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The South Asian Times
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Follow us on Vol.5 No. 36 December 22-28, 2012 60 Cents New York Edition TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Boehners Plan B to avert fiscal cliff fails

Washington: House Speaker John Boehner was handed a stunning defeat late Thursday by members of his own party who refused to support his "Plan B" to avoid the year-end "fiscal cliff" that threatens to send the economy into a recession. GOP leaders worked intensely Thursday to build support for Boehner's two-pronged legislative effort to cut spending and extend current tax rates for all but those earning $1 million or above, but they could not persuade enough Continued on page 4
BIG GUJARAT WIN BOOSTS MODIS CANDIDATURE FOR PM
Republicans failed to muster support in the House for Speaker John Boehners plan
Funerals, gun-control push follow school shooting

Newtown, Conn.: Even as they buried more victims of the seconddeadliest school shooting in US history last week, residents of Newtown, Connecticut, looked for ways to pressure national leaders to restrict access to weapons. Funerals were scheduled for halfdozen people, some as young as 6 years old, who were shot and killed on Friday by a heavily armed 20year-old man who attacked the Sandy Hook elementary school with an assault rifle. Continued on page 4
Impromptu gun control vigil outside the White House after the Connecticut school shooting in which 20 kids perished.
See our extensive coverage of the Sandy Hook school tragedy and its aftermath on pages 10-12.
New York Stock Exchange sold to derivatives company for $8bn

New York: The New York Stock Exchange called time on two centuries of independence on Thursday, agreeing to an $8.2bn takeover that will hand control of the icon of American capitalism to an Atlanta-based energy trader. The stock exchange's holding company, NYSE Euronext, has agreed to an offer of $33.12 a share in cash and stock from IntercontinentalExchange (ICE). ICE was founded in 2000, NYSE in 1817. The combined company would have headquarters in both ICE's home of Atlanta and in New York. The takeover comes amid a historic shift for Wall Street and stock exchanges around the world. The move Continued on page 4
Chief Minister Narendra Modi has led BJP to grab 115 of the 182 seats in Gujarat polls.
The icon of American capitalism
The South Asian Times wishes its readers
Happy Holidays
New Delhi: Narendra Modi's third successive victory in the Gujarat assembly polls is expected to pitch him for a more prominent role in the BJP, possibly as head of its campaign for the next general elections, while some party leaders even expressed their preference for him to be projected as the prime ministerial candidate. Modi's victory, almost on the same scale as in 2007 polls, came
as a morale booster for the BJP, which lost the electoral battle in Himachal Pradesh. BJP MP Tarun Vijay said Modi "is the best suitable candidate" for the PM post on the basis of his performance. Another MP and TV personality Smriti Irani said that Modi would be her candidate for the country's top post on the strength of his Continued on page 4
Op Ed 20
Bollywood 18
Lifestyle 27
Spiritual Awareness 30
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December 22-28, 2012
TRISTATE COMMUNITY
Hanukkah celebrated at Consulate in New York

New York: The Consulate General of India, New York, celebrated Hanukkah on December 12 at New India House. Prominent members of the American Jewish community and Indian-American community, which included community leaders, business people, professionals and media personalities from the Tri-State area attended the celebration. Consul General of India, Amb. Prabhu Dayal, addressing the gathering emphasized on the growing close relations between the Indian and the Jewish people. He also underlined the closeness of the bilateral relations between India and Israel. In this context, he mentioned that this year the two countries are celebrating 20th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between them. He said the two countries have strong political, strategic, defense, trade and people to people relations which are growing significantly. Shlomi Kofman, Deputy Consul General of Israel in New York, in his address, also underlined that the relations between India and Israel are close, warm and growing. Ms. Daryl Rand of the Hudson County Chamber of Commerce and the convener of the Friends of India, also spoke thanking the Consul General for organizing the event. Various other dignitaries also spoke on the occasion. The celebration was attended by
(from left) Shlomi Kofman, Deputy Consul General of Israel in New York, a guest, Rabbi Marc Schneier and Consul General Prabhu Dayal lighting the Hanukkah lamps.
Rabbi Mark Scheiner. The Consul General along with the other dignitaries lighted the Hanukkah
lamps. The event concluded with a dinner reception.
India lost $123 billion in black money in a decade

Washington: The Indian economy suffered $1.6 billion in illicit financial outflows in 2010, capping-off a decade in which it experienced black money losses of $123 billion, according to a new report. India is ranked as the decade's 8th largest victim of illicit capital flight behind China, Mexico, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Russia, the Philippines, and Nigeria, respectively in the report by Global Financial Integrity, a Washingtonbased research and advocacy organization. Titled "Illicit Financial Flows from Developing Countries: 20012010," the report found that all developing and emerging economies suffered $858.8 billion in illicit outflows in 2010, just below the all-time high of $871.3 billion set in 2008-the year preceding the global financial crisis. "While progress has been made in recent years, India continues to lose a large amount of wealth in illicit financial outflows," said GFI Director Raymond Baker. "Much focus has been paid in the media on recovering the Indian black money that has already been lost," he said suggesting policymakers should instead make curtailing the ongoing outflow of money priority number one. "$123 billion is a massive amount of money for the Indian economy to lose," said Dev Kar, GFI lead economist and co-author of the report with GFI economist Sarah Freitas. "It has very real consequences
Christianity remains the largest world religion

orldwide, more than eight-in-ten people identify with a religious group. A comprehensive demographic study of more than 230 countries and territories conducted by the Pew Research Centers Forum on Religion & Public Life estimates that there are 5.8 billion religiously affiliated adults and children around the globe, representing 84% of the 2010 world population of 6.9 billion. The demographic study based on analysis of more than 2,500 censuses, surveys and population registers finds 2.2 billion Christians (32% of the worlds population), 1.6 billion Muslims (23%), 1 billion Hindus (15%), nearly 500 million Buddhists (7%) and 14 million Jews (0.2%) around the world as of 2010. In addition, more than 400 million people (6%) practice various folk or traditional religions, including African traditional religions, Chinese folk religions, Native American religions and Australian aboriginal religions. An estimated 58 million people slightly less than 1% of the global population belong to other religions, including the Bahai faith, Jainism, Sikhism, Shintoism, Taoism, Tenrikyo, Wicca and Zoroastrianism, to mention just a few. Yet, the new study by the Pew Forum also finds that roughly
for Indian citizens. This is more than $100 billion dollars which could have been used to invest in education, healthcare, and upgrade the nation's infrastructure," he said. A Nov 2010 GFI report, "The Drivers and Dynamics of Illicit Financial Flows from India: 19482008," found that the Indian economy lost $462 billion to illicit financial outflows from 1948 through 2008. Authored by Kar, the report measured India's underground economy as 50 percent of GDP, with cumulative illicit outflows accounting for an increasing share of the total underground economy. The new GFI study also estimates the developing world lost a total of $5.86 trillion to illicit outflows over the decade spanning 2001 through 2010. The $858.8 billion of illicit outflows lost to all developing countries in 2010 is a significant uptick from 2009, which saw developing nations lose $776.0 billion. GFI advocated that world leaders increase the transparency in the international financial system as a means to curtail the illicit flow of money highlighted by Kar and Freitas' research.
one-in-six people around the globe (1.1 billion, or 16%) have no religious affiliation. This makes the unaffiliated the thirdlargest religious group worldwide, behind Christians and Muslims, and about equal in size to the worlds Catholic population. Surveys indicate that many of the unaffiliated hold some religious or spiritual beliefs (such as belief in God or a universal spirit) even though they do not identify with a particular faith. The geographic distribution of religious groups varies considerably. Several religious groups are heavily concentrated in the AsiaPacific region, including the vast majority of Hindus (99%), Buddhists (99%), adherents of folk or traditional religions (90%) and members of other world reli-
gions (89%). Three-quarters of the religiously unaffiliated (76%) also live in the massive and populous AsiaPacific region. Indeed, the number of religiously unaffiliated people in China alone (about 700 million) is more than twice the total population of the United States. The Asia-Pacific region also is home to most of the worlds Muslims (62%). About 20% of Muslims live in the Middle East and North Africa, and nearly 16% reside in sub-Saharan Africa. Of the major religious groups covered in this study, Christians are the most evenly dispersed. Roughly equal numbers of Christians live in Europe (26%), Latin America and the Caribbean (24%) and sub-Saharan Africa (24%). Though Christianity emerged in the Middle East and North Africa, it's practiced by less than 1% of the population there. The median age of Muslims (23) and Hindus (26) is significantly lower than the global median age of 28 years old. Those with a large share of adherents in fast-growing, developing countries tend to have younger populations, the Pew report says. Those concentrated in China and in advanced industrial countries, where population growth is slower, tend to be older.
TURN PAGE
Big Gujrat win story Continued from page 1 governance in Gujarat. BJP sources now say Modi would be given a prominent role to galvanize the party rank and file for the next Lok Sabha elections. "He is likely to be appointed chief of the party's campaign for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls," a party leader said. The appointment could take place in January next year. Modi's victory has come at a crucial time for the BJP as it has to decide its next party chief. Nitin Gadkari, who has been party president since December 2009, has faced controversy over alleged financial wrongdoing and there have been suggestions from some party leaders against giving him a second term. With Modi having emerged as one of BJP's powerful leaders, his views are likely to matter on crucial issues facing the party. Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley said Modi was a very senior leader in the BJP and extremely popular with the party rank and file. Senior journalist S. Nihal Singh cautioned that there were apprehensions about Modi's "divisive persona whether 2002 or otherwise" and the BJP would have to take a call on how it will impact its prospects. He said there was doubt about Muslims voting for Modi and the community vote can influence outcome on several seats in states such as Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Boehners Plan B story Continued from page 1 Republicans to vote for the proposal in the face of what was expected to be unanimous opposition from Democrats. Boehner's failure to move his alternative plan through the House, as well as the current impasse with President Obama on how to address expiring tax rates and impending spending cuts, has thrown negotiations to avert the "fiscal cliff" in to disarray just 10 days before it hits.
In a brief statement, Boehner, ROhio, said his plan "did not have sufficient support for our members to pass" and put the responsibility to avert the "fiscal cliff" on Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. The White House said in a statement that the president's "main priority" is that tax rates do not rise for 98% of Americans and that Obama "will work with Congress to get this done." Reid supports Obama's proposal to let tax rates expire for those earning $250,000 a year or more. In negotiations with Boehner, the president agreed to $400,000 and above, but it is unclear how the GOP's failure Thursday to approve their own tax plan will affect ongoing negotiations. Before the collapse of the Plan B vote, the House narrowly passed a spending cuts bill, originally authored by Budget Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wis., to partially alter impending Jan. 2 spending cuts to protect defense programs, by a 215209 vote. House Democrats, led by Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California, criticized the spending vote, saying it gutted social programs for the poor. GOP legislative maneuvering on what Plan B was more tactical than practical because Reid had said he will not take it up in the Senate and Obama had pledged to veto it. School Shooting story Continued from page 1 Hundreds of mourners packed into a Thursday morning funeral for Benjamin Wheeler, 6, filing into the gray stone Trinity Episcopal Church past two rows of Boy Scouts who lined up outside as a flag-bearing honor guard. The December 14 rampage in which 28 people were killed, including 20 children and the gunman, has sparked new discussion on tightening gun laws, a thorny political issue in the United States, which has a strong culture of individual gun ownership. Vice President Joe Biden plans to convene on Thursday the first meeting of a new White House task force charged by President Obama with drawing up a plan to tackle gun violence in the country. After the White House meeting convened by Biden, Attorney General Eric Holder is to travel to Newtown to meet privately with law enforcement officials investigating the massacre. The National Rifle Association, the powerful firearms lobby which has long resisted any effort to restrict gun ownership, signaled this week it may be ready to bend. It said it would offer "meaningful contributions" to prevent future such massacres at an event in Washington on Friday. In Newtown, a few dozen residents met at the town library on Wednesday night to discuss ways they could influence the national debate. Senator Richard Blumenthal told the group it was time for a "seismic change" in gun policies. The shooter, Adam Lanza, used guns that were legally purchased and registered to his mother Nancy, his first victim in Friday's attack. Speaking at the town library meeting, Connecticut Senator-elect Chris Murphy urged the participants to use the formerly quiet suburb's time in the national spotlight to pressure lawmakers in Washington to act. "The most important thing is to build a movement here, to build a network," Murphy told the group, Newtown United. New York stock exchange story Continued from page 1 to electronic trading, fierce competition between exchanges and the sharp decline in trading commissions has led to a wave of mergers and takeover offers that have failed amid regulatory concerns. The exchange, also called the Big Board, has moved to embrace technology in recent years but still also uses the "open outcry" system with traders in bright-colored jackets shouting and waving their hands to make orders.
Rajasthan to set up glass and ceramic hub

By Prakash Bhandari Jaipur: The Rajasthan government plans to set up a state-of-the-art glass and ceramic hub at Ghilot in Alwar district. A formal decision on the customized glass and ceramic unit to come up on 750 acres of land would be made within two months. A skill development center would also come up at Ghilot, about 100 km from Delhi, to cater to the manpower needs of the glass and ceramic industry. The Gas Authority of India (GAIL) will supply gas for this energy intensive industry by extending the Sultanpur-Neemrana pipeline up to Ghilot. This assurance was given by SN Kumar, zonal manager of GAIL, to the Rajasthan Industrial Investment Corporation (RIICO) at the technical conference of CERAGLASS 2012 expo. Natural gas is the most competitive and clean fuel for an industry like glass and ceramic, he added. Rajasthan minister of industries and mines, Rajendra Pareek, announced a fund of Rs 10 crore for skill development in the ceramic and glass sector at Ghilot. He added that RIICO will also work on a roadmap and a customized package of incentives to attract more investments in the ceramic and glass sector in Rajasthan. Naveen Mahajan, MD of RIICO, argued that Rajasthan produces basic minerals for the ceramic and glass industry and is ideal to have the proposed hub at Ghilot and would attract investments nationally and internationally. He added that the environmental clearances for the hub are under process. The base price for land at Ghilot would be Rs 2,500 per meter, but there would be higher rebate depending on investment. Sidharth Mahajan of Bureau of Industrial Promotion (BIP) said the ceramic industry in the country is worth Rs 2000 crore and the thrust on housing has increased the demand for ceramic. Rajasthan is already getting a inquiries from potential investors in the proposed hub.
MTA single ride 25 cents up, monthly to cost $125

New York: Taking the train every month just got $8 more expensive. The MTA approved fare hikes Wednesday, bumping up single-ride and unlimited costs for riders. From march 2013, a single ride will increase 25 cents, from $2.25 to $2.50. And other changes include changing the 7-day Metrocard from $29 to $30. The fare hike was not as high as it
could have been other proposals included raising the monthly unlimited to $125.
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TRISTATE COMMUNITY
Some parents protest yoga in US classrooms

Washington, DC: A comprehensive yoga program for young students in a California school district has some parents bending over backwards to stop it, saying the classes could indoctrinate their children in Eastern religion. "This is 21st century P.E. (physical education) for our schools," Timothy Baird, Encinitas Union School district superintendent, told the Washington Post about the yoga program, which started in several schools in San Diego this fall. It is scheduled to go district-wide to include all 5,000 students in January, despite objections by a group of parents. "It's physical. It's strength-building. It increases flexibility but it also deals with stress reduction and focusing, which kickball doesn't do," Baird said about the program, which gives students a 30-minute yoga lesson twice a week. Parents who oppose the new exercise initiative Times. She believes the classes are rooted in the deeply religious practice of Ashtanga Yoga. "They're teaching children how to meditate and how to look within for peace and for comfort," she said. "They're using this as a tool for many things beyond just stretching." Eady along with a few dozen other parents said a public school division should not lead students down any type of religious path, the Times reported. The group has hired a lawyer and is considering suing to halt the program, saying it is a violation of the First Amendment, said the Washington Post. Despite the opposition, the school district plans to move forward with the program. "We think it's important to keep this program in our schools and we're going to do what we can to protect it," Encinitas assistant superintendent David Miyashiro told the Washington Post.
US asked to term 1984 anti-Sikh violence a genocide

Washington, DC: A petition with more than 46,000 signatures, including 29,000 online, submitted to the Obama Administration urges it to recognize the organized violence perpetrated against Sikhs during November 1984 as "genocide." The rights group "Sikhs for Justice" (SFJ) has also announced plans to converge on Capitol Hill Feb 1, during the constituent work week of the House of Representative to lobby in support of the Sikh genocide petition, the group said. The US Department of State's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor that deals with issues relating to the international human rights violations and crimes against humanity is expected to respond on the Sikh genocide petition, it said. In support of the petition, the SFJ has submitted "1984 Yes it is Genocide" report to Assistant Secretary of State Michael Posner. The 300-page report presents evidence showing that Sikhs were killed in large numbers in those 19 states of India where the Congress party was in power during November 1984 and role of Congress leaders in inciting and organizing violence with intent to destroy the Sikh community.
equate it to religious indoctrination and worry the exercises might make children curious about ancient Hindu beliefs, the New York Times reported. "They're not just teaching physical poses, they're teaching children how to think and how to make decisions," parent Mary Eady told the
Asia TV USA Ltd. takes a stand against piracy

New York, NY: Asia TV USA Ltd., the exclusive distributor of Zee channels in the Americas, has initiated a technical task force, making sustained efforts to seek out those who are pirating programming and signals from the Zee suite of channels. Zee is taking all steps to prohibit piracy where streaming of content on services such as Live TV Box, Shava TV, Jadoo TV, Boom TV etc that permit viewers to access Zees content illegally. Asia TV USA Ltd.s Tech Head said, We recognize that consumers are being led to believe that Zee content is legally available for free on these streaming boxes. However, Zee in the Americas is a premium subscription service that viewers pay a monthly fee to receive. Zee will not hesitate to take action against illicit services such as those described above as well as South Asian retail stores that sell these boxes. Zee has been successful in shutting down Zee content on Live TV Box and Jadoo TV that was being streamed illegally. Zee is committed to delivering quality content to its loyal base of subscriber viewers. The actions of pirates thwart the business efforts of Zee to accomplish this goal. Zee hopes to continue to shut down streams on other similar illicit services in the near future.
Poorna Jagannathan bags role in HBOs Criminal Justice

New York: Poorna Jagannathan, known for the Bollywood flick Delhi Belly, has bagged a starring role in the HBO drama series Criminal Justice. Indian American actress Jagannathan, 39, plays Safar Khan, a Pakistani woman whose son is accused of committing a murder in the pilot, which has Oscar-winning writer Steven Zaillian of Schindlers List as co-writer with Richard Price. Zaillian is also directing. The A-list ensemble cast is headlined by James Gandolfini of The Sopranos fame and also includes Riz Ahmed (The Reluctant Fundamentalist), Bill Camp and Peyman Moadi. Filming is expected to start mid-October. everyone involved is best in class. Safar Khan is the polar opposite of my character in Delhi Belly. Ive never played someone like her but the writing is so strong that it makes playing her feel like second nature. Her journey is a roller coaster: she goes from knowing her son is innocent to eventually thinking he might be guilty. An Indian actress born in Tunisia, Jagannathan currently lives between New York and Mumbai. Her film Peace Love & Misunderstanding, alongside Jane Fonda, released earlier this year and her new movie Thanks for Sharing by Stuart Blumberg will release at the end of this ye
POorna Jagannathan
Criminal Justice is a New York-set crime drama. Talking about her role, Jagannathan said, This is one of the most incredible projects Ive ever been a part of;
Spuuls Facebook App lets you watch movies while you chat
Singapore: Spuul.com, a streaming service for Indian movies and TV Shows online, has launched an app to stream full--length movies in Facebook. Users worldwide can now watch the best of Indian movies and shows, with Spuuls Facebook app, while continuing to chat with friends, check their newsfeeds and read notifications. The free app is available in the Facebook App Centre: https://apps.facebook.com/spuulapp/ This innovative app lets users watch any Spuul movie and TV show, without leaving the Facebook environment. The newly designed search box makes finding movies fast and easy. Users have the option to share what theyre watching with friends. The app also offers multiple payment alternatives to subscribe to Spuuls premium movies. Commenting on the app, S. Mohan, co-founder, Spuul, said, Facebook is a world in itself with users watching and sharing a great deal of video content. Over 70 percent of our current users are keen Facebook users. This
Guests at the Hanukkah celebrations at the Embassy Residence on December 10, 2012 in Washington, DC. On extreme right addressing the guests is Ambassador Nirupama Rao. makes it a natural fit for us. The app also gives users several payment options to choose from, making subscription to Spuul premium even more convenient. Signing up for the app on Facebook gives a user unlimited, instant access to all free movies & TV shows. To access premium movies, a user must sign up for a monthly subscription--based premium account.
NATIONAL COMMUNITY
Three from family killed in Freeway crash in California

