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<ul><li>Today, <keyword id="419433" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="google-doodle">Google Doodle</keyword> is honouring an Indian poet <keyword id="109442" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Kaifi-Azmi">Kaifi Azmi</keyword> to mark his 101st birth anniversary. </li><li>Azmi brought urdu literature to Indian cinema with motion pictures. </li><li>He published his first set of poetry named Jhankar in 1943.</li></ul>Today, Google Doodle is honouring Indian poet Kaifi Azmi — the man who brought Urdu literature to Indian cinema. The doodle marks his 101st birth anniversary. Though he is popularly known as Kaifi Azmi, his full name is Sayyid Athar Hussein Rizvi. At the age of 11, he composed his first poem. Needless to say, he grew up to become one of India’s most renowned and cherished poets of the 20th century. He has an array of ghazals, nazms and mushairas to his name. In 1942, when India was still under British rule, Azmi answered Mahatma Gandhi’s call to Quit India. He left his hometown in Uttar Pradesh and moved to Bombay to write for an Urdu newspaper. A year on, he published his first set of poetry named Jhankar. The man who wore pyjamas all day Arts also run in his family. His daughter <keyword id="19" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Shabana-Azmi">Shabana Azmi</keyword> is a popular actress and and his son Baba Azmi is a well-known cinematographer. A young Shabana however had her qualms about her father’s profession and had lied to her friends that he did some vague ‘business.’ “He didn’t go to ‘office’ or wear the normal trousers and shirt like other ‘respectable’ fathers but chose to wear a white cotton kurta-pyjama 24 hours of the day. He did not speak English and worse still, I didn’t call him ‘Daddy’ like other children, but some strange sounding ‘Abba’!,” she <a href="http://www.azmikaifi.com/">recalled</a>. To everyone else though, Kaifi Azmi was known as a passionate social activist. He was also a member of Progressive Writers’ Association. The association worked on implementing socio-economic reform via writings and poetry. In one of his early writeups — ‘Aurat’ — he spoke for women empowerment and equality. He later founded an NGO that worked to improve the lives of women in rural India. Azmi was also a famous film lyricist who wrote songs like Heer Ranjha, Kaghaz ke Phool in mainstream hindi movies. He was awarded three Filmfare awards for Garam Hawa, Padma Shri Award for Literature and Education, and Sahitya Akademi Fellowship in 2002 — which is the highest literary honour in India. Azmi passed away in 2002. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/childrens-day-2019-a-delhi-girl-who-sees-a-future-where-trees-can-fly-wins-google-doodle-competition/articleshow/72048137.cms">Children's Day 2019: A Delhi girl who sees a future where trees can fly wins Google Doodle competition</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/thelife/personalities/news/google-doodles-physicist-joseph-antoine-ferdinand-plateau-who-brought-cinema-to-life/articleshow/71573716.cms">Google doodles physicist Joseph Antoine Ferdinand Plateau — who brought cinema to life</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/google-celebrates-its-21st-birthday-with-a-retro-doodle-featuring-desktop-pc/articleshow/71324018.cms">Google celebrates its 21st birthday with a retro doodle featuring desktop PC</a>

Google Doodle celebrates Kaifi Azmi - the man who brought Urdu literature to Hindi cinema

New Delhi, June 5 (IANS) Rekhta Foundation on Friday launched its own Amazon Alexa skill where poetry lovers can enjoy hundreds of Urdu poems and shers (couplets) according to poets and genres like love, sadness as well as humour with simple voice commands. The new skill will let fans and followers of shayari (urdu poetry) listen to their favourite poets on Amazon Echo range or Alexa-enabled devices. With over 1,000 shayari tracks by over 50 different poets, users can just ask Alexa to play the shayari on the basis of the theme or the name of the poet. "With changing times, the ever-increasing charm of poetry has reached personal devices and Echo devices and Alexa-enabled smart devices perfectly fit in the environment of personal leisure time. We are pleased to bring this home for the lovers of the language," Sanjiv Saraf, Founder, Rekhta Foundation, said in a statement. The Rekhta Skill can be launched in both English and Hindi languages by saying "Alexa, open Rekhta/Alexa, Rekhta Shuru karo". Additionally, the users can listen to the couplets by genre, mood or poets. Just ask, "Alexa, tell me a love shayari". "With over 1,000 Shayaris to choose from, we are excited about Rekhta's new Alexa skill and believe it is a great way for poetry lovers to enjoy their favourite shayaris in a hassle-free manner through simple voice commands at the comforts of their homes," said Dilip R.S., Country Manager, Alexa Skills and Voice Services, Amazon India. Rekhta Foundation is a notprofit organisation devoted towards the preservation and promotion of languages and literature of the Indian subcontinent. --IANS wh/na

