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Trust our nuclear technology: French president Hollande to India
INDIAN GOVT CANCELS $750M CHOPPER DEAL
French President Francois Hollande speaking in New Delhi
Mumbai: French President Francois Hollande Friday urged India "to trust" his country's nuclear technology and extended France's support to the Indian
nuclear power generation program. Hollande stressed the need for cleaner technologies and highlighted issues of global warming and Continued on page 4
Terror over Russian meteor, around 950 injured

Moscow: "I was driving in the car across the square. Suddenly the square lit up with a bright, bright light, not a normal light," said Chelyabinsk resident Vasily Rozhko. Witnesses of the falling meteor over the Russian Urals spoke of Continued on page 4
The bribery charges have put a cloud on deal to acquire AW-101 helicopters from Feinmeccanicas subsidiary Agusta Westland.
Falling meteor injures hundreds in Russia
North Korea's nuke tests represents real threat to US: Panetta

Washington, DC: US defense secretary Leon Panetta today said that the combination of a recent missile test combined with nuclear explosions by North Korea represents a real threat to America. "There is no question that North Korea constitutes a threat to the Continued on page 4
US defense secretary Leon Panetta
New Delhi: As more high-profile names cropped up in connection with bribery allegations in the $750 million VVIP chopper deal, the Indian government Friday put the contract with Italian firm Finmevcanica on hold and began the process to cancel it. The CBI, which is to probe the bribery allegations, is likely to send a team to Italy within a week to probe the alleged around 51 million euro crore kickbacks paid by Finmeccanica to clinch the deal. The ministry of defense said it has "initiated action for cancellation of contract for procurement of 12 AW101 helicopters for the use of VVIPs".
It also issued a formal show cause notice to AgustaWestland, the subsidiary of Finmeccanica, seeking cancellation of contract and "taking other actions as per the terms of the contract and the Integrity Pact". The company has been given seven days to reply. The action comes a day after the government warned Finmeccanica of legal action, including blacklisting, and asked whether any slush money had been paid to fix the deal that has led to a political uproar. The defense procurement scam came to light when the Italian government arrested Finmeccanica CEO Giuseppe Orsi Tuesday for
allegedly paying bribes to clinch the chopper deal. The government launched a CBI probe into the bribery charges on Tuesday. Clarifying its position, the government Thursday had noted that the mandatory technical requirements of the chopper were changed in the tender during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government in 2003, with the then national security adviser Brajesh Mishra playing a key role. It had also noted that the changes in the tender were incorporated during March 2005 to September 2006 when Pranab Mukherjee was defense minister and S.P. Tyagi Continued on page 4
Bollywood 16
Op-Ed 19
Humor 28
Spiritual Awareness 30
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February 16-22, 2013
TRISTATE COMMUNITY
Fashion designer Anand Jon pleads guilty to sex charge

New York: India-born celebrity fashion designer Anand Jon Alexander, locked up in California for raping and sexually assaulting models, has pleaded guilty to one count of forced oral sex in a similar case in New York. Alexander pleaded guilty Thursday on the single count under a plea deal by which prosecutors dropped 48 other charges of sexually assaulting nine young models for a sentence of five years time served and five years of probation, according to New York Daily News. Currently serving 59 years to life in California, the plea deal to Anand Jon, who has appeared on "America's Next Top Model," would spare victims the pain of testifying, prosecutors said. Anand Jon will return to Manhattan Criminal Court in New York for sentencing April 2. He also faces sexual assault charges in Texas. Daily News quoted Assistant District Attorney Maxine Rosenthal as saying they agreed to the deal "to spare the victims from having to testify at multiple proceedings." He added Alexander is "already serving a lengthy sentence." Daily News cited Alexander's attorney, Angelyn Gates, as saying the District Attorney's office
AAHOA 2013 Annual Convention & Trade Show in Houston

Steve Forbes and Indra Nooyi to headline opening session
Atlanta: Asian discussion moderated by former American Hotel AAHOA Chairman H.P. Rama. Owners Association This discussion will include indus(AAHOA) will host try executives such as Wayne its 2013 Annual Convention & Goldberg, President & CEO of La Trade Show from March 26-29, at Quinta Corporation; Kirk Kinsell, the George R. Brown Convention President, The Americas of Center in Houston, Texas. Online InterContinental Hotels Group; registrations for attendees and Steve Joyce, President & CEO of exhibitors are still being accepted Choice Hotels International; and at www.aahoa.com/convention. Arne Sorenson, President & CEO With a near-record turnout of Marriott International. These expected this year, the two-day high-profile industry leaders will Steve Forbes trade show is expected to shatter discuss a wide range of issues previous marks with more than 400 exhibitors. affecting the hospitality industry as well as proThe theme of this years AAHOA Annual vide insights regarding strategies and solutions Convention is Inspired by the Past, Building to overcome the biggest obstacles facing the for the Future, and it fittingly captures the industry. In addition to this riveting discussion, energy and passion of AAHOA members as AAHOAs Annual Convention will also showthey prepare to gather in the heart of Texas. case an exciting lineup of education seminars as As always, the AAHOA Annual Convention well as special conferences for both our Women will feature captivating guest speakers including in Hotel Leadership and Young Professionals. Steve Forbes, the well-known CEO of Forbes As the largest association of hoteliers, and Editor-In-Chief of Forbes magazine, as well AAHOA members and vendors from all over as PepsiCo Chairman and CEO Indra K. Nooyi the country will be arriving in Houston to netduring the Opening General Session on work, to make deals, and to take advantage of Wednesday, March 27. AAHOA will also wel- superior professional development opportunicome Howard Putnam, the former President & ties. They will also enjoy the very best of CEO of Southwest Airlines, during the General Indian cuisine and Bollywood entertainment, Session on Friday, March 29. including Mauli Dave and her team of dancers, In addition to these dynamic speakers, singers, and musicians on Wednesday, AAHOA will present an Industry Issues Panel March 27.
Anand Jon
informed him when they offered the plea deal that they would only proceed to trial with three of the 12 original alleged victims. "Considering the initial 49 charges included allegations of rape, drugging and mafia death threats, the settlement of one conviction involving Alexander's giving oral sex to an adult female was acceptable," Gates was quoted as saying. Judge Cassandra Mullen asked Anand Jon, "Is it true that in the county of New York during the period of June 1, 2005 to July 4, 2005 you engaged in oral sex ... by forcible compulsion?" "Yes," he replied, according to the New York daily. Then he was hauled away in handcuffs looking bewildered.
Tom Suozzi running again for Nassau County Executive

Long Island: Three years after Tom Suozzi narrowly lost Nassaus topelected position, the former county executive is aiming to get his old job back. Suozzi, a Democrat, made the announcement Wednesday on his campaigns official website in a letter addressed to Nassau County residents, declaring his intention to challenge Republican Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano to restore fiscal stability to our county government and to stop the irresponsible borrowing and skyrocketing debt that shifts the responsibility to our children and grandchildren. The former four-term Glen Cove mayor and two-term county executives campaign intentions have been one of the worst-kept secrets in Nassau political circles for months. Suozzi has made no secret of his love of politics or intentions for higher office, stating during a debate against former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer during his failed bid in the 2006 Democratic gubernatorial primary that hed like to be Harris Beach, a law firm with 13 locations throughout New York State, including Albany and Uniondale. Nassau County was once the ideal suburb and we can be again, Suozzi declares in the letter, dubbing himself a problem solver who loved his job as county executive. During his time away from public office, Suozzi writes, hes seen the county mismanaged from one manmade crisis after another and notes its financial takeover by state watchdog Nassau Interim Finance Authority. He also reflects on the continued departure of recent college grads who cant afford a future in Nassau because this suburb of opportunity for my parents, my grandparents, and my generation now has little to offer them. Im running to demonstrate that were all in this together and to stop shifting the burden to our school property taxpayers, Suozzi continues. Im running to stop the deficit spending and the phony budgets.
Akshaya Patra ranked 23rd among top 100 ngos of world

Chicago: Akshaya Patra Foundation has been named one of the Top 100 NGOs in the world by The Global Journal in the 2013 edition. Akshaya Patra was selected from a pool of approximately 450 NGOs this year based on three key criteria: impact, innovation and sustainability. Akshaya Patra is ranked 23 overall and number one in the world for children and youth, and number one in India. The Global Journal is a unique content media platform providing in-depth coverage of global governance issues. It is edited by Socit des Fondateurs de The Global Journal SA. Meanwhile, with communitys support, Akshaya Patra USA exceeded its fundraising goal of $3.2 million for 2012 by raising $5.6 million. This includes a generous grant from Caterpillar Foundation for $2 million for building a kitchen in UP. We are touched by the ever deepening commitment of the community to help bring about widespread impact and ensure that hunger is not a barrier to education for these 1.3 million children in India. We are forming a dynamic and engaged community of individuals, who value Akshaya Patras dual mission of eradicating hunger and promoting education simultaneously, said Akshaya Patra chairman Desh Deshpande. Our confidence in our ability as a community to create a truly transformative change grows more steadfast each year. We thank you for making Akshaya Patra your philanthropic priority and we are counting on your continued support and encouragement in 2013. Together we will reach our goal to raise $4.3 million for the deserving children in India this year, said its president Madhu Sridhar.
Tom Suozzi
president one day. Mangano, a veteran county legislator from Bethpage, defeated Suozzi in December 2009 by less than 400 votes following a razorthin recount that ended in New York State Supreme Court. The following month, Suozzi was hired by one of his largest campaign contributors, Bethpage-based Cablevision Systems Corp., as a consultant to its Local Media Group, which includes holdings Newsday, am New York and News 12. In April 2010 he was hired as a senior advisor to Manhattan-based global advisory investment bank Lazard Ltd. Most recently, Suozzi was of counsel to

Legacy New York dress shirt was launched during the Valentine's Day celebration in New Hyde Park, NY by India Association of Long Island. High quality, custom made dress shirts in superior imported all cotton fabrics, with personalized logo are offered at reasonable prices by Vintage Vision of Hicksville, NY on their interactive web site, www.legacynyshirts.com. Seen in the picture Ashok & Hemant Varshney at the launch.
TURN PAGE
Governor of Delaware Jack Markell, visited Swaminarayan Akshardham in New Delhi to experience Indias ageless beauty, borderless culture and timeless values. Accompanying the Governor was a 10-member delegation that included Secretary Shailen Bhatt Delaware Department of Transportation; Ms. Felicia Pullam Deputy Director, International Trade, State of Delaware; Ms. Emilie Ninan President of North America South Asian Bar Association.
Chopper deal story Continued from page 1 was the Air Chief. Mukherjee is now president of India and Tyagi is facing allegations that three of his kin took kickbacks to swing the deal. The defense ministry has asked the external affairs ministry for more information from Rome on the AgustaWestland chopper deal, said a source. In Rome, Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti has said his government would guarantee the "correct governance" of state-controlled defense firm Finmeccanica. India has inducted only three of the 12 AgustaWestland-101 helicopters till now, with the remaining nine slated for delivery later this year. India so far reported to have paid a part of the total amount to AgustaWestland, the Britain-based subsidiary of Finmeccanica. The government move can be seen in the light of the upcoming budget session of the parliament, beginning Feb 21, which could see the government put in the dock over the bribery allegations. Former Air Chief Tyagi and his three kin -- Julie, Docsa and Sanjeev - have denied allegations of receiving kickbacks of around Rs.72 lakh from middlemen. The Italian probe report suggests
that the former IAF chief had met the middlemen more than six to seven times and allegedly briefed them about the developments in the contract. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has compared the defence scam to Bofors, slammed the government for "unnecessarily" dragging the National Democratic Alliance into the chopper deal. French president story Continued from page 1 greenhouse emissions at a summit hosted by business organisations like CII, FICCI and Assocham here Friday evening. France is helping India construct two nuclear power reactors at the proposed 9,900 MW Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project in Ratnagiri, 400 km south of Mumbai. The project has been facing stiff resistance from locals, NGOs, anti-nuclear groups and some political parties. Admitting that global warming and greenhouse emissions pose a challenge, Hollande said: "We can have great joint ambitions on values of democracy and liberation on this issue. We are seeking partnership not just at a contract level but even higher than that." Saying that technology liberates man, Hollande said it was up to "you to decide what is the best" and assured that France would work
within the best possible framework and environment. Earlier Friday, Hollande met Maharashtra Governor K. Sankaranarayanan, Industry Minister Narayan Rane, Tourism Minister Chhagan Bhujbal and Protocol Minister Suresh Shetty and stressed the importance of nuclear energy. "France is keen to increase cooperation with Maharashtra in diverse areas like infrastructure development, water transport, agriculture products," Hollande said. Hollande also invited Indian filmmakers to shoot in France and said: "Indian films will bring happiness to the people of France." The French president arrived Mumbai Friday afternoon. He also visited the Lafarge laboratory in Andheri. Terror over Russian meteor story, Continued from page 1 their shock and horror on Friday at seeing a giant bright light in the sky that many thought was a crashing plane, followed by a loud explosion that blew out windows in many buildings. "There were literally three or four seconds of bright light, then back to normal," Rozhko told Russian television. "As I could see from the car, this trail appeared. Then when I was driving, the explosion went off."
Officials initially made no announcement about the source of the explosion, sparking frenetic speculation among locals, as members of the public turned to the Internet to post homemade videos. "It was as if a super-fast rocket flew past. One rocket flew past and then another one," one caller, Galina Mikhailova, the told Echo of Moscow in Chelyabinsk radio station soon after the incident. The first to report the incident were members of the public, the acting head of the emergency situations ministry in the neighboring Sverdlovsk region, Valery Ustinov, told Ura.ru regional news website. Around 950 people were injured as the meteor burned up over Chelyabinsk, unleashing a shockwave that shattered panes of glass, the regional governor said. Chelyabinsk regional governor Mikhail Yurevich, quoted by the RIA Novosti news agency, said that two-thirds of the injuries were light wounds from pieces of glass and other materials. In the city of Chelyabinsk alone, 758 people had required medical help, the city said in a statement on its website. North Korea's nuke story Continued from page 1 United States, to regional stability and to global security. The combination of a recent missile test com-
bined with what apparently was this nuclear test, we believe, represents a real threat to the United States of America," Panetta told reporters at his last press conference. "Make no mistake: The US military will take all necessary steps to meet our security commitments to the Republic of Korea and to our regional allies," he told Pentagon reporters. Panetta said the actions of the North Korea regime are undermining regional security. "The regime's actions are increasing the risks of proliferation and further isolating North Korea from the international community," he said. The US, he said, is continuing to try to evaluate and assess whether or not the North Korean tests was in fact a nuclear test. "We are still in the process of doing that. But there's no question... that North Korea has continued to enrich fuel," he said. "They've conducted tests in the past. I think the combination of their continuing pursuit of not only a nuclear weapon but their continuing pursuit of developing intercontinental ballistic missile capability represents a real threat to the United States. They continue to be engaged in provocative behavior. They are isolating themselves from the rest of the world," he said.
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NATIONAL COMMUNITY
Michigan pharmacist gets 17-year sentence for drug fraud

Detroit: A judge sentenced Babubhai Bob' Patel to 17 years in prison Feb. 1 for drug fraud worth millions, a sweeping scheme that was hatched in Indian languages and involved more than 20 pharmacies as well as pharmacists who emigrated from other countries. Patel was accused of billing insurers for expensive prescriptions that he never intended to give to customers. The government said he paid doctors to write the orders and had recruiters offer cash to poor people in exchange for their Medicare or Medicaid number. What you have done is reprehensible,' U.S. District Judge Arthur Tarnow said. The 50-year-old Patel, who controlled the pharmacies, asked the judge for mercy. He apologized to his family but was not contrite about his convictions and said he would appeal. The Canton Township man was also ordered to pay nearly $20 million in restitution to the government and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. The judge said Patel helped ruin the careers of Indian American pharmacists who were allowed to work in the United States with his sponsorship. At least ten have been convicted in the case and eventually will be deported to Canada or India.
Obama cites Sikh gurdwara shooting to press for gun reforms

Washington, DC: Citing several incidents of gun violence from the massacre of 20 innocent schoolchildren to the shooting of six worshippers at a Sikh gurdwara, President Barack Obama has sought support for "common sense" gun law reforms. Noting that "Overwhelming majorities of Americans" have come together around "commonsense reform - like background checks that will make it harder for criminals to get their hands on a gun," Obama Tuesday asked the Congress to vote on these proposals. Referring to the killing of 26 people, including 20 children at a Newtown, Connecticut school in December and the shooting of six Sikh worshipers at Oak Creek, Wisconsin last August, he said the communities ripped open by gun violence deserve a vote. "The families of Newtown deserve a vote... The families of Oak Creek, and Tucson, and Blacksburg, and the countless other communities ripped open by gun violence - they deserve a simple vote," Obama said. Citing among others the example of a police officer who fought back the shooter at the Oak creek Sikh gurdwara, he said: "We were sent here to look out for our fellow Americans the same way they look out for one another, every single day, usually without fanfare, all across this country." "We should follow the example of a police officer named Brian Murphy," said Obama as the police officer watched as one of the special guests in the First Lady's Box. When a gunman opened fire on a Sikh temple in Wisconsin, and Brian was the first to arrive, he did not consider his own safety. "He fought back until help arrived, and ordered his fellow officers to protect the safety of the Americans worshiping inside even as he lay bleeding from twelve bullet wounds. "When asked how he did that, Brian said, 'That's just the way we're made.' That's just the way we're made," Obama said. "Lt. Murphy was the first police officer to arrive at the scene of the tragic Sikh temple shooting in Oak Creek, Wisconsin last August. Lt. Murphy directly confronted the shooter, and took fifteen bullets to his head, neck, and body before the rest of the police force arrived," according to the White House Murphy is currently on medical leave from the force and still recovering from his injuries. Lt. Murphy has served as a police officer for more than twenty years and previously served in the Marine Corps and the United National security force.
Babubhai Bob Patel
He had the visa issue to hold over their heads. He lured them into the scheme and kept them there,' Assistant U.S. Attorney John Neal told the judge. The government said Patel made money by billing for expensive drugs for mental illness, such as Abilify and Seroquel. Drugs were stored in basements and apartments and eventually returned to wholesalers. Doctors were paid $500 to sign stacks of blank prescriptions. Separately, recruiters driving 15seat vans offered $100 to people in Detroit homeless shelters and soup kitchens. They were shuttled for a phony checkup by a doctor who would use their Medicare or Medicaid number to write prescriptions for drugs that were sold or distributed illegally.
Bobby Jindal's approval rating declines: Survey

Washington, DC: The approval rating of IndianAmerican Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, considered among the frontrunners for the Republican party's presidential nomination in the 2016 elections, has dropped significantly. According to a survey from Democratic firm Public Policy Polling, only 37 per cent of the people in Louisiana surveyed for this poll approved the performance of 41-yearold influential Republican leader, while 57 per cent disapproved. In the last poll carried out by Public Policy Polling in August 2010, Jindal had a approval rating of 58 per cent, while only 34 per cent disapproved.
Candlelight vigil in Jyotis name

