MUMBAI: Intro: The suave Union minister lived up to his image of being a consummate speaker by dwelling on the real, everyday problems faced by India‘s women and the challenges he faces as a minister in legislating laws that can engender change. He then proceeded to list the reforms the UPA Government has been trying to bring in in response. He also mentioned that gender sensitisation probably needs to start with the ruling male-dominated political class.

Points:

1. The challenges may be stiff and steep, but we must not give up the fight for dignity of our women. The question of women‘s rights is fundamental to the future of India.

2. To bring about change, the government has two tools: Legislation and education. Legislation is a top-down approach. Education is a more organic process towards creating a conducive atmosphere for change.

3. To invest in the future is the way to go. It‘s only by educating our children that we can hope to create a long-lasting impact.

4. Legislation can‘t change social ills like dowry. It only drives them underground, creating a new set of legislative challenges.

5. Educate women; it makes for common sense. As Mahatma Gandhi said, if you educate a boy, you create a good a good man at best. But if you educate a woman, you educate a family and transform society.

6. Tharoor buttressed this assertion with facts and figures, saying that studies in African countries have shown that kids of a mother who receives five or more years of education have a 40 per cent more survival rate than kids of mothers with less than five years of education because they have a better appreciation of health and sanitation issues.

Quotes:

1. "Kerala‘s women are more educated, and as a result, the birth rate there is 1.7 per cent. Bihar, with a less than 50 literacy for women, has a birth rate of 4 per cent."

2. "The mark of a healthy society is the way it treats its women."

3. "There is a simple fundamental two-word solution to our problems: Educate girls."

4. "The Government‘s job is not just to create infrastructure, it must raise consciousness."

5. "Women aren‘t exempt from being patronised by patriarchy. Recently, a chief minister told a gathering of extremely accomplished women about the virtues of making the perfect chapatti."

New Delhi : This Weekend, NewsX brings forth an interesting line up of shows for its viewers. Catch all the excitement & buzz that?s happening at the box office with the release of Titanic 3D & Housefull 2. Tune in for exciting interviews with actor Bob Biswas and India?s leading artist Akbar Padamsee. Recollect fond memories of actors Jeetendra & Rishi Kapoor. Watch out for the first looks of the new Renault Fluence & BMW Mini Cooper and get to know the latest that?s happening in the world of gadgets and gizmos.

All this and more only on NewsX!

Details of the Weekend programming are as under:

THE KAHAANI OF BOB BISWAAS: He became a household name as he played an assassin in ?Kahaani?. But does Sashwat Chatterjee relate to his character of Bob Biswas? We tell you all about the transformation of Sashwat into Bob Biswas in ?The Kahaani of Bob Biswas?.

Telecast details: Saturday, 7th April, 2012 @ 2.30 pm & 11.30 pm

Repeat: Sunday, 8th April, 2012 @ 7.30 pm

BOX OFFICE FEVER : Watch out for this one Stop Show for all the information you need about latest releases from Bollywood and Hollywood, box office numbers, first day reactions, upcoming releases and much more. We also get you latest reviews and information about ?Housefull 2? and James Cameron‘s ?Titanic 3D?.

Telecast details: Sunday, 8th April, 2012 @ 11.30 pm

CATCH A STAR : Get an insight into the lives of your favorite stars , producers , directors , choreographers and many more associated with Bollywood in ?Catch A Star?. In this episode recollect fond memories and groove to the most memorable numbers of the lover boy of Indian cinema, ?Rishi Kapoor?.

Telecast details: Saturday, 7th April, 2012 @ 1.30 pm & 6.30 pm

Repeat: Sunday, 8th April, 2012 @ 2.30 pm

ART TALK: Watch out as host Jujhar Singh gets up close and personal with India‘s greatest living artists, Akbar Padamsee. Padamsee , famous for his nude figures, his heads of Mahatma Gandhi, his landscapes and metascapes recalls his first solo exhibition in Mumbai in 1954, where he was arrested for a nude painting. He also speaks of his close friendship with contemporaries like SH Raza and MF Hussain and how Raza and he used to walk around Paris discussing art and how Mr. Hussain gave him his first car. The legendary artist also talks about his mastery over color and about how his art is - simply a means for spirituality.