Not enjoy Urdu shayari on Amazon Alexa

New Delhi, June 5 (IANS) Rekhta Foundation on Friday launched its own Amazon Alexa skill where poetry lovers can enjoy hundreds of Urdu poems and shers (couplets) according to poets and genres like love, sadness as well as humour with simple voice commands. The new skill will let fans and followers of shayari (urdu poetry) listen to their favourite poets on Amazon Echo range or Alexa-enabled devices. With over 1,000 shayari tracks by over 50 different poets, users can just ask Alexa to play the shayari on the basis of the theme or the name of the poet. "With changing times, the ever-increasing charm of poetry has reached personal devices and Echo devices and Alexa-enabled smart devices perfectly fit in the environment of personal leisure time. We are pleased to bring this home for the lovers of the language," Sanjiv Saraf, Founder, Rekhta Foundation, said in a statement. The Rekhta Skill can be launched in both English and Hindi languages by saying "Alexa, open Rekhta/Alexa, Rekhta Shuru karo". Additionally, the users can listen to the couplets by genre, mood or poets. Just ask, "Alexa, tell me a love shayari". "With over 1,000 Shayaris to choose from, we are excited about Rekhta's new Alexa skill and believe it is a great way for poetry lovers to enjoy their favourite shayaris in a hassle-free manner through simple voice commands at the comforts of their homes," said Dilip R.S., Country Manager, Alexa Skills and Voice Services, Amazon India. Rekhta Foundation is a notprofit organisation devoted towards the preservation and promotion of languages and literature of the Indian subcontinent. --IANS na/

Now enjoy Urdu shayari on Amazon Alexa

The air is crisp and it is the perfect weather to cozy up with a book and maybe brave the chilly winds to attend literary fests in the comfortable winter sun. 
 ZEE JLF exclusively shared the shortlist of all the amazing books and authors discovered and loved over the 10 years of the Festival starting 2006 for you to play catch-up to, with <keyword id="824043" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Business-Insider">Business Insider</keyword>. 
 
There are of course categories over which the favorites have been divided and here they are: 
 
1) Female Writers - ‘Badass <keyword id="624" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Women">women</keyword> writing for/about badass women’ includes: 
 -Sophia: Princess, Suffragette, Revolutionary by <keyword id="2704735" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Anita-Anand">Anita Anand</keyword>, which looks at the life of an Indian princess and goddaughter of <keyword id="6377522" type="POSITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="queen">Queen</keyword> <keyword id="5657" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Victoria">Victoria</keyword> who went on to become a leading figure in the British suffragette movement. 
 -The <keyword id="4049788" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="essential-gloria-steinem">Essential Gloria Steinem</keyword> Reader: As If Women Matter, a compilation of the feminist icon's writing; two books discussing sexuality and gender in the Middle East. 
 -Headscarves and Hymens: Why the Middles East Needs a Sexual Revolution by <keyword id="845515" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mona-Eltahawy">Mona Eltahawy</keyword> and Sex and the Citadel by <keyword id="2171668" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Shereen-El-Feki">Shereen El Feki</keyword>, which offer a provocative and revealing look into this touchy issue. 
 - Postmodern feminist classic The Handmaid's Tale by the brilliant <keyword id="221634" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Margaret-Atwood">Margaret Atwood</keyword> 
 -'We Should All Be Feminists' by <keyword id="4049784" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="chimamanda-ngozi-adhichie">Chimamanda Ngozi Adhichie</keyword>, which was featured in Beyonce's 'Flawless' and is required reading in Swedish schools. 
 
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/what-india-read-through-flipkart-in-2016/articleshow/56256955.cms">ALSO READ: Exclusive: What India Read Through Flipkart in 2016</a> 
 
2) Memoirs - Known to inspire the most latent of dreams, learning from the experiences and challenges of others. 
 
-Jung Chang's family saga Wild Swans; Molly Crabapple's stunning memoir-manifesto. 
 -Drawing Blood; In Other Words by <keyword id="89243" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Jhumpa-Lahiri">Jhumpa Lahiri</keyword>, a nuanced look into learning and writing in Italian. 
 
