1. Carlos Slim Helu (& family) - Mexico

[2010 Rank: 1]
Education: BA/BS, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico 
Fortune: $ 74 billion (up $20.5 billion)
Recent Headlines: Merged his fixed-line telecom company into America Movil, Latin America's largest wireless carrier; Opened a new museum which houses his vast art collection, named after his wife Soumaya

On Wednesday, Forbes magazine unveiled its 25^th annual ranking of the richest men on the planet based on the reporting of 50 journalists across 13 countries.

These reporters not just meet with these candidates and those associated with them, but also minutely track their moves such as the deals they negotiate, their real estate transactions, their luxury purchases and the causes they give to.

The final net worth of these billionaires are based on a valuation of the individuals' assets, including stakes in public and private companies, real estate, yachts, art and cash-and also account for debt.

The 2011 ranking reinforces the observed shifts in global economic power with a steep increase in the number of billionaires from the emerging BRIC economies: the number of billionaires from China almost doubled to 115, while with 101 and 30 representations respectively, Russia and Brazil saw a two-thirds jump. India had 55, which is six more than last year's representation.

However, the top ten list, though it has has not changed much in composition from last year has seen some significant repositioning within; the only newcomer, however, is Christy Walton (and family) of Walmart-fame who moved up two slots from #12 to replace Karl Albrecht.

Main Kabhi Batlata Nahin
Par Andhere Se Darta Hoon Main Maa
Yun To Main,Dikhlata Nahin
Teri Parwaah Karta Hoon Main Maa
Tujhe Sab Hain Pata, Hain Na Maa
Tujhe Sab Hain Pata,,Meri Maa

Bheed Mein Yun Na Chodo Mujhe
Ghar Laut Ke Bhi Aa Naa Paoon Maa
Bhej Na Itna Door Mujkko Tu
Yaad Bhi Tujhko Aa Naa Paoon Maa
Kya Itna Bura Hoon Main Maa
Kya Itna Bura Meri Maa

Jab Bhi Kabhi Papa Mujhe
Jo Zor Se Jhoola Jhulate Hain Maa
Meri Nazar Dhoondhe Tujhe
Sochu Yahi Tu Aa Ke Thaamegi Maa

Unse Main Yeh Kehta Nahin
Par Main Seham Jaata Hoon Maa
Chehre Pe Aana Deta Nahin
Dil Hi Dil Mein Ghabraata Hoon Maa
Tujhe Sab Hai Pata Hai Naa Maa
Tujhe Sab Hai Pata Meri Maa

Main Kabhi Batlata Nahin
Par Andhere Se Darta Hoon Main Maa
Yun To Main,Dikhlata Nahin
Teri Parwaah Karta Hoon Main Maa
Tujhe Sab Hain Pata, Hain Na Maa
Tujhe Sab Hain Pata,,Meri Maa

When a dream of theirs died,

they'd pen it down with black ink on a black sheet,

adorning it with the choicest of words,

then dig a solitary corner of the earth beneath,

place the sheet inside,

mix the mud with good ol' Bud

and cover up the pit.

They'd then sit over the grave,

mourning through the sleepless night

and at sunrise with an intent stare into the horizon

see a new dream with their swollen eyes wide open.

And finally they'd jump a hundred jumps over the grave,

and disappear in the pursuit of what they used to call...