By Nupur Joshi New Jersey: On Tuesday, January 12, 2013, various student-run organizations including, but not limited to, The Association of Indians at Rutgers (AIR), RU Sikh, MuslimGirl, Asian Student Council (ASC), Rutgers Womens Center and a number of South Asian Greek organizations, worked in partnership with Manavi to organize a candlelight vigil in honor of Jyoti Singh Pandey, the 23-year-old victim of a fatal gang rape in New Delhi, India that has been a prevalent topic of discussion since its occurrence in mid-December. Manavi is a New Jerseybased womens rights organization. The weather conditions stiffened the fingers of those holding candles and the wind made it so that candle bearers were forced to relight their candles multiple times through the event. Nonetheless, over a hundred attendees came together to listen to speeches and musical performances by fellow students, proving that women living in India are not the
Photo: Xitij Joshi
American delegation led by US Ambassador to India Nancy J Powell meets Chief Secretary C K Mathew and senior officials of Government of Rajasthan in Jaipur.
only individuals affected by the rape case and similar situations. In fact, much to the surprise of many, a large number of the students in attendance, perhaps more than half, were boys in their teens and early twenties. This serves as hope that as society progresses, it will move further away from the notion that women are lesser than men and that they will gain an increasing amount of respect as the days pass. This can only be done with a rise in awareness of the issue an impressive feat, indeed, but one that is very possible to accomplish, especially with the commendable efforts of students around the world like those at Rutgers.
NATIONAL COMMUNITY
IN BRIEF
Get to know Edison Visionary Lions Club
he Edison Visionary Lions Club is welcoming individuals and families to their open house on February 16, 2013. An information session is planned at 1:00 PM at North Edison Public Library followed by induction of new members to its membership. This is part of the clubs efforts to give individuals and families the opportunity to volunteer together and make a difference in the community. Prominent community leaders will be attending this event to encourage volunteerism in the community. According to Lion Mahesh Chitnis, district global membership team coordinator, Our members are excited to welcome a new members into our family and look forward to sharing fun times with them as we continue our commitment to community service. This is a great opportunity for volunteers to spend time with each other and for us to enjoy the new energy members bring to our club. The Edison Visionary Lions Club offers members a number of community service
projects in which to take part. According to Lion Mansi Sharma, We have several projects such as emergency relief, special needs dance, vision screening, women empowerment, youth empowerment, reading action program etc and we will encourage our members to help us develop new programs that interest them. As leaders in welcoming families to community service, Lions clubs are the first volunteer service organization to offer a reduced family dues plan. Lions clubs are groups of men and women who identify needs within their community and work together to fulfill those needs. We hope to invite more members over the next months, says Lion Rina Bajpai. We encourage individuals who would like to work together to improve our community to contact us. For more information or to get involved with the Edison Visionary Lions Club, contact Lion Mahesh Chitnis at (732800-2273) /mahesh.chitnis@visionarylions.org or visit http://visionarylions.org
an fish dishes, as well as vegetarian delicacies such as pakoras, samosas, bhajias, lentils, and curries. Finally, the Syrah contains a fine aromatic expression of fruits and flowers such as black currants, cherries, and violets; it is also best accompanied with both vegetarian and non-vegetarian Indian food. Throughout history, wine has found its place naturally to accompany a hearty and sumptuous meal, says Sam Bhatia, Principal and Founder of Sufi Wines. As afi-
cionados of Indian cuisine, we were never quite satisfied with the wines we were presented to accompany our dishes. So, with the help of friends and professionals in both the cultural and wine sectors, we decided to create our own Mirza Ghalib. The creation of these wines is the result of the work of a team of passionate wine lovers led by Frdric-Jean Hoguet, wine expert and member of the prestigious Acadmie du vin de Paris.
Philanthropist couple Meera and Vikram Gandhi join Harvard group at Maha Kumbh
rofessor Diana Eck of Harvard, along with a group of Harvard students, and Meera and Vikram Gandhi, arrived in Varanasi recently to witness the Makar Sankranti, the first royal bathing day of the Kumbh, and one of the most auspicious Hindu festivals. Professor Eck writes in Harvard newsletter, "By dawn, pilgrims were coming in a steady stream along the walkway in front of our guesthouse in Asi Ghat, headed toward the clay bank of the river and a dip in Mother Ganga. They bathe in the chilly waters, made offerings at the small shrines of Hanuman beneath the great tree on Asi Ghat, circling the tree and offering water, flowers, and bilva leaves to Shiva, represented by the dozen or so Shiva lings there at the base of the tree. Having bathed and worshiped, they offered a handful of rice grains to each one of the multitude of beggars lining the pathways and the walkways of the ghats. The crowds were festive and full, all along the river at all the major bathing ghats. Logan Plaster, managing editor of Emergency Physicians Monthly, featured Harvard's university wide multi-disciplinary project Mapping the Kumbh Mela in his article for the Atlantic's Quartz blog this
Meera and Vikram Gandhi at the River Ganges
Two Indian Americans win Young Jazz Composers Award
wo Indian Americans, Kavita Shah and Aakash Mittal, were named Feb. 4 winners of the 2013 Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Awards. The recognition, which includes a cash award, is bestowed by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers Foundation to jazz composers under the age of 30. In announcing the recipients, ASCAP Foundation president Paul Williams said, The talented young music creators we recognize through this program represent the future of jazz composition. Shah, 27, and Mittal, 27, were selected through a juried national competition and were among 29 recipients and six honorable mentions. In addition to composing, Shah is also a jazz vocalist, singer, and arranger. A native New Yorker, she studied classical piano from the age of five and has been performing regularly at Carnegie Hall and the Lincoln Center since the age of 10 as a member of the Young Peoples Chorus of NYC. She has a masters in Jazz Voice from the Manhattan School of Music and a B.A. in Latin American Studies from Harvard. Shah incorporates elements of Indian,
Kavita Shah and Aakash Mittal
Brazilian, and Malian music into her jazzbased repertoire. The traditional sounds of the tabla and kora can be found in her debut album, Visions, which is slated for release this year. A native of Texas, Mittal is a saxophonist, flutist, clarinetist, and educator, as well as a composer. He received a B.M. in Saxophone Performance from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Mittals primary ensemble, The Aakash Mittal Quartet, performs all original music. He also leads a standards-based jazz duo, a Brazilian duo, and a classical flute and harp duet. Additionally, Mittal has been running a private lessons studio since 2002. He has taught jazz and classical approaches to saxophone, clarinet, flute, composition, and music theory.
week. Logan joined the Harvard School of Public Health team at the Kumbh in early February. He writes, "The hope is that by studying a pop-up mega-city, researchers would learn lessons applicable to a wide range of mass gathering events, from refugee camps to festivals like Burning Man. How do people move en mass? How can the spread of disease be kept in check by using minimal technology? The questions aren't new, but by bringing four major disciplines under one tent - literally - Harvard is creating a new strain of dialogue, one which just might be able to keep up with the crush of the crowd.
Ram Kapoor to host a cooking reality show on Life OK
Sufi Wines launches French varietals to complement Indian Cuisine
amed after the greatest Indian poet of the 19th century, Mirza Ghalib is the first trio of wines presented by the newly-launched company Sufi Wines. The Cabarnet Sauvignon (red), Viognier (white), and Syrah (rose) are all from the Pays DOc region of France and are especially blended to complement the richness, complexity, and spicy nature of Indian foods.
The Cabarnet Sauvignon is described as well-balanced with velvety smooth tannins and main aromas of red mature fruits and spices. This varietal best accompanies Indian vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes such as tandooris, tikkas, kebabs, baltis, curries, vindaloos, and biryanis. The Voignier is described as round, velvety, aromatic, and dry, with a final touch of vanilla. This varietal best accompanies Indi-
ife OK, Indias fastest growing Hindi general entertainment channel, will celebrate countrys obsession with playing the perfect host in its new reality show Welcome Baazi Mehmaan Nawaazi Ki. The new show will feature television icon Ram Kapoor hosting his celebrity friends at a dinner table to provide a daily dose of high-voltage, funfilled family entertainment. Guided by the philosophy of Cherish what you have, Life OKs new reality series will attempt to bring out the hidden chefs in five celebrities every week who will vie to outdo each other in a competition of Hospitality Mehmaan Nawaazi. The show will feature some of the craziest moments on Indian television as the celebrities compete to play perfect cooks, perfect hosts and eventually perfect entertainers.
Welcome - Baazi Mehmaan Nawaazi Ki
With Welcome- Baazi Mehmaan Nawaazi Ki, the audiences will be taken into the most private space of the celebrities -- their homes. The show brings together more than 40 personalities representing the rich regional culture of Indian families. Each week, five different celebrities will gather at each others homes taking turns each day of the week to be the host. The celebrity playing host will be tasked with making a perfect three-
course meal for the remaining four and to keep them entertained and engaged all the while. To make the show even more exciting, the celebrities wont know wholl play the host each evening. Each episode will end with the guests rating the host and at the end of the week, the host with maximum points will be declared the winner.Welcome- Baazi Mehmaan Nawaazi Ki will air on Life OK every Monday to Saturday at 10pm.
NATIONAL COMMUNITY
Ami Bera welcomes Obama plan

Washington, DC: Ami Bera, the only Indian-American member of the US Congress, has welcomed President Barack Obama's plan "to restore an economy that works for middle class families by investing in infrastructure, innovation, and education." "America is at its strongest when we have a strong middle class, and growing jobs and the economy for the middle class should be our number one priority in Congress," said Bera, the third Indian-American to be ever elected to the US House of Representatives. "We can do this by investing in our infrastructure," he said in a statement on Obama's State of the Union speech to the US Congress Tuesday. Bera, a medical doctor who represents California's Sacramento County in the House, said he was also pleased the President showed strong support for early childhood education.
Asian immigrants' kids better off than US population

Washington, DC: America's 20 million adult US-born children of Asian and Hispanic immigrants are substantially better off than their parents in household income, college graduation rates and homeownership levels, according to a new study. These second generation Americans are also more likely to speak English, have friends outside their racial or ethnic group and view themselves as a "typical American", the Pew Research Center's Social and Demographic Trends Project found. Indian Americans are not counted separately in the study and are included among Asian Americans, who together with Hispanics make up about seven-in-10 of today's adult immigrants and about half of today's adult second generation. The second-generation Hispanics and Asian Americans also place more importance than does the general public on hard work and career success, according to the Pew analysis of US Census Bureau data. They are more inclined to call themselves liberal and less likely to identify as Republicans, it said. And for the most part they are more like-
Dr.Ami Bera
"We must invest in our children, make sure they're being taught real world skills and are ready to compete in the 21st century economy," he said urging the Congress to "do its part." "Most importantly, now is the time to set aside petty partisanship and begin working together to move America forward," said Bera identifying himself as a member of a 40 strong bipartisan "No Labels Problem Solvers" group.
ly to say their standard of living is higher than that of their parents at the same stage of life. The report comes as the US Congress gears up to consider immigration reforms to tackle the problem of over 11 million illegal immigrants, including some 250,000 Indians. Given current immigration trends and birth rates, virtually all (93 percent) of the growth of America's working-age population between now and 2050 will be accounted for by immigrants and their US-born children, the study projected. Key findings: Second generation adults are doing better than the first generation in median household income
($58,000 versus $46,000); college degrees (36 percent versus 29 percent); and homeownership (64 percent versus 51 percent). They are less likely to be in poverty (11 percent versus 18 percent) and less likely to have not finished high school (10 percent versus 28 percent). Roughly six-in-10 adults in the second generation consider themselves to be a "typical American," about double the share of immigrants who say the same. Still, most in the second generation also have a strong sense of identity with their ancestral roots. Majorities say they identify themselves most often by their family's country of origin.
Indian-origin man charged in green card investment fraud

Washington, DC: US markets regulator SEC has charged an Indian-origin person of running a fraud investment scheme, wherein Chinese investors and other investors were allegedly duped of at least USD 150 million in hope of green-card American residency. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) said in a statement that a district court has granted it a "temporary restraining order and asset freeze" against 29-year old Anshoo Sethi and two of his companies involved in running this fraudulent scheme, as its investigations continue further. As per SEC's charges, Illinois-based Sethi created two entities, namely A Chicago Convention Center (ACCC) and Intercontinental Regional Center Trust of Chicago (IRCTC), and fraudulently sold more than USD 145 million in securities and collected USD 11 million in administrative fees from more than 250 investors primarily from China. Sethi and his companies duped investors into believing that by purchasing interests in ACCC, they would be financing construction of the "World's First Zero Carbon Emission Platinum LEED certified" hotel and conference center near Chicago's O'Hare Airport, SEC said. "Investors were misled to believe their investments were simultaneously enhancing their prospects for US citizenship
Anshoo Sethi
through the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Pilot Program, which provides foreign investors an avenue to US residency by investing in domestic projects that will create or preserve a minimum number of jobs for US workers," it added. According to the SEC's complaint filed in US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, the EB-5 program enables foreign investors to possibly qualify for a green card if they invest USD 1 million (or USD 500,000 in a Targeted Employment Area with a high unemployment rate) in a project that creates or preserves at least 10 jobs for US workers, excluding the investor and his or her immediate family. SEC's complaint further said that 29year-old Sethi claimed to have "over fifteen years of experience in real estate development and management", while the project's developer was projected as having experience of more than 35 years of experience despite being set up only in 2010.
NATIONAL COMMUNITY
Brother raised suspicion over lottery winner's death
A vigil for Delhi rape victim at UC Berkeley

Berkeley, CA: Students bowed their heads in flickering candlelight in a moment of silence at a vigil held for New Delhi rape victims Jan. 31 on Upper Sproul Plaza on the campus of the University of California at Berkeley. The vigil featured student speakers addressing a somber audience about womens rights in India. The victims were honored with a cappella rendition by singer Pragathi Guruprasad of Amazing Grace, before the candlelit memorial ended with a moment of silence. The Associated Students of the University of California senator Mihir Deo collaborated with the Hindu Students Council, the Indian Students Association and the South Asian student group Indus in organizing the event, which paid respect to the rape victims and showed support to those currently fighting for change in India. Right now, there is a battle of the heart and mind in India, Deo said. We are standing in solidarity to make sure this isnt thrown under the blanket and that things change in India. The vigil was held to commem-
Urooj Khan won $425,000 in lottery
Chicago: The brother of a Chicago man poisoned with cyanide shortly after winning the lottery said on Monday he is the family member who asked authorities to reconsider the initial finding that his sibling had died of natural causes. Imtiaz Khan said he had nightmares about his brother before his death and that his suspicions about the death lead him to push coroner's officials to conduct more tests. Urooj Khan, 46, an immigrant from India, died July 20 as he was about to collect his $425,000 in Illinois
State Lottery winnings. Imtiaz Khan said Monday in a telephone interview that he began demanding more tests be conducted immediately after coroner's officials said his brother had died of natural causes. Further tests revealed in November that Urooj Khan had been poisoned. His body was exhumed in January for more testing. Khan's widow, Shabana Ansari, and other relatives have denied any role in his death and expressed a desire to learn the truth.
orate victims of a series of gang rapes that occurred in India in December. The high-profile rape and death of a 23-year-old Delhi student sparked protests in India that called for justice and political reform to protect rape victims. Prithvi Guruprasad, a fourthyear student at U.C.-Berkeley and a member of Indus, approached Deo with the idea of the vigil as a way to spread awareness about womens rights in India. This event should be considered in a wider context than just the one rape incident in Delhi to
the broader issue of rapes in India and how implicit discrimination against women and stigmas have the effect of allowing such crimes against women to continue, Guruprasad said. Deo hopes to introduce a bill to the ASUC to have a yearly day of remembrance for the victims and to encourage discussion of the issues. This takes generations of change, Deo said, but we can reach out to our own families and change attitudes, and it starts here.
Reviving Samskritam in the Midwest

Overland Park, KS: On Friday Feb 8, Vidyaraman Ganeshan, a research fellow at National Institute of Health, Washington DC, flew to Kansas City to conduct a spoken Samskritam beginner workshop over the weekend. Vidyaraman is one of the 100 full time volunteer teachers for Samskrita Bharathi USA , a unique non-profit that champions spoken Samskritam in USA. The two day weekend workshop was conducted at the home basement of a Samskritam lover who had attended the first workshop in Nov 2012. The Midwest is seeing a revival of interest in the divine language, in which the Vedic spiritual scriptures have been written. Reading and conversing in Samskritam enhances ones consciousness, which is one of the key reasons why people are attracted to it. The turnout was very encouraging. Almost pushing the class limit of 25 students, a total of 23 the South Asian Studies coordinator at Center of Global & International Studies at Kansas University, also attended the workshop. Enthused with the unique experience, she proposed conducting similar workshops for school children via Kansas University or potentially working with KU administration to have a credit-based language learning course at KU. To retain the students interest and help them progress steadily, weekly audio conference follow-up sessions are planned at a benefactors home. Most importantly, these sessions will provide a support group for share their experiences under the guidance of an authorized teacher. For more information on Samskrit-related activities in the Kansas City area, contact Raam at 913-220-9189 or Gaurav at 925-808-5439. Visit www.samskritabharathiusa.org for more information about Samskrita Bharati USA.
Man dies clearing snow, family asks minister for help

Hyderabad: The family of a 28-year-old man from Andhra Pradesh who died following cardiac arrest in the United States has asked Indian authorities to help bring his body home. H. Kranti Kumar, who was working in a pharma company in New York, died Saturday following cardiac arrest when he was clearing snow at his house during the blizzard, his family members said in Nandigama village in Warangal district, about 250 km from here. The family has appealed to Andhra Pradesh's IT Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah, who comes from the district, to help in bringing the body home. According to information reaching the family, Kumar (28) was clearing snow to park his car when he felt chest pain. He died while being shifted to a hospital. Kumar's pregnant wife H. Vani was shocked by the tragedy and has been admitted to a hospital in New York. They married three years ago and Vani is eight months pregnant. Relatives of the deceased living in New York informed the family that representatives of the North American Telugu Association (NATA) offered to make necessary arrangements for sending the body home.
Spoken Samskritam beginner workshop in progress
people had registered for the workshop, a better response than the Nov 2012 workshop. The class had a sizeable chunk of people from Sprint Corporation, a major employer in the area. Both word of mouth marketing and personal follow up techniques were most effective in getting the people signed up. Setting a new trend, two Americans by the name of Nancy Mohler (a Yoga teacher) and Maria Antony, also signed up for the workshop. The work-
shop was conducted majorly in Samskritam language and relied on both visual cues projected on a display monitor and several interactive exercises, both of which contributed highly to quick grasping of common conversational parlances in Samskrit. At the end of day two, the students presented three conversational skits in Samskritam language. Professor Geetanjali Tiwari, who teaches Hindi to Americans at Kansas University, and is also
US AFFAIRS
If Congress fails to act on immigration, I will: Obama

Washington, DC: A day after making a strong push for comprehensive immigration reform, President Barack Obama has warned lawmakers that if the Congress fails to move forward he will propose his own legislation on the contentious issue. Obama conveyed the message through four Democrat senators Dick Durbin, Chuck Schumer, Robert Menendez and Michael Bennet - who are part of a bipartisan group of eight senators who introduced a framework for immigration reform last month, CNN reported. A bipartisan group of House members is also working in secret to craft immigration reform measures to deal with the problem of 11.5 million immigrants, including some 250,000 Indians. With about 58 percent of the illegal or to use the politically correct term "undocumented" immigrants coming from Mexico, the Hispanics have emerged as a major voting bloc that largely backed Obama in the November poll. CNN citing the White House said that in his meeting Wednesday with the four Democrats, Obama "reiterated the key principles he believes must be a part of any bipartisan, commonsense effort." He also warned that he "stands ready to introduce his own legislation if Congress fails to act" on a comprehensive immigration reform plan. The senators in turn told the president "they remain confident that a bipartisan bill could be agreed to in the coming weeks," CNN said citing an aide to one of the Democratic senators "The Senators said the bipartisan negotiations were progressing well and that both sides were making progress and working together in good faith," the aide was quoted as saying. In January when the bipartisan group of senators was outlining its immigration framework the White House was telling senators and advocates that they were writing their own immigration bill, CNN said citing Democratic sources. Democrats then urged the president not to release his own bill, fearing such a move would stymie the delicate negotiations taking place among lawmakers in both parties, it said. In his State of the Union address Tuesday, Obama called on Congress to send him a comprehensive immigration reform package, saying both sides agree on what measures need to be included to make the system work better. "Now let's get this done," he said asking the Congress to "send me a comprehensive immigration reform bill in the next few months and I will sign it right away."
New Yorks archbishop Dolan may become next Pope Shootout, cabin fire bring Dorner manhunt to an end
New York: It was only a year ago that Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, the archbishop of New York, received his red hat in Rome, marking him as one of the princes of the Roman Catholic Church. But suddenly, he found himself in even more rarefied company, with his name mentioned alongside those of more longserving cardinals as a potential next pope, even though, by all accounts, his chances are slim, the New York Times reported. The news on Monday of Pope Benedict XVIs resignation came as a surprise to Cardinal Dolan, as it did to most of the world. But within hours, his life was already changed. As he continued to go about his regular business as archbishop, he found himself even more in the spotlight to which he has become accustomed, facing a glare that will quite likely continue at least through the conclave in Rome next month. On Monday, when he dedicated a chapel in Rockland County and attended a prayer meeting in the Bronx, he also ricocheted between media appearances, beginning at 7 a.m. on Today, the NBC program, then holding a news conference, writing an op-ed essay, and granting interviews to ABC and CBS. He was still talking to reporters as night fell, holding an
California: America's most wanted officers and their families, man Christopher Dorner is believed spreading fear and setting off a to have died as a mountain cabin he search for him across southwest was holed up in was engulfed in America and Mexico. flames following a raging gun battle "Enough is enough. It's time with police Feb 13. for you to turn yourself in. It's The manhunt for a former Los time to stop the bloodshed," Angeles police officer suspected of LAPD Commander Andrew going on a killing spree converged on Smith said at a news conference a mountain cabin where authorities held outside police headquarters believe he barricaded himself inside, in Los Angeles, a starkly differChristopher Dorner engaged in a shootout that killed a ent atmosphere than last week deputy and then never emerged as the home went when Dorner was on the loose and officials up in flames. briefed the news media under heavy security in an Later, San Bernardino County sheriff's spokes- underground hallway. woman Jodi Miller said that charred human A short time after Cmdr Smith spoke smoke remains had been found inside the burned-out began to rise from the cabin in the snow-covered cabin. Investigators will use forensic tests to woods near Big Bear Lake, a resort town about 80 determine if the body belongs to Christopher miles (130 kilometers) east of Los Angeles. Dorner. If the results are positive, the search for Flames then engulfed the building - images that the most wanted man in America over the last were broadcast on live television around the week will have ended the way he had expected - world. TV helicopters showed the fire burning death, with the police pursuing him.He is believed freely with no apparent effort to extinguish it. to have killed at least four people. "We have reason to believe that it is him," said Thousands of officers had been on the hunt for San Bernardino County sheriff's spokeswoman the former Navy reservist since police said he Cynthia Bachman, adding that she did not know launched a campaign to exact revenge against the how the fire started. She noted there was gunfire Los Angeles Police Department for his firing. between the person in the cabin and officers They say he threatened to bring "warfare" to around the home before the blaze began.
Cardinal Timothy Dolan
impromptu news conference outside the New York Athletic Club on Central Park South before going inside for a fund-raiser. Both Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo fielded questions from reporters about the possibility that Cardinal Dolan could become pope; on late-night television, Stephen Colbert offered his endorsement (what he called a Colbert bump) for Cardinal Dolan for pope. Through it all, the cardinal approached the speculation about Pope Dolan with his typical self-deprecating humor. Asked what he would do if he found himself among the finalists, he said, Ill tell them they have the wrong guy.Dont bet your lunch money on that one, he added of his steep odds. Bet on the Mets.
Republicans block Obama's defence nominee

