Tata launches Rs 1 lakh car Nano: Initial impressions

At last, the wait is over. The Rs 1 lakh, Nano, was unveiled at the Auto Expo on Thursday.

The car is air-conditioned. It is 8% smaller than Maruti 800 in size but has 21% more space inside compared to the Maruti's basic model. Ratan Tata said that three models, a standard and two deluxe, have been launched.

Initial reactions were again mixed. Some felt that it was too small and may not be comfortable enough. The car adheres to Euro 4 standards.


The 624 cc Nano has only one wiper. Along with taxes, the Nano standard may cost you around Rs 1,15,000 (after taxes). Most of the car-owners who naturally own bigger cars dismissed it when they watched it getting unveiled live on television.

But it caters to a different segment and whether Indians reject it or accept it will be known only once its rolled out of factories. The challenge will be to produce lakhs of cars.

The car may be a hit with the youngsters. Those aspiring to have their first car will surely go for it. Tata deserves a standing ovation for bringing out the car. For millions who only dreamt to own a car, it has surely made it a possibility now to buy a four-wheeler.

One thing is sure Ratan Tata has reposed the faith of public in him. Of course, the company can't come out with a grand luxury car at this cost and it has to stay an business. Experts from the automobile industry termed it as 'competitive', 'fantastic' and 'ideal mini car'. Available in Red, Yellow and Silver, the Nano will give run 22-23 kms per litre.

Given its track record people trusted Tata. The company also managed to build an unprecedented hype.

And the company seems to have delivered. People's car will also force other companies to reduce the prices of their existing models. At least for Rs 1.25 lakh, it is not going to be a bad deal.

Also, the car with metal sheet body is quite strong. It can withstand accidental damage to a large extent. Much safer than Maruti, claims the company that conducted severe tests to test its strength. It has been tested for full frontal crash test. The engine is in the backside of the car. It will cause less pollution and though there is no power steering, such things are a small issue. The humble People's car definitely will have an edge on other cars in terms of manoeuvrability due to its small size.

Thumbs up to Tata for turning dreams into reality.
[ Pictures and Photograph of Rs 1 lakh car]

For complete details and specifications of this car Click on the website of Tata Motors here.

Six photos on December 6: Black Mannequins in Hyderabad, Shiv Sena in Delhi and India 15 years after 1992

1. On the left is the photo of mannequins wearing black dress in Hyderabad to protest the demolition of Babri Masjid in Ayodhya.

Though the Black Day by Muslims and Shaurya Diwas by Hindus are annual fixtures, the shop-owner has came out with an interesting idea and a good opportunity for photographers than the usual sloganeering and protests. A banner 'Remembering December 6' also hangs at this shop.

And his commitment. Seems he doesn't care a bit about losing out on Hindu customers!

2. The second photo on the right is from Faizabad. Two Muslim raising a black flag above a mosque in Faizabad. The third photo is from Delhi where Shiv Sena clashed with Muslims sitting on a dharna.

3. With tridents in hand they reached the place and there was a street fight. Some persons were injured. The police, as usual, came much, letter. The newspapers and channels got some exiciting to report on December 6.

4. The fourth is the photo of Ayodhya 4. The photo of Ayodhya where Rapid Action Force guards the entrance to temple.

Sad, that Lord Rama needs such security!

There are two more photos. One of the market near Char Minar in Hyderabad, which is totally shut. Is there any other City where people remember December 6 so much?

I think these shops are closed also because the people fear violence in Hyderabad on this day. The last photo shows a gunman standing at the Eidgah-Krishna Janmabhoomi at Mathura, which is also considered disputed and is among the two main disputed places after Ayodhya. The third is in Varanasi (Kashi) where Vishwanth Temple-Gyanwapi Mosque is located.

NOW 15 years later, I feel Indians don't want a repeat of another December 6. We have understood that it was pure politics of hate. Hindus and Muslims both suffered. In UP there were not many Vijay Diwas celebrations this year. Muslims are also not as angry and hurt, as they appeared.