SALEM

INTRODUCTION

Salem is  a Geologist’s paradise,  surrounded by hills and the landscape dotted with hillocks.  Salem has a vibrant culture dating back to the ancient Kongu Nadu. As a district, Salem has its significance in various aspects. What is Salem noted for:  There are many things in Salem that are noteworthy by virtue of its location and social set-up.   a) The Stanley Reservoir:  An architectural marvel and important land mark  in  the Mettur Division of Salem, it is the heart that pumps the life giving water to the farmers of the Cauvery basin who suffer the vagaries of Indian monsoons. The sixteen Gates is an Engineering master-piece and regulates the flow of water released from the Mettur Dam to the lower reaches covering the paddy fields in the eight  districts of  Salem, Erode, Namakkal, Karur, Tiruchirapalli, Thanjavur, Thiruvarur and Nagapattinam. b)  The  Salem  Steel Plant: This was an ambitious project started with a view to utilise the locally available iron-ore from Kanchamalai to produce steel. Now it is a public sector company engaged in rolling out cast steel blacks into sheets of required  dimensions by cold and hot extrusion methods. c)     Mineral Deposits:   The district is rich in mineral deposits like Magnesite, Bauxite, Granite, Limestone, Quartz and Iron ore.  Allied industries like Magnesite mining, cement manufacture, refractory bricks manufacture, Aluminium smelting etc thrive well.                 d) Agriculture produces:   Many agricultural products from Salem have a wide spread market throughout the country. Mango fruits from Salem are enjoyed and much sought after, specially the variety Malgoa-which is the pride of Salem besides a number of other newly introduced  hybrid varieties. Tapioca  locally known as Maravalli (or) Kuchi Kilangu is extensively cultivated by the farmers of Salem. Salem holds a monopoly in Tapioca production. The tubers are used primarily to produce starch. A variety of food items like chips, fryums, papads, Noodles and  vermicelli are also produced from tapioca. Tapioca and castor Research centre functioning in Salem is engaged in Research and Development activities to produce high yielding and disease resistant varieties Sago-serve  is run by the Government, to provide a competitive market where farmers gain a broader profit margin without to hassle of the middle-men dealings. Coffee The slopes of Yercaud hills are covered with vast plantations of coffee, shaded by silver Oak trees, Narasus coffee – a popular brand has its origin in  Salem.  e)   Sandal wood:  Santalum album species of Sandal wood grows in the forests of Salem. They fetch high prices as their heart woods yield high oil content about 6% (average). The Mysore Sandal soap company is a noted buyer of Sandal woods from Salem. f)    Animal Husbandry:   The Sheep Research station located at Mecheri in Mettur, developed and introduced the popular Mecheri Breed. The breed is popular among the farmers and is reared mainly for meat purposes. g)     Dairy:  Salem Diary has an impressive milk production and the district stands first in milk production.  A variety of milk products have been introduced by the Diary recently and are effectively marketed.  h) Cottage Industries:       Production of un-bleached sugar-vellam or Nattu Sarkarai – is a major cottage industry among the sugarcane cultivators of Salem.     Rope making is another major cottage industry. Ropes are made by people out of the fibres of coconut, Aloe vera, Cotton, Jute.  Salem has a sizeable weaver population and weaving is an important house hold industry here. Both silk and cotton fabrics woven in Salem find popular market throughout the State. The Ammapet weaver’s co-operative society has a turnover of 2.40 crores and its main products are cotton sarees,  bed sheets, towels, silk sarees and dhotis. Silver works: Making of Silver ornaments and artifacts by hand work is an important cottage industry in Salem. Silver anklets made in Salem are popular throughout the country. i)      Cinema Theatres:  Salem was once a popular Tinsel town where the earlier Tamil movies were created in the Modern Theatres. The people of Salem are great movie viewers and the popularity of cinema is evident from the fact that there are nearly a hundred  and odd Theatres in the district-perhaps the largest in any district. j)   Temples:  Many temples with intricate sculptures and imposing towers are found in the district of Salem, built by indigenous rulers centuries before the British era. Some of the popular temples are the Taramangalam Shivan Temple in Omalur and the Sukavaneswarar temple, Kottai Mariamman temple, Parsanna Venkatesha Perumal temple in Salem. k) Forts:     Forts had existed in Salem town and Omalur said to have been visited by Tipu Sultan. Uncared for, not even the ruins of these monuments remain to be seen today. However at Sankagiri an impressive fort is seen on a hillock, with its elaborate and massive ramparts running all the way up the hill.  This fort is  said to have been the holding of  “Theeran Chinnamalai” – an indigenous warrior who fought against British oppression. l) Tourism:     Yercaud is a popular summer resort in Salem, quite inexpensive yet exquisitely picturesque. The cool and mild climate prevailing here makes it an ideal summer retreat. The Shervarayan temple deep inside a narrow cavern with a rivulet rippling behind the idols is one of th  main spots of tourist attraction. The flowering of ‘Kurunji’ once in twelve years also attracts tourists. Coffee, spices like cardomom,  pepper, fruits like "Kamala" Orange, butter fruit, Jack fruit are grown in Yercaud and find good market.   Yercaud houses many colonial buildings and churches. The prestigious residential school ‘The Montfort School” is at Yercaud.

TOURIST CENTRES

Salem has several competing meaning and Origins.  The chief among them are the following five terms:  Cheram, Sailam, Salya, Seylai and Seelam.  The word cheram (or keralam or seram) indicates that this was the land of the cherams.. Salem is a weaving centre.  Most of the weaving in Salem is still concentrated in producing Saeylai (the Tamil word for sari) the one/piece garment worn by women therefore, Salem is supposed to mean the place where Saeylais are produced. The city contains two major temples dedicated to Sukavana Isvarar and Soundhararaja Perumal, both on the right bank of the river.  A number of Mari Amman and Kali Amman temples are found in  almost all parts of the city. Arts and literature flourished and patronized by the rulers of the hills and plains. Avvaiyar and other Sangam poets of Salem were renowned and well respected.