Washington, DC: In a major rebuff to President Barack Obama, the Senate Republicans stalled the confirmation process of his Defence Secretary nominee Chuck Hagel, a former Republican senator, with a filibuster.Obama's Democrats Thursday failed to stop the rare filibuster against a cabinet nominee as they fell two short of the 60 votes needed to move forward with the nomination despite the backing of four Republicans. Fifty-eight voted to go ahead with the confirmation vote, while 40 voted to hold it up. One Republican senator, Orrin Hatch, announced present, while another senator David Vitter missed the vote. In a bid to stall Hagel, who has run into strong opposition from the pro-Israel lobby, Republicans have raised questions about his finances, as well as White House's role during the terror attack on a US mission in Benghazi, Libya that had become a major issue during the November presidential election. Republicans, however, signaled they're willing to allow the nomination to proceed after its week-long recess, when only a simple majority of 51 votes are required to stop a filibuster. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin's office announced the Senate will take up another vote to move forward on Hagel on Feb 26. "I regret that Republican senators, except the valiant four, chose to filibuster the nomination," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said on the Senate floor. "Republicans have made an unfortunate Libyan President Mohammed Magariaf the same night as the attack. President Obama, according to the letter, did not speak to the Libyan president until the evening of the day following the violence. To get the Hagel nomination rolling , Vice President Joe Biden also made calls Thursday to Republican senators, according to a senior Democratic source cited by CNN. Outgoing Defence Secretary Leon Panetta has said he will remain in his position until a defence nominee is "sworn into office." Meanwhile, some questioned whether Hagel would withdraw his nomination. But one senior administration official cited by CNN said that idea is "insane."
Republican Sen.Chuck Hagel
choice to ratchet up the level of destruction here in Washington. Just when you thought things couldn't get worse, it gets worse." The White House sent a letter to Capitol Hill Thursday stating that the then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called
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US AFFAIRS
Obama in State of the union 2013: Want to reignite growth of middle class
Washington, DC: Barack Obama has pledged in the annual state of the union address to use his second presidential term to restore "the basic bargain" which built the US into the world's greatest economic power by ensuring prosperity for the great bulk of Americans and not the privileged few. The president made wide-ranging proposals for investments in schools and infrastructure, and a sharp increase in the minimum wage to ensure that "no one who works fulltime should have to live in poverty" as he told Congress that it is this generation's task to return to a time when US governments represented all the people. But he also pledged that his proposals will not add to the US's burgeoning deficit. "It is our unfinished task to restore the basic bargain that built this country the idea that if you work hard and meet your responsibilities, you can get ahead, no matter where you come from, what you look like, or who you love," the president said. "It is our unfinished task to make sure that this government works on behalf of the many, and not just the few; that it encourages free enterprise, rewards individual initiative, and opens the doors of opportunity to every child across this great nation of ours." Obama used the speech to call for fairness and decency in other areas of American political life from immigration reform and gay rights to legislation to protect women from violence and to reduce the terrible toll in lives claimed by guns. But it was jobs and the economy that the president built his speech around. He said that after a grueling recession, the economy has turned around and job numbers are rising. "Together, we have cleared away the rubble of crisis, and can say with renewed confidence that the state of our union is stronger," he said. But Obama said that many of those who have worked hard to pull America out of the economic crisis have been left behind. "Our economy is adding jobs but too many people still can't find full-time employment. Corporate profits have rocketed to all-time highs but for more than a decade, wages and incomes have barely budged," he said. The president said it was wrong that in such a rich country working people should live hand-to-mouth. "Tonight, let's declare that in the wealthiest nation on Earth, no one who works full-time should have to live in poverty, and raise the federal minimum wage to $9 an hour. This single step would raise the incomes of millions of working families. It could mean the difference between rid of tax loopholes and deductions for the well-off and well-connected. After all, why would we choose to make deeper cuts to education and Medicare just to protect special interest tax breaks? How is that fair? How does that promote growth?" he said. Obama used the prospect of better educated and better trained workers to press for immigration reform. "Our economy is stronger when we harness the talents and ingenuity of striving, hopeful immigrants," he said. "Real reform means establishing a responsible pathway to earned citizenship a path that includes passing a background check, paying taxes and a meaningful penalty, learning English, and going to the back of the line behind the folks trying to come here legally." But in a gesture to Republicans who want tighter controls to stem the inflow of undocumented aliens, Obama promised tighter control of borders. Obama made an emotional appeal for a measure of gun control following the massacre of children at an elementary school in Newtown two months ago. "I know this is not the first time this country has debated how to reduce gun violence. But this time is different. Overwhelming majorities of Americans have come together around common-sense reforms like background checks that will make it harder for criminals to get their hands on a gun. Senators of both parties are working together on tough new laws to prevent anyone from buying guns for resale to criminals. Police chiefs are asking our help to get weapons of war and massive ammunition magazines off our streets, because they are tired of being outgunned," he said drawing shouts of support from members of Congress wearing a green ribbon in memory of the Newtown victims. "Each of these proposals deserves a vote in Congress. If you want to vote no, that's your choice. But these proposals deserve a vote. Because in the two months since Newtown, more than a thousand birthdays, graduations, and anniversaries have been stolen from our lives by a bullet from a gun." The president went on to name some of the victims of gun violence, including 15-year-old Hadiya Pendleton who performed at Obama's inauguration last month and was then shot dead in a Chicago park. The girl's parents attended the speech as guests of Michelle Obama. The president also invoked the protection of children's futures in calling for Congress to act on bipartisan "market-based solutions" to climate change. But he warned that if it does not then he will use his powers to force the issue. "For the sake of our children and our future, we must do more to combat climate change. Yes, it's true that no single event makes a trend. But the fact is, the 12 hottest years on record have all come in the last 15. Heat waves, droughts, wildfires, and floods all are now more frequent and intense. We can choose to believe that superstorm Sandy, and the most severe drought in decades, and the worst wildfires some states have ever seen were all just a freak coincidence. Or we can choose to believe in the overwhelming judgment of science and act before it's too late," he said. "If Congress won't act soon to protect future generations, I will. I will direct my cabinet to come up with executive actions we can take, now and in the future, to reduce pollution, prepare our communities for the consequences of climate change, and speed the transition to more sustainable sources of energy. speech, including two references to Afghan security forces and one to the Afghan government. All came during a section on the end of that war. The speech was much heavier on foreign policy than his inaugural address al Quaeda got four mentions but there was no particular emphasis on one country. Egypt, Yemen, Libya, Somalia, Mali, Burma, North Korea, Iran, Russia, China, Mexico, Japan, Israel and Syria all got nods. 6: The number of middle class mentions in the speech, as well as the number of references to the minimum wage, which Obama proposed be raised to $9 an hour. 2: The number of references to Mitt Romney, both positive. Who would have guessed?
President Barack Obama delivers the State of the Union address at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Feb. 12, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)
groceries or the food bank; rent or eviction; scraping by or finally getting ahead. For businesses across the country, it would mean customers with more money in their pockets," he said. In a speech that at times echoed the view of a foregone era that it is for the government to lead when capitalism cannot provide, Obama said he also recognized that there are parts of the US "factory towns decimated from years of plants packing up, inescapable pockets of poverty, urban and rural" where finding even a minimum wage job is hard. The president said he will direct money toward providing work "rebuilding vacant homes in rundown neighborhoods", and targeting "resources at public safety, education, and housing." He announced a "Fix-It-First" program to address the most urgent repairs of the US's worn infrastructure "like the nearly 70,000 structurally deficient bridges across the country". But in a recognition of modern political realities, Obama said the private sector must have a role. "To make sure taxpayers don't shoulder the whole burden, I'm also proposing a Partnership to Rebuild America that attracts private capital to upgrade what our businesses need most: modern ports to move our goods; modern pipelines to withstand a storm; modern schools worthy of our children," he said. Recognizing that many Americans and members of Congress are as worried about the US's rising debt as they are about falling earnings, the president pledged that his proposals would not add to the country's debt. "Nothing I'm proposing tonight should increase our deficit by a single dime. It's not a bigger government we need, but a smarter government that sets priorities and invests in broad-based growth," he said. Obama warned of the devastating
effect of about $1tn worth of budget cuts that will automatically kick in this year if no agreement is reached in Congress to reduce the deficit. "These sudden, harsh, arbitrary cuts would jeopardize our military readiness. They'd devastate priorities like education, energy, and medical research. They would certainly slow our recovery, and cost us hundreds of thousands of jobs," he said. But the president said that Republican proposals to protect defence spending by cutting education, job training and government health spending even deeper was an "even worse" idea. Obama said he would agree to reform of Medicare and Medicaid, which provide healthcare to the elderly and very poor, but by changing how the government pays for services. Instead of cuts to services, the president said that what is required is to make the rich and big business pay their fair share. "To hit the rest of our deficit reduction target, we should do what leaders in both parties have already suggested, and save hundreds of billions of dollars by getting
State of the Union by the numbers

6,419: The number of words in Obamas speech. Its the presidents second shortest State of the Union, after his 2009 address, and took an hour to deliver. 637: The number of tweets sent by members of Congress during the speech. There were 1.36 million total tweets from the start of Obamas speech to the end of Florida Sen. Marco Rubios response. 101: The number of lines in Obamas speech that were followed by applause, according to the transcript. Some of the biggest bipartisan standing ovations: when Obama called for passing comprehensive immigration reform, when he pledged to encourage fatherhood, when he announced that the war in Afghanistan will end in 2014, and when he told the story of Desiline Victor, the 102 year-old Miami woman who stood in line for hours waiting to vote. 8: The number of times Obama used the word stronger. The theme of his speech was not that the state of the union is strong but that it has improved and will continue to improve if Congress passes the items on his agenda. 7: Mentions of Afghanistan in the
INDIA
11
'Afzal hanging not selective or political decision'

New Delhi: The Indian government dismissed Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's charge that the execution of Afzal Guru was selective, and said the assassination cases of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi and Punjab chief minister Beant Singh were different. Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said at a press conference: "These cases are still under consideration before the judiciary. Hence, they are different." Shinde also defended the secrecy shrouding the execution and said Afzal Guru's family was informed two days before the hanging through speed post. The post reached the family Monday, two days after he was hanged. He rejected allegations that the hanging was a "political decision" and said the authorities acted according to rules. Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari said that Afzal Guru's case fell in the rarest of rare category and that the president had taken the decision to reject his mercy plea in his own wisdom. "There can never be one size that fits all. In case of capital punishment, there is a need to be of the nine killed in the parliament attack were younger than Afzal. Why isn't Omar's heart crying for them but sympathising with Afzal? We condemn it," Javadekar said. "To raise the issue of discrimination is nothing but provoking the situation in the valley. At least the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir should not do this," he said. The Congress too defended the hanging. "Three separate courts found him guilty. The Supreme Court upheld it," Congress spokesperson Sandeep Dikshit told reporters. Shinde said he had called Abdullah Feb 8 and informed him about Afzal Guru's hanging. "Afzal Guru's family was informed and the speed post was sent on the night of Feb 7. He was hanged Feb 9," Shinde told reporters here. "We acted according to the rules," Shinde said and added that speed post was sent by the jail officials.
Afzal's family says no to Tihar visit

Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said cases of assassins of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi and Punjab chief minister Beant Singh were different
responsible, need to realise the facts and circumstance of each case. According to courts also, this was a rarest of rare case," Tewari said. The BJP slammed Abdullah, accusing him of "provoking" sentiments in the Kashmir valley. Abdullah, in an interview published in a newspaper, said the execution of Afzal Guru may increase the "sense of alienation" in the youth in Kashmir. He also
said they may "identify with Afzal Guru". "Saying that youth in the Kashmir Valley will identify with Afzal Guru is an insult to the youth in the valley. They do not identify with Afzal Guru. They identify with cricketer Parvez Rasool and UPSC topper Shah Faesal," BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said. "He (Omar Abdullah) said young man of 43 was hanged. Six
Srinagar: Afzal Guru's family said they would not visit his grave inside Tihar Jail, but would instead continue their struggle to get his mortal remains back to Kashmir. Commenting on the statement of union Home Secretary R.K. Singh that the jail authorities would shortly take a decision on allowing the family to offer funeral prayers at his grave, Afzal's brother Yaseen Guru said: "The family has made it clear that we want Afzal's body back so that we can perform the burial as per the Islamic rites. "So far as the question of offer-
ing funeral prayers at his grave is concerned, the entire Valley has been offering prayers for his soul for the last four days. "Afzal's wife, Tabassum has already written a letter to deputy commissioner Baramulla demanding her husband's body and we will continue to struggle for that." In another related development, a grave has been dug at the martyrs' graveyard in Eidgah area here where a tombstone has also been erected which describes Afzal as "Shaheed-e-Watan (Martyr of his country)".
Omar provoking sentiments Will impound Yasin Malik's passport: govt in Kashmir: BJP
New Delhi: Amid concerns over Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik sharing the dais with 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed in Pakistan and demands for revoking his passport, the external affairs ministry Tuesday said if it receives a request for impounding Malik's passport it would "act on it". The external affairs ministry said: "If we receive a request to impound his (Malik) passport, we will act on it." Ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said the passport was given to Malik, chief of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), after getting a "no objection" from other Indian ministries and agencies. "When violation (of provisions of passport) is indicated... when it is brought to our notice, we will act," he said, adding that the government would act with Malik "as fit of a citizen of India". The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has demanded that Malik's passport be revoked for sharing the dais with Lashkar-eTaiba founder Hafiz Saeed at a rally held to protest the execution of parliament attack convict Afzal Guru in Islamabad, Pakistan, Sunday.
Kashmiri youth protest against Afzal Guru's hanging.
New Delhi: The BJP slammed Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, accusing him of "provoking" sentiments in the valley. "Saying that youth in the Kashmir Valley will identify with Afzal Guru is an insult to the youth in the valley. They do not identify with Afzal Guru. They identify with cricketer Parvez Rasool and UPSC topper Shah Faesal," BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said. "He (Omar Abdullah) said young man of 43 was hanged. Six of the nine killed in the parliament
attack were younger than Afzal. Why isn't Omar's heart crying for them but sympathising with Afzal? We condemn it," Javadekar said. "To raise the issue of discrimination is nothing but provoking the situation in the valley. At least the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir should not do this," he said. Javadekar said such statements from a chief minister were "totally unacceptable" when the country was feeling a "national sense of relief" after Afzal Guru was executed
Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik seen with terrorist Hafiz Saeed
Akbaruddin said India has raised with Pakistan the issue of bringing to justice Saeed, "the evil mastermind of the Mumbai attacks". "Hafiz Saeed continues to pour vitriol on India...he is a fit case to bring to justice and we will do so," he added. Earlier, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said the matter of Malik pertains to the home ministry and "I'm sure they will take appropriate steps. When they do, they will inform
us". BJP president Rajnath Singh said the government should "seriously" take cognizance of Malik sharing the public dais with Saeed. "The government should seriously take cognizance of this. It's not a small issue. I expect this much from the government," he told reporters here. BJP leader M. Venkaiah Naidu also criticised the government, saying Malik's passport should be revoked immediately.
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February 16-22,2013
INDIA
Afzal Guru: Ends of justice and of politics

New Delhi: The government took a longer time to hang Afzal Guru than it did in Ajmal Kasab's case but, ultimately, the ends of justice have been met in both instances. So, have been the ends of politics. It will be pointless to see these executions in isolation, like those of ordinary murderers. Since terrorism and insurgency are essentially political acts, their impact on the national political scene is obvious. Where Kasab was concerned, the implications of his hanging were simpler since he was a foreigner, a Pakistani sent by a rogue state to burn and kill. As such, his death was not expected to create any problems for the Indian state. Afzal Guru's case was different. Although he carried out acts of terrorism similar to those of Kasab at the behest of the same inimical foreign power, he was an Indian citizen. His trial, sentencing, mercy petition and execution could not but have a political fallout. The government, therefore, had to move with far greater caution than it did in the Pakistani's case. The government's difficulties were compounded by the fact that there are organizations such as the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which are known for their antiMuslim world-view. Not surprisingly, they have been trying to score political points by interpreting any delay in the execution as pusillanimity on the government's past for fear of antagonizing the Muslims. The former BJP president, Nitin Gadkari, even taunted the government with treating the convict on death row as a "son-in-law". Then, there were others on the opposite influence on the ground is limited, as the elections in the state have shown. The government, therefore, need not have taken such a long time to hang the convict, not least because he was part of an operation aimed at eliminating the country's political leadership. It is worth remembering that the attack on parliament in 2001 brought India and Pakistan to the verge of war. The execution could have taken place in 2006 when the sentence was scheduled to be carried out. But the government developed cold feet after then Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad sought a postponement. Now that the deed has been done, it is worth considering the lessons from the case. The first one is that it is pointless delaying the inevitable. Once the Supreme Court has given its verdict, it should be carried out within a few years. True, the paraphernalia of mercy petitions cannot be ignored, however heinous the offense. But, once the clemency pleas are considered and rejected, as in this case, no time should be lost in sending the prisoner to the gallows. In this particular case, after taking a decade to take a decision, the government is still likely to face the charge that the hanging is a political ploy to deprive its opponents a propaganda plank in the run-up to the state elections this year and the general election in 2014. It has even been suggested that the government may bring the general election forward to this year. Since political motives are seen in both the prolonged delay and in the present decision, the futility of procrastination is obvious.
The government is still likely to face the charge that the hanging is a political ploy to deprive its opponents a propaganda plank
side like the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed and his daughter, the People's Democratic Party leader Mehbooba Mufti, who have been favoring a stay on the execution. There were also gadflies like Booker prize winner Arundhati Roy who wanted a stay. The fact that curfew has now been imposed in Kashmir underlines the government's uneasiness about how the militants in the province will react to the death. That the legislative assembly once considered calling for abrogation of the sentence is noteworthy in this context. It is patent enough that politics played a part in the decade-long delay in carrying out the sentence handed down by the Supreme Court in 2002. If the BJP spent its
time accusing the government of Muslim appeasement, the government was unsure of the timing of the execution. It goes without saying, however, that it was being over-cautious. Any fear that the Muslims would resent the hanging despite the belief in some quarters, including lawyers, that Afzal Guru did not get a fair trial, was unfounded. The reason is that it has long been evident that terrorism does not enjoy any support among the vast masses of Muslims in India. Even in Kashmir, it is only a few small groups who are anti-Indian and that, too, because they are aided and abetted by Pakistan. There are, of course, political elements in Kashmir who make a political career out of criticizing India. But, their
Don't agonize over my death: Afzal Guru

New Delhi: The morning that Afzal Guru was to be executed, he wrote a letter to his wife, Tabassum. Written in Urdu, he handed it over to jail officials before he was marched out for his execution. "He pressed the letter into the jail superintendent's hand just before he was asked to step out of his cell. All he said was that it was meant for his wife and to please ensure that it reached her safely," said a senior Tihar official. "It was his last wish. We have sent the letter through Speed Post as that is the only mode available to us and should reach the family soon," he added. Afzal would frequently pen down his thoughts in jail and always had access to pen and paper, said officials, and wrote the letter using the same stationery. Officials said that Afzal in the letter only wrote about family matters. "It was an extremely personal letter where he told his wife to take care of their son and not agonize over his death. In very gently worded language, he said that she should remain strong for their son and not give in to despair. As ever, Guru was calm and dignified in his parting words," said a source. "The family should be able to read the letter in private and should share it with public if they wish to. In deference to their privacy, they should not again have to find out about their family member through national media. All we can say is that it was only related to his personal life and did not deal with any national matter," he added. The family, based in Sopore in Kashmir, was yet to receive the letter.
Tabasum Guru, wife of Mohammed Afzal Guru along with her seven-year-old son Ghalib and mother-in-law and lawyer in New Delhi
INDIA
13
Kumbh: Who's to blame for stampede?

