Bajaj V 150cc bike introduced in India; to go on sale in March 2016

Bajaj V is an all-new motorcycle that was unveiled in the country today at an event in Delhi. Expected to be priced between Rs 60,000 - Rs 70,000, the Bajaj V will go on sale in March 2016.

The Bajaj V15 will serve as a more premium yet affordable executive segment bike that will attract buyers looking for a slightly premium motorcycle at an affordable price.

Ever since its announcement on January 26, the Bajaj V has been the most talked about two-wheeler brand in the country and rightly so since it’s made from the metal of INS Vikrant – India’s first aircraft carrier. Bajaj V is an all-new motorcycle that was unveiled in the country today at an event in Delhi. Expected to be priced between Rs 60,000 – Rs 70,000, the Bajaj V15 will go on sale in March 2016.

Bajaj V15 Inspiration

As mentioned earlier, the Bajaj V is made of the Indian Navy’s first aircraft carrier – INS Vikrant – that has served the nation for almost 4 decades. Known for its crucial role in 1971 Indo-Pak war, INS Vikrant is hailed as the ‘war hero of 1971’. The icon was finally decomissioned in 1997, preserved as a museum ship till 2012 and was sent to be scraped in January 2014.

In the words of Bajaj Auto, “For decades, she remained invincible bravely guarding our seas. However in 2014, this iconic war hero was sent to the scrapyard. But we, at Bajaj, were determined not to let history fade away into oblivion. So we took INS Vikrant’s metal, melted it and gave it a new face – Bajaj V.”

Bajaj V15 – Positioning and target buyers

The Bajaj V15 will serve as a more premium yet affordable executive segment bike that will attract buyers looking for a slightly premium motorcycle at an affordable price. Positioned above the Discover 150, the new Bajaj V bike takes head on against the likes of Suzuki Gixxer and Yamaha R15.

Bajaj V15 – Looks

The Bajaj V15 bike looks like a Scrambler which also has Cafe Racer-inspired styling elements. Other interesting elements are INS Vikrant badge, 5-twin spoke alloys, etc. Some key design elements that help it stand out are – lean & bold body lines, premium texture material, removable rear cowl, LED tail-lamp, 5 double spoke alloys, bold graphics, premium instrument panel with color changing LEDs, pumped up fuel tank, ergonomic handlebars for wide open chest feeling, etc. Bajaj V is made available in two colours – Ebony Black & Pearl White.

Bajaj V15 – Specifications

The Bajaj V bike is powered by a new 149.5cc, single-cylinder, 4-stroke, SOHC 2 valve, air-cooled, DTS-i engine that churns out a maximum power output of 12bhp at 7,500rpm and 13Nm at 5,500rpm. With such power figures, this will be a slightly less powerful than the Gixxer and Yamaha R15.

Engine – 149.5cc, single-cylinder
Max power – 12bhp at 7,500rpm
Max torque – 13Nm at 5,500rpm
Front suspension – telescopic
Rear – Twin-spring loaded hydraulic type – with gas filled
Front & rear disc brakes – 240-dia disc & 130 dia drum respectively
Front tyre – 90/90 – 18inch; Rear tyre – 120/80 – 16inch
Fuel tank – 13-litres with 1.7 reserve capacity

Bajaj V15 – dimensions

Length – 2044mm
Width – 780mm
Height – 1070mm
Ground clearance – 165mm
Wheelbase – 1315mm
Kerb weight – 135.5kg
Saddle height – 780mm

Bajaj V15 Price (Estimated) – Rs 60,000 to Rs 70,000

This Dude Who Photographs His Girlfriend Around The World Has Outdone Himself In India

The duo travel through various places in Delhi, Varanasi, Jaipur, Agra, and more.

By now you’ve probably heard of Murad Osmann, a Russian photographer. The series first began in Barcelona, and features Murad being led by his girlfriend, Natalia 

Zakharova, to some of the most beautiful places in the world.  