MARIAMMAN

A mother goddess.  The Tamil word mari means death but when the letter a in it is accented, the word changes to mean rain. She is the most ancient and popular deity among the village deities of Salem and is worshipped under several other names  such as Amman, Atthu, Ayam Ayee (Mother) Dharmapuri  (Mari with army) Magamayee ( Great Mother) and Vadivattha ( Beautiful Mother)    all    indicating    an    ancient  form  of   ancestral   mother   worship Iconographically,  Mari represented in a sitting posture with four bands. They hold a drum, a trident a bundle if ropes and a skull. Mari Amman  rules over discuses that bring death, especially small pox.  At  times of small-pox incidence, the  leaves of the neem tree (netta azadirachia) sacred to the goddess, are spread on the bed of the afflicted person and a bunch of them tied in the entrance of   the  patients house indicating the presence of the goddess.  In the benevolent aspect, the goddess brings rainy to put an end to the diseases which result from the heat. She is believed to cure a variety of illness of those who offer silver sheet metal models of their affected organs.  This type of prayer is commonly found in almost all Mari Amman temples in Salem. Almost  every village has a temple or shrine dedicated to her which is the focus of village festivals.  Major temples are relatively large and may or may not be surrounded  by compound walls.  Annual festivals in early or late summer usually last for several days.  The festival begins with the planting of a stump of a neem tree, 6  tall and with three prongs at the top;  A new mud pot containing           sanctified water is placed among the prongs, Devotees offer her pongal ( ritual cooking)  sacrificed goats and roosters in the temple yard. Some devotees walk bare feet on burning coals and pierce their bodies with pins and knives.  Walking on burning coals is an ancient custom practiced in honour of mother goddess.  These self-inflicted in honor of mother goddess. These self-inflicted painful fistulas were prohibited during the British rule as they  were  thought  to  be  injurious  to  health of   the  devotees.   On  the  last  day of the festival, a procession of floats is held, each float depicting a legendary scene.  Fireworks conclude the festivities.          This Dravidian goddess is one of the widely revered goddess of the ancient world.  Under many variants of her name, She was Marrattu ( Mari Attha)  to  the  Chaldeans,  March to  the  Jews, Mary to the Christians.  She was also the goddess of the eye of truth and judgment.  Compare "ayin" which was the "eye" in the Hebrew sacred alphabet.  Possibly derived from aya.  The babylonian creatress.  Aya in tamil means mother and Mari Amman is popularly known as Mari Aya.  In Syria she was known as the goddess Mari whose huge eyes searched men"s souls.  As death giver she was Mariamman, Miriam, and Mara an exceedingly ancient name of the goddess as death-bringer.  The name and its variants are found from India to Northern Europe.

MURUGAN

A Dravidian god of youth and beauty.  The Dravidian cult of the young is as old as the cult of mother and ancestors.  It was absorbed into the brahminical Hinduism and Murugan was sanckritized as Skandha, which name was again Tamilized into Kandha. These names are alternatives for the brachminical Karthikeya the Hindu god of war.  In the Tamil tradition, Murugan is adored as a Tamil and Vedhic scholar.  The  name Skandha may preserve the memory of Alexander the Great, the Macedonian youth and world conqueror, who blazed like a flash of lightning on the Indian horizon and left lasting impression on the Indian mind. Murugan is known by several descriptive names: Balamurugan, Kumaran, Mayil veganan, Subramanian, Velan, and Velumurgan Iconographically, he holds a lance or spear (vel) and rides a peacock; his flag, a living malai, Thiruchengode and Vaiyappa Malai, are Murugan's favourite aunts. The most famous Murugan temple of Tmil Nadu is in Pazhani. Dinduval District.  According to the Salem legends, a new image of Murugan in Pazhani was installed by a siddhar when Murugan came to and remained in Vaiyappa Malai accepting the gift of gold   created by the Alavoy malai siddhars. The  notable Murugan temples in Salem  are at Ammapettai, Belukurichi, Kanakagiri, Kapilamalai, Thiruchengodu, Kandhasramam, Kanjamalai, Kalipatti and Vaiyappa Malai.   Most of the Siva temples contain Murugan shrines.

