US Affairs 10

Op Ed 19

Music 26

Spiritual Awareness 30

NEW YORK EDITION

Vol.5 No. 14 July 21-27, 2012 60 Cents
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Bollywoods first superstar bids final adieu

Mumbai: Rajesh Khannas last journey generated the same kind of frenzy that he did when he attained stardom in the 1970s. The legend's final journey started Thursday morning from his residence Aashirwad in Bandra, Mumbai. His body, in a transparent casket, was placed on a mini-truck decorated with white flowers and the crowd moved along with it. Thousands, including the superstar's fans, friends, family and film fraternity members gathered to say a tearful goodbye to Kaka, as he was fondly called. The last rites were performed by his grandson Aarav at the Vile Parle crematorium. The 9-year-old boy was helped by his actorfather Akshay Kumar, who is married to Rajesh Khanna's elder daughter Twinkle. Continued on page 4 More on Rajesh Khanna and his film career on page 16-17.

Indian touch to Olympic arts in London

New Delhi: A handful of illustrious Indians have lent their creative touch to give the London Olympics opening on July 27 some Indian color. Iconic sculptor Anish Kapoor has given Britain its Olympic mascot the ArcelorMittal Orbit - the country's biggest public art installation. The giant Orbit is a 115-metre high steel observation tower at Olympic Park in Stratford in London that is likely to help in the post-Olympic regeneration of the area. Kapoor designed the Orbit with Cecil Continued on page 4

Thousands followed Rajesh Khanna on his last journey;(above) his estranged wife, Dimple, daughter Twinkles husband, actor Akshay Kumar, and daughter Rinke at the funeral procession.

Public officials express support for India Day parade in Hicksville

Ethics guardian Batra quits lobbying group

Albany, NY: Eminent attorney Ravi Batra, a member of the Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE), has resigned his membership in the New York State Trial Lawyers Association, which lobbies state government. Batra claimed he was unaware the Association employed paid lobbyists until pointed by a reporter. The JCOPE, to which he was appointed by Senate Minority Leader John Sampson, oversees lobbyists and their clients and investigates alleged lobby-law violations. So, he resigned to avoid even the appearance of impropriety. To be on the ethics board, you have to be cleaner than Caesars wife, Batra said in a

(Seated from L to R) Gobind Munjal, Animesh Goenka, Indu Jaiswal, Nassau County Legislator Rose Walker, County Executive Ed Mangano, Kamlesh Mehta, Mohinder Taneja, Lal Motwani, Varinder K. Bhalla. Standing are prominent members of the community and of the India Day Parade Committee. Mineola, NY: Public officials at the local and state level, Republicans and Democrats, extended their enthusiastic support for the first ever India Day Parade, to be held in Hicksville. The ambitious plans for the Inaugural Parade, recently unveiled at a Continued on page 4

Eminent attorney Ravi Batra acted to avoid even the appearance of impropriety. statementTuesday. Continued on page 4

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July 21-27, 2012

Uma Sengupta seeks re-election as 25th Assembly District Leader

known and worked with her, she only works for others. She is a true angel on earth. Congresswoman Maloney spoke of the importance of women in politics and of minority groups having representation in the political arena to ensure their needs are heard by elected officials. Comptroller John Liu stated, Working with Uma Sengupta over the years has been a sincere pleasure. She is a true voice for the community, working for the people, and attaining great results. State Senator Malcolm Smith said, I fully endorse Uma Sengupta, we need her and she will win and the same support was echoed by Assemblyman Scarborough.Uma Sengupta concluded the event at the Worlds Fair Marina in Flushing, NY, stating her mission for the next two years, We all have to work together and make it possible for one of our community members to be a future candidate for public office. Unless we are united we cannot achieve this goal. Together, we can make a difference for our community and I hope to continue this partnership in the future with your support. Born in Calcutta and immigrating to the US in 1970, she is the first woman of Indian origin to become an elected official in New York State.

Uma Sengupta (middle) receives significant endorsement by Congress members Joe Crowley & Carolyn Maloney, NY State Senators Malcolm Smith & Toby Stavisky & Assembly members Grace Meng & Bill Scarborough, NYC Comptroller John Liu, Former Comptroller Bill Thompson & Former NYC Councilwoman Melinda Katz. (Photo: Kabir Chopra) Flushing, NY: The 25th Assembly District Leader Mrs. Uma Sengupta, a longtime Democratic activist and civic leader, has announced her sixth run for the position through a Campaign Kick Off Event, attended by many elected officials. They include Congressman Joe Crowley, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, New York State Senator Malcolm Smith & Toby Stavisky, NYC Comptroller John Liu, Assemblyman Bill Scarborough, Assemblywoman Grace Meng who is the Democratic candidate for Congress, and David Weprin, Manhattan District Leader Jenifer Rajkumar, the second district leader of Indian heritage in New York City. Also in attendance former NYC Comptroller Bill Thompson and former councilwoman Melinda Katz. Many community members and Indian American professionals also attended the event to show support. Congressman Joe Crowley said on the occasion, Every time I see District Leader Uma Sengupta she is only asking for help for others, never for herself. In all the years I have

Dr. Subramanian Swamy, President of Janata Party who has been spearheading the movement for Hindu renaissance in the USA for several years, and guiding and boosting the morale of one billion Hindus in India through his writings and speeches, landed in New Jersey on July 18 on his lecture tour of the East Coast and was welcomed by his supporters and well wishers.

Merchants consider adding surcharge for credit card use

New York: Restaurants and merchants are considering a surcharge for customers who use credit cards, under a multibillion settlement reached last week with Visa and MasterCard. Visa Inc. and MasterCard Inc.'s proposed $7.25 billion settlement with retailers over swipe fees, which credit card companies charge to process payments, allows merchants to offer discounts to customers paying with cash or checks, and to impose fees when they pay with credit cards. Analysts say it could lead to a twotiered payment system for a host of transactions, just as is common familiar at the gas pump. The agreement allows retailers to collectively bargain on future swipe fees, which are also known as interchange rates. It also opens up the possibility that more retailers can add surcharges for credit card transactions, although they would have to explain them to consumers in clear, concise language.

Maids case against Amb. Dayal settled

New York: The case of the former maid of Indian Consul General in New York, Prabhu Dayal, accusing him of forced labor and psychological coercion has been dismissed following a settlement last week. Federal Judge Alvin Hellerstein of the Southern District of New York, however, said in the order that if the settlement between the plaintiff Santosh Bhardwaj, represented by the Legal Aid Society, and the defendants was not consummated within 30 days, either party can apply for the case to be resurrected. Bhardwaj, 46, had come to the US in February 2009 to work as a domestic assistant for Dayals family. About a year ago she sued his wife Chandini Dayal for alleged mistreatment and claimed over $250,000 in damages and relief. She, however, withdrew her initial charge of sexual

NYC taxi fares to rise 17% from September

New York: The cost of a taxi ride will increase by an average of 17 percent this fall following a vote last week by the city's Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC). The increase doesn't affect the base fare of $2.50 but does raise the per-mile charge. The commission also voted to raise the flatrate fee between Manhattan and JFK Airport from $45 to $52. The surcharge to travel to or from Newark International Airport will rise from $15 to $17.50. The increase takes effect in September and has the approval of cab drivers, who filled the meeting room. Some carried signs saying "Vote Yes-Yes" and "Justice Delayed is justice denied." It is the first fare increase since Commission Chairman David Yassky said commissioners have not received many complaints from passengers about the increase, but he said taxi usage might drop because of it. According the commission, it is cheaper now to take a cab in New York than in several other major cities, including San Francisco and London. The average taxi ride in New York City costs $10.44. Another decision by the commission on Thursday puts a limit on how much cab owners can charge drivers to lease their cars. "This is not economically viable for us," said Michael Keogh, a representative for the Committee for Taxi Safety, a trade association for the leasing agents.

Indian Consul General Prabhu Dayal harassment against the Consul General. The judge granted the defendants plea to have the name of Dayals daughter Akanksha removed from the case but dismissed the argument for diplomatic immunity.

Bhairavi Desai, director of the New York Taxi Workers Alliance, called the TLC decision a triumph for her advocacy group.

2005. "This is an unspeakable moment of triumph," said Bhairavi Desai, director of the New York Taxi Workers Alliance advocacy group. "We can finally go back to a livable income."

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July 21-27, 2012

Amartya Sen appointed chancellor of Nalanda University

Patna: Nobel laureate Amartya Sen was Thursday appointed as the first chancellor of the upcoming Nalanda International University in Bihar, an official said. "Decision to appoint Amartya Sen as first chancellor of the university was taken Thursday in its meeting of the board of governors here," said the official of the state education department. The meeting also decided that the process of recruitment of acclaimed and Rajesh Khanna story Continued from page 1 The actor had passed away Wednesday morning following a liver infection. He was 69. With him on his last journey were his estranged wife Dimple, who took care of him in the last days, his younger daughter Rinke and son-inlaw, Akshay. Twinkle was missing from the procession as she is pregnant. Among the Bollywood big wigs who attended his last rites were Amitabh Bachchan, his successor as superstar, Rani Mukerji, Karan Johar, Sajid Khan, Abhishek Bachchan and Vinod Khanna. Rajesh Khanna started his career with the 1966 film "Akhari Khat" and went on to give hit films like "Aradhana", "Kati Patang", "Anand" and "Amar Prem" that propelled him to dazzling fame. His last words before his demise, according to Amitabh Bachchan, were "Time to pack up" in true Bollywood-style. Indian touch to Olympic art story Continued from page 1 Balmond with steel donated by steel tycoon Laskhmi Mittal, the richest man in Britain. renowned faculty for the university will begin in July 2013 and the academic session of its two schools - historical sciences and environment and ecology - will start from April 2014, the official said. The university in Bihar's Nalanda district, about 100 km from Patna, will be fully residential, like the ancient Nalanda university. It will offer courses in science, philosophy and spirituality along with social sciences.

Unhappy Pawar, Patel offer to quit

New Delhi: The ruling Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Thursday was embroiled in fresh ally trouble with NCP chief Sharad Pawar and his lieutenant Praful Patel handing over their resignations from the government over the way the Congress has "denigrated and humiliated the coalition". Pawar and Patel sent in their resignations to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh late in the evening. The prime minister is understood to have said he will not accept it, sources said. The two ministers will not be attending office from Friday, but the party will continue in the alliance, the source added. The Nationalist Congress Party, with which the Congress shares government in Maharashtra, is upset over the way in which the Congress has "denigrated and humiliated the coalition", party spokesperson D.P. Tripathi said. The signs of trouble were apparent when Pawar and Patel boycotted the cabinet meeting Thursday evening chaired by the prime minister. The unhappiness of the ally was rumoured to be over Agriculture Minister Pawar not being given the number two slot following the exit of Pranab Mukherjee. The boycott of the cabinet meeting by the NCP was the first time in eight years, according to Tripathi. Both Pawar and Heavy Industries Minister Patel attended a meeting with party leaders when the cabinet was on, a party leader source said.

The ArcelorMittal Orbit, a futuristic sculpture designed by Anish Kapoor. Recalling the project, Mittal says he "never expected" it would turn out this big. He said it was not just the supply of thousands of tons of steel but in reality ArcelorMittal "has given much more than steel". There is more. Shobhana Jeyasingh, a Chennai-born contemporary dancer based in Britain, was approached by the committee of the Cultural Olympiad some time ago to present her new choreography, "Too Mortal" in the Old Churches of London during the London Olympics 2012 Festival. India day parade story Continued from page 1 gathering of representatives from

100 Long Island based Indian organizations, consist of three events to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the Indias Independence Day: a parade on August 11, a flaghoisting ceremony in front of the Nassau County Legislature Building in Mineola on August 15, and a gala finale dinner at SUNY campus in Old Westbury on August 17. Endorsing the upcoming event, Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano said, I am pleased to join with the Indian American community of Long Island at the very first India Day Parade. This event is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the culture, traditions and the many achievements of Indian Americans in both Nassau County and across the nation. The beautiful dome of the Nassau County Theodore Roosevelt Building in Mineola will be illuminated with Indian flag colors on the evening of August 15. Senior Councilman of the Town of Hempstead, Tony Santino, who was instrumental in starting the celebration of Indias Republic Day at the Town Hall in 2003, shared Hon. Manganos sentiments. NY State Comptroller Tom

DiNapoli said, The parade also recognizes the importance of our growing Indian American community on Long Island. I have no doubt that our communities will embrace this event for years to come. The Parade procession, consisting of theme-based floats, marching bands and dance troupes showcasing Indias rich culture and traditions, will start at 1 PM from Patel Brothers and proceed on Broadway on to the Asa Mai Hindu Temple on East Barclay Street. I am looking forward to a successful First Annual India Day Parade, said Rose Walker, Nassau County Legislator from Hicksville. Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen M. Rice said, Long Islands Indian community makes an incredible contribution to the rich cultural fabric of our region. Over 10,000 people and a large number of public officials at the local, state and federal level are expected to turn out to witness the parade. A review stand will be set up along the way for invited dignitaries and the Grand Marshal, a Bollywood Celebrity soon to be announced. Food and shopping

stalls will also be set up in the parking lot opposite the temple. The Parade Committee is led by Animesh Goenka, Gobind Munjal, Harender Singh, Indu Jaiswal, Kamlesh Mehta, Lal Motwani and Mohinder Taneja. These individuals bring their rich experiences, resources, knowledge and leadership to make the parade successful and memorable, said Varinder Bhalla. As for the name of the Bollywood celebrity for Grand Marshal, he said, Stay tuned for this exciting announcement. Batra quits story Continued from page 1 A news agency report on Batras resignation pointed out that his boss on JCOPE, Janet DiFiore, also faces potential conflict of interest. Governor Andrew Cuomos pick for the top seat on the board, DiFiore, the Westchester County district attorney, remains president of the State District Attorneys Association, whose own constitution states that its roles include supporting or opposing legislation lobbying in other words. The very thing that the board DiFiore leads is supposed to regulate.

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Tristate Community TheSouthAsianTimes.info

July 21-27, 2012

Sunita Williams arrives at her new home in space

Leniency sought for Indian-American insider trading witness

New York: US prosecutors have made a plea for leniency for a former Indian-American executive of McKinsey & Co whose testimony helped convict Wall Street giants Raj Rajaratnam and Rajat Gupta on insider trading charges. Anil Kumar's cooperation was "nothing short of extraordinary," federal prosecutors said Monday, in a letter to Judge Denny Chin three days before Kumar, 53, is expected to be sentenced Thursday in Manhattan federal court. Kumar, who chose to plead guilty after being charged criminally, helped prosecutors and the Federal Bureau of Investigation in their wide-ranging probe of illicit trading on Wall Street, prosecutors said. "From the first day of Kumar's cooperation through the present, he's been one of the best and most important cooperating witnesses Kumar's testimony at the successive trials of the two men was particularly convincing because he had opted to turn against one person who had been his friend for over 25 years, and the other who had been his mentor at McKinsey, prosecutors said. Galleon-group hedge fund founder Rajaratnam is serving an 11-year prison term after being convicted last year. Gupta, a former board member at Goldman Sachs who headed McKinsey & Co for nine years, was convicted in June. He faces up to 25 years in prison when he is sentenced in October. As part of a plea deal with prosecutors, Kumar pleaded guilty in January 2010 to one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud and one count of securities fraud tied to feeding Rajaratnam secret stock tips.

Anil Kumar that the (prosecutors) working on the Rajaratnam investigation have worked with in securities fraud cases," the letter said. Kumar was essential in helping the government improve its case and convict Rajaratnam and Gupta, "two of the most important securities fraud trials in history," they said.

(R to L) Sunita Williams, Yuri Malenchenko and Aki Hoshide shake hands after a news conference in Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan on Friday, July 13, 2012. Washington, DC: Indian-American astronaut Sunita Williams, who holds the record of the longest space flight (195 days) for a woman, arrived at her new home amid stars with an international cast of crew for another four-month stay. Williams along with Russian astronaut Yuri Malenchenko and Japanese astronaut Aki Hoshide docked their Soyuz TMA-05M spacecraft to the Rassvet module of the International Space Station at 10:21 a.m. India time Tuesday after two days in orbit, NASA announced. The hatches between the Soyuz and the Rassvet module opened Tuesday at 12:53 p.m. India time when the trio entered the ISS, the US space agency said. Expedition 32 commander Gennady Padalka and flight engineers Joe Acaba and Sergei Revin greeted their new crewmates. The six-member crew conducted a welcoming ceremony with family and mission officials then participated in a safety briefing. The docking occurred 37 years to the day after the first ever docking of American and Russian spacecraft during the 1975 Apollo-Soyuz mission. The Soyuz spacecraft carrying the trio blasted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 8.40 am Sunday (8.10 am India Time). Daughter of an Indian American father from Gujarat and a Slovenian mother, Williams holds three records for female space travelers: longest spaceflight (195 days), number of spacewalks (four), and total time spent on spacewalks (29 hours and 17 minutes) during her first space journey in 2006. She is the second woman of Indian heritage to have been selected by NASA for a space mission after Kalpana Chawla and the second astronaut of Slovenian heritage after Ronald M. Sega.

Indian American helps Gov Romney raise $1.7 mn

New York: A glittering fund raising event was held in Jackson, Mississippi on July 16th for Governor Mitt Romney the republican candidate for the President of United States. Governor Phil Bryant of Mississippi headed as State Campaign Chairman. Dr.Sampat Shivangi, only Indian American served as Event Chair with others for Governor Romney's fund raising event. A whopping $ 1.7 million were raised at this event which is one of the highest fund raised by comparatively small state like Mississippi. Governor Romney was upbeat on his chances of victory and promised to set the economy of the country on the right path and create jobs. He declared that he is close to victory amidst thunderous applause.

Gov. Mitt Romney in Jackson, MS for fund raising event with Dr.Sampat Shivangi

Indian American gets 5 years prison for plot to kidnap, enslave woman
New York: A Bucks County resident, who thought he was hiring a white supremacist to kidnap a New Jersey woman and her daughter, was sentenced to 5 years in federal prison. Jayen I. Patel, 41, of Southampton, pleaded guilty in February to one count of soliciting to aid in a kidnapping in U.S. District Court in Trenton. According to the U.S. Attorney's office, Patel contacted an undercover FBI agent in September 2010 through a social networking site. He did not know that the man he was communicating with was an undercover agent. Patel told the agent he wanted to have the mother and child kidnapped, saying the child's father wanted custody of the child. The plan involved forcing the woman to do things "to make her loose [sic] custody of her child," the U.S. Attorney's office said. As he hatched the plot, Patel told the agent that they would raid the woman's bank account and then they would share her as a slave. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Freda L. Wolfson sentenced Patel to three years of supervised release and fined him $1,000.

Missing Queens woman found in Texas

New York: A New York woman who disappeared July 8 from her home in Queens has been found alive in Texas, according to local news reports. Rajwinder Kaur, 26, was located in Dallas on July 12 after a friend went to police and informed them of her location, the New York Daily News reported. The friend had purchased a bus ticket to Dallas for Kaur. It wasn't clear why Kaur was in Texas. Family members thought she had been harmed after her younger sister received a strange text message just two hours after Kaur left her home to volunteer at a homeless shelter in Brooklyn. "The girl with this phone is dead and was smiling," the text sent to her sister, Gurpreet Kaur, reportedly said. The family, in a statement released July 12, said, "There are no words to express our sincere gratitude to the NYPD, family, friends and everyone that assisted with this search. We are just relieved that she is alive and well." The family, however, dismissed the idea that Rajwinder Kaur was trying to escape a potential arranged marriage. "There's no truth to it at all," Kaur's brother, Gary Atwal, told the Daily News. "In our family we're very open ... we've never stopped her from anything. Both of my sisters have been married at their own will so why would we be arranging for our third sister to be married?" He said a family member plans to meet Kaur in Texas.

Tristate Community TheSouthAsianTimes.info

July 21-27, 2012

IN BRIEF

OFBJPUSA pays tribute to veteran leader Bal Apte

Navagraha Sthapana at NY Kali Mandir

verseas Friends of Bharatiya Janta Part has expressed great shock about the sad demise of senior BJP leader Shri Bal Apte, International Convener of Overseas Friends of BJP and former vicepresident of BJP. The entire family of OFBJP expresses deep sorrow and prays to almighty God to rest his soul in peace. Shri Apte was a great organizer who constantly worked for the service of mother India. He was a philosopher and guide and fully dedicated for the cause of BJP. He had been associated with OFBJP for the last few years as its convener. He always welcomed

any OFBJP member at his home in Mumbai and Delhi. He was very kind and generous and nobody could forget his marvelous hospitality. His valuable and timely suggestions helped OFBJP in strengthening and expanding the organization. It is a big loss for BJP and OFBJP-USA. We lost a fatherly figure and source of inspiration, read the press release. Apte was a member of the BJP Parliamentary Board, and also was elected twice as a member of the Rajya Sabha. He had earlier held the post of the Vice President of the party, and was president of ABVP.

he New York Kali Mandir based at 614 Seaman Avenue, Baldwin, NY has organized Navagraha Sthapana, Abhishekam and Homam on Saturday, 4th

August 2012. The puja is at 10:30 AM, homam from 12:00 to 2:00 PM followed by prasadam. The temple authorities have invited all and sought their support.