Allahabad: Even as the state government ordered a probe into stampede at Allahabad railway station, sources said pressure on Kumbh officials to clear the town of millions of people led to the 36 deaths and injuries to over 24 others. "The entire Kumbh mela administration was on tenterhooks since dawn as millions poured into the mela area. Officials and police had been ordered to ensure that people left immediately after bathing," a senior official said. Public address systems repeatedly told people to leave after bathing. This officials said, was the reason why people came and left in hordes. Devesh Chaturvedi, divisional commissioner of Allahabad and the seniormost official overseeing the Kumbh, said the ratio of incoming and outgoing people was 60:40. The people leaving the Kumbh were headed to railway stations, bus stops and private parking areas. With heightened security after the execution of parliament attack accused Afzal Guru Saturday, officials said the police were asked to "shoo away the crowds out of the Kumbh mela area". "People were being constantly told by police that staying in the mela area was going to create more trouble and asked them to leave," said Akansha Mathur, a Meerut resident who had gone to bathe at Sangam on Mauni Amavasya. Officials admit that with almost all areas in the seven zones - parade, Sangam, akhada, Jet bridge, Jhunsi, south Jhunsi and Arail - packed with crowds and the 68 watchtowers and 66 CCTV camera's confirming "unexpected crowds", it was decided to "focus on making the crowds leave". It was then that 11 traffic plans were put in place "to ensure breathing space at the Kumbh
Cop killing: Kolkata police chief changed

Kolkata: Two days after a policeman was shot dead during a clash between student activists, the West Bengal government shifted out Kolkata police chief Ranjit Kumar Pachnanda for failure to apprehend the criminals, replacing him with Surajit Kar Purakayastha. While chief minister Mamata Banerjee - who also holds the home portfolio attributed the "strong action" on the "police's failure to arrest the criminals in time", Governor M.K. Narayanan disapproved Pachananda's removal and asked for a serious introspection by the government. "If he has been removed for what has happened in the last few days, then quite clearly there is something wrong. I think it is something that has to be looked at very carefully," Narayanan said following Pachananda's removal. Pachnanda, a 1983 batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer who took over as the city police commissioner
Thirty-six devotees died on their way back home at Allahabad Railway Station mela", an official said. However, officials did not anticipate that while clearing the Kumbh area, they were pushing millions of people into an "unprepared city", a traffic policeman said. Police and para military personnel manning the 126 fixed barriers and the 822 mobile barriers admitted "immense pressure" to get people out of the 58 sq km Kumbh mela complex. Adding to this were rumours of several accidents, boat capsizes and stampedes that aggravated the problem. Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Jawed Usmani said the truth would only be known once the probe, ordered by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, concludes. The lack of response teams and only one doctor at the railway station also left much to be answered. For two hours after the stampede on the foot overbridge and the staircase leading to platforms five and six, no medical help reached the railway station, where 1.25 lakh people were jostling to board trains.
Bengal government shifted out police chief Ranjit Kumar Pachnanda for failure
Mar 18, 2011, will now be the additional director general (ADG), security. The slain cop - Tapas Chowdhury - a sub-inspector, was shot from close range while trying to control the clashing students in West kolkata's Garden Reach area Tuesday. Twelve people have been taken into custody in connection with the killing. Pachananda's transfer comes at a time when the Banerjee government has been facing lot of criticism over the incident, especially for the alleged shielding of a Trinamool councillor by her
party men. The councillor Mohammad Iqbal has been named in the first information report although he is yet to be arrested. Iqbal has been charged with rioting, attempt to murder and certain sections of the Arms Act. He was seen at the spot of the incident, threatening a policeman and mobilizing his supporters. Video footage aired by television channels also showed Iqbal standing beside Sheikh Shubhaan, the man who was caught on TV firing the bullet that allegedly killed the policeman.
14
INDIA
Chopper deal: India warns Italian firm of blacklisting

New Delhi: India has warned Italian firm Finmeccanica of legal action, including blacklisting, over corruption allegations in the VVIP chopper deal and asked them whether any slush money had been paid to fix the deal that has led to a political uproar. The ministry of defense issued a detailed statement on the sequence of the $750 million deal for 12 VVIP AgustaWestland helicopters by the Italian firm's subsidiary, two days after a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe was ordered into the bribery charges. The statement noted that the mandatory technical requirements of the chopper were changed in the tender during the Vajpayee government in 2003, with the then national security adviser Brajesh Mishra playing a key role. The defense ministry has asked the chief of AgustaWestland to "categorically state the clear position in view of the current developments indicating specifically if any financial transaction has taken place with
The Italian government arrested Finmeccanica CEO Giuseppe Orsi for allegedly paying bribes to fix the chopper deal
any Indian individual/entity which would be violative of the integrity pact or any other terms and conditions of the contract". It also cited the clauses of the integrity pact that was signed, noting that the contract bars paying of bribes or involvement of middlemen. The clause warned of "strict action including cancellation of contract, recovery of payment, blacklisting and penal action" against the vendors.
The defense ministry warned that the government is "determined to take all possible legal and administrative action against the guilty parties and accordingly has ordered a thorough probe by CBI". The statement also said that the first request for the proposal was issued in March 2002 mandating 6,000 metres as the flying altitude for selection of the chopper. Under this, AgustaWestland "was not certified for an altitude of 6,000
metres and it did not participate in the flight evaluation." This ruled out other competitors, and only Eurocopter of France was found suitable. In 2003, changes were made to enable other competitors enter the bid, the statement said. The Italian government arrested Finmeccanica CEO Giuseppe Orsi for allegedly paying bribes to fix the chopper deal. Italian investigators have named three relatives of for-
mer Indian Air Force chief S.P. Tyagi as beneficiaries of the slush money. The revelations have led to an uproar in the country with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) comparing the chopper deal with the Bofors scam. BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar demanded said that CBI probe should be monitored by a competent authority. "Ordering a mere CBI inquiry is not enough. It must be monitored," he told reporters.
Tripura records 92 percent turnout

Agartala: Polling to elect a new assembly in the Left-ruled Tripura ended peacefully with more than 92 percent voters casting their ballots. "Over 92 percent of the 23.5 lakh (2.35 million) voters have cast their votes across the state," said Chief Electoral Officer Ashutosh Jindal. He said the percentage might still go jup after reports on the day's balloting arrive from all over the state. Jindal said people were still standing in queues outside polling stations even after the time to vote ended at 4 p.m. Voters in large numbers queued up well before polling started at 7 a.m. New voters and women appeared the most enthusiastic across the state. Tripura recorded around 92 percent polling in the last assembly elections held in 2008. According to Jindal, except one or two small incidents, the voting passed off peacefully with no major incident reported from anywhere in the north-eastern state, which shares a 856-km border with Bangladesh. The ballots will be counted Feb 28 and decide the electoral fate of 249 candidates, including 15 women and many Independents, in the fray. Political parties also expressed happiness over the heavy voter turnout and the peaceful polling.
Pakistan fires at Indian posts on LoC

Jammu: Pakistani troops fired at Indian posts on the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district, an army spokesperson said. "There has been a ceasefire violation by Pakistan troops on the LoC in the Krishna Ghati sector in Poonch without any provocation from Indian side Thursday night," an army spokesperson said. The Pakistan firing came hours after the Indian Army killed an infiltrator in Jhangar sector in Rajouri district Thursday. "Pakistani troops opened unprovoked firing with small arms and light and heavy automatic weapons. The firing lasted for more than one hour," he said. The Indian troops "exercised utmost restraint" and response to the Pakistan fire, though controlled, was effective. There was no casualty in the Indian side, added the army official. Ties between the two neighbors have been strained ever since the Jan 6 killing of a Pakistani soldier allegedly in firing by Indian troops. Two days later, Pakistani soldiers brutally killed two Indian soldiers, including beheading one of them, near the LoC that divides Jammu and Kashmir between India and Pakistan.
Hollande, Manmohan discuss Jaitapur, Rafale

New Delhi: India and France discussed progress in negotiations over the Jaitapur nuclear power project and the over $10-billion deal for 126 Rafale fighter jets during talks between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and French President Francois Hollande here. Both sides inked four agreements, including on railways. Hollande, who arrived here early Thursday at the head of a high-level delegation which includes six ministers and a 50-member trade delegation, said France and India, which became strategic partners in 1998, are taking their relationship to "yet another stage". Addressing a joint press conference with Manmohan Singh after delegation-level talks, Hollande said while France and India do not share the same kind of people or economy, they both "share the same values and principles". land of peace." While negotiations for the contract for 126 Rafale medium multirole combat aircraft (MMRCA) manufactured by Dassault Aviation - for the Indian Air Force are still on, the two sides concluded discussions on a deal for co-developing the short-range surface-to-air missile (SRSAM) project. Hollande said details of the Rafale deal were being discussed "and we do hope we can reach an early conclusion". At a press conference later, he ruled out France ever compromising on defence trade rules amid corruption allegations clouding India's chopper deal with Italy's AgustaWestland. Hollande said France would do "nothing contrary to the rules of trade" that were based on the principles of competitiveness and fairness, while pointing out the "excellence" of the Rafale jet. He said France has "confidence in India, which is a peaceful power and we must provide the best material and equipment to India It is a relation of confidence and trust between us." Both countries were strategic partners also for energy. "France and India want to build on their civil nuclear energy cooperation," said Hollande, adding that both countries also want to take forward their ties in space, education and culture.During a meet with business leaders, Hollande said France will support India on its negotiations with the EU on clinching a free trade agreement (FTA) and voiced his keenness to boost bilateral trade. In the fields of transport, railways, trams, sanitation and water, he said "France has to prove that it is of service to the Indian economy".
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and French President Francois Hollande in New Delhi
He also said India was the world's largest democracy not just by its people but by its diversity. "Both care for independence, democracy and autonomy."
On defence ties, Hollande said France and India have been cooperating for many years. "India trusts France for its equipment and France trusts India for its use... India is a
RELIGION
15
Sea of humanity
A Naga sadhu with other devotees getting ready for a holy dip A Naga sadhu smeared in ashes calls for a holy dip at the Maha Kumbh.
Amid blowing of conch shells, the biggest bathing day 'Mauni Amavasya' at the Maha Kumbh began early as millions of visitors walked to take a dip at the Sangam - the holy confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati. Some vignettes from the Maha Kumbh.
Devotees cross make-shift bridges over the Ganges during Mauni Amavasya.
Even animals need to wash their sins, at the Kumbh Mela in Allahabad.
16
ULTIMATE BOLLYWOOD
Double Grammy for late Ravi Shankar

wo months after his death, Indian sitar legend Ravi Shankar has won the best world music album Grammy for "The Living Room Sessions Part 1" spanning a wide range of Indian classical styles. He was also honored with a posthumous Lifetime Achievement award. The maestro's daughter Anoushka, who too was nominated in the same category for her album "Traveller" accepted the Grammy on behalf of her late father at the Grammy awards show. "It's OK to lose to your father," said the 31-year-old, who is also a sitar player and composer, as she
received the award for her father. Ravi Shankar died in December at the age of 92, after heart surgery at a hospital in La Jolla, California, near San Diego. Anoushka Shankar and the musician's other daughter, singer Norah Jones accepted the posthumous Grammy Award at a special ceremony in Los Angeles ahead of Sunday's Grammys show. The Indian icon was among seven artistes, including Carole King and the Temptations, named as Lifetime Achievement Award honourees. Jones, who has won nine Grammys of her own, said of her
father: "We know he was very excited to be receiving this award. We really miss him. He lived and breathed music." "I remember him drumming on the breakfast table, trying to get me to learn to play seven (beats) over five. I'm still trying to learn that. We are very happy to accept the award for him." Her half sister added, "It was 60 days ago today that he passed away. It's kind of difficult to be standing up here, like Norah said, I am thrilled that he knew about this award before he passed away at least. But I wish we weren't standing up here for him."
Anoushka Shankar and the musician's other daughter, singer Norah Jones accepted the posthumous Grammy Award
V-Day weekend set for 'Argo' wins top honors at BAFTA 'Murder 3', 'Jayantabhai' A
A scene from 'Murder 3'
he Valentine's Day weekend will see two directors Vishesh Bhatt and Vinnil Markan making their debut at the box office with emotional thriller "Murder 3" and romantic comedy "Jayantabhai Ki Luv Story" (JKLS), which will see Vivek Oberoi in his popular "bhaigiri" avatar, respectively. Both the films are releasing this week, a day after Valentine's Day, and both have romance as the underline theme. "Murder 3", coming from the stable of Vishesh Films, coowned by Mahesh and Mukesh Bhatt, is part of the production house's successful "Murder" franchise. It also marks Vishesh, son of Mahesh Bhatt, entry into filmdom as a first-time director.
On the other hand, "Jayantabhai Ki Luv Story" is Tips Industries offering and it is also helmed by debutant Vinnil Markan. Randeep Hooda, known for his intense roles, has teamed up with Aditi Rao Hydari and Pakistani actress Sara Loren in "Murder 3", which revolves around hotshot fashion and wildlife photographer Vikram (Randeep), who is dealing with the mysterious disappearance of his former girlfriend Roshni (Aditi). The story takes an interesting turn when Vikram gets into a relationship with Nisha (Sara), a waitress from a lounge. She moves in with him in his palatial house outside the city. The house holds many secrets, which Nisha is soon to unearth.
rgo" continued its winning streak this season at the British Academy of Film Awards by clinching three honors, including best film. "Les Miserables" received four gongs, while India's only hope, actor Suraj Sharma missed the BAFTA EE Rising Star Award. Ben Affleck walked away with the best director's trophy for "Argo", which is based on the rescue of American hostages in Iran during the 1979 revolution. The movie, a big winner at the 70th Golden Globe awards, too, also Ben Affleck walked away with the best director's trophy for 'Argo' received the best editing title at the ceremony, organised by the "Lincoln" - the only award for partially paralysed old lady in British Academy of Film and the biopic on former US presi- French film "Amour", which dent Abraham Lincoln and his won the best film award not in Television Arts (BAFTA). Overall, musical drama "Les struggles during the Civil War, the English language. Indian actor Suraj Sharma, Miserables" picked up four tro- which was the front runner at the event this year with a total who played the protagonist in phies - supporting actress for Anne Hathaway, production of 10 nominations. Daniel Ang Lee's "Life of Pi", lost out design, sound and make-up and played Abraham Lincoln in the the EE Rising Star Award to British actress Juno Temple. hair - out of its nine nomina- movie. Among the actresses, However, the movie was recogtions. Actor Daniel Day Lewis was Emmanuelle Riva, 85, secured nized for its cinematography named the best actor for the winner's spot for playing a and special visual effects.
Rahman attends Grammy red carpet
A.R. Rahman with wife Saira Banu
scar-winning Indian composer A.R Rahman attended the 55th Annual Grammy Awards along with wife Saira Banu. Looking dapper in suit teamed with shades, he also sported a funky hairdo, quite rare for him. Saira was looking elegant in a traditional gharara like outfit. Rahman shared his excitement of going to the awards with his fans, "On the way to the Grammies." "Enjoyed the Bob Marley tribute," he further added. Earlier, American rock band the Black Keys and its member Dan Auerbach together lifted four trophies at the 55th Grammy awards, while Skrillex, Gotye and duo Jay-Z and Kanye West, notched up three wins each. The Black Keys won the best rock performance and best rock song for "Lonely Boy" from the album "El Camino", which also bagged the best rock album title.
ULTIMATE BOLLYWOOD
17
Oops! Shatrughan calls Rani... Rani Chopra!

eteran actor Shatrughan Sinha made a major blooper at the unveiling of late filmmaker Yash Chopra's statue Monday, when he referred to Rani Mukerji as Rani Chopra! It is likely to spark fresh rumors about the actress's current relationship status with Yash Raj Films (YRF) scion Aditya Chopra. While mentioning the entire Chopra family during a speech, Shatrughan said: "Yash Chopra, Pamela Chopra, Uday Chopra, Rani... just now my wife said I missed out on Aditya Chopra. Rani Chopra ka naam liye hai toh zahir se baat hai Aditya Chopra ka naam bhi... (When I am taking Rani Chopra's name, then it is obvious that I am taking Aditya Chopra's name as well)."
Rani was left 'khamosh' (silent) -- clearly indicated by her immediate gesture of covering her mouth in apparent shock. Since years, rumors have been rife that the 34-year-old shares a close bond with Aditya Chopra, and that she was the prime reason behind his divorce in 2009. As per other rumors, the duo has already tied the knot in 2012 in a private ceremony. None of them have either officially confirmed their relationship, or their wedding. The unveiling of Yash Chopra's statue at the YRF Studios saw many industry members like Poonam Sinha, Poonam Dhillon, Parineeti Chopra, and Prem Chopra in attendance.
Rani Mukerji and Aditya Chopra
Now I will go for treatment: Salman

ollywood star Salman Khan has said that he would undertake a long-delayed trip abroad for treatment of a painful condition, which he had put off because of his acting schedule and the blackbuck poaching case in court. "I had to delay going due to the acting schedules and the court cases. But now I will go," he told the media at a Celebrity Cricket League match in Kochi. Salman Khan is charged under the Wildlife Protection Act for allegedly poaching a blackbuck in Rajasthan in 1998. Asked about the case, he said: "I cannot talk about it right now." The 47-year-old is suffering from trigeminal neuralgia and aneurysm. In this condition, the patient suffers acute pain in his head, cheeks and jaws. He had revealed to the media that he had the first attack of pain in
Anupam Kher's tribute to Robert De Niro

A
ctor Anupam Kher will be seen donning director's hat for a 29-minute short film "I Went Shopping For Robert De Niro". Anupam, who respects Niro a lot, got a chance to share screen space with the Hollywood legend in "Silver Linings Playbook". "I have been wanting to direct a film for the past one year. When I came back from the US after completing 'Silver Linings Playbook', Yamini, the writer of the short film, narrated the concept to me and I thought it is a wonderful story and I wanted to tell it. I decided to direct and produce it," Anupam, 57, said in a statement. He had earlier directed 2002 release "Om Jai Jagadish". "I Went Shopping For Robert
Salman Khan
the left side of his face during the making of his 2007 film "Partner" and that the pain came back while he was shooting for "Veer" (2010). Salman underwent a surgery in Pittsburgh, US, in 2011, to treat the painful condition.
A scene from the movie 'I Went Shopping for Robert De Niro'
De Niro", also produced by the actor under his banner Actor Prepares, named after his acting school, tells the story of two girls, who meet each other at the cross-
roads of their lives and shop for Niro and what happens to them on that particular day. Yamini Kshirsagar and Rimal Arora play the lead roles in the film.
Bollywood stars explore regional vistas - as producers