California: Three members of an Indian American family were killed Dec. 14 when their stranded Lexus was struck from behind by another vehicle on a California freeway, authorities said. According to the Associated Press, the family, from Santa Clara, was headed to the San Francisco airport Friday on their way to visit relatives in Dallas for the holidays when the Lexus got a flat tire on a stretch of Interstate 280 in Redwood City. The car pulled onto the median before it was slammed by a Volkswagen SUV, authorities said. The California Highway Patrol identified the victims as Manjit Kaur, 48; her son, Manpreet Singh, 28; and her daughter, Jasdeep Kaur, 21, all of Santa Clara. Manjit Kaur's husband, Amarjit Singh Multani, 56, survived the crash. He was taken to Stanford Medical Center with moderate injuries and was in stable condition, CHP Officer Art Montiel said. Half my family is dead. I'm barely holding myself together,' Jarnail Singh, 26, the only family member not in the car, told the San Jose Mercury News Dec. 16. The driver of the Volkswagen has been identified as G.A. Smith, 82, of San Jose, Montiel told The Associated Press Dec. 17. Smith is hospitalized after undergoing surgery for numerous injuries including broken ribs, Montiel said. His condition was not immediately available. A phone listing for a G.A. Smith could not be found. Smith was driving at a high rate of speed when the accident occurred, and it does not appear that alcohol was a factor in the incident, Montiel added. No arrests have been made at this time, Montiel said. The accident According to a report in the Marin Independent Journal, a memorial fund has been set up to help cover funeral and medical costs for the family, relatives said Dec. 18. Donations will help pay for the funerals as well as go toward the $18,000 in doctor bills for the sole family member who survived the collision, Amarjit Singh Multani, who has since been released from the hospital. According to marinij.com, the Multani Memorial Donation Fund is account no. 1831822091 at Wells Fargo Bank. Donations can be made online or in person. Montiel said the crash serves as a stark reminder to motorists not to stop in a roadway's center divider and to never change a tire on the freeway. Instead, the CHP advises motorists to pull off of the freeway or onto a right-hand shoulder in the event of vehicle problems.
Brother sister Manpreet Singh and Jasdeep Kaur and their mother Manjit Kaur were in a Lexus when another vehicle hit from behind
remains under investigation. However, CHP officials said Friday that Smith would likely be
arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter upon his release from the hospital.
New report shows volunteering and AACSA vows to unite Indian-American C-store owners civic involvement at five-year high
Tampa,FL: The Asian American Convenience Store Association (AACSA) is preparing to present a united front to strengthen their collective bargaining capacity and purchasing power with large manufacturers and suppliers.The association addressed pooling their power at its convention in Tampa, Fla. last month. The daylong event brought together a record number of participation from convenience store and gas station owners as well as a record number of 65 vendors. "We feel that all these store owners, mostly independents, are not getting the best price for buying their products from the manufacturers. Unity will enhance their bargaining capacity and purchasing power," said AACSA President Satya Shaw at the conclusion of the convention. AASCA, which is headquartered in Tampa, was formed seven years ago and counts about 10,000 con-
venience store and gas station owners among its nationwide membership. According to unofficial estimates of the 146,000 convenience stores and gas stations in the United States, some 50 percent of them are now being run by Indian Americans, the news outlet reported. "This is an effort to bring them under one platform. Uniting of all the independent store owners and with their combined purchasing power would reduce the cost of their products and thus enhance our profits in these tough economic times," Shaw said. A major theme during this year's convention was how to deal with ongoing economic woes. "Due to the current economic crisis, this year we have added some useful topics in the education seminar that will be beneficial to all store owners. Our strength and unity is the solution to ensure the growth and profitability of our trade," said AACSA Chairman Chandrakant Patel.
President Barack Obama, along with First Lady Michelle Obama, daughters Sasha and Malia, and Craig Robinson, participates in a service project at the Capital Area Food Bank in Washington, D.C., Nov. 21, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
American Mathematical Society honors 23 Indians

Washington, DC: The Fellows of the American Mathematical Society program Nov. 1 recognized 23 Indian and Indian American members who have made outstanding contributions to the creation, exposition, advancement, communication, and utilization of mathematics. Named were Shreeram Abhyankar of Purdue University, Krishnaswami Alladi of the University of Florida, R. Balasubramanian of The Institute of Mathematical Sciences in Chennai, Manjul Bhargava of Princeton University, and Vivek Shripad Borkar of the Indian Institute of Technology. Also recognized were Komaravolu Chandrasekharan of the Eidgenssische Technische Hochschule Zrich, Chandrashekhar Khare of the University of California at Los Angeles, Shrawan Kumar of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Venkatramani Lakshmibai of Northeastern University, and Raman Parimala of Emory University. Others honored included Anand Pillay of the University of Leeds, Gopal Prasad of the University of Michigan, Madabusi S. Raghunathan of the Indian Institute of Technology, Arun Ram of the University of Melbourne, Dinakar Ramakrishnan of the California Institute of Technology, and Dwijendra K. Ray-Chaudhuri of Ohio State University at Columbus. Honored as well were Conjeeveram Srirangachari Seshadri of the Chennai Mathematical Institute, Vasudevan Srinivas of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bhama Srinivasan of the University of Illinois at Chicago, Prasad V. Tetali of the Georgia Institute of Technology, and Veeravalli S. Varadarajan of the University of California at Los Angeles. Rounding out the list were Srinivasa S.R. Varadhan of New York Universitys Courant Institute, and Tyakal N. Venkataramana of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research.
Washington, DC: Working together to strengthen our communities is at the core of our national values. New research indicates that this commitment to service burns brighter than ever In the latest version of the Volunteering and Civic Life in America (VCLA) report published by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the national rate of volunteering has reached a five-year high. Other indicators all point toward rising levels of civic participation. For example, the report shows that roughly one in four adults (26.8 percent or 64.3 million Americans) volunteered through an organization, marking the highest rate since 2006. Two out of three citizens (65.1 percent or 143.7 million Americans) engaged in informal volunteering by doing favors for and helping out their neighbors. This represented a rise of nearly 10 percentage points from 2010. The involvement of parents of school-aged children also stands out in the new report. They
had a volunteer rate seven percentage points higher than the national average (33.7 percent compared to 26.8 percent). Of the parents who volunteer, 43.1 percent do so at schools or other youth service organizations, making schools a hub for volunteering and civic activity. The author of the report, the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), is an active partner in making a difference in our nations schools from cradle to career. Through the AmeriCorps and Senior Corps programs, its members and volunteers tutor, mentor, and educate more than three million disadvantaged youth, strengthening Americas future. And national service members are on the front lines of other efforts, such as the national and local response to Hurricane Sandy.Altogether, Americans volunteered approximately 7.9 billion hours in 2011. According to the report, this labor contributed an estimated value of $171 billion to the economy.
Jaya Travel donates $25,000.00 to American Red Cross for Hurricane Sandy Relief
On November 13, 2012, Jaya Travel presented a check in the amount of $25000.00 to the Southeastern Michigan Region chapter of the American Red Cross in support of relief efforts for Hurricane Sandy. Founded by its president Mr. Arvin Shah and wife Jayshree, Jaya Travel has been a mainstay in the Indian community since 1976.
NATIONAL COMMUNITY
Illinois House denounces anti-Sikh attacks Indian sentenced to prison for

Washington, DC: The Illinois House of Representatives has adopted a resolution denouncing racially motivated attacks against the Sikhs, particularly the shootout at a Wisconsin gurdwara in August that killed six Sikh worshipers. Calling the shootout at the Oak Creek gurdwara as a "deplorable act of violence and hate" the resolution acknowledged the American Sikh community's long standing commitment to the United States, according to United Sikhs, a community organization. The Wisconsin shooting and other racially motivated attacks "have caused Sikhs and other communities to live under an unfair burden of vulnerability," it said. Denouncing hate-fueled violence and encouraging civic engagement and participation among the immigrant and minority communities of Illinois, the resolution seeks to create greater awareness among the general public about Sikhs and other minority communities. United Sikhs plans to commemorate the Illinois House resolution denouncing the "deplorable attacks on Sikh Americans and
threatening to bomb US company

New York: A 56-year-old Indian man, who had called himself a "terrorist", has been sentenced to six months imprisonment for threatening to bomb a Connecticut-based company. Shaneel Jain of Rhode Island was sentenced by US District Judge Robert Chatigny in Hartford to six months of imprisonment, one year of supervised release and three months of home confinement for threatening to bomb the facilities of Z-Medica Corporation, US Attorney for the District of Connecticut David Fein said. A jury had in July this year found Jain guilty of one count of making a bomb threat and one count of false information and hoaxes. According to the evidence presented during the trial, Jain made a series of telephone calls from India to Z-Medica in April 2010. At the time, he was engaged in a civil lawsuit with Z-Medica based on their prior business relationship. Z-Medica produces QuickClot, a medical agent that rapidly stops bleeding outside the surgical setting. QuickClot is used by the US military and the militaries of some allied countries. During these phone calls, Jain threatened to bomb Z-Medica within 24 hours. He also said that he was a terrorist who had done this before and that American law "couldn't touch" him. As a result of the threat, FBI and the Connecticut State Police conducted searches of ZMedica's facilities. Z-Medica also cancelled shifts, which resulted in an order for QuickClot being delayed. The company also utilized private security for several weeks. However, no bomb or other explosive was ever found at ZMedica. Jain was ordered to pay USD 12,386 as restitution. He had been released on bond since his arrest in March 2012 and was ordered to report to prison on February 8, 2013.
The resolution seeks to create greater awareness among the general public about Sikhs and other minority communities.
hate crimes and hateful political rhetoric" on Sunday at Sikh Religious Society Gurdwara in Palatine, Illinois. Commending the Illinois House for adopting the resolution, United Sikhs said it looked forward to working again with the South Asian American Policy & Research Institute (SAAPRI) and the Illinois House Legislature on further measures that will help safeguard the rights of Sikh and other minority communities. "This legislation is an acknowledgement of the racially motivat-
ed atrocities that have been committed and a commitment by the state of Illinois to devote resources to educating the greater Illinois community on Sikh Americans and South Asian Americans", said Ekta Arneja, Midwest Regional Coordinator of United Sikhs. The community organization will continue to engage in advocacy and legislative efforts throughout the United States to help maintain and expand the civil and human rights of the Sikhs and other communities, it said.
Indian techie convicted of groping woman on flight

Chicago: An Indian softbation after he was conware consultant working in victed of abusive sexual the US has been convicted contact for groping the by a federal jury of groping breast of another woman a woman as she napped aboard a flight from San last year on a flight from Jose, California, to Detroit. Las Vegas. The Tribune cited proseProsecutors said it cutors as saying Erramilli marked third conviction of was the last passenger to Srinivasa S. Erramilli, 45, board the Southwest for the same offense since Airlines flight to Chicago's 1999, according to Midway Airport in June Chicago Tribune. The jury 2011 and was seated in the deliberated about three only vacant seat -- between hours before convicting the the victim, who had chosen Indian national, 45, of abua window seat to sleep, and sive sexual contact. He her husband, who took the faces up to two years in aisle seat for easier access. Srinivasa S. Erramilli prison. During her testimony, "This case was allowed to be successful- the woman demonstrated how Erramilli ly prosecuted because of the willingness of grabbed at her with the assistance of a fedthe victim to speak up and not dismiss eral prosecutor as both sat in chairs in what happened, which was a serious front of the jury. Other passengers and offense," said Randall Samborn, a flight attendants also testified during the spokesman for the US Attorney's Office in trial. Chicago. Prosecutors sought to have Erramilli Erramilli was sentenced to probation taken into custody on his conviction, but after he was convicted in Cook County US District Judge Joan Lefkow allowed court of fondling the breast of a woman him to remain free until his sentencing in who sat in front of him on a flight from April. Erramilli, who is working in the US Detroit to Chicago in 1999, the Tribune as a software consultant on a work permit, said. is also subject to immigration proceedings Three years later, he was sentenced in for whether he has overstayed his visa, the federal court in Detroit to three years' pro- Tribune said citing authorities.
NATIONAL COMMUNITY
IN BRIEF
Indiaspora 2013 Inaugural Ball set for Jan. 19 in D.C.

ndiaspora, founded under the auspices of the nonprofit SHG Foundation to unite Indian Americans, announced last week the Indiaspora 2013 Inaugural Ball to honor President Barack Obama's second term as president of the United States. Indian Americans and well-wishers from around the globe will celebrate the community's success and the re-election of President Obama at a formal cross-cultural gala on Jan. 19, 2013, at the Mandarin Oriental hotel here. The Indiaspora Inaugural Ball will serve as a catalyst for supporting Indian American candidates at all levels of American government regardless of party affiliation; raising the awareness and resources needed to take care of the underprivileged and "invisibles" in the American community; kick-start President Obama's second-term "strategic partnership" with India; support a strong com-
Desai named Managing Director of AmeriCares India

hripad Desai has been tive initiatives to help even named managing direcmore people suffering from tor of AmeriCares India, disasters and chronic povera nonprofit organization comty. mitted to helping people live Desai brings to the job more longer, healthier lives. To date, than 20 years of experience in AmeriCares has supported Indias pharmaceutical induspartners in 26 Indian states and try. He most recently served union territories. As the chief as head of sales, marketing AmeriCares official in Mumand strategic planning for Chbai, Desai will oversee all of iron Panacea Vaccines in AmeriCares Indias aid proMumbai, and previously held Shripad Desai grams including emergency repositions with Oral CDx Insponse activities and medical donations to dia, Novartis, Sanofi and AstraZeneca in Inhealth care providers, along with health edu- dia. Desai earned both his Master of Marketcation and training programs. He is also re- ing Management and Bachelor of Science desponsible for a highly successful mobile clin- grees from the University of Mumbai. ic program in Mumbais Andheri and ChemAmeriCares India is a great organization, bur slums that serves 36,000 patients doing good work all across India. I believe annually. that this is an opportunity for me to learn, conWe are proud to have Mr. Desai lead the tribute and achieve new milestones as an indiAmeriCares India team in Mumbai, said vidual and professional, said Desai. I look AmeriCares President and CEO Curt Welling. forward to leveraging my marketing and stratUnder his leadership, we hope to grow our egy experience in the pharmaceutical industry aid programs and continue to develop innova- to lead this organization forward.
mitment from our Indian compatriots that reform policies will be carried through; and promote an effective set of philanthropic models that can serve as a bridge between the U.S. and India, according to a press release. The evening of festivities will underscore the strengths and benefits of the U.S.-India relationship. The many bridges which connect the two countries spanning cultural, business, educational, healthcare and philanthropic traditions will be on prominent display against the backdrop of President Obama's second term inaugural. Founded in 2012 by M.R. Rangaswami, Indiaspora aims to unite the professionally, geographically and religiously diverse community of Indian Americans by identifying issues, debating outcomes and recommending actionable solutions. For information on how to attend, visit: http://www.indiaspora.org/inauguration.
UH grad student wins $67,600 on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire

niversity of Houston (UH) College of Education graduate student Minal Shah recently tested her knowledge on ABCs Who Wants To Be A Millionaire. Shah made it to the $250,000 question, but decided not to take a guess and walked away with an impressive $67,600 on the December 4 episode hosted by Meredith Vieira. You are up on stage, and its so strange, said Shah of the taping experience. When you see the question, you see it in bits. You think you are pretty sure of the answer, and the producers try to tell you not to over-think or second-guess yourself. Its hard. Before you go on stage, they put you in a room with previous episodes airing, and you see people lose so quickly. Shah, a former middle school math teacher, will graduate from University of Houston with a masters degree in education this spring. She says she hopes to use some of her winnings to take an overseas vacation before she goes back to teaching in the fall. Iron-
Rita Singh elected Federation of Indian Associations president

ita Singh, an Indian Other elected office American businessbearers were: Monty woman from Bihar Saiyed, executive vice with close connections to president; J. V. Singha, Bollywood, has been electBharti Desai, Dhitendra ed the first woman presiBhagwakar, Rita Shah and dent of Chicago-based FedSyed Eraj Ahmed, vice eration of Indian Associapresidents; Shanu Sinha, tions (FIA). treasurer; Shahid Razvi, A native of Saharsa disgeneral secretary; Benazir trict of Bihar and a graduAbidi, joint secretary and ate from Jamshedpur Mohd Fareeduddin Sabiri, Women's College, Tata Najoint treasurer. gar (Jharkhand), Rita Singh Thanking all members was elected with other ofof FIA and representatives Rita Singh fice bearers for 2013 by of FIA member organizaFIA member organizations at India House tions, Rita Singh vowed to take the organizaBanquet in Schaumburg here last week. tion to new heights during her tenure in 2013.
Minal Shah
ically, Shah said it was a math question that made her the most nervous. I got a math question and I was positive I would get it wrong. While waiting backstage I saw people miss some of the simplest questions. I did not want that to happen to me. How would I show my face in the classroom again if I missed a math question? Shah said jokingly. I took about 10 minutes to think about it before I answered. She got the math question right.
Indian pleads guilty for role in $13.8 million healthcare fraud

New York: An Indian physical therapy assistant in the US has pleaded guilty for his role in a $13.8 million healthcare fraud scheme and faces 10 years in prison. Ankit Patel, 28, of Detroit pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud before US district judge Gerald Rosen of the Eastern District of Michigan. Patel is scheduled to be sentenced in March 2013 and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. According to court documents, beginning in June 2009 Patel received payments for falsifying medical documentation for Physicians Choice Home Health Care, a home health agency owned by his alleged co-conspirators. Another co-conspirator instructed Patel on how to falsify medical documentation. He also signed therapy revisit notes as a physical therapy assistant for patients he did not see or treat. Patel admitted to knowing that the documents he falsified and the documents he signed would be used to support false claims to federal insurance program Medicare for home health services. According to Patel's plea agreement, he was also paid to create and sign falsified medical documentation for other Detroitarea home healthcare companies that billed Medicare for approximately a million dollars.
US AFFAIRS
3 State Dept officials resign after scathing Benghazi report

Washington: Three State Department officials resigned Wednesday following an independent inquiry that sharply criticized security planning prior to an attack on the US diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya. The Associated Press, citing an administration official, said Eric Boswell, the assistant secretary of state for diplomatic security, and Charlene Lamb, the deputy assistant secretary responsible for embassy security, had stepped down. The third official wasn't immediately identified, the AP said. The unclassified summary of the report, released Tuesday night by the Accountability Review Board, cited several key mistakes in the period leading up to the Sept. 11 attack that killed U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans. It said that security depended heavily on local Libyan militias, and that the State Department ignored requests for additional security assistance in the weeks leading up to the attack. she accepts all 29 of the report's recommendations on strengthening security at diplomatic missions worldwide.
Conservatives claim Hillary is faking her concussion

US Ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens and three others were killed in the attack on the US consulate in Benghazi on September 11, 2012.
The report cited two bureaus within the State Department Diplomatic Security and Near Eastern Affairs for failing to coordinate their efforts and provide better security in Benghazi, an extremely volatile city dominated by multiple militia groups. The report said dozens of armed attackers assaulted the consulate on the night of Sept. 11, shooting and blasting their way into the compound.
Stevens was one of just seven Americans inside the compound, and the perimeter was guarded by a local Libyan militia that proved ineffective. There was no protest preceding the attack, the report said, addressing a major point of contention between the Obama administration and Republicans in the days after the attack. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has sent a letter to Congress saying
Washington: US her recent concussion in Secretary of State Hillary order to avoid testifying Clinton fainted, sustainbefore Congress about ing a concussion, a media Benghazi. report said last weekend. The Daily Caller's Jim Clinton was dehydrated Treacher writes: If she because of a virus, caushas a concussion, lets see ing her to faint. She is the medical report. Lets now at home recovering see some proof that shes and is being monitored, not just stonewalling. Fox News said. She Secretary of State Clinton's team Hillary Clinton cancelled her scheduled responded to the insinutrip to North Africa and the Middle ations, "She's been on the phone East due to a stomach virus earlier and in e-mail contact with senior in the week. staff. She's been working on other On their part, conservative pun- issues - Syria, the DPRK (North dits started churning out a theory Korea). These are people that don't that Clinton is lying about her con- know what they are talking about," cussion. New York Post, in an edi- spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told torial, alleged that she was faking reporters.
Obama is Time mags Person of Year

of high unemployment and other challenges. Time editor Rick Stengel announced the choice on NBC's "Today" program on Wednesday. "He's basically the beneficiary and the author of a kind new America - a new demographic, a new cultural America that he is now the symbol of," he said. Obama also received the honor in 2008, when he was Presidentelect. Obama edged out Malala Yousufzai, a Pakistani girl shot in the head by the Taliban for advocating girls' education, for the honor, Stengel said. Other finalists included Apple CEO Tim Cook, Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi, Italian physicist Fabiola Gianotti.
Cory Booker reportedly leaning toward Senate run

Newark, NJ: Ruling out a potential showdown with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie for the gubernatorial race next year, Cory Booker, the rising-star Democratic mayor of Newark, NJ, is leaning toward running for US Senate in 2014 instead, sources told the Wall Street Journal.Booker's office did not respond to a request for comment from Yahoo News, but the Journal reports the mayor is eyeing the seat currently held by Democratic Sen. Frank Lautenberg, who, at 88, is widely expected to retire. Booker, who has repeatedly said he will decide by this month about his political future, could make an announcement on Twitter as soon as this week.
Zuckerberg gives half a billion to charity

San Francisco: Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg is donating half a billion dollars in the company stock to a Silicon Valley charity, his second major donation since committing to giving away most of his wealth. The 28-year old co-founder of the world's largest online social network said in a Facebook post on Tuesday that he would work with the Silicon Valley Community Foundation to "look for areas in education and health to focus on." Zuckerberg, whose stake in vested Facebook shares is worth roughly $11 billion, announced plans in 2010 to give a $100 million gift to the beleaguered public schools of Newark, NJ. The gifts are part of Zuckerberg's involvement in The
Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg
New York: President Barack Obama was named Times Person of the Year for 2012, citing his historic re-election last month as symbolic of the nation's changing demographics amid the backdrop
Giving Pledge. Launched by Microsoft founder Bill Gates and investor Warren Buffett in 2010, the group asks US billionaires to give away at least half their wealth during their lifetime or after their death and to publicly state their intention with a letter explaining their decision.
Walmart bribed Mexico officials to open 19 stores: NYT

New York: Wal-Mart Stores Inc's Mexican affiliate routinely used bribes to open stores in desirable locations, according to a New York Times investigation published Monday, which cites 19 instances of the retail giant paying off local officials. The Times first reported in April that WalMart had intentionally stifled an internal probe into bribery at its Mexican affiliate Walmex. Late last month, Mexico's anti-corruption body said it found no irregularities in the permits Wal-Mart received in the country, but that two audits remain underway. In the new report, NYT has detailed specific instances in which Walmex allegedly paid off officials to expand in Mexico the payoffs often related to zoning laws and environmental permits that would have otherwise prevented Walmex's opening of new stores. Much of the report focused on a store built near ancient ruins in Teotihuacan, north of Mexico City. Walmex was hit by protests in 2004 after announcing plans to build a warehouse less than a mile from the city. In a statement Monday night, Wal-Mart spokesman David Tovar said the company was already looking into the allegations in the Times article regarding the permitting and licensing process for the Teotihuacan store, as part of a broader internal probe that Wal-Mart began over a year ago into potential violations of the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. "At this point, the investigation is still ongoing and we have not yet reached final conclusions," he said, adding that the company has taken steps to improve its compliance programs. Wal-Mart is also cooperating with the Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on the matter, Tovar said. The Justice Department, the SEC, US lawmakers and authorities in Mexico have all been conducting their own probes. The Times report did not give a figure for how much Wal-Mart spent on all of the alleged bribes. But it cites instances in which the company allegedly paid $221,000 in bribes to build a store near the ruins in Teotihuacan, as well as $341,000 in alleged bribes to establish a store near the Basilica de Guadalupe without appropriate permits, and another $765,000 in alleged bribes to set up a refrigerated distribution center in an environmentally fragile area near Mexico City. Also, in November, Wal-Mart disclosed it expanded its internal inquiry to cover bribery allegations in Brazil, China and India, and its joint venture in India suspended its finance chief and other employees as part of its inquiry.
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US AFFAIRS
MOST HORRENDOUS SHOOTING IN AMERICA