MUNIAPPAN

Muniappan ( Forefather) .  It is an ancient and very popular village deity of Salem.  He is also known as "Aiyanar" ( Revered Father).  The word Muni is generally taken to mean an anchorite, or one who has taken a vow of mauna. (silence)   It is frequently used for a sage who has supernatural powers which he displays in his blessings and curses.  This interpretation is inappropriate when the phrase is seen in the combination of muniappan. The word muni stands for munnai ( fore ) and appan ( father ) Therefore it is believed the words muniappan and aiyanar refer to an ancient dravidian cult of ancestor worship. Blood sacrifices at these shrines are very common.  The huge and terrifying images are accompanied by larger than life figures of attendants and animals.  Smaller terra cotta horses and iron spears, offered by devotees in fulfillment of their vows, usually crowd the front yard of these shrines.  In the centre of the shrine, there is usually a grouping of triangular shaped an iconic stones or Neolithic stone implements, or some other form of a pandukal monument such as a dolmen. The new cult of Aiyappan is the Sanskritized braminical Hindu version of the Aiyanar cult. Because of the dominant presence of Muniappan shrines everywhere, the Salem district is known as the Land of Muniappan. Though Salem is the origin for worshiping various gods and godess, a great  movement which disapprove  gods was started  by E.V.R.Ramaswamy Nayakar who belongs to Salem Region. This movement was made great changes in the minds of the people who believed superstition since ancient times.

IRON AND STEEL

Iron ore is abundant in Salem.  Salem has been the chief centre of supply of the finest steel throughout historical times and iron was a historical mark of Salem's contact with the western world in ancient times.  J.M.Health the prized that the tools used by the Egyptian sculptors may have been made of Salem Steel.

IRON ORE

Magnetic oxide of iron deposits occur in the mountains of Godumalai, Kalrayan, Kanjamalai, Kolli Malai, and Thalaimalai.  The total reserves of Kanjamalai and Kolli Malai are estimated at between 235 and 245 million tons. Salem is the promotion centre of mangoes.Silver ornamental jewllery are the famous business in this region. Wood carving and designing windows and doors are the attractive business in this region.

JAMA  MASJID

The oldest mosque in Salem, situated on the southern bank of the Thirumanimuthu Aru in the heart of the city. It was reportedly built by the Mysore ruler, Thippu Sulthan, who is said to have offered prayers here. The Masjid Inam granted to this  mosque was confirmed by the British in 1862. By a special resolution in 1880.

YERCAUD - JEWEL OF THE SOUTH

GENERAL INFORMATION: Area 383 sq.km Altitude 1515 metres Population 40546 (approximately) Max Min Winter 25 C 13 C Summer 30 C 16 C Average 13 C 30 C Rainfall 2000 mm 1500 mm Season Throughout the year Clothing Winter:  Ordinary cotton with light woolen pull-over is enough Summer: Ordinary cotton Language spoken Tamil, English STD Code 04281

Yercaud in the Servarayan Hills   (Shevaroy Range) of Salem District. It is a quite pleasant hill resort in Tamil Nadu. The name is derived from the Picturesque Yeri (Lake) once surrounded by Kadu (forest).  Yercaud  is a Beautiful hill station with a pleasant cool climate.  Yercaud's temperature never rises above 30 C or falls below 13 C . This  is one hill station where one does not feel the biting cold of winter. With such a salubrious climate, Yercaud can be visited round the year.  It is 30 Km from Salem and is the least expensive hill station in India.

PLACES OF INTEREST:

YERCAUD LAKE:

Dhirubhai Ambani's Quotes ! Who knows....reading these quotes might create another bunch of Ambanis for the future !

Dhirubhai Ambani's Quotes ! Who knows....reading these quotes might create another bunch of Ambanis for the future !

'Secret of my success was to have ambition and know minds of men'

* True entrepreneurship comes only from risk-taking.

* Pursue your goal, even in the face of difficulties. Convert difficulties into opportunities. Keep your morale high, in spite of setbacks. At the end you are bound to succeed.

* My advice to young entrepreneurs is not to accept defeat in the face of odds. Challenge negative forces with hope, self-confidence and conviction. I believe that ambition and initiative will ultimately triumph. The success of the young entrepreneur will be the key to India's transformation in the new millennium.

* Dhirubhai will go one day. But Reliance's employees and shareholders will keep it afloat. Reliance is now a concept in which the Ambanis have become irrelevant.

* I have trusted people and they have put their trust in me. I have encouraged youth, and they have never let me down. I have asked my people to take initiative and to take risks. It has paid me rich dividends. I insist on excellence. This helps us to be leaders. Reliance is built on some of these principles.