R
ealizing the huge potential of regional cinema, business-savvy Bollywood actors are extending their vistas and producing films in various languages - to great critical and commercial acclaim. Bollywood's creme de la creme are shifting focus. If Amitabh Bachchan's AB Corp produced Gujarati hit movie "Saptapadii", Riteish Deshmukh debuted as producer with Marathi movie "Balak Palak". Akshay Kumar and John Abraham are there too, looking at making films in Punjabi, Bengali and Malayalam. The themes are different, the films attempting to push the envelope. AB Corp also produced the well-made and appreciated Marathi movie "Vihir" as well as the Hindi film "Paa", which was unusual in its theme, yet successful. While "Saptapadii" revolves round a couple whose life changes after a child who lost his parents in a terror attack enters their lives, "Vihir" is the story of two cousins and their not-so-conventional views on life and family bonding. Another popular Hindi movie actor, Riteish, is also supporting Marathi movies. When he decided to turn producer, his first offering was "Balak Palak", a Marathi film said to be made at a shoestring budget of Rs.1.5 crore. It hit bull's eye by grossing Rs.8 crore after its release in January this year. John Abraham, whose unconventional message-oriented debut production venture "Vicky Donor" turned out to be gold spinner, is in the field too. "I am producing a Marathi film. Definitely, I would love to pro-
A scene from AB Corp's 'Saptapadii'
duce a Malayalam film," said John, whose production house is
called Johan Abraham Entertainment Limited.
18
TRAVEL
Brazil's carnival a non-stop party
The dancers dressed in all finery
Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome is a huge attraction
Rio de Janeiro: Carnival entered its fourth day in Brazil Monday and crowds thronged the streets across the giant South American nation in the annual bash. Apart from the wild parties taking place all across the country,
most Brazilians were also keeping an eye on Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome, where the first night of the magnificent parades by the samba schools ended shortly before dawn. The last of the six schools
parading on the first of two intense days of spectacle was Portela, whose procession featured Prince Albert of Monaco as a special guest. Several schools chose themes far removed from those seen at By Vishal Gulati Solang Valley: "What a knee-deep powder," remarked Japanese skier Kawai Hiroshi after experiencing the bountiful snow on the slopes in Himachal Pradesh's Solang Valley. He and his family have been skiing in the western Himalayas for the first time. Having skied all over Japan, Hiroshi said: "Solang is one of the best backcountry resorts. Here pistes (skiing paths) are steep, of course, deep too. More important, it's uncrowded and ideal for family holidaying." Ski organizers in Solang, 13 km from the tourist hill station of Manali, say after last week's bountiful snow the skiers have returned to the slopes. "Now is the ideal time for the skiing. The slopes, which were almost devoid of snow this winter till Jan 16, now have more than four feet snow," said Randhir Singh Salhuria, director of the state-run Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports here. He said more snow is expected in the weeks to come. "A blanket of snow will remain here till Marchend," he added. The institute is conducting skiing
past Carnivals, where the focus was usually on Brazil and the everyday concerns of Brazilians. That change of pace at Brazil's most popular festival surprised many critics and purists who said they yearned for the Carnival celebrations of past years that, while entertaining people, highlighted the country's social inequalities or served as political protests, which nowadays are completely absent. Cultural critic Artur Xexeo
attributed that tendency to the fact that the great majority of the samba schools today have sponsoring companies that contribute millions of dollars to help stage the show and "they don't want to see any criticism". In addition to the colorful spectacle at the Sambadrome, street troupes known as "blocos" kept the frenetic rhythms going on the streets of Rio, where tens of thousands of people danced and sang without letup.
With snow, skiers return to Himachal's slopes
A skier in Solang, 13 km from the tourist hill station of Manali in Himachal Pradesh.
courses - for professionals and amateurs - in Solang. Roshan Lal Thakur, secretary general of the Winter Games Federation of India (WGFI), said the entire Solang Valley would be soon a skiers' hub. "Snow has badly hit road connectivity between Manali and Solang. Now, the traffic has been restored. In the next four-five days you will find skiers from across the country flocking here," said Thakur, a local skier and international coach. District Tourism Officer Balbir Thakur said after the recent snowfall the arrival of tourists in Manali and its nearby destinations has picked up. "On a normal day, tourist arrival is around 5,000. But now more than 10,000 is reaching," he said. He said most of the tourists are heading to Solang where they are enjoying snow scooter rides and sledging. "Private adventure tourism operators are providing skiing apparatus in Solang, depending upon skier's preferences. They are also arranging boarding and lodging. Normally for a ski kit, they are charging fees from Rs.300 to Rs.1,000," the tourism officer added. But the mountaineering institute
is charging a fee of Rs.18,500 for a 14-day basic ski course in Solang that includes boarding and lodging. The institute boasts of ski instructors of international fame. Skier Vijay Merchant from Mumbai said the Solang slopes are reasonably priced compared to Auli in Uttarakhand and Gulmarg in Jammu and Kashmir. "But Solang slopes need to be professionally developed. There is long demand from the skiers for a snow beating machine to make the slopes more flat," he said. Salhuria said the Solang slopes offer a challenging run to both beginners and advanced skiers. However, for newcomers, the mountaineering institute conducts basic, intermediate and advanced ski courses at Narkanda, 65 km from Shimla. The slopes currently have more than three feet of snow. The Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation's (HPTDC) Hatu Hotel at Narkanda provides ski apparatus. The idyllic, pastoral setting of the Himalayan ranges in Himachal Pradesh has been drawing an increasing number of backpackers. With a population of just over 60,00,000, the tourist arrivals in the state crossed the 15 million mark in 2011.
OP-ED
19
Management lessons from Kumbh

By Santhosh Babu here are management lessons for leaders in large gatherings and events. Look at an event like the Kumbh Mela in India and explore what makes it a success. This largest gathering on earth has naked sadhus to Wall Street bankers floating in a temporary city created every 12 years at the confluence of three holy rivers in Allahabad. The temporary city is laid out on a grid, constructed and deconstructed within a matter of weeks. The event has a tendency to expand horizons, reveal possibilities, and question the assumptions that most of us make about how we're supposed to live our lives. People from all walks of life participate in this festival dedicated to community, art, self-expression, and self-reliance. They depart one week later, leaving no trace whatsoever. When you give people freedom, you get chaos, but you also get incredible creativity and a great variety of expression. I have heard about how people create great marvels during this one week ranging from great art installations to seminars on alternate healing.
It's high time we sent our political leaders and corporate CEOs to Kumbh Mela
Google Inc. founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page, festival veterans, have said they give extra weightage to job applicants who have been to Burning Man. It's high time we sent our political leaders and corporate CEOs to Kumbh Mela. Importance of having a shared big purpose: Having a shared purpose and aspiration is the bond that con-
nects communities together. Kumbh Mela and Burning Man have it and we need to create this shared purpose and dream in our communities and organizations. Every political leader and corporate CEO struggle to create a shared dream in her or his constituency or organization. Companies that have imbibed the shared aspiration work like a strong networked and connected
community. Organizations that don't create a shared aspiration are designed to fail. You must keep in mind that this aspiration needs to be a higher purpose, not the quarterly numbers that you are chasing. What would be really meaningful for everyone? How are you making a difference in this world? What is the legacy you want to leave behind? Answer these questions and find out what would be a bigger purpose that would connect everyone in your organization. What would be a bigger purpose for India? Touching the hearts: Once the bigger purpose is articulated, there has to be personal freedom and freedom to express oneself. Organizations and communities are learning that the 'command and control' management does not work much in today's world. A paradigm shift from controlling and accumulating power to a systems view of management is needed now. It helps us to see organizations and communities as living systems that are constantly changing. Any pressure, any intrusion and change in one part of the system will have an overall impact. Combined with the networked
nature of our community where Facebook took only two years to reach 50 million people, controlling personal freedom will not give any advantage to authorities. Build a culture of self-expression and accountability to the purpose. People's behavior is influenced by the culture we create. That's why Kerala has a culture and behavior that are different from Punjab's. Shared Leadership: Once the higher purpose is defined and personal expression is encouraged, it's about creating shared leadership. Leadership can be explored as a social process something that happens between people. It is not so much what leaders do as something that arises out of social relationships. As such it does not depend on one person, but on how people act together to make sense of the situations that face them. At many events like Kumbh Mela, it's not one person but a shared leadership that creates the ownership. So creating a higher purpose, nurturing personal freedom and expression and developing shared leadership are the key to creating meaningful organizations and communities. Jai Ho to the Naga Sadhus!
Modi and mandir: Hobson's choice for BJP

By Amulya Ganguli arendra Modi may have performed with aplomb at his first appearance in Delhi after his election victory in Gujarat, but it is too early to say whether the pitch which the chief minister made for moving to the national stage will be successful. The reason for the doubts lies in the events that unfolded several hundred miles away in Allahabad. After taking a holy dip in the Ganga, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Rajnath Singh fervently called for the building of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, thereby reviving an issue put in cold storage by the party in 1996. In that year, after failing to secure a majority in the Lok Sabha, then outgoing prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee announced that the BJP was shelving the three main points on its Hindutva agenda - constructing the temple, an emotional issue for millions of fervent Hindus, introducing a uniform civil code for all religions in India and scrapping Article 370 of the Indian constitution that gives special status to Jammu and Kashmir. It was on the basis of this promise that Vajpayee was able to put together a coalition of 24 parties to form a government in 1998. Since then, the coalition has dwindled to only four members because many of the "secular" parties walked out after the 2002
The BJP will be preoccupied in the coming weeks with the twin issues of Modi and the temple
Gujarat riots. The point is whether the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by the BJP will suffer another jolt because of Rajnath Singh's announcement, which has subsequently been endorsed by the Hindu supremacist Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP). Considering that the RSS and the VHP are
also seen to be in favour of Modi's candidature as prime minister, the next point of interest will be to see how the BJP manages to reconcile Modi's development plank, which pledges to encompass all the communities, with the polarising temple agenda. Or, whether it will try to ride both the horses at the same time even at the risk of the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) walking out of the NDA.
The JD-U has already said that the Ram temple is not on the NDA agenda. One calculation of the Hindutva camp can be that Modi's candidature and a renewed emphasis on the temple will together be such a morale-booster for the BJP in northern and western India that it will be able to ignore the JD-U's protests. In any event, since the latter has clarified more than once that Modi is unacceptable to it as a prime ministerial candidate, it may already have one foot outside the NDA's door. The readiness expressed by the Congress to expand the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) led by it might be aimed at the JD-U. It is possible, therefore, that the BJP's efforts to repeat in 2013-14 what it tried in the 1990s will come a cropper. Had the choice of tactics been left to itself, the party may have to tread more carefully by being more accommodating towards the JD-U and the Shiv Sena. The latter prefers Sushma Swaraj as the prime ministerial candidate instead of Modi. It appears, however, that the RSS has persuaded Rajnath Singh, chosen by it to replace the scam-tainted Nitin Gadkari, to focus on the temple again. The BJP will be preoccupied, therefore, in the coming weeks with the twin issues of Modi and the mandir, an insistence on either or both of which can lead to the NDA's demise. It is a Hobson's choice for the BJP.
The views expressed in Op Eds are not necessarily those of The South Asian Times.
20
OP-ED
Our Hindu rashtra Love is not blind, it's in the mind!

By Santhosh Babu hough Valentine's Day originally did not have anything to do with love, today it's the symbol of romantic love. The phenomenon of love can be explored from multiple lenses like biological, emotional and mental levels. The Michael Bolton-Percy Sledge song, "When a man loves a woman" talks about how obsessive one could get in love. "Every Breath You Take" by The Police too is a popular song and its lyrics warn: "Every breath you take, every move you make, I'll be watching you." While, taken literally, the first song is mushy and can only be sung with someone low on selfesteem, the second tells of a scary hyper-surveillance. At the beginning of a hot and heavy romance, though, it could be flattering to be the most important person in the lover's life. Romantic love can be obsessive. The same brain areas involved in romantic love are linked to drug addiction. So when singers talk about love being a drug, they aren't so far off the mark. One way to understand manwoman love is to look at the brain structure. The human (new brain), Limbic (emotional/mammalian brain) and the instinctive (reptilian brain) offer clues that help us understand love. The human brain is the recently evolved brain that says: "I need to have a partner with whom I could spend my whole life and die like how they died in the movie "Notebook"; or I want to be with someone with whom I could gaze at the stars and tell stories." The limbic brain would say: "I want to be with someone who will
VHP leader Praveen Togadia
By Samar Halarnkar rre, we Muslims did not run to Pakistan this country was ours, it is ours, it will stay ours if we go, we will not go empty handed. We will take the Taj Mahal, the Red Fort, the Qutb Minar. What will be left? That brokendown Ram temple in Ayodhya, the naked statues of Ajanta Oh Hindustan, we are 25 crore, you are 100 crore, right? Okay, remove the police for 15 minutes and we'll show you who has more courage, more power.' Akbaruddin Owaisi, 43 year old, who delivered this speech on December 22, 2011, in the town of Nirmal, Andhra Pradesh, is now in jail, pending trial on charges that include promoting enmity among different groups and malicious acts to outrage religious feelings. A similar police case was made out against a certain 56year-old Pravin Togadia after he had this to say in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district on March 6, 2011: "If today anyone demands a Pakistan on this land, the response will come from lakhs of villages, as it came from hundreds of Gujarati villages after Godhra the security of Hindus in Srinagar is not Srinagar, it is the power of 100 crore Hindus across India." As with Owaisi, oncologist Pravin Togadia's speech is mesmeric: A calm, gentle voice that gradually rises to a screaming crescendo; the eyes bulge with anger, the fore-finger waggles violently. Confident democracies tend to disregard demagogues. But volatile, insecure India has clear laws against hate speech.
The problem is it displays selective application of those laws. So, Owaisi, MLA and floor leader of his party, the Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen, was arrested. Togadia, the president of the VHP, has never been. The latest case against Togadia - for another hate speech in Maharashtra's Nanded district on January 22, in reaction to Owaisi's rant was reluctantly registered by the local police. It is not strange that a hatemonger from the fringes though I am no longer sure how fringe he is - of Hinduism escapes legal action in a state ruled by a supposedly secular coalition of the Congress and NCP. The coalition's time in power is marked by several hardline actions, including ignoring the virulence and violence of the Senas. The increasingly anti-Muslim tone of the evolving Hindu identity is finding an opposite response. On India's economic ladder, Muslims are near the bottom, roughly on a par with Dalits and tribals. "The Muslims of India seem to suffer from an unprecedented marginalization process," write scholars Christophe Jaffrelot and Laurent Gayer in their new book, Muslims in Indian Cities. They are falling behind on economic, social and political indicators and are possessed of a siege mentality, which worsens whenever Muslims are arrested - often wrongly, as a slew of recent acquittals indicate - as terror suspects. In conversations I've had with some angry, young Muslims, they mock secularism for having failed them. (The views expressed by the author are personal)
rock my world and make me intoxicated with his or her touch." The reptilian brain acts upon impulses, basic drives. The three brains exist in us all, and generate conflicting agendas. The limbic and reptilian brains act upon certain drives like sex (reproduction), survival (safely, protection etc), power (being important, influential), popular (being liked, supported, protected etc) and parental instinct (being protective of people who are close). Flirting can be a behavior meant to satisfy the sex drive, or the power drive (being liked by people who have power) or just a craving to be popular. And most people might need to negotiate these different pulls and instincts. Another way to look at love is to understand our mental models and frames related to love: Husbandwife, boyfriend-girlfriend, rich man-mistress or concubine, Platonic lovers. While it is completely natural for our mind to wander and ponder the meaning of a relationship, usually we are only able to do so through these existing models that are available to our pre-conditioned brain. These mental models produce certain archetypes. We all tend to favor an archetype, which becomes our projection. This could either supports a relationship or destroy it. One of the oldest archetypes is man as protector-provider and woman as supporter-cheerleader. If people with such notions find the relationship not conforming to these models, the relationship might flounder. Another common archetype is of travelers on a journey: Both partners take equal responsibility in earning and looking after children. In such a model, trouble appears
when one partner is not able to play the equal role. There is also the Great Friends model, where being together is important and partners are flexible in their roles. One partner might take a sabbatical while the other does the earning; one might decide to travel on a shoe string budget and offer the other freedom too. In such a model, trouble pops up when the two begin to drift apart. Neuro-scientists look at love from the perspective of changes in the brain. A neuro transmitter called dopamine in an area of the brain called the basal ganglia has been identified as the thing that causes the love emotion. But dopamine does not work alone. There are a variety of other neurotransmitters, hormones and chemicals that also play a role in making us love-crazy and loveaddicted - chemicals like oxytocin, vasopressin, glutamate, estrogen and testosterone that can work directly and indirectly on our brains and influence our behaviour. This explains why lovers can talk the entire night, walk till dawn, write extravagant poetry, cross continents or oceans to hug for just a weekend. Drenched in chemicals that bestow focus, stamina and vigour, and driven by the motivating engine of the brain, lovers could experience life with a single agenda, to be with the lover. Whichever lens one uses to understand the phenomena called love, it's true that love has enormous power to drive people to do extraordinary things; at the same time, it could destroy the psychological makeup of an individual. So here's advice meant to go unheeded -- there is need to be careful in love!
Love has enormous power to drive people to do extraordinary things; at the same time, it could destroy the psychological makeup of an individual.
The views expressed in Op Eds are not necessarily those of The South Asian Times.
DIASPORA
21
Sikh woman charged in KS Brar attack case

London: A 38-year-old Sikh woman has been charged in connection with the attack on the 1984 Operation Blue Star hero K S Brar here last September, taking to four the number of people accused in the case. "Harjit Kaur appeared in custody at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday charged with wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm on LieutenantGeneral KS Brar," a Metropolitan police spokesperson said. Kaur, from Hayes in west London, is the fourth accused to be charged in the case along with Barjinder Singh Sangha (33), Mandeep Singh Sandhu (34) and He, however, pleaded not guilty on the charge of assault on his wife Meena Brar. All four charged in relation to the attack are scheduled to stand trial from April 2. Lt Gen Brar had sustained serious, but not life-threatening, injuries when suspected Khalistan sympathizers stabbed him in the neck and cheek in central London. The 78-year-old, who was here on a private visit here, was heading back to his hotel with his wife, who escaped unharmed and was instrumental in alerting passers-by with her screams to call the police. While Sandhu admits he was present at the scene but did not participate in the attack, Dilbagh Singh has refused to confirm or deny even his presence on the day. During the hearing last month, Judge McCreath described the incident as a "serious attack" and stressed that this lack of a definitive answer from Singh will be construed as a decision not to cooperate with the court. The retired general, who spearheaded the military raid against Sikh separatists at Golden Temple back in 1984, will give evidence in the trial via live video link from India. The prosecution claimed there were a large number of eyewit-
Retd Gen K S Brar
Dilbagh Singh (36). The three Sikh men had appeared at Southwark Crown
Court on January 18, when Sangha pleaded guilty to the attack on Lt Gen Brar.
17 Indian men return home from UAE prison

New Delhi : Seventeen people from These men -- comprising Punjab and Haryana, who were on 16 from Punjab and one death row in the UAE, landed at Delhi from Haryana -- were airport Tuesday experiencing freedom allowed to walk free by a for the first time in nearly three years Sharjah court after they paid after being freed by a court. blood money (money paid They were on death row in the as compensation to the vicUnited Arab Emirates (UAE) since tim's family) amounting to 2010 convicted for murdering a over Rs.5.5 crore which was Pakistani national. They were freed by paid to the family of the a Sharjah court after paying blood Pakistani national, Misri money of over Rs.5.5 crore to the vicKhan. Indians freed by a Sharjah court tim's family. They were convicted of Back in their homeland and with the threat of the gallows murdering Misri Khan and injuring three others January no longer hanging over their heads, all 17 men headed 2009, following a fight over illegal liquor business. straight for Amritsar to offer prayers at the holiest of Sikh Two other Pakistanis were injured in the clash which shrines, Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple). occurred in Sharjah. "These boys are very happy to be freed at last and to The Indian men had all along maintained that they were reach back home. We are heading to Amritsar to offer not involved in the murder of the Pakistani national and prayers at Harmandir Sahib," Dubai-based hotelier S.P. that they had been framed. Singh Oberoi, who led a campaign to save the men from Oberoi led the campaign to collect money from charity the gallows and to get them freed, said after landing at the and well-wishers to pay the blood money and secure the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) here. freedom of the 17 men.
Two Indian liquor dealers sentenced to jail, flogging in Saudi Arabia