-Jerry Pinto's Em and the Big Hoom, an autobiographical work of fiction of a boy's account of life with his mentally ill mother. 
 -Helen Macdonald's <keyword id="157266" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Samuel-Johnson">Samuel Johnson</keyword> Prize-winning H is for Hawk. 
 
3) Hindi and <keyword id="52565" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="urdu">Urdu</keyword> writers - Instrumental in shaping the outlook of the regional literature. Some of the Festival team's favorite books include: 
 
-Saadat Hasan Manto, an Urdu writer seen by many as a master of the short story. 
 
- The Mirror of Beauty, originally published in Urdu, is an epic novel set in the last days of the Mughal empire. 
 -Krishna Sobti's <keyword id="4049785" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="zindaginama">Zindaginama</keyword>, a classic of Hindi literature. 
 
-Abdullah Hussein’s The Weary Generations, an instant bestseller in Urdu, now in its 40th edition and one that’s never been out of print. 
 
4) African literature- Moving across seas to the literary genius of <keyword id="12925" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="20" keywordseo="Africa">Africa</keyword>, they explored the continent to bring out prominent writers: 
 
-Ben Okri's Man Booker Prize-winning The Famished Road. 
 
-Taiye Selasi's debut Ghana Must Go chronicles the lives of a Ghanaian-Nigerian family across generations and continents. 
 - The brilliant Half of a Yellow Sun by <keyword id="538649" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chimamanda-Ngozi-Adichie">Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie</keyword>. 
 -The first installment of Zimbabwean-born <keyword id="99628" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Alexander-McCall-Smith">Alexander McCall Smith</keyword>'s beloved No 1 Ladies Detective Agency series. 
 - African Psycho by Congolese writer <keyword id="2861092" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Alain-Mabanckou">Alain Mabanckou</keyword>, described by <keyword id="425741" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="The-Economist">The Economist</keyword> as the 'prince of absurd'. 
 
-Open City, the bestselling debut by Teju Cole who's been hailed as ‘the WG Sebald of the 21st century’. 
 
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/indias-largest-youth-festival-the-under-25-summit-is-going-to-have-a-food-train/articleshow/56256709.cms">ALSO READ: India’s largest youth festival, The Under 25 summit is going to have a Food train!</a> 
 
5) Non-fiction- Chronicling real events and places, often more bizarre and unique than imagination itself, is a talent not bestowed to all.: 
 -Maximum City by <keyword id="80841" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="suketu-mehta">Suketu Mehta</keyword> offers a revealing portrait of <keyword id="6356654" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bombay">Bombay</keyword>. 
 
-Raghu Karnad's spectacular debut Farthest Field explores the often overlooked role of Indian soldiers in WW2 through the lives of his grandfather and grand-uncles. 
 -The award-winning Behind the Beautiful Forevers by <keyword id="3916987" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Katherine-Boo">Katherine Boo</keyword> is another searingly honest look into Mumbai. 
 -Jerusalem: The Biography by bestselling writer and historian <keyword id="1359419" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Simon-Sebag-Montefiore">Simon Sebag Montefiore</keyword>. 
 -Peter Frankopan's fascinating The <keyword id="48523" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Silk">Silk</keyword> Roads: A New History of the World 
 - <keyword id="5487" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="William-Dalrymple">William Dalrymple</keyword>'s Return of a King: The Battle for <keyword id="6354541" type="COUNTRY" weightage="20" keywordseo="afghanistan">Afghanistan</keyword>, winner of the Hemingway Prize and <keyword id="4049790" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="kapuciski-prize">Kapuściński Prize</keyword> in 2015. 
 
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/EXCLUSIVE-Shashi-Tharoor-talks-about-his-fears-related-to-demonetization-and-the-Paris-Agreement/articleshow/55500115.cms">ALSO READ: EXCLUSIVE: Shashi Tharoor talks about his fears related to demonetization and the Paris Agreement</a> 
 This year, the Festival, which opens from January 19 to 23, 2017, has its speaker’s table going full force with participation from noteworthy names, such as Man <keyword id="56252" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="20" keywordseo="Booker-Prize">Booker Prize</keyword> winners Paul Beatty, Richard Flanagan and <keyword id="721253" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Alan-Hollinghurst">Alan Hollinghurst</keyword>, prolific Indian-American writer <keyword id="157413" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chitra-Banerjee-Divakaruni">Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni</keyword>, famed <keyword id="6354291" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="kannada">Kannada</keyword> writer S.L. Bhyrappa, poets Anne Waldman, Gulzar, <keyword id="10355" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Javed-Akhtar">Javed Akhtar</keyword> and <keyword id="4049789" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="kate-tempest">Kate Tempest</keyword> and politician and polymath <keyword id="42749" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Shashi-Tharoor">Shashi Tharoor</keyword>.