Who was Adam Lanza and why did he do it?
Newtown, CT: He was a 20year-old Connecticut resident but who was this man, and why did he do thiskills his mother and mow down 20 kids? There are reports that suggest that he had grown resentful toward his mother and she sought treatment for his mental illness. A booklet for Newtown's Bennetts Farm neighborhood indicated that Adam Lanza moved to Connecticut from Kingston, New Hampshire, with his parents and older brother Ryan. He enjoyed soccer, skateboarding and video games, the booklet said. In September 2009 -- when Adam Lanza was 17 -- his mother and father divorced, court documents show. What happened after that for him isn't clear, except that he lived in the picturesque, 300Hoboken, New Jersey. Yellow crime tape, meanwhile, surrounded the Newtown home that the gunman shared with his mother Nancy Lanza, and where she was was found murdered. Neighbors -- who were ordered to evacuate after the shooting -described their terror and fear, but many had little to say about the Lanza family. Alex Israel was in the same class at Newtown High School with Adam Lanza, who lived a few houses down from her. "You could definitely tell he was a genius," Israel said, adding she hadn't talked with him since middle school. "He was really quiet, he kept to himself." Others in Newtown who knew Adam Lanza said they had no inkling he'd ever be responsible for such horror.
A loner, Adam Lanza had developmental and maybe psychological problems.
Many vigils and makeshift memorials came up uin Newtown, Conn., for the 26 Sandy Hook school victims.
year-old Connecticut town named Newtown. Authorities hadn't divulged many details about Lanza. But he had no known criminal record, a law enforcement official said.
A member of Lanza's family told investigators that he had a form of autism, according to a law enforcement official. Adams father, Peter Lanza, remarried and lived not too far
from Newtown. He was questioned by authorities after the shooting. So, too, was Adams 24-year-old brother Ryan Lanza, who was seen being taken away by police from a residence in
Stories of heroism amid US school shooting tragedy
Survivalists worry that preppers will be blamed for tragedy

Newtown, CT: Its been suggested that Nancy Lanza, mother of Adam Lanza the alleged shooter in Sandy Hook school, was a "survivalist" who stockpiled food and weapons. Now "preppers", as they are called, have gone online to express concern that they may become targets of unwelcome attention. "She prepared for the worst," Nancy Lanza's sister-in-law, Marsha Lanza, told reporters last weekend. "Last time we visited her in person, we talked about preppingare you ready for what could happen down the line, when the economy collapses?" Preppers, also known as survivalists, have been popularized by the National Geographic reality show "Doomsday Preppers." They range from people who believe the world will end soon to those who want to be better prepared in case a natural disaster hits. Some preppers pursue "shelter in place" strategies, turning their homes into fortresses and stockpiling food, while others plan to flee their homes when the time comes and survive in the wilderness. Many swap tips and stories on online message boards, where discussions about Nancy Lanza and the wrote on her blog the Organic Prepper that the media is using the shootings to "demonize" preppers and that the tactic may be a form of "psychological warfare." "I dont know why Adam Lanza went on a rampage and killed 26 people last week. But I do know that it wasnt because his mother was a homeschooling prepper who stored up food and taught him to fire a gun at a paper target," she wrote. An anonymous poster on the conspiracy website GodlikeProductions also worried that preppers may now become "targets" to blame for the tragedy. "If I was you guys I'd keep any prepper type activities close to the vest," the poster wrote. Others commented that preppers need to be more careful in keeping their weapons locked away. "I may be out of line (and I know you guys will let me know if I am) but I am thinking that if I had guns in the same house with a [mentally ill] son, i would have invested in a gun safe and kept the keys on me,"wrote one prepper named Peter Simcox on SurvivalistBoards.com. "A good prepper is going to secure the arms almost as a first responsibility."
Nancy Lanza, alleged shooters mother, is said to have been a survivalist who acquired guns to safeguard against societal breakdown from economic meltdown.
An iconic image from the heartrending incident of children being led out of the scene of mayhem. Washington: As US authorities began piecing together the mass shooting at an elementary school in Connecticut that left 27, including 20 children dead, stories of heroism and quick thinking began emerging from the terrible tragedy. Among them was Sandy Hook Elementary School's Principal Dawn Hochsprung, who was emerging from a meeting. She apparently saw the gunman and warned several colleagues who were about to step into the hallway behind her - and into the shooter's direct line of fire. The last thing one witness cited by local Newtown Bee recalled was her turning back and yelling a warning to lock the door as she apparently confronted the gunman. A few moments later she was shot. Then there was the school custodian, bleary-eyed and shaking off expressions of thanks and praise, who as shots were ringing out, reportedly ran through the school halls making sure classroom doors were locked from the inside, local media said. There were the library staffers who heard commotion on the school's public address system and learned there was a gunman in the building. After rushing a number of students into a storage closet and barricading it with file cabinets, they initially would not even open the door for police who were standing outside until they were called by emergency operators and convinced it was safe to exit with the children, the Newton Bee reported. Two cafeteria workers dropped to the ground on hearing shots and crawled into a utility closet and locked themselves in until help arrived. The school nurse, who fought the urge to run toward the commotion to help and took cover under her desk per her training, said she saw the boots of the gunman as he entered her office. The gunman stood there for a few moments and then moved on down the hallway firing more shots. That's what saved her. A pastor told mediapersons that one girl in the classroom where most fatalities happened, played dead and survived.
possible blowback on preppers from her apparent connection to the community sparked debate over the weekend. Adam Lanza, 20, is believed to have shot his mother while she slept before driving to a nearby elementary school and killing six adults and 20 children. People who knew Nancy Lanza, 52, and her son have told reporters that she took Adam to shooting ranges and legally owned five guns. It's suspected that three of the guns recovered at the scene of the crime belonged to his mother. One leading prepper, Daisy Luther
Two adults survived US school shooting

Washington: Police said Monday that two adults - not one as originally reported - survived the shooting that left 26 people dead at an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut. Both were wounded and are recovering in hospital. State police Lt. Paul Vance told a press conference in Newtown that as soon as they recover sufficiently they'll be questioned. The officer added that police will continue questioning eye-witnesses and analyzing all the evidence found both at the school and at the home of 20-yearold Adam Lanza, who fatally shot his mother before going to Sandy Hook Elementary, where he committed suicide after the attack. Twenty of Lanza's victims were children between 6 and 7 years old. "There are many, many people in many different locales that need to be interviewed that will assist us in helping us arrive to a successful conclusion," Vance said, adding that any interview or contact with the children will be done with extreme care. All schools in Newtown remained closed Monday, though teachers met to receive counseling and advice on how to deal with the situation, and particularly, on what to say and do when the students return to class this Tuesday. "I think everybody in Newtown has been traumatized by what has occurred," the executive director of the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents, Joseph Cirasuolo, said.
US AFFAIRS
11
Indian Americans heart broken over school mayhem

Washington: Indian Americans are shocked and heart broken over the massacre at a Connecticut elementary school that left 28 people, including 20 children, dead. North American Punjabi Association (NAPA), in a press release expressed their grief, concern and sorrow on the horrendous act of violence at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. It condemned the senseless act of violence in the strongest possible terms. "Our hearts go out to the victims and their families. Even the thought of such a catastrophic incident could not be conceived with the holiday season underway - a time to spread love and do charity. With the nation still overcoming the grief of the Wisconsin shootings, this incident has added to the pain," said the press release. Six Sikh worshippers were killed and three injured when a gunman opened fire at the Wisconsin gurdwara Aug 5. The gunman then shot himself in the head. The association also requested the community members to stay alert and report any suspicious activity. "We are offering prayers for the victims of the shooting," said NAPA spokesperson Satnam Singh Chahal. He added it is upsetting that this kind of tragedy takes the lives of our children and our educators. "They did not deserve this and no one should be facing this kind of situation in nation where our loved ones are taken away. We are heartbroken today." Chahal appealed to all Sikh gurdwaras to hold candle light vigils and to offer prayers for the families this weekend. JAINA President Dr. Sushil Jain issued the following statement on behalf of the Jain community in North America following the tragic shooting at the Newtown school: Fridays shooting is an unspeakable tragedy. That it happened at a school is devastating, that it was an ele-
Over 100 have died in school shootings in the US

Washington: Over 100 people have been killed and dozens injured in school and campus shootings across the US over the last 20 years with the Virginia Tech massacre in 2007 being the deadliest, claiming 32 lives, including that of two Indians. The shooting Friday in Connecticut left 20 children and 8 adults dead, the second deadliest in US history only next to the Virginia Tech Massacre. In the April 16, 2007 shooting on the campus of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Virginia, Seung-Hui Cho shot and killed 32 people and wounded 17 others in two separate attacks, approximately two hours apart, before committing suicide. According to a list of some violent incidents at US schools compiled by CNN Feb 27, 2012 a student opened fire at Chardon High School, Chardon, Ohio killing three and wounding four others. On Oct 2, 2006 Charles Roberts IV, 32, went to the small Amish West Nickel Mines School, Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania and takes at least 11 girls hostage. Five girls were killed and six others wounded. Roberts then killed himself. On Nov 8, 2005, a 15-year-old student opened fire on a principal and two assistant principals at Campbell County Comprehensive High School, Jacksboro, Tennessee, killing one of them and critically wounding another. On March 21, 2005 Jeff Weise, 16, killed his grandfather and another adult, four fellow students, a teacher and a security officer at Red Lake High School, Red Lake, Minnesota. He then killed himself. On March 5, 2001, Charles "Andy" Williams, 15, killed two classmates and injured 13 at Santana High School, Santee, California. Williams was sentenced in 2002 to at least 50 years in prison. On April 20, 1999, Eric Harris, 18, and Dylan Klebold, 17, killed 12 fellow students and one teacher at Columbine High School, Littleton, Colorado, before committing suicide in the school library. On May 21, 1998, after killing his parents the previous day, 15-year old Kip Kinkel returned to Thurston High School, Springfield, Oregon, armed with a rifle. He killed two students in the school cafeteria, a 16- and a 17-year old. He was sentenced to 112 years in prison.
This girl cried her heart out on finding out that her sister perished while saving her students.
mentary school is unthinkable. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims families and loved ones, as well as to the others whose lives were spared. 2012 stands out as a particularly tragic year for gun violence. A movie theater in Aurora, Colorado A Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin And, countless other victims whose deaths did not draw national media attention. How long, O God, how long? What will it take to stop these needless deaths? No doubt, even as many of us grieve todays losses, opponents of gun control are preparing their response to this tragedy so as to silence rhetorical attacks on guns and preserve peoples rights to use these weapons in killing each other. As a nation, and more importantly as Jains, surely it is time for us to act in a manner that prohibits us from arriving at January 2013 only to see the trail of violence extended.
Tips on how to talk with children about the school shooting

s the nation watches the reports about the recent Connecticut school shooting, many people may find themselves feeling anxious, worried, saddened or otherwise concerned. While adults may know how to express these feelings, often they do not know how to talk with children about the way the children are feeling. David Schonfeld, MD, Director, National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement at Cincinnati Childrens Hospital Medical Center provides the following tips to help adults talk with children about the shooting. Talk about the event with your child. Silence isnt comforting in crisis situations and suggests that what has occurred is too horrible to even speak of. After a major crisis, even very young children have likely already heard what has happened but they may not understand what it means. Start by asking what your child what he or she has already heard about the events and what questions or concerns they have. Listen for misinformation, misconceptions and any underlying fears or concerns. If the child expresses worries, sadness or fears, tell them what adults are doing to keep them safe but dont provide false reassurance or dismiss their concerns. Help them identify strategies to cope with difficult feelings. Minimize your childs exposure to media (television, radio, print, internet, social
A collage of 26 victims of the Sandy Hook school shooting-20 first graders and 6 faculty including the principal.
media) and if they do watch, consider recording, screening and watching with them. Remember children often overhear or see what you are watching on TV or listening to on the radio and may be exposed directly as the news evolves through the internet or social media. While children may seek and benefit from basic information about what happened so that
they can understand what is happening in their world, they (and adults) don't benefit from graphic details or exposure to disturbing images or sounds. The aftermath of a crisis is a good time to disconnect from all media and sit down together and talk as a family. Encourage your child to ask questions now and in the future, and answer the questions directly. Like adults, children are better
able to cope with a crisis if they feel they understand it. Question-and-answer exchanges provide you with the opportunity to offer support as your child begins to understand the crisis and the response to it. Share your feelings about the shooting with your child and the strategies you have used to cope with your concerns, sadness, or other difficult feelings. If you feel overwhelmed and/or hopeless, look for some support from other adults before reaching out to your child. Reassure the child that feeling sad, worried or angry is okay. Let your child know that it is all right to be upset about something bad that happened. Use the conversation to take the opportunity to talk about other troubling feelings your child may have. Dont feel obligated to give a reason for what happened. Although adults often feel the need to provide a reason for why someone committed such a crime, many times they dont know. It is okay to tell your child that you dont know why at this time such a crime was committed. If you have concerns about your childs behavior, contact his or her pediatrician, other primary care provider, or a qualified mental health care specialist. For information on how to help your children cope with crises or disasters, please visit the website for the National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement at www.cincinnatichildrens.org/school-crisis.
12
US AFFAIRS
TIPPING POINT REACHED ON GUN CONTROL

Obama deputes Biden to lead gun violence task force
Washington: Five days after the murder of 20 children and six faculty members at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., shook the nation, President Barack Obama announced the formation of a task force to provide immediate recommendations of how to reduce gun violence. "This won't be some Washington commission" that takes six months to study the problem and write a report that goes nowhere, he said. He insisted that he wants ready-toact concrete recommendations on the "complex issue" in January. Vice President Joe Biden will lead the task force and he will be guided by cabinet members and outside groups. Biden was a key author of a crime bill in 1994 that put more cops on the streets and banned assault weapons. The assault weapons ban expired in 2004, and nothing." When asked how he is going to overcome the powerful gun lobby, the National Rifle Association, the president put the onus on them. "I would hope they do some selfreflection," he said. He added that the NRA and the members of Congress they strongly support should change their mentality that any legislation related to guns, especially gun safety, is an automatic "encroachment on the Second Amendment." The gun lobby is coming under intense pressure. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, D-N.Y., whose husband was killed in a mass shooting in 1993, offered harsh words Wednesday. "The gun lobby doesn't work for us, they work for the gun manufacturers....The American people are starting to see that," she said. But perhaps hoping to placate fears that he wants to take away all guns, a common belief among many pro-gun rights enthusiasts, the president, made a point of saying that he believes in the Second Amendment's right to bear arms. He pointed to a "tradition of gun ownership" in the U.S. Meanwhile, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a gun control advocate, praised the president's task force. "I was very encouraged by the President's strong statement and his announcement is an important step in the right direction," the outspoken mayor said in a statement. In Congress, calls are increasing for action, including by members who previously opposed gun control measures. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi appointed Rep. Mike Thompson, who she described as an "avid hunter," to lead a separate task force on gun violence.
President Obama stands with Vice President Joe Biden as he makes a statement Dec. 19 at the White House in Washington, about policies he will pursue following the massacre at Sandy Hook school in Newtown, CT.
after Newtown there are renewed calls to reinstate it. Indicating that gun politics are tough to overcome, the president
said at a news conference announcing the task force Wednesday, "The fact that this problem is complex can no longer be an excuse for doing
Market pressure mounting on gun makers, sellers
New poll finds bump in support for greater restrictions on guns

New York: Immediately following the devastating school shooting Friday in Newtown, Conn., a new poll suggests a bump in support for stricter gun laws, with half of Americans saying they support making the nation's gun laws stricter. The new HuffPost/YouGov survey found that 50 percent of Americans say gun laws should be made more strict than they are now, compared to 43 percent who said that they should remain the same (29 percent) or be made less strict (14 percent). The poll also found support for banning semi-automatic weapons (51 percent to 33 percent) as well as magazine clips holding more than 10 rounds (54 percent to 32 percent). YouGov's previous survey on the issue in August this year found 44 percent supporting stricter gun control
Firearm deaths exceed motor vehicle deaths in 10 states in 2009
The three guns found at Sandy Hook school massacre site.

Chicago: The firearms business is coming under mounting market pressure as calls for new restrictions on gun ownership following last weeks school slaughter drove down shares of two major players Tuesday, and led some retailers to begin pulling specific products from shelves. After largely avoiding the issue during his first term and the recent election season, President Obama has indicated hed push for some policy changes. Among those would be a reinstatement of a previous bar on the sale of so-called assault weapons and a ban on high-capacity magazines. Any meaningful new rules would have to get through the Republicancontrolled House of Representatives and pass scrutiny before the federal courts, which in recent years have expanded the rights of Americans to keep and bear arms. Previous mass shootings have led to few if any changes in existing gun laws, of which there are some 20,000 on the books at the federal, state and local levels. But the sheer horror of the latest event in Newtown, Conn., apparently has driven even some historically pro-gun legislators to shift their positions. Last Friday, after the horrific Sandy Hook school shooting police found two handguns a Sig Sauer and a Glock, both manufactured by European firms as well as an American-made Bushmaster AR-15 semiautomatic rifle, which apparently was used in most of the slayings. The rifle seems to be the first casualty of the ensuing fallout. On Tuesday, Cerberus Capital Management said that it would sell its stake in Freedom Group, which makes the Bushmaster, along with Remington, Marlin and other brands. Meanwhile, some retailers have moved to limit the sales of certain guns in the wake of the tragedy. Dicks Sporting Goods Inc, one of the largest gun outlets in the United States, said that it has removed all guns from its store nearest the school and suspended the sale of modern sporting rifles in all of our stores chain-wide.
laws and 47 percent supporting gun laws remaining the same or less strict. A month before that, shortly after the movie theater shooting in Aurora,
Colo., the percentage saying gun laws should remain the same or less strict was as high as 50 percent. No previous YouGov survey has found support for stricter gun control as high as 50 percent, though shortly after Congresswoman Gabby Giffords was shot support reached 48 percent on one poll. Generally speaking, mass shooting incidents have made little lasting impact on public support for stricter gun laws. The Columbine shooting 13 years ago is one event that did cause a noticeable bump in public support for stricter gun laws. Columbine was the largest school shooting incident in American history until Friday, and the story was the single-most followed news story of 1999, as measured by the Pew Research Center. want to erode the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens, he said. Still, the cascading developments since Fridays shooting led one of the leading gun control organizations, the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, to proclaim a legal and cultural groundswell in the nations view of firearms. It is a view reinforced with each new image of the funeral of an elementary school child, 20 of whom were killed in the massacre at the Sandy Hook Elementary School, along with 6 adults. Weve never seen anything like this before, said Brian Malte, the director of mobilization for the Brady Campaign.On Capitol Hill, some Congressional Republicans on Tuesday were cautiously supportive of the idea of exploring new gun policies. Senator John McCain of Arizona said he would not outright reject the notion of limitations or bans on certain types of guns or ammunition.
Anti-gun action across the nation

Washington: Not only is the White House now ready to champion gun control, but also the state leaders are proposing measures to curb gun violence. Post-Sandy Hook, reactions have been considerably more broadbased than what had followed previous mass shootings, coming from Republicans as well as Democrats, from gun control advocates and those who have favored gun rights in the past, and even from the corporate and retail worlds. In California, Democratic leaders introduced legislation that would mandate background checks and one-year permits for anyone who wanted to buy ammunition there. In Michigan, a Republican governor vetoed legislation that would have permitted concealed weapons in schools. The National Rifle Association broke its silence on the massacre, saying that it was prepared to offer meaningful contributions to make sure this never happens again. It did not offer details. Even as this was happening, millions of American gun owners about 40 percent of American households report having a gun remained deeply resistant to any moves to curtail Second Amendment gun rights. And not all the moves announced Tuesday pointed to stricter gun controls. In Ohio, Gov. John R. Kasich, a Republican, announced that he would sign legislation that would allow people to keep guns in their cars at the Statehouse garage and make it easier to renew licenses and to carry concealed weapons. I think as we move forward, whatever we do, we dont
INDIA
13
It's Modi again in Gujarat

Himachal goes to Congress as Congress marginally improves its tally in Gujarat
Ahmedabad/Shimla: The score was one all in the crucial battle for political stakes with the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Narendra Modi poised for a hattrick of wins in Gujarat and the Congress wresting power in Himachal Pradesh. In Gujarat, the BJP had won 116 seats, just short of the 117 it won in 2007. The Congress appeared to have improved its tally marginally from 59 last time to 60 this time. Former BJP chief minister Keshubhai Patel's Gujarat Parivartan Party (GPP) was left with two seats, including his own. In the hill state of Himachal Pradesh, the BJP's Prem Kumar Dhumal government prepared to exit office for the Congress that was poised to comfortably win 36 seats in the 68-member assembly. The BJP, which had got 41 seats in 2007, was down to 26. One all perhaps, but it was not really even, in public perception at least. The win in Gujarat, which sends 26 MPs to the Lok Sabha against Himachal Pradesh's four, dominated the political space. The drums rolled outside the BJP office in Ahmedabad as the trends came in and Modi prepared for a third straight term as chief minister, with speculation mounting over whether he would be the BJP's man for prime minister in 2014. Modi, who has ruled Gujarat since 2001, did not immediately come out to address his jubilant supporters. But even before the results were clear, he sent out a message on Twitter: "No need of looking behind, FORWARD! We want infinite energy, infinite courage, infinite patience..." "Aaj ka CM, 2014 ka PM!" shouted his supporters as if on cue. Triumphant at the important win, BJP leaders were exultant but fought shy of responding to that most asked question. "(The Gujarat election) is not about PM candidate but about who wins in Gujarat," BJP leader Balbir Punj said. "Let us savour this moment." However, Rajya Sabha MP Smriti Irani said frankly that Modi, 62, would be her candidate for the country's top post on the strength of his governance in Gujarat. Terming it a spectacular victory, Seshadri Chari of the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) echoed that view. "This election is not to elect a PM candidate. "We had expected the number to cross 125 but still we are very happy," Chari said. Terming the Congress the real winner, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said the Congress message had attracted more voters. The BJP win, he said, was expected. "The government there, the bureaucracy there has a stranglehold over the system. That is the general perception. It is important that the kind of sweeping victory that was predicted is not there. The fact is that the BJP has been contained below the number it had last time," he told a television reporter.
The win in Gujarat, which sends 26 MPs to the Lok Sabha against Himachal Pradesh's four, dominated the political space.
"We are a democracy, it can't be I, me and mine," the minister said, in a reference to Modi's style of governance. The Congress welcomed the "thumping victory" in Himachal Pradesh. "We are very confident of forming a government," Congress veteran and former chief minister Virbhadra Singh said jubilantly as celebrations went on outside the party headquarters in Shimla with supporters bursting firecrackers. Dhumal, in his home constituency Hamirpur, accepted defeat and congratulated the Congress. BJP's Rajya Sabha MP Chandan Mitra added that the Congress had "won fair and
square" in Himachal and the BJP would have to think where its strategy failed.
The Tally
GUJARAT (182)
BJP: Congress: GPP: Others: 115 61 2 4
HIMACHAL PRADESH (68)

