Government to Launch LPG 'SAHAJ' Online Connection Scheme Today

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry today will launch SAHAJ online LPG connections to give more convenience to new LPG consumers.

Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan will be launching the facility in the national capital on Sunday.

The facility will be simultaneously launched at Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Bhubaneshwar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Patna and Pune.

 All state-run fuel retailers would be joining the e-tail bandwagon with a web-based system for selling new LPG connections.

The new system would be available on the websites of each oil company and the government's LPG portal, Pahal.

This will allow prospective consumers online filling of application form for a new connection.

The system will then automatically detect a dealer best suited for the consumer and email or message a customer ID number within 48 hours of applying.

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Why Nokia 1100 and Nokia 3210 is the greatest phone ever

The Nokia 1100 didn't feel as stiff and tough as the Nokia 3210. But it was a very sturdy phone, even though it's plastic had a soft feel to it. It was a phone designed for developing countries and hence Nokia had used several techniques to make it durable. One of these techniques was the use of rubber keyboard instead plastic keys. The rubber membrane all over the keyboard gave the phone limited protection against dust, sweat and water, which is very important in a country like India. The rubbery part was more resistant to scratches compared to the tough plastic that companies used on other phones. The soft rubbery feel also made the phone feel better in hands. The durability of the phone was amply highlighted in that iconic truck advertisement where the phone was left hanging in front of the vehicle. At the end of the journey, we see the phone survive without a scratch.

It came with a torch

This was a killer feature of the Nokia 1100. In a country like India where power supply was (and is) an issue, the Nokia 1100 was an instant hit owing to its in-built torchlight. As the truck advertisement explained, it was a phone that was supposed to work even at night. "Is mein torch kyon hai," asks the helper. "Kyonki ye raat ko bhi chalta hai," says the driver as he stops his truck to rest at night. Nothing more was needed to be said. Indians were sold out on the Nokia 1100.

It is the bestselling phone of all time

Nokia has sold over 250 million units of the Nokia 1100. This is a huge number. It became ubiquitous in the rural areas of India and in parts of Africa. No wonder then that when Nokia sold its one billionth phone, it was the Nokia 1100. In comparison, around 160 million units of the Nokia 3210 have been sold.

It was made for people who never used a phone earlier

The real reason why Nokia 1100 is the greatest phone ever made is its positioning in the market. It was priced low - less than Rs 5,000 - and it offered people a hassle-free experience. Everything in the phone was tuned to make the first time users comfortable. It had a very easy-to-use interface, allowed people to call by pressing a single key, had an option to change font size, offered battery life that was legendary and came with cool features like the torch. It even offered people some customisation options, if they wished to change the looks of their phone. Best of all, it offered an extremely reliable service. The call quality on this phone was fantastic and typing on its rubbery keys was extremely easy.

By today's standards the Nokia 1100 may look dated - though it is still more durable and offers better battery life than smartphones - but in 2003, the phone was a complete package in a design that was very likeable. No wonder, 12 years later after its launch, it is the best smartphone ever made.

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Why Mahesh Babu feels Telugu cinema can make superstars insecure

It is not often that a hero, who gets the adulation of his fans by the manner in which he reduces 20 goons to pulp on the big screen, talks of that dreaded four letter word called "fear". But Mahesh Babu, much to my surprise, did not flinch from showing a side that one does not quite expect from a superstar.

"Yes, the pressure is immense. It is nerve-racking. In Telugu cinema, the film is sold for the highest price of Rs 70 crore or so, and it rides completely on the star. You have to give a blockbuster. There is no other go," Mahesh told me. I couldn't help but marvel that this much-loved superstar had the courage to talk of extremely fragile emotions like insecurity, without bothering about how he would sound.

"Every actor is insecure. If anyone says he is very calm and confident, he is lying. Every single day I am nervous, thinking about whether I am getting the scenes right, the emotions right. And the worst part is even after the huge success of Srimanthudu, I am back to square one when I start working on my next film Brahmotsavam,'' says Mahesh.

Mahesh was conscious that his last two films had not set the box office on fire, which is why he decided to apologise to his fans for letting them down, at the audio launch function of Srimanthudu. "It was spontaneous. I saw the audience clapping, cheering enthusiastically and I felt that I had disappointed them twice. That is why I said sorry."

But Srimanthudu has left Mahesh and his team in a self-confessed daze. "It is a dream come true. People and critics are saying it is the best film of my career. They have connected to the film in a big way, loved the message." The film revolves around the subject of a billionaire's son returning to his roots and adopting a village. "People want to see Mahesh Babu, the actor, not the star, which explains the success of Srimanthudu," says Mahesh.

Mahesh is now taking the message of the film to the next level by connecting with college students and talking to them to know how they can also stay in touch with their roots.

Mahesh who turned 40 this month, feels he is in a zone - both matured and experienced - that helps him judge better. "It is the best phase to be in."

And the shy star refuses to speculate over what is it about Mahesh Babu that makes female fans go weak in the knees. "It feels good, nothing to be stressed about," he smiles.

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