Hindu Unity Day in NY on July 21

indu Unity Day (Hindu Sangathan Divas) will bring together Hindus from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Trinidad, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Fiji, and Guiana, living in New York and New Jersey area to Hindu Temple Auditorium, 143-09 Holly Avenue, Flushing NY on Saturday, July 21st from 04:00 to 07:00 p.m. Dr. Subramanian Swamy, President of Janata Party, former Law Minister and a dynamic Hindu leader will talk about Globalization of Hindu Unity. Other Distinguished Speakers include Pandit Jagdish Tripathi, disciple of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi; Pt. Swasti Narayan Dubey, President & Priest of the Maha Lakshmi Mandir Inc.; Dr. Narinder M. Kukar, former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Association of Indians in America (AIA);

Lions plan Some More Smiles for Woodbridge fire victims

ue to a 9-alarm fire at Woodbridge Apartment complex on last Tuesday fifty families got displaced. Most of these families are recent immigrants from India. There is an outpouring of support from various organizations. Under the leadership of Mayor John McCormac, the victims are trying to rebuild their life. Edison Visionary Lions Club decided to have a fun evening for the children. Lions president Anu Chitnis said, We may not be able to give total normalcy to their life. But we can surely promise some more smiles. We can reduce the stress level of the children (as well as their parents). This fun evening, dubbed as Project SMS (Some More Smiles), was held on Friday

Dr.Subramanian Swami Sheetal Shah, Senior Director, Hindu American Foundation; Badri Hiriyur, studied engineering at Johns Hopkins and Columbia University for PhD degree. More Info visit www.hinduunityday.org

50 Indian families are displaced due to fire at a Woodbridge apartment complex

evening. Mayors ofWoodbridge and Edison along with council members distributed age appropriate toys. We had some crafts, entertainment and food for the kids. Few activities were planned for moms too. Lion Anu Chitnis said.

Global Indian Business meet in NY from Sept 20-23

lobal Indian business leaders, renowned knowledge experts, investors, key government leaders and financial officials from many countries including various Indian states, Africa, Middle East and the Caribbean are converging on Manhattan for the Global Indian Business Meet 2012 in two months. This 3-day conference is being organized to explain and explore how Indian-run organizations are overcoming the odds to succeed and grow in the competitive global economy. GIBM 2012, which will be held at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Times Square in New York City from September 20-23, will examine the drive, pas-

Nanubhai Foundation hosts comedy event for charity

he Nanubhai Education Foundation has organized on Thursday July 26 an evening of comedy with comedian Anish Shah. $5 from each ticket will go towards Nanubhai's Teacher Training and Professional Development workshops

throughout rural India. Tickets at the door are cash only and $10 more. One can buy tickets online: www.summerofcomedynanubhai.eventbrite.com Anish Shah

sion, work ethic, innovation and strategy that energize Indias emerging market and enables Indian-run businesses and organizations world-wide to impact the global economy. Among the featured speakers and presenters are Anand Sharma, the Indian Commerce Minister; Lord Meghnad Desai from the London School of Economics; the head of South Asia Initiatives at Harvard Business School, Professor Tarun Khanna; technology and thought leader Sam Pitroda, and many other knowledgeable business leaders, including Desh Deshpande, Ajit Manocha, Harish Hande, Narayana Murthy, Lakshmi Mittal, Swadesh Chatterjee, and Vijay Eswaran.

AmeriCares partners with Miss India Connecticut beauty pageant

New York: Diva America is hosting the third Miss India Connecticut Pageant on September 9, 2012 in New Haven, at the Shubert Theater with the theme - Unity in Diversity. This years pageant is supported by Gujarati Association of Connecticut. The organizers are expecting a sold out event with 1400 people attending the show. AmeriCares, a non-profit disaster relief and humanitarian aid organization, has joined as a partner organization. The winner will have the

The winner to join AmeriCares on their airlift to Guatemala

opportunity to travel on a chartered flight to Guatemala on September 29, 2012, as part of AmeriCares Airlift Benefit. The winner will get a firsthand look at AmeriCares aid programs in Guatemala by visiting hospitals, clinics and social service agencies the Stamford-based charity supports. AmeriCares President and CEO Curt Welling will serve as one of the judges at the pageant. Miss India Connecticut aims to bring a greater assimilation of Indian Americans with local American community. We believe that respecting other cultures, respecting other religions and getting respected for our own is the way to live in peace and harmony. Keeping that as a motto, the pageants theme this year has been set as Unity in Diversity, said Diva America President, Mrs. Anita Bhat.

Miss India Connecticut is also the first beauty pageant to introduce BMI (Body Mass Index) as one of the selection criteria for the contestants. We believe that Fashion Industry influences our next generation in their attitude towards health and fitness. To target the Fashion Industry, we have introduced BMI and we hope that by bringing this awareness, we could help reduce obesity, anorexia, bulimia, low self-esteem and depression amongst the next generation. If we

succeed in bringing about this change in other beauty pageants, it will be historical! Mrs. Bhat commented. Miss India Connecticut Pageant has been endorsed by CAPI (Connecticut Association of Physicians of Indian Origin), AAPI (American Association of Physician of Indian Origin) and GOPIO (Global Organization of People of Indian Origin) Youth Council. AmeriCares and Kick for Nick Foundation are the two charities supported by Miss India CT Pageant.

National Community TheSouthAsianTimes.info

July 21-27, 2012

Aneesh Chopra to run for lieutenant governor post in Virginia

New York: Aneesh Chopra, an Indian American who served as the chief technology officer (CTO) for the U.S. under the Obama administration will be contesting for the post of lieutenant governor in Virginia, next year. Since I left my position as US chief technology officer, friends, neighbors, business and community leaders have encouraged me to take action by running for a statewide office, said Chopra in a statement. I am humbled by their support and pleased to announce that after months of reflection, I enthusiastically filed my candidature for seeking the lieutenant goverTechnology Officer" for the White House. In the days and months ahead, I look forward to continuing to listen to Virginians, hearing directly from them about the issues affecting their families and serving as an enthusiastic advocate on their behalf, the statement said, quoting him. Chopra is presently working for the re-election of Obama and Kaine and he has raised more than half a million dollars for the U.S. general election in 2013. Chopra received his BA from The Johns Hopkins University and his MPP from Harvard's Kennedy School.

Bobby Jindal blasts Obama, helps Romney

questions about when Romney left the helm of the venture capital firm Bain Capital, accused of outsourcing jobs to China and India. "I am thrilled he's a successful businessman. You don't want an unsuccessful businessman in the White House," Jindal said. About 40 donors attended Monday's luncheon, at $50,000 a plate. Jindal, who supported Texas Governor Rick Perry during the Republican primary, has recently become a more visible surrogate for Romney's campaign, deploying sharp attacks on Obama and defending conservative issues, NBC said. This weekend, Jindal addressed the Nebraska Republican convention, where he touted Romney's business background and was met with applause when he said the US Supreme Court made an "awful choice" upholding Obama's health care law.

Aneesh Chopra nor post in 2013. Chopra was appointed as Secretary of technology by Tim Kaine in the year 2005 and later on in 2009 President Barack Obama selected him to the post of "Chief

Indian American Louisiana Gov Jindal calls Obama incompetent Washington, DC: Louisiana's IndianAmerican governor Bobby Jindal helped Mitt Romney raise two million dollars amid speculation that he could be presumptive Republican presidential nominee's running mate in the November poll. Appearing at a lunchtime fundraiser in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with Romney, Jindal called President Obama "incompetent," and described Obama's politics as too liberal for the American people, NBC reported. "This president, President Obama, he cannot run on his record, he can't run on his political philosophy so he has to attack and distort Governor Romney's record," Jindal said, referring to what he described as the Obama campaign's negative tactics. Last week, the Romney campaign fielded attacks from the Obama team over

USAID, FICCI announces Innovative Millennium Alliance in India

Washington, DC: Both India and the United States joined hands with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) to launch the Millennium Alliance (MA) last week in New Delhi. It will be an inclusive platform bringing together social impact funds, venture capitalists, corporate foundations, early investors, donors, and others to support and scale innovative solutions to development challenges that affect the base of the pyramid populations in India and around the world. FICCI and the US Agency for International Development (USAID) announced a contribution of $7.7 million each, together with $5 million from the Technology Development Board of the Government of India, to fund an initiative along the lines of a public-private partnership mode. USAIDs and FICCIs goal is to raise an additional $35 million for the MA by the middle of 2013, bringing the total amount leveraged to at least $50 million. Addressing the audience at the launch, US Ambassador Nancy Powell said, With this partnership, we hope to foster generations of innovative thinkers and leaders who will contribute to improving the lives of people everywhere. Describing the joint venture as a testament to our strong partnership, Powell hoped to add a new chapter to the progress both our nations have made in the last six decades, adding, We work together to confront some of the greatest development challenges of our time. At the inaugural event, FICCI unveiled the program website and announced the first call for applications inviting Indian innovators to apply for grant funding to develop and scale their innovations. The Millennium Alliance will provide social innovators with essential resources such as seed funding, business incubation services, networking opportunities and technical assistance, and will facilitate their access to equity, debt, and other capital, the official document noted.

India, US close to inking over $600 mn jet deal

New Delhi: India and the US are close to signing a deal worth over USD 600 million for supplying 99 jet engines that would be used in the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft 'Tejas' being developed by the DRDO. Around two years ago, India had selected the American company General Electric over its rival European Eurojet 2000 for the LCA Mark II program expected to be ready around 2014-15. Negotiations with the US firm over various issues involved in the deal, including price and transfer of technology, have been held and it is hoped that the deal for these engines to be fitted on the LCA Mark II would be signed soon, Defence sources said. As per the contract, the order could be for 99 engines initially but India will have the option of order for another 100 engines in the future. The engine on offer for the LCA Mark II is GE F-414 engine, which are more powerful that the GE F-404 engines fitted in the first batch of LCAs that the Indian Air Force would receive in near future. The need for changing the existing engines in the LCAs was felt after the IAF found out that the GE-404 engines were not providing enough power to the aircraft and more powerful engines were needed for the purpose. The DRDO is developing the LCA Mk II to meet the Indian Air Force requirements and it will have latest technological equipment including the latest Active Electronic Scanned Array (AESA) radar and would be able to carry more payload than the LCA Mk I. Last month, the trials of the LCA Mk I were carried out in Pokharan desert firing range where laser-guided bombs and other weapon systems were tried. As per the current plans, the IAF will induct two squadrons of the LCA Mk I and then the delivery of LCA Mk II aircraft would done.

National Community TheSouthAsianTimes.info

July 21-27, 2012

Indian American led team gets $2.9 million grant to create shape-shifting nanomaterials

New study finds Asian Americans contribute to diversity of U.S. religious landscape
Washington, D.C.: As their numbers rise, Asian Americans have been largely responsible for the growth of non-Abrahamic faiths in the U.S., particularly Buddhism and Hinduism. Counted together, Buddhists and Hindus now account for about the same share of the U.S. public as Jews (roughly 2%). At the same time, most Asian Americans belong to the countrys two largest religious groups: Christians and people who say they have no particular religious affiliation. According to a comprehensive, nationwide survey of Asian Americans conducted by the Pew Research Center, Christians are the largest religious group among U.S. Asian adults (42%), and the unaffiliated are second (26%). Buddhists are third, accounting for about one-in-seven Asian Americans (14%), followed by Hindus (10%), Muslims (4%) and Sikhs (1%). Followers of other religions make up 2% of U.S. Asians. These are among the key findings of a new survey by the Pew Research Centers Forum on Religion & Public Life and Pew Research Centers Social & Demographic Trends project. Asian Americans: A Mosaic of Faiths is the second report based on a nationally representative survey of Asian Americans, which was con-

Prof Paras Prasad New York: Paras Prasad, a professor cles within the material to morph a at the University at Buffalo, and his process that can lead to interesting team have received Pa $2.9 million and useful effects. grant from the U.S. Air Force Office Shape-shifting materials of the of Scientific Research to design kind the researchers are planning to shape-shifting nanomaterials. create could have use in applications Prasad, the executive director of including color-changing sensors UB's Institute for Lasers, Photonics and plasmonic circuits that divert and Biophotonics, is leading an in- light in two directions, the release ternational team for the project, a re- said."One of our goals is to con- triblease from UB said. ute to the fundamental under- standEach of the novel materials will be ing of how the spatial arrangement constructed from three types of com- of nanoscale components in materiponents: inorganic nanoparticles, als affects their optical, magnetic peptides that bond to these nanopar- and plasmonic properties," Prasad is ticles and special molecules called quoted as saying in the release. spacers, which sit between the pep"The high-throughput techniques tides and bend in the presence of we are using were pioneered in the heat, light or other triggers. field of bioinformatics, but also have When stimulated, the spacers will extraordinary promise in the explocause the arrangement of nanoparti- ration of advanced materials."

95% of all Indian-American Hindus say they celebrate Diwali ducted by the Pew Research Center between Jan. 3 and March 27, 2012. Additional key findings include: Most Asian-American Buddhists and Hindus, for instance, maintain traditional religious beliefs and practices. Two-thirds of Buddhists surveyed believe in ancestral spirits (67%), while three-quarters of Hindus keep a shrine in their home (78%), and 95% of all IndianAmerican Hindus say they celebrate Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights; While Asian Americans contribute to the diversity of religion in the U.S., the survey finds evidence that they are also adapting to the U.S. religious landscape. For example, roughly three-quarters of both Asian-American Buddhists (76%) and Asian-American Hindus (73%) celebrate Christmas. Three-in-ten (30%) of the Hindus and 21% of the Buddhists surveyed say they sometimes attend services of different religions (not counting special events such as weddings and funerals); U.S. Buddhists and Hindus tend to be inclusive in their understanding of faith. Most Asian-American Buddhists (79%) and Asian-American Hindus (91%), for instance, reject the notion that their religion is the one, true faith and say instead that many religions can lead to eternal life (or, in the case of Buddhists, to enlightenment). In addition, the vast majority of Buddhists (75%) and Hindus (90%) say there is more than one true way to interpret the teachings of their religion.

Press Release

TEN CRICKET AIRS THE EXHILARATING INDIA TOUR OF SRI LANKA LIVE THIS SUMMER!
July 18, 2012 (New York, NY): TEN Cricket, the top rated sports network plays home to the best in LIVE cricketing action along with highlights from classics in the Americas! This summer TEN Cricket will show 5 ODIs and 1 T20 match between India and Sri Lanka LIVE, these matches are not to be missed by Cricket fans!

Fundraiser to benefit visually impaired children in India

New York: CH2, a group of young professionals and students from the Tristate area that is part of Children's Hope India (CHI), will celebrate the 20th anniversary of its parent organization by hosting a charity event July 26 at the Empire State Building in New York. Proceeds from the annual fundraiser "20/20 Bring Sight" will go toward restoring vision for visually handicapped children in India, according to a press release from the group. The project, in collaboration with the K.K. Eye Institute in Pune, India, will enable approximately 15,000 children to be screened in rural Maharashtra. Vitamin A supplementation, spectacles and eye surgeries will also be provided to prevent and correct blindness, the release said. More than 300 people are expected to attend the event, organizers said in the release.

IT BHU Global Alumni Meet in Santa Clara Sept 22

Fans will get to see favorites such as Dhoni, Malinga, Virat Kohli and Ajanta in their best form at arenas such as Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium in Hambantota and the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo!
Dont miss Indias Tour of Sri Lanka on TEN Cricket, Channel 576 available exclusively only on Dish! To subscribe log on to www.dishcrickettv.com

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About TEN Cricket

TEN Cricket is a 24 channel dedicated to cricket. It exclusively televises the worlds best cricketing action from 4 International Cricketing Boards-West Indies, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe. In line with its commitment to bring the best of International Cricket to its viewers, it broadcasts live matches and match highlights. TEN Cricket will bring South Asian viewers over 100 days of exhilarating live cricketing action!

Naperville, Illinois: The IIT BHU Global Alumni Association (IBGAA) has announced its second Global Mega Meet in the Bay Area area on Saturday, September 22, 2012. The full-day Meet is planned at the Santa Clara Convention Center, Santa Clara, CA, USA. The Meet will include keynote address by noted alumni - Dr. Satish K. Tripathi, President, University at Buffalo, NY and Dr. Pankaj Chandra, Director, IIM Bangalore and panel discussion on important topics. Vice

Chancellor of Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Dr. Lalji Singh and Director of the IIT BHU, Prof. Dhananjai Pandey will be the Chief Guests at the Bay Area Meet. The program will contain a fun filled walk down the memory lane with cocktails and dinner and end on a high note with a sizzling music entertainment program by alumni and a prominent Bay Area band. Participation of 200-250 prominent alumni from all over the United States, India, and other countries is expected.

India-US TheSouthAsianTimes.info

July 21-27, 2012

Raise FDI limit to boost defense trade: US think tank

Washington: A US think tank has suggested that India should raise the limit of foreign direct investment from 26 percent to over 50 percent in order to incentivise US companies to invest in its defense industry. Raising the FDI limit is one of the recommendations in five key areas for both the United States and India made by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies to help "unlock the full potential" of their defense partnership. To meet strategic challenges, the report suggests that the US and India engage in an in-depth discussion about India's defense needs that stems from a joint vision for the strategic defense relationship and should designate one official on each side to promote bilateral defense trade. In the area of political challenges, the report suggests that the United States needs to be consistent and reliable in its technology transfer decisions and in its provision of purchased defense equipment. In turn, the Indian government should craft a public narrative about the benefits of mutual partnership to counter negative perceptions within the Indian political system, it said. To meet procedural and technical challenges, the report suggested that the US and India should actively work to develop ways to accommodate the Foreign Military Sales system within the Indian Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP). India should develop an offset strategy that clearly lays out the technologies and capabilities India hopes to derive from the offset program and also consider indirect offsets to be applied toward India's many infrastructure and related needs, it said. To overcome bureaucratic challenges, the report suggests that the two countries should seek to facilitate greater transparency and predictability between their respective bureaucracies. Finally both sides should engage in a bilateral dialogue about the key elements of an effective defense industrial base. The United States should intensify its efforts to engage the various constituencies in India that shape public opinion, including the media, parliament, and state governments. It should also continue to engage the Indian bureaucracy and offer assistance in developing India's defense acquisition expertise, the report said. India, in turn, should publicly communicate its defense acquisition priorities to facilitate better planning for acquisition and sales, it said.

US insists Indian fishing vessel was warned before firing

Washington: In the midst of a probe demanded by India into the deadly US attack on a motorboat in the Persian Gulf that left an Indian fisherman dead, Washington insisted that the vessel was fired upon after it disregarded nonlethal warnings. Both Pentagon and the State department Tuesday stuck to a statement issued by the US embassy in Delhi that the USNS Rappahannock had "escalated warning measures" before opening fire at the boat carrying Indian fishermen off the UAE coast in the Persian Gulf. The incident is under investigation, Pentagon spokesman George Little told reporters Tuesday associating "ourselves with the statement issued by the United States Embassy in Delhi." "The USNS Rappahannock escalated warning measures in response to a potential threat posed by this vessel," he said. "And this is something that all US Navy ships take into account for security reasons." "The prospect of potential threats to, especially in the wake of the USS Cole, to put this into some context, there are procedures in place," Little said. "Based on what we know now, a series of warning measures were issued to the oncoming vessel. Those warnings were not heeded. And the vessel was fired upon," he said. Asked if the US was planning to apologize for the shooting, Little said, "We certainly regret the loss of life in this incident. (But) There were, in fact, warning measures that were taken based on what we know now." "This is under investigation. And we'll know the full facts of this incident once that investigation is complete." State Department spokesman Patrick Ventrell too referred to the statement by US embassy in New Delhi "in which we conveyed our condolences to the families of the crew, which came under fire after the vessel disregarded nonlethal warnings and rapidly approached the US ship." The US defense department was conducting an investigation, he said. "And we, of course, will work with our Indian counterparts and be as transparent as possible to provide them the results of our investigation once it's finished."

U.S. names envoys to Islamabad, Kabul

Washington: President Barack Obama has nominated two veteran diplomats to be the US ambassadors to Afghanistan and Pakistan. Almost two month after the incumbents resigned, Obama nominated James B Cunningham as the new US Ambassador to Afghanistan; and Richard G Olson as the new envoy to Pakistan. However, both need to be confirmed by the US Senate before they can be sworn in for their new Ambassadorial postings. Olson, a career diplomat, served as the Coordinating Director for Development and Economic Affairs at the US Embassy in Kabul. He previously served as US Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates from 2008 to 2011 and as Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Mission to NATO in Brussels from 2006 to 2008. Cunningham is currently the Deputy Ambassador at the US Embassy in Kabul. Prior to his posting in Kabul, he served as the US Ambassador to Israel from 2008 to 2011. From 2005 to 2008, he was US Consul General in Hong Kong.

