Laugh out loud

Srinivasa Ramanujan Ramanujan was an astrologer of repute and a good speaker. He used to give lectures on subjects like God, Zero and Infinity... The arithmetic class was in progress. The teacher was solving questions on division. On the backboard were drawn three bananas. "We have three bananas," the teacher said, "and we have three boys. Can you tell me how many each will get?" A smart boy in the front row replied, "Each will get one." "Right," the teacher said. "Now, similarly, if 1,000 bananas are distributed among 1,000 boys, each will get one, isn't that so?" While the teacher was explaining, a boy sitting in one corner raised his hand and stood up. The teacher stopped and waiting for the boy to speak. "Sir," the boy asked, "if no bananas is distributed among no one, will everyone still get one banana?" There was roar of laughter in the class. What a silly question to ask! "Quite," the teac...

Luciano Pavarotti Is one of the principal singers with the Metropolitan Opera, La Scala, and other leading companies... An Italian tenor whose lyrical voice can take on a thrilling metallic ring, Luciano Pavarotti, born on Oct. 12, 1935, is one of the principal singers with the Metropolitan Opera, La Scala, and other leading companies. He made his debut as Rodolfo in Puccini's La Boheme at the Teatro Municipale in Reggio Emilia in 1961. He repeated the role in a film directed by Franco Zeffirelli and at his Metropolitan Opera debut in 1968. Nimble on stage despite his hefty girth, Pavarotti is also acclaimed for Edgardo in Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor, Nemorino in the same composer's L'Elisir d'Amore, and the Duke of Mantua in Verdi's Rigoletto. In addition to his opera and concert performances, Pavarotti occasionally has appeared on television, and he starred in the film Yes, Giorgio (1982).

Madurai Shanmukhavadivu Subbulakshmi Subbulakshmi has been the recipient of the highest awards and honours the nation could bestow upon an artist and significant international recognition. Madurai Shanmukhavadivu Subbulakshmi (M. S. Subbulakshmi), the nightingale of Carnatic music was born in Madurai, Tamil Nadu on September 16, 1916 to noted Veena player Shanmukhavadivu and lawyer Subramania Iyer. Young Kunchamma as she was called and her siblings was brought up in a musical environment in her home close to the Madurai Meenakshi Temple. Her grand mother Akkammal was a violinist. Her mother used to play and rehearse constantly and Kunchamma used to listen and hum ragas along with the Veena and the Nadaswaram recitals frequently heard from the temple. Her first Guru was Madurai Srinivasa Iyengar but her lessons could not last long as her guru passed away soon after she finished her foundations. But she kept practicing on her own for long hours. She did her formal schooling only...

Ustad Bismillah Khan [1916 - 2006] Shehnai maestro Bismillah Khan were awarded the nation’s highest civilian honour — the Bharat Ratna... Birth and early life Bismillah Khan was born on March 21, 1916 at Bhirung Raut Ki Gali, in Dumraon as the second son of Paigambar Khan and Mitthan. He was named as Qamaruddin to rhyme with Shamsuddin, their first son. His grandfather, Rasool Baksh Khan uttered "Bismillah" (the basmala) after looking at the newborn, thus he was named Bismillah Khan. His ancestors were court musicians and used to play in Naqqar khana in the princely states of Bhojpur, now in Bihar state. His father was a shehnai player in the court of Maharaja Keshav Prasad Singh of Dumraon Estate, now in Bihar. Despite his fame, Khan's lifestyle retained its old world Benares charm. His chief mode of transport was the cycle rickshaw. A man of tenderness, he believed in remaining private, and that musicians are supposed to be heard and not seen. He was a pious Shi...

Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was elected as the chairman of the drafting committee that was constituted by the Constituent Assembly... Achievements : Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was elected as the chairman of the drafting committee that was constituted by the Constituent Assembly to draft a constitution for the independent India; he was the first Law Minister of India; conferred Bharat Ratna in 1990. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar is viewed as messiah of dalits and downtrodden in India. He was the chairman of the drafting committee that was constituted by the Constituent Assembly in 1947 to draft a constitution for the independent India. He played a seminal role in the framing of the constitution. Bhimrao Ambedkar was also the first Law Minister of India. For his yeoman service to the nation, B.R. Ambedkar was bestowed with Bharat Ratna in 1990. Dr.Bhimrao Ambedkar was born on April 14, 1891 in Mhow (presently in Madhya Pradesh). He was the fourteenth child of Ramji and Bhimabai Sakpal Am...