Congress: BJP: Others: 36 26 6
Gujarat win emphatic, Himachal a disappointment: Jaitley

New Delhi: BJP leader Arun Jaitley termed his party's win in Gujarat as "emphatic" and its loss in Himachal Pradesh "disappointing". "The margin of victory in Gujarat indicates it is an emphatic win. In 2002, we got a nine percent lead in vote share. This increased to 10 percent-plus in 2007 and this time too, it is expected to be in double-digits," Jaitley told NDTV news channel. "Our victory in Gujarat is the fifth in a row (since 1995) and the third in a row with Narendra Modi at the helm," he said. He said votes for the BJP defied caste and community. "We have got votes of tribals and minorities. This kind of vote is not on a particular agenda," Jaitley said. When asked what went wrong with the Congress's strategy in Gujarat, Jaitley said: "The Congress did not know which way to go. It did not pitch any national or state leader against Modi. They wanted to duck development and leadership. By ducking, you never win an election." He also took potshots at Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, who said Congress was a winner in Gujarat despite losing. "Chidambaram is an experienced finance minister. When the economy is doing badly and you cannot improve its performance, you must talk it up. Chidambaram has tried to translate this idiom into the Congress party's performance in Gujarat," Jaitley said. Jaitley was evasive when asked about a big-
Vidya Stokes, oldest winner, wins eighth time

Shimla: At 84, she is the oldest winner in Himachal Pradesh and has won in the assembly elections for the eighth time. Congress veteran Vidya Stokes won Theog seat with a lead of 4,276 votes over her nearest rival, Rakesh Verma of the BJP. "This was probably my last election. I am grateful to the people for reposing faith in me," Stokes said. Election officials said Stokes polled 21,478 votes whereas the BJP's candidate got 17,202 votes. Stokes, a long-time Indian hockey administrator and
Congress veteran Vidya Stokes the daughter-in-law of an American missionary, said: "I am a loyal Congress worker. I have never demanded any post from the party. Whatever the party offered me, I accepted it with grace."On the race for chief minister's post, Stokes, who is known for her proximity to the Gandhi family, said: "This is for the party high command to decide."
BJP leader Arun Jaitley ger role for Modi, especially as the BJP's prime ministerial candidate."This is not the issue of the moment. I cannot discuss it on national television right now. Modi is a very senior leader and is extremely popular with the party's rank and file. His views matter and are taken seriously in the BJP." On Himachal Pradesh, Jaitley said: "Himachal was disappointing. We led a good government. We could have contested a little better." "The rebellion in the party could be a factor in BJP's defeat. The defeat is more on account of the BJP's internal troubles than a vote in favor of the Congress. We could have won in Himachal if there were not so many rebels."
Modi as PM? Opinions in BJP differ

`New Delhi: Even as it celebrated its victory in Gujarat, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was a divided house on whether Chief Minister Narendra Modi was a prime ministerial candidate. BJP Rajya Sabha member Smita Irani came out in his favor, saying Modi, 62, would be her candidate for the country's top post on the strength of his governance in Gujarat. Not everyone in the BJP appeared to agree -- or were as enthusiastic. "(The Gujarat election) is not about PM candidate but about who wins in Gujarat," BJP leader Balbir Punj said. "Let us savour this moment." Vijay Rupani, a BJP leader in Gujarat's Saurashtra region, added: "There are many able candidates in our party for the post of PM." Seshadri Chari of the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) echoed that view. "This election is not to elect a PM candidate." In Ahmedabad, however, as news of the BJP's impending victory became known, supporters took to the streets shouting "Aaj ka CM, 2014 ka PM!"
14
INDIA
Delhi turns into 'Rape Capital'

Six men, on a joyride in the private bus, rape and critically hurt a 23-year-old woman and her friend in south Delhi; nation deeply disturbed, demands death
remained on ventilator. Doctors said her condition was still critical. Delhi Police have launched a massive manhunt spread across Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Bihar to track down the other two accused: Akshay Thakur and Raju. All six men were out on a joyride in the private bus and were drinking when the unsuspecting woman and her friend boarded it at Munrika in south Delhi at about 9 p.m. With tinted windows and curtains giving them cover, the six tortured and raped the woman. They also thrashed both for putting up resistance and eventually dumped them 40 minutes later by the roadside. The lawyer-father of the 28year-old man said that his son was in shock and "unable to talk". As the beastly way the accused assaulted the woman came to light, the nationwide revulsion continued for a second day. Thousands gathered in key centers across cities to voice their disgust and anger. In Delhi, police used water jets to break up a noisy protest outside Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit's residence. Another demonstration near the Delhi Police Headquarters ended peacefully. In the evening, thousands massed at the India Gate lawns with candles, flaming torches and banners. Most of those who spoke to the media demanded that the rapists be hanged. The demand was also echoed by the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, India's biggest trade union. Congress MP Renuka Chowdhary said after a 20-minute meeting with the prime minister that she and other women parliamentarians demanded fast track courts. In the Delhi High Court, Chief Justice D. Murugesan moaned that "nobody is safe" in the capital. In parliament, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde vowed a crackdown on buses with tinted glasses. Protests were also reported from Gurgaon, Kolkata, Tripura, Kanpur, Thiruvananthapuram, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore and Varanasi demanding laws to hand out harsh punishment to the rapists.
Protests were also reported from Gurgaon, Kolkata, Tripura, Kanpur, Thiruvananthapuram, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore and Varanasi.
New Delhi: Thousands took to the streets across India this week to demand death for the men who tortured and raped a young woman here in a moving bus, leaving her still battling for life. As police hunted for two of the six accused across five states, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said he was "deeply disturbed" by the horrific assault on the 23-yearold who was dumped by the road along with her battered boyfriend. In the court of Metropolitan Magistrate Namrita Agarwal, one of the accused, Vinay Sharma, 20, denied taking part in the gang-rape but pleaded that he be hanged. "I have committed a horrible crime. I had beaten up the boy. I should be hanged," the man said. Another accused, Pawan Gupta,
a 19-year-old fruit seller, admitted he had "wronged" the woman but did not admit to raping her. The magistrate sent Sharma and Gupta to four days police custody. Mukesh, brother of co-accused and bus driver Ram Singh, was sent to the Tihar Jail for 14 days. With the Delhi High Court asking the Delhi government to provide the best medical treatment to the woman, doctors at Safdarjung Hospital conducted a two-hour life-saving surgery and removed her badly damaged intestines. Describing it as "one of the most tragic incidents" they had ever seen, the doctors said they removed the intestines to prevent gangrene. The young physiotherapist, who hails from Ballia in Uttar Pradesh,
'Rape victim stable'

New Delhi: The young woman who was tortured and gang-raped four days ago was conscious and in stable condition on December 20, doctors said. But they warned that there was still danger of infection setting in during the next few days. "She continues to be in stable condition," B.D. Athani, medical superintendent at the Safdarjung Hospital, told reporters. "She is alert, conscious. She is making an attempt to breathe on her own." Added another doctor: "She is fighting it out." The victim, who was interning as a physiotherapist at a hospital here, had her intestines removed in a two-hour surgery as they were susceptible to gangrene.
'Time to address vandalism against Jain temples'

New Delhi/Rajasthan: Deeply disturbed over the destruction of idols in a famous Jain temple in Rajasthan, JAINA, the Federation of Jain Associations in North America, has decided to write to the Indian government asking it to protect Jain temples across the country. "In Rajasthan, Narlai is a famous Jain Tirth with numerous Jain Temples dotting the place. There exists a 6,000year-old Girnar Jain Tirth of Lord Neminath. On December 12, the ancient idol of Lord Neminath was found broken. "The Jain community here requests JAINA to raise this issue with the Indian govern- The destructed ancient idol of Lord Neminath in Narlai, Rajasthan ment to safeguard Jain temfor this: Jains must speak up in one ples in the state," says Pankaz Jain. "The crime and vandalism against united voice, write to respective Jains is on the rise across the world. leaders and demand for strategic In North America, almost every Jain action plan; follow-up two-three temple has been vandalised one way weeks after to insure that leaders are or the other in last few years. I am taking actions; enhance community sure local community leaders took relations, especially with other appropriate action but fell short of minority faith-based groups and formally sharing information with establish community outreach iniothers as a matter of precaution," tiatives at local levels to engage with mainstream population, he says Sushil Jain, President, JAINA. "We have chalked out a strategy added.
Little hope for quota bill

New Delhi: There was little hope for a bill promising reservation to Dalits and tribals in job promotions getting passed in the Lok Sabha on December 20 with the house adjourned five times till on the last day of the winter session. Samajwadi Party (SP) members disrupted proceedings and reached the speaker's podium protesting against the bill even as Speaker Meira Kumar tried to broker peace among various parties so that the house could run. Minister of State for Personnel and Training V. Narayanasamy moved the bill for consideration and passing and the speaker allowed Congress member P.L. Punia to speak on it amid the din. While the SP members continued to disrupt the house proceedings and did not allow Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member L.K. Advani to speak, the BJP and Janata Dal-United members also trooped into the well of the house pressing the chair to bring the Lok Sabha to order. The Congress members too started raising pro-quota bill slogans. In between the adjournments, SP and Congress members were seen huddled around their respective party leaders Mulayam Singh Yadav and Sonia Gandhi discussing strategies. Both houses of parliament have seen many adjournments over the Constitution (One Hundred Seventeenth Amendment) Bill, 2012, which was passed by the Rajya Sabha.
India tests nuclear-capable Prithvi-II missile

Bhubaneswar: India successfully test-fired its indigenously developed nuclear-capable ballistic Prithvi-II missile from a test range in Odisha, a defense official said. The 350-km range surface-to-surface missile blasted off at about 9.20 a.m. from launch complex number three at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) of Chandipur-onsea in Balasore district, around 230 km from here. "The mission was successful," ITR director M.V.K.V. Prasad said. The launch was carried out by the Indian armed Prithvi is India's first indigenously forces as part of a training built ballistic missile exercise and was monitored by scientists of and reaching a peak altitude of Defense Research and 43.5 km, has the capability of carDevelopment Organisation rying a 500 kg warhead. Prithvi (DRDO), DRDO spokesperson uses an advanced inertial guidRavi Kumar Gupta said. ance system with manoeuvring Prithvi is India's first indige- capabilities and comes within nously built ballistic missile and metres of its target. one of the five being developed The missile, already inducted under the Integrated Guided into the armed forces, has been Missile Development Program. successfully flight-tested a numThe medium-range missile, with ber of times from the same test a flight duration of 483 seconds range in the past.
FEATURES
15
New BAPS Swaminarayan temple near LA to open Dec 23

he majestic pink structure stands proudly on 71 Freeway, set between Monte Vista and Central Avenues in the City of Chino Hills, California, enveloped by an aura of serenity. The crisp morning air forms droplets of dew, which fall quietly from its domes. Each pillar, intricately handcarved, has a story to tella story taken from ancient Hindu scriptures. A small breeze floats through, stirring the leaves on surrounding trees. Passersby are amazed at the calmness that radiates from this structure in the midst of rush hour. What is this place? It is a Mandira haven for spirituality, a place of paramount peace. A Mandir is not just a place of worship, but also a center vibrant with social, cultural, and spiritual activities. As a regular volunteer for over
two years, Kalpesh Mistry explained that the Mandir, apart from being a socio-spiritual haven, brings true Indian architecture and culture to life on American grounds. This has truly been a community effort and we really appreciate the city of Lilburn and its people for their support. This particular temple, built by BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, a global socio-spiritual organization, and inspired by His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the spiritual leader of BAPS, will open its doors to the general public on December 23, 2012. Sadguru Pujya Bhaktipriya Swami will inaugurate the Mandir by performing murti pratishtha of the sacred images of Bhagwan Swaminarayan, Aksharbhrahma Gunatitanand Swami, Shri Radha-Krishna, Shri Sita-Ram, Shri Shiv Parvatiji, Shri Ganeshji, Shri Hanumanji, the
The majestic temple in Chino Hills (Los Angeles), CA, is ready for consecration and inauguration
BAPS Guru Parampara and the abhishek murti of Shri Nilkanth Varni The Chino Hills temple is similar to sprawling mandirs consecrated in Houston, Chicago, Toronto and Atlanta. It is a Shikharbaddha Mandir, which is built according to guidelines dictated in the ancient Shilp-Shastras. This temple is unique as there will be both an inside and outside parikrama, areas in which visitors can circumambulate around the images. Pink sandstone from Rajasthan provides a unique exterior. The interior of the Mandir has used
Italian marble form the quarries of Carrera, Italy. Here, craftsmen have worked for the last several months to put the pieces together and construct this magnificent Mandir. Hundreds of BAPS volunteers have also been involved at every level, from designing the Mandir to patrolling the grounds to cleaning the stones. Adjacent to the Mandir is the Satsang Activity Center, where weekly sabhas, childrens activities, and youth activities will be held. The Satsang Activity Center will have a main prayer hall, administrative offices, and classrooms for
youth activities, music classes, and Gujarati classes. Festivities for the opening weekend will begin Dec 21, with Nagar Yatra, a colorful procession parading the sacred images which then confer their blessings upon all. Later that evening will be a Kirtan Aradhana with delightful devotional music and vocals performed by some of the most accomplished BAPS Swamis. On Dec 22, followers will pray for world peace during the Vishwa Shanti Mahayag. On Sunday, December 23 will be the murti pratishtha ceremony.
Simran Kaur is Brand Ambassador at Jaipur Jewellery Show