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US Affairs TheSouthAsianTimes.info

July 21-27, 2012

From 2008-10 Daniel Bonginos job included supervising dozens of agents assigned to protect the life of President Obama and be ready to jump in front of a gun to stop a bullet aimed at the commander-in-chief. So, did he feel betrayed when within days of his becoming Republican partys nominee to run for the Senate against incumbent Democrat Senator Ben Cardin, President Obama offered what Bongino himself described as a suspiciously early endorsement of Cardin?
By Robert Golomb f former Secret Service agent and Marylands 2012 Republican senatorial candidate Daniel Bongino felt betrayed by President Obama, who, at first thought, could really blame him. During his 20082010 tenure as a senior member of the services ultra elite Presidential Protection Division, Bongino, a decorated 4 year member of the New York City Police Department before joining the Secret Service in 1999, traveled extensively with the President on many of his domestic and foreign trips. Bonginos job included supervising dozens of agents assigned to protect the life of the commander-in chief; and, like the agents he supervised, it was also Bonginos job to be ready to jump in front of a gun to stop a bullet aimed at the President. Bonginos efforts to safeguard the Presidents life earned him a spate of commendations from the Secret Service. It also, reportedly, earned him the appreciation and respect of President Obama himself. So how could Bongino have felt anything but betrayed when within days after his victory in Marylands June Republican primary, in which he became his partys nominee to run for the Senate against one term incumbent Democrat Senator Ben Cardin, President Obama offered what the former Secret Service agent himself described as a suspiciously early endorsement of Cardin? This was the first question I asked the very youthful looking 37-yearold Bongino when I interviewed him recently at the home of a key New York Republican supporter. Actually I didnt feel betrayed at all, Bongini responded. As a Secret Service Agent it was my job to protect the President, with my own life if necessary. His party affiliation or political beliefs never entered into my thoughts. I am now a candidate for United States Senate. I am a conservative Republican. He is a very liberal DemocratMy political beliefs are on the opposite ends of the spectrum with those of both Obama and Cardin concerning virtually every domestic and foreign issue. Of course, Obama will endorse Cardin. As for the matter that the endorsement came suspiciously early, Bongino saw it now as an encouraging sign for his own chances in November. The President might have had a sense that the Democrats can no longer take Maryland for extremist environmental ideologues, have caused our production of domestic energy to continue to declineWe now produce in the range of 5 million barrels of oil per day, while our daily use sits in the range of 20 millionWe must rescind the dictates of the EPA. Opening Americas own known vast natural gas, oil and coal resources throughout the country, including, may I add as a Marylander, the natural gas reserves stored in the grounds of western Maryland, can turn Americas dream of energy independence into reality. Bongino was no less reticent about his criticism of the Obama Administrations foreign policy. In the Middle East, the president has treated our only true friend and ally in the region, Israel, as almost an adversary, while treating our enemies as if they were friendsThe President continues to send hundreds of millions of dollars in foreign aid to the Palestinian Authority, which has formed a deadly alliance with Hamas, a terrorist organization that has murdered both Americans and Israelis. In Southeast Asia the administration gives a free pass to Pakistan which harbored Osama bin Laden arrested the doctor who helped us locate him and continues to provide safe havens for terrorists, while America appears to be distancing itself from our loyal ally India In Eastern Europe, the President cancelled plans made by the Bush Administration with our allies Poland and the Czech Republic to build a defensive missile system. Such actions can only make our friends question our loyalty and our enemies question our strength. Why dont President Obama and Senator Cardin, who is one of his leading supporters in the senate, understand this? And why wont Senator Cardin accept my challenge for a debate, where I will begin by asking him this very question? It is a debate, which, while viewed potentially pivotal in what is developing into a close race with Cardin still leading but Bongino narrowing an early three digit gap in the polls into a single digit deficit, might never take place: As widely reported in the Maryland media, Senator Cardin has yet to respond to Bonginos numerous public challenges to debate him. Robert Golomb is a nationally published columnist. He writes on a range of educational, cultural, political and international topics. MrBob347@aol.com

From Secret Service agent to Maryland senatorial candidate

Daniel Bongino; and Secret Service agents on duty protecting the President. granted. The polls now show Romney within a few points of overtaking Obama in Maryland If Maryland goes Republican for Senate, the chances become that much stronger that it will go for Romney {in the Presidential election} But that word if still remains very large. Republican candidates for federal office have not fared well in Maryland, which remains among the bluest of Blue States. The last Republican presidential candidate to win Maryland along with its ten electoral votes was George H.W. Bush in 1988. The last Maryland Republican voted to the Senate was Charles Mathias, who was elected to his third and final term in 1981-the first year of the Reagan Presidency. The other Maryland Democrat Senator, Barbara Mikulski, was easily elected to serve her fourth term in 2010. And more to the point for Bongino: Cardin handily won his seat six years ago, defeating a well known and popular Republican opponent, former Maryland Secretary of State Michael Steele (who subsequently served as the chairman of the Republican National Committee), by ten points. Bongino was well aware of the states political history, but not disheartened by it. Steele is a great public servant and was a very credible candidatebut the 2006 midterm election was a terrible year for Republicans... There was not one Republican who could have won {Maryland then}Today, the issues are on the side of the Republicans. And it was the issues rather than personalities (He liked Obama as a person and described Cardin as a nice enough gentleman) and his own much media hyped resume that Bongino wanted to discuss with me. The question is how to create prosperity, Bongino started. President Obama and the Congressional Democrats have expanded the role of the federal government in practically every aspect of our lives to a level previously unseen in America believing it will help the economy grow, but it has produced the opposite result{as evidenced by} an eight and a quarter unemployment rate and a sixteen trillion dollar national debt. Bongino cited three examples of what he viewed as such harmful expansion of the federal governments role in the economy, beginning with Obamacare: The federal government is in the process of taking control of one sixth of the American economy... {It is} destructive to job growth threatens to destroy the greatest health care system in the world. Bongino next moved on to what he referred to as Governments over the top regulation of American businesses: American businesses have been regulated almost to deathMore than 7,000 new federal regulations over the past three years. Entrepreneurs tell me they spend more time interpreting cryptic regulations than they do on how to grow their businesses and create new jobs. And lastly, Bongino named what he described as the most draconian regulator of all, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): The EPA has all but declared the natural gas, coal, and fossil fuel industries to be villains... This has done great harm to our economy and has all but stopped Americas efforts to become energy independent. So, to reverse the policies you just mentioned what legislation would a Senator Bongino support? I asked. My first priority would be to support legislation that would repeal Obamacare and replace it with a system that takes the power from the federal government and gives it back to the states, he responded quickly, seeming to have anticipated my question. Specifically, he added, such legislation would include providing block grants of Medicaid funds to each individual state. The concept is not new This was actually done in 1995 in a bi-partisan effort by President Clinton and the Republican Congress as part of welfare reformBlock granting would give each state the freedom to develop its own methods and systems to provide affordable high quality health care to its own citizens. Concerning government regulations on business Bongino was no less fast and direct. It has been said that Democrats love workers but hate the business people who employ them {Democrats} have imposed regulations that have hurt businesses and killed jobs. The role of government must be to provide a sound structural framework along with fair and predictable regulations which should serve to help, not hinder, entrepreneurialism add new jobs to the economy{and} afford real protections for the consumer. Many of the thousands of regulations added legislatively in the last three years have done the exact opposite. For the good of the consumers, employees and employers, such counterproductive regulations must be repealed. Bongino explained that he views many of the regulations emanating from the EPA as being equally counterproductive and in equal need of revision. Cost to benefit analysis has never entered into the equation for the EPA Their dictates, typically governed by the whims of

US Affairs TheSouthAsianTimes.info

11

July 21-27, 2012

Bernanke says Fed can remove Punch Bowl, curb inflation

Washington: Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke sought to assure lawmakers the Fed can limit inflation while providing record stimulus and wont allow consumer prices to rise in return for faster economic growth. It will be a similar pattern to what weve seen in previous episodes where the Fed cut rates, provided support for the recovery, and when the recovery reached a point of takeoff where it could support itself on its own, then the Fed pulled back, took away the punch bowl, Bernanke told the House Financial Services Committee Wednesday in Washington. In his prepared testimony, Bernanke said inflation will probably remain at or below the central banks 2 percent target after energy prices reversed their gains from earlier this year. Bernanke, on his second day of testimony to Congress, responded to lawmakers who questioned his ability to control inflation after cutting the Feds key interest rate almost to zero and expanding its balance sheet to a record $2.87 trillion in a bid to boost growth. my in our history has failed to reduce unemployment and boost growth, and whether the economy suffered a profound failure of monetary policy because of the Feds unprecedented actions. Bernanke disagreed that there has been no progress since the near collapse of the economy in 2008 and 2009. Its true that the recovery has been slower than we would have liked, but clearly we have made progress in unemployment and in job creation, Bernanke said. Financial crises lead to recessions that are slower to mend. Bernanke added a higher inflation goal would create a lot of problems in financial markets. I dont think thats a strategy that has a lot of support on the Federal Open Market Committee. The Fed said today the economy expanded at a modest to moderate pace in June and early July, as retail sales and manufacturing cooled in some regions. Manufacturing continued to expand slowly in most districts, employment improved at a tepid pace and inflation was modest across most areas, the central bank said, citing reports from its 12 district banks in its Beige Book survey. The U.S. economy has continued to recover, but economic activity appears to have decelerated somewhat during the first half of this year, Bernanke said. He said the Fed is prepared to take further action as appropriate to promote a stronger economic recovery. The Standard & Poors 500 Index rose 0.7 percent to 1,372.78 as of 4:14 p.m. in New York amid better-than-estimated earnings. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note remained near a record low, declining two basis points, or 0.02 percentage point, to 1.49 percent. New U.S. home construction rose in June to the highest level in almost four years, indicating the residential real estate market is strengthening even as other parts of the economy cool. Housing starts rose 6.9 percent to a 760,000 annual pace after a revised 711,000 rate in May that was faster than initially estimated, the Commerce Department reported today in Washington. The median forecast of 79 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News called for a 745,000 rate.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke There is so much money out there that this thing is going to really go and inflation is going to be a huge problem, said Representative Stephen Fincher, a Republican from Tennessee. Republican Representative Jeb Hensarling of Texas questioned why the greatest monetary and fiscal stimulus thrown at an econo-

Stephen Covey, 7 Habits author, passes away

New York: The well-known author, Stephen R. Covey, who impacted the world with his books and self-help products, died on July 16 in Idaho Falls, Idaho. He had fallen while bicycling in April. His daughter, Catherine Sagers, said the bleeding in his brain after the accident led to his death. Covey was an American educator, author, businessman and motivational speaker. Anyone who has ever gone into business or thought about going into business has probably read or heard of his best seller "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" published in 1989 that sold over 25 million copies worldwide. The book

Christie as keynote, not VP: Good call by Romney

Trenton, NJ: Picking New Jersey learn about foreign policy and get a handle Governor Chris Christie as the keynote on his tantrums. By 2016, who knows? speaker at the Republican convention next As a keynote speaker, its hard to imagine month is a great call by Mitt Romney, a more inspired choice. Christies passion assuming the unconfirmed reports are true, for the conservative cause and his style of said The Star-Ledger Wednesday. straight talk will have the partys faithful on For one, it tells us that he wont choose their feet. Christie as his vice president. Christie has And lets hope he continues to preach the New Jersey Governor been a successful governor and is a rare gospel of compromise. Christie believes that Chris Christie political talent, but hes not ready to be a democracy cant work without good-faith president, as he acknowledged last year when he decided compromise, and he has proven how it can work in against running himself. His experience is too thin, and his Trenton. His landmark achievements on pension and health temperament is too wild. The prospect of him running the reform, and on tenure, would not have been possible if he nations foreign affairs is frightening. This is a guy who had taken the kind of hard line that the Republicans in just picked a fistfight on the boardwalk, and who throws Washington embrace. personal insults at his political opponents as a habit, the NJ In Trenton, as in Washington, the choice in the end is paper continues.He would have an enemys list like between compromise and paralysis. Nixons. Christie wants to run for president someday. And Perhaps the selection of Christie as keynote speaker if hes out of the running in 2012, he has plenty of time to means that Mitt Romney gets that, too.

Stephen Covey and his bestselling book

has been translated into 38 languages. The audio version became the first non-fiction audio-book in U.S. publishing history to sell more than one million copies.

FDA approves drugs for AIDS and obesity

Obesity pill Qsymia gains FDA nod

fter months of anticipation and deliberation, the obesity pill formerly known as Qnexa has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The product will be sold under a new name, Qsymia. The FDA said in an announcement Monday night that Vivus Inc.'s Qsymia is approved for overweight and obese people who have at least one weight-related health problem such as high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes or high cholesterol. The drug is to be prescribed in combination with a reducedcalorie diet and exercise. Obesity is defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more, while overweight people are defined as having a BMI - a ratio of height over weight - of 27 or higher. According to government estimates, more than onethird of U.S. adults are obese. "Obesity threatens the overall well being of patients and is a major public health concern," Dr. Janet Woodcock, director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said in a statement. "Qsymia, used responsibly in combination with a healthy lifestyle that includes a reduced-calorie diet and exercise, provides another treatment option for chronic weight management." Vivus had proposed the name Qnexa in the drug's application, but an FDA spokesperson told

HealthPop in an email that the drug's name was subject to review to determine if there was potential for confusion with other approved drugs, and the company eventually went with Qsymia to reduce any potential for medication errors. Qsymia is an extended-release combination of two older drugs, phentermine and topiramate. Phentermine is an amphetamine approved for short-term weight loss and topiramate is prescribed to prevent seizures and migraines, and is supposed to make pill-takers feel more full. The most common side effects of Qsymia were tingling of the hands and feet, dizziness, insomnia, constipation, a change in taste sensation and dry mouth. Pregnant women should not take Qsymia because it may harm the fetus, the FDA said. The FDA also doesn't recommend the drug for patients with glaucoma and hyperthryoidism, nor patients with recent heart disease or stroke, since the drug may also elevate heart rate. The drug's safety and efficacy was reviewed in two studies. They showed that after a year of taking the drug, patients lost between 7 and 9 percent of their body weight, and between 62 and 69 percent of study participants lost 5 percent of their body weight, compared with 20 percent of patients taking a placebo.

Truvada is first HIV-prevention pill

ruvada has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as the first pill to prevent HIV. Gilead Sciences' Truvada has been taken by people over 12 with human immunodeficiency virus in conjunction with other antiretroviral drugs since it was first approved by the FDA in 2004. The new approval applies in combination with safer sex practices for preventative use in healthy individuals who are at a high risk for HIV or who may have sex with HIV-positive partners. "The approval marks an important milestone in our fight against HIV," FDA Commissioner Dr. Margaret A. Hamburg said in a press release. "Every year, about 50,000 U.S. adults and adolescents are diagnosed with HIV infection, despite the availability of prevention methods and strategies to educate, test,

and care for people living with the disease. New treatments as well as prevention methods are needed to fight the HIV epidemic in this country." In the announcement, the FDA strongly recommended against Truvada's use to prevent disease transmission in individuals who may already have HIV. The most common side effects reported with Truvada were diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain, headache and weight loss. Serious side effects were uncommon.

12

India TheSouthAsianTimes.info

July 21-27, 2012

Advantage Pranab as lawmakers vote for new president

New Delhi: Indian lawmakers voted on July 19 to elect a new president in what is a direct contest between ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) candidate Pranab Mukherjee, holding a clear winning edge, and opposition-backed P.A. Sangma. Polling to choose the 13th president started simultaneously at the national and state capitals. More than 650 votes had been cast till 1 p.m., Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Harish Rawat said. MPs were seen queuing up in Parliament House outside the polling booth in Room No 63 even before the voting began at 10 a.m. Nearly 700 MPs and eight state legislators were expected to participate in the exercise in Parliament House. Polling began on a brisk note with Bapi Raju Kanumuri, the Congress MP from Narsapuram in Andhra Pradesh, being the first women, were seen standing in the queue to vote. Mukherjee, who has a clear edge over opposition-favoured Sangma, came to vote shortly after 11 a.m. Congress MPs were seen greeting him. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi accompanied Mukherjee as the leaders cast their ballot one after the other amid camera flashlights. Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi also voted shortly after. The leaders didn't speak to the media but waved towards a battery of reporters covering the event. Mukherjee also enjoys enjoys the support of the Samajwadi Party (SP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). BJP-led NDA members Janata Dal-United (JD-U) and Shiv Sena have also extended their support to the former finance minister besides the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) and Forward Bloc. The Communist Party of India, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Telangana Rashtriya Samiti (TRS) have said their MPs and legislators will abstain from voting. Sangma, a member of the Meghalaya assembly, said he was still "hopeful" despite the numbers being stacked against him. "Look at my face, I am hopeful," Sangma told reporters. Voting was also under way in all states for assembly members who along with Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha MPs together make up India's electoral college. The college has 4,120 assembly members and 776 members of parliament. Polling will continue till 5 p.m. The votes will be counted Sunday, three days before President Pratibha Patil's five-year tenure ends.

The votes will be counted on Sunday, three days before President Pratibha Patil's five-year tenure ends MP to vote. DMK's M.K. Alagiri, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) member Bhartruhari Mahtab and Congress' Pratap Singh Bajwa were among the early voters. L.K. Advani, Arun Jaitley and Murli Manohar Joshi of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also voted. Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Mayawati and Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachhan were among the early women voters. As voting picked up, many MPs, including

Ansari files nomination for vice president

New Delhi: Hamid Ansari has filed his nomination papers for being re-elected to the office of the vice president in the presence of several United Progressive Alliance (UPA) leaders including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi. The nomination papers were handed over to Lok Sabha Secretary General T.K. Viswanathan, who is the returning officer for the August 7 poll. In an indication about the growing significance of Samajwadi Party (SP) to the Congress-led UPA government, its chief Mulayam Singh Yadav was seated next to the prime minister at the brief event in Parliament House. The SP supports the government from the outside. Nationalist Congress Party's Sharad Pawar and Rashtriya Janata Dal's Lalu Prasad were also in the front row along with Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi. Bahujan Samaj Party's Satish Chandra Misra, National Conference's Farooq Abdullah, DMK's T.R. Baalu and Lok Janshakti Party's Ram Vilas Paswan were also among those present. No leader from the Trinamool Congress was present. The prime minister, in his brief remarks, expressed happiness over the "massive support" for Ansari.

Court notice to Kalmadi over London visit

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has issued notice to former Commonwealth Games Organising Committee chief Suresh Kalmadi, an accused in a corruption case, on a plea opposing his visit to London during the Olympics later this month. The court has also sought a response from the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) within three days, and asked Kalmadi not to leave the country prior to July 26, his scheduled date of departure. The Public Interest Litigation filed by advocate Rahul Mehra sought the court's direction to restrain Kalmadi from visiting London saying he was facing trial in a corruption case and could not be allowed to represent the country in an international event. A division bench of Acting Chief Justice A.K. Sikri and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw, issuing notice to Kalmadi and IOA, which he heads, said: "Issue notice to respondents (IOA and Kalmadi)... He (Kalmadi) is not going to leave the country before his scheduled date of July 26." The bench posted the matter for July 24 for further hearing. The court asked Kalmadi, who is also president of the Asian Athletes Association and member of the Council of International Association of Athletes Federation, not to advance his slated July 26 departure for Olympics. Mehra, objecting to the London trip of Kalmadi, said he was going to attend the games on public money and in violation of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) code of ethics. He also alleged that Kalmadi was in jail for nine months in a criminal case and the IOC charter also prohibited such persons from attending any event organized by it.

Hamid Ansari "We are all very delighted that there is such a massive support for re-nomination of Ansari Sahib for the august office of vice president," Manmohan Singh told reporters. Jaswant Singh is expected to file his nomination papers July 20, which is the last date for filing nominations.

No further talks with government on Lokpal: Hazare

Ralegan Siddhi (Maharashtra): Alleging that the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government is trying to divide his Team Anna, activist Anna Hazare Wednesday said he will not hold any further talks and continue with indefinite protest from July 25 for a strong Lokpal bill. In a three-page letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Hazare said he would take part in the protests from July 25 and also in yoga guru Baba Ramdev's Aug 9 protest being held in the national capital. Hazare said Law Minister Salman Khurshid met him June 23 and assured him that the UPA government was ready to bring the Lokpal bill as suggested by the civil society. "Khurshid told me that the government was ready to bring all junior and senior government officials under the Lokpal and also bring the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) under the ambit of the Lokpal," he said. Addressing media persons at his hometown Ralegan Siddhi in Maharashtra, Hazare also released the letter he wrote to Manmohan Singh, in which he denied the claim of the Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office V. Narayanasamy that he was helping the government evolve a consensus on Lokpal. Hazare said that Narayanasamy, in a letter to him Monday, had openly written that "I (Anna) have helped the government in matters related to Lokpal". "I have not helped government in anyway and had clearly told Khurshid about our demands. I doubt if the intention behind sending Khurshid was to show that I am talking to government without telling rest of the members," Hazare said. "I did not discuss about this meeting thinking that if keeping it secret can bring an effective Lokpal, then nothing can be better than it. I did ask Khurshid about how the government will again introduce the Lokpal bill proposed by the civil society when the parliament has already passed a bill in the Lok Sabha," Hazare said.

Anna Hazare

India TheSouthAsianTimes.info

13

July 21-27, 2012

Ready for more proactive role: Rahul

New Delhi: Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi has said he was ready for a "more proactive role in the party and the government" but the final decision on what that would be rested with the leadership. "I will play more proactive role in the Rahul Gandhi. party and the government. The decision has been taken, the timing is up to the leadership," Rahul Gandhi told NDTV after voting for presidential election in the parliament. This is the first time that Rahul Gandhi has spoken about the possibility of joining the government or taking up a bigger role in the Congress, led by his mother Sonia Gandhi. His comments came a day after the Congress president said it was up to her son to decide on taking up a bigger role. Congress leaders in recent days have urged Rahul Gandhi to move to the party's mainstream amid the increasing view that he would be projected as the prime ministerial candidate in the next Lok Sabha polls, likely in 2014. Congress leader Digvijay Singh, a vociferous proponent of Rahul Gandhi taking up the top job, had Wednesday expressed confidence that he would lead the party at "an appropriate time". The voices for Rahul Gandhi's bigger role grew louder after Law Minister Salman Khurshid said in a newspaper interview that the ruling party was yet to get any ideological direction from him and that had only "seen cameos of his thought and ideas". External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna had also suggested that Rahul Gandhi should join the government as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had already invited him and that invitation still stands.