 After visiting Spain, Italy, France, Florida, and hundreds of other places, they recently visited India. Natalia is dressed up in Indianised outfits as the duo re-create their world-famous photos. Travelling to Delhi, Udaipur, Varanasi, Jaipur, and more.

What is Ash Wednesday?

A nun places the sign of the cross sign on on a child's head in Manila, the Philippines. Photo: Aaron Favila

Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, is literally marked on the forehead of observant Christians.

At church services across the world, the ashes of burned palm branches mixed with holy water or oil are applied in the shape of a cross on the heads of worshippers.

The palms used during Ash Wednesday themselves hark back to a more joyous celebration: the previous year's Palm Sunday, which celebrates Jesus's return to Jerusalem when he was greeted by crowds waving palm branches.

The symbol of Ash Wednesday. Photo: Steven Siewert

The marking of the cross is accompanied by the words: "Repent, and believe in the Gospel" (based on Mark 1:15) or "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return" (based on Genesis 3:19).

Ash Wednesday sets off the beginning of Lent, a 40-day period of penitence and reflection that commemorates trial and deprivation faced by Jesus during his time in the desert.

The practice of marking the forehead with a symbol of penance, mourning and mortality was originally observed by Roman Catholics. But Christian Today notes that Methodists, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Lutherans, and other Protestant denominations now also practise it.

This symbolism of the ashes also carries additional meaning for those caught up in the deadly bushfires that occurred in Victoria and South Australia on Ash Wednesday in 1983, claiming 75 lives.

This year's Ash Wednesday falls on February 10, ahead of Easter March on March 27.

The Chinese Dragon: a Symbol of Strength and Power

As is an imaginable paws of the tiger, the beard of the goat, the scales of the carp and the belly of the snake. According to legends, the Chinese dragon is able to breathe fire, summon wind and call for rain, fly into the clouds and hide at the bottom of the sea; it's also capable of becoming as large as the sky or disguising itself by being as tiny as a pinhead.

Unlike castle-burning dragons of Western stories, Chinese Dragons are a benevolent symbol in Chinese culture. From celebrations to the Zodiac, to historical rulers, the dragon has played a large part in China’s rich history.

Symbolic Value

It was said that Yangdi (a legendary tribe leader) was born by his mother's telepathy with a mighty dragon, who, with the help of the dragon, allied with Huangdi (a legendary tribe leader) against Chi You (a legendary barbarian tribe leader) and defeated him in the battle of Zhuolu (presently Yuncheng of Shanxi Province), opening the prelude to Chinese civilization; so Yandi and Huangdi were considered as ancestors of the Chinese people. As time has gone by, the Chinese people refer to themselves as the descendants of Yangdi and Huangdi, as well as the descendants of the dragon.

Dragon Legends

Nine Dragon Wall at the Forbidden City, Beijing

In Chinese lore, the dragon was a benevolent creature with powers to bring rain, floods, and even hurricanes to a land. Along with this ability, the dragon signified power, strength, and good luck. Starting in the Han Dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD), Emperors took on the symbolism of the Dragon as they hoped to bring good fortune to their lands.

The number 9 is considered lucky in Chinese culture, and this fact is reflected in the depiction of the Chinese Dragon. Nine different animal resemblances make up the appearance of the Chinese dragon.

The scales of a Chinese dragon further display the significance of lucky number 9. It is said that dragons possess scales of both the yin and yang essence, with 81 and 36 scales respectively, both numbers being multiples of 9.

Origin of the Dragon

A number of legends concerning the origin of the dragon emerged in the course of Chinese history, of which the Totem-Worship Theory is more popular than the others. A totem is an object (such as an animal or a plant) that serves as an emblem or protector of a tribe, reminding them of their ancestry, and the tribe firmly believes that they are related by blood to a certain animal. Almost every tribe had its own unique totem in ancient times. It was said that Huangdi fought with Yandi for the throne after the demise of Chi You, which ended up with the victory of Huangdi who adopted an imaginary dragon for his coat of arms. Later, Huangdi launched a series of wars against the nine tribes on the Yellow River Valley, and incorporated the other tribes' totems into his own after defeating them (thus explaining why the dragon has attributes of nine other creatures), claiming himself to be monarch of the central plains of China after his great unification. The dragon totem has been popular throughout China ever since.