By Prakash Bhandari Jaipur: The much awaited international level Jaipur Jewellery Show (JJS) will begin here at Rajmahal Palace Hotel on Saturday with upcoming Bollywood actress Simran Kaur as the brand ambassador. As is the trend of JJS, this year too, three knowledge sharing seminars are being organized to deal with varied aspects of the jewelry trade. Convener of JJS, Vimal Chand Surana said that the show quintessentially aims at bringing together renowned jewelers and customers from across the globe to a single platform for trade and interaction. It also provides a forum to students and those who are new to the trade to get updated informaMedia Coordinator Ajay Kala informed that this year the manager of Rapaport India Pvt. Ltd., Prashant Bhojani will address a seminar on Where did my margins go, and how do I get them back? The second seminar on The art of grading diamonds will be addressed by Shimul Mehta Vyas of the National Institute of Design (NID). Gemological Institute of America (GIA) will host the third seminar on Synthetic (Lab Grown) Diamonds. The Executive Director of London-based Gemfields Plc, Sean Gilbertson will be the Chief Guest and will inaugurate the show. Vice Chairman of GJEPC Pankaj Parekh will be the guest of honor. In the past few years well known people from the jewelry trade have been chief guest like Varda Shine, MD of Diamond Trading Company International (2009); Vasant Mehta, Chairman of GJEPC (2008); Dr. Gaetano Cavalieri, President, CIBJO (2007); Donna Baker, Acting President of GIA (2006); and Samuel Schnitzer, President of World Federation of Diamond Bourses (2005). Rajiv Jain said that this being the 10th year of this leading jewelry expo, it is fitting to have as chief guest Gilbertson of Gemfields, one of the worlds foremost colored stone producers. Gemfields mines, processes and markets rough gemstones internationally. Its prime focus is on Zambian emeralds and amethyst. His inputs will benefit the gems and jewelry trade, he added.
Upcoming Bollywood actress Simran Kaur
tion on new developments and trends. According to JJS Secretary, Rajiv Jain, who is also chairman of Gems & Jewellery Export Promotion Council of India
(GJEPC, the show aims at keeping jewelers from the world over informed about new designs, manufacturing, e-commerce, taxation and developments in the trade.
16
CHRISTMAS
Christ-ory: The history Great ways to make your behind Christmas holiday party beautiful
C
hristmas is an annual commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ and a widely observed holiday, celebrated generally on December 25 by millions of people around the world. A feast central to the Christian liturgical year, it closes the Advent season and initiates the twelve days of Christmastide. Christmas is a civil holiday in many of the world's nations, is celebrated by an increasing number of non-Christians, and is an integral part of the Christmas and holiday season. The precise year of Jesus' birth, which some historians place between 7 and 2 BC, is unknown. His birth is mentioned in two of the four Canonical Gospels. By the early-to-mid 4th century, the Western Christian Church had placed Christmas on December 25, a date later adopted in the East. The date of Christmas may have initially been chosen to correspond with the day exactly nine months after early Christians believed Jesus to have been conceived, as well as the date of the southern solstice (i.e., the Roman winter solstice), with a sun connection being possible because Christians consider Jesus to be the "Sun of righteousness" prophesied in Malachi 4:2. The original date of the celebration in Eastern Christianity was January 6, in connection with Epiphany, and that is still the date of the celebration for the Armenian Apostolic Church and in Armenia, where it is a public holiday. As of 2012, there is a difference of 13 days between the modern Gregorian calendar and the older Julian calendar. Those who continue to use the Julian calendar or its equivalents thus celebrate December 25 and January 6 on what for the majority of the world is January 7 and January 19. For this reason, Ethiopia, Russia, Ukraine, Serbia, the Republic of Macedonia, and the Republic of Moldova celebrate Christmas on what in the Gregorian calendar is January 7; the Church of Greece celebrates Christmas on December 25. The popular celebratory customs associated in various countries with Christmas have a mix of pre-Christian, Christian and secular themes and origins. Popular modern customs of the holiday include gift giving, Christmas music and caroling, an exchange of Christmas cards, church celebrations, a special meal, and the display of various Christmas decorations, including Christmas trees, Christmas lights, nativity scenes, garlands, wreaths, mistletoe, and holly. In addition, several closely related and often interchangeable figures, known as Santa Claus, Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas and Christkind, are associated with bringing gifts to children during the Christmas season and have their own body of traditions and lore. Because gift-giving and many other aspects of the Christmas festival involve heightened economic activity among both Christians and non-Christians, the holiday has become a significant event and a key sales period for retailers and businesses. The economic impact of Christmas is a factor that has grown steadily over the past few centuries in many regions of the world. he holiday season is the most festive time of year, from singing in the streets to gatherings with friends and family. So if youre going to be entertaining, youll want your party to feel as cheerful as the season itself and to add some style and flair to make your party sparkle. From the dcor to the table settings to the food, a few unique twists can make guests feel welcomed, impressed and ready to party upon arrival. So set the mood accordingly.
Delight on Arrival You can delight their senses right away with a lit fireplace or by brewing a holiday punch or cider with cinnamon and other aromatic flavors. Also, be sure that your entranceway is decorated for the season and that theres music playing. A crooner like Bing Crosby performing holiday hits is a classic choice. Just keep the volume at a conversationfriendly level. Think Small Presentation Instead of hosting a multicourse sit-down dinner, make life easier on yourself and more fun for your guests with a splendid spread of small plates. A small plate dinner means guests can eat whenever they arrive and mix and mingle as they do so its an easy, fun way to entertain.
When it comes to parties, the visual impact of your food is as important as its taste. This is where small plates shine, as little tastes can have a big impact with their colors, shapes and designs. Give guests a taste surprise with a round-the-world line up of cuisines, from traditional sliders to more exotic choices like dumplings and Mediterranean dips. For inspiration, turn to a cookbook devoted solely to miniature appetizers and desserts, such as those from author Robert Zollweg. Aim for each dish to feature about four to six bites of food that can be eaten comfortably seated or standing, and arrange dishes on small, sleek plates, such as Libbey Just Tastings mini dinnerware collection. Both the Just Tastings collection and cookbook line are available at Bed Bath & Beyond.
For the sake of presentation, be sure your dishes present a great array of colors. Attendees will naturally end up moving around the room in order to taste everything. Make sure to coordinate tablecloths, napkins, candleholders and centerpieces in a seasonal color scheme.. Dont be afraid to think creatively! Dress it Up You can dress up your party space with a few simple and elegant flourishes. You can make stylish centerpieces by taking clear bowls and filling them with colorful ornaments and pretty greenery. And you can fill glasses with colored stones or small candles to add a sophisticated glow to the room. By setting a mood that is both cheerful and chic, you can make a great impression on guests and throw a party they wont soon forget.
How to deck your holiday halls with fresh, festive flowers
hile Mother Nature may do the work of creating an outdoor winter wonderland this holiday season, the inside of your home is up to you. Dont stress, decorating your home with holiday flowers and plants can be a fun and easy way to create your very own enchanting holiday atmosphere. Here are five top holiday decorating tips that will bring some festive floral flair to your home this season: Expecting houseguests? Decorate all of the rooms in your home with a few simple touches to create a cozy holiday sanctuary for you and your loved ones. Florals are the perfect way to welcome your guests. Place small vases of fresh flowers in bedrooms and bathrooms. Just a few blooms will do the trick and the thoughtful gesture wont go unnoticed. Adorning each of your holiday dining
tables with a festive theme will make the delicious experience even more delightful. For a formal holiday dinner, a traditional centerpiece makes a statement of elegance. Teleflora, a nationwide floral retailer, is a popular source for artfully arranged holiday centerpieces. Their vintage-style Silver Glow Centerpiece, which features a stylish mercury glass hurricane nestled in a bed of Christmas greens and red roses, will light up your holiday table. Add an extra special touch by tying your linen napkins with silver ribbon. Dont forget to top the childrens table with something whimsical and sweet, such as the Telefloras red and white striped Peppermint Christmas Bouquet. Add candy canes to the table place settings and no one will mind sitting at the kids table this year. More information and great decorating ideas can be found at www.Teleflora.com. When choosing holiday florals and deco-
rative accents, experiment with color palettes. Add some unexpected color to traditional holiday hues of red, green, gold and silver. Lime or chartreuse combined with reds and greens will give your dcor a modern twist. For a rich, upscale look, add shades of plum and aubergine to traditional burgundy and gold decor. Bring new life, color and fragrance to artificial green garlands, wreaths, and boughs from years past. Mixing your artificial elements with fresh stems like heather, magnolia and seeded eucalyptus will enhance the look of your dcor and create a fragrant holiday scent that will evoke memories of merry times. Create your own special holiday decorating traditions. Save your favorite bowls, vases and keepsakes from your floral arrangements and fill them with ornaments, candy or other festive goodies. Teleflora
offers an extensive array of collectible floral containers that can be cherished and enjoyed for holidays to come. This season, use holiday flowers and plants to fill your home with warmth and a festive spirit that will make your guests want to return every year.
CHRISTMAS
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How to make a difference Ways to make your home festive this season this holiday season T
etter than any toy, trinket or fruit basket, what if you could give a gift that would actually make a profound difference in someones life? The holidays are the perfect time to reach out to the less fortunate. Here are a few ways you can help this holiday season:
Work at a Soup Kitchen Many people have made it a yearly tradition to volunteer at a soup kitchen during the holidays. You can help the homeless and hungry get a hot meal and give them the small gift of a full stomach. Contact your local soup kitchen to see how you can help. If you dont have time to volunteer, consider donating non-perishable goods, as many soup kitchens have a food pantry as well. Help a Family in a Crisis Zone A gift from the mall is nice, but donating to a philanthropic organization on behalf of a loved one is a much more meaningful way to celebrate the holidays. There are an estimated 40 million people around the world who have been uprooted from their homes by war and disaster. They live in limbo, struggle to survive and have no place to call home. By purchasing a Rescue Gift to honor friends and family in lieu of store-bought presents, youll be contributing to critical supplies and services for vulnerable families. The International Rescue Committees Rescue Gifts offer a wide variety of gifts at various price points. For example, you can opt to help fund a year of
school for girls in Afghanistan, contribute to gardening tools and seeds to help families in need grow food, or help train Burmese refugees, to deliver basic health care. In so doing, both you and your recipient gain a true sense of the kind of work your gift is supporting. These gifts have a tangible impact on the lives of refugees and others who have been displaced by conflict, political upheaval and natural disaster around the world, says Kay Bellor of the International Rescue Committee. They help families to survive and thrive and last a lot longer than a box of chocolates. For more information or to give Rescue Gifts visit www.Rescue.org/gifts. Donate Toys Unfortunately, there are countless children out there whose families cant afford a gift-filled holiday that many of us take for granted. By donating unwrapped toys and books to charity, your generosity will undoubtedly brighten up a childs season. As you enjoy the holidays, take the time to help out someone less fortunate. Just a small bit can go a long way.
hough one of the best parts of winter is getting out of the cool, crisp air and into the cozy, comfort of your home, trendsetting crafters are bringing the beauty of nature inside their houses when decorating for the holidays this year. This holiday season, the outdoors are in, says Nicole Long, Manager of Inspiration for Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores. Pine cones, evergreen, moss and grapevine can give your traditional dcor a rustic, natural look. If youre having trouble getting inspired, here are some ideas from the experts at Jo-Ann: Dress up the entrance of your home with an especially festive look. Wire a small twig wreath to a larger grapevine wreath and then decorate with dazzling embellishments, stems and greenery. Give your mantel a cozy makeover by hanging knitted stock-
ings, embellished with berries and leaves. Then fill them with gifts galore! Deck the halls with pictures of loved ones and celebrations past. Turn a traditional pine garland of berries and pine cones into a personal keepsake of fond memories by adding handcrafted wire frames of your favorite family photos. Paint pine cones red, gold, burgundy and green. Dont be afraid to add a little glitz with a coat of clear glitter on each one. Showcase them
in a simple glass container for a beautiful centerpiece or side table decoration. Fashion a hanging basket out of grapevine wreath. Place batteryoperated lights within the basket and fill with ornaments. For a delicious holiday goodie bag, dip peppermint sticks in melted chocolate and decorate with sprinkles or chopped nuts. Place them in treat bags with ribbon then give to family and friends throughout the season. Print Victorian-era designs onto paper, then decoupage onto wood shapes. Glitter the edges and tie on a shiny ribbon to create a lovely, vintage-inspired ornament. For more tips and directions on transforming your home for the holiday season, visit www.JoAnn.com/projects. By bringing a bit of nature into your home this season, you can evoke its spirit all throughout the house.
Among everyone else, Santa Claus stands tallest on Christmas
anta Claus, also known as Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas and simply "Santa", is a figure with legendary, mythical, historical and folkloric origins who, in many western cultures, is said to bring gifts to the homes of the good children during the late evening and overnight hours of Christmas Eve, December 24. The modern figure was derived from the Dutch figure of Sinterklaas, which, in turn, was part of its basis in hagiographical tales concerning the historical figure of Christian bishop and gift giver Saint Nicholas. A nearly identical story is attributed by Greek Orthodox and Byzantine Christian folklore to Saint Basil of Caesarea. Basil's feast day on January 1 is considered the time of exchanging gifts in Greece. Santa Claus is generally depicted as a portly, joyous, white-bearded man - sometimes with spectacles wearing a red coat with white collar and cuffs, whitecuffed red trousers, and black leather belt and boots (images of him rarely have a beard with no moustache). This image became popular in the United
States and Canada in the 19th century due to the significant influence of Clement Clarke Moore's 1823 poem "A Visit From St. Nicholas" and of caricaturist and political cartoonist Thomas Nast. This image has been maintained and reinforced through song, radio, television, children's books and films. According to a tradition which can be traced to the 1820s, Santa Claus lives at the North Pole, with a large number of magical elves, and nine (originally eight) flying reindeer. Since the 20th century, in an idea popularized by the 1934 song "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town", Santa Claus has been believed to make a list of children throughout the world, categorizing them according to their behavior ("naughty" or "nice") and to deliver presents, including toys, and candy to all of the well-behaved children in the world, and sometimes coal to the naughty children, on the single night of Christmas Eve. He accomplishes this feat with the aid of the elves who make the toys in the workshop and the reindeer who pull his sleigh.
New twists on holiday food traditions
or many families, the best thing about the holidays isnt the lavish gifts, its the traditions they have made together. And while old customs wont fade, families across the country are spicing up their holiday celebrations with new traditions this year. Here are four ideas for new food traditions you can start this holiday season: Serve food from other cultures: Try adding a cultural dish to your holiday feast. Danish roast goose, Hungarian chicken paprikash, Jewish latkes, Irish oyster stew, or Grecian leg of lamb are all traditional meals that could invigorate your holiday spread. For dessert, try Italian sweet cakes or Australian Pavlova, a meringue-like treat.
New take on an old favorite: Lots of families have traditional holiday favorites that they break out once a year. For many, that dessert is the moist, sweet cake panettone. Bauducco Panettone is a ready to eat specialty cake loaded with a variety of raisins, candied fruits and chocolate chips. Extremely versatile, panettone can add a new twist to classic recipes. Some unique recipes include using panettone to make croutons for fresh arugula and roasted fruit salad or substituting Bauducco Panettone in a bread pudding with amaretto sauce. Even for breakfast, its light texture and subtle sweetness make the cake perfect to pair with coffee or hot chocolate, said Stefano Mozzi,
General Manager at Bauducco Foods Inc. It can even be used to make French toast and waffles. For some delicious recipe ideas, visit www.bauducco.com/ product/panettone. You can find Bauducco Panettone on store shelves this holiday season at Wal-Mart, CVS, Walgreens and grocery stores, drug stores and mass market retailers nationwide. Plan a cookie exchange: Have everyone in your family bake one type of cookie and bring them to the festivities - one dozen cookies each for larger groups and two dozen for smaller ones. Youll have a variety of delicious cookies for dessert, while only having to bake one type yourself. This is an easy and surefire way to please your
familys sweet tooth! Cook with the kids: The days leading up to the holidays are a great time to bond with your kids. One of the best ways to do that is to get them involved in the cooking process. Have your children pick a few recipes they can help you with.
Make extra for friends, neighbors and the less fortunate and deliver them with your kids to spread some good cheer. Try something new in the kitchen this holiday season. Sometimes the traditions you start on your own are the best of all.
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ULTIMATE BOLLYWOOD
India visit a memorable experience: Naomi

ctor Naomi Watts, who has got her first Golden Globe nomination for "The Impossible", not only enjoyed sightseeing and shopping during her India visit, but was also impressed by the "strength and determination" of HIV mothers whom she met in the capital. She visited the country with her husband Liev Schreiber last year. "In Rajasthan, I visited Jal Mahal. It was so beautiful. I was awestruck. The beauty of the terrace garden, Chameli Bagh, was enthralling. I also shopped for Jaipuri quilts from Chaura Rasta in Jaipur. My mother and both my children, Kai and Sasha, had a great time," Watts said in a statement. Schreiber was shooting in the capital for Mira Nair's "The Reluctant
Actor Naomi Watts visited the country with her husband Liev Schreiber last year
Fundamentalist" and the 44-year-old actress also visited a hospital here, where she met a few HIV mothers. "The hospital staff welcomed me warmly," she said.
Talking about her interaction with the mothers there, Watts said: "My heart went out to them. I could see their struggles and challenges that they faced. But what moved me was
their strength and determination to raise a healthy child. I have great respect for them." In "The Impossible", the actress will be seen as a mother who is sep-
arated from her family during tsunami. It is based on real life tsunami survivor Maria Belon. PVR Pictures will release "The Impossible" in India Jan 4.
'Dabangg 2' - double dose of action, comedy

Review
Sonakshi Sinha again reprising their roles of Chulbul Pandey and Rajjo, while Vinod Khanna will feature as Prajapati Pandey, and Arbaaz as Makhanchan Pandey. "Dabangg" proved to a turning point of actor Sonu Sood's career, who played the main antagonist Chhedi Singh. Initially he was a part of the sequel too, but had to opt out because of date issues. Now, Prakash Raj has been roped in to play the antagonist. Made at a budget of approximately Rs.50 crore, the film is likely to release in over 3,000 screens. The songs of "Dabangg 2" have also become popular, generating more interest in the film. While "Dabangg" had Malaika Arora Khan's "Munni badnam hui", "Dabangg 2" features actress Kareena Kapoor in item song "Fevicol Se", which is ruling the music charts already. Since the release of "Dabangg" in 2010, the movie and Chulbul Pandey have become a brand. Whether the sequel will be able to create the same magic as "Dabangg" remains to be seen.After the release of Shah Rukh Khan's "Jab Tak Hai Jaan" and Aamir Khan's "Talaash", both of which earned big bucks at the box-office, it would be interesting to see how "Dabangg 2" does at the box-office and which Khan takes the top slot.
'Bhaag Milkha...' trailer to go with 'Dabangg 2'
'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag' stars Farhan Akhtar
Salman Khan as Chulbul Pandey in 'Dabangg 2'
fter breaking box-office records with "Dabangg", actor Salman Khan is ready to entertain audiences in his popular avatar of Chulbul Pandey in "Dabangg 2", which releases this week. "Dabangg" was set in a village and had the rustic, rural flavour of Uttar Pradesh. The story this time around will shift to a posh metropolitan city. The sequel will see Chulbul Pandey to be transferred to a city, where he will mingle with the elite, but will retain his simplistic flavour and values. "Dabangg" having been a blockbuster, the buzz around the sequel is high too. The original movie was directed by Abhinav Kashyap, but he opted out of the sequel due to some issues, following which Salman's brother and producer Arbaaz Khan jumped in as the director. Made under the banner of Arbaaz Khan Productions, "Dabangg 2" has been written by Dilip Shukla. This will be Arbaaz's first film as a director.The film will see Salman and
'Pandeyjee' song spurs controversy

f you've heard and liked Pandeyjee Seeti Bajaye song from Dabangg 2, listen also to Chalat Musafir from Teesri Kasam (1966). You might sense the similarity immediately. A daily reports that yesteryear lyricist and filmmaker Shailendras family is unhappy with the song Pandeyjee Seeti Bajaye from Dabangg 2 for this very reason. Bombay Times quotes Priyanka Shaily Shailendra, filmmaker's who avers: Theres definitely an issue of copyright infringement...No consent was taken from the family. So, we have raised the issue that some acknowledgement be given to Shailendra and ShankarJaikishen. She has sent a legal notice to the producers and associates of the film, says the
Pandeyjee Seeti Bajaye in from Dabangg 2
tabloid. On the other hand composers Sajid-Wajid maintain that its a folk tune, so they didnt buy the rights. BT quotes Sajid: Our
lawyer has replied to the legal notice. Weve used a folk tune, which is a national property and brought it out for todays generation.
round 14 producers and directors were trying to attach their movies' theatrical trailers to Salman Khan-starrer "Dabangg 2". But only two films have made it - "Bhaag Milkha Bhaag" and "Kai Po Che". "Bhaag Milkha Bhaag" stars Farhan Akhtar, and is directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, while "Kai Po Che" is helmed by Abhishek Kapoor, and features actors Sushant Singh Rajput, Amit Sadh and Rajkumar Yadav. Both the movies' trailers have been picked because of Salman and his brother Arbaaz Khan's personal relationship with the people involved. Confirming the news, Arbaaz said: "Farhan Akhtar is a very close family friend. Salman and I have grown up with Farhan. He personally requested for 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag' trailer to go with our film sometime ago. There was no question of refusing." "Then we saw the 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag' trailer attached to 'Talaash'. So we asked Farhan if he still wants his trailer with 'Dabangg 2'. He said 'yes'. So it's there."
ULTIMATE BOLLYWOOD
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No Mogambo in 'Mr. India' sequel!
Milkha Singh wants to meet Sonam Kapoor
ertain scenes of 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag' left veteran athlete Milkha Singh feeling rather nostalgic a few weeks ago. No, not because he was watching his own life story being enacted on the big screen, but because of Sonam Kapoor. Apparently, the Aisha (2010) actor shares an uncanny resemblance to Milkha's ex-girlfriend, who had first inspired him to become an athlete. "A few minutes into the film, he realized that Sonam looks a lot like his former girlfriend. Her character too, he felt, was welletched," says a source. "He is glad that Sonam has been cast in the role of the female lead opposite Farhan Akhtar (who plays Milkha
Veteran athlete Milkha Singh in the movie). That is why he wants to meet her." Meanwhile, the icon is happy
with the way the film is shaping up. The source says, "He is delighted with whatever little he has watched of the film. He thinks Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra (director) has done justice to his life story by depicting it in a manner that's so close to reality." The film's lead actor, Farhan, who has transformed himself physically to look the part, has already begun receiving positive reviews for his effort ever since the trailer was released. "Milkha knows that Farhan had to put in two years of extensive training to achieve the muscular-yet-lean physique. He has even grown his hair to resemble the athlete, and Milkha appreciated that about him," reveals the source.
Amrish Puri played the popular Mogambo
ilmmaker Boney Kapoor clarifies that he is planning a sequel to 1987 hit "Mr. India" and not a remake and added that he would introduce a new villain in the film.In the original, Amrish Puri played the baddie Mogambo and his performance was one of the high points of the sci-fi comedy. "Obviously, there won't be a Mogambo unless we are remaking the same film. As of now, we don't have plans of remaking the same film. We are working on a sequel. If there is a sequel, Mogambo won't be there, there would be a new villain," Kapoor said here Monday while unveiling the cover of People magazine featuring his wife and actress Sridevi. There were reports that Salman Khan will be roped in to play the villain in the sequel. When asked about the same, Kapoor said: "If I had my way, I
would plan every film with Salman Khan. But this is not in my hands, it will be according to the script." Sridevi had played lead actor Anil Kapoor's love interest "Mr. India" and will star in the sequel as well. "Well, of course she (Sridevi) will be a part of 'Mr. India 2' for sure. We are yet to finalise a script. Along with Anil, she will be part of it," Kapoor said. "My journey with her began with 'Mr. India', so obviously the journey has to continue and how can it continue without her, especially when it's 'Mr. India'?" he added. However, Kapoor, 57, is currently focusing on "No Entry Mein Entry." "But before I get down to 'Mr. India', we have just finished the script for 'No Entry Mein Entry'," he said and added that first it would be "No Entry Mein Entry" followed by "Mr. India" and various other films.
Dhoom 3 is half complete: Abhishek
ctor Abhishek Bachchan, who is currently working on the third film of the Dhoom franchise, reveals that 50 per cent of the film is complete. "We are currently about 50 per cent through; we have just come back from a marathon schedule in the States (USA). Now we resume our indoor work in Mumbai," said the 37-year-old actor at the Big Star Entertainment Awards. Meanwhile, Katrina Kaif, the newest entrant to the Dhoom gang, also talked about her upcoming films: "At the moment we are shooting for Dhoom 3 with Aamir Khan. Then in February I will start a film with
Aamir Khan in Dhoom 3 Hrithik Roshan, which is an action film; it's romantic-action kind of a drama film," she says. Dhoom 3 features Aamir Khan in a negative role while Abhishek and Uday Chopra reprise their characters of Jay and Ali respectively.
'Zero Dark Thirty,' the biggest manhunt story ever'

A
fter the Oscar-winning 'The Hurt Locker' on the Iraq war, Kathryn Bigelow now brings one of the world's greatest manhunts in "Zero Dark Thirty", key sequences of which have been shot in India. Though the director admits it is a sensitive topic as it involves Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, she says it "has been sensibly and cautiously made". "Zero Dark Thirty" chronicles the decade-long hunt for Al Qaeda leader Osama after the September 2001 attacks and his death at the hands of the Navy SEAL Team 6 in Abbotabad, Pakistan, in May 2011. "Yes, it is sensitive topic, which has been sensibly and cautiously made, which the people can judge for themselves. The movie is not for anyone or against any one; it has no agenda. It is a very neutral depiction of what happened during the world's greatest manhunt," Bigelow said.
Interview
facts and figures kept going back and forth. We had people who were hesitant to talk about what they did, although they were all proud of it," said the 61-year-old Oscar winner and added that she convinced the people involved that "the information would be handled carefully". What made you choose India to create Abbottabad? "The first and foremost reason for not shooting in Pakistan is the strained US-Pakistan relations. The raid, which was carried out without the knowledge of the Pakistan Army and government, caused widespread anger at the violation of the country's sovereignty and remains a source of anti-American feeling in the country. This made shooting in Pakistan difficult," she said. "We filmed the hideout of bin Laden in Chandigarh and Patiala in
A scene from Kathryn Bigelow's 'Zero Dark Thirty' is based on Osama killing
"The movie is based on a firsthand account; so we have tried to keep the cinematic version of it as accurate as possible. This is a naturally dramatic and exciting story and, as you know, it is one of the biggest manhunt story ever. This is
a story told by the people who lived and encountered the hunt," she added. Bigelow says researching about the film took more time than shooting for it. "The research took us more time than filming the whole movie. The
Punjab. While Chandigarh is a 1950s modernist town created by the French designer Le Corbusier, its outskirts have villages which resemble Thanda Choha, the hamlet of dusty lanes and ugly walled mansions where bin Laden hid in an illegally-built upper floor. "Patiala is a historic royal town, which has fine colonial buildings similar to some found in Abbottabad, the hill town (in Pakistan) named after the 19th British conqueror of the North West Frontier, Major James Abbott," she said. Even shooting in India wasn't a cakewalk for Bigelow. "It was good experience shooting in India, though there were lot of controversies regarding recreating Abbottabad in Chandigarh, but in the end it all went good. The Indian team were very active and helpful and contributed as much as they could," she said.
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OP-ED
A joke gone wrong