Zardari hails cricket ties resumption

Islamabad: President Asif Ali Zardari has written a letter to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expressing the hope that the resumption of cricketing ties after five years will be a confidence building measure. Zardari sent the letter to Manmohan Singh welcoming resumption of cricket relations, reported Dawn. The Indian cricket board has invited Pakistan to play three One-dayers and two Twenty20 Internationals in December-January, a move that would see the arch-rivals clashing in a bilateral series after a five-year gap The resumption of cricket matches would add to positive atmosphere witnessed by the two countries, said Zardari. The letter said: "You would recall that in my recent visit to India, we discussed resumption of cricket ties between Pakistan and India. I am glad to learn that the cricket boards of Pakistan and India have agreed to resume cricket matches after a gap of five years." "I am sanguine that cricket matches between our two countries would prove to be a formidable confidence building measure and a way forward towards encouraging people-to-people contacts," it added.

Surjeet Singh gets Rs.5 lakh from Punjab government

Chandigarh: Having spent over 30 years of his life in Pakistani jails on spying charges, Punjab resident Surjeet Singh has been given financial assistance of Rs.500,000 by the state government. Surjeet, who was released late last month, was given the cheque by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, a spokesperson for the Chief Minister's Office said. Badal also assured Surjeet that his son Kulwinder would be given a regular government job based on his qualifications. Surjeet's family depends on the meagre income they get from agriculture. During the meeting at the chief minister's residence here, Badal felicitated Surjeet for rendering great service to efforts for his rehabilitation, Badal said. Despite the fact that he had spent his youth in jail, the union government had not bothered to help his family, he agreed. Expressing gratitude to the chief minister, Surjeet said he was indebted to the state government for extending the much needed support to him and his family in their hour of crisis. Surjeet, 69, arrived in his native village Phidde in Punjab's Ferozepur district, 280 km from here, June 28 after more than 30 years of incarceration in Pakistan. He had been arrested on charges of spying. Surjeet was sentenced to death but it was later commuted to life imprisonment.

Surjeet Singh was released from a Pakistan jail recently the nation and assured him that the state government was committed for extending all possible help for the rehabilitation of his family within the legal framework. Though Surjeet had languished in Pakistani jails for the cause of the nation, the union government made no

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14

India Features TheSouthAsianTimes.info

July 21-27, 2012

Delhi street vendors' market as global model

By Madhulika Sonkar New Delhi: In a matter of 15 minutes a deserted road facing the capital's Indira Gandhi Stadium complex comes alive with a colorful ensemble of clothing and other utilities. Street vendors gather here every Sunday to set up a bazaar which its promoters say could serve as a global model. "The idea is to set up a global model market by utilizing spaces which are usually considered as wasteland and ensuring safe and secure workplace to the poor vendors who are displaced every now and then," explained Ankita Upreti of the Ahmedabad-based SelfEmployed Women's Association (SEWA) that is responsible for the evolution of the bazar in its present avatar. Even Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, after witnessing a power point presentation last year, felt the concept threw up interesting possibilities. The bazar has some 1,000 vendors who were scattered in various parts of the city till SEWA came for small town traders and consumers who want to buy clothes and second-hand utilities. It is also providing a livelihood for the vendors displaced by the Games construction work," Geeta, hailing from Ahmedabad, added. The vendors, on the other six days of the week, go around various neighborhoods in the capital, collecting old clothes and other discarded household goods in exchange for new utensils. These are then spruced up and sold at the Sunday bazar. Their Sunday earnings range from Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 5,000, the vendors say. Even as buyers straddle across pavements sifting through items on offer, the bazaar amazes one as it is clean and well-managed. With spaces earmarked for authorized vendors, there is no chaos and loud-calling from sellers, unlike at other weekly markets. Of the 1,000 vendors, some 800 are women and the remaining are women and the others are from Gujarat. This explains the Ahmedabad based SEWA connection.

Buyers at the Sunday Velodrome market under the Ring Road flyover. Over the last one year, the market has been generating employment for over 1,000 street vendors displaced due to Commonwealth Games construction work in 2010. into the picture in 2009 when the market was shifted out due to the construction of a flyover as part of a Commonwealth Games project. "A long legal battle has gone into the evolution of this Sunday bazar. It was removed from the Ring Road bypass because the flyover's construction started in 2009 before the Commonwealth Games," Geetabehn, 46, a street vendor and member of SEWA, said. Then followed a series of elaborate power-point presentations, pitching plans to government officials and mobilising the vendors, Upreti, SEWA's legal coordinator, said. "We met the architect before the construction work on the flyover began. The idea of having a street vendors' market beneath the flyover was put forth, which he liked," she added. "The plan was then meticulously included in the site plan. PWD wanted the site to be properly maintained and asked SEWA to execute an agreement," Upreti said. In the agreement with the PWD in May 2011, SEWA took up the task of cleaning, beautifying and maintaining the market. While an attendance record is maintained for the vendors who sit here Sundays, there are zero-traffic issues because of organizational clarity. Every Sunday, the market is abuzz with buyers from noon until 3 p.m. Buyers range from traders from Uttar Pradesh and Haryana to consumers who want an easy bargain. "This market is a one-stop shop

Pritish Nandy experiments with Letters to Santa 140-character poetry with love from India
By Madhusree Chatterjee New Delhi: Insolent, angry, wicked that's me/Or so you say before you angrily look away/Faith is so yesterday/Tomorrow is where I want to be. Poet, painter, journalist, filmmaker and TV personality Pritish Nandy has used the 140-character format to transport poetry to the age of Twitter in a new anthology, "Stuck on 1/Forty". But he says his 140-character poetry does not mark a new phase in the evolution of the popular literary genre, it is just another form of creative expression. The anthology will be released July 21 in Mumbai by actor Ranbir Kapoor. "I don't think poetry mutates over the years. It only keeps opening up to more new ideas, new vistas and new experiments, particularly in recent times. People still read Shakespeare and love it. They still read Keats, Byron, Shelley. But, yes, they also now read Ginsberg, Ferlinghetti, Corso. They now read Lorca, Neruda, Cavafy, Enzensberger. Or Agyeya, Jibanannd Das, Faiz," Nandy said in an interview. Nandy said the "world of poetry was opening up more and more with more poets across languages being read, more experiments with new forms, more discoveries and more relevancies being sought". "It's quite easy actually. You can write the same poem as a 1,000page epic or a simple tweet," he said. The 71-year-old poet, who was a Rajya Sabha member, has been writing and translating regional poetry for most part of his life. In 1967, he published his first volume of poetry, "Of Gods and Olives", and followed it up with nearly 40 books. Nandy was nominated the poet laureate by the World Academy of Arts and Culture in 1981. He was honored with the Padma Shri in 1977. Nandy, who was the publishing director of The Times of India from 1982 to 1991, edited The Illustrated Weekly of India from 1983 to 1991. The poet said he was not inspired by Twitter, though the "twitter format provoked my 140word experiment with poetry". "Twitter is just a means of communication. Means do not inspire people. Content does. But the poems will work only when people read them and like them as poems. That is the most important thing. Poetry is format agnostic. It is even idiom agnostic. Language is changing today," Nandy said. But that is not because of Facebook or Twitter. It is changing because of our impatience, Nandy said. "The limits of our tolerance are on a steady downslide. Even language has become a victim of this," the poet pointed out. By Kavita Bajeli-Datt Rovaniemi (Arctic Circle): "Dear Santa Claus, I need a little help in my studies so that I can bring laurels to my family", "Please ring my doorbell, I want to give you a gift" These are some of the thousands of letters that are written by children from India to a most-loved cherubic man in red robes, a flowing white beard and a hearty laugh, and of course a bag full of gifts. Welcome to this city, which is a commercial centre of Finland's northernmost province Lapland, where the sun never sets in midsummer and is best-known the world over as the hometown of Santa Claus. What is common in all the letters to Santa is the gentle reminder for a "gift" or a desperate appeal for a visit, as this writer discovered. "Please call me", writes Parvathy from Hyderabad, while Pooja and Praneeeti from Delhi inform Santa Claus that they "believe with whole heart" that he exists and want to be his elves. Harneet Kaur from Chandigarh writes that she has "heard" so much about Santa Claus that she wants him to visit her "at least once. Please do come". All letters land at the main post office located in the heart of Santa's Workshop Village and is manned by his favorite elves. It is always Christmas at the post office. It wears a festive look with gift wrapped packets, Christmas cards and souvenirs and the sound of Christmas carols in the background. No wonder it attracts 400,000 visitors every year. Santa Claus, who can be met on any day of the year at the Santa Claus Office on the Arctic Circle, has received 15.5 million letters from 198 countries since 1985. But it is not that Santa Claus does not reply. He has replied to more than 40,000 letters in 12 different languages, including English, Italian, Polish, Finnish, French, German, Korean and Chinese. According to Katja Tervonen, one of the elves at the posti or post office, more and more children from South Asian countries are writing to Santa Claus. While Britain tops the list with 150,000 letters, Italy follows with 100,000 and Poland with 45,000. Interestingly, Finland comes fourth with 26,000 letters, followed by Japan (25,000) and China (18,000), Tervonen said. "Santa Claus has received more than 12 million items, and annually Santa receives more than half a million letters," she said. It is also just not children who are writing to Santa Claus. Parents too write to this favorite resident of the city. Ketan Sahah from Surat writes: "I love you and our children love you too." "Do not fail to send me the Christmas gift. We are eagerly waiting. I love you Santa," writes Jayant from Lucknow.

Noted poet Pritish Nandy releases 1/40, an experimental anthology of 140-character poetry. "Stuck on 1/40 is one such experiment. If people read it, like it, share it, if it grows the conversation on the social network, it would have achieved its objective. Poetry need no longer be imprisoned on the printed page. It must enter our lives and our consciousness. It must capture our dreams, our hopes. It is now part of the growing discourse across all platforms," Nandy said. The volume, printed in rainbow colors and designer typeset, explores a variety of personalized emotions like love, loss, loneliness, uncertainty, resignation and new beginnings. Recalling the way he conceived the poems, Nandy said he "thought the poems through in 140 characters".

Konkani Sammelan 2012 TheSouthAsianTimes.info

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July 21-27, 2012

Celebrating Konkani identity

Konkani Sammelan 2012, organized by the North American Konkani Association, was held in New Jersey from June 29 to July 1, 2012.

he Konkani Sammelan is a unique medium for Konkanis to connect with each other through a formalized system which integrates the need of a community to socialize with the hope of its denizens to showcase and protect its cultural diversity. Far from being a mere cultural extravaganza, the Konkani Sammelan supports and fosters communal harmony and is the binding force that retains and encourages a sense of kinship and pride. The first Konkani Sammelan was held in 1996 in New Jersey. It was an earnest endeavor by the original Konkani migrants, to facilitate the inter-mingling of Konkanis in North America. NAKA (North American Konkani Association) was formed soon after. Since then, the Sammelans have been held once in two years -- in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Toronto and New Jersey. The number of attendees has increased progressively along with the steadily growing numbers of the Konkani diaspora in North America. The 8th Konkani Sammelan was held in Edison, NJ, from 29th June to 1st July 2012. Led by its President Dr. Gopal Bhandarkar, this 3-day extravaganza saw more than 1800 attendees from India, Canada, Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, the UK, UAE and of course, USA. The Chief Guest of this cultural potpourri was T.V. Mohandas Pai (ex-CFO of Infosys and chair of Manipal Universal Learning). His passionate and articulate speech exhorted all attendees to respect their heritage, nurture their culture and pass on its legacy to the next generation. Other featured speakers and delegates included Padma Vibhushan and member of Rajya Sabha, Shyam Benegal (award winning film director), Basti Vaman Shenoy (President, World Konkani Center), Ram Mohan (famous film director), Mahalaxmi Shenoy (famous classical singer), Amrita Rao (Bollywood actress) and Arun Ubhayakar (Konkani scholar). Konkanis have made a mark in almost every field and the community as a whole, has every reason to be proud of its trend setting entrepre-

neurs, leaders, educationists, entertainers, sportspersons, etc. To recognize and encourage exceptional Konkanis, awards were distributed to 15 achievers in various fields they included Dr. Jos Pereira, Dr. B. Jayant Baliga, Mr. Vasanth Bhat, Executive Committee Members of the 2008 Konkani Sammelan, Dr. Mohandas Kini and Late Dr. TMA Pai. Excellence Awards were also given to Kavita Baliga (Music), Dr. Vijya Balse (Performing Arts), Dr. Narayan H Nayak (Visual Arts), Dr. Krishna Shenoy (Research), Dr. Prasad Kadle (Technology), Dr. Annapoorna Kini (Professional Achievement), Dr. Shyam J Kamath (Education), Ms. Priyanka Kamath (Sports) and Ms. Aishwarya Raja (Outstanding Youth). The wide array of entertainment programs showcased talented Konkanis that enthralled and entertained the audience in equal measure. A dramatic, vivid and stimulating opening ceremony awed the

President of Konkani Sammelan 2012, Dr. Gopal Bhandarkar delivering his welcome speech.
audience and captured the essence of the entire Sammelan in dance form. Ammi Kon, the opening song signifies Konkani pride, its history and the spirit of the community as a whole. The convention also brought together a judicious mix of workshops and cultural programs that beguiled and captivated the imagination and interest of this multi-faceted, demographically

Chief Guest TV Mohandas Pai giving the inaugural address. He also conducted a workshop on philanthropy.
cess. Led by Dr. Bhandarkar the Executive Committee comprised Ravi Shenoy (Sammelan VicePresident), Dr. Vasudev Nayak, Damodar Baliga and Nina Padukone. All worked seamlessly and in tandem for a year to accomplish their goal and give credence to the Sammelan motto, Connecting Konkanis Heart to Heart, Home Away from Home.

diverse audience. Authentic Konkani cuisine was arranged during all meals. The aesthetic quotient of the convention hall was deftly transformed into an extraordinarily beautiful and dramatic venue under the inspired vision of event planners "Elegant Affairs". A dedicated team of 60 volunteers steered this convention to its suc-

Celebrity chef and Guest Judge - Floyd Cardozo.

NAKA (North American Konkani Association) Award recipient Dr. Jos Pereira was among 6 awardees in this category.

Keynote Speaker at the Sammelan, film director Shyam Benegal being welcomed by Dr. Gopal Bhandarkar.

Well known classical singer from India, Mahalakshmi Shenoy held the audience spellbound with her performance.

Opening ceremony dance performed by nearly 60 dancers (age range 3-60) depicted the journey of the Konkani community in dance form, titled, "Ammi Kon?"

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A TRIBUTE TO RAJESH KHANNA TheSouthAsianTimes.info TheSouthAsianTimes.info

A TRIBUTE TO RAJESH KHANNA

17

July 21-27, 2012

July 21-27, 2012

'Achcha to hum chalte hain'

From the dizzying heights of fame to quiet shadows behind the arclights, Rajesh Khanna's life had a theatrical sweep, almost like one of his films. Bollywood's original superstar - simply the phenomenon to some left behind memories cast in celluloid of that famous crooked smile and head tilt.
Top 10 films of Rajesh Khanna
-1969 "Aradhana" -1969 "Do Raaste" -1970 "Safar" -1970 "Kati Patang" -1970 "Aan Milo Sajna" -1971 "Mehboob Ki Mehndi" -1971 "Dushman" -1971 "Anand" -1972 "Amar Prem" -1973 "Daag: A Poem of Love"

Rajesh Khanna's evergreen songs

Some of his hit melodious numbers are: - "Kora kagaz tha yeh man mera" ("Aradhana") 1969 - "Mere sapnon ki raani" ("Aradhana") 1969 - "Roop tera mastana" (" Aradhana") 1969 - "Woh shaam kuch ajeeb thi" ("Khamoshi") 1969 - "Achha to hum chalte hain" ("Aan Milo Sajna") 1970 - "Dil sacha aur chehra jhootha" ("Sachcha Jhootha") 1970 - "Jeevan se bhari teri aankhen" ("Safar") 1970 - "Meri pyari behaniya" ("Sachcha Jhootha") 1970 - "Yahan wahan sare jahan" ("Aan Milo Sajna") 1970 - "Yeh jo mohabbat hai" ( "Kati Patang") 1970 - "Yeh shaam mastani" ("Kati Patang") 1970 - "Pyaar deewana hota hai" ( "Kati Patang") 1970 - "Kahin door jab din dhal jaaye" ("Anand") 1971 - "Zindagi kaisi hai paheli" ("Anand") 1971 - "Chala jata hoon" ("Mere Jeevan Saathi") 1972 - "Chingari koi bhadke" ("Amar Prem") 1972 - "Kuch to log kahenge" ("Amar Prem") 1972 - "O mere dil ke chain" ("Mere Jeevan Saathi")1972 - "Diye jalte hain" ("Namak Haram") 1973 - "Main shayar badnam" ( "Namak Haram") 1973 - "Mere dil mein aaj kya hai" ( "Daag")1973 - "Jai jai shiv shankar" ( "Aap Ki Kasam") 1974 - "Karvate badalte rahe" ( "Aap Ki Kasam") 1974 - "Gore rang pe na itna" ( "Roti") 1974 - "Zindagi ke safar mein" ( "Aap Ki Kasam") 1974 - "Mere naina saawan bhadon" ( "Mehbooba") 1976 - "Aate jaate khoobsurat" ("Anurodh") 1977 - "Humein tum se pyaar kitna" ("Kudrat") 1981 - "Agar tum na hote" ("Agar Tum Na Hote") 1983 - "Shayad meri shaadi" ("Souten") 1983 - "Zindagi pyar ka geet" ("Souten") 1983

n an era long before this age of instant connect of mobile phones and internet, Rajesh Khanna was the man who sparked a frenzy never seen before and never since, not even by the likes of Amitabh Bachchan. His very name spelt magic in the 1970s. He sparked hysteria, particularly amongst his legions of women fans, who would line the road for a glimpse, chant his name, cover his car with lipstick marks and even write him letters in blood. They got married to his photograph, cut their finger, let the blood flow and applied 'sindoor'. Truly, "O mere dil ke chain"! Kaka, as he was popularly known, was one of the highest paid actors of his time, his record of consecutive solo super hits still unbroken. Who can forget the years between 1970-1979 when he starred in mega hits like "Safar", "Kati Patang", "Sachaa Jhutha", "Aan Milo Sajna", "Anand", "Amar Prem" and "Mere Jeevan Saathi". Ever the urbane, suave romantic who wooed like few others. Glory and fame galore came his way with the two 1969 films - "Aradhana" and "Do Raaste" - where he teamed up with two of his best co-stars, Sharmila Tagore and Mumtaz, respectively. Both the films were super hits. Hindi film's first superstar was born. Between "Aradhana" in 1969 and "Prem Kahani" in 1975, Rajesh enjoyed god-like status. It was all about charisma - a certain something that went beyond the art of acting. He had that unique way of delivering a dialogue, of crinkling his eyes and that interesting head tilt that were all his own - and designed to get fans swooning. Describing the charm of Rajesh Khanna, Amitabh once said: "I got famous purely because I was working with Rajesh Khanna in 'Anand'. People asked me questions like, 'How is he to look at? What does he do?'" The mega story had a small beginning in Amritsar. Born Jatin Khanna on Dec 29, 1942, he was adopted and raised by foster parents. He went from being Jatin to Rajesh, thanks to his uncle who changed his name, when he decided to join films. In 1965, the journey to filmdom started after he won the All India Talent Contest organised by United Producers and Filmfare. He made his debut with "Aakhri Khat" in 1966. It was a fairly easy road to superstardom after that. He became the heartthrob of the nation, singing timeless melodies like "Mere Sapnon Ki Rani..." in "Aradhana", "Zindagi Ek Safar" in "Andaaz" or "Yeh Shaam Mastani" in "Kati Patang". Singer Kishore Kumar and composer R.D. Burman were amongst his closest friends. In his four-decade career, he appeared in about 160 films, of which 106 had him as the solo lead hero and 22 were

two hero projects. Rajesh proved his mettle in offbeat films too. He teamed up with Hrishikesh Mukherjee for the critically acclaimed "Bawarchi" and "Namak Haram". The quintessential romantic also did the intense "Avishkar", directed by Basu Bhattacharya. But then age caught up and the star began fading away. He moved to television and played the main lead in two serials - "Ittefaque" and "Apne Paraye" during 2001-02 and also featured in "Raghukul Reet Sada Chali Aayi" between 2008-09. The decline to B-grade films was inevitable. There was also the sorry "Wafa" with Laila Khan, who was found murdered this July. He dabbled in politics, being Congress MP from the New Delhi constituency from 1991-1996. Like the Hollywood legends of yore, the personal life also had a larger than life dimension. He fell in love with Dimple Kapadia, who was only 16 and whose first film "Bobby" was yet to release. She was 15 years younger to him but the pull was strong and they got married after a whwhirwind romance in 1973. It was the stuff of tabloid headlines. They had two daughters Twinkle and Rinke. The marriage lasted only 11 years. It was a lonely life for Rajesh after that. He disappeared from the headlines and appeared to be a shadow of his former self in his rare public appearances. But the family came together in his last days. His estranged wife was the one who took care of him during his illness. Son-in-law Akshay Kumar was also a great comfort. Rajesh reappeared in an ad a few months before his death, and once again became the talk of town - he was clearly unwell but the zest in his voice was intact as he intoned "Babumoshai" from his much loved film "Anand". Like Anand from the film, the man is gone. But the memories will live on.