Children of the Dragon

Sculptures of the nine children of the dragon, Forbidden City

According to Chinese myths, the dragon has nine children (not including mortals, such as the legendary Yandi): Bixi, Qiuniu, Yazi, Chaofeng, Pulao, Chiwen, Bi'an, Suanni and Pixiu. More interestingly, the nine dragon children have different characters from one another, and their images (to be more specific, imaginary images) are widely used in architectural decoration, especially in the imperial palaces.

Bixi, the eldest of the nine dragon children, has the shape of a turtle with sharp teeth, and is fond of carrying heavy objects; it's often depicted on the sides of grave monuments.

Qiuniu, a yellow scaly dragon, has a liking for music and excels in playing it; it's often used to adorn musical instruments.

Yazi, with a snake belly and a leopard head, is keen on fighting and killing; it's often used as the decoration of sword grips.

Chaofeng has an instinctive taste for adventure; it's often used to adorn the roof ridges of palaces.

Pulao is known for its loud crying; it's often used as handles on the top of bells.

Chiwen, living in the sea, has a harsh voice and takes delight in devouring the other creatures; it's often erected on the ends of ridgepoles of palaces.

Bi'an has a fancy for lawsuits, so it's often erected at jail gates.

Suanni has a shape of a lion and takes delight in sitting cross-legged and smelling the odor of incense; it's often depicted on the incense burners and seats of Buddhist temples.

Pixiu is fierce and majestic with a horse's body, and it's in charge of exorcising the demons to keep Heaven safe; it's often used to guard gates.

Development of Conceptions of the Chinese Dragon

In the Shang Dynasty (1600 BC-1046 BC), the dragon existed as a supernatural power in the mind of ancient people, and it was worshipped as a two-pawed prodigy owing to its ferociousness and mysteriousness.

In the Zhou Dynasty (1046 BC-221 BC), the image of the dragon was greatly weakened owing to the emergence of the image of the phoenix, and the phoenix coronet was even grafted on the head of the dragon in some patterns, making the dragon more feminine (Yin) and artistic. 

In the Spring and Autumn Period (770 BC-476 BC), the image of the dragon became more vivid, featuring a combination of Yin and Yang, which was widely painted as an emblem of good augury with four paws, and it looked more powerful and masculine (Yang).

In the Qin (221 BC-207 BC) and Han (206 BC-220) dynasties, the image of the dragon was basically finalized in its essentials, featuring long horns, pointy ears, sharp paws and a snakelike belly. Qin Shi Huang (259 BC-210 BC) claimed himself to be the son of the dragon during his reign, as the dragon had become the monarchial power incarnate.

In the Sui (581-618) and Tang (618-907) dynasties, the dragon was depicted as a prodigy with the belly of a carp, so the scholars who succeeded in the civil service examination were often compared to the carps that jumped over the dragon gate.

In the Song (960-1279) and Yuan (1271-1368) dynasties, the image of the dragon became more artistically perfect, playing an important role in traditional Chinese paintings, which were of a high aesthetic value.

In the Ming (1368-1644) and the Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, the image of the dragon became a tool and a symbol of imperial power, which was exclusively for emperors. The dragon was painted with five paws in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

Culture on Chinese Dragon

Chinese dragon dance

The Chinese dragon has transformed from an imaginary prodigy to a mascot from ancient times to the present, representing the Chinese people's unrelenting and pioneering spirit of keeping pace with the times, whose image has been deeply rooted in the mind of the Chinese people and has a substantial influence on various aspects of Chinese culture. Not only is the dragon prevailing in China, but it's also very popular among the Chinese people living overseas; it has become the symbol of China and of Chinese culture.

The dragon culture is great, because it earns respect from its descendants (the Chinese people); the dragon culture is encouraging, because it symbolizes the unrelenting spirit of the Chinese people; the dragon culture is profound, because it represents Yang according to the Five Element Theory; the dragon culture is exclusive, because of its imperial culture in essence in the history of China; the dragon culture is also open, because it makes great contributions to world civilization.