By Karan Thapar
ometimes the media dont think before they ask questions. That was the case when they debated: Are the Australian radio jockeys to blame for the death of the Indian nurse Jacintha Saldanha? The answer is clearly no. In fact, very definitely not. And if the media had considered the question carefully, for even one nano second, they would have come to the same conclusion. However, let me first state that this in no way denies that what happened was deeply tragic. Its one of those bewilderingly sad stories that can never be explained. It was not intended to end this way. Thats what makes it heart-rending. But, remember, it was a joke. It may have gone horribly wrong but it was still a prank. And its the sort of thing the media in the West often do. More importantly, its the sort of thing ordinary people often do. I certainly have. April fool jokes may not excite the media in India but they are traditional fare for the western press. I recall The Guardian publishing an entire supplement on a non-existent island, with details of its history, culture, tourist attractions and even an in-depth analysis of its politics, which took in thousands of gullible readers. Earlier this year, this very column played a similar joke on April 1 when I wrote about Frederick Charles Uhuru Lullumbuwesi, the Bagato of Burungundi, to welcome him on his first state visit to India. A few saw through it but many swallowed my story hook, line and sinker. Now the whole point of April fool jokes is to mislead and deceive. The aim is to make a twit of you. Thats exactly what the
radio jockeys were doing. Think carefully about the call they made. With obvious Australian accents, which stick out a mile in London, they claimed to be The Queen and Prince Charles. An even bigger give-away was the time of the call: 5:30 am. Undoubtedly they expected to have the phone banged down. It could never have occurred to them that a London Hospital would actually accept it was the Monarch and her son. As a kid Ive done similar things. In the 1970s, when ministers had special RAX phones, I can remember a lunch at Dr Karan Singhs when a group of us slipped into his study, picked up the red phone and rang members of Mrs Gandhis Cabinet claiming it was a call from 1, Safdarjung Road informing them of an emergency Cabinet meeting. Then we dashed to the Gymkhana Club and stood at the gate as ministerial limousines approached No 1 for the Cabinet meeting we had concocted. It was a stupid prank. But thats all it was. Its the sort of joke people play from time to time. You can call it infantile. Even thoughtless. And, of course, it infuriates the victim. Yet its still a joke and nothing more. Its all of this that the media in England as much as in India forgot when they sought to raise deeper issues of responsibility and blame and pin them on the Australian radio jockeys. That Mel Greig and Michael Christian are devastated is not guilt. Their tears are totally understandable. Which of us would not behave similarly if one of our silly jokes had gone so horribly wrong? But does that mean theyre to blame for the nurses tragic death? Only if you want to create a story and dont care about the answer.
What ails rape investigation in India?
A medical report based on stereotypes about sexual assault can be very damaging to a rape case
By Aruna Kashyap
That RJs are devastated is not guilt. Which of us would not behave similarly if one of our silly jokes had gone so horribly wrong? But does that mean theyre to blame for the nurses tragic death?
he outrage following the gang-rape of a young woman in Delhi has led to demands that capital punishment be introduced to deter rape. India should take a principled stand against death penalty, including for rape. But beyond principle, India must also oppose the introduction of the death penalty as it will not stop the rise in rapes or result in higher conviction rates. When rape is reported, the problem is not that India does not have enough laws to adequately punish those convicted (at least for penile penetrative rape). Instead, the lack of certainty in prompt police response coupled with poor investigation and evidence collection hampers prosecutions. For politicians, supporting the death penalty is an easy way out. It is much harder, but ultimately more effective, to invest time and money revitalizing the criminal justice system with all its actors - police, doctors, forensic specialists, prosecutors, and judges - to make sure that it can respond in an effective, coordinated manner to sexual assault. Sexual assault is a serious problem in India. Even the underreported official data for
rape from the National Crime Records Bureau shows a steady rise in registered cases. In 2011, 24,206 cases were registered. The average conviction rate for rape in India was 26 percent. Among the most contested evidence during rape investigation and trial is the medical examination report of the victim. This report can have a crucial impact on the case's outcome, at most providing corroboration of the victim's claims by documenting injuries and other evidence of rape. Poorly written or interpreted, it can undermine a victim's credibility. India has no uniform format for compiling medical reports. This allows doctors in different parts to conduct examinations using differing or no standards; wrongly conclude that the complaint is unsupported by medical evidence when the evidence in many cases is inconclusive; reach damaging conclusions unsupported by the evidence; or even rely on outdated stereotypes about rape. A medical report based on stereotypes about sexual assault can be very damaging to a case. The WHO states that "only approximately one-third of rape victims sustain visible physical injuries". Nonetheless, many Indian police officers, doctors and judges still seek evidence of a "struggle" and "injuries".
When they fail to find these, they often conclude that no rape occurred. Changing the attitude of criminal justice officials will not be accomplished overnight. But we can at least explode some myths that still affect rape investigation and trial. The ministries of home affairs as well as health and family welfare should jointly develop a coordinated response to sexual assault that not only allows women to obtain basic medical treatment after rape but also dispel myths about sexual assault and injuries. Officials should consult leading Indian civil society experts and doctors to develop standard protocols for the medical treatment and examination of rape survivors across India. The National Mission for Empowerment of Women has the funds and mandate to back such a coordinated response. A uniform pan-India protocol, backed by adequate resources for training and monitoring, will help police and doctors follow basic parameters of treatment and care and gather evidence more effectively and impartially. This will go a long way in helping rape survivors negotiate at least one part of a complex legal process, and pave the way for better conviction rates.
The views expressed in Op Eds are not necessarily those of The South Asian Times.
DIASPORA
21
Indian doctor kills self after parents reject British fiancee

London: A heartbroken He was wary of India-born doctor in Britain telling his parents about committed suicide after his the relationship due to parents, citing cultural diftheir cultural beliefs, ferences, disapproved of investigating officer PC his wish to marry a fellow Huw Evans told the physician. inquest. Anaesthetist Madhu "During a visit to Honnaiah, 33, from a hosBritain from India, his pital in Swansea, a coastal parents learned of the city in Wales, where he relationship and said worked after splitting with they weren't happy fiancee Emma Wrighton, about it. It was said his swallowed drugs, Daily parents wanted him to Mail reported. marry someone from An inquest heard that his caste or from the Fiancee Emma Wrighton Honnaiah's parents, from Bangalore area of India Bangalore, had objected to his engage- where he grew up," Evans said. ment to British-born Wrighton, 32, who Honnaiah was alone when he injected had refused to have a Hindu wedding. himself with two drugs used in surgery Honnaiah had begun a relationship with seven months after their split. fellow doctor Wrighton in 2008 while "After the breakdown of his relationworking in Liverpool. She later got a job ship, concerns about Dr Honnaiah's state in Australia but they stayed in touch and of mind were raised by his colleagues," moved in together after she returned to Evans said. Britain. The two doctors got engaged in An eight-page hand written letter made 2010. But he did not inform about it to his it clear that Honnaiah intended to take his parents. own life.
Indian nurse blames Australian RJs for suicide

London: The Indian-origin nurse, who committed suicide after a prank phone call to the hospital treating the pregnant Duchess of Cambridge, left a suicide note telling the two RJs behind the prank that they were responsible for her death. In one of the three notes, the 46-year-old Jacintha Saldanha expressed her deep anger at the Australian radio presenters and blamed them for her death, the Daily Mail reported Sunday. Saldanha was found hanging at her accommodation at the King Edward VII's Hospital in London. The daily said one of the RJs telephoned the hospital again within an hour of the first call and spoke to Saldanha again, telling her they had played a prank which they were about to broadcast. The revelation is believed to have left Saldanha feeling confused and agitated. DJs Mel Greig and Michael Christian have apologized for the tragic repercussions of their prank. They pretended
Benedict Barboza, centre, holds his son Junal, right, and daughter Lisha during the burial of his wife Jacintha Saldanha at her hometown Shirva, Karnataka on Monday.
to be Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles seeking information about the duchess's condition. In another, one-page letter, Saldanha criticized the hospital staff and particularly blamed two individuals. Although the hospital said no senior member of staff blamed Saldanha for falling victim to the prank, the daily said she may have been reprimanded by colleagues by email. A friend of the nurse's family told the daily that Saldanha may have tried to
commit suicide more than once in the 72 hours between the prank and the moment her body was discovered. The nurse may have attempted to slash her wrists before she died by hanging herself. "She may have tried to kill herself more than once - that's why there are three notes," the friend said. In her final letter, Saldanha is believed to have asked to be buried in her home village of Shirwa, near Mangalore, India.
Indian eatery shut down for serving filthy food

London: A kebab, pizza and burger takeaway in Britain's Greater Manchester, owned by three people of Indian origin was shut down by a judge for serving mouldy onion bhajis and foul-smelling meat. The Nile eatery in Bolton had failed to comply with hygiene standards for many years, the Daily Mail reported. The takeaway was closed Thursday for serving food "unfit for human consumption." It also faced complaints of an unclean floor, damaged shelves in a fridge and a freezer that did not shut properly. Partners in the business Abid Patel, 28, Sajid Patel, 20, and Tahir Patel, 30, were fined at the Bolton Crown Court and ordered to do unpaid work. The judge made a prohibition order preventing the Nile from being used for any food businesses after a "long history of non-compliance". Environmental health staff repeatedly visited the takeaway. Hygiene notices were first issued in December 2010, prosecutors said. The judge said no efforts were made to bring the eatery up to standard. Sajid and Abid Patel were both sentenced to 150 hours of unpaid work for failing to comply with hygiene improvement notices and for serving food unfit for human consumption. Tahir Patel will carry out 120 hours of unpaid work. All three were also fined over 1,000 pounds each.
Trinidad to have all-faith celebration of Vivekananda's 150th birth anniversary

Port of Spain: People of Indian origin in the Caribbean nation of Trinidad and Tobago will join the rest of the world in paying homage to Swami Vivekananda on his 150th birth anniversary in January with a series of cultural and educational programs involving people of all faiths. Indian High Commissioner Malay Mishra said the anniversary celebrations will be held Jan 10-15 at several locations in Trinidad and Tobago. Representatives from Hinduism, Christianity and Islam, including Swami Ishtananda from Florida, will deliver speeches on Vivekananda. A health camp will also be organized at Lambeau, Tobago Indian High Commissioner Mishra said: "The event will be inaugurated with the opening of an exhibition of books, photographs and posters of Swamiji at the National Council of Indian Culture (NCIC) auditorium in collaboration with the Vedanta Society." A film on Vivekananda will be screened at the City Hall, San Fernando, and will continue to be shown throughout the year, based on requests from various sociocultural organizations, Mishra said. Around 44 percent of the 1.3 million population of Trinidad and Tobago originally came from India's Uttar Pradesh and Bihar states between 1845 and 1917. Around 148,000 Indians came to work on the sugar and cocoa plantations in the Caribbean at the time.
Indians without proper documents in UAE getting help

New Delhi: India is coordinating with its embassy in the UAE to help in the return of non-resident Indians who are without valid documents, Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi told parliament Thursday. In his reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Ravi said: "The Indian mission has taken measures to facilitate issue/update of travel documents and to expedite completion of exit formalities for illegal Indian residents who want to avail amnesty announced by the UAE authorities." In reply to another question, he said that India receives complaints about non-payment of salaries, long working hours, inadequate living conditions and physical harassment among other things from Indian workers "from time to time". In this year so far, the highest number of complaints has been received from Kuwait 3,228, followed by Qatar (3,087), Saudi Arabia (2,547), Oman (2,183), Bahrain (812) and Abu Dhabi, UAE (491).
22
SUBCONTINENT
Malik's India visit: Visa accord launched

New Delhi: Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik's visit to India saw the two countries operationalize a liberalized visa agreement but make little headway on key issues including action against Lashkar-e-Taiba founder and Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed. Before flying home after his threeday visit, Malik stoked fresh controversy by alleging that Indian nonstate actors were also involved in the attack conspiracy and 26/11 accused Abu Jundal "worked as a source for (an) elite agency of India" and could have turned into a double agent. Indian Home Secretary R.K. Singh ridiculed Malik's claim. Malik also insisted that Pakistan was in no way involved with the 2008 Mumbai terror that left 166 Indians and foreigners dead and plunged India-Pakistan ties to a new low. He prayed at the shrine of the 14th century Sufi saint Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya. "I prayed to Allah for a harmonious and peaceful relationships between both in Pakistan. India can set the terms for the visit of the second judicial commission. "Once the procedure ends, we will be able to get conviction." But he stuck to his line about Saeed, who India wants deported. At an interaction held here by the Observer Research Foundation, Malik said Pakistan was awaiting "substantial evidence" from New Delhi to act against Saeed. In his interaction with National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon, Malik discussed his assessment about terrorism in the region. There was no joint statement by Malik and Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde during the visit though the two sides discussed a gamut of issues including counterterrorism, border management, fake Indian currency notes and cooperation among security and investigation agencies. The Pakistani minister, however, said he had "very good interaction" with Indian leaders and was able to convey the message from Islamabad effectively. "Let us become brothers," he said.
Strike in Bangladesh to ban Islamic parties

Dhaka: A general strike to demand that Muslim-majority Bangladesh ban Islamic political parties has shut down schools and stores and disrupted traffic in Dhaka, the capital. A coalition of five leftist parties was enforcing dawn-todusk nationwide strike, a common tactic in Bangladesh to highlight demands. Authorities deployed about 10,000 police and security forces in Dhaka as hundreds of protesters took to the streets, blocking roads and halting traffic. But there were no immediate reports of violence. More than two dozen Islamic parties in Bangladesh want the country to be governed by Sharia, or Islamic law. The leftists say the Islamic parties should be banned because they oppose the constitutional provision that Bangladesh be governed by secular law.
Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik with Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde
countries." Malik stuck a discordant note on the first day of his visit Friday with his purported comparison of Babri mosque demolition with the Mumbai attack. He later denied making a comparison. He also clarified on his remarks pertaining to Kargil martyr Captain Saurabh Kalia and said he was prepared to get the information about his torture probed. Malik did not get a concrete assurance from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the long-stand-
ing invitation to visit the neighboring country. His meeting with the prime minister was short and described as "courtesy call" by officials. The Pakistan minister admitted that there was perception in India about his country not doing enough to bring to book those responsible for Mumbai attack. He said a proposed visit by Pakistan's judicial commission to India to cross-examine 26/11 witnesses would help expedite the conviction of the seven accused arrested
Pak misled India on Saeed's arrest: Shinde
US immunity to ISI in 26/11 disappointing: India

New Delhi: Voicing "serious disappointment" over the US submission that Pakistan's military spy agency Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) be given "immunity" in cases related to the 26/11 Mumbai mayhem filed by relatives of victims, India underlined that "any state or non-state that sponsors terrorism enjoys immunity". India conveyed its concerns with the US State Department after being apprised of the US' view. "We have noted that the US Department of State has taken the position in a US court that the Pakistani ISI be accorded immunity from the civil suit on the Mumbai terrorist attack of November 26, 2008," Syed Akbaruddin, spokesperson of the external affairs ministry, said when asked to comment on the US' decision. "For India, it remains of vital importance that justice is done and that those who organised and perpetrated this horrible crime be brought to justice, irrespective of the jurisdiction under which they may reside or be operating," he said."It cannot be that any organisation, state or nonstate, that sponsors terrorism enjoys immunity," Akbaruddin said. "Our position has been made known to the United States consistently," he said. "India is not a party to the civil suit filed in the Eastern District Court of New York. The details of what was conveyed to the court by a sovereign government are a matter for that government to explain," he said. "From our perspective, this decision is a matter of deep and abiding concern," he said in a sharply-worded statement that made clear New Delhi's disappointment with Washington with which it has forged a close strategic partnership.
After attack, UN halts Pak polio drive
Mumbai terror attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed
The toll of UN-backed health workers slaughtered by militants rose to nine
New Delhi: Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said Pakistan had misled India on the arrest of Mumbai terror attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed and the impression created about his detentions for his role as a conspirator in the attack did not match the documents furnished. Making a statement in the Rajya Sabha a day after Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik concluded his three-day visit to India, Shinde said copies of FIRs and judgments pertaining to previous arrests of the Lashkar-e-Taiba chief made available to India showed the arrests were not for the Mumbai attacks. "Mr. Rehman Malik has been telling us repeatedly he has arrested Hafiz Saeed thrice and and that on each occasion he was let off by the courts due to lack of evidence. We
had been given to understand Hafiz Saeed was arrested on charge of being involved in the 26/11 attacks," Shinde said. "From the papers given to us, it is clear that the detentions of Hafiz Saeed in the aforesaid cases were for other reasons and not for his role as a conspirator in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. Therefore, I can only say that Mr. Rehman Malik appears to have been misinformed in the matter," Shinde said. "I specially mentioned (to Malik) our investigation showed that Hafiz Saeed was one of the masterminds and Pakistan is still to take effective action to charge him," Shinde said, adding many other key conspirators and participants in the Mumbai attack have not yet been chargesheeted.
Islamabad: With more health workers being killed by unidentified gunmen in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, World Health Organization running the country's anti-polio campaign has stopped its drive. With the latest attack, the toll of UN-backed health workers slaughtered by militants rose to nine. At least five separate teams of health workers have been attacked in different towns of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by the end of the three-day monthly nationwide polio vaccination drive. The first attack occurred in Charsadda, north of Peshawar , where gunmen shot dead a female health worker and her driver. No militant group has claimed responsibility for the attacks, but
Pakistani Taliban had issued warnings in the past against polio vaccination in the country. Apart from the Charsadda attack gunmen also struck in Peshawar's Khazana area where gunmen on two motorcycles shot a student volunteer, critically injuring him. Moreover, gunmen on motorbikes attacked a polio team working in the province's garrison town of Nowshera. However, no casualties were reported from that attack. On Tuesday, six anti-polio workers, five of them women, were killed in different parts of Karachi and Peshawar.Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf has condemned the attacks and sought guarantee of their safety from regional authorities.
INTERNATIONAL
23
3,800 British troops leave Afghanistan by 2013
China video reveals school knife attack

Beijing: Chinese police have released surveillance video footage of a knife-wielding attacker who stabbed 22 students at a primary school last week, after the assault was given limited prominence in national media. The grainy video shows a male attacker pursuing a group of children through a school gate and slashing one child with a knife, causing her to fall to the ground. Panicked children then stream out of the school gates to escape the attacker, identified by local police as 36-year-old Min Yongjun, before adults enter equipped with straw brooms, chasing out Min. No one was killed but 22 children were injured in the attack at a school in the central Chinese province of Henan, the same day that 20 children were shot dead at a primary school in Newtown, Connecticut in the US. Despite the severity and scale of the US attack Chinese social media users complained that the Henan incident should have been given more coverage in the country. "The headlines are still dominated
Some 5,000 troops will remain into 2014
London: Prime Minister David Cameron announced that some 3,800 British troops would be withdrawn from Afghanistan by the end of 2013. Some 5,000 will remain into 2014, Cameron told lawmakers. The announcement comes after a lengthy video call between Cameron and US President Barack Obama.There are some 60,000 US troops in Afghanistan. Cameron said the decision reflects an increasing confidence in the Afghan National Security Forces.
"Our combat mission is drawing to a close, but our commitment to the Afghan people is long-term,'' said Defense Secretary Philip Hammond. Since 2001, 433 British troops have died in Afghanistan. Last month, France ended its combat operations in Afghanistan, pulling hundreds of troops from a base in a volatile region northeast of Kabul and fulfilling promises to end its combat role on a faster track than other NATO allies. France has lost 88 troops in Afghanistan since late 2001.
22 children were injured in the attack at a school in Chinese province of Henan
by the American attack, I haven't seen reports about the attack in Henan which happened on the same day," wrote one user of Sina Weibo - a website similar to Twitter. "Aren't Chinese children's lives also important? It's a tragedy." According to instructions obtained by the China Digital Times website the government's central propaganda department told Chinese media to downplay the Henan attack.
It quoted officials as telling media not to put the news on the front page or lure readers to it, and not to produce reports or comment on it other than those provided by Xinhua, the state-run news agency. Local authorities said that Min had been "influenced by rumors of the end of the world", which some in China believe is due to occur on Friday, in line with supposed Mayan prophecies.
UN chief worried over militarization of Syrian conflict

United Nations: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has voiced deep concern at the "increased militarization of the conflict and the potential for sectarian atrocities" in Syria. "Syria began the year in conflict, and ends the year in war," the secretary-general said at his year-end press conference. "Day by day, the death toll has climbed. Month by month, the regional spillover has grown." "The Syrian opposition is coming together. This critical," Ban said. "I am deeply concerned about the increased militarization of the conflict and the potential for sectarian atrocities." Ban said that earlier this month, deputy UN secretary-general Jan Eliasson visited Lebanon, "where government officials and others voiced serious concern about the worsening regional implications". Ban has visited Syrian refugees in Jordan and Turkey to see the situation for himself. "They expressed grief at the decision of their cities and villages, and fear and anger at the growing targeting of people because of their religious or ethnic identity," the secretary-general said. Lebanon, together with Jordan and Turkey, is hosting a massive influx of Syrian refugees who fled their country. "The exodus has reached more than 500,000 people," Ban said. "It will grow in number as fighting rages, and in intensity as winter takes hold." "Neighboring countries face a huge financial burden in sheltering and caring for them. The increasing peril faced by Palestinian refugees in Syria is another growing concern." "I call on the international community to respond generously and urgently to the humanitarian appeal launched in Geneva. I am considering convening an international donor conference, in close coordination with key partners, early next year," he said. In Geneva, the UN launched the new Syria Humanitarian Assistance Response Plan and Syria Regional Response Plan to provide humanitarian assistance in and outside Syria for the first half of 2013. The two plans altogether appealed for some $1.5 billion, with $519 million for an estimated four million people in Syria in need of urgent humanitarian assistance and $1 billion for up to one million Syrian refugees in Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon and Turkey. The secretary-general also urged the international community to "unite firmly behind the mediation efforts" of the joint special envoy of the UN and Arab League for Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi. "Syria needs a peaceful, political solution that brings democratic change, while preserving the fabric of Syrian society and the peaceful coexistence of its communities," Ban said.
China makes 500 doomsday cult arrests

Almighty God Christian group were detained in western Qinghai province in recent days. Dozens more were held elsewhere. In Henan province, six officials have been sacked after a knife attack by a suspected doomsday cult disciple wounded more than 20 children. The attack sparked widespread anger. The officials sacked had handled the incident improperly, state media said. A number of people around the world believe that an apocalypse will take place on 21 December, as the Mayan "Long Count" Calendar ends a 5,200-year cycle. China's state news agency Xinhua describes the Almighty God Christian group as a cult, saying it was established in 1990 in Henan.
Iraqi president recovering after stroke
Iraqi President Jalal Talabani Baghdad: Iraqi President Jalal Talabani's health condition is consistently improving after he was hospitalised following brain stroke two days ago, Xinhua reported. The 79-year-old has been confronting various health problems in recent years. "Talabani is in a good condition and his health is improving continuously," the website of Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), a major Kurdish party headed by Talabani, quoted the head of Talabani's medical team as saying. The medical official also announced that a specialized German medical team arrived in Baghdad Wednesday and was supervising Talabani's condition.
Some people believe that an apocalypse will take place on December 21
Beijing: Chinese police have arrested more than 500 members of a doomsday cult for spreading
rumors about the imminent end of the world, state media say. At least 400 followers of the
24
BUSINESS
World Bank favors autonomy to states on retail FDI

Kolkata: World Bank chief economist Kaushik Basu said positive effects of foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail will be "far greater' than its negative effects and favored giving states autonomy on allowing multinationals to open supermarkets. "Some skepticism about any policy is worth it, every policy comes with a negative effect. You have to distinguish between every form of FDI and you have to look at each one in some detail. FDI in retail, I personally feel, will have some negative effect, but the positive effects are far greater, so it is worth going into it," Basu told reporters at 'Indian Finance Conference' at IIM-Calcutta here. The former chief economic advisor to the finance ministry said he was in favor of giving autonomy to the states on deciding if they wanted 51 percent FDI in multibrand retail as it would be a kind of "a laboratory experiment" in the
Kingfisher Airlines eyes phased restart