Rajesh has got the rest he wanted

could not control my emotions when I heard of Rajesh Khanna's sad and untimely demise today (Wednesday) afternoon. I remember way back in the early 1960s, my writing career and Rajesh's acting career took off almost simultaneously and he excelled in his chosen field. In that era, when the film industry was small but highly competitive with stalwarts like Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor, Dev Anand, Shammi Kapoor, Rajendra Kumar, for a new actor making a mark in itself was a commendable achievement Unlike the days when stars appeared to be 'loud', Rajesh was soft and quiet, in his style, acting, personality and also public image. Within a short period of a few years, he catapulted to superstardom and achieved heights like nobody before him. We were neighbors in Bandra barely at five minutes walking distance - good friends and used to meet and interact regularly. Although, in recent years it was rare due to his health conditions. I witnessed his peak period from 1969-1975 from close quarters. The dizzying heights that he reached remain a landmark which other actors and stars can covet, though we have many big stars even today. We saw that his position remained untouched, nobody could come anywhere near him, he was loved and adored by all from six to 60, especially

A tribute from friend and neighbor Salim Khan

women who considered him their ultimate Dreamboy with his cherubic smile, a romantic charisma and a good boy image... While the period Rajesh reigned at the top was quite short - barely six years - he truly deserved the 'superstar' status that the industry bestowed on him. I was involved in the writing of his career's greatest superhit "Haathi Mere Saathi" and later "Andaaz", in which he had a guest appearance. During the shooting of "Haathi Mere Saathi", when we used to travel to Chennai and other places in south India, we were surprised to see massive crowds waiting for Rajesh wherever he went. Generally, nobody knew or recognized Hindi film stars in south India, which has its own dedicated and huge film industry, so this was considered remarkable. Though many considered him a romantic hero, he was accepted in all the roles he essayed - romance, action, emotions, drama, comedy. As a person, Rajesh was basically an introvert, unable to express himself much and remained shy, traits that may be considered unthinkable for a superstar with a huge fan following. I feel saddened that he left us when he was just 69, (he would have turned 70 this December). But he had been ailing for a long time and suffering. After a high-profile acting career, he has got the rest he must have wanted

In birthplace Amritsar, relatives remember Kaka

Amritsar: In a congested neighborhood of Amritsar's walled city, the place where the family of Rajesh Khanna, who went on to become a Bollywood superstar in the 1970s, lived is now a temple. The house in this Sikh holy city's Gali Tiwaria was donated by Rajesh and a temple was constructed several years ago. The heartthrob of millions in the 1970s, Rajesh had last visited his birthplace in January. Rajesh, who had been a Congress Member of Parliament (MP) from New Delhi, was specially called earlier this year to campaign for Congress candidates in Punjab's assembly elections. "He used to love to play cricket when he lived here. He was a simple boy when he lived here and led a simple life even after achieving so much," Rajesh's foster brother Muni Chand Khanna said here. Born Jatin Khanna on Dec 29, 1942, he was adopted and raised by foster parents - Chunni Lal Khanna and his wife Leela Devi. The relatives of the former Bollywood superstar continue to live in the same locality where Rajesh grew up.

18

Jain Samaj TheSouthAsianTimes.info

July 21-27, 2012

Jain Samaj to celebrate Gurudev Shri Chitrabhanujis 90th birthday

New York: The Jain Samaj has organized an event to mark the illustrious life and work of Gurudev Shri ChitrabhanuJi on his 90th birthday. The celebration will be at the Jain Temple of New York, 271-09 -80th Avenue, New Hyde Park, New York on Saturday, July 28, 2012 at 3:00 PM. The program will include musical program by Kummar Chatterjee who will render Gurudevs favorite Anand Ghanjis stavans and Master of Ceremony JAINAs past President Anop Vora. Several scholars, monks as well as other religious leaders from the tristate area have been invited for the event. The Jain Samaj of Long Island is also participating in this celebration. The memorable program will conclude with a sumptuous vegan dinner. Gurudev arrived in the USA in 1971 and worked tirelessly to promote Jain Dharma in the US and the world. Gurudev established Jain Meditation International Center the very first place in the US where Jains could come and pray. A visionary, who along with Acharya Shri Sushil Kumarji inspired handful of Jain centers in 1981 to establish JAINA a non-sectarian organization to unite all the Jains of North America under one roof and to keep alive Jain heritage. Gurudev has been the guiding force in establishing more than 50 Jain centers in the US and Canada. Gurudev has also captured the hearts of youth so much that he has been invited to address them at every YJA (Young Jains of America) convention. Hundreds of his American students who have accepted Veganism and practice of yoga along with principles of Jainism, look up to him as their spiritual master. Gurudev has been invited to speak at the United Nations, prestigious Universities and had been invited to bless with the opening prayer at the US House of representatives in 2002. The followers look at his event as an opportunity to show their appreciation for their revered Gurudev. Born on July 26, 1922 in a small town of Rajasthan, India, Gurudev spent the first five years of his monastic life in silence and meditation (when he was 20 years old). With this experience, he realized that the ultimate purpose of all life is to expand one's awareness and to liberate the consciousness from attachment and aversion. This enlightened spirit brought wisdom, and with lucid language and eloquent speech, he made a home within the hearts of millions all over India. After powerfully addressing the Second Spiritual Summit Conference in Geneva in 1970, he was invited to address the Third Spiritual Summit Conference, arranged by the Temple of Understanding series, at Harvard Divinity School, Cambridge, Massachusetts in October 1971. This was his first trip to USA. Inspired by his message, the Boston Globe in its write-up titled Jain Sect "A Saint" . . . said he was the hit speaker of the day . . . explaining basic tenets of his sects belief . . . and he does not try to convert anyone. As the West was healing from wounds left by Hiroshima, the Kennedy and Rev. Martin Luther King assassinations, struggling with involvement in the subjugation of Vietnam, etc..,Gurudev saw his calling to spread the message of Ahimsa (non-violence). He is a worldrenowned author of over twenty-six books which reflect his philosophy of world peace and nonviolence, emphasizing the need to appreciate the sanctity of ALL life and to build solidarity in the larger family of mankind. In recent years, he has been an avid advocate for animal rights and mindfulness in our consumption habits. He emphasizes the need for adopting a life-style free of the all animal products and pure vegetarian (plant based) diet. He also promotes elimination of animal based products (like milk, ghee, silk etc.) from our temples and religious rituals. His message of pure vegetarianism (popularly known as veganism) has been largely ignored by the Jain adult community. In fact many traditions minded Jains have criticized him for being so vocal on Veganism. Gurudev has not been fazed. His passion for the pure vegetarian diet movement is so genuine that his heart cries out at the thought of the plight of speechless animals as they are exploited and tortured during milking life and ultimately slaughtered around the age of six years.

Recently YJA executive committee requested to help them to find the sponsor for the vegan book Forks Over Knives, Gurudev immediately committed $5000.00 which purchased 700 books for the distribution to all youth attendees. On this occasion, if you would like to send your message to Gurudev, e-mail it to Dilipbhai V Shah (past president of JAINA) dilipvshah@gmail.com or mail the message to him at 1902 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103. He is a Coordinator for the Committee for Gurudevs Birthday Celebration. He will compile all the messages in a book form and will present to Gurudev on his birthday.

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Op Ed TheSouthAsianTimes.info

19

July 21-27, 2012

Three keys to make India-US ties soar

By Arun Kumar

leading US think tank has proposed three key focused policy initiatives - a bilateral investment treaty, accelerated defense trade and educational collaboration - to unleash the full potential of the India-US relationship. Given the current combination of economic and political compulsions, any new initiative in US-India relations may need to wait until among other things the US presidential election, Karl Inderfurth, Wadhwani Chair in US-India Policy Studies at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), acknowledged. But these goals are "achievable", Inderfurth, who served as US assistant secretary of state for South Asian affairs during President Bill Clinton's second term, told IANS in an interview. Discounting "concerns expressed by some that the US-India relationship is at rest or stalled" as "sort of exaggerated" he said looking at the high-level attention given to it in both the capitals, "I remain very enthusiastic about where the bilateral relationship is headed." "Over the last decade US-India relationship has come a great distance during a short period of time and our view is much

Any new initiative in US-India relations may need to wait until among other things the US presidential election more can be done to unleash the full potential of that relationship, starting with the economic trade and commercial areas," Inderfurth said. "There is no question that even though US-India trade overall has surpassed $100 billion a year for the first time, much more can be done," he said outlining the role of Bangalore based Wadhwani Foundation, set up by Silicon Valley (California)-based entrepreneur Dr. Romesh Wadhwani. "That's why we are focusing on that particular initiative here at the Wadhwani Chair that is to see the two countries move

as expeditiously as possible on concluding a bilateral investment treaty (BIT)." "I think everyone sees this as a potentially achievable goal right now as both governments have placed our economic relationship at the top of our agenda," he said. Inderfurth said the Wadhwani chair can "contribute to that with pushing forward a good solid analysis of BIT and what that will mean to both countries" and working with others, including the US-India Business Council (USIBC), the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). Another initiative is a report prepared by CSIS on "US-India Defence Trade: Opportunities for Deepening the Partnership." The report analyses the current state of bilateral defence trade and provides a series of recommendations for both the US and India in order to help them "unlock the full potential" of their defence partnership. "We believe that overall defense relationship between the US and India is an important component of our security for both countries and one part of that is defense trade, which is a concrete manifestation of the change in our relationship," said Inderfurth who has penned the foreword of the report.

Can Rahul grow beyond cameo roles?

By Amulya Ganguli

he Congress' 2009 victory fostered the belief in the party of a similar success five years later followed by Rahul Gandhi's coronation as prime minister. Now, there is a shadow over both the expectations. As much was clear from the disappointment voiced by Law Minister Salman Khurshid - although he subsequently wanted the media to see it in a positive light - about the heir apparent's failure to rise above playing of "cameo roles". These, according to the minister, included the young prince's efforts to democratize the party. For others, his practice of occasionally spending a night in a Dalit home falls in this category. Since these forays were generally seen as a campaign tactic, the cynics could regard them as exercises in slumming which did not indicate an overpowering desire to experience the lives of the underprivileged. But what was odd about the minister's ruminations, which haven't gone down well in a party whose feudal traditions preclude even mild criticism of the lords and ladies of the zamindari-style household, was his observation that Rahul was "undoubtedly and unquestionably the No.2 leader in the party". Yet, considering that he has only been playing "cameo roles", how has he acquired the high status? The answer, of course, is known. It is his lineage which has enabled him to parachute down from the top to be No.2 with the possibility of becoming the No.1 in the

Unless Rahul Gandhi is more forthright, he will remain a guest artiste playing cameo roles government and perhaps at a later date in the party as well. But it is this biased succession process at odds with Rahul's efforts to democratize the party which partly explains the Congress's present "directionless" condition, to quote the minister. It goes without saying that if the top positions in a party are not acquired on the basis of a person's political ideas, organizational skills and popular appeal, the outfit can appear to be lost. In Rahul's case, there is little doubt about the veracity of the third factor, judging from the crowds which flock to his meetings, unnerving his opponents, as was evident from Mayawati's acerbic comments about him during the UP election campaign. But it is also undeniable that the multitudes which he attracts are drawn more by the still prevalent charms of the NehruGandhi dynasty than Rahul himself. He is, of course, seen as a representative, but for the crowd he is only the means through which the masses conceptualise a bond with the dynasty's stirring historical

record. But the emotional linkage does not seem to extend to Rahul himself if only because he does not offer an uplifting vision. Instead, he banks on platitudes. This is the reason why the attendance at his meetings does not translate into votes for the Congress. Throughout the party's century-old history, its vision has been its USP. The Congress was seen as the party capable of guiding India from its colonial past to a future where its multi-cultural ethos will find full fruition under a governance which reflected the constitutional imperatives of the rule of law. As such, it was against the encouragement of caste divisions and the branding of minorities as aliens. When the people flock to Rahul's meetings, it is this image of the Congress which they have in mind. Unfortunately, this perception is not true of the party today. Moreover, when Khurshid says that the party needs "an ideology to be given by our next generation leader, Rahul Gandhi", he is exposing the reason why the Congress is faltering. For, what he is acknowledging is that the party does not have an ideology at the moment. Nor is the reason for the vacuum a secret. As is known, and the reason has already been identified by foreign agencies and columnists at home, the Congress is torn between the pro-market views of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the socialistic outlook of the party president, Sonia Gandhi. Hence, the lack of direction. For Rahul to give an ideology, he has to choose between the two. Unless he is more forthright, he will remain a guest artiste playing cameo roles.

The views expressed in Op Eds are not necessarily those of The South Asian Times.

20

Diaspora TheSouthAsianTimes.info

July 21-27, 2012

NRI facilitates computer lessons for Vidarbha farmers

Nagpur: Over 120 farmers, farmers' widows and youth have enrolled for a free computer training center set up by a non-resident Indian from Oman in a Maharashtra village. Krishnakumar Taori, the group managing director of a construction company in Oman, is a native of the Ghuikhed village on the Yavatmal-Amravati border in the farmers' suicide-hit Vidarbha region. "With more than 120 registrations, including farmers, widows and youth, they will be provided basic to advanced computer courses absolutely free of cost here," said Sanjay S. Dhotre, a BJP MP from Akola, at the centre's inauguration in Saturday. Taori was also present at the function. Dhotre admitted that though MPs received funds for development works in their constituency, "such an idea to set up a computer center did not strike me." With 10 computers and an internet connection, this is the first such training center in the region containing nearly 100 villages. The courses will be taught in three shifts daily. In April, Taori, who was born to a cotton farmer in Ghuikhed, decided to set up the center after a visit to Pandharkavada village to distribute saris and blankets to 200 women, whose husbands had committed suicide due to debt, said an activist. "At that time, he (Taori) had expressed a desire to set up computer training centre and industrial training institutes. Land acquisition for the institutes has been done," said Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti chief Kishore Tiwari, who helped in Taori's efforts. He said that for the last five years, Taori, the group managing director of Hasan Juma Backer Trading and Contracting Co. LLC, has been engaged in providing free education to tribal children of the backward Melghat region in Amravati district.

Indian-origin economist appointed Trinidad bank governor

Pak PM directs officials to resolve property issues of Hindus

Islamabad: Pakistan Premier Raja Pervez Ashraf has directed the board managing the shrines of minority communities to resolve all issues related to properties of the Hindus in the country, amid allegations regarding mismanagement of assets belonging to temples and gurdwaras. The Premier issued the directive after Minister of State for Information Samsam Ali Bokhari informed him about the chronic issue of properties of the Hindus, which are currently with the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB). Bokhari said the ETPB was depriving people of their legitimate claims on property and this was causing resentment among the members of the minority community, according to a statement issued by the Premiers office. Ashraf directed the ETPBs management to resolve the issue to the satisfaction of the affected people at the earliest. The ETPB is responsible for managing the shrines and properties of minority communities across Pakistan. There have been several allegations against the Board regarding the mismanagement of properties of temples and gurdwaras in different cities.

Jag Singh Malhi first Sikh to join Adelaide Police

Adelaide: Jag Singh Malhi became first South Adelaide Police Academy graduate to wear an officialissue turban as he joined western Adelaide police. Outgoing Police Commissioner Mal Hyde presided over his final graduation ceremony recently welcoming Probationary Constable Malhi, the first Sikh graduate, among 40 overseas and interstate recruits. The group, including 38 UK officers, one New Zealander and one officer from NSW, joined their South Australian colleagues across the state. Prob-Constable Malhi moved to South Australia after 6 years serving as a police officer in New Zealand. He is now one of about 600 international officers recruited by SA Police after being turned down by both Victorian and NSW Police because he was not an Australian citizen. Prob-Constable Malhi said he expected to face challenges as one of only two Sikh officers - his comrade joined SA Police earlier - but hoped his recruitment would encourage others.

Jwala Ramberran Port of Spain: Jwala Ramberran, a 45-year-old economist of Indian origin, has been appointed by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar as the next governor of the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago. Ramberran is the second person of Indian origin to get the nod for this position, the first being Winston Dookeran, who was until last month the minister of finance in the two-year-old People's Partnership government. Ramberran's forefathers came from India between 1845 and 1917 to work on the sugar and cocoa plantations. Dookeran served as governor of the Central Bank during the reign of Basdeo Panday during 1995-2001. Panday was the first man of Indian origin to serve as prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago since its independence in 1962. The country's Central Bank became operational in 1964. Ramberran is a graduate of the Executive and Financial Training Programme at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He was also trained at the IMF Institute and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. He has a master's degree in economics. He earlier wanted to study medicine. Ramberran has pledged to maintain the independence of the Central Bank. He succeeds Ewart Williams.

SA Police graduate Jag Singh Malhi with Commissioner Mal Hyde "Being one of the Sikh police officers here, I think more will join and more people from other communities will look at it and (SA Police) will be more culturally diverse," he said. "In New Zealand as the first police officer to have the turban on I faced some challenges but ... being a police officer in itself is a challenge.

Brampton Sikh elementary school vandalized by racist graffiti

Brampton: Ripsodhak Grewal doesnt know why teenage vandals would scrawl swastikas and the letters KKK onto the walls of a Sikh elementary school. He does know something must change in Brampton, which has seen two high-profile racist incidents in recent months. Its hard to imagine this happening in the 21st century, he said. Im beginning to wonder what we are missing when we are educating these young children, he told Star News Services. Grewal is principal of Khalsa Community School, the provinces largest private Sikh elementary. He first saw the graffiti July10th morning, after neighbors reported it to police. concentration of South Asians in Canada, at 31.7 per cent of the population. The graffiti incident comes just months after a racist YouTube video in which a 16-year-old Brampton girl equated turbans with terrorists and complained her entire school was brown. Peel Regional Police spokesman Peter Brandwood said police do not have any suspects, but will increase their presence in the area. Hate-based crimes in our region always remain a priority, he said. Graffiti attacks against Sikhs are not uncommon, said Balpreet Singh, acting executive director of the World Sikh Organization of Canada. Weve been quite concerned about incidents across the country, he said.

Ripsodhak Grewal, principal of the Khalsa Community School Brampton, looks at spray-painted wall
Security video from previous night showed three young people their faces too blurry to be identified spray-painting the back gymnasium wall. Brampton is home to the largest

Subcontinent TheSouthAsianTimes.info

21

July 21-27, 2012

NATO supply routes: Thousands protest reopening

Islamabad: Thousands of people in northwest Pakistan staged a sit-in on the main supply route for NATO forces in Afghanistan. They were opposing Islamabad's decision to reopen the supply line, closed last November over the killing of 24 Pakistani soldiers in a drone strike. The supply route was reopened on July 3 after US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said she offered her "deepest regrets" to Pakistan's Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar for the "tragic incidents" in which Pakistani security personnel were killed. The reopening evoked strong criticism from main religious and several opposition political parties. They are organizing marches and rallies in major cities against the reopening of the NATO supply routes, Xinhua reported. Jamaat-e-Islami party organised the sit-in on the main route in Khyber tribal region near the Torkham border point. Hundreds of trucks with supplies for NATO forces cross Afghanistan via Torkham every day. Jamaat-e-Islami chief Munawar Hasan criticized the government's decision to allow NATO trucks through Pakistani territory, appealing to the people to force the government to withdraw its decision as it would drag Pakistan into war in Afghanistan. Disputing the government's claim that the supply line was

The reopening evoked strong criticism from main religious and several opposition political parties reopened to facilitate withdrawal of foreign forces, Hasan said it was done under US pressure while ignoring parliamentary guidelines about the future relationship with Washington.

Afghan aid: US Senator threatens to force vote

Washington: A key American Senator has threatened to force a vote on ending US aid to Pakistan unless a Pakistani doctor, who helped CIA trace Osama bin Laden, is released from prison. Senator Rand Paul took to the Senate floor announcing his intention to force a Senate vote that, if passed, would strip Pakistan of all US foreign aid until Dr Shakil Afridi's recent 33-year prison sentence is overturned and he is allowed to leave Pakistan. Afridi's appellate hearing is scheduled for July 19. "What I say to Pakistan is if you want to be our ally, act like it. If you want to be our ally, respect us. If you want to be our ally, work with us on the war on terrorism. But if you want to be our ally, don't hold Dr Afridi, don't hold political prisoners, don't hold people who actually are working with us to get bin Laden," he said. "I will do everything within my power to have this vote ... if Afridi remins in jail next week, I will make them vote on this because it's the least you deserve, the tax-

36 Indian pilgrims die in Nepal bus crash

Kathmandu/New Delhi: At least 36 Indians were among 40 people killed when an overcrowded bus carrying Hindu pilgrims from India to a temple in Nepal veered off the road and fell into a deep canal, authorities in Delhi and Kathmandu said. The overloaded bus plunged into an The apparently irrigation canal on the Gandak river overloaded bus plunged into an Bikram Shah told reporters that irrigation canal on the Gandak the driver of the bus lost control river, close to Parasi town near the on the road that was slippery India-Nepal border. because of rainfall. Officials in Kathmandu and Another police officer, Deepak New Delhi said the bus was taking Raya, said the bus fully subthe pilgrims - mostly from Uttar merged in the river water after Pradesh - to the Hindu pilgrimage veering off the road. site of Triveni, 100 km from Nepal Army and Armed Police Kathmandu. Force personnel along with local Police said the bus was carrying residents were carrying out rescue about 75 passengers and many of works. them were riding on its roof. The number of casualties could Police superintendent Gyan rise, the official added.

Do not train Sri Lankans: Jaya, Karuna

Chennai: Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa and former chief minister M. Karunanidhi have asked the central government to send back all Sri Lankan military personnel training in India and accused the central government of not respecting Tamil sentiments. In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Jayalalithaa said the central government was showing "utter disrespect" to the sentiments of the Tamils by training Sri Lankan defence personnel and allowing them to visit Tamil Nadu. "Imparting training to Sri Lankan armed forces in defence training institutions in India and allowing them to visit Tamil Nadu reveals the utter disrespect shown to the sentiments of the people of Tamil Nadu." She urged Manmohan Singh to instruct the defence ministry to desist from giving any training to Sri Lankan armed forces anywhere in India and send them back immediately. Two Sri Lankan officers along with 25 others from various countries are in Coonoor in Nilgiris district in Tamil Nadu. They will be visiting the Defence Service Staff College at Wellington, 520 km from here. The group is undergoing training at the National Defence Academy in New Delhi.