Dubai: Two Indian nationals have been sentenced to one year in prison each and flogging for illegally manufacturing and selling liquor in Saudi Arabia, where alcohol is strictly prohibited. A court in Saudi Arabia also ordered the two Indian nationals, who apparently confessed to the illegal manufacture of alcohol, to be deported eventually after their sentence is complete. According to a report in the Saudi Gazette, the two Indians, who have not been identified, were sentenced to one year in prison, 50 lashes each to be repeated six times with a week in between, and to be deported after serving their sentence. The case came to Jeddah district court after an undercover operative posing as a customer went to purchase alcohol from one of the accused. As the accused was handing the liquor, other police officers rushed in and apprehended him, the report said. He led them to the manufacturing location, where police found his partner alone with a woman inside, and four full barrels of liquor, the report said.
Ex Indian Canadian MP quits amid tax-evasion charges

Toronto: Sukh Dhaliwal, a former Indian Canadian member of parliament, has resigned as a British Columbia Liberal Party candidate in the coming provincial election amid tax-evasion charges, media reports said. An emotional Dhaliwal addressed a hastily called news conference Friday at the Grand Taj Banquet Hall in Surrey, where just days earlier he held a fundraiser with Premier Christy Clark attended by 800 supporters, Vancouver Sun reported. Dhaliwal's resignation came hours after the BC Liberals announced a review of his candidacy and confirmed that he only notified the party of the tax charges after The Vancouver Sun obtained the court documents and called for comment, the newspaper said. Still Dhaliwal insisted he was not pushed, but had decided with his family that he should quit the campaign. The Sun cited Dhaliwal as saying he didn't know about the six tax related charges between 2004 and 2010, sworn on Oct 15, until the end of November after he had already been named the candidate for Surrey-Panorama on Oct 31, 2012, Dhaliwal made a first appearance on the six charges in Surrey Provincial Court Nov 26 and was arraigned Dec 17. The case was back in court again this week and put over to Feb 21. The charges relate to Dhaliwal's position as president of Genco Consultants Inc., which was founded on Nov 26, 1999 as a numbered company, the Sun said. The two-page court document alleges Dhaliwal violated section 238 (1) of the Income Tax Act when "on or about Dec 23, 2011, [he] did unlawfully direct, authorize, asset to, acquiesce in or participate in Genco Consultant's failure to file a completed Corporate Income Tax Return or T2."
Sukh Dhaliwal
22
SUBCONTINENT
Nasheed takes refuge in Indian mission

Male: Mohamed Nasheed, a former president who once held a cabinet meeting under water to highlight dangers to island-nations from global warming, took refuge at the Indian High Commission after a court ordered his arrest. The court issued the arrest order for his failing to attend a hearing in the illegal detention of a judge. "Mindful of my own security and stability in the Indian Ocean, I have taken refuge at the Indian High Commission in Maldives," tweeted Maldivian opposition leader Nasheed, 45. Maldives Tourism Minister Ahmed Adheeb Abdhul Gafoor said: "There is no point of his (Nasheed) being there (at the Indian High Commission)." Gafoor said that Nasheed "is there" at the Indian High Commission. He added that there He said the situation in his island country was "calm and stable" and very much "under control". "Yeah, I think," said the senior minister when asked whether Male was in touch with New Delhi over this development. The Maldives, an atoll nation, is known for its deep blue seas, turquoise reefs, white sandy beaches and palm trees. It comprises 1,190 islands - of which about 200 are inhabited - and has a population of 350,000. Nasheed, 45, entered the Indian High Commission as the Hulhumal court issued an arrest order for him to be brought to court after he failed to attend the scheduled hearing over last year's detention of Criminal Court chief judge Abdulla Mohamed. Nasheed resigned on Feb 7 last year followed by what he alleged was a coup. Vice President Mohammed Waheed Hassan succeeded him. Nasheed later claimed he was forced to quit at gun-point and urged the international community, particularly India, to help restore "democracy" in the South Asian archipelago. Nasheed's political party, the Maldivian Democratic Party, has strongly condemned the arrest warrant and reiterated its belief that the arrest warrant and the charges against him are politically motivated. Nasheed hit the world headlines four years ago when he held a cabinet meeting under water to highlight global warming and the threat to his atoll nation. He and his ministers were in full scuba gear as they met for about 30 minutes at a depth of six metres just north of the capital Male in 2009.
Former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed
would be "no effort to take him out". "Anyone can visit the Indian High Commission," Gafoor said
and suggested that the Indian media may be indulging in unnecessary speculation over the turn of events in his country.
'World realizing rights abuses in Sri Lanka' Rekindling hope for a dark subcontinent
Book Review
US seeks Pakistan's support in Afghanistan

Washington: As the US prepares to pull out from Afghanistan, it has sought Pakistan's support on "our shared interest in regional stability, including a secure and peaceful future for Afghanistan." The issue came up when the new US Secretary of State John Kerry called Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, the State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland told reporters. "Kerry has a longstanding relationship with many Pakistani leaders, and he used the opportunity of the phone call to underscore the continuing importance of an effective, strong, and mutually beneficial US-Pakistani relationship," she said He emphasized that Pakistan and the United States have many shared interests, including fighting terrorism and extremism, supporting democratic civilian institutions, and supporting Pakistan's efforts to increase economic growth, Nuland said. Also discussed was "obviously our shared interest in regional stability, including a secure and peaceful future for Afghanistan." "Kerry, the spokesperson said, noted "our ongoing interest in finding a concrete way to act jointly in support of all of these goals, and he made clear that he looks forward to working with President Zardari going forward."
DMK chief M. Karunanidhi
Chennai: The world is beginning to realize that human rights are being violated in Sri Lanka, DMK chief M. Karunanidhi said. Canada has announced plans to boycott the upcoming Commonwealth summit in Sri Lanka on grounds of human rights violations by Colombo, Karunanidhi said in a statement. He said the New York-based Human Rights Watch had also demanded that Sri Lanka should not be allowed to host the summit due to its poor rights record. All this showed that the world had started to realize the "atrocities committed by the Sri Lankan government headed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa", the former Tamil Nadu chief minister said. He also hoped that the passage of a USsponsored resolution on Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council meet in Geneva will halt what he said was the razing of Hindu temples in the island nation. The DMK and other Tamil groups in Tamil Nadu are highly critical of the largescale civilian deaths that took place in Sri Lanka when the military crushed the Tamil Tigers in 2009.
ou cannot shun Afghanistan under war and run the Taliban -- setting away from the her fiction in the heart death and destruction of conflict, that follows you. You Meenakshi Iyer capcannot dodge the fear tures dramatic of terrorism, bomb encounters of surblasts or a fidayeen. vival with sharpness. You cannot shut yourUnburdened by sentiself to the latest round mentality, this collecof intifada or Kani tion of short stories Jung, threatening to celebrates hope," says suck life out of your Meena Kandasamy, hinges. an acclaimed poet, You cannot avoid writer and activist, these things in the 21st about the book. century's new war zone The book talks - South Asia. Yet you about Riyaz who live, smile, shake off wants to be a chef the dust as if nothing when those around happened and move him want to pick up on, braving all odds arms. It is about "False Sanctuaries: Stories from the and, YOU are the Purab, whose only Troubled Territories of South Asia"; hero of 'False dream is to take his Author: Meenakshi Iyer; Publisher: Sanctuaries: Stories Bibliophile South Asia (Promila & grandfather to his from the troubled terhome in Dera Ismail Co); Price: Rs.395; Pages: 282 ritories of South Asia'. Khan; Ramnath Freelance journalist and South Asia Purandare, an affable Marathi who fails observer Meenakshi Iyer's debut book is Mumbai; and Dharmambal, who chides about people in this sub-continent who herself to believe that she is childless the have kept their hopes alive in hopeless situ- moment it is revealed that her son is an ations, who have failed, or have been failed LTTE pointsman. by their governments, and have yet moved "Grief, memories and melancholy are on, alone and undeterred, to face fresh briefly relieved by the moments of happithreats awaiting them. ness that come to the people of these stoThe partition and beyond, the bomb blasts ries," says the author, whose stint in mainin Mumbai, the insurgency in Kashmir, the stream media woke her to the inner uprootTaliban backlash in Afghanistan, and life in edness and unerasable scars of the mind a displacement camp in Sri Lanka -- the bequeathed to the people by crass, divisive book is a collection of short stories set politics and policymakers of the subcontiacross South Asia, trying to locate the pulse nent. of defiant individual expression in a people In short, the book is a take on the "lives of scarred by terror. South Asians at a primary human level, at "A Tamil refugee camp in Sri Lanka, which grief and melancholy overpower all Kashmir using its anti-India protests, other emotions".
INTERNATIONAL
23
Pope to stay at pontifical summer residence

Vatican City: Pope Benedict XVI will stay at the papal summer residence outside Rome when he officially steps down on February 28 before moving into a former nunnery within the Vatican walls, the Holy See announced. "When renovation work on the monastery of cloistered nuns inside the Vatican is complete, the Holy Father will move there for a period of prayer and reflection," said Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi. The first pontiff to retire in six centuries has said that he will move out of the papal apartments overlooking St Peter's Square after he ceases to be Pope at 8 p.m. Feb 28. He initially stays at the papal summer residence, Castel Gandolfo, a medieval castle beside a lake that is equipped with a swimming pool, where his predecessor the late John Paul II had therapy for Parkinson's disease. Eighty-five-year-old Benedict announced that he would resign at the end of the month due to advanced age and frail health. His move took his close aides and the world by surprise. Lombardi denied that the pontiff was suffering from any particular illness although it has emerged that the Pope underwent surgery to replace his pacemaker three months ago and was advised against long-distance travel. "I reinterate that there are no specific ailments but rather a weakening due to old age. The replacement of the pacemaker was routine and in no way contributed to the decision that has been taken," Lombardi said Tuesday. Cardinals hope to elect a new Pope before Easter, March 31.
Pope Benedict XVI is the first pontiff to retire in six centuries
Two Kerala cardinals among North Korea conducts N-test, voting for new Pope world condemns
Kochi: Two cardinals from Kerala are among the four from the country to leave for Vatican to cast their vote in elections for a new pope to replace Pope Benedict XVI, the leader of the Catholic church, who has announced that he would step down in view of advanced age. The 85-year-old Pope Benedict XVI, set to resign Feb 28, will be the first pope to resign in six centuries. Sixty-six-year-old Major Archbishop of ErnakulamAngamaly diocese of the Syro-Malabar Church, Mar George Alencherry and 53year-old Rev Dr Moran Mar Baselios Cleemis Catholicos, head of the capital city-headquartered SyroMalankara Catholic Church are the two from Kerala who will join two other cardinals from India to elect the next pope. Incidentally, both the men from Kerala were only elevated to the post of cardinal last year, on different occasions. The spokesperson of the Syro-Malabar Church, Fr Paul Thelekkat said the electoral college consists of 120 cardinals. Only cardinals below the age of 80 are eligible to cast a vote in elections for a Pope. "Even though there are 211 cardinals, there have to be 120 cardinals who are under the age of 80. These 120 not only cast their votes to elect a new pope, but each one of them can also contest for the post," Thelekkat said. The 120 cardinals huddle together in prayer ahead of the elections. Once the election process starts, they come out only after the new pope is elected from among them. This could take about five days. When the election process is completed, white smoke emerges from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, signalling to the world that a new pope has been elected.
Pyongyang/Seoul/Washin gton: Highly secretive North Korea revealed it had conducted a third nuclear test, drawing condemnation from around the world and prompting South Korea to put its military on high alert and summon a meeting of the UN Security Council. Pyongyang, which conducted similar nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009, said the latest test, carried out in the Kilju county in North Hamkyung province, was to safeguard its national security against "hostile" American policy. The world learnt about the nuclear test when an artificial earthquake of magnitude 4.9 was detected from the location where the North Korean nuclear test facility is located. North Korea claimed the nuclear test was successful, Xinhua reported, citing the country's official KCNA news agency. US President Barack Obama slammed the "highly provocative act". "This is a highly provocative act that, following its December 12 ballistic missile launch, undermines regional stability, violates North Korea's obligations under numerous United Nations Security Council resolutions." He said North Korea's latest move contravenes its commitments under the Sep 19, 2005, Joint Statement of
Pyongyang, said the latest test was to safeguard its national security against "hostile" American policy
US shifting stance on Syria: Russian MP

Moscow: The US is shifting toward Russia's position on Syria, in fear of a repeat of the "Afghan scenario" with an Islamist regime coming to power there, a Russian lawmaker has said. "There is one moment in which our American friends are starting to get closer to our position. In particular, they have acknowledged that the fall of Syria's administration could unleash the most unfavorable consequences," said State Duma Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Alexei Pushkov. "The Americans have understood that if everything collapses, we will have another Afghanistan," Pushkov said, but did not support his claim with any evidence. He saod rebel groups in Syria are supported by radical Islamist forces linked to international terrorist organisations. This poses a danger to Christians, Shias and other minorities in Syria. "That's why I think it is not about (Russia) shifting its positions, but it is about the West getting closer to recognising our arguments," Pushkov said. He reiterated that Russia, which remains a staunch ally of Syria, will not agree to setting President Bashar al-Assad's resignation as a precondition for peace talks. "The Americans want us to use our pressure to oust Assad. I think we will not accept this, because we believe this is wrong. But we can use our influence to start the negotiation process, we are ready for this," Pushkov said.
the Six-Party Talks on North Korea's nuclear programmes and "increases the risk of proliferation". Calling North Korea's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes as a threat to US national security and to international peace and security, Obama said the US "remains vigilant in the face of North Korean provocations and steadfast in our defense commitments to allies in the region". Pyongyang vowed to proceed with missile and nuclear tests targeting the US, its "sworn enemy", after the UN Security Council adopted a resolution to condemn its Dec 12 rocket launch. South Korea's military was immediately put on heightened alert to deter potential cross-border provocations, while the South Korean and US forces upgraded their border surveillance level.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the nuclear test conducted by North Korea was "regrettable". The South Korean government called it a "clear violation" of UN resolutions. "North Korea will not be able to avoid being held accountable for (the test)," National Security Adviser Chun Yung-Woo told reporters after an emergency security meeting presided over by President Lee Myung-bak. Neighbor China expressed its "firm" opposition to the latest nuclear test. NATO and European Union (EU) also condemned the nuclear test. "We condemn in the strongest terms the test by North Korea of a nuclear weapon, conducted in flagrant violation of relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions," said NATO.
24
BUSINESS
Inflation falls to 6.62 %, lowest in 3 years

New Delhi: India's wholesale price based inflation fell to 6.62 percent in January, its lowest level in over three years, helped by slower rise in prices of fuel and manufactured items, government data showed. The wholesale price index (WPI) based inflation, the country's main indicator of price movement, had increased by 7.18 percent in the previous month and 7.23 percent in January last year. The build-up inflation in the first 10 months of the current financial year was 5.09 percent as compared to 6.15 percent in the corresponding period of previous year, according to data released January as compared to 5.04 percent recorded in the previous month. Fuel and power inflation eased to 7.06 percent in the month under review as compared to 9.38 percent in December. However, food inflation remained at an elevated level. It remained in double-digit at 11.88 percent in January as compared to 11.16 percent in the previous month. "The rise in food inflation calls for urgent measures to address supply side bottlenecks by delisting perishables from Agricultural Produce Marketing Act and augmenting investment in agri-infrastructure which would improve the productivity of agriculture and lead to a further decline in inflation," said Chandrajit Banerjee, director general, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). Rajkumar Dhoot, president, Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Assocham), emphasised the need for lowering interest rates by the Reserve Bank of India in view of the favourable inflation numbers. "Industry now look forward towards RBI to take a re-look in further reducing the key policy rates to restore the growth momentum which has suffered due to elevated inflation," Dhoot said.
Industry now looks forward to RBI to take a re-look
by the commerce and industry ministry.
Manufactured goods inflation dropped to 4.81 percent in
Illicit Russian cash flows eclipse $750 bn: US report

Washington: More than $750 billion in illicit funds have streamed in and out of Russia since 1994, fuelling an "underground" economy that accounts for nearly half of the country's gross domestic product, says a report by a US group. "Russia has a severe problem with illegal flows of money," Raymond Baker, director of the Global Financial Integrity (GFI), which produced the report, said in a statement. "Hundreds of billions of dollars have been lost that could have been used to invest in Russian healthcare, education, and infrastructure." The Washington-based advocacy group tracks illegal financial flows throughout the world. The report titled "Russia: Illicit Financial Flows and the Role of the Underground Economy", measured $764.3 billion in total illegal funds moving in and out of Russia between 1994 and 2011, with inflows estimated at $552.9 billion and outflows at $211.5 billion. The study estimated total capital flight -which includes both illegal and legal outflows -- at $782.5 billion during the same time period, a figure that the report's chief author, economist Dev Kar, described as "extremely conservative". The estimate does not account for financial shenanigans like invoice mispricing and "dealings conducted in bulk cash", Kar said. "This means that much of the proceeds of drug trafficking, human smuggling, and other criminal activities, which are often settled in cash, are not included in these estimates," he said. GFI said the findings raise "serious questions about the economic and political stability" of Russia as it chairs the G-20 group of leading global economies.
India's trade deficit widens to $20 bn

New Delhi: India's trade deficit widened to $20 billion in January, the second highest ever monthly gap, as exports remained weak while imports rose, putting further pressure on the country's current account deficit. After contracting for the eight consecutive months, exports increased marginally by 0.82 percent to $25.58 billion in January, according to data released by the ministry of commerce and industry. India's imports increased by 6.12 percent to $45.58 billion, leaving monthly trade deficit of $20 billion. This is the second highest ever trade deficit. In October last year, trade deficit was recorded $20.9 billion, which is the highest trade gap posted in India so far. Commerce Secretary S.R. Rao said the widening trade deficit was a cause of concern. He said the trade deficit had widened largely due to increased demands for petroleum products. "There was a huge surge of imports of petroleum goods, which we believe is essentially due to added consumption in the power sector," Rao told reporters here. The cumulative trade deficit in AprilJanuary period of the current financial year increased to $167.16 billion as compared to $154.89 billion recorded in the corresponding period of last fiscal. Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma hoped the trade deficit would moderate in the coming months with revival in exports.
France looks to India to boost sagging economy

Paris: Though France and India have advanced fairly significantly in their negotiations on both the Areva nuclear reactors and the Dassault Rafale combat aircraft, France is looking at India to help boost its sagging economy in several other sectors, notably manufacturing. Since 2010, France has been steadily losing its edge in manufacturing and this trend accelerated in 2012, recording a jump of 42 percent in the closing of manufacturing units in the country, which numbered at 1087 units eliminating over 24,000 jobs, according to a study by Trendeo, a consultancy. This trend is set to continue in 2013 as well as a number of very large French companies, including automobile manufacturer Peugeot, which has said that it would close down its plant at Aulnay-sous-bois in suburban Paris, eliminating over 2800 jobs. Hollande had promised during his campaign that the government would ensure that the plant would not be shut down. However, nearly a year after his victory, the situation at the plant remains the same, with the workers opposed to a rehabilitation plan proposed by Peugeot. Yesterday, the car maker announced its biggest loss ever for a year - at 5 bn euros - indicating the seriousness of the situation for Peugeot. Other major job losses could come from other leading names such as the flag carrier Air France, white goods maker SEB etc. However, Trendeo says that while Peugeot, Air France and SEB do make the headlines, a large majority of the factory closures go unreported in the media as they invest in France and outline the various incentives and subsidies proposed by the French government to attract businesses. Informed sources say that this message would be at the top of Hollande's agenda when he addresses the Indian business community, first in Delhi, and then in Mumbai. But his message is expected to be received with a generous pinch of salt as France is currently engaged in a very highprofile battle with the steel giant, ArcelorMittal, over the fate of its factories in France. French Industry Minister Arnaud Montebourg has been engaged in a frontal battle with Mittal over the Florange foundry in Lorraine in eastern France where ArcelorMittal would like to shed some 630 jobs in order to make its operations in France sustainable.
Since 2010, France has been steadily losing its edge in manufacturing and this trend accelerated in 2012
concern companies employing less than 100 persons and often less than 10. The only sectors that have created jobs in France include green technology, con-
struction, space and aeronautics, says Trendeo. Faced with this situation at home, Hollande will exhort Indian businesses to come and
SPORTS
25
American athletes in India for sports diplomacy
Indian wrestling community in state of shock