Mumbai/New Delhi: In a bid to woo potential investors, financially strained Kingfisher Airlines Monday said it will restart operations in a phased manner. However, it did not give any time line for it. "We will restart in a phased manner and will provide funding ourselves. We have not asked the banks for any support," the company said in a statement after a meeting with lenders in Mumbai. "We have also shared a full recapitalization plan which will be further discussed with a small designated group of bankers," the company said. The airline has a total debt of Rs.7,000 crore from a consortium of banks. On Oct 20 the aviation regulator suspended the operating license of the airlines, citing the passenger carrier's inability to provide any reasonable revival plans. The regulator also rejected the carrier's winter schedules for flight departures. The airline last year had a departure rate of 2,930 flights per week, but has since reduced capacity due to mounting debt and an exo-
FDI in retail will have some negative effect, but the positive effects are far greater, says Kaushik Basu
next few years on whether the reform was worthwhile or not. "I understand different states take different views on it and are hesitant. Once you allow the states to take their own views, you could get almost a laboratory experiment... In a few years, we will see whether the states allowing FDI are doing well or badly. "If we see that they are doing well, then presumably, states that were hesitant earlier will open up. If we see that they are doing badly, then that would be a lesson for everyone," he said.
The airline has a total debt of Rs.7,000 crore from a consortium of banks
dus of employees. The airline was also asked to prepare a credible revival plan and present it to the directorate general of civil aviation, which will take a final call on restoring the airline's operations licence. The airline is desperately trying to stay afloat and wants to restart operations, crippled since Oct 1 by an employees' strike, a lockout and suspension of its flying licence. The airline is also trying to woo foreign investors by putting up nearly 46 percent of the permitted 49
percent stake in the company for sale. The rest three percent will remain with foreign institutional investors, qualified foreign investors or other non-strategic foreign investment. Kingfisher is also said to be in talks with Middle Eastbased airlines for a possible stake sale to come out of its troubled financial position, sources said. They said that the airline will first take regulatory approvals to restart operations and give nearly complete control of its decision making to the potential investor.
UBS to pay $1.5 bn over rate-rigging scandal Eurozone crisis, US fiscal cliff
Geneva: Switzerland's UBS AG has agreed to pay some $1.5 billion in fines to international regulators following a probe into the rigging of a key global interest rate. In admitting to fraud, Switzerland's largest bank became the second bank, after Britain's Barclays PLC, to settle over the rate-rigging scandal. The fine, which will be paid to authorities in the U.S., Britain and Switzerland, also comes just over a week after HSBC PLC agreed to pay nearly $2 billion for alleged money laundering. The settlement caps a tough year for UBS and the reputation of the global banking industry. As well as being ensnared in the industry-wide investigation into alleged manipulations of the benchmark LIBOR interest rate, short for London interbank offered rate, UBS has seen its reputation suffer in a London trial into a multibillion dollar trading scandal and ongoing tax evasion probes. As a result of the fines, litigation, unwinding of real estate investments, restructuring and other costs, UBS said it expects to make a fourth quarter net loss of between 2 billion to 2.5 billion Swiss francs ($2.2-2.7 billion). Nevertheless, the Zurich-based bank main-
worrisome: Fitch
Other banks are expected to be fined for their involvement in the LIBOR scandal
tained that it "remains one of the best capitalized banks in the world." Other banks are expected to be fined for their involvement in the LIBOR scandal. LIBOR, which is a selfpolicing system and relies on information that global banks submit to a British banking authority, is important because it is used to set the interest rates on trillions of dollars in contracts around the world, including mortgages and credit cards.
New York: Fitch Ratings says in its latest bi-annual global Sovereign Review and Outlook report that the weaknesses in the major advanced economies (MAEs) - dominated by the continuing eurozone crisis and the looming threat of the US fiscal cliff - are exerting a negative influence on global sovereign credit quality. However, it expects emerging markets like China, India and Brazil to regain momentum in 2013. "While emerging market (EM) economies are proving more resilient, their continuing exposure to the MAEs, combined with their own vulnerabilities, is con-
straining the upward rating momentum of EM sovereigns," the report said. The report notes that the ratings of seven of the world's 10 largest economies are currently on Negative Outlook, including three major 'AAA'-rated sovereigns - the US, the UK and France, highlighting the strained credit quality of the countries underpinning the global economy. Fitch expects to resolve these three Negative Outlooks in 2013, against a challenging backdrop, with the eurozone back in recession and a US recovery not expected to gain traction until the latter part of 2013.
Google takes Chandni Chowk market online

New Delhi: Google India unveiled a special project intended to make Chandni Chowk, the iconic market of old Delhi, easily accessible to users worldwide. The project is part of Google's unique initiative to offer free websites and domains to small and medium businesses in India through the 'India Get Your Business Online' campaign launched a year ago. As part of this special project, Google India and HostGator went to each shop in Chandni Chowk and built over 2,500 free websites for businesses operating from the market. In addition to creating these websites for businesses, Google India also launched a common website 'www.chandnichowknowonline.in', which provides an easy to navigate directory of all businesses from Chandni Chowk that now have a website. "The Internet is becoming an engine of economic growth and is expected to contribute over US $ 100 billion (Rs.5 lakh crore) by 2015 to India's GDP. Due to initiatives such as these, small and medium businesses are embracing the Internet to increase their competitiveness in the global economy," said Union Minister of Communications and IT and Chandni Chowk MP, Kapil Sibal, while launching the initiative. "This initiative from Google has provided all Chandni Chowk businesses with a professional website, which will now make it easier for customers to find us online and help us to grow our businesses," said Pradeep Jain, spokesperson of the Kinari Bazaar Gota Zari Association of Chandni Chowk.
Google India launched a common website www.chandnichowknowonline.in
SPORTS
25
India have a chance to top T20 rankings

Pune: India have a chance to go top of the ICC T20 International rankings if they win all four matches against England and Pakistan scheduled later in the month. India play England in a twomatch series and then square off against traditional rivals Pakistan -- also in a two-match series starting Dec 25 in Bangalore. India are currently ranked third on the table with 120 ratings points. If India were to win all four matches, they will be propelled to the number-one rank with a gain of 12 ratings points and in doing so will open up a five-point lead over current topranked Sri Lanka. It will be the first time that India will have a chance of aiming for the number-one spot in the rankings since it was launched in October 2011. If India were to lose even one of their four matches, the best they can hope to end 2012 is at the number-two spot. But if India were to lose all four of their matches against both England and Pakistan, they could slip to as low as seventh with 106 ratings points. England and Pakistan can hope to climb a place if they win against India.
India are currently ranked third on the table with 120 ratings points
After India win, England consolidate Test position

Dubai: England's first Test series win in India since 1984-85 has helped them consolidate their second position on the International Cricket Council (ICC) Test Championship table. England won the four-match series 2-1 after drawing the final Test in Nagpur. England's series victory has earned them one ratings point, which has lifted them to 118, reducing the gap with No.1 South Africa to five rating points. The series loss has kept India in fifth place who are now on 105 rating points after dropping one rating point. This has opened up a four-point gap with fourth-ranked traditional rivals Pakistan. England's series win also means that Australia cannot move into second position on the Test Championship Table. If India had won in Nagpur, Australia could have leapfrogged England into second position by winning all three Tests against Sri Lanka.
MS Dhoni loses five brand endorsements

New Delhi: MS Dhoni may or may not retain his captaincy, but his popularity seems to be on the wane at least in the corporate world, with five companies ending endorsement deals with the Indian cricket captain. Only 22 advertisers used Dhoni in commercials during J a n u a r y November, down from 27 a year earlier, shows data put together by research and media-tracking agency TAM for ET. The number of products or brands he endorses Five companies ended declined even more endorsement deals with the sharply to 28, from Indian cricket captain 43. Some industry experts say the country's most successful and bankable sportsperson so far, with estimated earnings of more than Rs 70 crore a year from endorsements, may see his brand value dip up to 30% if he loses the Test captaincy. "Any change in Dhoni's current position may lead to a dip in his endorsement brand value by 2530%," says Shailendra Singh, joint MD of entertainment and talent management firm Percept Ltd. "There's always a premium brands pay when they sign up a captain," he says. But Dhoni has many backers, including companies such as PepsiCo that recently renewed his endorsement contract. Arun Pandey, promoter of talent management firm Rhiti Sports that manages Dhoni's business deals, says the number of advertisers has gone down because contracts with some smaller advertisers were not renewed.
IOC to take action against 'illegitimate' IOA

New Delhi: The International Olympic Committee has asked its Indian member Randhir Singh to take all measures, including legal action, against "illegitimate individuals" claiming to represent the suspended Indian Olympic Association. Miffed after new secretary general of the suspended IOA, Lalit Bhanot, began official correspondence with national sports federations on two major international multi-sport events, the IOC said the move was in violation of its directives.The world body has asked Randhir, who was the Secretary General in IOA's old guard, to take appropriate action. "The IOC is extremely concerned by the ongoing situation of the suspended Indian Olympic Association and the misappropriation of responsibilities and properties by a number of illegitimate individuals claiming to represent the suspended Indian Olympic Association whereas the IOC has already made it clear that the socalled 'elections' were null and void and are not recognised by the IOC," IOC director general Christophe De Kepper said in a letter to Randhir. "...these illegal actions which obviously violate all IOC directives and decisions are aggravating the situation of the suspended Indian Olympic Association. All individuals involved (directly or by complicity) will be held responsible and the IOC will reserve the right to take any action against them. "In your capacity as an IOC member and Secretary General of the suspended Indian Olympic Association, we request that you take all necessary measures and, if appropriate, any legal action at national level against these individuals in order to protect all assets and properties of the suspended Indian Olympic Association. We thank you for your prompt action," it added.
If made captain, Virat will struggle: Kapil Dev

New Delhi: Former skipper Kapil Dev came to the defense of underfire Indian captain MS Dhoni, saying that there was no one in the current Test team who could replace him at the helm, mostly because most of the claimants are out of form. Kapil also dismissed the talk of pitch-forking Virat Kohli into the job. "Virat is undoubtedly a very good cricketer and doing exceedingly well for the country. But he is too young to become the Test captain simply because it won't be easy for him to manage the seniors," Kapil said. "Indian team doesn't have the option to replace Dhoni. The entire batting unit has failed to deliver in the last one year or so and there is no point singling out the captain. If Virat is made the captain, it won't be good for the team and for the cricketers. What age, Kapil felt. When reminded that South Africa appointed Graeme Smith as their Test captain at a very early age too, Kapil said: "That South African team didn't have superstars like the current Indian team has and there is no point comparing." Kapil also referred to his playing days when he was made the captain at a young age. "I didn't know how to manage the seniors when I became leader at the age of 23. There were players like Sunny Gavaskar, S Venkatraghavan, Mohinder Amarnath and Syed Kirmani and all were seniors. I made my debut under Venkataraghavan and after sometime I was his captain. I didn't know what to tell the seniors then. By the time I started learning the tricks of the trade, I was removed from captaincy," he reminisced.
Virat Kohli
will he be telling the senior cricketers? Who will support him?" the allrounder asked. He added that it would make
sense if Virat was made captain sans the seniors. Oherwise, it may affect his batting adversely if he was made captain at such an early
26
FEATURES
Sri Chinmoy and Ravi Shankar two gems of Indian music

By Ashok Parulekar wo great musicians g a v e Indias divine gift of soulful music to the whole world. Ravi Shankar was a greatest Sitar player who passed away recently. Spiritual master Sri Chinmoy composed 21000 soulful songs and performed in 700 Peace Concerts around the world based on his own meditative compositions and using a number of musical instruments. Sri Chinmoy left his Sri Chinmoy lifts Ravi Shankar with one body in October hand on a specially made device. 2007. Both will be eternally alive through their Autobiography of a Yogi. Sri music and inspire humanity Chinmoys disciples sang the song, Olympian Sudhahota Carl through generations. Sri Chinmoy met Ravi Shankar Lewis also joined. (Sudhahota is in 1973. They met again in 2002 his spiritual name given by his in San Diego, California. Sri Guru Sri Chinmoy) In October 2002 Ravi Shankar Chinmoy honored him in his unique way by lifting him up on a travelled to New York to perform specially prepared platform and a private concert for Sri Chinmoy giving him U Thant Award. and his disciples. Sri Chinmoy Afterward they visited Yogananda composed a song for Ravi Centre. Sri Chinmoy composed a Shankar in his native Bengali. beautiful song for Paramhansa They were always in contact by Yogananda at the same spot where phone till Sri Chinmoy left his Yoganada wrote the famous book, body in 2007.
Spectacular opening for Kochi's first art biennale

By Arvind Padmanabhan Kochi: A three-month festival of art, heritage and culture on a scale unseen in India before, the KochiMuziris Biennale, began here Wednesday, 12/12/12, with a spectacular cultural event that included a mesmerizing 'panchavadyam' (five-instrument) performance by 44 musicians. Leading the inaugural festivities was Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy at the imposing parade grounds in the heart of Fort Kochi, once used by the Portuguese to store arms and then by the Dutch and the British to conduct military drills. The venue reverberated later again with the dazzling sounds of the orchestra of 44 musicians, led by maestro Panamanna Sasi, using traditional chendas (drums), ilathalam (cymbals), kuzhals (pipes), kombus (horns) and nadaswarams (Indian clarinet). The grand finale and indeed a treat to the ears, was a fusion between these 44 musicians and the resonant voice of New Yorkand Britain-based Mathangi Maya Arulpragasam, Sri Lankan-born artist and musician, better known as M.I.A., whose track for "Slumdog Millionaire" was nominated for the Oscars. "This event the first in India is a great honor for Kerala and our country," Chandy said, adding it is gratifying that some 80 artists from 24 countries were participating. "This biennale, I am sure, will alter our false notion that high art
Kerala CM Oommen Chandy inaugurates Kochi-Muziris Biennale is for the elite and expect people to visit in large numbers. I also expect around 800,000 visitors during the three-month event," he added. Globally, the biennale as a form of celebration of art has a history that dates back to 1895, when Venice in Italy held one such event. Since then, as the organizers of the Kochi festival state, it has seen some 150 editions across the globe. For India, however, the Kochi event is the first. Earlier in the day, 14 venues, all of which have a deep-rooted history, saw works of art exhibited by some 80 artists from India and abroad in formats and mediums such as installations, paintings, sculpture, music and films. The artists -- 22 of whom trace their roots to Kerala, an equal number from other parts of India and the rest from across the globe, are showing their talent at venues in different locations, spread over 300,000 square feet of this ancient port city, including the recently renovated British-era warehouse, the Aspinwall House. The big names from overseas include Ariel Hassan from Argentina, Amanullah Mojadidi from Afghanistan, Rigo 23 from Portugal, Joseph Semah, an Israeli based in Amsterdam, Ernesto Neto from Brazil, and Jonas Staal from the Netherlands. Representing India is the cutting edge art of Kerala-born painter Velu Paris Viswanathan, who is now in his home state and has recreated his four-decade-old masterpiece showing the essence of human life through grains of sand. Joining him are artists including Subodh Gupta, Sheela Gowda and Vivan Sundaram. The art extravaganza here has been brought together by the Kochi Biennale Foundation, with Bose Krishnamachari and Riyas Komu as co-curators.
Huge potential for organic farming in Rajasthan

By Prakash Bhandari Jaipur: The largely arid state of Rajasthan has great potential to develop organic farming and if a planned thrust is given to organic farming, it has the potential to generate over eight million jobs in Rajasthan during the course of next five years, apex industry body ASSOCHAM has suggested. Promotion of organic farming in Rajasthan can generate over 6.5 million jobs in the state apart from additional about 1.5 million jobs if on-farm storing, processing, value addition, packaging and marketing facilities are included, considering organic farms provide over 30 per cent more jobs per hectare as against non-organic farms, according to a study titled Organic Rajasthan: Untapped Potential for Growth. The report was jointly released by Anil K. Agarwal, past president of The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) and Princess Diya Kumari of Jaipur, chairperson, ASSOCHAM Rajasthan Council. Besides, promotion of organic farming in Rajasthan can lead to wealth accumulation of about Rs.47,000 crore and generate exports worth Rs.600 crore during the aforesaid period, according to the ASSOCHAM study. Adoption of organic farming can increase net per capita income of a farmer in the state by a whopping 250 per cent to over Rs.15,000 in next five years from a meager Rs.6,000 currently, highlights the ASSOCHAM study. This will also arrest migration of people from Rajasthan to other states in search of jobs. Switching over to organic farming would result in bringing down the input costs and will fetch premium pricing of upto 50 per cent higher than the normal price and about 100 per cent in the retail market. The Morarka Foundation headed by former Indian minister Kamal Morarka promoted organic farming in the Shekhawati region of the state over two decade ago and the farmers in the area are reaping rich benefits out of the organic farming. Switching over to organic farming would result in bringing down the input costs and will fetch premium pricing of upto 50 per cent higher than the normal price and about 100 per cent in the retail market. Of the total organically certified area of 1.7 lakh hectares (ha) across the country, Odisha has the maximum area of over 26,300 ha followed by Jammu and Kashmir (22,316 ha) and Rajasthan (22,105 ha). Rajasthan has a crucial role to take Indias share in global organic exports from about 0.2 per cent to about 2.5 per cent by 2017, said the ASSOCHAM study. Besides, the
Assocham past president Anil Agarwal (extreme left) Princess Diya Kumari of Jaipur and Assocham secretary general DS Rawat during the release of the organic farming study report at Jaipur state has the potential of becoming moong along with commodities like Indias export hub for certified honey, garlic, chilli, paddy, mediciorganic food to the global markets. nal plants and others. Outlining a roadmap to convert Organic farming in Rajasthan is a default practice in many districts Rajasthan into an organic state, due to low usage of fertilizers and ASSOCHAM in its study has pesticides by farmers because of stressed that farmers in the state favorable agro-climatic conditions should focus on potential crops and and availability of rich natural areas in a phased and compact manner. The study stressed that the state resources. Cotton, turmeric, ginger and some government should launch a variety of pulses are certain organic Mission Organic Rajasthan on the crops produced in Rajasthan and sidelines of region specific plans efforts are being made to produce like concept of organic village in other pulses varieties like arhar, each district/development block.
LIFESTYLE
27
Stress pushes up heart risk by 27 percent

Washington, DC: The feeling of acute stress is linked with a 27 percent greater risk for coronary heart disease (CHD), say findings from a new metaanalysis of six studies involving nearly 120,000 people. Participants, asked about their perceived stress (how stressed do you feel or how often are you stressed), scored either high or low. Researchers then followed them for an average of 14 years to compare the number of heart attacks and CHD deaths between the two groups. CHD is a narrowing of the small blood vessels that supply blood and oxygen to the heart. It is caused by a build-up of plaque in the arteries, which can lead to their hardening, or atherosclerosis. CHD is the leading cause of death in the US for men and women, killing more than 385,000 people every year, the American Journal of Cardiology reported. "While it is generally accepted that stress is related to heart disease, this is the first meta-analytic review of the association of perceived stress and CHD," said senior study author Donald Edmondson, assistant professor of behavioural medicine at Columbia University Medical Centre (CUMC). "This is the most precise estimate of that relationship, and it gives credence to the widely held belief that general stress is related to heart health." "In comparison with traditional cardiovascular risk factors, high stress provides a moderate increase in the risk of CHD, equivalent to puffing five more cigarettes per day," added Edmondson, according to a CUMC statement. "These findings are significant because they are applicable to nearly everyone," said study co-author Safiya Richardson, who collaborated with Edmondson on the paper while attending the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.
Playing violent games makes you aggressive: Study

London: Playing a violent video game for just an hour over a threeday period is enough to increase aggressive behavior, the Daily Mail reported. However, playing a non-violent video game, such as a racing game, has no effect on aggression when played for 20 minutes a day for three consecutive days. Although previous studies have revealed a single violent gaming session can increase short-term aggression, this is the first to show longer-term effects, Mail said Tuesday. Lead author professor Brad Bushman, of Ohio State University, US, compares the effect to smoking: "It's important to know the long-term causal effects of violent video games, because so many young people regularly play these games."
"Playing video games could be compared to smoking cigarettes. A single cigarette won't cause
lung cancer, but smoking over weeks or months or years greatly increases the risk," he said.
Facebook prompts overeating, spending: Study

Washington, DC: Facebook may lower one's self-control and tempt him or her into excessive eating or spending, says a new consumer study. "Using online social networks can have a positive effect on selfesteem and well-being. However, these increased feelings of selfworth can have a detrimental effect on behavior," says the joint study by Keith Wilcox of Columbia University and Andrew T. Stephen of Pittsburgh University. Facebook, the largest social networking website, has over one billion active users. A number of studies have found that Facebook usage to enhanced self-esteem, according to a Columbia and Pittsburgh statement. Greater Facebook use was linked with a higher body-mass index, increased binge eating, a lower credit score, and higher levels of credit card debt for consumers with many close friends in their social network. "These results are concerning given the increased time people spend using social networks, as well as the worldwide proliferation of access to social networks anywhere anytime via smartphones and other gadgets," says the study by Wilcox and Stephen.
Caffeine delivers kick in energy drinks

London: It is just caffeine that delivers the kick in energy drinks, rather than addition of much vaunted ingredients such as guarana or taurine, says a new research. The study found that there is an "overwhelming lack of evidence to substantiate claims that these ingredients (taurine, guarana and ginseng), boost performance." Energy drinks also contain ginseng, glucuronolactone, vitamin-B and other compounds. Researchers sifted dozens of articles that examined the effects of energy ingredients alone and/or in combination with caffeine, the Nutrition Reviews journal reported. With the exception of some weak evidence for glucose and guarana extract, there was little evidence substantiating claims that components of energy drinks, other than caffeine, contribute to the enhancement of physical or cognitive performance, according to the Daily Mail. A previous study found that energy drinks have up to 14 times more caffeine than other soft drinks. Besides, doctors warned that children given energy drinks could pile on the pounds because they are not active enough to burn off the extra calories. Research published earlier this year warned children should never be given energy drinks, only fruit juice, milk and water. They said energy drinks - which contain between 10 and 270 calories a serving - should never be given to children. A hidden problem with energy drinks is caffeine, which can reach toxic levels up to 14 times greater than in other soft drinks. The stimulant has been linked to seizures, diabetes, heart problems and behavioral disorders.
lowers self-control for consumers who focus on close friends while browsing their social network, the Journal of Consumer Research
reports. Specifically, such consumers are more likely to choose an unhealthy snack after browsing Facebook due
Cuban beaches among best in the world

