-The Indian Telecom network has one of the cheapest tariff rates offered by various networks around the globe, and we still call them expensive. But realize that we have a romance friendly network in our country that offers the cheapest tariffs.

-The Indian Telecommunication sector has the third largest number of Internet users in the entire world, and that means every 3 out of 5 Indians have internet connectivity at their reach.

-India is the only country that has modern network elements such as digital telephone exchanges, mobile switching centers, media gateways and signalling gateways, all at the same time.

-India has the largest network of both fiber optic as well as Microwave radio relay networks.
The Indian Telecommunication Networks are powered by INSAT, one of the largest domestic satellite systems ever established in the world.

-The Industry has grown over twenty times in just ten years, from under 37 million subscribers in the year 2001 to over 846 million subscribers in the year 2011.

You might have come across various temples and deities around the globe, but here is a different story. A God that loves chocolates. Isn't that interesting?

As per a report:

In Kerala state of India there is a temple where mouth-watering chocolate bars are offered by devotees to the presiding deity. While devotees offer flowers, sandal paste and fruits to invoke divine blessing, the 'Thekkan Palani' Balasubramania temple differs as chocolate bars are offered in the sanctum sanctorum. Chocolate bars of a leading brand are made as offering by devotees and they get them back as 'prasdam' after poojas. 
 No wonder, the presiding deity of the shrine located at Subrahmanyapuram on the outskirts of the the town is known locally as "Munch Murugan." According to temple authorities, people, irrespective of caste, creed and religion, come to the shrine with cartons of chocolates, seeking the blessings of Lord Muruga. Naturally, children flock to the temple in large numbers, especially during the examination season.
No one knows for certain how or when the ritual of offering chocolate began. "The principal deity in the temple is 'Balamurugan', Lord Muruga as child. Somebody who thought that the child Muruga likes chocolate, might have begun the practice first," temple manager D Radhakrishnan told PTI. He said chocolates are given back to devotees as 'prasadam' like flowers and sandal paste after 'pushpanjali' or 'archana'. Chocolate is also used for rituals like 'thulabhara' along with other traditional articles like flowers and jaggery. 

 A large number of devotees, even those from other states and foreigners, visit the temple with boxes of chocolates. In the initial days, children were those who offered chocolates. But now, devotees of all ages, including the elderly, offer chocolates to the Lord Muruga, he said. 

The shrine, managed by a 21-member trust, was built by an ardent devotee of Lord Muruga as a family temple decades back. He was frequent pilgrim to the famous Muruga temple in Palani in Tamil Nadu. The temple lore has it that Lord Muruga once appeared in his dreams and asked him to build a shrine in his village.No one knows for certain how or when the ritual of offering chocolate began. "The principal deity in the temple is 'Balamurugan', Lord Muruga as child. Somebody who thought that the child Muruga likes chocolate, might have begun the practice first," temple manager D Radhakrishnan told PTI. He said chocolates are given back to devotees as 'prasadam' like flowers and sandal paste after 'pushpanjali' or 'archana'. Chocolate is also used for rituals like 'thulabhara' along with other traditional articles like flowers and jaggery. 
 A large number of devotees, even those from other states and foreigners, visit the temple with boxes of chocolates. In the initial days, children were those who offered chocolates. But now, devotees of all ages, including the elderly, offer chocolates to the Lord Muruga, he said. 

The shrine, managed by a 21-member trust, was built by an ardent devotee of Lord Muruga as a family temple decades back. He was frequent pilgrim to the famous Muruga temple in Palani in Tamil Nadu. The temple lore has it that Lord Muruga once appeared in his dreams and asked him to build a shrine in his village. A large number of devotees, even those from other states and foreigners, visit the temple with boxes of chocolates. In the initial days, children were those who offered chocolates. But now, devotees of all ages, including the elderly, offer chocolates to the Lord Muruga, he said. 
The shrine, managed by a 21-member trust, was built by an ardent devotee of Lord Muruga as a family temple decades back. He was frequent pilgrim to the famous Muruga temple in Palani in Tamil Nadu. The temple lore has it that Lord Muruga once appeared in his dreams and asked him to build a shrine in his village.The shrine, managed by a 21-member trust, was built by an ardent devotee of Lord Muruga as a family temple decades back. He was frequent pilgrim to the famous Muruga temple in Palani in Tamil Nadu. The temple lore has it that Lord Muruga once appeared in his dreams and asked him to build a shrine in his village.

As every year, this year has also witnessed the suicide of a school student following the Secondary Board Exams. An Indian student residing in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, commited suicide earlier today after his exams began. We aren't mentioning his where abouts as it has nothing to do for the society. But we need to learn a leason, definitely. What we see is various websites and people making good out of the situation. This is not something to celebrate people.