New Delhi: India's wrestling community, including Olympic medal winners Sushil Kumar and Yogeshwar Dutt, was in a state of shock after the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) decision to remove the sport from the 2020 edition of the Games. Sushil, India's only double individual Olympic medalist, said it was a 'Black Day' for the sport at a time when Indian wrestlers were doing good at international events. "It is a huge setback for the sport. It came as a complete shocker. I cannot believe that IOC can take such a harsh decision about one of the oldest sports in the Olympics," Sushil, who won back-to-back medals in Beijing (bronze) and London (silver), said. Sushil said the sport will now only go down despite India winning two medals from the sport at the London Games. "The sport was looking up in India. It had a bright future. Lot of youngsters were taking up the sport, especially after our success at the London Games. But now the blow will take the sport backward in India," said Sushil. Yogeshwar, who won a bronze
Barry Larkin and Olympian Natasha Watley
Washington: Two US athletes, Major League Baseball Hall-ofFamer Barry Larkin and Olympian Natasha Watley, were in India as sports envoys to encourage youth participation in sports. During their Feb 12-18 trip to India, Larkin and Whatley lad baseball and softball clinics in New Delhi and Imphal for underserved youth and their coaches, as well as engage in dialogue on sports and diversity, the State Department announced Tuesday. In both cities, the sports envoys met with officials from the Indian Baseball and Softball Associations as well as representatives from NGOs that promote
youth sports opportunities. Throughout the exchange, they spoke with local media about how sports encourage in the development of good sportsmanship, leadership, and teamwork skills. Working with Major League Baseball and USA Softball, this trip marks state department's first joint baseball and softball programme, its bureau of educational and cultural affairs said in a media release. Sports diplomacy builds on the state department's efforts to create opportunities for young people so that they can share experiences and foster greater international cooperation, it said.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has removed Wrestling from the 2020 edition of the Games
at the London Games, also agreed with Sushil and said IOC's decision will be a big blow for the youngsters. "I am surprised with IOC's decision because it is played in all the 209 member countries of FILA (international wrestling body). It is also a very spectator-friendly sport. I see no logic behind removing wrestling from 2020," Yogeshwar said. The 30-year-old said that now the youngsters won't be inspired to take up the sport. "Why will the youngsters take up wrestling any more? There
were so many long-term programmes planned till 2020 and now all will be shelved. There also won't be any government support since wrestling no longer will be an Olympic sport," said Yogeshwar. Wrestling, which includes freestyle and Greco-Roman events, has been a part of the Olympics since the inaugural modern Olympics in Athens in 1896. At the London Games, 344 wrestlers competed in 11 medal events in freestyle and seven in Greco-Roman.
'Special' Paharganj trio followed Olympic dream to Seoul

New Delhi: From the congested bylanes of central Delhi's Paharganj to icy arenas in glittering Seoul, it has been a journey to fame and honour for teens Raj Kumar Tiwari, Suman Chandraprakash and Alpana Jagdish who won golds at the Special Winter Olympics. Raj Kumar, 18, who suffers from hyperactivity disorder and low IQ, won a gold and silver in figure skating, a sport hardly known in India. Suman, 19, who is intellectually disabled, captained the floor hockey team to another gold as India's tally of medals at the February Games reached 46. And Alpana, 18, who also suffers from the same condition, won the gold in snowshoeing, again a sport few people know about. Their's is a rare story of triumphing odds at multiple levels battling not just their compulsions and societal biases to reach the acme of their sport but also overcoming enormous financial constraints to scale heights rarely seen before. Because the trio from Paharganj, a locality known more in the way of the family doing everything it could to provide training to the son, who has always been an athlete at heart. A small rented room in Paharganj where seven family members are crammed in, is hardly a place for budding figure skaters. But that didn't stop him from fulfilling his dream. "I had never seen ice before. I started with roller skating but my coach at the Prabha Institute thought that I should give figure skating a try," he said. Accompanied by his mother, Raj Kumar then went for figure skating sessions at the Ambience Mall in Gurgaon where each session, lasting an hour and 15 minutes, on weekdays costs Rs.350 and on weekends and Rs.450 on holidays. "You cannot fathom what he has done for the family. People who would shun us away at every sight now want to meet us and sit with us. Our villagers back home are slowly getting the news of my son's achievement and the phone has not stopped ringing," said his proud father Ramkesh.
Snooker: Advani in last 8 of Welsh Open

Newport (Britain): World billiards champion Pankaj Advani became the first and only Indian to enter the top eight of a major event on the professional snooker circuit as he easily beat Scotland's Graeme Dott 4-1 to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Welsh Open tournament. Advani, who had defeated World No.4 Shaun Murphy in the pre-quarterfinals, started strongly with a 63 break for a 1-0 lead and followed it up with a run of 73 to go 2-0 up. Dott, the 2006 World snooker champion and currently ranked at 13, took the third frame before Advani took the fourth on a 46 clearance and then clinched the match with a brilliant break of 100 to book his berth in the round of eight. Advani, who next meets the winner of World No.2 Judd Trump vs Andrew Higginson match, said: "Being the only Indian to make it to the quarters of any professional snooker ranking tournament, is a huge high for me. "I really have no words to express how amazing this feels. I hope this will translate into big steps forward in Indian snooker."
Raj Kumar after winning the gold medal
as budget tourist hangout, is not part of India's elite but belong to families who struggle to make ends meet. Raj Kumar's father is a street vendor, Suman's a tailor and Alpana, who lost her father to dengue in 1996, is supported by her mother who works as a domestic help. The trio attend the Prabha Institute, a school for special children, where they met their coach Rohit Manchanda, who was a cat-
alyst in their sporting careers. "I can't thank people enough... I have had to work really hard but it's all come good. Now I want to go to the Special Summer Olympics," Raj Kumar said. His father Ramkesh earns just about Rs.1,000-Rs.1,500 a month (About $25-30). The household's major income comes from Raj Kumar's elder brother Vivekanand, who earns Rs.4,000 a month as an electrician. The severe crunch did not come
26
FEATURES
Folk-fusion songs, One Billion Rising walk mark V-Day in Kolkata

Kolkata: An evening of folkfusion love songs, doting grandparents singing and dancing with toddlers, love birds making a memory in photo booths and alluring gifts of gold and diamonds marked the Valentine's day celebrations here Thursday. Apart from exchanging cards, gifts and flowers, couples - young, old and new - were spotted posing and clicking photographs in front of an Eiffel Tower replica at a photo booth at a popular coffee parlor in the city. A leading pre-school chain, Tree House Education and Accessories Limited, celebrated the day as "Grandparents's Day" with both grandparents and children participating in activities like singing, dancing, skits and games. Couples ready to take the plunge and those wanting to renew their love for each other expressed themselves through a newlylaunched scintillating gold and diamond jewelry line by Tribhovandas Bhimji Zaveri Ltd. that includes engagement and wedding rings, bangles and necklaces with intricate work. On a somber note, more than 1,000 men and women marched side by side for the global "One Billion Rising" campaign from the centrally located Shahid Minar to the College Street market in the north of the city to raise their voices opposing crimes against women. A blissful atmosphere created by folk-fusion love songs sung in English, Hindi and Bengali by citybased band Fiddler's Green at Gallery Suchitra enthralled one and all.
Wake up Delhi, sing flash mobs for 'One Billion Rising'

New Delhi: Crossing their arms, shuffling their feet and singing "Wake up Delhi! End violence against women!" hundreds of people took part in flash mobs across Delhi to mark the global 'One Billion Rising' campaign Thursday. The young men and women on Valentine's Day gave a collective performance near Jantar Mantar, where thousands had gathered in December to protest against the brutal gang-rape and death of a young woman. Hundreds of women politicians and activists have supported the initiative and many students participated in the flash mob dancing to the song "Jaago Dilli jaago!" (Wake up Delhi!), said Padmini Krishnan, one of the organizers. A flash mob is an impromptu gathering of people at a public place to perform an unusual song or a jig for a brief time and disperse, to raise an issue. The 'One Billion Rising' campaign aims to gather people from all walks of life to pledge their commitment to ending violence against girls and women, said college student Megha Mishra, who took part in a flash mob. "I'm rising because I could have been one of those woman, who was battered, sexually abused. I'm rising because I'm a woman, aware of the potential of women and want to show the world I care and dare," wrote Christy Abraham of NGO Action Aid on the
campaign's Facebook page. Similar flash mobs gathered in the National Capital Region, with street plays and dance dramas. The next such event would take place March 8 to mark Women's Day, Kamla Bhasin, the campaign's south Asia coordinator, told. About 200 countries are participating in the campaign. An estimate by the United Nations Development Fund for Women shows that at least one of every three women in the world is beaten, raped, or otherwise abused during her lifetime. In most cases, the abuser is a family member.
Many shades of love and life - on Google's Valentine Doodle

New Delhi: Love and its many foibles rolled out on the Google homepage Thursday with an animated doodle celebrating Valentine's Day and also the 154th birth anniversary of George Ferris, who created the ferris wheel. With two ferris wheels, representing Google's two Os set against a fun fair backdrop of blues and reds, and winding roller-coaster tracks as the 'cover page', the Google doodle also had some valuable life and love lessons for those who clicked on the heart at the center. In 10 carefully gender-neutral cartoon strips featuring animal characters - click once for each view - couples play out the many shades of love. If the horse and the tiger holding hands on a bench looking out a moonlit landscape of mountains and streams represent perhaps contentment and comfort, the octopus serenading the goose with its many arms is the reckless ardor of first love. Then there is the tired rabbit waiting alone at a restaurant for the tortoise to arrive. It does, by the third panel, but too late when all the diners have gone and the place has shut down. Also, the bear and the octopus out on a date in town - but by the end, the octopus is staring wearily ahead while the bear is busy wolfing down its food. But there's so much fun to be had as well - like the monkey and the elephant doing the cha-cha-cha perhaps on a dance floor or the little bird and the hippo having the time of their lives on snow slopes. And then there's the understanding rabbit who pulls out flowers from its hat to give to the dolphin. It looks disappointed, and the rabbit, with an ok-I-get-it look, then brandishes a fish for the smiling dolphin. But life is not all about being in love or living through your partner. Ask the lone wolf, who is seen happily spread out on the couch, remote in one hand, popcorn in the other and an open book.
Google's V-day doodle was a tribute to ferris wheel creator George Ferris too
At Kumbh, call to make Ganga your valentine

'Green Kumbh Initiative', said a statement. "The Ganga must be allowed to flourish if India is to flourish. Everyone can do their part to serve the Ganga -- whether it is planting a tree, prohibiting plastic or picking up trash. Make Ganga your green valentine everyday," Chidanand Saraswati, president of Parmarth Niketan Ashram in Rishikesh, told the gathering. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar of the Art of Living Foundation was also scheduled to take part in the event but could not reach the venue, the statement said. In a message, he said: "We have always used the water of holy rivers like Ganga and Yamuna to purify ourselves, but today we have reached a point where we have to clean this water. Valentine's Day, a day of love, is a perfect day of coming together in the name of mother Ganga." The Ganga Action Parivar, with NGOs, schools, institutions and the government, has started the Green Kumbh Initiative to beautify the grounds and environment of the mega religious congregation, said the statement.
Lalit composed 'Pehla Nasha' for wife
A still of song 'Pehla nasha'
Allahabad: Marking Valentine's Day, several spiritual leaders Thursday urged people at the Kumbh Mela here to treat the Ganga as their valentine everyday. Chidanand Saraswati of Ganga Action Parivar, Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev of Isha Foundation, Prem Baba of Path of the Heart from Brazil, B.A. Swami Paramadvaiti, a Vaishnavite spiritual leader from Germany, along with around 500 people from 45 countries took part in a song and dance program for a
Mumbai: Composer Lalit says he composed the song 'Pehla Nasha' in "Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar" for his wife and feels it's his contribution to Valentine's Day. "I composed 'Pehla Nasha' for my wife only, when we met for the first time. That's a song which every year hundreds of couples dedicate to their girlfriends. And that's been my con-
tribution to Valentine's Day," Lalit said here in an interview. The composer duo of Jatin-Lalit has given beautiful romantic compositions for films like "Khamoshi: The Musical", "Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge", "Mohabbatein" and "Fanaa", among others. After working for almost 16 years, Jatin and Lalit parted ways due to some personal issues in 2006.
PERSONAL FINANCE
27
Impact of tax law changes

fter a long-drawn-out debate over the Bush Era tax cuts, the US Congress finally agreed on key tax changes through the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012. As a resident or citizen of the US, here are the top changes that will impact your taxes when you file your 2013 individual tax returns in 2014.
(from 15%.) So single filers earning more than $400,000 and married joint filers earning more than $450,000 will be taxed at 20% on long term capital gains Payroll taxes One expiring provision that has not been extended is the payroll tax cut. Prior tax law had seen a reduction in social security payroll taxes from 6.2% to 4.2%. That is, employees paid only 4.2% in payroll taxes in 2011 and 2012. For 2013, this payroll tax is back to the higher level of 6.2%. Other significant provisions Here are some of the other provisions: The Alternate Minimum Tax (AMT) has been patched permanently. Up until now, the threshold for AMT was not regularly indexed to inflation and more and more taxpayers would come
Individual tax rates Individual tax rates for 2013 remain the same as those for 2012 for single filers earning less than $400,000 and for joint filers earning less than $450,000. Filers over this threshold are subject to the new top tax rate of 39.6%. Investment income rates Long term capital gains tax rate remains the same, that is, at 15% for most taxpayers. However, for those at the highest tax slab, the maximum rate increases to 20%
under its fold every year. That has now been fixed. AMT will be adjusted to inflation and in 2013, the exemption amount is $51,900 for individuals and $80,800 for married couples filing jointly. American opportunity credit and child tax credit have been extended through 2017 Overall itemized deduction and personal exemption phase-out have been reinstated for married joint filers with Adjusted Gross Income over $300,000. That means, for each $2,500 of AGI over the threshold, personal exemptions are reduced by 2%. And itemized deductions are reduced by 3% of the amount by which AGI exceeds the threshold. Medicare tax Technically, this is not part of the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 but an altogether new tax introduced under
President Obama's new Healthcare Bill. Since this will impact your 2013 taxes, it is important to mention it in this list. Accordingly, an additional 0.9% 'medicare tax' will be levied on wages and self-employment income in excess of $200,000 for single filers and $250,000 for married joint filers. In addition, a 3.8% 'medicare tax' will be levied on investment income. "For individuals, this tax is equal to 3.8% of the lesser of net investment income or the excess of Modified Adjusted
Gross Income over the threshold amount. The threshold amounts for single taxpayer is $200,000 and for married taxpayer is $250,000," explains Vinay Navani, CPA and director of tax at New Jersey based firm Wilkin & Guttenplan, P.C. More importantly, Navani says, "The tax does not apply to S corp and partnership income if the taxpayer is active. Many taxpayers need to take a fresh look at the passive activity rules to see if they can modify their level of activity, if possible, to make sure they are active in the business."
Tips for protecting your Three tips to help couples plan family's financial future their financial future
o you lay awake at night wondering if youll have enough money to pay the bills, let alone retire? Could you pay the bills at $170 to $350 daily if you or your spouse were disabled? Do you have an extra $100,000 a year for this care? Expect the unexpected. Be prepared. Many challenges which can ruin your financial life can be avoided in less than 60 minutes, according to financial experts. Even if you are just starting out in your career you have to start making plans for retirement if you want your money to be there when you need it, says Kris Miller, a retirement and living trust expert and author of the new book Ready for Pretirement? Plan retirement early so your money is there when you need it. No one relishes talking about emergencies, layoffs, long-term illness and death. Planning for such circumstances is crucial to protecting your familys financial future, she stresses. Here are some of her best tips on taking the right steps early on: Start Saving Money Now. Even if you just eliminate a few expenses, such as that extra cup of coffeehouse coffee, and use that savings to invest in retirement, it will make a big difference. Max out your 401(k). All you have to do is fill out a form to increase it to the maximum contribution. And if your employer matches a percentage of contributions, thats free money. Best of all, you get a tax deferral which can save you lots of money. Start a Roth IRA. Its best to have multiple investments, instead of just your 401(k) which
might not be sufficient for your retirement needs. A Roth IRA will let you receive your money tax free. Get Some Life Insurance. If you have a spouse or children consider some life insurance and disability insurance. Experts advise getting insurance covering 60 percent of your current income. Build an Emergency Fund. You want at least 3-6 months of expenses for an emergency fund. Get Real with Retirement Planning. Learn about estate planning. For example, creating a revocable living trust allows individual choice and control over legal and financial decisions today, tomorrow and in the future. Properly Create and Execute a Will. Identify what you want done with your property, identify a guardian for your children, and sign and date Powers of Attorney and Assisted Living Directives to avoid probate, reduce medical expenses and make things easier for your loved ones if something happens to you. More helpful financial tips can be found online at www.readyforpretirement.com. The number one cause of problems in retirement is procrastination, says Miller, a Certified Senior Advisor and Chartered Federal Employee Benefits Consultant with over 20 years of experience. Dont be like an ostrich. Face the world and take action so you can leave everything you have worked for to your loved ones. Will you be able to create a nest egg that gives you 70 percent of your pre-retirement yearly salary? Start saving now.
xperts say that with good communication and solid planning, couples can put themselves in the right position to build a solid financial future together. American couples across all demographics need to spend time talking about financial and retirement issues sooner rather than later, says Tim Johnson, chief investment strategist for Lincoln Financial Network. A couple should literally ask each other, What are we really trying to accomplish here and what do you want out of this whole thing? As part of an ongoing effort to educate consumers about financial preparedness, Lincoln Financial recently launched a set of tips and actionable steps designed to help people achieve financial well-being: Plan with Purpose: When reviewing investments and solutions that can help grow and protect wealth, couples need to have a shared plan in mind and an understanding of whats important. Remember, the conversation doesnt have to be all budgets and numbers. You can engage your loved one by talking about concrete goals, such as a wedding, vacations and homeownership. Be Engaged, No Matter What: Dont throw your hands up at uncertain economic conditions. The market has always gone up and down. Volatility is just part of investing. So rather than toss account statements into a pile of unopened mail, identify whats working well and build on it. For whats not working well, rebalance portfolios, as necessary. You can stay motivated as a couple by
celebrating small steps along the way. Be sure to reward yourself responsibly when something good happens. Communicate: Each person in the relationship has an opportunity to take steps, both large and small, that help achieve short- and long-term financial goals. But working together is important. A couple is most powerful when pulling in the same direction. A trusted financial professional can help you get on the same page and chart a solid path to the future. Be sure to hold regular financial meetings to address weaknesses and celebrate successes. Make it fun. Understanding who your partner is and what motivates him or her can make for a strong relationship and a solid future. For more tips, visit www.BeAChiefLifeOfficer.com. A healthy financial relationship is a building block for a healthy overall relationship. Take steps now to define your priorities, so you can begin working toward your shared goals.
28
HUMOR
Humor with Melvin Durai
Exclusive interview with a domestic cat