Senator Rand Paul payers deserve to know why are your Senators voting to send your money overseas when we're a trillion dollars in the hole," Paul said. "Why are your Senators voting to send billions of dollars to Pakistan when they imprison the guy who helped us get bin Laden. This is unconscionable. It has to stop. The debt is a threat to our country; it's a threat to the republic and I will do everything I can to force a vote on this," he said. "We spent hundreds of billions of dollars searching for him (Bin Laden). Where did we find him?" he asked.Meanwhile, the Pentagon said it is "very pleased" that the ground line of communications (GLOCs) to Afghanistan is now open.

US seeks to designate Haqqani as a terror network

Washington: Ramping up the pressure on Obama Administration to designate the Haqqani Network as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives has passed a bill through voice vote. The bill, which was proposed by Senator Richard Burr and was brought to the House Floor under suspension of the rules on Tuesday, requires the state department to decide within a month whether the Haqqani Network meets the criteria for the designation. In the absence of the legislation the Pakistan-based terror outfit can raise funds in America. An official FTO designation is a critical step allowing the United States to more aggressively undermine the network's support. of US soldiers, now is the time for action, not simply paperwork and talk. There is no good reason that this group has not yet been designated," Rogers said. On May 11, Rogers, ranking member Dutch Ruppersberger and their Senate counterparts, chairman Dianne Feinstein and vicechairman Saxby Chambliss, called on the Obama Administration to designate the Haqqani Network as an FTO. On June 27th, Chairman Rogers, House foreign affairs committee chairman Ileana RosLehtinen, and House armed services committee chairman Buck McKeon introduced legislation demanding that the Haqqani Network be designated as an FTO. Language from the Rogers/RosLehtinen/McKeon bill was included in the bill that passed the House.

The Haqqani network is accused of being responsible for a number of terror attacks against the US interests in Afghanistan The Haqqani network is accused face in that country. They actively of being responsible for a number plot and kill US and allied soldiers of terror attacks against the US and routinely harm innocent Afghan civilian men, women and interests in Afghanistan. "The Haqqani Network is children in their path," said Mike engaged in a reign of terror in Rogers, chairman of the house perAfghanistan and is the single manent select committee on intellilargest threat for IED's our soldiers gence. "To better protect the lives

22

International TheSouthAsianTimes.info

July 21-27, 2012

Romania president likely to Damascus bombing: Syrian defense minister killed be impeached: Poll
the survey by pollster CURS for local newspaper Jurnalul National found. Romania's Constitutional Court has ruled that more than half the electorate must turn out for the referendum to be valid, a decision which improved Basescu's chances of surviving. Voter support for the USL has risen to 63 per cent, according to the poll conducted on July 11-16, despite the international criticism Ponta has received this month. That indicates Ponta is likely to stay in power in the election due in November. A March opinion poll had put support for the USL at 48.4 per cent. The political turmoil and policy paralysis caused by the dispute between Ponta and Basescu have raised concerns over a 5 billion euro ($6.11 billion) International Monetary Fund-led aid deal. Markets have also been rattled, sending the Romanian leu to all-time lows against the euro.

Romanian president Traian Basescu Bucharest: Romanian president Traian Basescu is likely to be impeached by voters in a referendum on July 29, an opinion poll showed, providing turnout is high enough to make the vote valid. Prime Minister Victor Ponta's ruling Social Liberal Union (USL) alliance also remains clear favourite to win a parliamentary election late in the year, the survey showed. The leftist USL, backed by parliament, suspended Basescu earlier this month, saying he had overstepped his powers. European Union leaders have criticized Ponta for his campaign to oust his political rival. Sixty-six per cent of the 1,104 people polled said they wanted Basescu to be impeached, with 34 per cent against. The president is unpopular for backing austerity measures, including salary cuts and a rise in sales tax. Sixty-one per cent said they would vote in the referendum,

Syrian Defense Minister Daoud Rajha (right) Moscow: Syrian Defense Minister Daoud Rajha was killed in a suicide bombing in Damascus, just hours before a crucial UN vote on the violence-plagued Middle East country, state television reported. The blast occurred during a meeting of ministers and security officials at national security headquarters. President Bashar al-Assad's brother-inlaw, Deputy Defence Minister Assef Shawkat, was also fatally injured in the attack, the Hezbollah's al-Manar TV said. Several other top officials, including the interior minister, are in a critical condition, TV reports said. The attack came as heavy fighting raged in the capital. The rebel Free Syria Army said earlier this week it had launched the final battle for Damascus, which had so far seen little of the violence that has claimed thousands of lives across Syria. The 15-member UN Security Council will vote later Wednesday on a new Westernbacked resolution on Syria which could lead to tough new sanctions against Assad's regime. Russia has said it will block the resolution and has called for all sides in the conflict to implement UN special envoy Kofi Annan's floundering peace plan.

World experiences fourth warmest June on record

Geneva: Average global temperatures this June were the fourth warmest since record keeping began in 1880, the World M e t e o r o l o g i c a l Organization (WMO) has said. The combined average temperature over global land and ocean surfaces was 16.12 degrees Celsius, 0.63 degrees above the 20th century average, Xinhua reported. Most areas of the world experienced above-average monthly temperatures, the WMO said citing statistics from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The areas included North America, Eurasia and northern Africa. However, the monthly temperature during June in Britain was below the 1971-2000 average, making it the coolest June since 1991, said the report.

Africa pushes for greater democracy, crisis resolution

Addis Ababa: African leaders ended their 19th biannual summit that saw the election of the first female head of the African Union Commission and a renewed pledge to push democracy and fast-track resolution of crises in the continent's hotspots, including Mali, the Sudans, Guinea Bissau and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Held in the shining Chinese-built new headquarters here, the July 1516 summit's attention-drawing event that overshadowed other issues was the election of South African Home Affairs Minister Nkosozana Dlamini-Zuma as the new chairperson of the African Union Commission, the executive body which manages day-to-day affairs of the 54-nation African Union. Dlamini-Zuma, a veteran antiapartheid activist and a former wife of South African President Jacob Zuma, broke the glass ceiling by becoming the first woman head of the AU Commission. She was sworn in past midnight Monday by Benin's President Boni Yayi, the chair of the AU, signaling the end of the leadership stalemate that has plagued the AU since a deadlocked election in January this year. Jean Ping, a former Gabon's foreign minister who helmed the AU civilian government in the West African state by July-end. The AU is now expected to step up efforts to get the western regional bloc, Economic Community of West African States, to support a plan for a possible military intervention in northern Mali, where Islamist militants have seized control and unleashed destruction of ancient holy shrines and artefacts. In other key peace initiatives, the presidents of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) signed a pact July 14 to support the formation an international force to confront an armed rebellion in the eastern part of the DRC. Welcoming the agreement, AU Peace and Security Commissioner Ramtane Lamamra underlined the new spirit of give and take in resolving the continent's crises, which hopefully should become more prominent in days to come. "Both at the level of ministers and heads of state, there is a new spirit. There is an equal eagerness to work together to overcome the misunderstandings that may exist on the ground. And I believe that the only thing that we can request of you is give us a chance to work and develop a new spirit, and translate it into deeds on the ground," he said.

South African Home Affairs Minister Nkosozana Dlamini-Zuma became the first woman head of the AU Commission for the last four years, graciously citizen. I am loyal to the African accepted defeat and congratulated Union, and I will serve the African Dlamini-Zuma. "This is a memo- Union, and I'll work collectively rable moment," Ping said and with every member states," said wished her "the very best success in Dlamini-Zuma, setting the tone for a undertaking this noble mission". resurgent AU leadership in coming The end of the leadership battle, days. which was marked by a sharp polarThe summit, themed 'Boosting ization between Anglophone and Intra-African Trade', also saw Francophone countries, has infused African leaders discussing acceleranew hope in the continent about the tion of an free trade area and intense AU's new leadership to resolve for- debates to map the way forward out midable challenges facing the conti- of debilitating crises in the continent amid the global slowdown. nent's hotspots. Partisan politics is behind, and the Voicing concerns over the postdominant sentiment is now one of coup crisis in Mali as one of biggest African unity, solidarity and integra- security threats to Africa, home to tion. priceless treasures of Timbuktu, the "My view is that I'm an African AU pitched for restoration of the

Business TheSouthAsianTimes.info

23

July 21-27, 2012

Washington: With global recovery weakening further, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has marginally reduced India's growth projections from 6.8 percent to 6.1 percent for 2012 and from 7.2 percent to 6.5 percent in 2013. In the past three months, the global recovery, which was not strong to start with, has shown signs of further weakness, the 188-nation global financial monitor said, releasing three July updates on global financial health. Financial market and sovereign stress in the euro area periphery have ratcheted up, close to end2011 levels. Growth in a number of major emerging market economies, notably Brazil, China and India, has been lower than forecast, IMF's World Economic Outlook said. "This partly reflects a weaker

IMF pares India's Money laundering: US senate growth to 6.1 percent probe blames HSBC
external environment, but domestic demand has also decelerated sharply in response to capacity constraints and policy tightening over the past year," it said. However, these developments will only result in a minor setback to the global outlook, with global growth at 3.5 percent in 2012 and 3.9 percent in 2013, marginally lower than in the April 2012. But this would be so provided there is sufficient policy action to allow financial conditions in the euro area periphery to ease gradually and that recent policy easing in emerging market (EM)economies will gain traction, it said. The July update of the Global Financial Stability Report (GFSR) also noted that emerging markets are facing extraordinary uncertainty about external conditions impinging on their economic performance. Washington: US Senate investigators have accused global banking giant HSBC of failing to prevent billions of dollars worth of money transfers linked to drug cartels and terrorist groups. HSBC failed to review thousands of suspicious transactions and properly vet clients over the past decade, Senate's Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations said in a report. Among other issues, the report notes that in 2007 and 2008, HSBC's Mexico unit shipped $7 billion in cash to the bank's US affiliate, a volume of shipments that law enforcement officials said could reach that size "only if they included illegal drug proceeds." HSBC Mexico had a number of high-profile clients linked to drug trafficking, the report said, as well as "a huge backlog of accounts marked for closure due to suspicious activity, but whose closures were delayed." The subcommittee also found that HSBC worked extensively with Saudi Arabia's Al Rajhi Bank, some owners of which have been linked to terrorism financing, according to CNN. Some evidence suggests Al Rajhi's "key founder" was "an early financial benefactor of al Qaeda," the report said.

HSBC failed to review thousands of suspicious transactions and properly vet clients over the past decade HSBC's US affiliate supplied Al Rajhi with nearly $1 billion worth of US banknotes up to 2010, and also worked with two banks in Bangladesh that some evidence links to terrorism financing as well. "From an oversight perspective, the failure of accountability here is dramatic," Senator Carl Levin, chairman of the subcommittee, said. The report also said HSBC's US affiliate handled nearly 25,000 transactions involving Iran between 2001 and 2007, despite US sanctions against the country.

Reebook India booked for FEMA violation

Mumbai: Reebok India now a subsidiary of the German sports goods-maker Adidas has been booked by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for alleged Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) violations and may face penal action and money laundering charges for running unauthorized retail outlets as well as breach of export commitments. Sources said the ED has registered a case for alleged FEMA violations against Reebok India as the firm failed to keep its commitment to export goods worth Rs 8,000 crore in the first 10 years of its operations. The commitment not to engage in retail sales and to meet export com-

'Raise FDI limit to boost defense trade'

Washington: A US think tank has suggested that India should raise the limit of foreign direct investment from 26 percent to over 50 percent in order to incentivise US companies to invest in its defense industry. Raising the FDI limit is one of the recommendations in five key areas for both the United States and India made by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies to help "unlock the full potential" of their defense partnership. To meet strategic challenges, the report suggests that the US and India engage in an in-depth discussion about India's defense needs that stems from a joint vision for the strategic defense relationship and should designate one official on each side to promote bilateral defense trade. In the area of political challenges, the report suggests that the United States needs to be consistent and reliable in its technology transfer decisions and in its provision of purchased defense equipment. In turn, the Indian government should craft a public narrative about the benefits of mutual partnership to counter negative perceptions within the Indian political system, it said.

mitments were the twin grounds on which Reebok was allowed to start operations in India. Besides, the company also promised not to import goods that could be manufactured locally.

However, sources in the ED claim that their investigations revealed Reebok India hardly manufactured any goods locally, imported most of its wares from its manufacturing units based in south-east Asia.

Oil below $89 in Asia amid weak economic outlook

Bangkok: Oil fell below $89 a barrel in Asia as regional stock markets slid on the Fed's gloomy outlook for the US economy. Benchmark crude for August delivery was down 60 cents at $88.62 a barrel at early afternoon Bangkok time in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract added 79 cents to end Tuesday at $89.22 per barrel in New York. Brent crude was up 72 cents at $103.28 on the ICE futures

Googles Marissa Mayer is Yahoo CEO

New York: Yahoo picked Google's Marissa Mayer to become its new CEO, turning to an engineer with established Silicon Valley credentials to turn around the struggling former Internet powerhouse. Mayer, 37, edged out frontrunner and acting chief executive Ross Levinsohn to become Yahoo's third CEO in a year. She hopes to stem losses to Google and Facebook which her highprofile predecessors failed to do. Mayer is pregnant and expecting the baby on October 7. She confirmed the pregnancy on her Twitter feed late Monday after it was reported by Fortune magazine, writing: "Another piece of good news today @zackbrogue and I are expecting a new baby boy!" Mayer, Google's 20th employee

exchange in London.Oil has gained the past few days but is significantly lower from its $106 level of about two months ago. Europe's debt crisis and waning growth in the U.S. and China have added to expectations of weak demand for crude, pulling down the oil price.

Marissa Mayer and first female engineer , has led a number of its businesses, and was credited for envisioning the clean, simple Google search interface still in use today, a major selling point for web surfers. Also known for her love of fashion and a regular on the society pages, she said that she was immediately interested when Yahoo's board reached out to her in mid-June . Last responsible for Google's local and location services, she joins fellow female tech chieftains Meg

24

Sports TheSouthAsianTimes.info

July 21-27, 2012

Archers, lifters and Bindra arrive at Olympic village

Bindra, who won the historic gold medal in Beijing, was the first Indian shooter to check into the Games Village here Monday. The Indian athletes were welcomed at the village by deputy Chef de Mission P.K. Muralidharan Raja. The Indian contingent, comprising 81 athletes and 51 officials, has been allocated the Seaside Building S1, also named the Titan. Most of the athletes and the officials are on the fifth, sixth and seventh floors. All athletes and officials will be given accommodation on twin sharing basis. Each apartment has two double-bed rooms, TV and WIFI connection. The main dining hall has a special corner called Foods from India and Asia, which will be operational soon. The official welcome ceremony for the Indian contingent is slated for July 22. The Indian delegation's request of postponing the event to July 25 so that most of the athletes and the media could attend it has been turned down by the organisers due to cramped schedule.

London: Ace rifle shooter Abhinav Bindra, the 10-member archery team and the four weightlifters were among the first Indians to arrive in the Olympic Village here.

Shooter Manavjit Singh Sandhu arrives at Londons Heathrow Airport to participate in the Olympics

Sushil Kumar named India's flag-bearer

New Delhi: Sushil Kumar, the Beijing Olympics bronze winning wrestler, will be India's flag-bearer at the London Games' opening ceremony on July 27. Indian Olympic Association (IOA) acting president Vijay Kumar Malhotra announced here Sunday that Sushil was chosen for the honor after due consideration. Malhotra said other Olympic medallists Leander Paes (tennis), Abhinav Bindra (shooting) and Vijender Singh (boxing), were also in the reckoning for the flag-bearer's role. "Sushil will be India's flag-bearer at the London Games. Names of Paes, Bindra and Vijender were also brought up for the role. Paes has already given the honour while Bindra and Vijender have their competition in the early days

Knicks don't match Rockets' offer to Lin

New York: The New York Knicks have given up the pretense of matching the three-year, $25 million offer sheet Jeremy Lin signed with the Rockets, meaning the NBA's first American-born player of Taiwanese or Chinese descent will play for Houston in his second stint with the club, according to a report in The New York Times. The Knicks had refused to confirm they received the Rockets' offer sheet. But The Times, according to a person briefed on the decision, reported the deliberations were considered final. Knicks spokesperson Jonathan Supranowitz said the team had no comment. Lin, 23, will get about $5 million in each of his first two seasons, then balloon to a guaranteed $15 million in Year 3, an offer Houston made that almost certainly guaranteed the Knicks would have to pass on. Or, if they matched, the Knicks would have to pay through the pocket under the NBA's luxury tax system detailed in the new collective bargaining agreement.

Sushil Kumar. of the Olympics," Malhotra said. Vijender, who was the other bronze medalist at Beijing, has his first round bout a day after the opening ceremony while shooter Bindra's event is also in the initial days of the mega event. Atlanta bronze medalist Paes was the flag-bearer at the Sydney Games in 2000. Trap shooter Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore carried the national flag in the Beijing edition four years ago.

Jeremy Lin Lin spent less than two weeks in the Rockets' training camp last season before being let go, not because Houston general manager Daryl Morey really wanted to do that. But it was a necessary move to waive him with Kyle Lowry and Goran Dragic on the roster. Lowry is now with the Toronto Raptors and Dragic with the Phoenix Suns. The Rockets' misfortune became the Knicks' windfall, as Lin emerged out of nowhere to lead New York through a remarkable stretch of the season that directed them into the playoffs. With the Knicks floundering at 8-15 and injuries piling up, Lin got his chance -- and "Linsanity" was born. The Knicks went on a sevengame winning streak, with Lin scoring increasing career highs: 25 against the then-New Jersey Nets, 28 against the Utah Jazz, up to 38 against the Los Angeles Lakers.

I can hope and try, not predict: Saina

Hyderabad: Indian athletes are projected to win medals in a handful of disciplines at the London Olympics, but none is closer to the goal than iconic badminton star Saina Nehwal. "It is the highest level of the game and a dream for any sportsperson; I can only hope and try, cannot predict. "Let's wait and see what London holds for me. My coach Gopi sir (Pullela Gopichand) and the team are doing their best to help me with my game and build confidence level," said the badminton star. Four years ago when she played at the Beijing Olympics she was a teen - 18 - and she became the first Indian to enter the badminton quarterfinals at the Olympics. Now she is heading for London with confidence, experience and with several titles in the run-up to boot. She has emerged a clear threat to the badand Indonesia Super Series titles last month, the world number four stood up to the domination of the Chinese girls and proved they can be beaten. Saina has defeated all top players of the world except current No.1 Wang Yihan, one of the three Chinese who will be in action in the women's singles at the London Olympics. "Let us see what happens. I will give my 100 percent in all of the matches," she said when asked if she is confident of beating Wang this time. Saina believes all opponents are going to be tough as every player is working very hard for the prestigious competition. Will she be under pressure of expectations? "No, it all boils down to what happens on that particular day against an opponent. I believe in hard work and leave the rest to the Almighty. " The Chinese are not the only ones she has to deal with. She has other difficult customers from other countries, too, on her way to the medal round. As for the Chinese, she was beaten by four Chinese five times. Only Wang Yihan is a definite threat to her as she could not beat her even once in her five meetings. The other player who has harassed her is third-ranked Li Xuerui. Should China prefer to field Asian champion and third-placed Li Xuerui ahead of the second ranked Wang Xin or fourth-placed Wang Shixian, it will add to Saina's worries. Saina has an identical record against Li Xuerui and World No.2 Wang Xin, winning twice in six meetings. She has won thrice against fourth-ranked Wang Shixian in four encounters.

Saina Nehwal one who is willing to put his minton superpowers. Those who have followed the money on her to come back with a Hyderabadi's badminton from medal. close quarters insist the 22-year-old The expectations from Saina is India's best bet for a medal in have risen after her splendid showLondon. Coach Syed Mohammed ing on the circuit in recent months. Arif, who has seen Saina's rise, is After bagging the Thailand Open

Ultimate Bollywood Thesouthasiantimes.info

25

July 21-27, 2012

'Trishna' a very beautiful yet tragic tale: Freida

reida Pinto, who became an overnight celebrity after the multiple-Oscar winning "Slumdog Millionaire", views her new film "Trishna" as a "very beautiful and yet tragic" tale of a village girl torn between her traditional upbringing and the dreams of a girl from modern India. Based on Thomas Hardy's classic "Tess of the d'Urbervilles", British filmmaker Michael Winterbottom's newest film is set in rural Rajasthan. It has Pinto playing the title role of Trishna, an auto-rickshaw driver's daughter who falls for a rich boy. "I guess the journey is very beautiful and at the same time very tragic," she says, "because it goes from being really innocent to being in a situation of almost desperation and finally to redemption."