Here are the top books of Jaipur Literature Festival for the past decade

Dubai, May 9 () An Indian teenager here has recorded songs in over 20 languages, including Arabic, to spread awareness on the COVID-19, saying music has always been her choice for effective communication, according to a media report on Saturday. Suchetha Satish's songs advise the people to keep distance, maintain cleanliness and practice hand washing regularly, the Khaleej Times reported on Saturday. Satish, who hails from Kerala, released her first coronavirus awareness song on March 16 in English, titled 'Say No To Panic', the daily reported. Since then, 14-year-old Satish, who holds the world record for singing in most number of languages in a concert, has recorded the awareness songs in Malayalam, Bengali, Arabic, Kannada, Tulu, Konkani, Marathi, Gujrati, Rajasthani, Sindhi, Himachali, Odiya, Manipuri, Nepali, Urdu, Punjabi, Bhojpuri, Telugu, Kashmiri and Sanskrit. Her songs in Malayalam, Hindi, Bengali, Tamil and Assamese were used by the Kerala government in its 'Break the Chain' campaign, the newspaper reported. Satish, who also holds the world record for the longest live concert by a child, calls herself a COVID-19 warrior. "Music has always been my language of effective communication. With help from my mother Sumitha, I did the lyrics and composed the whole song. My mum helped me with the editing of the video. I took inputs from my father to give authentic information and thus the song was made. The recording was done in my home studio," said Satish, a standard X student of Dubai Indian High School. The lyrics for the songs were penned by her mother, the music was composed by Prashanti Chopra and the orchestration by Denzil Tom, her father told the newspaper. Emirati poet Dr Shihab Ghanem translated the lyrics in Arabic. She said the entire process of making the song took about four days. She said one of the first few songs on COIVD-19 was recorded in Malayalam, which was well appreciated. This inspired her to record the song in other Indian languages. INDIND

UAE-based Indian girl uses music to raise awareness on coronavirus

HYDERABAD: It's been barely a month since he took over as only the third <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/CEO">CEO</a> of tech giant<a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Microsoft">Microsoft</a> since it was set up 39 years ago, but <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Satya-Nadella">Satya Nadella</a> already has <keyword id="10387" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Microsoft">Microsoft</keyword>'s five-year plan chalked out: use software as a driving force to advance the company's devices and services. 
 In an exclusive interview with TOI — the first with an Indian newspaper or TV channel since his ascension to the post of <keyword id="5645" type="POSITION" weightage="60" keywordseo="CEO">CEO</keyword> in February — Nadella insisted that software is "one of the most valuable, malleable resources" of the organization and that his primary objective as Microsoft chief would be to deliver software-driven advanced innovations that would help enrich customer experience. "I want to see us remain convinced that software matters in the future," the Hyderabad-born 46-year-old said, reiterating his "incredible focus" on offering Microsoft customers what they really value and enable them to do more in work, life and play. 
 
Back home in India too, Nadella aspires to see his "mobile first, cloud first" mantra accelerate future technology advancements. He acknowledges that the country, which boasts of a more than 6,000 employee-strong base, is a vital part of Microsoft's plans. "We are working with our partners to provide a wide range of Azure cloud offerings to accelerate economic growth and breakthrough cloud services in India," he said. 
 Nadella hailed Indian talent, saying, "... India is a tremendous source of technology talent, both at home and around the world, and that is something we can all take pride in." He also confessed to being moved by the flurry of congratulatory messages that have flooded his inbox. That includes mails from Shantanu Narayen (CEO, <keyword id="99699" type="CITY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Adobe">Adobe</keyword>), TK Kurien (CEO, <keyword id="10862" type="CITY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Wipro">Wipro</keyword>) and <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Ajay-Banga">Ajay Banga</a> (CEO, <keyword id="6368201" type="CITY" weightage="40" keywordseo="MasterCard">Mastercard</keyword>) — all alumni of <keyword id="102356" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Hyderabad-Public-School">Hyderabad Public School</keyword>, like him. 
 