Dragon and Ancient Celestial Guardians

As one of the four celestial guardians, along with the vermilion bird, the white tiger and the black tortoise, the dragon represents the east and the element of wood according to ancient Chinese astrology and the Five Element Theory; the vermilion bird associates with the south and the element of fire; the white tiger symbolizes the west and the element of gold; the black tortoise signifies the north and the element of water.

Dragon and Chinese Zodiacs

Chinese zodiac sign, dragon

Every new year of the Lunar Calendar is represented in Chinese mythology by one of 12 animals, and thus every 12 years is the year of the Dragon. Lining up with the powerful symbolism of Chinese culture, it is considered quite fortuitous to be born in the year of the dragon, as presumably a long, happy life awaits those with a dragon birth year. Those born in 1976, 1988, 2000, or 2012 can look forward to a prosperous life.

According to the love compatibility of the 12 Chinese zodiacs, the best matches for the dragon are the rooster and the monkey, while the worse ones are the dog, tiger, rabbit and rat.

Symbol of Imperial Authority

The Chinese dragon symbolizes the sovereignty of emperors, and everything related to it was exclusively for emperors in the Chinese feudal society. The ancient emperors called their sons'seeds of dragons', their robes were'dragon robes', and their palace was a'dragon palace'. The imperial throne was called the Dragon Throne.

More interestingly, the pattern of the dragon on the emperor's robe has five paws and the one on the vassal's robe only has four paws, which highlights the supremacy of the ancient emperors.

Dragon carvings are very common in imperial palaces and tombs, such as the Forbidden City - imperial palace of generations of emperors from the Ming and Qing Dynasties which were the last two dynasties in ancient Chinese history.

The Artistic Influence of Dragons

The dragon is used as a symbol of strength and gentleness for the nation itself in virtually all forms of Chinese art – from paintings on ancient Chinese scrolls to modern day dances, and of course the architecture.

Ancient Chinese architecture heavily incorporated the dragon motif into their work, which can be seen today in the form of adornments on rooftops of historical buildings, or as large stone statues. Sometimes the strength and shape of the dragon was even incorporated into the layout of an edifice.

The empowering qualities associated with the dragon ignite pride in the Chinese for their country. Dragon sculptures, paintings, or other small trinkets are a great gift idea to commemorate your China trip.

Dragon Dance

Dragon dance during the Spring Festival

The dragon dance is performed at many celebrations, including the extravagant Chinese New Yearcelebrations, in hopes of bringing the good fortune and prosperity associated with the dragon. Generally a long dragon, spanning up to 70 meters, was historically constructed using hoops made of bamboo covered by glistening fabric and supported by poles, held by dancers moving fluidly as one body. They bring the dragon to life by raising and lowering their poles to let the majestic creature undulate through the air.

Chinese Idioms Related to Dragon

龙飞凤舞(dragon flies and phoenix dances): referring to a flamboyant style of calligraphy and writing devoid of content.

龙马精神(spirit of a dragon horse): referring to vigorous spirit in old age.

鱼龙混杂(fish and dragons jumbled together): referring to good and bad people mixed together.

龙腾虎跃(dragon rises and tiger leaps): referring to a scene of hustling and bustling activity.

车水马龙(carriages move on like a stream and horses pass like a long dragon): referring to a scene of heavy traffic.

龙潭虎穴(dragon's pool and tiger's den): referring to a very dangerous spot.

画龙点睛(paint a dragon and dot in the eye): referring to adding the vital finishing touch; the crucial point that brings the subject to life.

叶公好龙(Lord Ye loves a dragon): referring to someone who pretends to like something that he really fears.

鲤鱼跳龙门(carp jumped over the dragon gate): referring to someone who has successfully past the civil service examination.

Was it a meteorite? Tests will determine what killed Indian man

Indian scientists will examine remains from an object that fell from the sky Saturday, causing a large explosion which killed a man, to determine if it is a meteorite, police say.