"It's quite an intense journey for one girl to go through," Pinto said in New York, where she arrived for the red carpet premiere of the film at the IFC Centre in Manhattan earlier this week. She felt Trishna was a tough role to play "because it's so different from what I am in real life," said Pinto, who has a very outspoken personality and "just can't kind of lay back and just get bombarded with things that I don't believe in." "So I guess that was really hard for me, especially because we didn't really have a solid script," she said. "So every time, I would try to say something or speak out against something, Michael would just say, 'No, you don't say anything in this situation. Just observe'." "Now as an actor who is very outspo-

ken, it was very tough and again such a welcome challenge," said Pinto, who "would love to be something like that again." To prepare for her role, she spent some time in Rajasthan's Osian village in a family setting and interviewed a number of girls who worked at hotels and one who worked as ground staff in an airline. "It was very interesting that all the stories were different from the other, but the bottom line came down to 'whatever dad thinks is probably right and we'll just follow that or whatever our future husband thinks is right is going to be our life from then on,'" she said. Although she lives in Los Angeles these days for convenience's sake, Mumbai will always be number one for Pinto because "it has made me the person I am today - very outspoken".

Freida Pinto at the red carpet premiere of her new film 'Trishna' at the IFC Centre in downtown Manhattan

Akshay rides Rs.1 mn bike in 'Oh My God!'

ction king Akshay Kumar will be seen riding a specially designed motorcycle worth about Rs.1 million in his upcoming movie "Oh My God!" The motorcycle, Vardenchi Chopper, has been especially conceptualised for the movie, keeping in mind its theme and concept. "It took Vardenchi 45 days to make the Chopper. It is designed keeping in mind the look of the film and the splendid personality of Akshay. Akshay loved the design and was very impressed by the drool factor of the motorcycle," said a source. The motorcycle has some unique features, such as - 500 cc engine, eyecatching graphic jobs, double-sided swing arm, mirror classic chrome and 300 mm rear tyre. "Oh My God!" releases on September 28 and also features Paresh Rawal.

Saif, Kareena wedding postponed

An artistic impression of Akshay Kumar riding specially-designed motorcycle

he muhurat of the Bollywood's eagerly-awaited wedding between Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor remains elusive with the actor revealing that the marriage is postponed to the year-end and not going to happen in London contrary to the buzz about the change in the venue. Earlier, Saif's mother Sharmila Tagore had said that her son would tie knot with Kareena on October 16 at Pataudi Palace in Pataudi village. "I have not fixed a date for the wedding yet. It is going to be a year-end wedding," Saif said. When asked if the wedding will be solemnized as per Hindu rituals or a traditional nikaah, Saif said, "It is a very private thing...I don't want to talk about it". Saifeena, as the celebrity pair is commonly referred to, have been dating for five years and are going strong.

Saif with Kareena

Aamir Khans son makes Bollywood debut

eventeen-year-old Junaid has been recruited to assist Raj Kumar Hirani on his next project 'Peekay', starring his father and Anushka Sharma Aamir Khan and Reena Dutta's son Junaid will finally make his Bollywood debut. Albeit, behind the camera. TOI has learnt Khan junior will be the first assistant to director Rajkumar Hirani in his maiden production Peekay starring Aamir and Anushka Sharma. While Aamir and Hirani remained unavailable for comment, a source close to

the film confirmed the story and revealed, it was the director who offered the 17year-old Khan a chance to work on the project. Initially taken aback, Junaid convinced his father and promised not to neglect his studies. In fact, he has already begun his work. A source close to the film revealed that Junaid has been traveling across the country scouting for suitable locations for the shoot. The film is scheduled to go on floors later this year. A source close to the Khan

family told us, "Junaid has always been fascinated by the various aspects of filmmaking. He used to often accompany his father to the sets of his films. He always had a viewpoint. And Aamir was rather impressed with it." Vidhu Vinod Chopra, who had always been close to Aamir and Hirani and is a presenter for Peekay, had also been impressed by Junaid's eye for detail. Apparently, Jr Khan's knowledge of camera angles and ear for music had awed Chopra.

Junaid with his father Aamir Khan

26

Music TheSouthAsianTimes.info

July 21-27, 2012

Remembering RD Burman
US-based heart surgeon Dr Mukesh Hariawala remembers music icon R.D. Burman as a "Human Jewel" on his 73rd birth anniversary.
By Parveen Chopra

he world fondly remembers Indian music icon R.D. Burman aka "Pancham-da" on his 73rd birth anniversary who composed evergreen melodies like "Dum Maro Dum for the movie Hare Rama Hare Krishna and Mere Sapnon ki Rani for Aradhana and many other cult hits of the 1970's and 80's, which is often described as the golden era of Bollywood music. RD started his career journey under the tutelage of his father, the music maestro S.D. Burman. Finally, in 1961, his first solo endeavor debuted with "Chhote Nawab" and subsequently he went on to spend more than two decades composing tunes that are still used in song foundations and remixes by the current generation of music directors. In 1989, RD had a major heart attack and was subsequently operated for bypass surgery by Harvard trained Indian American cardiac surgeon Dr Mukesh Hariawala who was then an integral part of the operating team with British surgeon Dr John Wright at the upscale Princess Grace Hospital in London. Dr Hariawala emotionally remembers RD as "A Gem of a Patient" from among the several

Together, RD Burman and wife Asha Bhosle recorded many hit songs and also staged many live performances. celebrities including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that he has operated during the course of 25 years. On admission to the hospital in London, RD had irregular heartbeat and blocked arteries and he confessed with a musical anecdote, Doctor Saab, if the heart can't beat in rhythm, it was becoming impossible to compose rhythmic music and tune in catchy melodies ". Ironically, the late 1980's was a very turbulent period in RD's music career, when many top directors had abandoned him and his rating in Bollywood was at an all time low. RD confessed depression and desperately wanted just one more opportunity to prove his musical talent to peers. After successful open heart surgery, not only did RD recover physically but it rejuvenated his confidence and he went on to compose the Filmfare award winning "Ek Ladki Ko Dekha To Aisa Laga" (RDs 3rd Filmfare award) for the blockbuster 1942 - A Love Story " starring Anil Kapoor and Manisha Koirala directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra. Sadly, the films music was released after RDs death and started a trend of melody returning to Bollywood numbers. In London hospital, RD was visited by virtually the entire film industry and wife and legendary singer Asha Bhosle who was at his side most of the time. Together, RD and Asha recorded many hit songs and also staged many live performances. Dr Hariawala confesses, tongue

firmly in cheek, that RD was very keen that I play a cameo role of a surgeon in a future Bollywood film, but joked that he would have a difficult time convincing directors as I looked too young so we should wait for a few years. Generosity was RD's forte and it was not lacking in hospital too with all staff members who attended to him. RD shared with Dr Hariawala his personal collection of 14 CDs, which was comparatively a new technology in those days. However, I was embarrassed to accept the precious gift as I did not own a CD player then, so instead requested cassettes. Next day, RD came back with the same CDs along with my first CD player as a gift, recounts Dr Hariawala. Bypass surgery has a life span and in RD's case it was shorter than most patients due to long standing diabetes and a very strong genetic predisposition to progressive heart disease, which he had inherited from his parents.

Pancham-da eventually died of a repeat heart attack in 1994 at age 54 in Mumbai. He was returning from a late night party at renowned director Shakti Samanta's place in Santacruz, Mumbai. Fans, admirers and film industry remembers RD every year around his birthday. Recently in Mumbai , Bollywood singers whom Pancham-da had given important breaks in their career like Kumar Sanu , Abhijeet , Sudesh Bhosle and Shailendra Singh cut a cake in his memory and sang to his iconic tunes like "Mehbooba , Mehbooba and many other hits that have stood the test of time and continue to regale audiences worldwide. This year, Kolkata authors Anirudha Bhattacharjee and Balaji Vittal published their national award winning bestseller: RD Burman - The Man, The Music, which chronicles Pancham-da's life in detail and also briefly features his heart surgeon Dr Mukesh Hariawala.

Forever Pancham

Indian American cardiac surgeon Dr Mukesh Hariawala who performed bypass surgery on RD Burman in 1989 at a London hospital.

ahul Dev Burman (27 June 1939 4 January 1994) is considered one of the seminal music directors of the Indian film industry. He was the only son of the noted composer Sachin Dev Burman, hailing from Bengal. He was nicknamed Pancham-da, because according to some stories, as a child, whenever he cried, it sounded in the fifth note (Pancham in Bengali) of the Indian musical scale. RD Burman composed the score for 331 movies from the 1960s to the early 1990s. His approach, which takes cues from Western rock and electronic music and amalgamates it perfectly with Indian chorus and rhythm-based melodies, was unprecedented and years ahead of his time. RD Burman did his major work with wife Asha Bhosle and Kishore Kumar, and

scored many of the songs that made these star singers famous. He also provided vocals for a few of his own compositions (Mehbooba, Mehbooba in Sholay, and Yamma Yamma in Shaan). RDs instrumentalists included Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Shiv Kumar Sharma, Louis Banks, Bhupinder and Kersy Lord. He is also noted for his partnership with the lyricist Gulzar, who wrote the lyrics for several of his finest compositions. During the 1980s, RD Burman was overshadowed by Bappi Lahiri and other disco music composers, setting the decline of his career. Nonetheless, he served as an influence to the next generation of Indian music directors, and his songs continue to be popular in India even after his death. Several Bollywood movies

made after RD Burman's death contain his original songs or their remixed versions. Dil Vil Pyar Vyar (2002) contains several rearranged hit songs of Burman like Raat Kali Ek Khwab, and Eh Hasina Julfon wali. Jhankaar Beats (2003), which catapulted the music director duo VishalShekhar into the limelight, is also a tribute to him. Other films which credit RD Burman include Mira Nairs Monsoon Wedding (2001, for Chura liya hai).

Lifestyle TheSouthAsianTimes.info

27

July 21-27, 2012

Sotheby's to celebrate 25 years of designers Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla

ndian contemporary fashion will be talk of London Sep 3-5 with Sotheby's opening an exhibition of designer wear and interior decor by celebrated designer duo Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla. The exhibition, "India Fantastique" will coincide with the launch of two volumes of books about the clothes created by the designers and the history of the Jani-Khosla label. The couturiers celebrate their 25th anniversary this year, Sotheby's said in a statement Monday. Known both for their fashion creations for men and women and for interior designs, Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla's reputation extends far beyond India, the statement said. Many international celebrities wear Jani-Khosla creations, among them Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Sophie Marceau and Sarah Brown. They are stocked internationally in Harrods and Harvey Nichols in London and Bergdorf

Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla Goodman and Neiman Marcus in New York. Together, the duo have built a 25-year-old partnership that has included designing for leading actors and actresses, working with directors on costumes for epic Bollywood films and building a brand that exudes luxury, artistry and Indian tradition. "Abu and I thought long and hard about how

we wanted to celebrate our milestone, and also about how we would use this celebration to set the vision for our creativity and ourselves in the next 25 years. It soon became clear that a book, or rather two as it turned out to be, was the ideal vehicle," Khosla said. The first volume of India Fantastique displays dozens of the duo's designs while the second volume focuses on their extensive work in interior design. Their hallmark maximalism runs riot in privately commissioned interiors, which incorporate art, artifacts, antiques and vintage textiles. Paramount in both books is the duo's rediscovery and revivification of once moribund traditional crafts including chikan (whitework) and zardozi (gold thread embroidery), and the ways in which they make use of local artisans and reinvent their heritage by redeploying Indian antiques, the statement said. The 600-page volumes are collectors' items

with specially commissioned photographs, Sotheby's said. Khosla and Jani met by chance in 1986. Abu was born in Mumbai and started out as a costume designer in the film industry and Sandeep was born in Kapurthala (Punjab) and started out in the family leather business. The decision to work together was taken instantly and their first collection, "Mata Hari", arrived just four months later. Neither possessed any formal qualifications, neither had money to invest. What they did have in abundance was raw talent and an unswerving belief in their own creativity, Sotheby's said. "We are unabashedly Indian in our aesthetics. And passionately in love with the rich cultural, historic and design legacy of our land. Design is our way of paying homage to that beauty. By taking it into the 21st century," Jani said.

Manish Malhotra to open Delhi Couture week

Luring day-trippers Delhi's HOHO buses change gear

he children's laughter and chatter grow as the luxury bus rolls from Qutab Minar. The next stop is Lotus Temple for the bus, begun initially as part of a fleet to ferry tourists for the Commonwealth Games and now a well utilized vehicle for educational and leisure tours of the city for various groups. Once every child has boarded the blue-colored Hop On-Hop Off bus of Delhi Tourism, the Guest Relations Executive turns on the music and the children pull out some cold drinks from an icebox as the bus moves on towards the next stop. The HOHO service, as it is popularly known, was started in 2010 for the Commonwealth Games as a facility for the foreign tourists to visit the capital's major tourist attraction. But the service has shifted gears and now also ferries individual and institutional groups looking for personalized transport for their own events. And the luxurious, air-conditioned buses, equipped with amenities like flatscreens and music system have become quite popular with Delhiites looking for a dekko of the city. Ravi Kalra, who runs a school for underprivileged students in south Delhi's Vasant Kunj, agreed. "Recently, we took our students on a picnic on a

eteran designer Manish Malhotra will open Delhi Couture Week. The fiveday fashion extravaganza starts Aug 8. "I am so happy doing the opening show at the Delhi Couture Week Aug 8," Malhotra tweeted. The designer, who has styled some of the popular faces in Bollywood including Kajol, Kareena Kapoor, Rani Mukherji, Aishwarya Rai, Sonam Kapoor, Preity Zinta and Karisma Kapoor, is known for his collection that boasts of a perfect fusion of traditional and contemporary designs. At the forthcoming event, Malhotra will showcase couture and bridal line. Before unveiling his creation, he will present a short film showing preparation behind bridal collection. "Going to be making a short film

Manish Malhotra on my couture collection. 2:5 to 3 minutes film will be shown before my show at the Delhi Couture Week," he tweeted. "Film will be all about the concept and story of the bridal collection for the Delhi couture fashion week," he further added.

A HOHO bus operated by the Delhi Transport Corporation for Delhi Tourism. HOHO bus. It was the first trip these children had ever made in their lives and the service made it memorable," Kalra said. "The quality of the bus was much better than the private tour operators and the bus crew was wonderful. They explained everything about the various monuments and helped the kids learn so much about their own city," he added.

Step up your style with splash of colors this monsoon

ondering how to step up your style quotient this monsoon? Go for brighter colors and sleek silhouettes in light fabrics, say fashion experts. "Monsoon is all about colors. All colors from saffron to blue and beige and even black and white, but used in a very different style, are in vogue. It's about mixing the right color with the right fabric," designer Arpan Vohra said. The fashion mantra during monsoon is style with comfort, said Kamakshi Kaul, head designer, fashion brand Max, which witnessed a spurt in demand for shorts, capris and knee-skimming skirts ahead of the ongoing rainy season. "While we do not have a particular collection for the monsoon, the focus for our new pieces is on bold colors and fabrics that are light weight and can dry easily," said Kaul. "The silhouettes are sleek compared to the

A colorful umbrella is just one of the many accessories that can be used to follow modern trends this monsoon. flowing designs used in summer. The hemlines go shorter as people want to avoid fabric sticking to their skin as they walk in the

rain," Kaul added. Women who love to wear ethnic outfits can get rid of dupattas and play around with shrugs and scarfs, suggests Vohra. "Dupattas are done to death. So I would reckon do something different like, wear a shrug over anarkali. Most Indian women are comfortable with a dupatta; so they can use it as a stole or a scarf and play around with it," Vohra said. Accessorizing in the minimalist but the right way is also important. "Accessorize your look according to your body type. If it is for the western wear, then minimize it. Simplicity is in," Vohra said. Considering how messy it gets while walking through the clogged roads and streets, flip-flops emerge as clear favorite footwear among boys, while colorful ballerinas are popular with girls. "During this season, there is a demand for colorful flip-flops and closed shoes. People

tend to avoid canvas and go for PVC material and rubber soles that provide a firm grip. Again, we see a preference for brightly colored ballerinas among the young girls," Kaul said.For men's fashion during monsoon, "if it's a desk job, wear your best shirt and trousers that make you feel free and does not stop your movement and is not very fitted. For casual wear, one can opt for denims and flip flops," Vohra suggested. Umbrellas are a unisex must have during the rainy season. According to designer Rick Roy, umbrellas can also be flaunted in a stylish way and used as a great accessory to step up one's look. "Invest in different, colorful funky gum boots and umbrellas. Don't use the boring grandpa black umbrellas and do wear fabrics that dry quickly," said Roy, who styles tinsel town actors like Emraan Hashmi, Sonam Kapoor and Malaika Arora Khan.

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Humor TheSouthAsianTimes.info

July 21-27, 2012

Humor with Melvin Durai

here was a time, many years ago, when humans knew little about etiquette they didnt have to follow any social codes of conduct. They could cough without covering their mouths, visit a friends home without calling first, whistle at pretty women on the street without wearing a tool belt and hardhat. Fortunately for the human race, one man started to change it all. His name was Mongah and he was a caveman. He had been watching the other cavemen closely and realized that while everyone did things differently, some of their habits were more appealing than others. Oongah, for example, used the nail of his little finger to pick his teeth after his meals, slurping up any morsel of food he dislodged. Dongah, on the other hand, seemed much more civilized: he carried a twig around with him, using it to not only pick his teeth, but also his nose and ears. Now and then, he would also scratch his back with it, not to mention other hard-to-reach places. As if that wasnt enough, Dongah would often draw pictures in the mud with his twig he was a pioneer in the emerging field of stick art. How efficient it seemed one twig for so

The etiquette of early humans

many tasks. But it wasnt just the twig that set Dongah apart. Unlike Oongah, when Dongah dislodged a piece of food from his teeth, he didnt eat it he flicked it off the twig, usually in the direction of whichever cavewoman he desired. Seeing this, Oongahs lady friend, Bupha, would give

Oongah a glare, as if to say, Why cant you be so romantic? Oongah smirked. He didnt care for such public displays of affection. His brute strength was enough to attract women. It was he, after all, who had pulled Dongah from the river when the clumsy man had slipped off a fallen tree branch. Oongah believed that he hadnt just saved Dongah from the river he had saved the river from Dongah. But Mongah had more respect for Dongah, who seemed to be more than just a stick-in-the-mud. Mongah decided to put together a set of rules of social behavior. He borrowed Dongahs twig and started drawing pictures in the mud, while a dozen cavemen, as well as Bupha, gathered around to see what he was doing. He first drew a picture of a man sitting on a rock, while a woman stood next to him. Then he drew a picture of the man getting off the rock and the woman sitting on it. He pointed at the second picture, drew a circle around it and smiled, as if to say, Always

give your rock to a woman. But the cavemen jeered. They thought he was saying that men shouldnt sit around the cave. They should always be hunting and gathering. Dongah, trying to avert a riot, erased the second drawing with his foot, not realizing he had introduced something he and other artists would forever detest: censorship. Undeterred, Mongah moved to another spot in the mud to illustrate his second rule. He drew a picture of a man and a woman inside a cave, and another man outside, with his mouth wide open. He used squiggly lines to indicate that something was coming out of the mans mouth. He pointed at the picture, circled it and smiled, as if to say, Always call out before visiting. But the cavemen jeered again. They had misunderstood Mongahs picture and thought he was telling them that they should always go outside to belch. To show his disdain, Oongah belched as loudly as he could. Bupha put her arms around him, as if to say, Thats my man! Mongah shook his head. Teaching etiquette to cavemen was harder than he had thought. But he was determined to keep trying. He drew a picture of a river and a man standing beside it. Then he drew a picture of a man in the river. He pointed at the second picture, drew a circle around it and smiled, as if to say, Bathing good. But Mongah had forgotten that Dongah had fallen into the river a week ago. It had been very embarrassing for Dongah. Thankfully only a few cavemen saw him. But now Mongah appeared to be spreading the news. It was then that Dongah, unable to control his anger, ran toward Mongah, grabbed the twig from him and poked him in the eye with it. As Mongah writhed in pain, all the cavemen cheered: They believed that Dongah had taught them an important lesson in social behavior: gossiping can hurt. Dongah raised his arms in exultation. He had found yet another use for his twig.

Photo of the week

Stonehenge, England U.S. Olympian sprinter Michael Johnson holds the Olympic Flame at Stonehenge. Johnson, who has won four Olympic gold medals and eight world championship gold medals, currently holds the world and Olympic records in the 400 meters and 4 x 400 meters relay.