"I deeply appreciate all the support and encouragement I have received from people all across India," said Nadella. Though he spent only a few years of his childhood in Hyderabad, he asserted, "I will always be a Hyderabadi." 
 
Nadella, by his own admission a poetry fanatic, is currently hooked to the works of American poets <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Walt-Whitman">Walt Whitman</a> and WH Auden. "I went through a phase of reading lots of Urdu poetry, thanks to the great transliterated versions that have become available," he said. But what can't stop haunting him are the final lines from <keyword id="1266000" type="POSITION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Romantic-poet">romantic poet</keyword> <keyword id="150109" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="John-Keats">John Keats</keyword>' Ode On A Grecian Urn: "Beauty is truth, truth beauty — that is all ye know on earth, and all ye need to know'. 
 
The full interview 
 
Congratulations on your taking over as Microsoft CEO. How has the ride been so far? 
 I've been in the role for little over a month, and it has been incredible. I've been impressed by the passion and energy of Microsoft employees, and their willingness to commit to driving the company forward. I've worked in many areas of the company over 22 years, but there are some pieces of the business I'm getting to learn more about and it's been exciting to dig in deeper with those teams. Together with the leadership team, I'm focused on driving clarity and alignment on the strategy for our path forward with a laser focus on listening to customers and delivering our next waves of innovation. As a side note, I've to admit I was humbled by, and grateful for, the response in India to my appointment. I received congratulations and best wishes from so many people — not just <keyword id="343" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="40" keywordseo="Friends">friends</keyword> and former colleagues, but many I had never met before. I deeply appreciate the encouragement from people across India. 
 
What's your priority number one as CEO? 
 
Microsoft is an amazing company that has changed the world. I firmly believe our best days are ahead of us. I want us to move faster and advance our innovations to deliver new value to customers. I've spent a lot of time with our leadership team talking about these opportunities and focusing on driving clarity and alignment on strategy, providing our teams with the resources and environment to do their best work, and removing internal barriers so our teams can deliver break through innovation faster. 
 
On Day 1 as CEO, you said your aim would be to take Microsoft towards a "mobile first, cloud first" world. How will you do that? 
 
Microsoft was built on productivity, now we're reimagining productivity for a mobile first, cloud first world. I'm focused on zeroing in on what we can uniquely deliver for customers that they really value - this will manifest itself in our cloud services and in the rich experiences we create on devices that enable customers do more in work, life and play. 
 
Microsoft seems to have lost its mojo. How do you get the momentum back? 
 Our industry doesn't value tradition, it only values innovation. Our 39-year history gives us a strong foundation and capabilities to build on, as an organization. Our quest is to continually renew ourselves, be persistent and push the limits on what is possible. I've been inspired as I've met with our product and R&amp;D teams and got <keyword id="154361" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="feedback">feedback</keyword> from customers. We are on the brink of boundary-less innovation in this industry and, I'm focused on investing in areas where we can drive unique value for customers, and move faster. 
 
Where do you wish to see Microsoft five years down the line? 
 
I want to see us remain convinced that software matters in future. Software is one of the most valuable resources we have, which will be the driving force in advancing our devices and services and driving the next wave of innovations. Culturally, I'd like to see us be known as a learning organization. The ability in this industry to take new learnings, accrue it to what you've done in the past and make it relevant for the future is valuable — I'm energized when I think of the potential here in harnessing the collective brainpower and talent of our soon to be 130,000 employees. 
 
With you at the helm, the software industry here is hopeful of Microsoft's R&amp;D units in India (especially Microsoft's India Development Center, Hyderabad) getting a boost. Anything specific in mind for India? 
 
India has always been a vital part of Microsoft's plans. I think that only increases going forward. India is one of the few countries where Microsoft has the entire range of our operations — including basic R&amp;D and customer services. We have more than 6,000 employees, and over 10,000 partners in India, creating thousands of jobs and a vibrant technology ecosystem. Twenty of the top 20 companies in India use our technology. Five of the top five IT companies, five of the top five manufacturing companies, five of the top five banking organizations — across virtually every sector, Microsoft technology is helping support the economic infrastructure of India. I'm excited about the future technology advancements possible in India in this mobile first, cloud first world. 
 
