ICC World Cup 15

Subcontinent 22

Bollywood 26

Spiritual Awareness 30

NEW YORK EDITION

Vol.3 No.46 March 5-11, 2011 60 Cents
NJ India Day Parade in doubt as groups clash Community, Page 3 Fingerpointing at Gov. Jindals wifes charity USA Affairs, Page 10 India Inc welcomes Pranabs budget Indian Federal Budget 11, page 11

TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Why accidental PM is becoming irreplaceable

Op Ed, Page 14

Indias apex court asks vigilance chief to quit

New Delhi: In another embarrassment to the Manmohan government in this season of scams, the Supreme Court on Thursday said the appointment of P.J. Thomas as central vigilance commissioner (CVC) was illegal. The CVC supervises CBI probes and corruption cases against bureaucrats. Thomas is the first CVC to be removed because he has a corruption charge pending against him. A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice SH Kapadia ruled that the recommendation of a high-powered committee headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to appoint Thomas as CVC despite a corruption case pending against him in a trial court in Kerala was arbitrary and illegal. It is the independence and impartiality of an institution like the CVC that has to be maintained and preserved in the larger interest of the rule of law, the bench said. Thomas may file a review petition in the Supreme Court, his counsel Wills Mathews said. Dismissing reports that Thomas had resigned, Mathews said he would go through the judgment and consider whether to resign or file a review petition.

Leaders shaping Indias future coming together at Harvard

The SA Times is Media Partner for the India Conference, March 26-27
New York (SATimes): Harvard Business School and Harvard Kennedy School are scheduled to hold India Conference at their campuses in Boston March 26-27, 2011. The conference, organized annually for the past 8 years, is called March of a Billion Aspirations this time and aims to capture the dreams and aspirations of a billion Indians, both within its borders and around the world. The conclave, one of the largest student conferences on India in the US, will witness the coming together of leaders of Indian business and civil society, stu-

P.J. Thomas has a corruption case pending against him The Centre had defended Thomas by saying the case against him was politically motivated and there was no sanction to prosecute him. Thomas took over in September 2010.

Subrata Roy Sahara, Chairman, Sahara group dents eager to learn about the nuances of Indias march towards prosperity, and professionals who see much potential in Indias growing economy and vibrant democracy. Subrata Roy Sahara, Chairman of the Sahara

Ajay Banga, President & CEO, MasterCard Group of companies, will give a keynote address on Indias changing business landscape. Ajay Banga, CEO of MasterCard, and Vishal Bali, CEO of Fortis Global Healthcare, will share their thoughts on the Continued on page 4....

Rajat Gupta charged in insider case

Washington: Indian American Rajat Gupta, a former director at Goldman Sachs, has been slapped with insider trading charges for allegedly leaking secret details to Galleon Group hedge fund manager Raj Rajaratnam about Warren Buffett's plan to invest $5 billion in the company. Gupta, 62, is the highest-ranking corporate executive implicated in the government's wide-ranging insider trading probe which has resulted in criminal or civil charges against dozens. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) alleges that Gupta, former the second and fourth quarters of 2008 before they were made public. Gupta described as a "friend and business associate" of Rajaratnam is said to have also tipped him off about investment made by Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway before the deal was announced Sep 23, 2008. The insider trading by Rajaratnam and others generated over $18 million in illicit profits and loss avoidance, the SEC claims. Gupta was an investor and director of Galleon's GB Voyager MultiContinued on page 4...

International Criminal Court begins Libya inquiry

India part of UNSC vote asking the court to probe violence
The Hague: The International Criminal Court has started a formal inquiry into possible crimes against humanity in Libya that will focus on the role of the countrys leader, Col. Muammar el-Gaddafi, his sons and members of his inner circle. Luis Moreno-Ocampo, the chief prosecutor, said Thursday his office had received confirmation that Libyan security forces had fired on peaceful demonstrators, killing hundreds, and that many had been illegally detained in episodes in many towns since February 15. He added that from information with him, many more insiders from the Libyan government had defected than was publicly known. The system appears to be breaking down, he said, adding that reports Continued on page 4...

Rajat Gupta, former director at Goldman Sachs McKinsey senior executive who retired from the Goldman board in May 2010, provided Rajaratnam with information about the Wall Street bank's financial results for

Community TheSouthAsianTimes.info

March 5-11, 2011

NJ India Day Parade in dispute as groups clash

New Jersey: Legal wrangling by two rival Indian-American groups about the right to host the annual India Day Parade on Oak Tree Road in Edison here has put a question mark on this years parade celebrating Indias Independence Day. The Indian Business Association (IBA), which has been organizing the parade for the past six years, and the Oak Tree Business Association are the two clashing groups. The dispute began last year soon after the parade was held with film star Mallika Sherawat as Grand Marshal. The Oak Tree Business Association, through Bimal Joshi of Edison, submitted a permit application for the 2011 parade. A few day later the IBA also file for a permit but found its application denied on the ground that the permit is given on first come first served basis. The IBA filed a lawsuit in Superior Court in New Brunswick, N.J., last month against the Township of Edison demanding it grant the group a permit for the parade, according to mented yet on the new developments. Pradip Peter Kothari, a prominent community leader who founded the IBA in 2000 but is not associated with it any longer, said the two groups have been bickering for the last few years and their differences reached a flashpoint ever since the IBA was denied the permit. According to Fusco, Edison Township granted conditional approval to the Oak Tree Business Association on Sept. 14. On its part, IBA obtained permits from Woodbridge Township and Middlesex County, according to court papers, which state that the county denied the request from Joshi of the Oak Tree Business Association. In December, Edison withdrew its approval of the Oak Tree Business Association as it failed to get county support. The two groups went back and forth for nearly two months. On Feb. 18 representatives from both the groups met at the Edison municipal building with township officials, including Mayor Antonia Ricigliano, Business Administrator Dennis Gonzalez and Township Attorney Karl Kemm. The township officials told them that a permit would not be issued unless the two sides worked together. Joshi of Oak Tree association rejected that proposal. Then, Edison officials suggested issuing the competing groups permits on alternating years, giving both sides an opportunity to host the event. This proposal was also not agreed upon. Kothari feels the two groups should sit together and come up with an amicable solution to the problem. He is of the opinion that the parade is not anyones property and both parties need to realize this and get their act together. In the 2010 parade on Aug 8 over 35,000 people turned out. It was organized by IBA with support from scores of Indian American organizations. Edison has arguably the most density of Indians anywhere outside India.

Film star Mallika Sherawat was the Grand Marshal at the 2010 India Day Parade in New Jersey Frank Fusco, an attorney representing the IBA. The suit is an order to show cause as to why the permit will not be issued. The charges include violations of freedom of speech, assembly and due process. This parade means everything to these people, Fusco said. What the Edison Township under the mayor is doing is essentially jeopardizing the parade the communitys right to celebrate. IBA president Chandrakant Patel who is in India currently has not com-

Manmohan Singh, Vikramaditya and Vaital

nce there lived an old and pious man, renowned for his honesty. One day his neighbor, a rich merchant comes to him with a request. The merchant was leaving on a voyage and wants the old man to safeguard his wealth, until his return. The old man agrees and with God as witness promises to protect and safeguard the merchant's wealth. The old man then entrusts the safe keep of the merchant's wealth to his son, from whom he takes an oath of propriety and honesty. Slowly the son starts dipping into the merchants wealth, people notice this and warn the old man of the son's misdeeds. The old man calls his son asks him to explain, he also reminds him of his oath on following the right path. The son rubbishes the accusations as rumors and the idle gossip of jealous people, who could bear to see his prosperity. The old man accepts the son's explanation and things go on as before. The merchant returns and demands his wealth. The old man calls his son, who hands over a quarter of the merchant's wealth saying that is all there was. The merchant realizing that he has been cheated approaches the King. The King listens to the merchant's complaint and summons the old man. The old man comes to the court with his son and handing him over to the King says "your majesty, the merchant is right. My son has confessed to the crime. Please punish him." The king has the son flogged and imprisoned. He then praises the old mans honesty and dismisses the case. But the merchant de-

A Note on FaceBook
mands punishment for the old man saying, "I have still not received justice. I had entrusted my wealth to the old man which he swore by God to safeguard. The old man's integrity is intact, but what of me, I have been robbed of my life's savings, and made a pauper. It was the old man's decision to entrust my wealth the son for safe keeping. As far as I am concerned the old man is the culprit, and should be punished. The king is astounded by this demand. The old man, was neither a party to the theft nor did he benefit from it. In fact, he had sent his son to jail. Yet, the merchant was asking for the old man's punishment. The Vetaal asks Vikramaditya, "What should be the Kings decision." Vikramaditya replies, "Though the old man is innocent of the actual theft, he is guilty of dereliction of duty. The son's crime was a straight forward one, the old man's was a graver crime. He did nothing to protect the merchant's wealth. Far from being vigilant he failed to take action even when he was warned of his son's misdeeds. Because of his laxity the merchant is condemned to a life of penury. He should be punished." India 2010, Dr. Manmohan Singh, esteemed economist, former Governor of RBI, Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission, former Finance Minister, a man whose personal ethics and integrity are unblemished, takes oath to protect and safeguard the Nation and its assets. He appoints Raja, as his Cabinet Minister for IT & Telecom. Raja has with him keys to the 2G spectrum, a finite and precious National asset. Raja flouts all rules of propriety and transparency in Government, and in violation of his oath of office, sells the spectrum at a throwaway price of Rs.1651 crore. 1. DoT with Raja at its helm issues an astounding 120 UAS licenses in a single day, January 10, 2008. A feat unsurpassed in the history of Government anywhere in the world. Suspiciously 85 of these licenses are issued to companies which suppressed facts, disclosed incomplete information and submitted fictitious documents. 2. In issuing these licenses neither the High Powered Telecom Commission, which was expressly set up for this nor the Finance Ministry or the Ministry of Law and Justice are consulted. Vital decisions are taken without being deliberated and discussed at inter ministerial forums. 3. In sharp deviation of business practice, the cut-off date for receiving applications gets advanced from Oct 1, 2007 to Sept 25, 2007, violating all canons of fair play and ethics. 4. Real estate companies which till date of application had no interest in Telecom are allotted Licenses and spectrum ahead of genuine applicants. These then go on to reap windfalls from foreign players by selling equity.

Unlike the story, this heist of a precious national asset is carried out in full view of Dr. Manmohan Singh and his cabinet colleagues. Newspapers across the country cry out at this outrage in front page headlines. The Indian Constitution grants the Prime Minister absolute power in running the country. He is the head of the Government and the Union Cabinet functions at his pleasure. As per the Transaction of Business Rules the Prime Minister has the unrestricted right to demand and get any file, any record from any Ministry. Dr. Man Mohan Singh could have at any time stopped this heist of a National asset, yet he chose to remain silent. The Minister's failure to exercise his constitutional rights has caused irreparable loss to the Nation. Dr. Singh did not profit personally from Raja's shenanigans, but his failure to act, to honor the oath of office, to protect and safeguard the nation and its wealth is unforgivable. Like the old man, he has sacked Raja from his ministerial berth, but does his culpability end there. The people of India had entrusted their faith and the future of the Nation in Dr. Manmohan Singh, believing him to be a man of integrity and honesty, and not to Raja. Does dismissing Raja absolve Dr. Singh or like the old man is he guilty of dereliction of duty and failure to safeguard the Nation and its citizens. Does he deserve punishment? It is for the Indian citizen to decide, whether Dr. Singh is guilty.

Community TheSouthAsianTimes.info

March 5-11, 2011

GOPIOs Edison chapter launched

Edison, NJ: The Ediston chapter of GOPIO (Global Organization of People of Indian Origin) was launched Feb 28. "Edison has arguably the most density of Indians anywhere outside India. It is time they organize to pool their considerable resources, have a unified voice in the community and political affairs. A GOPIO chapter offers the best option to achieve this", said the chapter President, Arvind Sood. The founder of GOPIO, Dr. Thomas Abraham, and current Executive Vice President, Ashook Ramsaran led an interactive session with the audience, citing the history, goals and achievements of GOPIO International. Other guests of honor included Assemblyman Upendra J. Chivukula.

GOPIO-Edison officers and members with GOPIO International officers and guests at the launch.

Rajat Gupta story from page 1 Strategy Fund SPC, which invested in a number of Galleon hedge funds, some tied to the insider trading scheme, and had other business potentially lucrative business interests with Rajaratnam, according to the SEC charges.

Gupta is also said to have improperly shared information about the December 2008 quarter at Procter & Gamble (where he quit his board position Tuesday) which generated $570,000 in illicit gains. Gary Naftalis, Gupta's lawyer, termed the SEC allegations "totally baseless," noting that there is no Libya story from page 1 about recent events and the inner workings of the government had come from multiple sources. We cannot name names to protect the families, he said. In a unanimous vote last Saturday, the United Nations Security Council instructed the international prosecutor to investigate the violence in Libya, and it approved a series of other measures including imposing an arms India conclave story from page 1 India conclaverole of information and technology in delivering fruits of Indias growth story to every Indian. Various other thought leaders will also present and discuss their views on a range of topics. Nine panels this year include Education, CEO Forum, US-India Relations, Healthcare, Green Energy, Social

accusation his client traded in any of the securities at issue. Besides, Gupta lost his entire $10 million investment in the Galleon Group fund mentioned in the SEC's charge. The SEC has issued a cease and desist order against Gupta. Galleon chief is going on trial shortly embargo on the country, banning international travel for 16 Libyan leaders and freezing the assets of Colonel Qaddafi and members of his family. India too had voted in support of sanctions. While the criminal investigation and the international sanctions are expected to take weeks to have any effect, they reflected widespread condemnation of the bloody crackdown in Libya against antigovernment protesters. Enterprise, Infrastructure, Retail, Media & Entertainment and Investing in India. The conference is co-sponsored by IBEF (India Brand Equity Fund), TiE- Boston (The Indus Entrepreneurs), FICCI and AUSIB (Alliance for U.S-India Business). The South Asian Times is Media Partner and has planned a special supplement which will be distributed during the conference and to the database of the conference.

Tristate Community TheSouthAsianTimes.info

March 5-11, 2011

Hemant Shah receives Businessman of Year award

New York: In a highprofile ceremony attended by whos who of business and politics, Hemant Shah, owner, Allstars Realty was conferred Businessman of the Year award on Feb 27. The Gala GOP Lincoln Dinner celebration hosted by Americas oldest established Republican club, the Queens Village Republican Club on their 136th anniversary at Antuns in Queens Village was also a Testimonial Dinner to honor State Senator Frank Padavan. The event was attended by Senator Frank Padavan, State Senator Hon. Martin J Golden, Assembly member Hon Barbara Clerk, Republican State Party chairman Mr. Ed Cox and many other dignitaries. In his acceptance speech Shah applauded the American values and systems. I arrived here with limited resources and hardly any acquaintances or social support. I

Hemant Shah with the award wasnt quite bothered by it because what I had with me was the American Dream. While in India I would hear stories about how America was the land of opportunity. Classic Rag to riches stories was rampant. I began to see America as a place where I could advance, do better for my family and hence I mustered courage to travel 6000 miles away from home, family and friends carrying with me the American Dream, he said, adding, We do

With wife Bhavana, Frank Padavan and Jagriti Parekh. not consciously think nor do we appreciate it enough but we are lucky to be in a nation built solidly on principles and institutions that provide immense opportunities for individuals to advance. The only pre-requisite laid down by our forefathers of this nation is the Will to work. I respect that elements of this philosophy have endured throughout our nations history and remain today at the core of American spirit.

International cricket coming to town

New York: South Asian fans can expect to see some international cricket teams in action here. The USA Cricket Association (USACA) is planning to host a set of matches in New York involving New Zealand and another yet undecided team later this year, according to the association President Gladstone Dainty. Last May, they hosted New Zealand and Sri Lanka for two Twenty20 games in Florida following the World T-20 in the West Indies. This year, however, New York could be a viable option as Dainty revealed his plans to upgrade Brooklyns Floyd Bennett Field. The upgradation plan also includes installing a turf wicket. We are still working on getting this facility in New York and Im hoping that itll be ready in August, he said. The Bennett Field was used by USA XI when they played West Indies XI captained by Brian Lara in 2006. It was not clear if the funding source for covering the upgradation costs is the group of investors behind Cricket Holdings America (CHA). Dainty feels that the turf wicket would be ready for immediate use while for long term viability the site will be used for a domestic Twenty20 league. He told ESPNcricinfo in December that CHA was hoping to start the proposed league by the summer of 2012. Speaking about the USA teams finishing last at the ICC- WCL Division 3 in Hong Kong, Dainty acknowledged that the team was underprepared for the tour as it was off season for most of them. He cited the need for additional funding for them to play more. Even though there is a significant amount of funding that USACA is set to receive from signing the deal with CHA, the bulk of it will not trickle down until later in the year.

Lab owner gets 18 months for Medicare fraud

New York:Zafar Chaudhry, 49, the former owner and manager of a blood-testing laboratory in the Bronx, was sentenced Feb. 28 in Manhattan federal court to 18 months in prison for Medicare fraud. In addition, he was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $195,463.52 in restitution to the Medicare program. Chaudhry pleaded guilty Nov.12 to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and health care fraud and the submission of false statements relating to health care matters, according to a release from the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York. He was charged in February 2000, when he was in Pakistan, having left the country in 1998 fol- lowing the initiation of the investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Meanwhile, his uncle and co- defendant, Raza Chudhry, who did not leave the country, was arrested on the same charges. Chaudhry pleaded guilty to the charges in February 2001, and was subsequently sentenced to 55 months in prison. Chaudhry returned to the U.S. on June 20, and was promptly arrested by the FBI at John F. Kennedy International Airport. From 1996 to 1998, Chaudhry submitted fraudulent claims for amino acid profiles that had never been ordered by a physician to the Medicare program through two blood testing laboratories, one formerly owned by him and one by his uncle the Scientific Biomedical Laboratories Inc. in the Bronx and Brookdale Clinical Laboratories in Hackensack, N.J. In 1997, the labs accounted for approximately 20 percent of all amino acid profile reimbursement claims submitted to the Medicare program from across the country, according to statistics maintained by the government.

Airport security agent guilty of stealing from Indian women

New Jersey: A Transportation Security Administration agent at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey pleaded guilty to stealing from passengers on a routine basis during security checks. According to a Feb. 15 New York Daily News report, Michael Arato, 41, especially targeted Indian women who knew little English. Police were alerted to his behavior after several passengers boarding Air India flights to India lodged complaints about missing money and valuables. Arato pleaded guilty Feb. 14 to stealing thousands of dollars in cash and valuables during security screenings, the report said. Prosecutors said Arato and another agent caught earlier, targeted foreigners and subjected them to additional screening, during which time they would pocket cash found in their carry-on bags, the report said. The Daily News, quoting from the original complaint filed against Arato, said authorities became suspicious after receiving several complaints from passengers on Air Indias daily nonstop flight to India that money and valuables from their carry-on bags had gone missing after TSA employees at Aratos checkpoint had searched them by hand. The victims were mostly women of Indian descent who did not speak English, the complaint said. Arato, who is to be sentenced May 24, faces a maximum of 15 years in prison and $250,000 fine.

SBIs Jackson Heights branch inaugurated

New York: The State Bank of India, US Operations, opened Jackson Heights branch on 28th February 2011, thus fulfilling the long standing demand of the local community. Richard H Nieman, Superintendent, New York State Banking Department, inaugurated the branch. Speaking on the occasion Neiman recalled that State Bank of India had a long relationship with New York State Banking Department starting from 1967 when its representative office was opened in New York. Neiman mentioned that State Bank of India had contributed significantly to the Indo-US trade and opening of the Jackson Heights (L to R): Shankaran Chandramouli, Country Head,State Bank of branch would further enhance the trade relaIndia, US Operations, Richard H Neiman, Superintendent, New tions between the two countries. Shankaran York State Banking Department & Sujit Kumar Varma, Chief Chandramouli, Country Head, SBI, US Executive Officer, State Bank of India, New York. Operations, in his welcome address men(Photo : gunjesh desai/masalajunction) tioned that State Bank of India has over a 200 year history and had a unique bond of affection its first branch was opened. State Bank of India has with the City of New York dating back to 1971 when long championed financial inclusion.