And its long time we need to stop accusing the boards for such incidents. The exams are now made very much liberal by almost all the curriculums around the globe. CBSE has also introduced various innovative steps to reduce the struggle faced by the students. Continous and Comprehensive Evaluation, commonly called the CCE is a very advanced step taken by the CBSE, which reduced the students' burden by evaluating them in every aspects rather than being purely book oriented. Board level exams are now limited to school based exams. Marks have now turned into grades. Almost 100% pass rate is expected in these years. And even then if there is a student who committed suicide, who is answerable to it? The society? The parents? Or the board?

The answer is quite simple, the society that includes you, me, parents and the board. Proper counselling must be given to the children before such exams that a single exam doesn't determine their life. There are a lot of chances and opportunties awaiting them. Talk to your children. Punch out the puss in their hearts. Make them feel better. Instead of demotivating them when they fail, why dont you motivate them with some suitable examples? If you have a child who fails in math, but scores a century in cricket, be proud that he is special in that way. Do not hurt their feelings. And children, that doesn't mean you can play around, score less and escape from scolding just because you'd get depressed. Learn to face life. It's all a part of it. Face it. Fight it. An if this happens even further, if such foolish decisions still come up in any minds, it is purely genetical of becoming foolish.

One of your friends have passed away. He would have passed the exam. He could have pursued all the goals he aimed at. But everything is over. It wasn't a brilliant move. Understand, there are people who loves you, who needs you, live your life. Life is a gift. Cherish it.

This weekend watch the advertisements that you used to see in the 1990s and go nostalgic.!

Here is the first interview on Talk and Speak. We are beginning neither with a celebrity nor a politician, rather with a sex worker whose dreams and aspirations were shattered in the run for survival.

Nalini, 45, was born in a village in the district of Kollam. Her father was a daily wage worker and mother used to work as a house maid. She had 2 sisters who were 5 and 10 years younger to her. Life was considerably smooth until Nalini's father passed away while she was 20. Her mother couldn't raise the family with the small wages she made. On a tragic day, Nalini's family bid farewell to the world leaving her behind to face its challenges. Her life from then was tragic and pathetic. Let us ask her about the rest of her life.

Note: Her words are edited and translated for a better presentation.

Talk and Speak: How did you move on since their expiry?

Nalini: I was all worried realizing my family was no more. I tried to find jobs at houses where my mother worked. But nothing turned out well. I couldn't find a job. I spent several days without food. An eventually started to beg on the streets. It was then, a man came and offered me a job as a housemaid. In that sitution, I did not give a second thought to it. I accepted his job and left to Thrissur to work as a housemaid. They took me to an apartment were I was locked without food and water for several weeks. I was beaten an tortured. I couldn't call for help as I was all tied up and taped. They wanted me to sell myself for the people who visited the apartment day and night. Out of helplessness I had to keep quiet.

Talk and Speak: How long did you have to stay there?

Nalini: I spent almost 6 months there and I finally managed to escape out of that apartment.

Talk and Speak: How did you manage to escape?

Nalini: One of my clients had a good heart and he helped me escape out from there. He managed to beat the only guy who was there and we ran out. He then left me at the bus station.

Talk and Speak: How did you have a trust in him? Where did you go after that?

Nalini: I had nothing to loose, so I took the only option I had. I left to Thiruvananthapuram from there and tried for various jobs. People did not accept me as my identity was not clear. I eventually fell into prostitution again.

Talk and Speak: Did you want to live a normal life? Couldn't you find any daily wage jobs instead of prostitution? Were you happy with the life you lived?

Nalini: What if I was not happy?? Would you come and give me a life I wished to live? Sir, no one in the world does this with a happy heart. We are all brought into this by the circumstances. Finding a job isn't easy. Try getting on to the streets, you will understand. As every women, even I had a dream of a decent life with a family.

Talk and Speak: What type of people were the frequent visitors? What age group?

Nalini: There are no age groups. Men of 18 to 50 visited me. Not everyone had the intention of sex. Some of them want mere relationship advises. Where as some wanted some time alone.

Talk and Speak: How did you rehabilitate?

Nalini: As I earned enough to live, I left that job and bought a small shop where I sold pappads that I prepared. I earn enough for a day's meals. I feel happy now. Life seems to be smooth these days.

Talk and Speak: What is your message to the world and especially the women?

Nalini: It is not like before, now women have ways to survive, there are places to go for shelter. They don't really have to fall into all this. Try to earn a living and live a decent life with happiness and peace. And the society plays a major role.

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This is not the story of a single women. There are millions suffering. If you can save one, that would make a change. Work for a better nation!