Everybody wants to forget December 6, 1992. But it must always remind us how just a few politicians had tried to play with the sentiments of people and get to power on dead bodies of Indians and trying to break this great nation. India bathed in blood for many weeks after December 6. And they were happy. But we must not let this happen again.

Hindu, Hindustan and Hyderabad

The photograph on the left shows an idol of Lord Ganesha, which is installed on a road side in Hyderabad, during the ongoing Ganesh Chaturthi festival.

The photo shows a labourer pusheing a cart carrying eggs past the wall which has a huge national flag painted on the wall.

The idols of Lord Ganesh will be immersed in the next couple of days. Mahesh Kumar has taken this photogaph.

Satyagraha 2007: Indian style of Protests & Photos

On the left is the photo of protesters sitting deep inside a well in Delhi, protesting the construction of the proposed Commonwealth village.

It was a tough exercise for officials and police to bring him out of the 40-feet deep dried well. The banner reads the message of his 'Satyagraha', the peaceful protest.

The other photo shows how the man sitting in the well, had to be forcibly brought out.
The third is the photo of Chand Miyan, who had climbed up a cell phone tower in Delhi, sometime back. He wanted an audience from Dubya. Chand Miyan was ready to come down, provided that Bush agreed to take back forces from Iraq.

The Dharmendra style protests have become quite popular all over the country. For the most unique reasons people all over the country climb up towers and threaten suicide.

Demonstrations, dharnas, protests and effigy burnings are part of daily life in all cities in India. Slightly different modes of protests catch eyes. Often mentally unstable persons take such steps. Others do it for publicity.

News channels that have to show something throughout the day lap up on such opportunities. Often journos themselves prompt the guys to do something 'different' and suggest the ways by promising them 'good coverage'. For people around, it is of course fun to watch the proceedings. After all, we Indians always love a 'tamasha', as Alberuni recorded, centuries ago.

Photo: Muslim woman buys tri-coloured bangles in Delhi

August 15th 1947

A Muslim woman buys tri-coloured bangles at the market near Jama Masjid on the eve of Independence Day in Delhi.

Shahbaz Khan has taken the photograph.

The great Indian summer in pictures

Hindustani

Most of India is experiencing hot weather and though showers have brought temperature down in some parts,
the harsh May sun has made life difficult for ordinary Indians, especially those who work on the street.

Barf ka Gola. In this photograph, the Buddhist children in Himachal Pradesh are relishing this desi ice candy. Don't you remember your childhood and the joy of eating this 'barf ka gola'.

Nearly two crore Indians travel by trains every day and railway journey becomes an ordeal in the season. The picture here shows passengers using the window of train compartment to get in and out of rail.

Of course, it is more a problem in the second class and the general compartment. But that's the real India, isn't it!

Typically Indian. Surely a nice picture to look but none of us would like to be in such a packed train. Will you? But what's the option when you have no option to travel.

The Indian railway takes you everywhere in the country and though the bogey may be overcrowded, the fellow passengers somehow manage and give the speace after squirming a bit, at least in the lower classes.

Even the animals are feeling the heat this year.

In this photograph on the left, the elephant is being fed the watermelon. That's a photo from Patna where the jumbo is eating the 'tarbooz', which I am sure, succeeded in refreshing the elephant up.

The animals don't have the coolers, fans and ACs and they are the worst sufferers. As a result of the global warming and rising temperature, the animals appear in a state of panic.

Of course, there are a few lucky ones like the sniffer dogs employed by police and other armed forces. They enjoy all the comforts and are kept in air-conditioned dens. Also some tigers, lions and other big cats in zoos and national parks for whom coolers have been installed, have this luxury.

I had a tough time persuading any rickshaw-wallah in Lucknow to take me to the locality where my relative stayed as it was quite far and nobody seemed in a mood to face the blazing sun.

In this picture, which is from Punjab, the rickshaw-walas sleep under a shed even though the harsh sun rays penetrate in. Still, the 'mehnat-kash' have snatched their siesta.