National Community TheSouthAsianTimes.info

March 5-11, 2011

'Sensational India!' fest returns to PEM

Salem, MA: An action-packed weekend of Indian music, dance, storytelling, art-making and more will take place once again at the Peabody Essex Museum as its celebrates its 2011 Sensational India! festival on Saturday, April 2 and Sunday, April 3. This years starstudded festival features performances by New Yorks acclaimed Sa Dance Company, sitar virtuoso Kartik Seshadri, and internationally-renowned DJ Rekha spinning a special Saturday night Bollywood dance party. All daytime activities are free with museum admission and program reservations may be made at pem.org/calendar or by calling 978745-9500 x3011. Sensational India! is made possible in part by Samir and Nilima Desai; The Desai Family Foundation. On April 2 from 10 am to noon Krina Patel, founder of a community food and art project called Stir a Memory, leads this drop-in art activity. Gowri Savoor will create a rangoli, or traditional decorative design, on the floor of the Atrium from 10 am to 3 pm and people are invited to help fill in. Visitors can explore paisley patterns and their origins, then design their own this can be followed by an interactive Garba workshop with the members of The Sa Dance Company who will also present a 45 min show starting noon incorporating Indian and contemporary dance movements and music from Bollywood and America. Author Vanita Shashtri will lead a tour focusing on works of art that are featured in her book The Salem-India Story: Maritime Trade between Salem, Massachusetts, and India, 17881845 in the afternoon session. Also Sitar virtuoso Kartik Seshadri will talk about the history, theory, performance and practice of Indian classical music. He will demonstrate instruments and welcome questions.Other interesting activities include creating your own work of art referencing a real peacok, the national bird of India; story time: Mamas Saris where in Pooja Makhijani will talk about each of the mothers saris won for special occasions, including the little girls seventh birthday party; in Spice Blends workshop Krina Patel will talk about dry spice blends used in the Bengali and Gujarati cuisine. On Sunday apart from workshops, author Bharati Mukherjee will talk to audience. A distinguished and prolific author and social commentator, Mukherjee has established herself as a powerful constituent of the American literary scene. Mukherjee considers herself a writer of the Indian diaspora who cherishes the melting pot of America. Winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction and recipient of a National Endowment of the Arts grant. Her twelfth novel, Miss New India, is due in May. Her talk will be sponsored by the George Swinnerton Parker Memorial Lecture Fund.

Jhumpa Lahiri to present distinguished speakers lecture at UB

New York: Indian-American author Jhumpa Lahiri will present the latest installment in the University at Buffalo's Distinguished Speakers Series with a lecture to be held Wednesday, March 2, in the Mainstage Theatre in the Center for the Arts on the UB North Campus. She received a Pulitzer Prize in 2000 for "Interpreter of Maladies," a collection of stories exploring issues of love and identity among immigrants and cultural transplants. Lahiri's "Unaccustomed Earth" received the 2008 Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award, the world's largest prize for a short story collection. She is a member of the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities, appointed by President Barack Obama.

During the program, audio and/or video photography, as well as still photography, will be limited to the first five minutes of Lahiri's lecture.

Raghu Rais work on display at Aicon gallery

New York: AAicon Gallery, featuring Modern and Contemporary South Asian Art, is currently hosting a retrospective of renowned India-based photographer Raghu Rai. The exhibition which opened Feb. 18 will run through March 20 and includes a selection of Rai's works chronicling a changing India from the 1970's onwards, including his most recent emphasis incorporating staged compositions. The opening reception held Feb. 18 included the introduction of the newly hired gallery director, Theresa McCullough. Jenniffer Tripp, Magnum Representative, delivered a brief historical overview on Raghu Rai's membership of the photography collective. Around 150 people attended the event, the release said. Rai's prolific and internationally acclaimed career has spanned nearly half a century. His works have focused on candid snap- shots of India that masterfully capture the country's continuing regional, cultural, and political transformations. "In the course of my work, I find that I have been moving to focus on the changing equations of our times, trying to record the deeper universal human respons- es to realities, to energy, to the spirit," Rai said. In recognition of his lifetime achievements behind the camera, Rai was awarded the Padamshree in 1971 and L'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, France's recognition of significant contributions to the arts.

Share and Care receives grants from NY Life and Shirin Foundation
New Jersey: NY Life Foundation, the charity arm of NY Life Insurance, a well-known premier corporation in USA has awarded a grant of $10,000 to Share and Care Foundation, a US-based charity and a premier Indian American philanthropic organization. The funds will be used for the Science on Wheels (SciOW) an Education and Development Program in India in partnership with LIFE in Rajkot, India. Share and Care will utilize this grant in expanding this ongoing program that has been proven successful over the past years. Science on Wheels objectives are to enhance village childrens knowledge and real life science by providing actual instruments, hands on experiments to develop understanding of ( L-R) Danielle Reed with Town of Hempstead Supervisor, Kate Murray, as she is recognized with the "PATHFINDER" Award in the Arts and Entertainment Category. Danielle is an Oceanside/Freeport resident, teaches music in Rockville Centre, Valley Stream, 5-Towns, and sings at churches in Long Beach, Oceanside, Freeport, Franklin Square, Plainview and Island Park. Danielle will perform at a free concert, open to the public, at the East Meadow Public Library on Sunday, March 13th, 2:00pm. nature and environment. It addresses the lack of desire to study or drop out before reaching Higher Education level. It motivates the families to encourage them to technical, vocational or college studies. Share and Care has also received another grant from Shirin Foundation who has awarded $19600 to support 21 fresh Female Scholars to Educate to Graduate program. This is a signature program of Share and Care Foundation. Educate to Graduate Program is managed by a group of educationists to help brilliant, but financially challenged students who cannot receive higher education after 12th grade, as their family income is unable to support the cost. Visit www.shareandcare.org for additional information.

National Community TheSouthAsianTimes.info

March 5-11, 2011

Now, Dandi March in US against corruption in India

Washington, DC: A group of NRIs, inspired by the historic Dandi March led by Mahatma Gandhi in India's fight for freedom from foreign rule, have organized a 240-mile walk in the US against corruption in India. Starting at Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Park, San Diego, California March 12, "Dandi March II" goes through Los Angeles and ends March 26 at Gandhi Statue, San Francisco. The dates coincide with the dates Gandhi did his historic march in 1930. Every major city in USA, 10 major cities in India and 8 other countries globally join the movement by organizing supporting events March 26, the organizers said. Conceived to fight those who seek to plunder and enslave their own country are to push the government to enact Jan Lokpal bill and ratify UNCAC which are designed to free India from the clutches of corruption, and to bring back the hidden money from foreign banks, they said. "The recent scams involving unimaginably big amounts of money, such as the 2G scam, are well known. It is estimated that more than trillion dollars are stashed away in foreign havens, while 80 percent of Indians earn less than 2$ per day and every second child is malnourished," the organizers said. "While this rampant corruption is a cause for serious concern, the good news is that movements against it have arisen all over the country. Dandi March II is the attempt by NRIs to bring together and escalate these movements into a powerful force." This effort now has support from the stalwarts in anti-corruption movement and other progressive groups in India such as Lok Satta Party, India Against Corruption, The 5th Pillar (Chennai), Youth For Better India ( Hyderabad) Saaku ( Bangalore) and Save India From Corruption, the organizers said.

The dates of Dandi March in California coincide with the dates Gandhiji did his historic march in 1930

US court summons Congress party on Sikh riots case

New York: A US court has issued summons to India's Congress party to answer charges of "conspiring, aiding, abetting and carrying out organized attacks on Sikh population of India in November 1984." The US District Court for the Southern District of New York issued the summons Tuesday in a class action law suit filed by Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), a US based community group along with several Sikh survivors of the 1984 attacks. The complaint against Congress alleges that in November 1984 the "organized killing" of Sikhs took place only in states where Congress was in power, according to SFJ legal advisor Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. According to the Government of India's record a total of 3296 Sikhs were killed while a total of 35,535 claims for deaths and injuries were received throughout India, he said. But "The gravity, scale and specially the organized nature of these attacks was concealed by the Indian governments' portraying them as 'November 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots of Delhi,'" Pannun said. These attacks were neither "riots" nor were they confined to Delhi alone. In fact, during November 1984, Sikhs were attacked in 18 states and more than 100 cities of India in an identical manner and the attackers were led by Congress (I) leaders, the complaint alleged. Indian National Congress, the political party in power then and now, committed the crime of Genocide against Sikhs as defined in Article 2 of UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, 1948, it said. The government of India, by painting the attacks on Sikhs in November 1984 as "riots" instead of "Genocide" and by failing to punish the leaders of Congress (I), violated its duties under Article 1 the Genocide Convention, Pannun said. Seeking relief under Alien Tort Claims Act (ATCA) and Torture Victim Protection Act (TVPA) is motivated by an interest in seeking some form of justice for the victims of November 1984 Sikh Genocide, he said. It will raise awareness to the international community regarding denial of justice to the victims and is a means of holding parties in power accountable for their gross violations of human rights - while also offering the potential to deter future abuses, Pannun said. The SFJ complaint also refers to the February 2011 discovery of "mass grave" of Sikhs who were killed in November 1984 in Haryana.

Indian-American doctor gets life term for bombing

Washington, DC: An IndianAmerican doctor has been sentenced to life imprisonment for a 2009 bombing that critically injured the chairman of the Arkansas Medical Board against whom he held a grudge. Randeep Mann, former physician at Russellville in Arkansas state, was sentenced on Monday in federal court in Little Rock, the Arkansas News reported. Mann's wife was given a year in prison for getting in the way of the federal investigation. Prosecutors say Mann was out for revenge after Pierce pulled Mann's license to prescribe narcotics. Several of Mann's patients had overdosed on drugs. That's when Mann attached a bomb to Pierce's car, which was sitting in the driveway of Pierce's West Memphis home. Pierce lost some of his sight and hearing in the bombing, and was left badly scarred. Pierce attended the hearing, and gave a brief statement asking the judge to send Randeep Mann to prison for life. The Manns attorneys maintain their clients' innocence and plan to appeal within 14 days. 'The jury just got this wrong. It's a great system we have in this country, but it is not infallible,' said defence attorney Blake Hendrix. 'I have not a clue who did it, but we can assume that person is still running around,' Hendrix added. Also present at Monday's sentencing was Teresa Harris, whose daughter Ellie overdosed on prescription drugs seven years ago, she says under the care of Randeep Mann. The Pierce family is asking for 1.7 million dollars in restitution. The judge left that decision open for 90 days to further examine the Manns' finances.

Indian Embassy launches Facebook page

Washington, DC: In a bid to connect the Indian-American community, the Indian Embassy here has recently launched a Facebook page. The initiative was introduced by Meera Shankar, Indias envoy to the US. Apart from connecting with Indians, the page is also aimed to provide services to Americans visiting India. The Facebook page has so far received positive responses from people. The Facebook page has been updated at regularly along with keynote addresses by Ambassador Meera Shankar and the Maximum India festival here starting March1 for 20 days. Embassy spokesman Virander Paul said that We are happy to announce the launch of the Facebook account of the Embassy. Please join the group and also invite other friends of India to join.

The initiative was introduced by Indian Ambassador Meera Shankar

National Community TheSouthAsianTimes.info

March 5-11, 2011

Two desis named Skadden foundation 2011 Fellows

Mehta creating crowd-sourced film on Egyptian revolution

New York: An Indian-American filmmaker and journalist is leading a project to create a "crowdsourced interactive documentary" to tell the story of the Egyptian revolution with the same tools that brought it to the world in real time. A three-person team led by Jigar Mehta, a Knight Fellow at Stanford and former New York Times video journalist, is asking people to tell what they know of the events in Egypt from Jan 25 to Feb 11 for their "18 Days In Egypt" documentary. Others on the team are Yasmin Elayat, a New York based interaction designer and software developer, who studied Computer Science at the American University in Cairo and Alaa Dajani, a documentary filmmaker born and raised in Egypt. The team is asking people to tag their media on YouTube, Flickr, Twitter with the tag '18DaysinEgypt' and the day it happened plus any additional information they can provided about the media.

Devi Rao

Sushil Jacob

Jigar Mehta

California: The Skadden Fellowship Foundation, described as "a legal Peace Corps" by The Los Angeles Times, named Sushil Jacob and Devi Rao as being among the 29 candidates named as Fellows for the year 2011. The aim of the foundation is to give Fellows the freedom to pursue public interest work; thus, the Fellows create their own projects at public interest organizations with at least two lawyers on staff before they apply. Jacob, who is with the East Bay Community Law Center in Berkeley, Calif., advocates to advance green community economic development by providing free, comprehensive legal services to low-income entrepreneurs. Green-Collar Communities Clinic will provide unmet business education resources and will function as a business incubator to the East Bay community. Rao, who is with the National

Women's Law Center in Washington, D.C., seeks to improve protection against gender-based bullying and preventing and remedying such harassment by seeking enhanced enforcement of Title IX, in collaboration with school districts and advocacy groups. Fellowships are awarded for two years. Skadden provides each Fellow with a salary and pays all fringe benefits to which an employee of the sponsoring organization would be entitled. The Skadden Fellowship Foundation was established in 1988 to commemorate the firm's 40th anniversary, in recognition of the need for greater funding for graduating law students who wish to devote their professional lives to providing legal services to the poor (including the working poor), the elderly, the homeless and the disabled, as well as those deprived of their civil or human rights.

Indian-led team researches age-related macular degeneration

Lexington, Kentucky: A team of researchers, led by University of Kentucky ophthalmologist Dr. Jayakrishna Ambati, has discovered a molecular mechanism implicated in geographic atrophy, the major cause of untreatable blindness. Their article, "DICER1 Deficit Induces Alu RNA Toxicity in Age-Related Macular Degeneration," was published online Feb. 6 by the journal Nature. Concurrent with this discovery, Ambati's laboratory developed two promising therapies for the prevention of the condition. The study also elaborates, for the first time, a disease-causing role for a large section of the human genome once regarded as non-coding "junk DNA." Geographic atrophy, a condition causing the death of cells in the retina, occurs in the later stages of the "dry type" of macular degeneration, a disease affecting some ten million older Americans and causing blindness in over one million. There is currently no effective treatment for geographic atrophy, as its cause is unknown. Ambati's team discovered that an accumulation of a toxic type of RNA, called Alu RNA, causes retinal cells to die in patients with geographic atrophy. In a healthy eye, a "Dicer" enzyme

Dr.Jay Ambati degrades the Alu RNA particles. Ambati's team developed two potential therapies aimed at preventing geographic atrophy and demonstrated the efficacy of both approaches using laboratory models. The first involves increasing Dicer levels in the retina by over-expressing the enzyme. The second involves blocking Alu RNA using an anti-sense drug that binds and degrades this toxic substance. The university has filed patent applications for both technologies, and Ambatis group is preparing to start clinical trials by the end of this year.

Agrawal sentenced to 3 yrs in prison for stealing trade secrets

Boston: A 27-year-old Indian, who worked as a trader at Societe Generale (SocGen), has been sentenced to three years in prison for stealing trade secrets at the French investment bank. Samarth Agrawal was found guilty on November 19, 2010 by a jury of stealing proprietary computer code used in SocGen's highfrequency trading business and of transporting the stolen code. US District Judge Jed Rakoff ordered Agrawal to serve two years of supervised release following his prison sentence in New York. Agrawal may be deported to India after his release from prison, Rakoff said. Agrawal worked at SocGen's New York offices during 2007-2009, first as a quantitative analyst and then as a trader in the bank's High Frequency Trading Group. In 2009, the bank's surveillance cameras caught Agrawal printing "hundreds of pages" of a computer code, which SocGen had developed, and "stashing the printouts in a backpack". The bank had spent millions of dollars developing a computer system and the associated computer code that allowed SocGen to engage in sophisticated, high-speed trading on various securities markets. The code and its associated trading programmes generated millions of dollars in profits for SocGen. Agrawal planned to use the information to build a copy of SocGen's trading programme at a rival company, the FBI said in a statement. During a June 2009 meeting with partners of Tower Capital Research, a proprietary trading group and hedge fund, Agrawal claimed he had a complete understanding of SocGen's trading system and that he wanted to build a copy of the same trading system at Tower. In July 2009, the Tower partners offered Agrawal a job which would have paid him a total of USD 575,000 up front, plus 20 per cent of the profits generated by the copy of SocGen's trading system that he intended to build at Tower. He repeatedly disclosed confidential details of SocGen's trading system to Tower employees. Agrawal was arrested on April 19, 2010, the day he was supposed to start work at Tower. A subsequent search of his apartment revealed the copy of the stolen code, which was neatly organised in folders on his desk.

5 Indian American researchers join NAE

Washington, DC: The National Academy of Engineering elected five Indian American researchers among its 68 new members and one Indian scientist among its nine foreign associates, NAE president Charles M. Vest announced Feb. 8. This brings the total U.S. membership to 2,290 and the number of foreign associates to 202. Election to the National Academy of Engineering is among the highest professional distinctions accorded to an engineer. Academy membership honors those who have made outstanding contributions to "engineering research, practice, or education, including, where appropriate, significant contributions to the engineering literature," and to the "pioneering of new and developing fields of technology, making major advancements in traditional fields of engineering, or developing/implementing innovative approaches to engineering education." Abbas Firoozabadi, senior scientist and director, Reservoir Engineering Research Institute in Palo Alto, Calif., was elected as a new member for his contributions to oil and gas recovery processes through application of surface science and thermodynamics. Mark S. Humayun, professor of ophthalmology, biomedical engineering, and cell and neurobiology at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, was elected for his contributions to development and clinical implementation of the visual prosthesis for restoration of sight. Asad M. Madni, retired president and chief technical officer, BEI Technologies, Inc.; and independent consultant in Los Angeles, was elected a new member for his contributions to the development and commercialization of sensors and systems for aerospace and automotive safety. In Berkeley, Calif., Jitendra Malik, Arthur J. Chick Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of California, was named a new member for his contributions to computer vision and image analysis. Also from UC Berkeley, Ramamoorthy Ramesh, Plato Malozemoff Chair Professor in Materials Science and Physics, was elected for his contributions to the science and technology of functional complex oxide materials.

National Community TheSouthAsianTimes.info

March 5-11, 2011

Hollywood goes to Bollywood talent hunting

Washington, DC: tle between good versus Three new evil, with themes of the Hollywood films Ramayana. are set to be shot in To be produced by India shortly as Marlon Parry, the film producers explore will be directed by the Indian market Rajeev Virani. with the help of an The second, 'River of Indian American Gods', based on a novel talent manager in by Ian McDonald that Hollywood. won the British Science Jai Khanna heads 'The process of Fiction Award in 2004, Hollywood talent manageselecting India as a imagines a futuristic ment film and television location has been India, inhabited by production company easy,' says Jai ancient traditions as well Khanna, a manager at Brillstein as artificial intelligence, robots and Entertainment Partners (BEP), a top nanotechnology. Hollywood talent management film To be produced by Anthony and television production company. Dorment and Susan Cherian, it is 'The key is finding the right part- aimed for a fall shoot. ners, those with the right sensibility, Also to be shot at the same time is in order to navigate the landscape 'Last Bachelor', an international and politics of India, as well as romantic comedy, in Rajasthan and appeal to an American crew and Goa. The film will be produced by cast,' Khanna, who heads BEP's new Lux Entertainment in Britain. efforts to explore the Indian market, 'India has been viewed as an exottold HT Media in an interview. ic location for actors, and not imme'Hope Lost', the first of three films diately thought of as a film location. targeted for India production, is If we can marry the two experiaimed for a summer shoot in ences, of exploring the wonders of Mumbai. Based on the hit comic India, and working in a professional book series by Jeff Albert, it's an manner, we hope for more producaction-thriller about the duality bat- tions to enter India,' Khanna says.

US firms commend India's budget

Washington, DC: The U.S.-India ticipants in this activity," Somers said. Business Council (USIBC) praised U.S. firms read as a favorable indicator India's recent budget announcement, the Government of India's stated goal to which sets forth clear parameters that eliminate bottlenecks in the country's food will spur and sustain greater investment distribution system, which may hint at a in the country's infrastructure sector. soon-to-be-announced opening of the "The sheer confidence this budget reprecountry's multi-brand retail sector. India is sents is worthy of our praise," said Ron presently battling major food price-rise Somers, President of the U.S.-India and inflation. These twin challenges can Business Council. be addressed by improving efficiencies in In his much-anticipated Budget the farm-to-market supply chain, which address, the Finance Minister outlined will be benefited by inviting into this secRon Somers, president, proposals that will favorably support tor both technology and investment. "The USIBC greater impetus to invest in the 'India beneficiaries of modern retail, resulting opportunity'. India's economy is one of the world's from improved access to food distribution outlets, will fastest growing economies, exceeding an 8% rate of be farmers," Somers said. The Union Finance Minister growth in GDP. pointed out in his budget remarks "the massive ineffiInfrastructure development is featured as a high priori- ciencies in India's agricultural supply chains, whose high ty in the 2011-2012 Indian Budget: $6 billion in tax-free cost hurts rural farmers most." bonds have been approved by the Indian Finance "India's next evergreen revolution, spawned by the Ministry, as well as floating the prospect for establish- greater efficiencies in India's farm-to-market supply ment of a major infrastructure debt fund, which will be chain that will be brought to bear by the entry of organbenefited by the creation of a deeper corporate bond ized players in this sector, is a 'game-changer' that will market. American industry also praised the liberalization benefit the millions of Indians who make their living in toward foreign institutional investment (FII) in equity the rural agricultural sector, " Somers said. mutual funds. "The opening of the mutual fund industry In addition to the 'hard' and 'soft' financial infrastructo FIIs is a step that will serve to mobilize significant ture attributes of the budget, combined with the prospect amounts of capital and expertise in India's financial mar- of the opening India's multi-brand retail sector, U.S. kets," commented USIBC President Ron Somers. "This Industry hails India's signal to enhance spending in the change, along with the raised FII investment limits in defense and security sectors. India's has embarked over some infrastructure bonds and strides leading to a pre- the next year on a $46 billion upgrade of its military. dictable, streamlined investment tax regime, will ulti- U.S. firms are eager to partner with Indian counterparts mately bolster India's efforts to build-out the country's to bring 'best technology' to India's armed forces and infrastructure. U.S. Industry stands ready to be full par- security establishment.