The cloud is going to be a huge enabler of consumer services and entrepreneurial growth. We are working with our partners to provide a wide range of Azure cloud offerings to accelerate economic growth and breakthrough cloud services in India. I'm passionate about the work we do to support education and other societal goals across India. Microsoft has been running one of the largest not-for-profit education and skills programmes in India. Over the last two decades, our programmes have helped over 40 million students, teachers and budding Indian entrepreneurs. 
 
Your story is an inspiration to many. Some critics argue that your success highlights the unfortunate reality of Indian students who shine only when they give up on their country to work in the US. Your comments ... 
 
There are many examples of Indian students who have remained in India and built great companies and done great things. Truth is that India is a tremendous source of technology talent, both at home and around the world. That's something we can all take pride in. 
 
What or who has been your inspiration? 
 
My parents have been among my biggest inspirations — they gave me the freedom and confidence to pursue what I wanted to. Beyond that, my teachers, friends and colleagues played a critical role in both introducing me to new things and pushing me to raise my game each step of the way. <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Bill-Gates">Bill Gates</a> has also been an inspiration — from his vision of how technology could unleash the potential of every human being, to the <keyword id="69295" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="40" keywordseo="Curiosity">curiosity</keyword> and intellectual rigour that he brings to every interaction. I've learned so much from Bill, and I am delighted to have the opportunity to work closely with him again as a <keyword id="605495" type="POSITION" weightage="40" keywordseo="technology-advisor">technology advisor</keyword> to me and the company. 
 
When you are not at work or, like you've confessed, signing up for online courses, what do you do? We know you like poetry. Any favourites? 
 
I do buy more books than I can read and sign up for more online courses than I can finish. My love of poetry has grown. Maybe it's my attention span that needs more work, but I do love the compression in poetry. I went through a phase of reading Urdu poetry, thanks to the great transliterated versions now available. Now I am into Whitman and WH Auden. My all-time favourite is Keats — Ode on a Grecian Urn. Who is not haunted by those final lines — Beauty is truth, truth beauty — that is all ye know on earth, and all ye need to know. 
 
How about cricket? Do you now get any time to play? Or even watch Tests? 
 I love the game. I was an <keyword id="244893" type="POSITION" weightage="40" keywordseo="ordinary-player">ordinary player</keyword>, but was lucky to play under some great captains and other solid players at school who went on to play a decent amount of First Class cricket. 
 
You were born and brought up in Hyderabad. What memories do you have of the city? 
 Cumulatively I spent five years in Hyderabad. But I will always be a Hyderabadi. It was a laid back place in the late 70s and early 80s when I was growing up there. One got to do what they wanted versus being in a <keyword id="37572" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="40" keywordseo="rush">rush</keyword> to do what others were doing. I enjoyed that freedom. I have lots of friends from Hyderabad Public School with whom I am pretty close, both in Hyderabad and elsewhere. It was great to get emails from all the CEOs who happen to be HPS alumnus — Shantanu Narayen at Adobe, <keyword id="6385037" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Prem-Watsa">Prem Watsa</keyword> at Fairfax Holdings, TK Kurian at Wipro and <keyword id="44475" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Ajay-Banga">Ajay Banga</keyword> at Mastercard. It's surreal. 
 
What's that one message you would want to give young professionals? 
 
Find something you are truly passionate about, and throw yourself into it fully. Life is too short to just go through the motions on something you are not truly passionate about. Stay curious, never stop learning.

Proud That India's ASource Of Global Tech Talent: Satya Nadella

Last few days saw much hue and cry, mainly by politicians from down south led by <keyword id="6357766" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="DMK">DMK</keyword> chief Karunanidhi, over the Union <keyword id="6359327" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Home-Ministry">Home Ministry</keyword>’s directive to bureaucrats to use <keyword id="6357660" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="hindi">Hindi</keyword> on social media platforms. But was such a strong reaction to a normal advisory justified? 
 With Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> assuming office, Hindi has found the place it deserves in the corridors of power. After his swearing-in ceremony, Narendra Modi spoke to foreign dignitaries in Hindi. Even on his trip to Bhutan, his first official foreign visit, he addressed the Bhutanese Parliament in Hindi. 
 Before Modi, former prime minister <keyword id="47100" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Atal-Bihari-Vajpayee">Atal Bihari Vajpayee</keyword>, a great orator and accomplished poet, always used Hindi as his vehicle of communication. In 1977, Vajpayee addressed the annual assembly of the <keyword id="6355833" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="united-nations">United Nations</keyword> in Hindi and became the first Indian leader to address the UN in Hindi. But unlike Modi, he did not mind switching to <keyword id="42216" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="English">English</keyword> when addressing joint press conferences with his foreign contemporaries like Tony Blair, Bill Clinton and George Bush. 
 However, after the statesman unexpectedly lost the elections in 2004, Hindi, too, started losing its place of privilege in the corridors of power and was totally marginalised during the decade-long rule of former prime minister <keyword id="6359397" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Manmohan-Singh">Manmohan Singh</keyword>. Although many international leaders of developed countries like China, Germany, Italy, France, Japan and Russia speak in their respective national languages even on foreign visits, Indian leaders have always taken pride in using English even in the Parliament. This was evident during the Manmohan Singh regime. 
 
