option. Also to reap benefits of tax allowance on investments and their disposal, one can allocate some amount to products like Public Provident Fund.

As a matter of prudence one might think of withdrawing investments from risky products to safe ones, just before the requirements arise. Say, disposing off the equity investments just when the junior is 16 or 17 and putting the money in MMMFs or debt funds or fixed deposits. This practice shall definitely bring the return during such period down but can assure reasonable safety of principal.

Source:
http://in.finance.yahoo.com/news/Ramping-financial-plan-child-bankbazaar-3303461070.html

SAINA NEHWAL – BADMINTON ( SINGLES)

World Ranked No.5, Saina Nehwal, is a BPCL employee since 2004 at our Secunderabad Office.

She is a Gold Medallist in India Open, Singapore Open, Indonesia Open, Commonwealth Games, Hongkong Super Series, India Open & formerly Junior World champion.

Saina has been awarded the prestigious Khel Ratna, Padmashree & Arjuna Awards by the Government of India.

JWALA GUTTA – BADMINTON (DOUBLES)

World rank No. 24 in Mixed Doubles & 33 in Women’s Doubles , Jwala is a BPCL employee since 2001 at our Secunderabad Office.

Jwala has several international events to her credit, including Gold Medal (Womens doubles) / Silver Medal (Mixed Team) in Commonwealth Games, represented India in Asian Games and several International tournaments. She is a part of the first Mixed Doubles Indian pair to win the Super series event.

ADITI MUTATKAR – BADMINTON ( SINGLES)

A diti is a Current National Champion and has represented India in World Championship, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games & other International ranking tournaments. Currently India No 7, Aditi is a BPCL employee since 2004.

She was a under 13/16/19 National Champion, 2008 finalist in Bittburger Grand Prix, 2008 semi-finalist at Bulgarian & Dutch Grand Prix events.

SHRUTI SARAH KURIAN – BADMINTON (DOUBLES)

Shruti is a Women’s Doubles Winner of Tata Open-2009, was a Runner Up in Spanish Open 2009, Australia Open GP 2009 & New Zealand Open GP 2009. Shruti is a BPCL employee since 2001.

ANUJA CHANDRA – BILLIARDS

Anuja is a 2006 IBSF World Snooker Championship - Semi Finalist & 2005 EABA World Ladies Billiards Champion, apart from Winner of 2010 Indian National Women 9Ball Pool Championship, Quarter Finalist of 2010 IBSF World Snooker (Ladies) Championship, etc, among other such accomplishments.

An Arjuna Awardee, Anuja has been a BPCL employee since 2005.

POULAMI GHATAK – TABLE TENNIS

Poulomi Ghatak won three junior national championships (1996, 1998 and 1999) as well as five senior national championships between 1998 and 2007. In 1998 she won both the senior national and junior national championships. Poulomi has represented India at the Commonwealth Games at Melbourne in 2006 and the Commonwealth Championships between 2000 and 2008. She played at the Sydney Olympics when she was 16. She also played in the Indian Open finals in 2007. She has been a part of the Silver medal winning team of 2010, Common Wealth Games.

Currently ranked No.1 in India, Poulami has been a BPCL employee from 1999.

NEHA AGGARWAL – TABLE TENNIS

Neha Aggarwal participated in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, the only woman from India to feature in that discipline. She was the winner of Junior National Table Tennis Championship held at Ahmedabad and Kolkota. Neha has been a BPCL employee from 2006.

SOME OF THE FORMER SPORTS STARS WHO ARE BPCL EMPLOYEES.....

Anupama Gokhale is a former women's chess champion of India. She won the Indian Chess Championship five times (1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, and 1997) and the Asian Chess Championship twice (1985 and 1987). She was the recipient of the Arjuna Award in 1990.