Pawan Mehra joins elite panel of Asian American entrepreneurs

Selected to governing board of USPAACC California
San Francisco: Pawan J. Mehra, Cofounder and Principal at multicultural marketing agency Amredia, was selected in February to the governing board of US Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce Western Region. He joins a diverse panel of top-notch entrepreneurs working to promote the economic, social and political influence of Asian Americans in the U.S. Mehra and Amredia will provide marketing and public relations support to the Western Region of the largest nonprofit group championing the Asian American business and professional community nationwide. Pawan is a pathfinder, said Susan Au Allen, National President and CEO of USPAACC. We are thrilled to have him on our leadership team and look forward to his guidance in expanding USPAACCs vision in the Western region. In collaboration with five other regional chapters and the national headquarters, the board leads overall direction for USPAACC in California, Arizona, Nevada, and Hawaii; and overseas policy management and finances. In addition, the team is responsible for organizing events such as the upcoming California Top 10 Asian American Business Awards in San Francisco and the Asian American & Minority Procurement Connections in Los Angeles. At Amredia, Mehra establishes and man-

Pawan J. Mehra, Cofounder and Principal at multicultural marketing agency Amredia ages key client relationships and strategic partnerships. His selection to the board comes after Amredias nomination last year by USPAACC Educational Foundation as a Fast 50 Asian American Business. The agency was also selected in January as a Top Business in America by DiversityBusiness.com, winning five awards including Top 100 Diversity Owned Businesses in California and Top 100 Subcontinent Asian American Businesses in the U.S.

10

USA Affairs TheSouthAsianTimes.info

March 5-11, 2011

Wifes Charity said to offer corporate link to Jindal

Muslim hearings on, so too protests for and against

Washington: A key US congressional panel led by Republican Peter King will hold a hearing March 10 into the radicalization of US Muslims, even as some lawmakers charge the goal is to tar an entire population as possible extremists. Protests for and against the hearings have also started. The House of Representatives Homeland Security Committee hearing has drawn heavy fire since its chairman Republican Representative Peter King announced general plans to hold the event. Newsday of Long Island reported that the witnesses will include two American Muslims with family members who became radicalized, as well as a local Muslim who has criticized community leaders for not working closely enough with US law enforcement. Democratic Representative Keith Ellison, a Muslim, will also reportedly testify at the hearing, officially named "The Extent of Radicalization in the American Muslim Community and that Community's Response." Muslim Americans concerned about anti-Islam rhetoric in the US

Jindal with wife Supriya, who runs Supriya Jindal Foundation for Louisianas Children. Washington, DC: Louisianas biggest corporate players, many with long agendas before the state government, are restricted in making campaign contributions to Governor Bobby Jindal. But they can give whatever they like to the foundation set up by his wife months after he took office, raising ethical questions for the Indian American governor, reports The New York Times. AT&T, which needed Jindal, a Republican, to sign off on legislation allowing the company to sell cable television services without having to negotiate with individual parishes, has pledged at least $250,000 to the Supriya Jindal Foundation for Louisianas Children. Marathon Oil, which last year won approval from the Jindal administration to increase the amount of oil it can refine at its Louisiana plant, also committed to a $250,000 donation. And the military contractor Northrop Grumman, which got state officials to help set up an airplane maintenance facility at a former Air Force base, promised $10,000 to the charity. The foundation has collected nearly $1 million in previously unreported pledges from major oil companies, insurers and other corporations in Louisiana with high-stakes regulatory issues, according to a review by the New York paper. Jindal has made tightening Louisianas ethics rules a centerpiece of his administration and has promised to crack down on the influence of special interests. But observers believe the said donations to Mrs. Jindals charity compromise his pledge. Supriya Jindal has won praise including positive media coverage as she travels the state passing out free equipment to schools, many in lower-income areas. Her foundation spends almost all of the money it takes in to buy high-tech whiteboards installed so far in 50 schools.

Arish Sahani (holding the poster) and Narain Kataria (to his right) at a protest supporting the hearings. described a "cottage industry of hate" during a Capitol Hill panel Wednesday a week ahead of King's hearing. "What they're doing is fear mongering," former Bush administration official Suhail Khan said, describing a group of uber-conservative pundits that includes Pamela Geller, Robert Spencer and Frank Gaffney who continue to issue dire warnings about the threat Islam purportedly poses to America. Deepa Iyer, executive director of South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT), said that Congress has a role to play in combating xenophobia. Meanwhile, the outfit Human Rights Coalition Against Radical Islam organized a protest in front of Kings office in Massapequa, Long Island, on February 22 to offer their full support to him for his courage, farsightedness, patriotism and sincere efforts in combating home grown terrorism in our country. They plan a rally in New York on March 6 for the same purpose.

Govt. Shutdown averted for a fortnight

Washington: A stopgap budget measure was approved by the Senate on Wednesday and sent to President Obama for final approval. The temporary fix will fund the federal government and prevent a shutdown for the next two weeks. The Senate sent to the President a Republican-drafted stopgap funding bill that trims $4 billion from the budget, completing hastily processed legislation designed to keep partisan divisions from forcing a government shutdown. Soon after, Obama called on congressional leaders to meet with top administration figures including Vice President Joe Biden to discuss a longer-term measure to fund the government through Sept. 30. But achieving common ground may be no easy task. House Republicans recently advanced a controversial budget proposal in the lower congressional chamber that only added fuel to the fire in an already contentious debate. Obama issuing a veto threat over the measure only heightened concerns of a government shutdown. On Wednesday, the president addressed the ongoing budget battle once again with the next stage of the fiscal showdown set to unfold. "We can find common ground on a budget that makes sure we are living within our means," he said. "This agreement should be bipartisan, it should be free of any party's social or political agenda, and it should be reached without delay." Congressional Republicans said it's up to Democrats to offer an alternative to carry into the talks. They have yet to produce one to respond to a $1.2 trillion omnibus spending measure that passed the House last month.

More charges against Manning, alleged WikiLeaks source

Washington: The military has filed 22 additional charges against Pvt. Bradley Manning, including aiding the enemy, in the alleged massive leak of classified files, NBC News reports. Manning is accused of illegally downloading tens of thousands of classified documents from both the U.S. military and the State Department that were later released by WikiLeaks. Manning, 23, was first charged on July 6 with eight charges including violating the Espionage Act by transmitting classified information to an unauthorized third party when he worked as a military intelligence analyst in Baghdad. NBC reported that Pentagon and military officials said some of the classified information WikiLeaks released endangered the lives of informants and others who had cooperated with U.S. forces in Afghanistan.

Consumer OPEN HOUSE Saturday, 3/5/2011, 12.30 PM - 2.30 PM Call for details. Beautiful 2 Bedroom Coop in Kew Garden Hills, NY $224900

Indian Federal Budget 2011 TheSouthAsianTimes.info

11

March 5-11, 2011

* FIIs in Mutual Funds allowed * Defense allocation enhanced * FDI limit in insurance sector raised

A reformist, bold step

New Delhi: India's Rs.12.58 lakh crore ($280 billion) federal budget for 2011-12 sought to address the need of every constituency, with tax relief to cheer households and corporates alike while also promising fair doses of reform on subsidies and foreign investment along with measures to curb inflation, check corruption and push growth. Seemingly aware of polls due soon in five states and the overall downbeat sentiment on issues such as graft, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee also proposed more money toward health, infrastructure, education, farming and even defense, and outlined a strategy to bring back black money stashed abroad -- all this with a check on fiscal deficit. In a 110-minute budget speech in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of parliament, Mukherjee said he proposed to enhance the income tax exemption limit to Rs.1.8 lakh (Rs.180,000 or $4,000) for the next financial year, from Rs.1.6 lakh, and said corporate tax surcharge will be lowered to 5 percent from 7.5 percent He also proposed a "very senior" category of income tax payers, above the age of 80, for whom the tax exemption will be up to Rs.5 lakh. In addition, he lowered the qualifying age limit for senior citizens to avail of tax cuts to 60 years from 65 years. While announcing these giveaways, Mukherjee also promised to bring down fiscal deficit to 4.6 percent of India's gross domestic product (GDP) from 5.1 percent of GDP in the revised estimates, while hiking allocation for education by 24 percent, health by 20 percent, infrastructure by 23 percent and defense by 11 percent. country's $300 billion retail trade industry, apart from promising to liberalise norms for pension, insurance and banking sectors. "We are reaching the end of a remarkable fiscal year. In a globalized world, with its share of uncertainties and rapid changes, this year brought us some opportunities and many challenges as we moved ahead with steady steps on the chosen path of fiscal consolidation and high economic growth," he said. "Our growth in 2010-11 has been swift and broad-based. The economy is back to its pre-crisis growth trajectory. While agriculture has shown a rebound, industry is regaining its earlier momentum. Services sector continues its near double-digit run. Fiscal consolidation has been impressive," he said.

Indian businessmen and journalists watch Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee presenting the federal budget to Parliament, at the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai on February 28. Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen and other economists have been calling for an increase in social structure spending to bridge India's huge inequities. His proposals for a new subsidy regime on farm nutrients and direct cash transfers to the users of fertilizers and kerosene addressed a longpending reform, aimed to ensure these doles reach the needy and are not diverted illegally -- an issue that caught the national attention when an oil official was killed by kerosene mafia in Maharashtra. At the same time, the finance minister's proposals could push up the costs of domestic and overseas air travel, dining at air-conditioned restaurants that serve liquor, stay in hotels that charge over Rs.1,000 per day and health check-ups in hospitals with air-conditioning and more than 25 beds. "As en emerging economy, with voice on the global stage, India stands at the threshold of a decade which presents immense possibilities. We must not let the recent strains and tensions hold us back from converting these possibilities into realities," the finance minister said in his largely uninterrupted speech. He set the tone for what was his sixth budget by stating that India had bounced back after the global financial crisis with broad-based growth even as inflation remained a matter of concern, especially food prices - even though it had dipped from over 20 percent - to around 7 percent now. This apart, he said the foreign direct investment policy was being revamped, which may result in the entry of multinational firms in the

Foreign investors ready for MFs

Chennai: Indian mutual funds have welcomed Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee's proposal to allow foreign investors to invest in their equity schemes though they say registering their funds overseas is going to be a challenge. "It is a positive move. Now foreign investors can directly invest in Indian mutual funds schemes," Sandesh Kirkire, chief executive officer of Kotak Mutual, said. Currently, only foreign institutional investors (FII) and subaccounts registered with the SEBI and non resident Indians (NRIs) are allowed to invest in mutual fund schemes. "The investor has to be comfortable with that. The one challenge for the industry is to register the fund in jurisdictions where the funds are to be marketed," Kirkire added. He said equity investors as a tribe in India constitute only a small percentage. Making the Indians to invest in a mutual fund is itself a challenge. According to Pinaki Bhadury, vice president of Frost and Sullivan, the government's proposal is a growth driver.

India Inc welcomes Budget

New Delhi/Mumbai: Assurance to roll out the much-awaited Goods and Services Tax (GST), higher export duty on iron ore, foreign investment in equity mutual funds -- the budget proposals were welcomed by India Inc though some said the service tax on hospitals and hotels would add to the costs. Some of the reactions were: Adi Godrej, chairman of Godrej Group: The most important thing is that he (Pranab Mukherjee) has clearly given a signal of GST (Goods and Services Tax) coming through soon. That is a major development which is very welcome as it will help solve a lot of macroeconomic issues, including inflation, fiscal deficit and help GDP growth. Naina Lal Kidwai, country head of HSBC group in India: The government borrowing is slightly at a level lower than what the markets had expected at Rs.345,000 crore. A number of the steps that have been taken to put money into the hands of the people in the lower income brackets is a very favorable stand. Karl Slym, president of General Motors India: The government's intention to reach consensus with states and introduce GST bill in the current session of parliament, introduction of Direct Tax Code (DTC) by April 1, 2012, setting up of national mission for hybrid and electric vehicles are welcome decisions. Ram Buxani, NRI Industrialist, head of ITL: "For the NRIs, it is a happy news that nothing specific relating to Direct Tax Code which created a scare that NRIs staying more than two months in the country may attract assessment of world income, was mentioned." D. Shivakumar, vice president and managing director, Nokia India: The extension of special additional duty on components for mobile phones for another year is a welcome step.
A TV screen showing budget presentation outside the BSE building in Mumbai.

12

Indian Federal Budget 2011 TheSouthAsianTimes.info

March 5-11, 2011

11 pc hike in defense budget India raises education,

New Delhi: In a sharp 11 percent increase in India's defense budget to aid rapid modernization of the armed forces, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee allocated Rs.164,415.19 crore ($36 billion) for its military in 2011-12. Amounting in real terms to an increase of Rs.17,071 crore, the jump in the defense budget was 11.59 percent over 2010-11 budgetary estimates of Rs.147,344 crore, and an 8.47 percent jump from revised estimates of Rs.151,582 crore. India's defense budget is estimated to be the 10th largest worldwide, but is only just over 2 percent of the world defense spending, according to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) data for world military expenditure in 2009. India's neighbors China and Pakistan are estimated to be spending over $90 billion and $10 billion annually, respectively on their military. Mukherjee, while presenting the budget for 2011-12 in the Lok Sabha, said the capital outlay too had been ramped up to Rs.69,199 crore. This is an over 15.33 percent increase from the 2010-11 capital outlay of Rs.60,000 crore and the revised estimates of Rs.60,833 crore. Capital outlay is meant for new purchases and developing military infrastructure. "In the budget for 2011-12, a provision of Rs.164,415 crore has been made for the defense services, which includes Rs.69,199 crore for capital expenditure,"

health spending

India's defense budget is estimated to be the 10th largest worldwide, but is only just over 2 percent of the world defense spending. Mukherjee said. "Needless to say, any further requirement for the country's defense would be met," he said, in a promise that will be cheered by the defense ministry mandarins, who hope to finalize several important arms deals such as the $10.4-billion contract for 126 combat planes in the 2011-12 fiscal. Compared to the 2010-11 hike of 3.9 percent, the defense budgetary increase for 2011-12 seems huge, whereas in 2009-10, the defense budget witnessed a whopping 34 percent scale up over the previous year. Reacting to the budget proposals, Defense Minister A.K. Antony said the armed forces' concerns over its acquisition programs had been addressed. "We welcome the budget. On the whole, it is a positive and good budget. Our concerns have by and large been addressed. The finance minister has also said that should there be any fresh requirement, it will be met without any difficulties," Antony said. The defense budget this year accounts for approximately 13 percent of the total outlay of Rs.1,257,729 crore envisaged for 2011-12. The Indian armed forces are going through a major modernization program with future purchases including 10 C-17 heavylift transport aircraft, 22 attack helicopters, 15 heavylift helicopters, four types of artillery guns, special forces equipment, six advanced submarines, and 197 light utility helicopters.

The government will spend a staggering Rs.52,057 crore (Rs.520 billion/$11.5 billion) on education. New Delhi: The government will rent year," Mukherjee said. spend a staggering Rs.52,057 crore "Our demographic dividend, a rel(Rs.520 billion/$11.5 billion) on atively younger population comeducation and Rs.26,760 crore pared to developed countries, is as (Rs.267 billion/$ 6 billion) on health much of an opportunity as it is a in the year 2011-12 to ensure "inclu- challenge. sive growth" for all, Finance Over 70 percent of India will be of Minister Pranab Mukherjee working age by 2025. In this context announced. universalising access to secondary "The country has carried for long education, increasing percentage of enough the burden of hunger and our scholars in higher education and malnutrition," Mukherjee said while providing skills training is necespresenting his third consecutive sary," he said. budget in the Lok Sabha. The allocation for health sector Calling education as the tool of was also increased by 20 percent at empowerment to reap the benefit of Rs.26,760 crore. Calling Rashtriya India's demographic dividend of a Swasthya Beema Yojana "an effecyoung population, Mukherjee tive instrument for providing health announced a hike of 24 percent in cover to marginal workers", the the budget spending for education. finance minister announced extend"For education, I propose an allo- ing its ambit to unorganized labor cation of Rs.52,057 crore, with an working in hazardous hazardous increase of 24 percent over the cur- mining and associated industries.

Indian Railway Budget 2012

Didi presents populist rail budget

New Delhi: Sparing the passenger and industry from fare and freight hikes yet again, Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee presented the rail budget for 2011-12 with the highest investment of Rs.57,630 crore ($12.7 billion), 68 new trains and a vow to build a stronger railroad infrastructure based on the Vision 2020 document. From more money for safety and several industrial parks under the public-private model, to new coach factories and concessions for women and even journalists, Banerjee sought to address all constituencies, especially her poll-bound home state of West Bengal. Apart from new trains, the budget sought to extend the services of 33 trains, increase frequencies of 17 others, conduct 107 line surveys to identify new routes, start double-decker trains on Jaipur-Delhi and Ahmedabad-Mumbai routes and introduce super AC class. The budget also sought to extend the concession to physically challenged people to all Rajdhani and Shatabdi trains, make 50 percent concession for media persons and families twice a year, and hike the rebate to senior citizens from 30 perA new portal for e-tickets will levy a lower charge of Rs.10 for airconditioned and Rs.5 for other classes. And what does West Bengal, in particular, get: A new metro coach factory at Singur, 15 new suburban trains and 34 new Metro services for Kolkata. Several of the new trains, extensions and enhanced frequencies also pertain to her home state. "We have taken a two-pronged approach. On the one hand, building sustainable, efficient, rapidly-growing railways. On the other, having an acute sense of social responsibility towards the common people," Banerjee told the Lok Sabha. "In this budget we have attempted to combine a strong economic focus with an equivalent emphasis on social inclusion with a human face," she said in her 90minute speech which was her fifth such personal exercise as railways minister. Mid-way into Banerjee's speech, opposition members, especially those from the Rashtriya Janata Dal, Samajwadi Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party, were up on their feet, protesting what they said was undue attention to West Bengal.

Railways Minster Mamata Banerjee prepares to present the railways budget for the fiscal year 2012 in the Indian Parliament. cent to 40 percent. Also to be launched is a multi-purpose pan-India smart card "Go India" for seamlessly pay for tickets for long distance, suburban and metro trains.

India Newswire TheSouthAsianTimes.info

13

March 5-11, 2011

Sensex surges 623 points

Mumbai: A benchmark index for Indian equities markets surged 623 points, a day after the presentation of the budget for 2011-12, as investor sentiment was particularly boosted by the steps to attract foreign investors, including overseas funds and mutual funds. The 30-share sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened in the positive at 17,982.28 points, closed at 18,446.50 points, up 3.5 percent or 623.10 points from the previous close at 17,823.40 points. The benchmark Sensex had gained 122 points in a volatile session Monday. At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty soared past 5,500 points mark. The 50-share index climbed 3.54 percent or 189.05 points to 5,522.30 points. Two days of post budget rally has made investors richer by over Rs.2,33,500 crore. There was an all-round buying interest in the market as all the sectoral indices closed in the positive, led by a sharp rally in auto and banking scrips. The BSE midcap index surged 3.20 percent and the BSE small-

Fiscal deficit soon at 4.6 pc: Pranab

New Delhi: A day "I am confident that after presenting the the borrowing program budget for 2011-12, of the government, Finance Minister which will be finalized Pranab Mukherjee in consultation with the said he was confident Reserve Bank of India, of reducing the fiscal will be carried out in a deficit to 4.6 percent non-disruptive manduring the year. ner," he added. "I have brought the The finance minister fiscal deficit down to said he wanted to con5.1 percent of GDP in vey a sense of continu2010-11 and 4.6 perity and stability in the Finance Minister cent in 2011-12, Pranab Mukherjee said government's approach which improves on the people need not be to policy management my own target under apprehensive about 4.6 through the budget. the last year's medium percent fiscal deficit tarOn economic term fiscal policy get as it was based on a growth, Mukherjee statement," Mukherjee said: "The GDP in realistic view on said at a post-budget 2010-11 has been swift revenue buoyancy. meeting with industry and broad-based and associations. the economy is back to its pre-crisis He said the people need not be growth trajectory." apprehensive about 4.6 percent fisThe Indian economy is expected cal deficit target as it was based on a to grow 8.6 percent in the current realistic view on revenue buoyancy. fiscal. "Our tax revenues have I have kept the net market borrow- grown at an exceptional rate and ings at Rs. 3.43 lakh crore for 2011- there has been a strong rebound in 12, which is marginally lower in our exports. The current account absolute terms than the budget esti- deficit is likely to be around the mates of 2010-11. This should give level in 2009-10. All this gave me the necessary space for growth in the confidence to effect a sharper private investments," Mukherjee fiscal consolidation," the minister said. said.