Astrology
TheSouthAsianTimes.info

29

July 21-27, 2012

Chandigarh, India: +91-172- 256 2832, 257 2874 Delhi, India: +91-11- 2644 9898, 2648 9899 psharma@premastrologer.com; www.premastrologer.com

By Dr Prem Kumar Sharma

Stars Foretell: July 21-27, 2012
Aries: This week meeting an old associate would bring happiness and revive pleasant memories. This period is also good for activities that would secure your future and help you improve your lifestyle. Your sense of responsibility and ability to accept challenges would put you into the forefront. New romance will be exciting, so make the most of it. Look into projects that will help you earn some extra money in your spare time. Taurus: This week your beloved would be a major source of happiness and would help you in completing pending jobs. Participation in family functions and social activities would be fun and a good opportunity to revive old contacts. Funds for businessmen would easily generate through loans or some other sources. Matrimonial alliance for some, while others would find romance to keep them in the right spirit. You will achieve outstanding results in your career provided you focus towards your goals. Gemini: Emotionally things would not be good for you this week. Confrontations and arguments could arise, ruining your peace of mind. Your present situation is a good test of your power and endurance. Do not loose your patience and keep yourself busy with activities that will help you relax. Social activities will provide you with knowledge and amusement. Partnerships if any, should be avoided till the weekend. Cancer: Some delay in results would lead to frustration. Take some time to analyze what might have gone wrong and gather more information from experienced people. You should remember that knowledge is power and the more you have the better it would be for you in the times to come. Spend enjoyable time with youngsters. Attending seminars and exhibitions will bring you in contact with important people. Leo: Your people at home would be demanding which would lead to some mental pressure. Strong romantic feelings from a member of the opposite sex would bring about new excitement in your life. You would be in a commanding position at work, and lots would depend on your shoulders. Social activities would prove to be lively and exciting. Your personality will have a magnetic appeal that will bring you new opportunities. Exercise will be important to stay in shape. Virgo: This week you would benefit from your creativity. People would appreciate your efforts and would crowd you for advice. You need to take advantage of the new moneymaking opportunities that come your way. Support from friends and associates would be immense and you are likely to hit the jackpot by associating yourself with the right people. Your beloved would be caring but highly possessive. Libra:This week your personality and confidence would make you popular with your seniors. You would be asked to handle new responsibilities that would bring remarkable results to your career. Your financial condition would also improve, but you should not invest into any risky business ventures or schemes during this period. Family members will bring you happiness and look after you well. Do not be lavish in your spending; try to save extra money for the not so good days. Scorpio: Some unexpected news might create unnecessary tensions. Things would not be as bad as they might appear, but still you need to move very cautiously. Take care of your dealings with influential people. Saying wrong things at the wrong time would bring criticism from people around you. Social activities would bring about a new romantic relationship. Travelling will be highly exciting. Good week for planning long-term investments. Sagittarius: This week you would be in a position to raise fresh funds and collect outstanding payments. Your technical knowledge and skills would bring you immediate gains, but irresponsible action during this period would ensure losses. Handle the jobs boldly and tactfully to get the rewards. Any contribution that you make towards social cause would enhance your public image and bring you mental peace. You will be very inclined towards religious activities. Pilgrimage to a distant place cannot be ruled out. Capricorn: This week people seek advice from you and give you responsibilities that you need to handle with care. Work pressure would increase but you need to be certain that added stress doesnt upset your mind and disrupt your health. Changing position of stars would bring favorable results in your life eventually, till then you need to avoid letting stress prove disastrous for your health. Pilgrimage is on the cards for some of you. Aquarius:Lady luck definitely seems to be on your side as you receive financial benefits from unexpected sources. You'll find it easy to achieve your goals and live up to others expectations. Your tremendous enthusiasm would especially be very attractive and it would draw many people to your side. Work on your new projects with a long term prospective. Close friends and relatives will try to keep you happy. New alliances and contacts will develop through social activities. Pisces: This week some unexpected good news would sweep you off your feet. But you need to be extra careful when handling finances, as you are likely to incur losses due to bad investment or theft. Stress would be easier to handle if you act upon the advice of your elders or seniors. You would be in the mood to relax and spend extra time with friends. Take care of your health, take proper diet, and adopt an exercise regimen that will protect your vital energy. A spiritual person provides guidance.

Annual Predictions: For those born in this week

July 21: Dominated by number 3 and the Planet Jupiter, you are ambitious, hardworking, talented, dignified and highly methodical. You are independent by nature and make your own decisions, but you need to curb your tendencies towards stubbornness, extravagance and dictatorial nature at times. Remarkable year for management students and those pursuing career in arts. Your stars might bring in recognition and monetary gains for you this year. Children might cause minor disappointment or dissatisfaction, but spouse would be caring and highly supportive. A family dispute involving ancestral property will add to your stress and anxiety. Hectic traveling during the yearend will ensure monetary gains and influential contacts. Matrimonial alliances for those eligible. All financial transactions need to be made carefully. Avoid emotional outburst, as it would only complicate sensitive issues. July, September, November and March will be eventful. July 22: Influenced by number 4 and the Planet Uranus, you are energetic, trustworthy, reliable and systematic. Your objectives are quite high and you tend to dream of the things, which you cant achieve, but at times you receive a setback after coming very close to your goals because of your changeable, inconstant and stubborn nature. This year a spectacular leap in your professional career is foreseen provided you make use of the opportunities that arise before you. Good flow of the funds should improve your living comforts and savings. Journeys to the overseas and foreign transactions may not yield returns immediately but eventually. An old friend will try to help you out even out of the way. An infatuation with the opposite sex will come as a surprise and it might take some time before you start thinking straight again. Meditation and yoga should be practiced for physical and spiritual gains. Exhilarating news from your children will boost up your spirits towards the year end. The months of August, October, November and April will be highly important. July 23: Governed by number 5 and the planet Mercury, you are active, smart, dashing, practical, accommodating, helpful, sincere and kind hearted. Your approach is business oriented. You are not very good in expressing your emotions to your spouse or beloved. Your tendencies towards restlessness, over occupation and extravagance need to be curbed at times. Long cherished dreams seem to be fulfilled. Investments made in this period will bring in good returns, though not immediately but eventually. Those looking forward to establish a business contact overseas will hear some encouraging news. Some dispute with government departments would lead to stress and anxiety. Students will perform well in academics and will be rewarded for their contribution towards extra curricular activities. A long awaited marriage will get finalized and bring about happiness for the entire family. Spouse remains cooperative despite your erratic behaviour. August, October, February and May will be eventful. July 24: Influenced by number 6 and the Planet Venus, you are enthusiastic, loyal, charming, responsible and jovial in nature. You are self-contained, responsible, accommodating and highly generous. Your memory is really wonderful. But you need to check your tendencies towards moodiness, timidity and over-interfering nature in the affairs of others at times. This year begins with plenty of growth opportunities for you. Your confidence and your communication skills will be at its peak. Time management will be of immense importance. New ventures and alliances would be beneficial. Old differences that have drained your mental energy would finally subside. Socializing, parties and pleasure jaunts will be quite regular and pleasurable. Wedding bells will ring for those eligible and other may find romance to keep them going. Avoid lending money to casual acquaintances. Period of Judicial and Govt. favors. Your ignorance in the family affairs may bring in some dismay and resentment among the family members. July, October, February and May will be highly significant. July 25: Governed by Number 7 and the planet Neptune, you are ambitious, independent, Practical and original. You are highly social and helpful and enjoy enormous respect in your group, but you need to check your tendency to behave stubborn and self-centered at times. Financially it seems to be a better year. A promotion or an increase in responsibility would also improve your monetary position. Those professionals looking for a career abroad will receive favorable response to their proposal. Property related matters will bring in the satisfactory results. A healthier and loving atmosphere prevails at home, which brings good health and prosperity. Housewife will have to cope with regular arrival of guests and relatives, although some would bring gifts in cash and kind but your habit to keep all family members happy would show on your health. A birth of a child or a grandchild towards the yearend likely. Distant travel for pilgrimage or a vacation seems high on your cards. July, November and May, June will prove to be result oriented. July 26: Influenced by number 8 and the planet Saturn, you are practical, disciplined, systematic, original, and authoritative. You are conscious of every move you make and your duties and responsibilities take priority over everything else, but you need to control your tendency to behave pessimist, adamant and nervous at times. This year you can expect lot of good and memorable moments. Real estate and construction activities would reap good profits. Your desire to travel to an exotic location along with your family would be fulfilled. Emotional outbursts should be avoided at office and at home. Servants and subordinates may cause some worry and unnecessary tensions. Your capability to impress others with your good manners and decent behaviour would bring you additional popularity. New contracts and ventures for some. September, December, January, February and June will be eventful. July 27: Ruled by number 9 and the planet Mars, you are active, aggressive, dashing and enthusiastic. You achieve a lot with your impressive personality and your command over your work, but you loose many great opportunities due to your erratic and impatient behaviour. This year you benefit from good fortune and good health. Improvement in your work environment and monetary position seem high on your cards. Businessmen should see their new plans and ventures getting implemented. Frequent travel would be undertaken which would prove highly rewarding. Stay away from over friendly people. New job opportunities and promotions for some. The latter half of the year sees some gains for those who dabble in speculation. You could click a real estate deal at a throwaway price so keep a close watch. July, September, December and March will be highly eventful.

Before you consult...

i) Accurate Data: Please make sure Date, Time and Place of birth is accurate. ii) Careful: Did you check background of the astrologer before disclosing your secrets. iii) Fee: Discuss the charges before, dont feel shy. Its his business. iv) Expectation: Expect the best, if the outcome is not as desired, never give up. v) Consult: Take second opinion before spending thousands on cure/remedies.

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30

Spiritual Awareness TheSouthAsianTimes.info

July 21-27, 2012

The love of God is all around us

is filled with water. There is not a spot in the river where there is no water. You are surrounded by water. Just open your fish eyes to see it. The fish said, Well, it is the same with you. You are surrounded by God. God is all around you and within you. You are swimming in the Lord and claim there is no God. Who is the bigger fool? You or I? This amusing story points out a great truth. We are all looking for God, but do not realize God is surrounding us and within us. There is no place where God is not. We only have to open our eyes to see our jugular vein. Meditation helps us experience that. We may feel we are putting in a great deal of time meditating but have not yet seen God. It is only because we are not really meditating. We are thinking. We are evaluating. We are judging. We are sitting and thinking, O, God is not coming, God is not coming. That is not meditating; rather, that is thinking. If we truly want to find God, we need to stop thinking. We merely need to gaze within. The fish could have just looked out of its eyes and seen water. But it was so busy thinking, I cannot find the It is incredible how many ways the mind can interrupt our meditation with thoughts. The mind uses the habit of complaining as one of its tools to keep us occupied. We are swimming in the ocean of Gods love, but cannot see it because we are engaged with the negative trends of the mind. There is an interesting example of how clutching puts us into a complaining mode so that we do not experience the beauty around us. In the United States, there are national parks and state parks in which people can enjoy the beauty of nature. In these beautiful parks we can enjoy mountains, valleys, parks. These letters came from many different people over a long period of time. Instead of writing to thank the park administrators for their preservation of natures beauty, the people wrote a list of complaints. Some complaints were humorous and some were ridiculous, yet the nature of the letters showed what people were really thinking about when they visited these natural parks instead of enjoying their beauty. People complained that some of the natural trails were not wide enough for people to walk along together, side by side, holding hands. Some complained that they did not like some of the trails that went up the side of the mountains because it made them have to walk uphill! Some complained that the hiking trails meant for hiking should have chair lifts so the people did not have to hike. Some said that the animals made too much noise at night and kept them awake when they camped out and the people wanted the park department to get rid of all the animals. Someone else said that a deer came into his campsite and stole a jar of pickles and the person wanted the park department to reimburse him for the stolen jar. Another said they wanted escalators put on the mountains so they did not have to climb. Another wanted a fast food restaurant put into the forest so they did not have to cook out. Someone even said there were too many rocks on the mountain. When we look at this list we want to laugh at how ridiculous the complaints sound. On one hand people want to be in nature, hike, and camp out, and when they get there, instead of enjoying the natural beauty, they want to turn it into a town or city. This is what we are doing when we meditate or try to experience Gods love in our lives. We have the entire kingdom of God within us, but refuse to see it because we are listening to the chatter of our mind or viewing the images our thoughts create when we think. We have the love of God flowing in us and around us every second of our lives, but do not experience it because we are focused on complaining about everything in our lives. (To be continued...) Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj is an internationally recognized spiritual leader and Master of Jyoti Meditation who affirms the transcendent oneness at the heart of all religions and mystic traditions, emphasizing ethical living and meditation as building blocks for achieving inner and outer peace. www.sos.org.

By Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj

henever we swim or sail in the ocean, the beautiful blue waters of the sea surround us on all sides. Just as while swimming we are surrounded by the ocean, every second of our lives we are also surrounded by the ocean of divine love. The ocean of Gods love surrounds us. It is not only around us, but within. It is to the right of us, the left of us, above us, below us, and in us. If we could only have the eyes to see, we would find we are perpetually swimming in the ocean of Gods love. In this connection, there is a story of a man who had been meditating many years yet was frustrated because he had not seen God. He had given up many worldly pleasures to meditate and spent long hours meditating in silence. He was devoted and did whatever he could to find God. Finally, he prayed to God, O Lord, I have been meditating and praying to You all my life, yet You have not appeared to me. God did not respond to his prayer. The man became more and more impatient and soon started saying, There is no God. I have wasted my time. The man strolled along the side of the river, upset at his lack of experience with the Lord. Finally, the man took a pebble and threw it into the river, saying, O river, I have wasted my life. I have prayed and meditated to find God, but there is no God. Suddenly, a fish raised its head out of the water, saying, Why have you thrown a stone at me? The man apologized and said, I did not mean to hit you. I only threw it into the river in frustration. The fish asked, Why are you frustrated? The man said, I have spent my life searching for God, but have not found God. My efforts have been wasted. The fish said, You think you have problems? Look at me. I have been swimming in this river my whole life looking for water. I am dying of thirst and cannot find any water to drink. The man said, What is wrong with you? You must be a fool instead of a fish. The whole river

We may feel we are putting in a great deal of time meditating but have not yet seen God. It is only because we are not really meditating. We are thinking. We are evaluating. We are judging. We are sitting and thinking, O, God is not coming, God is not coming. That is not meditating; rather, that is thinking.
it. God is everywhere. Just as the ocean is all around us, so is God. Sant Darshan Singh Ji Maharaj said in a verse: Every grain of sand in the desert is a mirror; Amidst your infinite reflections, your mad lovers are lost. The verse is explaining how God is everywhere. God is in every grain of sand in the desert. God is in every particle of creation. God is in the fish. God is in the reptiles. God is in the animals. God is in every human being. When we can see God everywhere, we are lost in the love of God at every moment. God is love. When we recognize God everywhere, we are recognizing the power of love and are lost in the madness of that love. Meditation is merely changing our vision from blindness of God to vision of God. God is all around us every moment. God is pulsating with us. God is closer to us than water. I am dying of thirst. While thinking that, it was distracting itself and not able to see the reality in front of it. Let us not be like the man or the fish in the story. Let us truly meditate, by stilling our mind and opening ourselves to the vision of God. God is available at every moment. We need to still our body and mind to experience it. Any thoughts of evaluation, judging, or clutching is going to keep us from the experience. Avoid Clutching in Meditation Clutching is another form of expectation in which we are trying to see one thing or another in meditation. We feel unsatisfied no matter what we see unless it is what we planned to see. Clutching interferes with us enjoying what we do receive because we are too focused on what we want to receive instead. Thus, clutching takes our attention away from the stillness needed in meditation. rivers, streams, creeks, forests, and fields. These areas are kept preserved so that people can be in touch with nature without the development of houses, buildings, commercial areas, and concrete jungles found in towns and cities. These parks are places where people can walk in nature and enjoy the lovely trees, flowers, and waterways. We can hear the lovely sounds of birds chirping. We can get glimpses of Gods beautiful creatures such as deer, rabbits, squirrels, butterflies, and fish. We can hear the sounds of silence, wind blowing through trees, and the natural sounds of wildlife. We can see the lovely sky with floating clouds in the day, or the stars and moon at night. Some people feel the national or state parks are a natural paradise. Yet, in one of the state parks, the park administrators were processing a pile of unopened mail that had accumulated in their office for a long time from people who had visited the

EIGHTEENTH ANNUAL HINDU UNITY DAY

Shivaji Maharaj

(Hindu Sangathan Divas)

Swamy Vivekananda
The fearless Hindu monk

The great Hindu warrior king

Hindu Temple Society of North America and Indian American Intellectuals Forum, in cooperation with Hindus of the Tri-State area celebrate the 18th Annual Hindu Unity Day (Hindu Sangathan Divas)

Date: Saturday, July 21st, 2012 Assembly Time: 3:30 PM Program: 4:00pm - 7:00pm
Location: HINDU TEMPLE AUDITORIUM 143-09 Holly Avenue, Flushing, NY 11355
Please come and celebrate Hindu Unity Day in commemoration of the coronation of Ch. Shivaji Maharaj, Hindu warrior king who, after demolishing Islamic domination, established Hindu kingdom in India in 1674. You are cordially invited with your family and friends to participate in this Yagna. Our aim in organizing this celebration is to create a feeling of pride about our Hindu identity and heritage in our community.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Dr. Subramanian Swamy, President of Janata Party, former Law Minister, Govt. of India Topic of Speech: Globalization of Hindu Unity

Pt. Swasti N. Dubey

Dr. N. Kukar

Pt. Jagdish Tripathi Ms Sheetal Shah

and Badri

Hiriyur Vedanta Society

MORE INFO & TO SIGN-UP: Essay Competition y : u y Subject: Hindu Unity ongs www.nyganeshtemple.org cs atrioti ces by e r n Deadline for submission P www.hinduunityday.org n s e , is June 22nd, 2012 nd da artists a d PATRONS: n r s e 1 Open for Students Age 11 -25 repute h s l e d Cash Prizes will be awarded Dr. Usha Mukhtyar, Dr. Dilip Mukhtyar, o t e f 1 to 1st Place of $251 Dr. Urmlesh Arya, Dr. Yashpal Arya, Dr. Veena Gandhi, d d e f and 2nd Place of $101 Dr. Narinder Kukar, Mohan Ramchandani of Mohan Tailors, n e s In three categories l r l r l Call or E-Mail for Full Dr. Rakesh Shreedhar, Balram Advani, P Raj of Sterling, .L. n s d Competition Details and Rules. Dr. C.B. Singh, Dr. Raj Gupta, Ram Sakhrani, Jyoti Pandya, : . . a r t E-Mail: Att. Dr. Uma Mysorekar at Vinod Kotahwala, Dr. C.K. Hiranaya Gowda, Divyang Dave, m r nytemple@aol.com or l 4 Call 718-460-8484 Rajyalakshi ji, K.L. Sardana.
SUPPORTERS: Dr. Ramesh Sarecha, Dr. A.R. Gupta, Bijoy K. Mehta, M.D., Dr. Harish Shah, Dr. Banani Nandi, Dr. Rajni Goel, Rama Shankar Singh, Jagdish Kakwani, Smile Fashion Corp., Animesh Goenka, Aruna Pal, Mohan Pillai, Dharanjit Singh, Rajeev Kaul, Thakur Nagrani, Shashi Dave, Kishore Malik, Ramen Nandi, Dinesh Aggrawal, Dr. Ila Sukhadia, Jagdish Sewhani, Babu Ram Gupta, Ram M. Suchdev, Kishore Malik, Prigyakant Manglik, Virendra Patel, Dilip Roc, N. Lalchandani, Arun Agrawal and Ranjana Agrawal, Rakesh Agarwal, LLM, Subhash Thapar, Rakesh Bhargawa, Kripal Singh, Bhupinder Singh Bhurji, Gaurang Vaishnav, Raksh Pal Sood, Manish Bhambhani, Chetna Shah, Rajinder Singh Khalsa, Rajesh Shukla, Dr. Babu Suseelan, Yeloji Mirajkar, Pushap Churra, Ramana Moorthy, Dr. Sudhakar Reddy, Raj Bassit, Lal Motwani, Mohini Sarin, Raju Bathija, Bhim Kalyandasani, Kenny Lakhani, Janak Moolani, Harish Hemrajani, Kishore Moolchandani, Naresh Khanna, Mahesh Shahani, Yogesh Kashap, Shibaji Kar, Arvind Sant, Vinay Dogra, Dharanjit Singh, Purnima Desai, Devinder Singh, Ratan Behari Pallod, Ram Kamath, Suresh Jani, Shree Sidhwani, Ramesh Chandriani, Raju Patel. Jagdish Mistry, Ravi Kaur, Shyam Bhaya, Nagendra S. Rao, Shankar Dutt, Dharam Dutt, Prakash Waghmare, Bipin Patel, Bipin Trivedi, Vikram Nair, Sivadasan Nair.

IF ANY QUESTION, PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT:

NARAIN KATARIA (718) 478-5735

INDIRA NARASIMHARAJAN (917) 374-7030 DR. RAJ GUPTA (718) 539-5053 K. RAM (347) 400-1900 PATANJALI RAMBRICH (718) 496-0416 KRISHNA MURTHY 718) 461-6010 SURINDER VERMA (516) 343-3636 PABITRA CHAUDHURY (718) 853-3091 VASU CHIKKATUR MURTHY (516) 209-4843 NAND RAMSINGHANI (718) 651-9635 RADHA RAMAN UPADHYAYA(718) 465-3953 CHAMPAK BHAI PARIKH (718) 961-1123 SATYA DOSAPATI (732) 939-2060 RAM SAKHRANI (718) 445-3135

ARISH K. SAHANI (718) 271-0453

RAJU NANOO MANESH DAVE RAMESH GATHORIA BIDYUT SARKAR DR. SUDHAKAR REDDY P.R. MOHAN SHER B. SINGH LALIT SHOREY SATYA NIMANA SUBHASH ARORA MEENA GULATI RAVINDRA KOLHAPURE PUSHAP CHURRA (718) 740-7226 (516) 775-8066 (718) 888-7804 (212) 673-5628 (212) 683-6592 (718) 279-0866 (718) 470-0345 (718) 343-0012 (732) 264-5756 (718) 424-4204 (212) 662-3151 (646) 322-3827 (718) 962-0180

HINDU TEMPLE (718) 460-8484, Ext. 112

RAJINDRA BHAGAT RAMANA MOORTHY KAMAL MALHOTRA KAMAL PANDEY KISHORE MALIK LATA SIDHWANI BIPIN PATEL ARVIND SANT RATAN BIHARI PALOD PRASAD YELAMANCHI INDRASEN REDDY, Ph.D. (718) 591-1420 (516) 796-2735 (347) 944-1481 (347) 835-0438 (516) 798-4600 (516) 728-2940 (516) 354-1025 (718) 979-6144 (718) 760-4035 (630) 418-1122 (732) 770-2448

FREE
Admission
Snacks will be served at the end

Parking available at Flushing Hospital Garage: one block from HinduTemple auditorium at 146-01 th 45 Avenue, Flushing, NY Tel: 718-539-3375