* The secret of Reliance's success was to have ambition and to know the minds of men.

* Growth has no limit at Reliance. I keep revising my vision. Only when you dream it you can do it.

'We have lost the habit of thinking big'

* The problem with Indians is that we have lost the habit of thinking big!

* We can prove to the world that India can do it. That Indians are not afraid of competition. That India is a nation of achievers.

* I dream India of becoming a great economic superpower.

* We must forge a new partnership for a great India. A strong and constructive partnership between industry, government and society.

* We must always go for the best. Do not compromise on quality. Reject if it is not the best -- not only the best in India, but globally.

* If India wants to be a great nation, we must have courage to trust. This is my sincere belief.

* All we have to do is to break the shackles that chain the energies of our people, and India's economy will record a quantum leap and move into a new, higher orbit of growth, competitiveness and productivity.

* I can never fully repay the debt I owe to Mumbai. To all of you. My past was shaped in Mumbai.

* For those who dare to dream, there is a whole world to win!

* I am deaf to the word 'no.'

'Ideas are no one's monopoly'

* I am 100 per cent pro-liberalisation. I do not think any industrialist is against it. But we should protect our industries, from unfair competition.

* There is no question about that (retirement). Business is my hobby. It is not a burden to me. In any case Reliance now can run without me.

* I give least importance to being Number one. I consider myself to be fortunate in this position and would like to contribute to nation building in some way.

* Does making money excite me? No, but I have to make money for my shareholders. What excites me is achievement, doing something difficult. In this room extraordinary things must happen.

* Think big, think fast, think ahead. Ideas are no one's monopoly.

* Our dreams have to be bigger. Our ambitions higher. Our commitment deeper. And our efforts greater. This is my dream for Reliance and for India.

* First and foremost, I owe my success and achievements to the affection, friendship and trust of millions of employees, customers, shareholders, and business associates, who have stood by me and been a major source of my strength all along.

* I believe that the success of Reliance cannot be attributed to the qualities and achievements of one individual, or even a group of individuals, but has to be viewed as a triumph of a process, and a spirit that binds the entire Reliance family together.

* I consider myself a pathfinder. I have been excavating the jungle and making the road for others to walk. I like to be the first in everything I do.

* I, as school kid, was a member of the Civil Guard, something like today's NCC. We had to salute our officers who went round in jeeps. So I thought one day I will also ride in a jeep and somebody else will salute me.

* My fulfillment lies in the satisfaction of every member of the Reliance family, comprising thousands of workers, managers, business associates and over five million shareholders. Being instrumental in creating wealth for over 5 million India families, and bringing prosperity and well being to their life is the best source of satisfaction and joy for me.

'You do not require an invitation to make profits'

* Give the youth a proper environment. Motivate them. Extend them the support they need. Each one of them has infinite source of energy. They will deliver.

* You do not require an invitation to make profits.

* If you work with determination and with perfection, success will follow.

* Between my past, the present and the future, there is one common factor: Relationship and Trust. This is the foundation of our growth.

* We bet on people.

* Meeting the deadlines is not good enough, beating the deadlines is my expectation.

* Don't give up, courage is my conviction.

* We cannot change our rulers, but we can change the way they rule us.

* Roll up your sleeves and help. You and your team share the same DNA.

* Be a safety net for your team.

* Always be the silent benefactor. Don't tom-tom about how you helped someone.

* Dream big, but dream with your eyes open.

* Leave the professional alone!

* Change your orbit, constantly!

* Money is not a product by itself, it is a by-product, so don't chase it

This DLF IPL 2011 I am celebrating the spirit of togetherness by supporting RCB. As you all know that IPL has already begun and the team is doing its bit by giving its 100% on the field. But in addition to that it has also started a campaign – I Support RCB, which I am a part of. All you need to do is visit http://www.royalchallengers.com/i-support-rcb ,click on the counter there, and pledge you support. For each and every support of yours, RCB will be donating Re. 1 towards the beautification of The Chinnaswamy Stadium. You can support as many times as you want. 

Mumbai	6	5	0	1	+0.707	10
Jaipur	7	3	1	3	-0.357	7
Kolkata	6	3	0	3	+0.393	6
Chennai	6	3	0	3	+0.095	6
Mohali	5	3	0	2	-0.095	6
Kochi	6	3	0	3	-0.347	6
Bangalore	6	2	1	3	-0.391	5
Pune	5	2	0	3	+0.248	4
Delhi	5	2	0	3	-0.231	4
Hyderabad	6	2	0	4	-0.251	4