A man watches budget speech at the BSE building in Mumbai. This was the biggest surge reported in Sensex post-budget during Pranab Mukherjee's six budget presentations so far. cap index closed 2.38 percent higher. The BSE auto index soared nearly six percent and the Bankex closed 4.35 percent higher. Auto stocks surged after Finance Minsiter Pranab Mukherjee kept excise duties unchanged in his budget presented in parliament Monday. Mahindra and Mahindra surged 8.36 percent to Rs.665.45. The country's largest car maker Maruti Suzuki soared 7.14 percent to Rs.1,292.90. Tata Motors rose 5.42 percent to Rs.1,140.40 and Bajaj Auto advanced 5.25 percent to Rs.1,334.85. Auto stocks had declined sharply ahead of the budget last week on speculation of a hike excise duties. Other major gainers on the 30scrip Sensex were: Jaiprakash Associates, up 7.10 percent to Rs.83; NTPC, up 6.32 percent to Rs.180.80; Hindalco Inds, up 5.78 percent to Rs.212.40 and ICICI Bank, up 5.66 percent to Rs.1,025.95

14

Op Ed TheSouthAsianTimes.info

March 5-11, 2011

Why the accidental PM is becoming irreplaceable

By Amulya Ganguli

curious feature of the scams affecting the government is that they havent undermined Prime Minister Manmohan Singhs position as much as may have been expected. Instead, there have been words of praise for him from political adversaries like Nitish Kumar and Subramanian Swamy and a neutral admirer like Nobel laureate Amartya Sen. The Congress, too, has stood by him although it is no secret that Arjun Singhs virtual retirement does not mean that Manmohan Singh no longer has any critics in his own party. A major reason why the prime minister has managed to survive is because of the TINA (there is no alternative) factor in the Congress where he is concerned. Neither Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee nor Home Minister P. Chidambaram has the image or stature to step into his shoes although their competence as administrators cannot be doubted. Even if there have been calls from within the party for Rahul Gandhi to take charge, the heir-apparent himself seems unwilling to shoulder such an onerous responsibility at this stage. Besides, it will obviously be unfair to saddle him with the task of steering the government out of its present difculties, whose complexity and impact on the composition of the ruling alliance can unnerve even a

Manmohan Singh has managed to survive because of the TINA (there is no alternative) factor in the Congress. Pranab Mukherjee and P. Chidambaram do not have the image or stature to step into his shoes although their competence as administrators cannot be doubted. And Rahul Gandhi, the heir-apparent, seems unwilling to shoulder such an onerous responsibility at this stage.
seasoned politician. Sonia Gandhi herself might have taken charge. But, having renounced the prime ministers ofce in 2004 and handpicked Manmohan Singh, it would look odd if she decided to replace him even if the Congress and its allies supported the transition. Moreover, she must be aware that the BJP will lose no time to rake up the issue of her foreign origin again, thereby adding another controversy to the present ones faced by the government. Apart from the TINA factor, there is another reason why Manmohan Singh still remains the Congresss best bet in spite of being battered and bruised by the allegations of having turned a blind eye to the various scams. It is his personal integrity to which even his opponents have testied. It is also an attribute which is not shared by anyone else in the party, except Defense Minister A.K. Antony. But the latter is too low key a person and lacks the charisma and personality to be a prime minister. His power base, too, is far away in Kerala. Besides, the BJP is bound to raise the issue of his Christianity to claim that Sonia Gandhi is extending the grip of her Rome raj, a phrase used by Narendra Modi and others, over the entire country. It is worth recalling that Modi had seen a similar religionbased link between the former chief election commissioner, James Michael Lyngdoh, and the Congress chief at the time of the 2002 Gujarat elections. For all practical purposes, therefore, the accidental prime minister, which is how Manmohan Singh described himself after taking charge in 2004, has virtually become irreplaceable - at least for the time being. However, some of the implications of the turn of events, which the Congress and its president could not have anticipated in 2004, may not be welcomed by everyone in the organization. For one, it can no longer be said with certainty that Rahul will automatically replace Manmohan Singh in 2014, as was earlier expected, since a great deal may happen in the next three years, especially if the prime minister pushes his reforms agenda with greater vigour. Besides, considering that there is no question of Rahul taking charge at present, it may be asked - certainly by the partys opponents - whether someone who showed no interest in the post at a time of crisis deserved it after the situation had stabilized. For another, Manmohan Singh may recover some of his lost political standing if the cases against the guilty in the various scandals lead to exemplary punishment. Considering that he has promised that political inuence will not save anyone, the CBI can at last be expected to act like a truly autonomous and professional outt. Besides, the Supreme Courts supervision will compel it to ignore political interference. For a third, after all the criticism that the prime minister has faced for caving in to coalitional pressure, the only way he can refurbish his reputation is to pursue the one issue - after the nuclear deal which is close to his heart, viz. economic reforms. This pro-market policy is bound to face opposition from the socialists within the Congress, but Manmohan Singh knows that if he is again seen to be temporizing, BJP leader L.K. Advanis jibes against him about being weak will gain credence. There are signs already that he wants to follow the so-called neoliberal line from the way the PMO has been diluting some of the leftof-centre initiatives of the Sonia Gandhi-led National Advisory Council, such as the food security bill. The prime ministers position will also stabilize if the Congress makes the expected gains in the forthcoming assembly elections. While the partys success is reasonably assured in West Bengal along with its partner, the Trinamool Congress, and in Kerala and Assam, it is uncertain in Tamil Nadu, where its ally, the DMK is mired in the scandal involving its party member, A. Raja, the former telecom minister at the center. But three out of four is not a bad score. Notwithstanding the dark clouds hovering over the prime minister and the Congress at present, the future may be less gloomy.

Plea to conserve heritage cricket ground in Jaipur

By Prakash Bhandari/ SATimes

aipur thrives on its heritage and its forts and palaces. A lot is being done to conserve them. But the cricket buffs of the city are unhappy the way the Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) has neglected one of the oldest cricket grounds in the world the famous Jaipur Cricket Club (JCC) ground that was founded in 1878 at Ram Niwas Bagh by Maharaja Sawai Ram Singh. While the cricket loving world is enjoying the euphoria of the World Cup being held in the subcontinent, the Ram Niwas Bagh is just the old lung of the Pink City where people go for morning and evening stroll to get some fresh air. The Maharaja was a great promoter of sports and he ordered building two grounds exclusively for football and cricket: the Union Football Club ground and the JCCt. He not only built the ground and the club house, but he also

Jaipur Cricket Club (JCC) ground was founded in 1878 at Ram Niwas Bagh by Maharaja Sawai Ram Singh. gave the ownership rights to these clubs. While the JCC still has some turf, the Union Football Club is a distant memory. The JCC documents of ownership are in the custody of the Clubs secretary, veteran cricketer Shashikant Chavda. This cricket ground was designed by an English engineer Sir Samuel Swanton Jacob, himself a cricketer. Sir Samuel worked for the Bombay Artillery and rose to become the chief engineer of the princely state of Jaipur. The ground and the club house was designed by Sir Samuel. The clubhouse built of lime and mortar had marble ooring. Sir Samuel used Indo-Saracenic style of architecture which incorporated Indo-Islam architecture in Euro-

pean neo-classical or Gothic revivalist style. We played on matting wicket. It was at the JCC ground here that late Azim Khan, a spinner, took all the 10 wickets 10 times. Later he became a coach and many city youngsters learnt the basics of cricket from him, said Chavda. There was a time when tourists from non-Commonwealth countries would throng the ground to see how a game of cricket was played. The urchins still play cricket here which looks like a paddy eld. Now soil from the garden is being dumped on the ground to convert it into a rose garden. The JDA has informed us that a rose garden would come up here. The JDA maintains it and we in the Public Works Department have no clue on the fate of the century old cricket ground, said OP Baggerhatta, garden superintendent of Ram Niwas Bagh. We would not allow the state government to destroy this heritage and would knock the door of

the court of law to save it, Chavda insisted. Dr Bimal Soni, deputy president of the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) and president of the Jaipur District Cricket Association (JDCA), said during the BJP reign the former president of the RCA Lalit Modi took up the case of conserving the cricket ground and the state government asked the JDA to take up the job of conserving it and restoring its old world charm. We submitted a plan to the JDA to conserve the cricket ground and laying a turf wicket. It was to become the training centre of JDCA. It was planned to build a small pavilion also and a small stand for the spectators. But with the change of government, the JDA stopped taking interest and the Congress government has decided to turn the club ground into a rose garden. Tonnes of soil are being dumped into the ground. But we will take up the issue with the Gehlot government said Dr Soni.

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

ICC Cricket World Cup TheSouthAsianTimes.info

15

March 5-11, 2011

WC stunner: Ireland beat England

BANGALORE: Kevin O'Brien struck the fastest-ever World Cup hundred as Ireland pulled off a sensational three-wicket win over England on March 2. Ireland won with five balls to spare as they finished on 329 for seven after England, who had made 327 for eight, had been cruising when they reduced nonTest playing Ireland to 111 for five. But a brilliant burst of powerhitting got O'Brien to three figures in just 50 balls at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. That meant he'd obliterated former Australia opener Matthew Hayden's previous fastest World Cup century record off 66 balls against South Africa at St Kitts in 2007. O'Brien's whirlwind innings of 113 off 63 balls, including six sixes and 13 fours, ended when he was run out by Stuart Broad's throw to wicketkeeper Matt Prior. Ireland's target was down to three off the last over and victory was secured when John Mooney struck a four off James Anderson. "I don't think it's quite sunk in," said 26-year-old O'Brien, after another famous

Irish hero Kevin O'Brien plays a shot during the sensational Group B match at the Chinnaswamy stadium in Bangalore on March 2. win to follow Ireland's shock World Cup triumph over Pakistan in 2007. "It's probably the best innings I've ever played. I just hit the ball pretty well and got a bit of luck and things went my way. I just kept going and kept attacking. "When we were 111-5 I said to myself we could have just pottered around and got 220 off 50 overs for eight or nine and the game would have been pretty boring to watch. "But I just chanced my arm and said I was going to be as positive as I can and got a few away and didn't look back." It was the highest successful run chase in World Cup history beating Sri Lanka's 313 against Zimbabwe at New Plymouth in New Zealand in 1992 England captain Andrew Strauss said: "We thought we'd done a reasonable job with the bat and we got Ireland at five down and things were looking pretty comfortable. But we weren't reckoning on an outstanding innings from Kevin O'Brien. It was pretty brutal."

Andrew Strauss and Paul Collingwood were helpless as England wilted under pressure.

IPL appeals to O'Brien

Ireland hero Kevin O`Brien would be willing to play in the Indian Premier League were a franchise to make a bid for him. The 26-year-old was a virtual unknown but went to bed a household name after smashing 113 to help Ireland surpass England`s 327 in Bangalore. He brought up his century in just 50 balls - the quickest in the tournament's history - and bamboozled England`s attack with a brutal display of power hitting. Bookmakers have already offered odds on England asking him to play for them, while some talk has also suggested he could now be on the radar of some IPL sides and the big-hitter said: "Who wouldn't (want to play in the IPL)? A lot of people have said that Twenty20 suits me, the way I swing the bat and hit a few sixes."

Difficult to see India in semis: Kapil

Mumbai: The man who won India her only World Cup 28 years ago and the finest all-rounder India has produced has given voice to the worst fear of cricket fans across the country. The legendary Kapil Dev has said India, regarded as hot favorites before the tournament kicked off, can kiss any hopes of even reaching the semifinals goodbye if their bowling attack continues the way it has been in the two games so far. "With the amount of runs we have conceded in the last two games, I have to be honest, it is difficult to see India even in the semi-finals, Kapil bluntly told reporters at a promotional event on March 2. "For me, having scored 338 runs, we should have won the match. It still ended in a tie. For

Watch out India, you're next!

Colombo: Express-fast Lasith Malinga became the second player in as many days to claim a hat-trick in 2011 World Cup as Sri Lanka thrashed Kenya by nine wickets in a Group A match here on March 1. Malinga (6-38) helped Sri Lanka bowl out Kenya for 142 before the hosts cruised to the target in 18.4 overs. The paceman's hat-trick came only a day after Kemar Roach's against the Netherlands on Feb 28. It was the seventh hat-trick of World Cup and Malinga's second, the only player to achieve the feat in the history of the tournament. His first hat-trick came in 2007 against South African where he took four wickets in four balls. After Malinga's exploits with the ball, Upul Tharanga (67) and Tillakaratne Dilshan (44) smashed 72 for the opening stand. Dilshan, who hit eight

Kapil Devs Devils owed their 1983 victory to the way they bowled and fielded. that reason the bowlers have to be criticized, he said, referring to the thriller played out in Bangalore on Feb 27.

Ireland's sensational victory over England is a caution signal for India, who will face the Irish on March 6. fours, was dismissed by Eljah Otieno. Tharanga, who knocked 12 fours, and Kumar Sangakkara (27) took Sri Lanka home. It was Sri Lanka's second victory in the tournament. They beat Canada in their opening match but were outsmarted by Pakistan in the second match.

Group A
Teams Sri Lanka Pakistan Australia New Zealand Zimbabwe Canada Kenya Mat 3 2 2 2 2 2 3 Won 2 2 2 1 1 0 0 Lost 1 0 0 1 1 2 3 Tied 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Pts 4 4 4 2 2 0 0 Net RR +2.663 +2.160 +1.813 +1.507 +0.840 -3.850 -4.825 Teams India England West Indies South Africa Ireland Bangladesh Netherlands Mat 2 3 2 1 2 2 2 Won 1 1 1 1 1 1 0

Group B
Lost 0 1 1 0 1 1 2 Tied 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 Pts 3 3 2 2 2 2 0 Net RR +0.870 +0.035 +1.879 +0.766 -0.207 -0.600 -2.275

16

ICC Cricket World Cup TheSouthAsianTimes.info

March 5-11, 2011

Dhoni rages against UDRS

Bangalore: India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has hit out at the controversial Umpire Decision Review System (URDS), after a key decision went against his side in their dramatic World Cup tie with England on Feb 27. England, replying to India's 338 all out after Sachin Tendulkar's record-breaking fifth hundred in World Cup cricket, finished on 338 for eight following a magnificent career-best 158 from captain Andrew Strauss. Left-handed opener Strauss shared a vital third-wicket partnership of 170 with Ian Bell (69). But their stand was worth just 52 when left-arm spinner Yuvraj Singh thought he had Bell lbw on review for 17, with replays showing the ball would have hit the stumps. Bell had started to walk off, but because New Zealand umpire before his unexpected reprieve, and Dhoni too couldn't understand why he was allowed to continue his innings. "The adulteration of technology with human thinking meant we didn't get that (Bell) wicket," said Dhoni. He was unhappy with the instruction to umpires at this World Cup that says if a batsman is more than 2.5 metres down the pitch he should be given not out, unless the ball would have hit middle stump. It was not certain if Bell's middle stump would have been knocked over, but Dhoni said, "If Hawkeye says it's good and going to hit middle stump, I see no reason why the distance matters. "Simon (Taufel) once gave me out (like that) in the Champions Trophy. If I can be given out, why not any other batsman? It is pretty difficult for me, what I saw was ball hitting the stumps."

The Indian team awaits the outcome of a review of an LBW appeal against England's Ian Bell. Billy Bowden's verdict was not out, the decision was returned to him by Australian replay official Rod Tucker, and the Kiwi deemed Bell to be too far down the pitch. However, a capacity crowd of mainly passionate India fans were left bemused having seen Bell 'dismissed' on the Chinnaswamy Stadium's giant replay screens. Bell himself clearly thought he was out, walking off the pitch

BCCI stands by Dhoni, complains to ICC

Mumbai: The Indian cricket board stood by captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, saying it is still not convinced about the Umpires Decision Review System (UDRS) in the World Cup. Dhoni criticized the UDRS after England batsman Ian Bell was not given LBW during the February 27 match in Bangalore despite TV replays showing that the ball was in line with the stumps. The decision prompted Dhoni to say that "adulteration of technology with human thinking" was not a good idea. International Cricket Council (ICC) general manager (cricket) Dave Richardson responded strongly, saying Dhoni was ignorant about the Ian Bell and Andrew Strauss in their third wicket partnership went on to pile 170 UDRS rules.But the against India because Bell was given not Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) out in a controversial decision when he was at 17. took strong note of Richardson's comments quacy of the system and rightly and shot off a letter to ICC chief so." executive Haroon Lorgat to "It was there for the world to express its displeasure about the see. For ICC's representative to UDRS. criticize a player for his post In his letter to Lorgat, BCCI sec- match press conference while the retary N. Srinivasan wrote: "BCCI World Cup is being played is tantakes strong objection to Mr. tamount to pressurizing the player. David Richardson criticizing the Mr. Richardson has no right to do Indian captain M.S.Dhoni. Mr. so. BCCI has strong reservations Richardson's comment that the about the statement made by Mr. Indian captain should know the Richardson. He should be instructrules is out of place. The Indian ed not to react in this fashion," captain only highlighted the inade- Srinivasan said.

Pak trying best to avoid playing in India

Colombo: In their bid to avoid intimidating Indian crowds in Ahmedabad and Mohali, venues of the quarterfinal and semi-final matches, Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi appealed to his team mates to give their best so that they top Group A and play their knock-out World Cup matches in Sri Lanka. Pakistan, champions in 1992, have made a good start in the tournament with two comprehensive wins against Kenya and tournament favorites Sri Lanka. Afridi wants his team to carry on their winning run as it will give them the much-needed confidence for the knock-out rounds. He also knows that it is also important for them to avoid playing in India before the final in Mumbai. "I want to play in India, but not before the final," he said. "The biggest reward for us if we topped our group is that we will get to play

Pakistan have made a good start in the World Cup with two comprehensive wins against Kenya and Sri Lanka. our quarterfinals here or in Dhaka. It is good for us either way. I want to play our quarterfinal in Sri Lanka or Bangladesh because we are completely used to the conditions and in neutral games we would even get the crowd support. But in India it is going to be a different story." Afridi said that in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, Pakistan will have the 'home advantage' as they won't be pitted against the home team.

Aussies laugh off spot-fixing charges

Colombo: The Australian team has strongly refuted media reports that the International Cricket Council (ICC) was investigating their opening World Cup match against Zimbabwe for potential spot-fixing. Australia's Brad Haddin laughed off the incident and dismissed suggestions that he and fellow opener Shane Watson were being investigated by the ICC over allegations of possible spot-fixing during the match against Zimbabwe. "It's quite a laughable story. It's a joke," Haddin told reporters after a net session at the Sinhalese Sports Club. "It's not a case (of spot-fixing). We just got off the mark a bit slowly." Team manager Steve Bernard also rubbished claims against both players and termed them "ludicrous". "This is the silliest thing I've heard this week - and I've heard a lot of silly things since I've been here," he said. "I am not sure how to respond to it. It is the most ludicrous thing I've ever heard in my life that a side can be 0-5 after two overs and that that's suspicious," Bernard said.

Brad Haddin has dismissed suggestions that he and fellow opener Shane Watson were being investigated by the ICC over allegations of spot-fixing.

ICC Cricket World Cup TheSouthAsianTimes.info

17

March 5-11, 2011

Dramatic tie for India-England

Bangalore: India and England shared the honors as their World Cup Group B encounter ended in a dramatic last-ball tie at the packed M. Chinnaswamy Stadium here on February 27. England skipper Andrew Strauss' career-best 158 nearly took England to a win. However, a late burst from Zaheer Khan (3/64) pulled back things for India, but poor fielding and dropped catches allowed the visitors to reach 338 for eight in 50 overs. England, chasing the big total, were cruising along with Strauss and Ian Bell (69) taking the score to 280/2. The two put on 170 runs but left in quick succession as Zaheer dismissed them in successive deliveries in the 43rd over and India bounced back in the match. England needed 29 runs off the out) heaved Munaf Patel for a huge six straight down the ground to bring down the equation to five runs to win from three deliveries. Graeme Swann held his nerve to tie the match for England. Opting to bat, India's total was built around batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar's 120, his 47th ODI century. Tendulkar was superbly assisted by Gautam Gambhir (51) and Yuvraj Singh (58) as India, for the second consecutive time, posted a 300-plus score in the 2011 World Cup. England were off to a good start with openers Kevin Pietersen (31) and Strauss adding 68 runs for the first wicket. Munaf took an excellent catch off his own bowling to remove Pietersen, who is the most successful English batsman on Indian soil. Earlier, pacer Bresnan was outstanding and picked up the wickets of Yusuf Pathan (14), Kohli (8) and Harbhajan Singh in four balls in the penultimate over to put a brake on India's run spree. Bresnan struck early to get rid of the dangerous Virender Sehwag, who raced to 35 off 26 balls, after wicketkeeper Matt Prior took a good one-handed catch. Tendulkar and Gambhir then joined the party with their 134-run stand for the second wicket and smashed the England bowlers all over the park. Yuvraj and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (31 off 25 balls) then came up with a 69-run stand, taking India past the 300-run mark. Yuvraj struck nine fours in his 50-ball innings while Dhoni struck three fours and a six.