If the object is confirmed to be a meteorite -- a fragment of a comet or asteroid that has fallen to Earth -- the death would be the first fatality from a meteorite on record, it is believed.

P. K. Senthil Kumari, the police chief in Vellore district in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, told CNN that the object struck the grounds of an engineering school at about midday Saturday, making a loud noise and leaving an impact crater about 60 cm (2 feet) deep.

The resulting blast killed a 40-year-old named Kamaraj, who worked as a bus driver on the campus of the Bharathidasan Engineering College, the police chief said. Like many in the state, the victim only used one name.

Two gardeners and a student at the college were also injured in the incident, and are receiving treatment at a hospital in Vellore, the chief added.

The impact shattered the windows of a number of buses on campus, she said.

Meteorite or space junk?

Senthil Kumari said it was yet to be confirmed whether the object that caused the blast was a meteorite, as opposed to falling space junk or some other form of debris.

Police recovered a piece of debris from the collision, which will be analyzed by a scientist from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics.

"We wait until the investigation is over to confirm if the object was a meteorite," she said.

Tamil Nadu's state government released a statement on the incident Sunday, describing it as a meteorite strike and offering 100,000 rupees ($1471) in compensation to the victim's family.

In 2013, a large meteor exploded over the Russian region of Chelyabinsk, producing a huge flash and shock wave, and showering the territory below with many small meteorites.

The incident left more than 1,000 people injured, but caused no fatalities.

Motorist run over by speeding SUV in Chennai

In a hair-raising accident on Anna Salai in the early hours of Thursday, a motorcyclist was killed when he was run over a high-end SUV travelling, which was reportedly being driven at a speed of 140 kph.

According to the police, after ramming the motorcycle, the SUV hit a van, toppling it in the process, and then came to a halt.

The accident is said to be a case of drunk driving; the police said that two Erode-based businessmen, who were in the car, have been arrested in connection with the case. The police said both the businessmen were drunk and one of them was at the wheel of the SUV.

The body of victim, identified as I. Kevin Raj, 25, was thrown several feet away and got trapped on iron roads at a Metro Rail site. The body was found dangling on rods.

According to police, the incident happened around 3.40 a.m. on Thursday.

“The victim Kevin Raj, was a resident of Kasi Garden in Royapuram and is the second child of R. Irudayaraj, 57, and Irudayapushpam, 52. He was working at a hotel in Guindy and was returning home after work,” said a police officer.

When he was taking a turn near TVS company on Anna Salai, the SUV coming in the opposite direction hit his bike. The section of Anna Salai where the accident took place is a one-way.

“As the car was being driven at a great speed, it did not stop after hitting him, but hit a van that was coming behind the two-wheeler and stopped. The van driver sustained minor injuries. The air bags in the car came out and the two in the car were trapped inside,” said the officer.

Passersby informed the police and the Anna Square traffic investigation police reached the spot and sent the body to the Government Royapettah Hospital for post-mortem.

“The occupants of the car were identified as Mohammad Safi (48), who was at the wheel, and Mohammad Farook (39). They are leather businessmen from Erode and were drunk. They had come for a leather fair in the city,” the officer added.

Their breath was reeking of alcohol, and the police made them undergo a test, which confirmed that they had consumed liquor, the office said.

“They had had food from a hotel on Anna Salai and were heading in the wrong direction,” said the officer.

A case has been registered under section 304 (II) (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of IPC and the two have been remanded to judicial custody.

Kevin Raj, who finished his course in hotel management, was working in the hotel for the past three years.

After international laurels, a sportsman left in the lurch has not given up hopes yet

On November 17 2013, Rajendran Mani, a former Indian Air Force soldier created history at Budaors, Hungary, winning the World Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Championship in the men’s 90 kg event.

You would think that he might have received a hero’s welcome when he returned to the country, and showered with gifts and cash awards.

For Rajendran, 42, who had trained for the event under great financial stress and was able to travel to Budaors only because a well-wisher had sponsored his air tickets at the last moment, none of it happened.