new study, conducted by researchers from the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, has found that outdoor cats kill as many as 3.7 billion birds and 20.7 billion small mammals in the United States every year. Yes, billions of birds, squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits and other cute animals are being killed by these whiskered terrorists among us and the Obama Administration is doing nothing about it. Congress has not proposed any laws to deal with the cat terrorism crisis (CTC), but is considering dozens of measures to deal with illegal immigrants from Mexico and other countries, most of whom, it should be pointed out, have not eaten a single squirrel in their lives. The NRA, meanwhile, is insisting that the government should arm all rabbits, but what else would you expect from the National Rabbit Association? They want to protect their own kind. But the NRA has plenty of opposition from CPR (Chipmunks for Peaceful Resolutions) and DOA (Ducks Opposed to
Aggression). Whats truly scary about CTC is that its not just wild cats that are going on killing sprees, its also domestic cats those sharptoothed monsters that many people keep as pets, only to be shocked one day to find animal remains in their backyards, while the cat purrs innocently from under the bed with an expression on its face that says: The dog did it! To help everyone get a better understanding of CTC, I contacted Dr. Juan Morales of North Georgia University, who arranged for me to conduct an interview with a domestic tabby named Monty. I used an incredible but still widely unrecognized animal communication device developed by Morales with a generous grant from the Feline Association of North Georgia
(FANG). Me: Hi Monty. Monty: I did not do it! The dog did it! Me: Did what? Monty: Killed Mrs. Andersons parakeet. Isnt that what youre interrogating me for? Me: Well, not exactly. I want to know about all the little animals that are being killed: birds, squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits, mice and so on. Billions of them. Monty: You cant blame it all on cats. Did you know that rabbits dont look both ways when they cross a road? Squirrels are suicidal they walk on electric cables. And birds are morons they fly into glass windows. Me: Are you saying that you havent done much killing? Monty: I have, but its my owners fault. She lets me out of the house every evening. Theres not much to do outside, so I catch and eat five small animals, purely out of boredom. When I slink back home, my owner looks at me and says, Oh, you poor thing. You must be so hungry. Here, let me give you some cat chow. Im already quite full, so I eat only a few morsels. And my owner says, Oh, Monty, youre such a finicky cat. Here, let me
open a can of Fancy Feast for you. I hope you dont mind salmon and shrimp. So I have a feast and go to bed. And the next day, when she takes me to the vet, they wonder how Ive gained 20 pounds. Me: Dont you ever feel sorry for the squirrels or mice you kill? Monty: Occasionally, I do. Just as you humans sometimes have buyers remorse, I sometimes have eater s remorse. Ill start eating an animal, feel sorry for it, and just leave it there in the backyard, usually next to the doghouse. Me: Doesnt the dog attack you? Monty: Oh, no. Hes a softie. He used to bark at me, but the owner took him for anger management classes. Nowadays, when I go near him, he tries to shake paws with me. Me: Do you let him? Monty: Oh, no. Cats are not supposed to get too chummy with dogs. Its against the ARS (animal rules of survival). I keep a copy of it in my brain. Me: Doesnt your owner ever take you for any classes, so youll learn to get along with other animals? Monty: Haha, thats funny. First of all, she has no clue. She thinks Im the reincarnation of Gandhi. Second of all, Im a carnivore. Have you watched those wildlife documentaries that show lions, cheetahs and other big cats attacking deer in the Serengeti? Well, the backyard is my Serengeti. And if youre not holding a video camera, youd better keep an eye on your ARS.
Photo of the week
Handler Ernesto Lara poses for photographers with Banana Joe, an affenpinscher that won best in show during the 137th Westminster Kennel Club dog show at Madison Square Garden in New York.More than 2,700 dogs representing 187 breeds competed.
ASTROLOGY
29
By Dr Prem Kumar Sharma

Stars Foretell: February 16-22, 2013
ARIES Responding positively & quickly to new ideas in business will go in your favour. Family members will be very positive & supportive to your plans. Improvement in finances makes it convenient in clearing long pending dues & bills. The company of love partner makes you forget about the work. Divine knowledge from a saintly person provides solace & comfort. If you are planning a vacation, be sure to consider your family and friends. Dont show off and just invest according to your pocket. Time to keep yourself abreast with knowledge to impress others. TAURUS Act smartly & diligently to keep colleagues faith alive in you. If possible share the company of close relatives who understand your feelings and needs. Unexpected travel for some proves hectic & stressful, but financially rewarding. Dont give into unnecessary demands of romantic partner. Make the best use of your energy to enjoy a sound health. Be ready to travel with a challenge, new connections will help you. Purchasing of electrical appliances can be done. You are likely to reap achievements with hard work at personal front. GEMINI Calculated risks at professional front will be rewarded with success. Sad news from distant relatives might disappoint you. Some of you will overspend on others. Sudden romantic encounter will lift your spirits. Meditation and yoga prove beneficial for spiritual as well as physical gains. Traveling abroad can be exciting adventure that will be remembered forever. A good deal for residential property is ahead. You succeed in learning the art of living to bring success & harmony in your life. CANCER You will be successful in regaining your professional touch. Relatives will be willing to lend a helping hand at the time of need. Successful execution of brilliant ideas would help in earning financial profits. Attending a social event/family function brings a romantic encounter. A very healthy week when your cheerfulness gives the desired tonic and confidence. Finally you have found the time for your deserving break, travel will be favorable. Mortgaging your plot is not right for you, crisis may arise. Personal dilemma prevents from taking any concrete action this week. LEO Self-confidence helps in making an impact at professional front. Parents are likely to be cooperative despite your erratic behaviour. A very successful week as far as monetary position is concerned. Make sure you dont get sentimental on lover/beloveds comments. Toothache/stomach upset might create some problems. Better to take physicians advice to get immediate relief. You will have to go out of routine work to enjoy your vacation. Property investment is one thing in which you have to be very much sure about the money matters as well as legal matters. Make sure you dont unnecessarily make life hard for yourself. VIRGO Valuable support from a colleague would help in professional matters. Time to get involved into activities that would help in bringing contact with close relatives. Expenditure rises but rise in income takes care of your immediate bills. Your physical charm would catch the attraction of opposite sex. You are likely to maintain good health that would also give you success. Adventurous holidays, the best way to experience with your friends, time to enjoy. Deals have to be made according the area and location, not the price. If possible, dont allow others to take decisions for you. LIBRA Good week for computer professionals as they realize their dreams. New relationship at family front will be long lasting & highly beneficial. Indications of earning financial profits through commissions, dividends or royalties. You need to hold romantic emotions and shouldnt do anything making you repent later. To counterattack your stress you will have to go in shelter of spirituality. Take a trip, as there is some place waiting for you. Your ability to invest in real estate might get interrupted. A restless behavior might crop differences with close associates. SCORPIO An excellent time for developing professional contacts. Guests visit would make it a pleasant & wonderful week. Important people will be ready to finance anything that has a special class to it. You find it a little difficulty to make romantic partner understand your position this week. Stress & tensions are likely to increase, putting some mental pressure. Planning a vacation, keep an eye on your expenditure before you travel. Purchasing home loan is not the right decision for you. In friend circle, even your unique & original ideas might fail. SAGITTARIUS Painters would find a unique opportunity to exhibit their creative talent. Make sure you do something exciting and different with people at home. Avoid hasty investment. Your losses are certain if you dont look at investments from all possible angles. Avoid temper flair up especially in romance this week. A continuous positive thinking gets rewarded as you succeed in whatever you do. Your travel plans are smooth, but the toughest part is that your partner doesnt have time. Buying cheap property can be problematic for you regarding its resale. Dont abandon principles especially at testing times. CAPRICORN Senior colleagues cooperation brings success at professional front. Performing rituals/auspicious ceremonies at home prove high beneficial. Property dealings would materialize helping in bringing fabulous gains. Love life blossoms paving the way for lovely times ahead. Creative hobbies are likely to keep you relaxed. Great time for perfect family vacation to an exciting destination. Time to make investments on farmlands. Boundless creativity and enthusiasm would enable to make some successful experiments. AQUARIUS You are likely to face some tense moments at professional front. You succeed in making new acquaintances provided you participate in social /family function. High time to get rid from the tendency to live for the week and wasting too much time and money on entertainment. A romantic encounter is likely to add spice to life. With a positive outlook & confidence, you succeed in impressing people around you. Travel opportunities full of challenges are often the beginning of great enterprises. Valuation is must before you purchase a plot. The week would require a high sense the humor as tough situations trouble you. PISCES Business partners would be enthusiastic about new plans & ventures. You will be in the mood to celebrate with family and friends this week. You are likely to earn monetary gains through various sources. Romantic partner would try innovative methods to catch your attention. Mental alertness would enable to solve a tricky problem. If you want to travel start planning your trip now. Your investment plans are at full boom and you might succeed in them. If possible, take decisions by relying on inner strength and judgmental faculty.
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

February 16: Influenced by number 7 and the planet Neptune, you are energetic, ambitious, independent, honest and possess a sharp memory. You are highly innovative and have an in built talent to impress others, but at times you need to control your tendency to behave impatient and erratic at times. This year you will see an improvement in your financial position, but there will be an increase in your expenses as well. Put your efforts on projects that promise long term gains without wasting much time on small problems. Only selective investment will be rewarding and you should avoid speculation on all fronts. Arrival of guests and relatives during this period will be plenty, who will bring you gifts in cash and kind. Employment opportunities for some of you. Romance will be pleasant and will add a spice to your life. The months of February, March, August & November will be highly significant. February 17: Ruled by number 8 and the planet Saturn, you are dynamic, practical, responsible, hardworking, authoritative and highly disciplined. For you your duties and responsibilities take precedence over everything else, but you need to check your tendency to behave stubborn and jealous at times. This year you can look forward to major changes in your professional career. A long due transfer or a promotion can be expected towards the middle of the year. Those undertaking a foreign trip in the second half of the year will have a highly pleasurable and a very exciting journey. Do not spend lavishly on luxuries. Financial difficulties and health problems will mar peaceful atmosphere at home. Despite few initial problems earlier in the year, your financial position will become much better as new moneymaking projects will be undertaken. Spiritual gains for some later in the year. The month of April, June, September, December & February will be highly significant. February 18: Governed by number 9 and the planet Mars. You are dignified, sensitive, courageous, confident and diplomatic person. You are simple and very helpful, but you need to control your tendency to behave impatient and short-tempered at times. This year you will complete many of your pending jobs in hand. New money making opportunities will be highly promising, but will require you to give in your best. Speculations however will not be beneficial, therefore strictly not recommended. Investment in a house or land will bring you long term benefits. Relation with your spouse during this period will be cordial and on an even footing. Children will bring you good news and you will be proud of their achievements. Romantic alliances will prosper and strengthen. The months of June, August, November & December will be important. February 19: Influenced by number 1 and the Sun. You are active, energetic, authoritative, brilliant, systematic and a talented person. You always welcome new ideas and thoughts, but you need to check your tendency to behave spendthrift and dominating at times. This year you will feel more secure with your prevailing job and your monetary position will also improve. Money transaction however should be made carefully. Some losses due to speculation or hasty decision during this period cannot be ruled out. Businessmen will sign new and important contracts. Overseas ventures will be highly lucrative. This might not be the perfect year for matters relating to your heart and forming a matrimonial alliance. The latter half of the year will see you undertake a pilgrimage, which will bring you mental comfort and peace. The months of March, May, November & January will be highly result oriented. February 20: Ruled by number 2 and the Moon. You are imaginative, smart, trustworthy, generous and authoritative. You have good command over your work and people look up to you for advice and support, but you need to check your tendency to behave selfish and moody at times. The coming year will promise many new opportunities for growth. Your acumen in business will really do wonders, but you need to plan your budget well in advance and it will be wise not to go beyond it. Investment made in the past will bear fruits, making your financial position much comfortable. Property/legal disputes will settle to your satisfaction. Health definitely needs more attention. Meditation and Yoga should be practiced for spiritual gains as well as physical gains. Some exhilarating news from your children will boost up your spirits. Travel and journey, most likely overseas for some will ensure pleasure and excitement. The months of July, November, December & February will be eventful. February 21: Governed by number 3 and the planet Jupiter, you are intelligent, dignified, jovial, generous and an optimistic person. You are good at everything you do, which in return brings lots of appreciation and rewards for you. But you need to control over your tendency to behave spendthrift, dominating and vindictive at times. The coming year promises many new surprises and rewards for you. Financial benefits will flow through various sources. New sources of income will improve your financial position and ongoing projects will get a major boost. Journeys undertaken for work purpose will be beneficial and highly rewarding. Investment in a house and selected stocks recommended. Sudden expenses due to health problem in the family will bother your mind. Legal matters will prove expensive. Purchase of a property or a mode of transportation will be high on your agenda. The months of May, July, December & February will enhance prosperity. February 22: Influenced by number 4 and the planet Uranus, you are energetic, methodical, systematic and possess an attractive personality. You are highly social and helpful, but you need to check your tendency to behave jealous, self centered and destructive at times. A year of gifts and rewards. New proposals and assignments will boost your morale and confidence. Property transaction will bring you good returns and will also help raise money. Travel will be undertaken for building important relationships and monetary gains. Overseas journey or business transaction for some. Wedding bells will ring for some later in the year, and others will find romance to keep them going. Chronic patients need to take extra care for their health. Avoid lending and borrowing money. The months of September, November, December & January will be highly eventful.
i) Accurate Data: Please make sure Date, Time and Place of birth is accurate.
Before you consult...
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30
SPIRITUAL AWARENESS
Part two of the discourse 'Love of God is all around us'
Avoid thinking of past, future while meditating

By Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj
while listening, our mind engages with listening to helpful factors that keep us focused on God. If we pay attention to the words, we are occupying our mind with helpful concepts to inspire us to stay focused on God. If our mind is listening to satsang, then we should not be complaining about others or thinking about what we want to receive. We should just be paying attention to the words of wisdom coming our way. The other two-thirds of the satsang are delivered by spiritual radiation sent to us to uplift our soul. Thus, while we receive onethird of the satsang through word of mouth, we receive two-thirds from spiritual radiation. This means that in the satsang, We may not ever meditate for a moment but we complain we are not seeing inner Light. We may start clutching for what we are not seeing or hearing inside in meditation rather than being happy with what we are getting within. We may start complaining about the people with whom we are doing volunteer work. We may start complaining about the environment around us. We can reflect upon the kind of things we think about when in satsang or in meditation to see the many ways we block our receptivity to the spiritual radiation coming our way. When we do introspection daily, there is a column on the diary for how much time we spent in meditadoing interactive activities. If we really wish to improve spiritually and gain more inner experience, then we should do a spiritual exercise. We should observe how much time we spend in satsang or meditation clutching or thinking of what we want instead of being mentally still and receiving what is being sent to us. We want water and are swimming in water but instead of experiencing water we are complaining that we are not in the water! We can begin to note how much time we spend complaining or clutching, and then as an exercise catch ourselves doing it and bring our attention back into the receiving or receptive mode. We can stop the interference of our thoughts and instead pay attention to being open to meditating or listening to the satsang. Many people have pets. Those who have dogs are taught how to walk them without letting them run away. They gently pull the leash to keep the dog walking properly in time to their own pace. Similarly, the mind is like a dog. We have to keep it on a leash so it does not get out of control. When we notice it pulling us away from stillness, we have to rein it in. Another problem we have that keeps us from experiencing the love of God all around us is thinking of the past and future. While in satsang or in meditation, we are not imbibing the spiritual radiation because we are thinking of what happened to us in the past, or planning or worrying about what will happen in the future. The solution for thoughts of the past and future is to stay in the present or current moment. Every second we have an opportunity to be in the current moment. If, instead, we fill it with thoughts of the past or future, the current moment is wasted and is gone forever. We can never get the present moment back. If we can stay in the current moment, then thoughts of the past and future will stop. We will be able to be at the still center in which we can connect with the Light and Sound within. We can immerse ourselves in God in the current moment. There are two switches for our attention: one is the switch to be attuned to our soul and the other is to be attuned to our mind. The solution for the thoughts that the mind sends us is to be able to separate what thoughts are of God and the soul, and what thoughts are of the mind. We need to learn to be vigilant when the mind is pulling a trick to distract our attention either in meditation or throughout our day. Distractions from the mind include: trying to tell us we have more important things to do than to meditate, engaging us in anger, lust, greed, attachment, and ego through its need to fulfill desires, or making us dwell on the past or anticipate the future. Thoughts from the soul are those that lead us to God. They are thoughts that we should meditate, that we should lead an ethical life, that we should do selfless service, and that we should love God, the Master, our fellow human beings, and all creation. In meditation we should have no thoughts at all. That is why we are given simran. Instead of thinking, we should be repeating the Five Charged Words. In this way we do not allow thoughts to enter our system. Simran is the process by which we repeat the Five Charged Words while gazing into the middle of what lies in front of us. Simran protects us from thinking about the past or future. Simran keeps us in the current moment. Meditation requires continual stillness through the whole session. We cannot expect to sit still for one minute and then find God. We need to sit still for as long a time as is needed for us to get to the third or single eye. We need to silence our thoughts for a long enough time to witness the Light of God and hear the Music of the Spheres. There is an account from the Bible, in the Old Testament, about the Prophet Elijah. The Jews of Israel were being persecuted by a cruel king and his queen. The queen believed in a false idol and had four hundred fifty false prophets trying to make all the people convert to worship of the false idols. Whoever refused to worship God as a stone idol and continued their religious views of worshiping one God whose essence was spirit was killed. The situation was so terrible that God sent Prophet Elijah to confront the cruel king. A confrontation ensued between Elijah and the four hundred fifty false prophets of the idol. The result was that the idol was exposed as being a false god, and the four hundred fifty false prophets were killed. (To be continued...) Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj is an internationally recognized spiritual leader and Master of Jyoti Meditation who affirms the transcendent oneness at the heart of all religions and mystic traditions, emphasizing ethical living and meditation as building blocks for achieving inner and outer peace. www.sos.org.
hen we look at this list we want to laugh at how ridiculous the complaints sound. On one hand people want to be in nature, hike, and camp out, and when they get there, instead of enjoying the natural beauty, they want to turn it into a town or city. This is what we are doing when we meditate or try to experience Gods love in our lives. We have the entire kingdom of God within us, but refuse to see it because we are listening to the chatter of our mind or viewing the images our thoughts create when we think. We have the love of God flowing in us and around us every second of our lives, but do not experience it because we are focused on complaining about everything in our lives. Another example that illustrates how we block out the bliss around us is what happens when we use a cell phone or Blackberry wireless mobile device. We may be driving in a car, but during the time we are talking on the cell phone or Blackberry we can become so focused on listening to the chatter that we do not remember the sights as we drive past them along the way. It is amazing how the brain can multi-task so that we can drive automatically while listening to conversations on a cell phone, and not be consciously aware of what sights we passed along the way. We may be going to dinner with someone with whom we want to spend time, but we get so wrapped up in answering emails or text messaging on our Blackberries that we are not even aware of what our loved one is saying, how the food is tasting, or the beauty of the restaurant dcor. We can become so focused on answering our emails, talking on a cell phone, or sending text messages that we miss out on the time we arranged to spend with our loved ones. This is what happens to us in satsang as well. The word satsang is made of two parts. Sat means Truth, and sang means communion with. Thus, the word satsang means communing with Truth. In this context, Truth refers to connecting our soul with God. One-third of the satsang is delivered by word of mouth so that
The word satsang is made of two parts. Sat means Truth, and sang means communion with. Thus, the word satsang means communing with Truth. In this context, Truth refers to connecting our soul with God.
we are like the fish surrounded by water. If we want to be aware of the water we need to listen to the spiritual message to engage our mind, and then open our soul to the spiritual radiation. That is all we need to be doing. It is like an effortless effort. But instead, we begin to clutch. We are not open to receive, because we start thinking. What kind of thoughts are we getting in satsang? First, we start thinking about all the things we want in our lives. We start clutching for outer material things. If we could sit in the complaint department of God, just like the complaint department at the national or state park districts, we might find complaints such as: Why didnt I get that raise? Why didnt my children get good grades? or Why didnt my basketball team win? Second, we start thinking about what we are not getting spiritually. tion. But most of us enter the time that we sat on our meditation pillow or chair. How much of that time is spent actually silently gazing within while repeating simran or listening to the Sound Current, and how much of that time is spent clutching or thinking? We need to subtract from the time we record as sitting in meditation how much of that time we spend thinking for us to have a truly accurate picture of our real meditation time. Then, when we enter our inner experiences on the back of the diary where we check off what we see and hear inside we will find the answer to our question of why we may not be receiving much inner experience. If we are clutching, complaining, or thinking during meditation time, how can we see the Light or hear the Sound? We live in an age of interaction and workshops. In most schools and businesses, training consists of

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The South Asian Times

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