Indian Captain M.S. Dhoni (l) and Virat Kohli (R) watch as England cricketer Andrew Strauss plays a shot during the match. last 12 balls. Graeme Swann (15 not out) and Tim Bresnan (14), who picked up five for 48, spanked legspinner Piyush Chawla for two sixes as 15 runs came from the penultimate over. Chawla, however, struck with his last ball to castle Bresnan. In the last over, England needed 14 runs and Ahmed Shehzad (6 not

Roach topples Netherlands with hat-trick

Zimbabwe crushes Canada

Nagpur: Zimbabwe spun a web around Canada, bowling them out for 123 to secure a 175-run victory in their Group A World Cup match at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium in Jamtha here on Feb 28. Tatenda Taibu (98) and Craig Ervine (85) helped Zimbabwe set a challenging 299-run target. Canada were never in the hunt with veteran left arm spinner Ray Price (3-16) and leg spinner Graeme Cremer (3-31) coming good with the ball. Off spinners Prosper Utseya and Greg Lamb took two wickets each. Zimbabwe thus logged their first points in the tournament, having lost to Australia by 91 runs in the first match. Canada have lost both their matches after going down earlier to Sri Lanka.

Tatenda Taibu plays a shot during the Group A match on February 28.

West Indies Kemar Roach brought a swift end to the Netherlands resistance. New Delhi: Fast bowler Kemar Roach took a stunning hat-trick and finished with a six-wicket haul as the West Indies crushed the Netherlands by 215 runs in a World Cup Group B contest at the Ferozeshah Kotla stadium here on Feb 28. Roach (6-27) worked up furious pace, taking the last three wickets that wrapped up the Dutch innings for 115 in 31.3 overs. The right-arm pacer trapped Piter Seelaar and Bernard Loots leg before and then crashed through Berend Westdijk's middle stump. Roach thus became the sixth bowler to take a hat-trick in a World Cup. It was also the first hat-trick of the ongoing edition and the eighth best overall bowling figures in a World Cup.The Dutch, a team of semi-professionals and playing in their fourth World Cup, were never in the hunt as the West Indies made merry against a blunt attack, piling up 330/8. Chris Gayle (80, 110 balls, 7x4, 2x6) and Devon Smith (53, 51b, 9x4) stitched a century opening stand to give a solid start. Ramnaresh Sarwan (49) anchored the innings in the middle overs and Kieron Pollard (60 off 27 balls) provided the late flourish. Chasing the big total, The Netherlands looked nowhere close to the side that gave England a mighty scare at Nagpur by scoring an impressive 292 and stretching the match to the last over.

Malinga zips through Kenya

Malinga (6-38) helped Sri Lanka bowl out Kenya for 142 before the hosts cruised to the target in 18.4 overs. The paceman's hat-trick came only a day after Kemar Roach's against the Netherlands on Feb 28. It was the seventh hat-trick of World Cup and Malinga's second, the only player to achieve the feat in the history of the tournament. His first hat-trick came in 2007 against South African where he took four wickets in four balls. After Malinga's exploits with the ball, Upul Tharanga (67) and Tillakaratne Dilshan (44) smashed 72 for the opening stand. Dilshan, who hit eight fours, was dismissed by Eljah Otieno. Tharanga, who knocked 12 fours, and Kumar Sangakkara (27) took Sri Lanka home. It was Sri Lanka's second victory in the tournament. They beat Canada in their opening match but were outsmarted by Pakistan in the second match.

Lasith Malinga brought the fragile Kenyan batting on its knees and became the first bowler to claim two World Cup hat-tricks. Colombo: Express-fast Lasith Malinga became the second player in as many days to claim a hattrick in 2011 World Cup as Sri Lanka thrashed Kenya by nine wickets in a Group A match here on March 1.

Betting on World Cup Rs 250 crore business in India

By Prakash Bhandari/SATimes Jaipur: The Pink City has emerged as a big betting center for cricket. The month long World Cup is a mega event for the bookies and money changing hands is skyrocketing. The Jaipur police last week arrested Rajendra Sindhi alias Raju, the kingpin of cricket betting (satta). On Sunday during the ding-dong battle between India and England for a crucial Pool B match, hectic activities were seen in several parts of the city regarded as the countrys biggest centre for cricket bookmakers. Estimates put the World Cup sattas Indian turnover at over Rs 250 crore, which is twice the turnover of last years IPL tournament. Jaipur is a major center for all kinds of betting from rains to cricket to election results - the number of seats each party will get and the winners and losers in key electoral battles, margin of victory and defeat. Gone are the days when the satorias (bookies) would take bets in person. Now state-ofthe art technology is in play. On several occasions, the police on raiding premises of the satta operators, found digital disks of deals. In Jaipur's Johari Bazaar, nerve centre of the satta business, people indulging in betting are very well informed. They know everything that's going on in politics as well as in cricket. Sports betting in the country is confined to cricket and horse racing. But in Rajasthan, cricket rules the roost. Whenever India clash with Pakistan, betting reaches its peak, said a bookie. The bookies operate under various aliases and fictitious names. Although Mumbai is considered to be the nerve centre of satta, operators go on changing the place from where the rates emerge. Once the rate is established, mobiles will start buzzing and the satorias from all over India will be in touch with famous names in Mumbai's satta business--Sobhan Mehta, Lakshmi Thanna, Virendra Boriviliwala, Kothari, Lalji Indore and Chottey Mian. These people will be accepting bets through hotlines and secret mobile numbers using coded language. The satorias of Jaipur will also be hooked to Delhi where big time operators like Mukesh Dilli, Anand Dilli, Ruby Dilli and Pritam Dilli will be in action for cricket sattas. These satorias are a powerful lobby, which made match-fixing fashionable and they went to the extent of "buying" players, Indian as well as foreign, to bat and bowl according to their command.

18

Cricket Nostalgia TheSouthAsianTimes.info

March 5-11, 2011

Meeting three Knights of Cricket

By Kris Raman

rivileged I am that I have met three cricket greats: Sir Donald Bradman in 1998, Sir Garfield Sobers in 1966 and Sir Vivian Richards in 1992 - one a true blue dinky di Aussie, the other a Barbados born West Indian oozing charisma, charm and talents and the third, popular Antiguan Master blaster. The trio are Cricket Royalty but they differed in every other aspect of their personality. Don, a compiler of runs in methodical, ruthless efficiency without flamboyance or showmanship, was a recluse; Gary, the wanderer, was an elegant left-hander but unpredictable, and Richards was truly the master blaster. A comparison of their abilities is unfair because factors impinging on the game keep changing: uncovered pitches of older era, no protective gear for batsmen, no third umpire or hawks eye, poor match fees, travel difficulties as against modern day conditions.

Gary Sobers visited India in 1966 and had a whirlwind romance with young actress Anju Mahendru but denied getting engaged to her. he showed in his speech. Delectable in his utterances, he advised budding players to play with the bat and not with the pads. Speaking on his famous six sixes in six balls (Glamorgan, 1968) he said though Nash received the punishment in the field, he flourished in fame and fortune as a professional function speaker mainly speaking on the thrashing he received from Gary. his words. A genial person, he deplored the downward spiralling of modern day cricket, with the players more keen on making money than anything else. The don of cricket spoke highly about Sachin Tendulkar and said that he should give up using a heavy bat. He is a little man and with timing and the gift of keen eye and coordination, a light-weight willow will do the job, and massive bats like the ones used by Lloyd and Viv Richards were not needed. If not, elbow and back problem will set in sooner than later. He spoke lightly of scoring 309 at the Leeds Test of 1930 against a powerful English team (He just missed three separate hundreds in three sessions of the day). A lifetime Test average of 99.94 is a clear indication that he was a run amassing machine. True, no cricketer can clearly be defined by a statistic and an adjective. It is unbelievable to realize that during his entire playing career, on every third trip to the pitch he scored a hundred. At Blackheath he scored a hundred in three eight-ball overs! When he made a rare low score, papers reported, Bradman after all is human. The top Test averages ever are: Bradman (99.94), Pollock (60.97), Headley (60.83), Sutcliffe (60.73) and the tenth in order is Tendulkar (56.55 or around that figure). The difference between Don and the next best (Pollock of South Africa) is 38.97 career Test average runs. I believe he shall stay on the top of his lofty perch forever.

Gary Sobers
It was 1966 and the West Indian team was on a visit to India. I managed to get a stadium ticket queuing a whole night but later on I was convinced that it was worth the trouble. I witnessed the Brabourne Stadium Test, which the inimitable Garfield Sobers brought to life with a fifty or so in the first innings. In the second dig he blasted another classy half ton, but raced through that to be in time for Mahalakshmi Race Course opening. Sobers was a chronic gambler who took unbelievable risks in life and in sports. In the Bombay Test, he also took five wickets and three blinding catches. He was merciless on the mighty spin trio of India, especially in the second innings. Newspapers glorified his exploits on the field as well as his Race Course appointment. His whirlwind romance with a budding cine screen beauty Anju Mahendru, 17, too was talk of the town. It was then that I was asked to see Gary at his luxurious Sun & Sand Hotel in Juhu. It was noon when I arrived at his hotel, but Gary was only finishing his morning coffee. After a warm handshake, I congratulated him for his brilliant display of all-round abilities during the Test match. He took the compliment with a gentle smile. He, however, dodged the rumours of his engagement with Anju with a straight bat. Cricket matters he discussed candidly. He looked a bit grumpy to start with, may be the result of late night parties he had been having, which I understood he was fond of. Gary emphasized regular, dedicated and intense practice for cricketers, but ironically I never saw him on the ground where his teammates would be jogging, doing net practice, etc. I mused he was so talented that the general rules were not applicable to him. I bid him good-bye after 20 minutes or so and the next time I met him was at his book launch in Sydney in 2004. He had greyed, gained some weight and his limp was much pronounced. But his charisma, majestic presence, powerful and dashing personality was well and truly there. He spoke at the launch eloquently, full of humour, often self-deprecatory. He was never reluctant to use his tongue like a whiplash, some glimpses of it

Don Bradman

hitting a golf ball with a stump coming back at him in varying trajectories from a corrugated water tank for hours to sharpen his reflexes). Gary was lazy. Bradman was like a chess player who planned his moves mentally in advance. He dictated where he wanted the ball to go and there were innings in which he hit the ball along the ground without skying even one hit. Gary held the bowling at the scruff of the neck and tried to hit the bowls out of the paddock in a cavalier fashion. He succeeded too because of the God given gifts of eyesight, timing, choice of stroke at will, tremendous physical strength and extraordinary quickness of mental reaction. Don was a private person unlike Gary who was party animal surrounded by glamorous women. Except for some who were jealous of Dons greatness, no adverse comments were ever aired about him by even the harshest gossipers. Gary was a powerful player, but Viv Richards was the superior in some ways. In his heyday, when every other batsman wore a helmet, this cocky cricketer refused to don one. His ready answer was that he had the willow and it should be put to good use. Moreover, I am not too keen to appear in a fancy head dress. Bradman, in 52 Tests, scored 6,996 runs at an average of 99.94, Sobers, in 93 Tests, scored 8,032 runs at 57.78 run average and Richards, in 12 Tests, scored 8,053 runs at an average of 51.29 runs. Gary also opened the bowling with his left arm fast, and could swing the ball at will, unsettling most batsmen facing him. He also bowled left arm orthodox and brilliant Chinaman-concealed googly. He was a brilliant close in fielder. I understand he had a great wicket keeping ability too, which he did not pursue. With over 8,000 Test runs (average 57.78), 235 wickets, and over 100 catches, I would class Gary Sobers as not only the greatest allrounder, but the greatest entertaining player of all time. I must say that Bradmans innings were not swashbuckling and had less excitement value. Vivian was a whirlwind hitter, a useful bowler with a smart thinking cricket brain. Enough of comparisons! The author lives in Sydney, Australia.

The author with Don Bradman in 1998. The Don advised Tendulkar to stop using a heavy bat and deplored the growing money-mindedness in modern cricket. Meeting Bradman face to face was one of my life-long wishes. After a wait of decades, he agreed to meet me at his home in Adelaide. He gave me only two days notice to travel from Sydney. Fortunately, the lodging I found in Adelaide was next to his home. I rang him as soon as I landed there and he called me home straight away. He looked frail, short yet dapper and spoke with a shrill high pitched voice and very articulate in true Ocker style. He moved slowly in a shuffled walk. A man of few words, Don then lived like a recluse without his wife who had passed away leaving a big vacuum. He was assisted by a loyal housemaid named Mrs Jacob. His handshake was firm, he looked at me and I could see sparks in his eyes. We chit-chatted about cricket in general and he did not mince

Vivian Richards
Sir Vivian was of a different mould. He was powerfully built, stubby bearded with the neck of a Rugby League Front rower. Chewing gum without break, I shall never forget his handshake. My tiny hand went inside his big pouch like hand full of rough callus, when his all mighty squeeze brought a parade of stars before my eyes. He had a friendly smile and blood-shot eyes. Richards could be described as a master batsman, record breaker and entertainer who always gave the crowd their moneys worth, and sent them home with a spectacle to remember and a tale to tell. Comparisons Bradman was a firm believer in rigorous batting and fielding practice (remember him

Vivian Richards in his heyday in 1992. When every other batsman wore a helmet, this cocky cricketer refused to appear in a fancy head-dress.

India Newswire TheSouthAsianTimes.info

19

March 5-11, 2011

Noose for 11 in Godhra case

Ahmedabad: A special court has sent to the gallows 11 people and gave life imprisonment to 20 others for the February 2002 burning of a train coach in Gujarat's Godhra town that killed 59 radical Hindu activists and triggered a communal frenzy claiming 1,000 lives in the state. The sentence was pronounced by special judge P.R. Patel in the special court within the high-security Sabarmati prison here. The 20 accused have to undergo life imprisonment for 20 years, excluding the period they have already spent in jail. The 31 people were convicted Feb 22 and held guilty of conspiring and setting on fire the S-6 coach of the Sabarmati Express near the Godhra railway station on Feb 27, 2002. The train, carrying many 'karsevaks' (Hindu volunteers), was on its way back from Uttar Pradesh's temple town Ayodhya. The 31 men were held guilty of various crimes including murder, attempt to murder, dacoity, robbery and arson. The court had people were sentenced to death in a single case in India since a judge handed down capital punishment in January 1998 to 26 people for former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi's assassination. Special public prosecutor J.M. Panchal said those sentenced would have 90 days to appeal. "According to the criminal procedure code, life sentence is of 20 years but the state can limit the sentence to 14 years," he said The case of the 11 awarded the death sentence will be sent to the Gujarat High Court for reference as statutory provisions rule that capital punishment has to be confirmed by the high court. Defense lawyer I.M. Munshi said: "It's very difficult to accept the judgment. We are going to appeal in the high court." The Godhra train burning sparked the worst riots since partition with at least 1,000 people being killed, mostly Muslims, in the weeks that followed.

This is the first time so many people were sentenced to death in a single case in India since a judge handed down capital punishment in January 1998 to 26 people for former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi's assassination. acquitted 63 others, including alleged mastermind Maulvi Umarji. Those sentenced to death are Ismail Sujela alias Haji Bilal, Razak Kurkur, Ramzani Binyamin Behra, Jabbir Binyamin Behra, Mehboob Hassan alias Latiko, Siraj Bala, Irfan Kalandar, Irfan Patadia, Hassan Lalu, Mehboob Chanda and Salim Zarda. The court awarded capital punishment to the 11 by considering their crime to be in the "rare of the rare" category. While the prosecution sought death for the 31 convicted, arguing that it was the "rarest of rare case", the defense appealed that the convicts be spared the noose and sentenced to life in prison. This is the first time so many

Godhra verdict hollow: Activists

New Delhi: Prominent rights activist Swami Agnivesh has termed the sentencing of 11 people to death and 20 others to life imprisonment in the Godhra trainburning as a "hollow verdict based on dubious evidence" while prominent lawyer Prashant Bhushan demanded a re-investigation of the case. "The whole verdict appears to be weak as it is based on dubious evidence of a single person," Agnivesh was quoted as saying. He recalled that the media had exposed the loopholes in the Godhra conspiracy theory. Meanwhile, Prashant Bhushan demanded a re-investigation into the case. "It is a totally wrong verdict, based on wrong evidence," Bhushan said.

Ramdev's tirade against corruption continues

Dimapur: Yoga guru Baba Ramdev left quite an impression on a large number of people at Kohima at his yoga camp recently and also through his sermons on corruption, education and black money. Targeting the Congress, Ramdev categorically pointed out there has been rampant corruption under the party's regime in the past 50 years, which needs to be investigated. Talking to mediapersons at Kohima, the yoga guru said that the country is facing grave danger due to corruption and "black money", which need to be looked into very seriously by passing of stringent laws. He suggested that strict laws should be made in the country and black money should be recalled; the pending UN convention should be ratified by the Union Cabinet and sent back; licenses of foreign banks in India should be immediately cancelled; foreign account policy should be made public and the route to Mauritius should be closed. Baba Ramdev alleged that the Congress has sold off the country in a planned manner by introducing bigger currency here, thereby leading to corruption and black money. He said bigger currency should be stopped from circulation in order to stop corruption and discourage people from making black money. To a query on the Congress's demand that the yoga guru should first make his sources of earnings

SC orders reinstatement of ED sleuths

Yoga guru Baba Ramdev. known before levelling charges of corruption against the political party, Ramdev said he has given all the accounts to the government from the very first day and the latter should initiate a probe into the matter. "I have never refused any investigation. Let the government conduct an inquiry," he said. However, he advocated that an investigation should be carried out against the Congress, which, according to him, has looted the country for the past 50 years.

Pune businessman Hasan Ali Khan is accused of stashing money abroad. New Delhi: The Supreme Court has came down heavily on the Centre for failing to crack the whip on black money hoarders and ordered forthwith reinstatement of three key ED officials allegedly transferred midway into the probe in a case of foreign exchange law violation by Pune businessman Hasan Ali Khan. A bench of justices B Sudershan Reddy and SS Nijjar also indicated that if the government fails to act, it would be compelled to appoint a special officer for supervising the probe against the offenders. The apex court also wanted to know what prevented the government from subjecting Khan and other alleged black money launderers to custodial interrogation. Khan, who is alleged to have stashed around $ 8 billion in foreign banks, had been earlier served tax notice for about Rs 50,000 crore. The court castigated the government for failing to interrogate Khan and other alleged offenders despite having sufficient material in the possession of investigators.

Sri Sri backs Ramdev

Jaipur: Art of Living propounder and renowned Spiritual Guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has endorsed Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev's ongoing crusade against corruption. Talking to mediapersons, Sri Sri said "It is the duty of the Government to retrieve black money stashed in tax havens, foreign banks and countries by a number of Indians". However, instead of initiatives for bringing back Indian money the Government was not ready even to disclose the names of such people, he said. The spiritual guru also held that "it was due to wrong policies of the Government, that Indian money which otherwise could have been utilised for the welfare of poor, is stashed in foreign banks".

20

India Newswire TheSouthAsianTimes.info

March 5-11, 2011

P.J. Thomas quits as CVC

New Delhi: In the latest blow to the Manmohan Singh government, Central Vigilance Commissioner P.J. Thomas quit after the Supreme Court struck down his appointment for his alleged involvement in a corruption scandal and raised the issue of "institutional integrity". Six months after the Kerala bureaucrat was named as head of the country's anti-corruption watchdog, the Supreme Court said the appointment by a high-powered panel, consisting of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Home Minister P. Chidambaram and opposition leader Sushma Swaraj, did not exist in law. Responding to the ruling, Manmohan Singh said: "I respect the court judgment and I will speak in the house." Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sushma Swaraj had placed her opposition to his appointment on record at a Sep 3, 2010 meeting. But the government overruled the opposition and appointed him to the post. An apex court bench headed by Chief Justice S.H. Kapadia was giving its verdict on a petition by plies secretary in 1992 when the alleged palm oil scam took place. A case was registered in 1999, accusing Thomas and others of criminal conspiracy and causing a loss of Rs.2.32 crore to the exchequer. They were accused of importing 15,000 tonnes of palm oil from Malaysia at an inflated price for distribution through fair price shops. The apex court said institutional integrity and functioning were more important than personal integrity though both were related. It said it was incumbent upon the high-powered committee to keep in mind the institutional integrity while making the recommendation of the CVC and it should be according to the law. The ruling - the latest blow to the government fighting a series of corruption scandals, including on the allocation of 2G spectrum and the Commonwealth Games provided the opposition just the ammunition it was looking for. The BJP and the Janata DalUnited (JD-U) said the Supreme Court decision was a victory against corruption. They called for Chidambaram's resignation on moral grounds. "As home minister, his duty was to present the right facts but they concealed facts on the allegations against Thomas," BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi said outside parliament, where the budget session is in progress. "Even when (Sushma Swaraj) brought it to their notice that Thomas' name was involved in a corruption case, they ignored it," he said. Toeing the same line, Janata Dal-United leader Sharad Yadav said the step was a victory for the movement against corruption. "The home minister should take moral responsibility and resign. The removal of CVC is a victory for the movement against corruption," he said. Communist Party of India leader D. Raja said: "It was a government elected CVC as the main opposition party was opposed to him, so it is a blow to the government." Communist Party of IndiaMarxist (CPI-M) leader Sitaram Yechury added that the prime minister must explain the government's stance.