Now, let’s come back to the present controversy over the use of Hindi. It all started with the Home Ministry issuing a directive to bureaucrats to use Hindi to convey message through social media. It’s pertinent to mention here that the directive was only meant for ‘social media messages’ and not for the official communications sent from the Centre to the states, which continue to be in the two official languages - Hindi and English. 
 Social media messages are meant for the general public. According to the 2001 census, Hindi is the mother tongue of more than 41% of the country’s population. Add to that 5% <keyword id="52565" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="urdu">Urdu</keyword> and 1% <keyword id="29621" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Maithili">Maithili</keyword> speakers, which takes the percentage of people proficient enough in Hindi to more than 47%. Hindi is also used as a link language in states like West Bengal, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Odisha, Punjab and Goa – the states where Hindi is not spoken as the first language. Moreover, Hindi is also understood in many parts of southern states like Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka and even north-eastern states like Assam, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh. So what is wrong in asking bureaucrats to use Hindi on social media? Which other language can fulfil the purpose of reaching out to such a large population base? 
 
But the anti-Hindi crusaders of Tamil Nadu lost no time in raking up a controversy out of a non-issue. M Karunanidhi, chief of Tamil Nadu-based DMK party went on to say, "No one can deny it's beginning to impose Hindi against one's wish. This would be seen as an attempt to treat non-Hindi speakers as second class citizens." Where is the question of treating non-Hindi speakers as second citizens? 
 Barring Tamil Nadu, no other state has raised any objection to this direction. In fact, it is heartening that this time, the push for Hindi comes when the government is headed by someone whose native language is not Hindi (Narendra Modi’s mother tongue is <keyword id="6369979" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Gujarati">Gujarati</keyword>). 
 Union Minister of State for Home <keyword id="638723" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kiren-Rijiju">Kiren Rijiju</keyword>, who belongs to the north-eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh, also voiced his support for Hindi. “Hindi is our <keyword id="71459" type="POSITION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Official-language">official language</keyword>, we have to promote Hindi," he said following the controversy. 
 
Noted poet Ashok Chakradhar also welcomed the move, saying “If this government is getting bureaucrats to use Hindi, it is a great idea. Hindi is understood by 80% of Indians who pick it up from popular films, songs and the media. But at the official level, no one is fighting for the language.” 
 
Tamil Nadu’s opposition to Hindi dates back to the 1960s. In 1950, the Constitution declared Hindi as the official language and English was to be used as secondary official language till 1965 to facilitate a smooth transition. But the DMK launched an anti-Hindi campaign in Tamil Nadu, during which, Hindi books and effigies of ‘Hindi demoness’ were burnt on village bonfires. Does it not reflect deep-seated anti-Hindi bias? 
 
The campaign soon turned into full scale riots, which led to the killing of 70 people, including two policemen. However, the riots catapulted the DMK to power in 1967 elections in the state as opposition to Hindi was a dominant election issue. 
 
Following large scale violence in Tamil Nadu, the Centre enacted the Official Language Act, 1963. The Act stated, “Notwithstanding the expiration of the period of 15 years from the commencement of the Constitution, the English language may, as from the appointed day, continue to be used in addition to Hindi.” 
 
One wonders why some Tamilians hate Hindi so much. In Gujarat, students are taught English, Gujarati and Hindi in schools. They never get offended or complained about imposition of Hindi. Hindi is the most widely spoken language in the country and it should be promoted to facilitate easier communication throughout the country. But at the same time, the importance of regional languages should also not be undermined.

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