Rajendran Mani at Budaors after winning the World Championship title in 2013

On the contrary, he had to shut down his once thriving gym in New Delhi, pack up his bags and return to his hometown, Chennai. 

Rajendran, who was at the peak of his sports career when he won the world title and was just a step away from taking a shot at the Mr. Olympia title - the highest honour for any bodybuilder - has stopped training ever since.

“I was totally broke. Bodybuilding, especially in the heavyweight class, is a very expensive sport. It’s like keeping an elephant at home and feeding it.

“We need to spend a lot of money on our diet, which includes intake of plenty of food supplements,” says Rajendran, slowly opening up and sharing things that he has bottled up in his heart for the last nearly two years.

Rajendran had all along defied the odds to rise to the top, but could not carry on the fight after his world championship triumph, as the gymnasium he was running in New Delhi with a partner started making enormous losses.

He had taken to body building since his teenage years in Chennai, where he had won medals at the district level.

He joined Indian Air Force in 1996. He won his first bodybuilding championship in IAF in 2002, and later remained the undisputed inter-services champion in the 90 kg class for six years (2004-2010).

Rajendran training at the gym before his world title triumph 

In 2005 he won the first of his many national championships and in 2009 bagged the Mr. Asia title.

Sadly, though, he took voluntary retirement from the Air Force in 2010, after he was denied a promotion even after winning an international title.

Later, he teamed up with a partner and started a fully air-conditioned gymnasium at Patel Nagar in New Delhi. The 2500 square feet gym became an instant hit and within no time had enrolled 300 members.

It provided income for the family and also the money that Rajendran required to maintain his diet. Just when everything seemed hunky-dory, problems began to crop up in the gym, with trainers dropping out one by one.

Rajendran led a comfortable life in New Delhi before his gymnasium ran up losses 

“We started making losses, but somehow we managed to pull on till 2013. I won the world title in November 2013 and in the very next month we sold the gym and returned to Chennai,” he says.

Forsaken and forgotten, with no one to support or encourage him, Rajendran quit training and could not even defend his title at the 2014 World Championship that was held in Mumbai.

“I became mentally disturbed. I could not focus on training,” says Rajendran, who suddenly found it difficult to even meet household expenses.

He is now living in a small rented house in Tambaram with his wife and two sons, waiting for that one breakthrough, which can put him back on track to chase his unfulfilled dream of winning the Mr. Olympia title.

Rajendran on his favourite motorbike 

“After the World Championship, it is the Mr. Olympia title that every bodybuilder aspires to win,” says Rajendran, who had dropped out of school after Class Six and later passed Class Ten through a distance education course he had enrolled after joining IAF.

The second child among six siblings he grew up in hard circumstances and wanted to be a sportsman like his father.

His father, a mason by profession, was also a boxer and used to take part in tournaments organised by YMCA in Chennai during the 1970s.

“I became fitness conscious from a very early age. My father was a great fan of actor MGR, who maintained his physique well.

“I tried my hand at boxing for some time. Father also knew silambam (an ancient martial art of Tamil Nadu) and stuntmen from cine-field took training from him.

“With that contact I joined a stunt master at the age of 16 and trained under him for couple of years,” he says, reminiscing his teenage years.

Rajendran with his wife and two sons 

In 1996, he joined IAF, and served in Pune, Jodhpur and New Delhi.

“It was only after our second son was born, he decided to pursue body building seriously,” says his wife Priscilla Jayanthi, who is also his personal dietician and motivator.

“Daddy is my hero and role-model. I have seen how hard he had trained to win the world championship,” says Benjamin, Rajendran’s first son, studying in Class Ten, and an athlete doing 100 metres and 200 metres events.

“My father is my coach. My ambition is to become the fastest person in the world and beat Usain Bolt’s record,” he says.

Rajendran is running a food supplements shop, which provides him some income to support his family.

He hopes to find a partner to start a gym in Chennai which could provide him the income to fund his training to take part in the Mr. Olympia championship.