P.J. Thomas was Kerala's civil supplies secretary in 1992 when the alleged palm oil scam took place. the Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL) challenging Thomas' appointment. The petitioner had said that Thomas, a 1973 batch Indian Administrative Service officer of Kerala cadre who was earlier the telecom secretary, was facing a criminal chargesheet in a case related to palm oil import in Kerala and that he was not an "outstanding civil servant of impeccable integrity". "We are not in any position to say anything now. He has tendered his resignation and the Supreme Court also held his appointment illegal," Law Minister M. Veerappa Moily told reporters. He denied that the order had left the government red faced as the appointment was made by a panel of which opposition leader Sushma Swaraj was a part. Thomas was Kerala's civil sup-

Minister quits over Telangana issue

63 quizzed in spectrum scam: CBI

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has been told that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has till now interrogated 63 people in connection with the 2G spectrum scam. An apex court bench of Justice G.S. Singhvi and Justice A.K. Ganguly was informed by the central government that on its suggestion for setting up a special court to try cases arising out of the scam, the Delhi High Court chief justice had been approached and a reply was awaited. The court told the government to get back to it with a definite answer by March 15. The judges were hearing a petition filed by Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy seeking the cancellation of licenses of telecom operators who failed to fulfill their 2G rollout obligations. The government said that the rule of first-come-first-served was bent to make the entire process of allocation of second generation (2G) licenses and spectrum arbitrary. Attorney General G. Vahanvati told the court that in his earlier role as the solicitor general during the first tenure of the United Progressive Alliance government, the matter relating to specHe said he was only associated with some general discussions. Vahanvati said as the solicitor general, he was engaged in cases before the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) and the Delhi High Court. He said that he had tendered his opinion to the government. He said that the critical para wherein he said that if two licence applicants complied with the requirements of the letter of intent (issued by the communications ministry) at the same time, the grant of 2G licence should be decided on the basis of who was first in applying.

A pro-Telangana protester. Hyderabad: Unhappy over the delay in the formation of a separate Telangana state, a minister in Andhra Pradesh cabinet sent his resignation to Congress president Sonia Gandhi. Other ministers and MPs from the region said they would decide on whether to quit after meeting the central leadership. Minister for endowments J. Krishna Rao resigned a day after party MP Kavuri Sambasiva Rao challenged party leaders from Telangana to quit if they were sincere in their commitment for a separate state. Krishna Rao urged Congress president to immediately take steps for carving out a Telangana state from Andhra Pradesh, said sources in the party. Other ministers from Telangana like K. Venkat Reddy and Basvaraj Saraiah said they would take a decision about resignations after meeting the central leadership to demand a bill in parliament for formation of Telangana state. A meeting of Congress MPs from Telangana was on in Delhi to take a decision on resignations. Immediately after Sambasiva Rao's challenge Wednesday, MP from Nalgonda G. Sukhender Reddy had said he was ready to quit. Sambasiva Rao's remarks triggered war of words between the party leaders from Telangana and Andhra regions. The MP made the remarks after a group of Telangana lawyers staged a sit-in outside his house in Hyderabad, protesting the proposed meeting of leaders from Andhra and Rayalaseema regions to oppose the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.

Attorney General G. Vahanvati. trum allocation never came to him.

2G: Apex court questions UPA

New Delhi: The Supreme Court asked the government to reveal what happened between March 5, 2010, when telecom company S Tel's second generation (2G) licenses were cancelled, and April 15, 2010, when they were restored. An apex court bench of Justice G.S. Singhvi and Justice A.K. Ganguly sought the details after studying the documents that were presented by the government. The court had summoned the documents after it was alleged that S Tel was forced into submission and told to withdraw its plea from the apex court seeking grant of 2G licenses in certain circles. Due to the advancing of the cutoff date from Oct 1, 2007 to Sep 25, 2007 through two press releases issued Jan 10, 2008, S Tel did not get licenses in circles where it had applied after Sep 25, 2007.

Diaspora TheSouthAsianTimes.info

21

March 5-11, 2011

Over 100 Hindu rights activists arrested in Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur: Malaysian police Sunday arrested more than 100 members of a Hindu rights group for participating in an 'illegal' rally here to protest against a controversial school textbook they say has elements derogatory to ethnic Indians. Those arrested included eight women and belong to the Human Rights Party (HRP), an offshoot of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf). City police chief Zulkifli Abdullah said police had to act to maintain order and security within the city, The Star reported on its website. 'It is regrettable but we had advised them multiple times not to go forward with it. It shows that they have no respect for the law,' he said at a press conference. 'Interlok' issue were an isolated group. The arrests were made as the protesters walked from the Rennaisance Hotel to the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) in small groups. HRP president P. Uthayakumar was arrested when leaving his residence at Pantai Hill Park here at 8 a.m. and taken to the Hang Tuah police station, the report said. It is learnt that those arrested were taken to the Sentul police headquarters. Earlier, a crowd had gathered in front of the hotel, preparing to march towards the KLCC. Two men were initially arrested near the hotel as they walked towards the KLCC. The main crowd was contained by police at the hotel. Meanwhile, about 100 people have gathered outside Sentul Police Headquarters in Jinjang saying that they intend to camp there until the arrested leaders, including Uthayakumar, are released. Uthayakumar's wife, S. Indradevi, is also among them. Police declined to confirm or deny that the leaders were being held at the police station.

Malaysian PM disapproves of protests

Kuala Lumpur: Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak criticized the demonstration Sunday by the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) as 'a deliberate move to create bad publicity for Malaysia in the international media.' 'We do not want to be hard on them but they are hoping the police will use violence against them and it will be good stuff for the international media to exploit,' the prime minister was quoted as saying by The Star. He justified the arrest of leaders of the Human Rights Party (HRP) as they had organized 'an illegal gathering' to protest. 'The government is in the midst of helping them and a lot has been done,' he said.

The Malay language novel 'Interlok' has been criticized by the HRP, which says its text includes elements derogatory to Indians. Of the 109 arrested, aged 18-66, eight are believed to be the leaders of the group. Zulkifli said that the group which participated in Sunday's illegal gathering to protest the

Over 7,000 Indians to be back from Libya by Thursday

New Delhi: Nearly 7,000 of 18,000 Indians living in Libya will be evacuated when four special Air India flights will bring back home 1,188 Indians from neighbouring Egypt. Three flights - two Boeing 747s and one Airbus-330 - brought back 1,045 Indians from Tripoli early Wednesday. Another three flights have left for Tripoli and are expected to ferry back 1,002 people. Three daily flights shall continue to Tripoli over the coming days and these may be stepped up, said the external affairs ministry Wednesday. MV Scotia Prince, a ship chartered by the Indian government, is likely to reach Alexandria in Egypt around 8 p.m. (11.30 p.m. India time) Wednesday with 1,188 people. Four special flights will bring them to India Thursday. 'By the end of today (Wednesday), 6,177 Indian nationals will have been pulled out of Libya. This constitutes just over a third of the estimated 18,000 Indian nationals in Libya,' the ministry said. The government has faced criticism that it has been slow in evacuating its citizens from Libya compared to countries like the US and China. Air India Wednesday said it had brought back 2,200 Indians from Tripoli since it began evacuation operations Feb 26. Meanwhile, Jet Airways will operate its first flight to Tripoli later Wednesday. Jet will operate a Boeing 737-800 aircraft from Delhi to Libya, with a passenger capacity of 178.

Sikh TV CEO Gagandip murdered in Britain

London: A promising young businessman of Indian origin was found murdered in the boot of a burning car in London, police said. Two people were arrested in connection with the case. Gagandip Singh, 21, was president of the British and Sikh Student Federation and one of the owners of new broadcaster Sikh TV, the Daily Mail reported Monday. Neighbors Sunday night suggested that his death may be linked to the murder of his father in India two years ago. Police did not say if this is part of their ongoing probe. Friends described the entrepreneur as a rising star in the Sikh community of his hometown in southeast London and a 'politician in the making'. Detectives are questioning a 19-year-old woman and a 19-year-old man on suspicion of murder, the Mail reported citing the Scotland Yard. His body was discovered with serious head injuries of arranging his sister's marriage. A source close to the family said: 'This was brutal. Absolutely brutal, the way he was killed. To be put in a boot and it to be set on fire is terrifying and horrific.' Police found the burning blue Mercedes C-class car in a quiet lane off a dual carriageway in Blackheath early Sunday and called the fire brigade. The victim was found inside the car a short while later. Detective chief inspector Damian Allain, from the Metropolitan Police Homicide and Serious Crime Command, said: 'We are appealing for anyone who was in or around the Angerstein Lane area that may have seen this car either arrive or seen anyone acting suspiciously as the car was left ablaze to contact us.' 'We already know that the car was last seen around 5.30 p.m. in southeast London, so we are also appealing to anyone who can help us identify how the car came to be in Angerstein Lane.'

Kuwait's Indian embassy sets model to help workers in distress

Kuwait City: It is a model that other Indian embassies in the Gulf region could emulate while dealing with problems of Indian workers, particularly women, in distress. The Indian embassy in Kuwait, which serves an estimated 640,000 expatriates in the Gulf state, has evolved a system that provides comfort, security and dignity to the worker in distress. Ambassador Ajai Malhotra said while the Indian community is present in most segments of society in Kuwait, the embassy's welfare thrust is primarily focused on addressing the concerns of workers. Since April 2009 the embassy has been accommodating a number of Indian domestic workers, including housemaids, houseboys, cooks and drivers, who face problems on their work front. Apart from ensuring their shelter, the mission has also been addressing their grievances, Malhotra said. 'They are given a kit containing new clothes, toiletries, bunk beds with new bedding and regular meals during their stay. They can also watch TV and listen to music,' Malhotra told HT Media. According to Malhotra, workers who are repatriated are given the air ticket from Kuwait to the airport nearest to their home in India, Rs.3,000 for incidental expenses, a suitcase and new set of clothes. 'The idea is that they must return to India with a higher sense of dignity,' he pointed out. The ambassador said it was mostly women who came seeking shelter at the embassy with some problem or the other and they stay there for an average of four to five weeks. At present there are 50 women and two men in the embassy's shelter. It accommodated 585 domestic workers in 2010. The embassy has worked out a system to shelter the workers in distress. The funds for the shelter come from a fixed upfront payment made by sponsors who want to avail the services of Indian workers. The money goes to an outsourced company, which is responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the facility. According to Malhotra, the ministry of overseas Indian affairs is keen to replicate the Kuwait embassy model to help Indian workers in distress in other Gulf countries

Gagandip Singhs father was victim of contract killing in India two years ago after a fierce blaze ripped through the dumped Mercedes in south London, the report said. Singh's father, Charanjit Singh, was shot dead in the Indian state of Punjab in 2009 outside a hotel. Indian Police believe the wealthy businessman was the victim of a contract killing after he had travelled to the subcontinent for a wedding. Since his father's death, it is believed he had taken over the role of head of the family and was even in the process

22

Subcontinent TheSouthAsianTimes.info

March 5-11, 2011

Pak minorities minister, a Christian, shot dead

A file photo of Shahbaz Bhatti. islation to protect places of worship, but it was during the military dictatorship of General Mohammad Zia ul-Haq in the 1980s that it acquired teeth as part of a drive to Islamize the state. Under the law, anyone who speaks ill of Islam and the Prophet Mohammad commits a crime and faces the death penalty, but activists say the vague terminology has led to its misuse.

People rally to condemn the death of Pakistan's Federal Minister for Minority Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti in Karachi on March 2. Islamabad: Pakistani minister for minorities Shahbaz Bhatti, who had called for changes in the country's controversial blasphemy law, was killed in a gun attack in Islamabad on March 2, officials said. Police said the shooting took place near an Islamabad market. Bhatti was the only Christian in the Pakistani cabinet. "The initial reports are that there were three men who attacked him. He was probably shot using a Kalashnikov, but we are trying to ascertain what exactly happened," said Islamabad

A paramilitary soldier examines the damaged car of slain Pakistan's minister Shahbaz Bhatti on March 2. police chief Wajid Durrani. A hospital spokesman said Bhatti had several bullet wounds. The anti-blasphemy law has been in the spotlight since last November, when a court sentenced a Christian mother of four to death. On Jan 4 the governor of the most populous province of Punjab, Salman Taseer, who had strongly opposed the law and sought presidential pardon for the 45-year-old Christian farmhand, was gunned down by one of his bodyguards. The anti-blasphemy law has its roots in 19th-century colonial leg-

Remembering the Bamiyan Buddhas

Paris: UNESCO will commemorate the 10th anniversary of the tragic destruction of the giant Buddha statues of Bamiyan with a forum on the event and a two-day experts meeting which will examine ways to preserve and present to the public the Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley. Ahead of the 10th anniversary, the Director-General, who will open the commemoration at UNESCO Headquarters urged the international community to protect the heritage of humanity from damage or destruction; turmoil, political appropriation and theft: Ten years ago UNESCO and the international community watched helplessly the destruction of the remarkable Buddha statues of Bamiyan. The two monumental statues had stood for one and a half millennia as proud testimonies to the greatness of our shared humanity. They were destroyed in the context of the conflict devas-

Lanka warned over war crimes

The archaeological remains of the Bamiyan Valley in Afghanistan are inscribed on UNESCOs World Heritage List. tating Afghanistan and to undermine the power of culture as a cohesive force for the Afghan people. Since then, we have witnessed other instances where cultural heritage has fallen prey to conflict, political turmoil and misappropriation. All of us, governments, educators and the media, must raise awareness of the standards set by the World Heritage Convention of 1972, the Hague Convention on the Protection of Cultural Properties in the Event of Armed Conflict and its Protocol, and the Convention on

the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property. Tolerance and cultural rapprochement was the theme of a commemorative forum at UNESCO on 2 March, followed by the 9th Bamiyan Expert Working Group on March 3 and 4, both of which are being organized with Afghanistans Permanent Delegation to UNESCO.

Sri Lanka risks a forced international investigation on war crimes, according to a top US official.

Bangladesh sacks Nobel winner Younus

obel laureate Mohammed Younus, a celebrated pioneer of micro-finance was forced out from the Grameen Bank, he founded nearly three decades ago, amid a growing spat with the Bangladesh government, officials said on March 2. Younus was relieved of his duties as Managing Director of the Grameen Bank, a central bank official said. We have sent a letter to him (Younus) containing the Bangladesh Bank decision. he said. The exit of the Nobel laureate came after accusations that he had

Nobel laureate Moham med Younus.

violated countrys retirement law. But Grameen Bank contested the claim and said it was seeking legal advice and Younus would continue to hold the post.

The micro-financiers firing caps a running battle with the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in recent months, during which he has faced a defamation suit by a local politician alleging that he misappropriated Norwegian development funds. Hasina and Younus recently had a verbal dual when he suggested that he should form his own political party. Following which, Hasina accused Younus of treating the Grameen Bank as his personal property and claimed that the group was sucking blood from the poor.

he US has warned Sri Lanka to apply international standards to its probe into the deaths of civilians in the final months of its civil war. Washington says that if this is not done, there will be pressure to appoint an international body for the purpose. It is the strongest human rights warning sent by the US to Sri Lanka since the government's final war victory over the Tamil Tigers in 2009. The warning has come from Robert Blake, an assistant secretary of state. He was ambassador in Sri Lanka when the war ended. In an interview with the AFP news agency, Mr Blake cited the United Nations estimation that

"many thousands" of civilians were killed in the final few months of the war. He said the Obama administration still hoped that Sri Lanka's own domestic means of looking into these deaths would be effective - a reference to a commission that has been quizzing hundreds of people since last August on the causes and final course of the war. But, said Mr Blake, if Sri Lanka was not willing to meet international standards regarding these matters, there would be pressure for an international commission to be appointed. His remarks coincide with the start of the UN Human Rights Council's latest session in Geneva.

International TheSouthAsianTimes.info

23

March 5-11, 2011

Libya: Foreign intervention must?

Tripoli/Cairo: Tension ran high in the Libyan capital Tripoli on March 3 as protesters undergoing military training in the east of the country said they would march on the city and the possibility of foreign intervention loomed. A fuel tanker also exploded in Tripoli on the morning of March 2. Amidst the panic, residents clashed with foreign reporters at the scene, forcing some of them back to their hotel, Al Jazeera reported. It was not yet clear whether the fuel truck's explosion was an intentional act or an accident. Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and his security forces remain largely in control of the city, after losing the eastern part of the country to protesters. The eastern city Ajdabiya reportedly remained under the control of the protesters despite airstrikes by Gaddafi's security forces.

A woman stands with other opponents of the government of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi outside the Libyan Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York City on February 23. In the city of Benghazi, protesters undergoing military training at makeshift camps said they planned to march on Tripoli. The leaders of the camps say there are around 5,000 volunteers being trained, according to Al Jazeera. Reports that two US warships passed through the Suez Canal into the Mediterranean escalated concerns regarding foreign intervention in Libya. US Defense Secretary Robert

A Tunisian National guard member sets up razor wire as Egyptian,Tunisian and Libyan refugees are gathered in Ras Ajdir at the Tunisia-Libya border on March 1. Gates said the ships were being sent for possible humanitarian efforts, and warned that "all of the options beyond the humanitarian assistance and evacuation are complex". The Arab League was due to meet in Cairo on March 2 to put out a statement rejecting any foreign military intervention in Libya. The League suspended Libya's membership last month over Gaddafi's violent crackdowns on protesters.

Gaddafi vows to fight to the last man

Tripoli: Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has vowed to fight to the "last man and last woman" to defend his country. Calling on the UN and NATO to investigate the facts about what had happened in Libya, Gaddafi said he saw a conspiracy to colonize Libya and seize its oil, Xinhua reported on March 2. Addressing his supporters at a televised public rally in Tripoli, Gaddafi reiterated that the people exercised their authority through popular committees and popular conferences and he was merely a "symbol". "People are standing behind their symbol leader," he said, insisting He rued that the demonstrations in his support him were not being shown by the international media, adding that he was "not following any satellite television (channel)". Gaddafi's speech was interrupted several times by chanting by his supporters, saying that they swore they would not abandon him. He also said that oil production in the North African country was now "at its lowest" due to unrest flamed by what he called Al Qaeda "cells." "Libya has not fallen, it is them who will fall," Gaddafi said, adding that all those who had launched the attacks against his regime would be investigated and punished.

Emergency airlifts on Libyan border

Muammar Gaddafi. that he has handed over authority to the Libyan people since 1977.

German minister resigns in plagiarism row

became embroiled in a plagiarism scandal last month. Guttenberg had been under increasing political pressure following revelations that more than 100 pages of his 475-page doctoral thesis had been copied from other works without citation. Bayreuth University, which gave Guttenberg top marks for his dissertation, is investigating whether he deliberately tried to mislead examiners by passing off others' work as his own - a charge the minister has denied. Last week, the university stripped the minister of his doctoral title - at his own behest - but he had so far survived calls for his resignation and still enjoyed Merkel's backing. Merkel had earlier in the day unexpectedly interrupted her visit to the opening of the CeBIT computer trade fair in Hannover to conduct a lengthy telephone conversation. Guttenberg has frequently been cited as Germany's most popular minister, even ahead of Merkel.

A resident of Ghana displays a piece of paper mentioning his nationality as he waits with other refugees to enter Tunisia on the Libya-Tunisia border in Ras Ajdir, Tunisia, on March 1. Geneva: Britain, Spain, France and others launched emergency airlifts along Libya's borders on March 2, trying to prevent racially charged attacks on the tens of thousands of foreign workers try to flee. More than 140,000 refugees have already poured into Tunisia and Egypt from Libya and thousands more are arriving by the day. U.N. experts warned that fast action was needed to protect and feed them before the exodus turned into a fullblown humanitarian crisis. Human Rights Watch warned that African workers fleeing the violence are "particularly under threat due to popular anger" over Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafis mercenaries. Prime Minister David Cameron said Britain had begun an airlift to help Egyptians stranded on the Libyan-Tunisian border get back home. The British planes, departing from Djerba, Tunisia, will help evacuate up to 8,800 Egyptian migrants to Cairo."These people shouldn't be kept in transit camps," Cameron said.More than 75,000 people have crossed into Tunisia since Feb. 19, officials said, the vast majority of them Egyptians.

Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg. Berlin: German Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg resigned on March 1, after he

24

Business TheSouthAsianTimes.info

March 5-11, 2011

Obama for investment in education, innovation

Washington: Citing growing competition from India and China, US President Barack Obama has warned against more tax breaks to the wealthy to find resources for investment in education, innovation and infrastructure. Talking to visiting governors of both parties Monday, he said the comUS President Barack Obama. promise he struck with Republicans last year on almost a decade," he said, noting extending tax cuts to everyone - that the world is more connected including the rich - has already and more competitive than ever made Americans' paycheques 'big- before. ger' and allowed businesses to "When each of you tries to bring "write off major investments". new jobs and industries to your "These are tax cuts and changes state, you're not just competing in the tax credit system that are with each other, but you're comgoing to spur job creation and eco- peting with China, you're competnomic growth, and I'm proud that ing with India, you're competing Democrats and Republicans with Brazil, you're competing with worked with each other to get it countries all around the world," done," Obama said. Obama said. "In the long term, however, we "And that means that we as a need to address a set of economic nation need to make sure that we challenges that, frankly, the hous- are the best place on Earth to do ing bubble largely papered over for business," he said.

BlackBerry tablet in market on April 10

Toronto: With Apple unveiling its leaner, sleeker and faster iPad2 Wednesday, there is now speculation that Canada's BlackBerry maker Research In Motion (RIM) will launch its PlayBook tablet on April 10. Quoting its sources, Boy Scout Report in an exclusive on its web site said the BlackBerry tablet will hit retail stores on April 10. "We have been told by multiple sources that RIM's very first tablet will be launching on April 10th in retail locations. Additionally, we're told the OS (operating system) goes GM (gold master) on March 31st and that when you boot up the device right out of the box, you'll be prompted to upgrade to a newer version of the OS. We'll have another hands-on coming up shortly...,'' the web site said. At 7-inch size and featuring front and back cameras, the 1-GHz dual-core PlayBook will run on BlackBerry maker's new powerful QNX operating system which RIM specifically bought for the tablet. RIM has already announced to offer the PlayBook in four models - Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi+WiMax, high-speed LTE and HSPA+. Since the BlackBerry smart phone's over 55 million users worldwide swear by its encryption technology for securing privacy, analysts say the Canadian wireless giant could hit a gold mine if it is able to seize the corporate segment of the tablet market. To target these business and corporate subscribers, RIM has integrated the PlayBook with its smart phone through BlackBerry Bridge.

What augurs well for RIM is a survey last week which said that about 50 percent of corporate are ready to adopt the tablet whose market is set to balloon to more than 100 million by next year. Unlike Apple, BlackBerry's already vast network of carriers worldwide would also give a very big advantage to the PlayBook to make its mark in the Appledominated tablet market. In the fast crowding tablet market, Motorola Mobility has already launched the Xoom. HewlettPackard is set to follow with its TouchPad and Samsung with the three new versions of its Galaxy Tab which was launched last year. There was no reaction Wednesday from Waterloobased BlackBerry maker to Apple's new iPad which at 10-inch - like the first version- is still bigger than the PlayBook.

India's merchandise exports up Air India Chief quits

New Delhi: India's merchandise exports were up over 32 percent in January even as oil imports, over which government has expressed worry because of rising global prices, were actually down nearly 8 percent, latest trade data showed.. The merchandise exports, as per commerce ministry data, were valued at $20.605 billion in the month under review, which was 32.4 per cent higher than the level of $15.557 billion in the corresponding month of last year. Cumulative value of exports for the first 10 months of this fiscal was $184.632 billion, registering a growth of 29.3 percent over $142.740 billion logged during the like period of the previous fiscal. Imports during January 2011 were valued at $28.587 billion representing a growth of 13.1 percent in Dollar terms over $25.267 billion in January 2010. Cumulatively the imports were up 17.6 percent at $273.598 billion against $23.2582 billion.

Facebook to share users' info

San Francisco: Facebook has announced that it intends to give third parties access to its users personal information, including telephone numbers and home addresses. According to the WSJ, the social networking platform wrote to Senators Edward Markey and Joe Barton in response to a request for further information regarding the plans, and repeated its pledge to allow users to create their own privacy settings. We have not yet decided when or in what manner we will redeploy the permission for mobile numbers and addresses," stated the letter. "We are evaluating whether and how we can increase the visibility of applications' request for permission to access user contact information. We are also considering whether additional user education would be helpful.

Gustav Baldauf.

Senator Markey has since stated that he will continue to monitor the situation to ensure that sensitive informations especially regarding children and young people will remain protected.

New Delhi: Air Indias Chief Operating Officer (COO) Gustav Baldauf has resigned. In April 2010, Baldauf was appointed Air Indias first foreign COO. His annual salarymore than 3 crore evoked criticism from Air India employees, who pointed out that salaries of pilots and others working for the airline are regularly paid late. His 25 years of experience in the aviation industry include senior positions with Austrian Airlines and Jet Airways. When you call someone from outside, let him work. The government should con-

trol but let him work. It should not be involved in day-to-day operations, Baldauf was quoted as saying. Following the remarks to The Indian Express, which the airline had taken serious note of, he had a meeting with Civil Aviation Minister Vayalar Ravi where the issue was understood to have figured. ONGC has retained top position on the coveted list of 10 profit-making PSUs, while Air India was the biggest lossmaking state firm on the list of worst performers during the 2009-10 fiscal,says a government survey.

Features Thesouthasiantimes.info

25

March 5-11, 2011

Jaipur's mother of 66 fashioning new lives

he has not given birth to them, but she proudly calls herself the mother of 66 children. Manan Chaturvedi, 35, would probably have become a top fashion designer earning fabulously and living in style. But she chose not to and dumped midway her promising career in fashion designing. Chaturvedi, who has three children biologically, instead turned to Jaipur's street children to give them a new life. She picked up these children - aged between six months and 18 years - from railway platforms, pavements and even dust bins, legally adopted them and brought them all to her house in Jaipur's Vaishali Nagar area. The children have now grown up calling her 'maa' (mother). Under the banner of her organization, Surman Sansthan, Chaturvedi has found ways to raise the much-needed money. She paints and organizes painting exhibitions. The money thus raised goes into children's education and other expenses. Her mission has so far received no support from the government. 'After completing a course in fashion designing from Delhi eight years ago, I got off a bus at Sindhi Camp bus stand in Jaipur. I crossed a girl child lying in the garbage outside and it changed my whole approach to life,' said Chaturvedi. She said when she saw the half-naked girl,

Children hugging their 'maa Manan Chaturvedi, a Jaipur resident who has opened a home Surman Sansthan for street children. she wondered 'what's the use of becoming a fashion designer?' I wondered for whom will I design clothes when half the population in this country goes about without them,' she said. Her three biological children have the same food that the other children take and they play with the adopted ones. Her own children have no privileges over the others, she insisted. Initially, Chaturvedi's family had some reservations about her mission, but they started supporting her when they saw her determination. The mother says that she dedicates her talent for fashion designing to these children

now. 'I design clothes for them and have learnt the craft of painting over the period. When I put these paintings on exhibition, people literally rush to buy them. That's how I manage to run my little family, including these 66 children,' she said. Interestingly, Chaturvedi does not allow others to adopt children from her house. 'I am not running an orphanage. Mine is just a big family. Besides, those who adopt children always come with a reason behind it. I want these children to grow unselfish so that when they are grown-ups they also support others like them,' said Chaturvedi. According to her, that would be like a revolution. She said she saw great potential in all the children who are left abandoned and forced to beg at railway platforms and other places. 'They could be a great strength in the country's development. But nobody cares,' lamented Chaturvedi. Most of these children came from disturbed backgrounds, but are now feeling very positive about the future. 'We are taught to think positively,' says 14year-old Lalita, one of the children with Chaturvedi. 'I want to become a government employee and am studying hard to be one. I will surely take maa's (mother's) cause forward in the future and will help others like me,' she says, optimism brimming in her words.

Miracle of herbal teas

eople always complain about bloated stomachs, restless sleep after a late night dinner served in catering parties which are now plenty as one gets invited to all those weddings, anniversaries as life is abuzz with dinners, disco and drinks. Everyone comes dressed in dazzling saris, salwar suits, shining with fresh make-up but as the night wears off, heavy dose of catered food laced with drinks and a shake to our favorite disco music takes a toll on us all. Soon as one reaches home it is a time of great discomfort which follows due to the excesses on our body as one loses sleep spending time tossing and turning in bed not being able to go to sleep. We Indians are a great advocate of teas still we dont take a look in our spice cupboard which can help give us easy relief is such situations. Here are some recipes for herbal teas tea leaves mixed with right herbs, spices, flowers can help cure many ailments starting with upset bloated stomach, annoying seasonal cough, cold and sniffles. There are age old ways of having tea that only tastes good as well as helps heal some of the persistent modern day maladies. Only one has to reach the spice jars and believe in their healing, rejuvenating, detoxing and quick acting properties available to us in our homes.

not overstuff the stomach with unnecessary rich foods. How to make: Boil water, add a pinch of ajwain, aniseed, cardamom and a pinch of black salt. Leave for a minute or so and sip slowly before going to sleep.

some fresh or dried leaves of tulsi, pinch of ground cloves, a dash of powdered cinnamon and a cup of boiling water.

Adrak (ginger) tea

Since olden times ginger is something we used to help settle upset stomachs. Chinese have relied on ginger as a medicine for over 2,500 years. Ginger relieves nausea, combats motion sickness, inflammation, helps digestive processes, limits flatulence and minimizes symptoms of common cold, allergies and other respiratory conditions. How to make: To make a cup of tea use thin slices of ginger. Bring water to boil and add ginger. Simmer for 10 minutes and pour or strain and sip when warm. You can sweeten it with honey or jaggery and a slice of lemon.

Lemon Tea
Lemon is natures antiseptic. Lemon can have a cleansing effect on the body by removing toxins, aid in healthy digestion and is extremely beneficial for cold and flu cases and it also stimulates the immune system. How to make: Boil one cup of water, add tea leaves (I heap teaspoon), strain, add 2 tsp of honey and sip.

After Dinner Tea

The philosophy is that all bitter herbs like mints, rocket, chicory, lettuce are eaten before meals to bring on the diges-

tive juices and make us feel hungry. But after eating a hearty meal all those digestive juices must be stopped like turning a tap off which was turned on. For this our age old habit of eating cardamoms, aniseed which are considered astringent as they help stop the over production of these digestive juices as well as stomach acids. These aromatic spices have astringent action. So after a late night rich meal which causes over-acidity and over production of digestive juices, the astringent spices like cardamom, ajwain, aniseed help stop the overproduction and give a relief to our stomach. An infusion of cardamom, aniseed and ajwain can help the bloated stomach tremendously and ease the discomfort felt after a heavy meal. This tea is a miracle but that does not give one a certificate to overeat or eat any junk one may like. Do take precaution and

Tulsi (holy basil) Tea

Tulsi or Holy Basil is mentioned in the Charak Samhita, the central teaching guide of ancient Ayurvedic medicine. Known for its strong aroma and astringent taste, tulsi is famous as an elxir of life. Health benefits attributed to tulsi are many that include its stress-busting, cholesterol and blood pressure lowering properties. It also helps treat digestive and gastro-intestinal problems and aids the functioning of liver. As an antioxidant tulsi fights free radicals that wreak havoc in the cells. It is tried and tested recipe to soothe and comfort cold and fever. No wonder Indian women always prayed and looked after their tulsi plant daily in the middle of their courtyard. How to make: Prepare an infusion using

Pudina (mint) tea

Mint is used popularly in traditional medicine to cure many diseases such as headache, digestive disorders and loss of hunger. One can relieve oneself from stomach ache by chewing mint leaves and flowers. Studies show that drinking 2 glasses of mint tea daily can help in decrease hair growth in women. How to make: Take some fresh mint sprigs, a bag of green tea, sugar, jaggery or honey and hot water. Pour hot water in a tea kettle and add some mint leaves, a bag of green tea and honey. Let the mint infuse for a few minutes and the mint tea is ready to be sipped.

26

Ultimate Bollywood TheSouthAsianTimes.info

March 5-11, 2011

'The King's Speech' rules the Oscars

os Angeles: "The King's Speech" and "Inception" tied at the 83rd Annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles on February 27 with four Oscars each, with the British royal drama bagging the big four of best picture, best direction, best actor and best writing while the sci-fi dominated the technical categories. "The King's Speech", which was leading the Oscar nomination list with a presence in 12 categories, however, picked up the golden statuette in best picture as well as best direction (Tom Hooper), best actor (Colin Firth) and best original screenplay (David Seidler). Natalie Portman bagged the best actress Oscar for her role in "Black Swan" at the ceremony in Hollywood's Kodak Theatre. Christopher Nolan's "Inception", starring Leonardo Di Caprio, won the awards for best cinematography, best sound editing, best sound mixing and best visual effects. David Fincher's immensely pop-

Actor Colin Firth holds the trophy for Best Actor at the 83rd Annual Academy Awards. ular "The Social Network" came close on the heels of the two films as it was awarded in three categories - best film editing, best music (original score) and best writing (adapted screenplay). "In a Better World" from Denmark took the best foreign language film award. Films like "Toy Story 3", "Alice In Wonderland" and "The Fighter" won two honors each. "Toy Story 3", which amassed $1.1 billion at the box office in 2010, won the Oscar in best animated feature film. It also picked the award for best music (original score) category. "Alice In Wonderland" was given the Oscar for best art direction and best costume design, while "The Fighter" won the honors for Christian Bale and Melissa Leo for best support-

Actress Natalie Portman accepts the trophy for Best Actress from actor Jeff Bridges. ing actor male and female respectively. "Inside Job", which takes a closer look at what brought about the financial meltdown, won Oscar for the best documentary, features at the 83rd Academy Award. Director Luke Matheny's "God of Love" was declared the best short film, (Live Action). Oscar for the best documentary, short subjects went to "Strangers No More" by Karen Goodman and Kirk Simon. Chris Corbould, Andrew Lockley, Pete Bebb and Paul J. Franklin walked away with the Oscar for best visual effects for their work in the much appreciated sci-fi movie "Inception", while Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall got the award for best editing for "The Social Network".

Oops moments of the Oscars!

here were sarcastic winners, witty presenters, disinterested hosts, among others. The Oscars were entertaining for sure. Here are a few moments which grabbed attention, for good and then sometimes for not good! Melissa Leo drops the F bomb! Probably the biggest oops moment of the evening, Melissa has made it to the Oscar history was using the F word on the Oscar stage in her acceptance speech after she won the Best Supporting Actor trophy! She went, "When Kate won two years back, she made it look so f****** easy!" Christian Bale takes a dig at himself Christian Bale who won the Best Supporting actor Oscar said, "I won't drop the F bomb like Melissa, I've used that a lot before". He referred to his swearing tapes that were leaked on the internet. Amy calls Hugh Jackman 'Huge Jackass' Amy Adams seemed over-excited while James Franco seemed disinterested! Together the two weren't half as funny as last year's host Hugh Jackman. Amy Adams in one of her fillers aped Hugh as she too sung and said, "A certain Huge Jackass had promised me that he'd sing with me!" Hugh took it all sportingly. Kurt Douglas heightens the anticipation Kurt Douglas made the lives of actresses nominated in the supporting actor category miserable as before presenting the trophy to Melissa Leo, he kept telling unending stories about himself, everytime starting his story with, 'you know..'! Russell Brand teases Colin Firth

Anne Hathway and James Franco were the hosts for the 83rd Academy Awards.

Rahman returns empty handed

AR Rahman and his wife Saira Banu at the Oscars. Melissa Leo giving her acceptance speech at the Oscars. British comedian, Russell Brand presented the Best Foreign Language film Oscar along with Dame Helen Mirren. When Helen tried to address all in a foreign language, Russell translated it for all by saying, "She means she was better as the queen than Colin Firth was as the King!" Sandra Bullock wants Jesse on her facebook! Sandra is effortlessly funny. When she introduced the best Actor nominees she asked Jesse Eisenberg as to why hasn't he accepted her Facebook request! She also asked Jeff Bridges, "how much is enough" taunting him on his consecutive nomination after his last year's win for crazy Heart. Jeff was nominated this year again for True Grit. Colin Firth's sarcastic speech Brits are known for their sarcasm and when Colin said, "I have a feeling my career has just peaked" after winning the Oscar, it was hilarious. Los Angeles: India's celebrated composer A.R. Rahman bagged two Oscar nominations in the original score and original song categories for his work in Danny Boyle's "127 Hours", but failed to repeat the success story of 2009 and lost out on both the awards at the 83rd Academy Awards. Rahman lost the Oscar for best original score to composer duo Trent Rezmor and Atticus Ross who won it for "The Social Network"; the best original song award went to Randy Newman, who won it for "We Belong Together" in "Toy Story 3". The composer, popularly known as the Mozart of Madras, also performed at the mega event, being telecast live across the world. India-born film editor Tariq Anwar, nominated for the Oscar in the best editing category for "The King's Speech", couldn't get the coveted statuette either. He lost out to Angus Wall and Kirk Baxter who won it for "The Social Network".

Ultimate Bollywood TheSouthAsianTimes.info

27

March 5-11, 2011

Clichd story, wonderful moments

hy should you watch "Tanu Weds Manu"? For R. Madhavan who will win your heart as a sweet lovable NRI doctor Manu who has the misfortune of falling in love with a Kanpur-girl Tanu (Kangana Ranaut) who not only rejects him as a suitor but also uses him to elope with her ruffian boyfriend. Hiding his heartbreak and disappointment behind a smile, Madhavan fits into the role of a goody goody NRI like a glove. He is hopelessly in love with Tanuja who doesn't miss a single opportunity to hurt him. Rules, they say, are meant to be broken and that's what Tanu's agenda in life is - to break all rules that a middle-class family swears by. Well, an NRI coming home to find a suitable bride for him is very common in Indian society and director Anand Rai's comedy opens with the same. He tries to be as close to reality as possible - from the backdrop, to clothes, to character artists all bring out the element of a middle-class setup perfectly. But there is something missing to make it a perfect romantic com-

A still from 'Tanu Weds Manu'. edy. First, the script is punctured, then their is no chemistry between Madhavan and Kangana and if that was not enough, the narrative doesn't flow at the desired pace -

it's slower than it should be. Though the director picked up an interesting subject, he has not succeeded in executing his story effectively on screen - there are not enough laughs in the film. Whatever funny scenes are there, credit goes to the chemistry between Madhavan and Deepak Dobriyal who plays his friend Pappi. Kangana's dialogue delivery puts you off and she lacks the spunk and spark to play the free bird that she is in the movie. In fact, Swara Bhaskar, who plays her friend Payal, holds the fort as the Bihari girl who is marrying a sardarji (Eijaz Khan) who also happens to be Manu's best friend. In the performance department, full marks go to Madhavan, Deepak and Swara. The supporting cast of K.K. Raina, Rajendra Gupta and Navni Parihar don't have much to do, but whatever role they have, they carry it well. Jimmy Shergill as Kangana's ruffian boyfriend is wasted, so is Ravi Kishen as his sidekick. If you are looking for a great romantic comedy, this is not the one, but watch it for Madhavan and his chemistry with Deepak.

Ranveer, Anushka kiss in public

Salman is Ever-Ready

uzz is that Bhushan Kumar and Rajat Rawails next movie Ready directed by Anees Bazmee and starring Salman Khan and Asin will be up for release in record time! The second schedule of the film is currently in full swing at Bangkok and that too, a week ahead of its time! No wonder producer Bhushan Kumar and Rajat Rawail are overjoyed with the films progress. Says a source from the unit of Ready, Salman bhai is very charged about the film and is taking keen interest in its every aspect. He only focuses on the film and ensures that its briskly moving ahead. The movie went on the floors only in December last year it is already slated for release on June 3rd which is only six months in comparison with Salmans previous film which took a considerable 11 months to be completed. Adds producer Bhushan Kumar, Im very happy with the way Ready is progressing. We were to

Salman Khan on the sets of Ready. finish this schedule and return to India on March 22, but now I think we will return on March 15. All credit goes to Salmanbhai, director Anees Bazmee, producer Rajat Rawail and my uncle Kishan (Kumar) who is present on the sets every day. 'Ready', starring Salman Khan and Asin in the lead, is being directed by Anees Bazmee and is Produced by T-series and Rajat Rawail. The movie will hit theatres on June 3.

Ranveer Singh and Anushka Sharma.

anveer Singh and Anushka Sharma, who are basking the the success of 'Band Baaja Baaraat' and were touted to be a couple, have at last come out in the open about their relationship, which they kept denying until now. It all happened at Shahid Kapoor's birthday bash. Ranveer and Aushka's actions were louder than words. For starters, they entered together arm-in-arm, and Ranveer took care of the girl like every boyfriend should, walking

around with his hands around her waist. They took to the dance floor together, drank a bit, partied a lot, and suddenly the guests were wide-eyed and openmouthed as Ranveer and Anushka engaged in a passionate liplock. Inconspicuous by the people around, Ranveer and Anushka smooched at the February 26th bash, and really didn't care that they would be the topic of conversation over breakfast and brunches the next morning.