Telecast details: Sunday, 8th April, 2012 @ 1.30 pm

FLASHBACK: Go down the memory lane and enjoy the groovy numbers and memorable scenes from Jeetendra?s biggest movies as NewsX pays tribute to the legendary actor on his 70th birthday,

Telecast details: Saturday, 7th April, 2012 @ 9.30 am & 10.30 pm

Repeat: Sunday, 8th April, 2012 @ 8.30 am & 4.30 pm

LIVING CARS: This Week on ?Living Cars? , we show you the SUVs to look forward to this year. Also, catch the first looks of the new ?Renault Fluence? and BMW Mini Cooper.

Telecast details: Saturday, 7th April, 2012 @ 5.30 pm

Repeat: Sunday, 8th April, 2012 @ 11.30 am

TECH AND YOU: Celebrate with the golden jubilee episode of ?Tech And You ?. We review the top 5 Smart phones & tablets available in the market. Watch out for the recently launched tablets by HCL & Micromax and catch reviews on Sony?s recently launched Playstation, ?Vita?.

Telecast details: Saturday, 7th April, 2012 @ 11.30 am & 4.30 pm

Repeat: Sunday, 8th April, 2012 @ 5.30 pm

New Delhi: Versatile actor Abhishek Bachchan has proved that it is not only in the variety of roles on screen that he has excelled. The actor has been honoured with a Green Globe award for "outstanding efforts by a celebrity" to fight climate change.

The 35-year-old actor, who received the award from noted environmentalist R K Pachauri, said he has always tried to associate himself with organizations that make efforts for a greener future.

"I am humbled to have got this award... I remember as a young student in boarding school I was taught about how much our earth is suffering due to our style of living... But as I left school and became an actor I somehow lost touch with all these things... But I met Dr Pachauri and that reiterated the belief in me that I can make a difference... As an actor I have a platform to reach out to the masses and I want to put that to full use. I will continue to spread the message of global warming and educate people about the problems we might face in the future," Bachchan said.

The award was given to Bachchan at the 12th Sustainable Development Leadership Summit, which was also attended by Hollywood action icon Arnold Schwarzenegger who said he wants to inspire the world to go green.

The 64-year-old actor on his maiden visit to India said: ?Most powerful movements in history, like that of (fighting) apartheid, American civil war and fight of Indian independence started at grass root level by a single person, like Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther. They did not wait for higher authorities to give them go ahead to do something like this?.

The Terminator star who has also served as the Governor of California from 2003 until 2011said: ?I was shooting for The Last Stand and I asked them to speed up filming, so that I could be free to come here. I always wanted to come to this land of culture and tradition,? he said.

MUMBAI: What would you choose ? a good book or a mediocre film adapted on it? For most kids today apparently it is a no contest, they wouldn?t go anywhere near the book. So what can we do about it? Strand has the answer. It was in the form of a large installation at their annual sale. To promote reading among kids you need more than just a SALE you need an idea that persuades them especially their parents.

At the book sale in Mumbai, Strand installed a large autobiography of Mahatma Gandhi. As you approach the book and asked a question, it started answering it.

People found it intriguing as well as fascinating. Not just Gandhiji, kids present at the venue got to ask questions to Helen Keller, Nelson Mandela, Steve Jobs and a few more great people. It was as if the great legends were preaching their philosophy and surprisingly, the children were excited to learn from them.

?People may not like reading but they still love talking, the book may not be a big hit with kids but cell phone definitely is. We decided to position books as a means to have breakthrough conversations in life. And that?s where the idea of a talking book emerged.? Revealed KV Sridhar National Creative Director, Leo Burnett, India.

Vidya Virkar, Managing Partner, Strand Book Stall strongly feels that parents should read at least one story a day to their kids which will turn their kids into active readers.

All in all, the Talking Book was a great success, Strand Book Stall is eager to take the activity to more places like in Mumbai and outside.Surely kids will have a great time and will hopefully start a relationship with books.