Havana: Cuba's tourist destinations Varadero and Cayo Coco are among the 25 best beach resorts worldwide, according to a survey by one of the world's largest global travel networks. Varadero was placed in the 10th spot while Cayo Coco was 20th for the Travelers Choice Prize 2012 conducted by TripAdvisor, the Prensa Latina news agency reported. The top positions went to Providenciales (Turks and Caicos Islands), Palm/Tagle beach (Aruba), Tulum (Mexico), Negril (Jamaica) and Saint Pete Beach, Florida (US). TripAdvisor carries out yearly surveys from travelers opinions and guides people interested in finding new, better places. Varadero has been receiving one million foreign visitors for three consecutive years. Cuba is expected to close 2012 with 2.8 million travelers in over 60,000 rooms at some 300 hotels countrywide.
Perfume: A gift least likely to be 're-gifted'

Sydney: Even though people probably buy it for themselves throughout the year, perfume is the safest bet to give as a present this Christmas, and is the least likely to be "re-gifted", says an Australian survey. Around 70 percent of respondents in a survey by Priceline said they would not pass it on as a present, The Age daily reported. "Beauty products" generally (at 39 percent) were among the top four presents people keep at Christmas. "Perfume is the holiday gift equivalent of the little black dress - you can never go wrong with a much-loved favorite that never goes out of style," Kerry Baxter, fragrance buyer at Priceline, was quoted as saying. The survey found that 75 percent of Australians admitted to "re-gifting", though 40 percent said they would be con-
cerned if someone re-gifted a gift they had given. Most re-gifted gifts are homeware, chocolate and candles, and the most common reason is that they are not needed. Erica Moore, a perfume evaluator, said people no longer have just one perfume on their dresser. "They're changing their fragrance every few months.
Women might start with sweet and fruity notes when they're young and venture into something more sophisticated as they mature and their tastes change," the daily quoted her as saying. Baxter said women love perfume because it adds to their identity. Most women would not regard perfume as luxury "rather, a luxurious necessity."
28
HUMOR
Humor with Melvin Durai
Time to work on my language skills

M
y family and I recently returned to America after living in Canada for seven years. I thought the transition would be easy but Im having a little trouble with my language skills. I went to see a counselor to find out why I was having difficulty understanding people. She listened to me for a few minutes, shook her head and said, Hablas espaol? Excuse me? I said. Hablas espaol? Do you speak Spanish? No, I dont speak Spanish. But I speak English fairly well. Well, you might be able to survive. But if I were you, I would learn a few useful Spanish phrases, such as Soy un idiota que no habla nada de espaol. What does that mean? It means I am an idiot who doesnt speak any Spanish. I do feel like an idiot more often than I'd like to admit. I never realized that America would one day become a bilingual country. Well, its not officially a bilingual country yet but the writing is on the wall and if you can't read it then you'd better work on your Spanish. Canada has been a bilingual country for many years. English and French have equal status under the Constitution, which means that new immigrants are expected to speak the languages equally poorly. In the Winnipeg neighborhood where we lived, we hardly ever heard any French. We were far more likely to hear Punjabi. And unlike in Quebec, we didn't even hear anyone speaking French with a Punjabi accent, what's commonly known as Frenjabi. In the Chicago suburb where we now live, you can't walk a mile without hearing Spanish especially if you're walking that mile inside WalMart. But it's not just Wal-Mart that employs many Hispanic workers lots guages or, at a minimum, curse in them. I hope I wont ever need to curse in Spanish, but Ill certainly need to learn some useful phrases. Since I often go to stores and restaurants with my wife, I need to know the phrase Este caballero pagar por todo, which means This lady will pay for everything. I also need to know the phrase Sostengo slo su bolso hasta que ella salga del cuarto de bao, which means I'm just holding her handbag until she comes out of the bathroom. Since I often spot bad drivers, I need to be able to tell them what I think: No es su culpa, seor. Deberan haber escrito la "No conducir en el Lago" signo en espaol. (It's not your fault, mister. They should have written the 'No Driving Into the Lake' sign in Spanish.) And since I'm fairly new to the area, I need to be able to ask for directions: Me puede decir cmo llegar a la nave que tiene los productos de higiene femenina? (Can you tell me how to get to the aisle that has feminine hygiene products?) In case youre wondering, I used an online English-to-Spanish translator for some of these phrases. When I entered the phrase English is superior to Spanish, heres what it said: No, seor, usted es un idiota que no habla nada de espaol.
of businesses do (as they should). Most of these workers are fluent in English, but they often speak to each other in Spanish. This is quite natural, of course, but sometimes discomforting, such as when Im paying for an item at Wal-Mart and the clerk makes her co-workers laugh by saying something in Spanish: Pobre hombre, su esposa le envi a la tienda a comprar Kotex nuevamente. It isn't difficult to guess what shes saying: Poor guy his wife sent him to the store to buy Kotex again. Spanish is here to stay, so Id better get used to it. Having two prominent languages in a country as large as America shouldnt be a big deal. After all, I come from India, where every state has its own language, and people who travel around the country for business can usually speak several lan-
Photo of the week
A photo showing Fox News coverage of legendary Sitar virtuoso Ravi Shankar's death did rounds on Facebook and Twitter this week. In the background is Art of Living fame Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. While some considered it a faux pas on the part of the channel for mistaking identities, another logic discussed was that the ticker below was a technical error which occurred while Sri Sri Ravi Shankar was paying tribute to the departed.
ASTROLOGY
29
By Dr Prem Kumar Sharma

Stars Foretell: December 22-28, 2012
Aries: This week you will feel energetic and revitalise your surroundings. You hold the center stage at home and you motivate youngsters and impress seniors. Your love life will flourish, with your partner going out of the way to keep you happy. Finances will suffer due to unexpected expenses and it would be wise to avoid any immediate investments. Social gatherings, family functions and pleasure jaunts will keep you in high spirits. Taurus: A long journey abroad might get postponed due to unavoidable reasons. Happy news from a friend or a close relative will boost your enthusiasm and bring cheers in your family. Financial investments will soar to new levels. Income from new sources likely towards the middle of the week. Interference of a relative in your domestic life may create moments of disharmony and discomfort at home. Spouse will be supportive and provide you with necessary love and affection. Gemini: A short journey will bring in new opportunities and a chance to meet some important and influential person. Sportsmen and artists will receive long awaited recognition and fame. Home will be a healthy and a cheerful place provided you spend more time with family. New romance for those unattached and others can find themselves committed into a matrimonial wedlock. Speculation is not recommended on any front and avoid getting friendly to strangers. Cancer: This week you begin with a new confidence and enthusiasm. Investment reaps benefits and you get to spend handsomely on luxuries and other living comforts, but your extravagant lifestyle will create tension and arguments at home. Journeys will bring in happiness, but prove very expensive for your pocket. Devote time and attention to your family members and children. Income rises, but so will your expenses. Leo: Long pending problems and tensions seem to fade away with the changing season and fresh ideas begin to take shape. Spouse and children would bring you immense joy and happiness. All those unattached would finally get involved into a romantic alliance. Old friends and relatives will make a surprise visit, bringing with them gifts and presents to brighten your days ahead. Some of you may acquire a new mode of transportation. Virgo: This week business or career opportunity comes you way, but you will have to be smart and efficient to grasp it before others. Finances improve through gains from past investments. Health of an infant child seems to bring stressful and anxious moments at home. Romantic matters and affairs of the heart will bring in pleasure and joy. Travel abroad will prove to be highly beneficial. Libra: Your extravagant lifestyle needs to be controlled this week. You need to spend extra time with your family and avoid any kind of tension and arguments. Hot temper will only lead to dismay and resentment. Spiritual gains will bring mental peace and comfort. A casual friendship within your circle may strengthen into a romantic alliance. Investment recommended but seek proper advice before you put your money at stake. Scorpio: This week an important development on your professional front may bring about jubilation and celebrations for the entire family. Your spouse will be supportive and provide you with care and affection. Children would get involved into small career oriented programs or have achievements in their respective fields. Health of your parents might cause concern and there seems to be an increase in your medical bills as well. Journey would in bring pleasure and chance to develop new and long lasting contacts. Sagittarius: This week you benefit on two grounds. Firstly your financial position will strengthen because of new contracts and alliances and some would even receive loans and grants etc and secondly your health shows remarkable improvement in spite of your working overtime at office. Spouse or your beloved makes you feel cared and loved. Children will cause some disappointment as they get highly spendthrift and demanding. Friends will be supportive and helpful. Capricorn: This week travel might not bring in the desired results that you look for immediately, but would eventually. Finances will definitely improve. New ventures and projects are quite likely. A better understanding with your spouse brings in happiness, peace and prosperity at home. Visit by a close family friend brings nostalgic and wonderful memories. New romance and contacts will prove to be worthwhile and long lasting. Children will bring in some good news towards the end of the week. Aquarius:This week a purchase of luxurious item to improve your comfort level seems high on your cards. Pending jobs and projects will get completed to your satisfaction. Improvement in your financial status through speculation likely. Avoid getting involved in the matter of others, especially if you are uninvited. Spouse will be caring and highly romantic. Travel would bring in more pleasure and monetary benefits than expected earlier. Pisces: Family front seems to go smoothly because of improved finances and good health. New romance may flare up, and it would require you to be honest and serious for this relationship to become stronger. Younger brother or sister may seek your help in sorting out their personal problems. Construction work or renovation of your house carried out this week will finish to your satisfaction.
Chandigarh, India: +91-172- 256 2832, 257 2874 Delhi, India: +91-11- 2644 9898, 2648 9899 psharma@premastrologer.com; www.premastrologer.com
Annual Predictions: For those born in this week

December 22 Influenced by number 4 and the planet Uranus. You are active, practical, enthusiastic, courageous and highly philosophical person. You are very proud of your traditions, culture and rituals. You are highly religious and possess a very sharp mind, but you need to check your tendency to behave impatient and stubborn at times. Your communication skills and charms would impress those around you. Your income would improve, but your expenses would be erratic which would make it extremely difficult for you to save. New romance for those unattached, but your work is likely to suffer if you keep fantasizing about this special person. You should not let anything interfere with your career objectives if you desire to achieve your goals. Elders and children in the family will demand lot of your attention. Doctors and lawyers can look forward to a remarkable year. The months of May, June, July and October will be significant. December 23 Governed by number 5 and the planet Mercury. You are intelligent, sharp, sensible, business oriented, dignified, original and dashing person. People perceive you as a very warm and friendly person, but you need to check your tendency to behave restless and impatient at times. Financially a very favorable period starts this year, but you should avoid getting involved in conflict with loved ones. You would make financial gains through sale of property, accrual of rent, dividends or interests. This is also a good time to invest in long-term investments and speculations. Children would be a source of immense happiness and win laurels in their fields. Pilgrimage or a distant journey will be high on your cards. The months of March, May, October and November will be highly significant. December 24 Ruled by number 6 and the planet Venus. You have a pleasant personality, sharp memory and you are very fond of worldly pleasures. You are very methodical, emotional and helpful person. You make your plans and stick to it, but you need to control your tendency to behave moody, timid and spendthrift at times. This year businessmen would expand their ventures into new and more profitable avenues. You would do extremely well if you deal in real estate, but expect some opposition to arise from partners. New romance for some, so make the best of it. Meditation and Yoga should be practiced for spiritual as well as physical gains. Some exhilarating news from your children will bring happiness later in the year. The months of September, October, December and January will be highly eventful. December 25 Dominated by number 7 and the planet Neptune, you are highly creative, affectionate, trustworthy, original, energetic and emotional person. You never run away from difficult task. What might appear impossible to others would look like a challenge to you. You have great talents, but you need to control your tendency to behave arrogant and dominating at times. This coming period is good for starting new ventures. Projects that have been slow till now would gain momentum. Disputes if any would get sorted out and bring a sense of relief to your mind. Romantic encounters with colleagues might develop, though it would be very short lived. Your competitive nature would make you stay ahead of others and also make you popular amongst your peers. Friends will be helpful but demanding. The months of June, August and October will prove to be significant. December 26 Influenced by number 8 and the planet Saturn. You are ambitious, authoritative, systematic, sober and simple person. You have great potential to influence large group of people. You possess modern, revolutionary views which keep you in the limelight, but you need to control your tendency to behave stubborn and jealous at times. This year you would have abundance of energy, which if properly used would bring you overwhelming results. Financially it seems to be a good period to invest in stocks and property, but all investments should be made for a long-term basis. A distant journey seems likely later in the year, most probably for attending some auspicious occasion. Friends and relatives will not be very helpful and should not be depended upon. The months of May, June, August and December will prove to be beneficial. December 27 Ruled by number 9 and the planet Mars. You are active, energetic, trustworthy, systematic and quick in taking decisions. You always welcome new ideas and are fond of reading to increase your knowledge and discover new and unknown things, but you need to control your tendency to behave shy, arrogant and moody at times. This year you would make new contacts, which would help you in your line of work. You would also receive unexpected advancements in your career. You would do extremely well socially if you travel and get involved in clubs and other social events. Your income would be much better than the past few years. Your beloved though possessive at time would be helpful and supportive. Minor health ailments such as backache, stiff neck or body pains will pose frequent problems. The month of March, June, July and August will bring in the desired result. December 28 Influenced by number 1 and the Sun, you are active, energetic, determined, responsible and original. You are creative and highly result oriented person, but you need to curb your tendency to behave reckless, spendthrift and stubborn at times. The coming year improves financial status of many and some even inherit ancestral property. Business will flourish and financial gains will lift your confidence. Legal matters that have been haunting your mind will settle to your satisfaction. Promotions and increments are likely for some. Romance however will not be pleasant as frequent arguments and disagreements will keep on bothering your mind. Students will perform remarkably well in academics and sports. Those suffering from blood pressure and piles need to take extra care of their health. The months of February, April, June, August and December will be highly significant.
i) Accurate Data: Please make sure Date, Time and Place of birth is accurate.
Before you consult...
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
Where there is a will, there is a way

Concluding part of the discourse 'Olympics of meditation'
not engage in gossip, slander, or criticism. He practiced this virtue himself and was a model for others. He was an embodiment of truthfulness. At a time when bribes were the norm in the field of business, he himself refused bribes and told his son, Sant Darshan Singh Ji Maharaj, to also refuse bribes. He was the model of selfless service. He served the sick and needy all through his life. Even before he was initiated, when the great world influenza epidemic broke out the disease killed millions globally. The disease was so infectious that people feared touching the dead bodies of those in their families to give them a proper burial. But Sant Kirpal Singh Ji organized a team and helped with the burial of the family members of the community who had died from the disease. As part of his daily routine, he would visit the sick and needy in their homes or visit them in hospitals. He also did a tremendous amount of selfless service for Hazur and the mission, from physical seva in building the ashram, to helping in publications, writing books, and holding satsang. He was the only one Hazur allowed to convey the initiation instructions during Hazurs lifetime. His ethical life also involved living on a strict vegetarian diet, avoiding all meat, fish, fowl, and eggs, with no alcohol or hallucinogenic drugs. You can imagine how much discipline would be involved for a child to tell his nonvegetarian parents that he did not want to eat meat. When told by his father that meat was good for him, he told his father that he did not want to make a graveyard of his body. He then stuck to the vegetarian diet even as a young boy. He also observed obedience to the Master no matter what. He often spoke of following the Masters commandments in spirit and letter. He did this himself, and this helped him achieve the ultimate goal of union with God. When his Master told him to give satsang in his town, he did so regularly. One time when Hazur happened to visit that town, Sant Kirpal Singh Ji got word that his Master was nearby. He was in a dilemma whether to run to see his Master or give satsang. He ultimately decided that since Hazur had told him to give satsang he should do so. Then, when satsang was over, he went to the place where Hazur had been, only to learn that Hazur had already left to return to his own ashram. Sant Kirpal Singh Ji was heartbroken that he had missed the darshan of his Master. He then went to see Hazur later that evening. When he had a chance to meet with Hazur he asked whether he had done the right thing in giving satsang instead of going for darshan. Hazur reassured him that he had done the right thing in doing his duty and giving the satsang. Time and again, Sant Kirpal Singh Ji had choices, and he always chose to do what the Master wanted him to do. It was no wonder that Hazur commissioned him to carry on the spiritual work since he was the most obedient of Hazurs disciples. Focused on His Own Spiritual Goals Instead of What Others Were Doing Sant Kirpal Singh Ji always focused on his own spiritual goals instead of what others were doing. He stuck to his schedule of meditation, his ethical virtues, and his discipline no matter what. Sant Kirpal Singh Ji was not concerned with what others were doing. He kept his attention on what he had to do. He never got involved in criticism or backbiting even though others may have done so. This focus on his own spiritual progress kept him from falling into the traps that many othlove and attention of Hazur others became jealous and tried to make things difficult for him. Yet, he never let any of these difficulties stop him from doing what was right. Never Letting Failures Sidetrack Him Sant Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj never let failures sidetrack him. He experienced the same ups and downs of life that every disciple goes through, but he never let that stop him from meditating no matter what. A verse by Sant Darshan Singh Ji Maharaj describes this condition as follows: As the caravan of my desires moved forward, I mistook each approaching turn for my destination. Whenever we work for a goal we move forward. We feel that when we money. There are also some who indulge in tall talk and calumny; they are ever ready to slander. But our duty is to love all. If they do not give up their wicked ways, why should we leave our noble ways?" This encouraged Sant Kirpal Singh Ji to keep going, to stay true to the ethical virtues, to meditate and do seva despite hardships inflicted by others. He knew that, despite these difficulties, he had the love and blessings of his Master to sustain him. Full Concentration and Focus Sant Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj had full concentration and focus in meditation. He would say that if we could sit accurately in meditation, we would soar within. As a disciple, he focused on his meditation for six to eight hours daily. He made great spiritual progress. When he meditated, he did not take phone calls, engage in gossip, go to the movies, or waste time. He stuck with his schedule no matter what. Meditation on the inner Light and Sound requires full concentration and focus. It does not involve any difficult postures or asanas. We simply sit in a convenient, comfortable pose that we can sit in the longest without moving. We close our eyes gently as we do when going to sleep. We gaze into the middle of the field of whatever is lying in front of us when our eyes are closed. We gaze minutely, penetratingly to find out what is in there. This gazing will result in light sprouting forth. We may see lights of any color, flashes of light, an inner sky, clouds, stars, moon, and sun. Ultimately, we see the radiant form of our spiritual Master or guide who takes us on the inner journey. Absorption on the stream of Light and Sound takes us through the inner spiritual realms of the astral, causal, and supracausal realms. Ultimately, we reach the realm of Sach Khand in which we become one with the Lord. This is a journey of love and bliss. God is an ocean of all-consciousness and love. When the soul reunites with God, we are immersed eternally in ecstasy. This is the gold medal of spirituality. Oneness with God is the goal. If we could follow the example of Sant Kirpal Singh Ji in our own lives, we too would achieve union with God. Sant Kirpal Singh Ji would say that what one person can do so can another. The best way we can honor his life is to also try to do what we can to win the gold medal of spirituality. If we follow the example of Olympic gold medalists and the life of Sant Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj, we will have the blueprint to merge our soul back with God. Sant Darshan Singh Ji Maharaj said in a verse: Begin to live your life according to your aspirations And step towards your chosen goal.
By Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj
ant Kirpal Singh Ji often told the story of a wrestler who would go out every night in the cold weather to practice. It was this nightly practice that made the wrestler successful. Similarly, Sant Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj would sometimes meditate on the banks of a river to help him stay awake. When Sant Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj began his mission, he started by spending time in Rishikesh. He would put those with him into meditation for six to eight hours a day. He lived that example in his own life and encouraged others to do the same. Through his time commitment to meditation and spirituality he was able to achieve union of his soul with God in his lifetime. The Discipline to Do What It Took to Be Successful in Achieving His Spiritual Goals Sant Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj exemplified discipline. He did whatever was necessary to be successful in achieving his spiritual goal of union with God. This success depends on meditation, which he did daily for the longest possible time. He meditated six to eight hours daily as instructed by Hazur. Along with this, he lived up to the ethical virtues prescribed by the spiritual teachings. This involved leading a life of nonviolence, truthfulness, purity, humility, and selfless service. He was the epitome of nonviolence to the point that he would not even unnecessarily harm plants or trees. We could see how in his house at his ashram he did not want a tree that grew through the ceiling of the rooms to be moved. As an infant I was brought by my parents to be with Sant Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj in Rishikesh at the start of his mission. When Sant Darshan Singh Ji Maharaj was collecting banana leaves from which the food would be served for a meal, he brought nine leaves. When Sant Kirpal Singh Ji asked him how many people were eating, and he replied seven, Sant Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj told him he should have only brought seven banana leaves and we should not unnecessarily take the lives of any more plants than were necessary. Just look at the extent of his nonviolence to even think like that! Sant Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj made a rule in the house when he was raising his family that people should only talk good of others and
Sant Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj

ers do of wasting time on focusing on what others are doing. This quality helped him use his precious breaths of life to attain union with God. Not Letting Obstacles Stand in the Way of His Spiritual Goals Sant Kirpal Singh Ji did not let any obstacle stand in the way of achieving his spiritual goals. Neither physical pain, negativity of others, or setbacks stopped him from his chosen path. Think of the stamina needed to meditate for long hours, yet he did so no matter what. Think of the grueling schedule of work, career, family, and meditation he observed, yet he never became sidetracked. Think of the labor he put in to do seva. After a long days work he would engage in physical or intellectual seva to help others. Although he may have been tired, he would go out and serve others after work. He would stay up late doing seva for his Master, often working the whole night through. As tired as his body may have been, he attended to meditation and seva. Think of the criticism he received from others as he made progress on the spiritual path. When he had the reach a turn in the road we have come to the end of our journey, but we find it is only a turning point. When we drive up a mountain, we see the end of the road and do not realize that the road turns and continues higher. Many people stop when they come to what they thought was the end of the journey. They are daunted by the fact that the journey continues. But Olympic winners reach a goal and realize there is another goal to attain. They keep going. Similarly, Sant Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj did not give up when the road appeared to end and then a turn carried the road higher. He made the turn and kept going no matter what it took and did not stop until he reached his goal of union with God. Once when others were critical and making it difficult for Sant Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj to see Hazur, he had to endure a period of separation from his Master. Others did not allow Sant Kirpal Singh Ji to see Hazur. Hazur wrote a beautiful letter to Sant Kirpal Singh which said that there are all sorts of disciples who come to satsang: "There are some whose hearts are overflowing with love and are ready to sacrifice their allbody, mind, and

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