A book on Kareena?
uzz has it that the acclaimed author Shobhaa De is planning a book on Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor, and that the latter has given her a green signal for it. According to sources, the two met several times in the past six months to discuss the details and work on it.There is a lot of speculation about whether it is going to be an authorized biography on Bebo, but thats not the case, says a source. Sources inform that over the several discussion that Bebo (Kareenas pet name) had with Shobhaa, it was decided that the

Kareena Kapoor.

book will be on her, and not exactly on her life. It will be on the lines of an acclaimed book based on Victoria Beckham. The book will trace how Kareena Kapoor became the brand Kareena Kapoor... how she became a name to reckon with from just being Lolos (Karisma Kapoor) sister, the source added. Kareena also confirmed that she is in talks with De for a book on her but didnt like to go into the details. At this stage, it is too early to discuss (the book being written on her). We will surely discuss it at an appropriate time, she says.

28

Humor TheSouthAsianTimes.info

March 5-11, 2011

Humor with Melvin Durai

When your resolve begins to dissolve

f you're like most people, your New Year's resolutions are beginning to crumble and you're wondering why you even bothered. What made you set your goals so high? Did you really believe you'd be able to maintain a high-protein diet, get more sleep, and take a bath once a week? What were you thinking when you resolved to replace your daily serving of bean sprouts with a chocolate bar? Who were you fooling when you resolved to watch six hours of TV every day, play the lottery, and run three miles a year? OK, perhaps you did get carried away. Perhaps you expected too much out of yourself. But don't despair. You're not alone. Millions of others are also kicking themselves, struggling to salvage the last remnants of their resolutions, wondering which store, if any, might sell them an ounce of willpower. For some, the end came too soon. They resolved to do less drinking, but found themselves, on New Year's Day, having an intimate conversation with the toilet bowl. "You here again? Me too. Small world!" For others, it lasted a little longer. They resolved to do more reading, but found themselves, a week into January, unable to enjoy the words scrolling across CNN. If that doesn't comfort you, perhaps you'll take solace in the failings of celebrities. Making resolutions has been a futile task for some: Winona Ryder: She resolved to lift weights every day, but the only thing she feels like lifting is a shop. Whitney Houston: She resolved to lose

So what if you'll never be as svelte as Oprah Winfrey? So what if you'll never be as graceful as Al Gore? So what if you'll never be as honest as Martha Stewart? At least you're unique! Another solution is to set daily and monthly goals -- and keep them realistic.

Small goals help you achieve big goals. If you're hoping to compete in the New York City Marathon, don't try to run 26 miles right away. Begin by doing 26 laps around your coffee table. If you faint halfway, don't worry. You can try again tomorrow.

Laughter is the Best Medicine

150 pounds, but hasn't yet found the courage to ask her husband to leave. Pam Anderson: She resolved to gain 20 pounds, but doctors have advised her against getting new implants. Tipper Gore: She resolved to be less sensitive about her weight, but couldn't help taking offense when she overheard a waiter at a posh restaurant describing her as a "very big Tipper." George W. Bush: He resolved to improve his diet by cutting back on "animal foods," but so far, he has managed to say 'no' only to horseradish. Evander Holyfield: He resolved to spend more time with his children, but he's having too much trouble finding them. As you can see, it isn't easy to keep resolutions. It isn't easy to change your life. So what do you do? One solution is to accept yourself the way you are. You're a unique person -- no one else has your unique blend of shortcomings. No one else has your God-given combination of laziness, tardiness, absent-mindedness, shortsightedness, stinginess, nosiness, and helplessness.

by Mahendra Shah
Mahendra Shah is an architect by education, entrepreneur by profession, artist and humorist, cartoonist and writer by hobby. He has been recording the plight of the immigrant Indians for the past many years in his cartoons. Hailing from Gujarat, he lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Tech Life

World's smallest PC can fit into your eyes

LONDON: Scientists have created what they claim is the world's smallest computer system that is just one square millimetre in size and can fit into one's eyeball. Developed by a team at the University of Michigan, the unnamed tiny device is a pressure monitor that can be implanted in a person's eye to treat glaucoma. It may be just one square millimetre in size but it packs a hefty punch, containing an ultra low-power microprocessor, a pressure sensor, memory and a thin film battery, the Daily Mail reported. It also has a solar cell and a wireless radio with an antenna that can transmit data to an external reader device, the researchers said. The device is already being touted as the future of the computing industry, although it needs several more years to be commercially available. Its creators -- Professors Dennis Sylvester, David Blaauw and David Wentzloff -- claim that as the device's radio needs no tuning to find the right frequency it could link to a wireless network of computers. A network of such units could one day track pollution, monitor structural integrity, perform surveillance, or make virtually any object smart and trackable, the scientists said. Professor Sylvester said: "When you get smaller than hand-held devices, you turn to these monitoring devices. "The next big challenge is to achieve millimetre-scale systems, which have a host of new applications for monitoring our bodies, our environment and our buildings. "Because they're so small, you could manufacture hundreds of thousands on one wafer. "There could be tens to hundreds of them per person and it's this per capita increase that fuels the semiconductor industry's growth." Currently, the system is a pressure monitor designed to be implanted in the eye to continuously track the progress of glaucoma, a potentially blinding disease, they said. The processor in the eye pressure monitor is the third generation of the researchers' Phoenix chip, which uses a unique design and an extreme sleep mode to achieve ultra-low power consumption. The newest system wakes every 15 minutes to take measurements and consumes an average of 5.3 nanowatts. To keep the battery charged, it requires exposure to ten hours of indoor light each day or 1.5 hours of sunlight. It can store up to a week's worth of information. While this system is minuscule and complete, its radio doesn't equip it to talk to other similar devices, which is an important feature for any system targeted towards wireless sensor networks. But, the researchers are confident their miniature device will take off. "The applications for systems of this size are endless," they added.

Astrology
TheSouthAsianTimes.info

29

March 5-11, 2011

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

By Dr Prem Kumar Sharma

Stars Foretell: March 5-11, 2011

Aries:Your confidence and energy level will be high and accomplishing difficult tasks will be much easier than you ever thought. Find tender love and comfort in the arms of your beloved. You would find members of the opposite sex very appealing, but try not to annoy someone you really care. Partnership with people having a creative mind will bring enormous monetary gains. Be to the point in your correspondence. Taurus: This week romantic thoughts will ruin your ability to work efficiently. Difficulties concerning financial matters would ease, bringing happiness and peaceful atmosphere at home. Scholars and artists will gain recognition in their work. Health related problems might bring some discomfort. Your varied interests and vast knowledge will become a major attraction for you at social gatherings. Sports and physical exercise will be beneficial. Gemini: This week you will try new ideas and methods to improve your work efficiency. You will reap fantastic rewards if you stick to your objectives. Personal spending on yourself and your friends should be avoided, rather children and family members should be on your priority this week. Weekend would be perfect to go out for some recreation and entertainment. Sports persons should look after their health and physique. Cancer: This week entertainment activities along with family members will be highly enjoyable. You should look for ways to make things better for all those around you. Personal needs and requirements will be fulfilled and a cordial relationship with the spouse brings peace and harmony at home. Business partners however are unlikely to agree to your terms and uneasy atmosphere might prevail at work. You can make long lasting relationships during this period if you are open to some unique ideas. Leo: This week your interaction with influential people will be highly productive. New assignments and jobs for some. You will gather valuable information if you are open to new cultures and ideas. Unexpected guests crowd your place later in the week. Your involvement in the affairs of others will only bring you criticism. A small outing towards the weekend will be good for the entire family. Virgo: This week completing your backlog of personal work should be your priority. Your communication skill and knowledge will be highly impressive. Investment opportunities if any should be properly verified, as only wise investments will fetch returns. Spouse remains cooperative and helpful. Children would win laurels and make you feel proud. Certain domestic issues will need immediate attention. You are likely to get cornered if you are not honest at work. Libra: This week you should avoid discussing issues, which are likely to disturb the peace at home. Your attitude and sarcastic comments need to be controlled. Health of an elderly person in the family will cause anxiety. You will meet new and interesting people at social gathering, however be careful while revealing your secret plans. Do hobbies and work that would keep you in a relaxed and jovial mood. Avoid spicy and oily food and be regular towards exercise. Scorpio: Confusion and arguments will arise if you ignore your spouse ruining the peaceful atmosphere at home. Rise in frustration will dampen your work and slow down your progress. Company of friends would keep your relaxed, but you should not shy away from your responsibility towards your family members. Shopping would be pleasurable and exciting provided you stick to your budget. Not a favourable period for venturing into joint ventures. Sagittarius: Spend more time doing your hobbies in order to relax. Pressure at work and home will increase making you shorttempered and a little restless. Investment decisions should be made only after proper guidance. You will make extra bit of money if you bring your creativity to proper use. Your outgoing nature will help you in making some new friends. Contribute generously towards social events and organizations. Travel will be pleasurable but expensive. Capricorn: A colleague, being jealous of your recent success might try to sabotage your plans. Your creative side will grow during this period, bringing you popularity and good monetary gains. Certain changes in your looks will be highly appreciated. Later in the week a spiritual person gives blessings and good wishes. Catch up on pending correspondence and call up friends with whom you have not been in touch for the past few days. Aquarius: Love and romance dominate your week as you spend extra time with your beloved. Govt. favors sees pending proposals getting implemented. Spend some time with children and close relatives. Your high energy and dynamic approach would make you popular amongst your colleagues. Fix up something exciting and entertaining to do for the weekend. Avoid rash driving when you are moving out with your friends. Pisces: Participating in lectures and seminars will bring new growth opportunities. You are likely to gain approval from your seniors if you present your ideas well. Favourable period for new ventures and alliances. Take care of your health and avoid overwork and late nights. Problems with your beloved will surface if you try to force your ways. Do not overspend on your friends and entertainment. Spiritual gains for some.

Annual Predictions: For those born in this week

March 05: Governed by number 5 and the planet Mercury. You are intelligent, sharp, sensible, business oriented, dignified, original and dashing. People perceive you as a very warm and friendly person, but you need to check your tendency to behave quarrelsome and destructive at times. A very favorable period starts this year, but you should avoid controversial issues that might cause arguments with loved ones. You will make financial gains through property sale, accrual of rent, dividends or interests. Unexpected help from close relatives will bring you new business opportunities. This is also a good time to invest in expensive art and ornaments. Children will be supportive and bring in some happy news later in the year. Pilgrimage or a long journey will be high on your cards. The months of July, September and December will especially prove to be significant. March 06: Ruled by number 6 and the planet Venus. You have a pleasant personality, sharp memory and you are very fond of worldly pleasures. You stay ahead of others because of your interest in new things and new technology, but you need to control your tendency to behave moody, timid and spendthrift at times. This coming period is good for starting new ventures. Projects that have been slow till now will gain momentum. Disputes if any will get sorted out and bring a sense of relief to your mind. Romantic encounters with colleagues might develop, though it will be very short lived. Your competitive nature will make you stay ahead of others and also be popular amongst your peers. Friends will be helpful but demanding. The months of April, July and January will prove to be significant. March 07: Dominated by number 7 and the planet Neptune, you are highly creative, affectionate, trustworthy and emotional person. You possess strong determination and willpower to fight against any adverse conditions with courage and conviction, but you need to control your tendency to behave arrogant and dominating at times. Favorable planets will shine brightly bringing you immense fame and fortune. You shall gather knowledge, information and make new and long lasting contacts. Businessmen will expand their ventures into new and more profitable avenues. During this period you will do very well if you deal in real estate, but expect some opposition to arise from people you live with. Meditation and Yoga should be practiced for spiritual as well as physical gains. Some exhilarating news from your children will bring happiness later in the year. The months of May and August will be highly eventful. March 08: Influenced by number 8 and the planet Saturn. You are ambitious, authoritative, systematic, sober and commanding personality. You are always interested in a steady romantic relationship and the thought of being alone can result in you being unhappy. You are very sincere to the person you love but you need to control your tendency to behave erratic and stubborn at times. This year your magnetic and charming personality will attract people around you. You will have abundance of energy, which if properly used can bring you overwhelming results. Financially it will be a good time to invest in stocks and property, but all investments should be made for a long-term basis. A distant journey seems likely later in the year, most probably for attending some auspicious occasion. Friends and relatives will not be very helpful and should not be depended upon. The months of April, July & December will prove to be beneficial. March 09: Ruled by number 9 and the planet Mars. You are active, energetic, trustworthy, systematic and quick in taking decisions. You always welcome new ideas and are fond of reading to increase your knowledge and discover new and unknown things, but you need to control your tendency to behave shy, arrogant and moody at times. This year financial gains will be there, but rise in expenses will make it impossible for you to save. You should put maximum efforts into career improvement, as it will soon yield desired results. Businessmen will build beneficial contacts. You will do well socially if you travel and get involved in clubs and social events. Overseas travel for business purpose is on the cards for some of you. Spouse and children will be supportive but highly demanding. Minor health ailments such as backache, stiff neck or body pains will pose problems. The month of July and December will bring in the desired result. March 10: Influenced by number 1 and the Sun, you are smart, energetic, practical, dignified and highly sensitive person. You like an independent and free lifestyle for yourself which allows you to move gradually towards your goals, but you need to check your tendency to behave spendthrift, dominating and restless at times. This year you will establish new contacts and sign new partnerships that will go a long way in your career. Monetary benefits will accrue from past investments. Pleasure trips or friendly get-togethers will be exciting and intellectually stimulating. Family members will be supportive and friends will be helpful. Minor tensions and stress will bother you especially concerning the health of your parents and increase in household expenses. The months of March, June and February seem to be highly productive. March 11: Ruled by number 2 and the moon, you are an honest, responsible, trustworthy, intelligent and broadminded person. You are fond of intellectual conversation and soothing music, but you need to control your tendency to behave extra nervous and restless during difficult times. This year you will benefit immensely if you listen to what your family members have to say. New sources of income will improve your financial position and your confidence will be at its peak. Career changes if any will prove to be beneficial. Your outgoing nature will work to your advantage. Spouse and other female members will do their best to keep you happy. Avoid standing surety or a guarantee for others, as it would lead to embarrassment and legal problems. Real-estate transaction towards the yearend should bring monetary gains. The months of May and July will be eventful.

Before you consult...

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

Free Consultation Learn about the fair value of diamonds & precious stones. To the readers of The South Asian Times by an expert gems dealer.
For appointment, please call 516 390 7847 or email consult.gems@gmail.com

30

Spiritual Awareness TheSouthAsianTimes.info

March 5-11, 2011

No end to desires
This article has been selected and reprinted from Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharajs book, Spiritual Pearls for Enlightened Living (Radiance Publishers), an inspirational collection of stories from the worlds great wisdom traditions.
in which he could not take the noise anymore. The neighbor finally had a plan to quiet the carpenter. He took several hundred dollars from his money and left it in an envelope in the carpenters workshop. The neighbor thought that if he gave the carpenter money he would not have to work and he would stop his incessant hammering. The carpenter entered his workshop and found the envelope lying there. Instead of using it to take a vacation or a break, the carpenter thought, Someone left me several hundred dollars. What good fortune! I will take some of the money and invest in new tools so I can build bigger and better furniture and make more money. Thus, the money flamed the carpenter s desire to earn more money. He began working even harder, hoping to increase the newly found hundreds into thousands. As he began to make more money, he was still not content. He decided he wanted to turn the thousands into tens of thousands and thus he worked still harder. The rich neighbor was annoyed that his plan had failed and instead of silencing the carpenter, it merely increased the noise because now the man worked longer hours. When the carpenter had earned tens of thousands he wanted to make a hundred thousand. He put pressure upon himself to work day and night and even on weekends. Soon, he stopped his humming and singing. He no longer took joy in his work but felt strangled by the pressure he had put upon himself. On many nights, he was so stressed out he could not even sleep. The inner contentment and peace he had when he was just a poor carpenter were gone in the pursuit of trying to make more and more money. Consider our own lives. Do we find ourselves spending all of our time working to make money so we can retire? Do we work overtime to make more money? Do we work all weekend long to increase our profits? Do we find that we cannot even take a day or even several hours off work without thinking about work? If this is what is happening to us are we becoming like the carpenter? If we make all the money in the world but cannot enjoy personal peace and joy in our work, is it worth it? If we find that we are devoting too much of our time to making money and not enough to our family, our hobbies, our spiritual pursuits and those things we love then we need to analyze whether we are making the right choices. It is good to save for the future, but is it worth using up our entire life in trying to have more than what we need? Who knows what the future will bring? When we become old, will we have the health to do what we waited our whole life to do? If we leave our spiritual pursuits until we have reached our senior years, who knows how much time we will have left or whether we will be able to devote time to spirituality at that stage. If we ignore our family until they are already grown and have children of their own, we miss an important part of their lives that can never be recovered. Let us consider how we spend our time. If we have decided that certain goals are important then we should try to find time for them throughout our life and not put them all on the back burner in the pursuit of amassing more money than we need. We should weigh our time and make sure that we do not lose our peace and contentment over the stress of being engaged in a mad pursuit for money and possessions. Being conscious of how we spend our time and our life is important. If we listen to our soul, we will find that inner peace and contentment are more valuable than all the riches in the world. Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj, an international spiritual leader and Master of meditation, affirms the transcendent oneness at the heart of all religions, emphasizing prayer and meditation as building blocks for achieving peace.www.jyotimeditation.org

By Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj

nce upon a time there was a carpenter who worked out of his home. Every day he took joy in building some furniture or tools to sell to others. He merrily sang and hummed as he worked, content with life. One day, his rich neighbor grew fed up with the noise the carpenter made as he hammered the wood. The neighbor had reached a point

Whatever you give me tastes sweet

By Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj n our daily life we face many difficulties, hardships and disappointments. Things do not always go our way. If we listen to the discussions of others and review our own words and thoughts, we find that many of them deal with complaints about how life is treating us. Life seems to be bitter at times and in turn makes us bitter. Have we ever thought about life from a different perspective? Think about how fortunate we really are. After all, we are human beings. How many species of life are there that walk the earth? There are mammals, reptiles, and insects. There are creatures of the air and creatures of the sea. Fortunately for us, we have been born as human beings. How many of us have ever thanked God for the life we have been given? We complain to God when things go wrong but what about the hundreds of things that God has given us? God has provided us enough food to keep us alive this long. We have had protection from the elements in the form of clothes and some sort of shelter. Most of us have families who love us. We have received some kind of education and have some kind of work. If we take all that comes to us as a gift from God then we can accept the good and the tribulations equally

under Gods will. In this respect, there is a story about King Mahmud of Ghazni. One day, while he was sitting with his most devoted servant, Ayaz, he shared half of his cucumber with him. When he had finished, the king then took a bite of his own half. Yuk! he cried, as he made a disgusted face and spit out the cucumber. This is so bitter! How could you have eaten your piece if it tasted like bitter poison? Ayaz replied, My dear king, I have enjoyed so many favors and blessings from you all these years. Whatever you give me tastes sweet! Ayazs attitude demonstrates the frame of mind of a true lover of God. Such a lover is so much enamored of God and so grateful to God, that he or she takes everything, good or bitter, as a gift of the Beloved. Ayaz had received so many blessings from the king that he felt it was not his place to complain if one of these gifts were bitter. After all, if the king gave him so much good, he must love him. If

therefore, once in a blue moon, he had handed him something bitter, Ayaz knew he had no evil intention. He accepted all the king gave him with love and gratitude. If we could accept the rainy days with the same gratitude as we do the sunny days, we would find our lives would be more full of love, peace, and happiness. If we could appreciate the weeds as well as the roses, we would enrich our daily lives. If we could appreciate our enemies as well as our friends, we would not have to waste precious breaths in complaints and bitterness. If we could accept days when we are ill and under the weather as well as those in which we are well and healthy, we would reduce our stress and worry and maybe even heal faster. Life is precious. Do we want to live our lives to their fullest? The pain and disappointments will not go away by complaining about them. We must pass through those times. Let us try to do so in a state of calm acceptance and conserve the energy that we normally use for complaining. Instead we can think of God in love and gratitude. We will find that we pass through the times of tribulations more easily. Like Ayaz, let us take everything coming from God as tasting sweet. Then, we will sweeten our whole lives and the lives of those around us. For more visit www.sos.org

MARCH 2627, 2011

FEATURED GUESTS

Ajay Banga
President & CEO MasterCard

Vishal Bali
CEO Fortis Global Healthcare

Subrata Roy Sahara

Chairman Sahara Group

FEATURED PANELS
Education Entrepreneurship Green Energy Healthcare Indian Infrastructure Investing in India Media & Entertainment Social Enterprise US-India Policy

FEATURED EVENTS
CEO Forum
Hear industry leaders talk about the Indian business landscape

Keynotes
Learn how business stalwarts shaped the industries around them

I-Watch
Learn all about India - its myths and its realities!

Networking lunch
Talk to business thinktanks in a private setting!

Register Today:

www.harvardindiaconference.com
KNOWLEDGE PARTNER MEDIA PARTNER
The South Asian Times
TheSouthAsianTimes.info

Excellence In Journalism

OUTREACH PARTNERS