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17 state-owned companies such as ONGC and Coal India to use reserves to invest in infrastructure projects and overseas energy purchases. one official of the urgent need to trigger a mobilization of currently inactive resources to boost confidence in the economy, and promote Indias energy security. The move also strives to prompt privatesector companies which have expressed reservations about investing in the domestic Continued on page 4 Perry endorsing Gingrich dulls Santorums Iowa win neck. Republican rivals vehement attacks over his career in the leveraged buyout business and the shrouded wealth now pose a major political risk on his march to GOP Continued on page 4
Washington DC: With a fortune that may run into a quarter of a billion dollars, Mitt Romney is one of the wealthiest men to ever run for president. But currently his reluctance to reveal all about his riches and tax returns is proving a millstone around his
Dr. Surendra K. Kaushik receiving the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman award at PBD Jaipur from President Pratibha Patil. Westchester, NY. He married Helena Pokornicki, a health professional, in 1944. She suffered a debilitating stroke in January 1991 and is cared for by Dr. Kaushik since then. He Continued on page 4
The Election Commission has ordered Mayawatis ubiquitous statues covered in the run up to election in Uttar Pradesh. Continued on page 4 Read more election news on page 12
Preet S. Bharara, who brought the charges, exposing the latest insider trading circle of friends including Sandeep Goyal, a Manhattan analyst.
New York: Uniting India's biggest passions cricket and movies, Celebrity Cricket League Season 2 is here, running from Jan 19 to Feb 15. Bollywood superstar Salman Khan and numerous other actors, Telugu heavyweight Venkatesh, Malayalam superstar Mohanlal, Tamil heartthrob Suriya, and Kannada hero Sudeep are all vying for the trophy in this extravaganza. After a glamorous opening in Sharjah, the tournament goes to 6 Indian metros culminating in a final in Hyderabad on Feb 12. Six teams will play a total of 18 matches. Dish Satellite is supporting the Games by providing all its subscribers in any pack and a la carte the following special offer: Watch lim-
Salman Khans Mumbai Heroes tasted their first victory against the Chennai team in Sharjah in CCL II. ited time FREE preview only on TV Asia (Ch: 788) on Dish Network. TV Asia will also telecast the matches.
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India to Invest Story Continued from page 1 market to follow suit. But some observers have criticized the move as a throwback to the old formula of the 1970s when Mrs Indira Gandhi used public infrastructure spending to boost growth. Indias top policymakers are worried about the economys loss of momentum, and ebbing business confidence after a dismal year characterized by political bickering, high profile corruption scandals and an exit of foreign capital. Companies such as the ONGC, Coal India and the National Mineral Development Corporation, have signed agreements to spend as much as $35bn of their cash or bank balances over the fiscal year starting in April to expand their operations. The sum is almost twice the $19bn foreign direct investment into India in 2011. Among the proposed measures, Coal India, which had a successful initial public offering last year has been asked to actively consider investment in allied sectors such as road, railways, waterways and power to improve the transport of coal. Fast-tracked investments, mainly in the coal and oil sectors, will be monitored quarterly by the prime ministers office to prevent backsliding. Of the total, Rs400bn ($7bn) has been identified for investments overseas to buy assets like coal, gas and oil. ONGC has undertaken to spend Rs205bn in foreign investment in the coming fiscal year; Coal India has agreed to
Rs60bn. The move by the Singh administration also reflects Indias determination to push for higher growth in spite of uncertainty surrounding the global economic recovery and renewed anxiety about the performance of Eurozone economies Romney Story, Continued from page 1 nomination for President. More bad news for Romney: Newt Gingrich, buoyed by endorsement from Rick Perry who ended his own campaign, was closing the lead Romney held in South Carolina primary. And certified results from Iowa caucuses Thursday morning showed Rick Santorum leading Romney by 34 votes, a reversal from the eightvote edge for Romney on caucus night. Romneys finances are complex and farflung. He and his wife, Ann, have reported holdings in dozens of publicly traded companies, mutual funds and high-end investment partnerships, with much of their family wealth held in blind trusts that conceal their full size from public view. And Romneys disclosure on Tuesday that he pays an effective tax rate of about 15 percent on his income focused new attention on some aspects of his finances, including his millions of dollars in donations to the Mormon Church and his continuing compensation from Bain Capital, the private equity firm he left more than a decade ago. In the debate on Thursday in Charleston, SC, before the South Carolina primary, Romneys opponents were expected to keep demanding he release his tax returns before their party
picks a nominee, while Democrats, previewing likely attacks in a general election campaign, accused Romney of having something to hide. We cant fire our nominee in September, Gov. Rick Perry of Texas said on Wednesday on Fox and Friends. If weve got a flawed candidate going forward whos going to get eaten alive either because of business practices or because of the taxes and the system thats set up, we need to talk about it now. Romney aides said privately, reported New York Times, that they were prepared for the attacks on Romneys wealth, which they believe will backfire, aligning Romneys critics with liberals and rallying more Republicans to his side. Yet, Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey, one of his top supporters, said Wednesday morning that Romney should make the returns public sooner rather than later. Romney has not pledged to release past returns, and the one he has suggested he would release, in April, is a work in progress. At the end of last year, he could have arranged to have some of his compensation deferred. Dr Kaushik Story, Continued from page 1 established Helena Kaushik Womens Postgraduate College in 1999 in his native village Malsisar, district Jhunjhunu, where there was no college in a 35-km radius, let alone a womens college. It is a fully accredited college in the University of Rajasthan system. It does not charge tuition because of generally low incomes of area residents and is financed from
American private donations from individuals and foundations. Dr. Kaushik has received numerous honors including a Legislative Resolution in April 2009 in The New York State Assembly lauding the Helena Kaushik College on its 10th Anniversary and the New Jersey General Assembly the following year. He has numerous publications books, edited books, articles in finance and economics to his credit over the last 40 years. The other Indian American to receive the prestigious award at PBD 2012 was Kalpalatha Kummamuri Guntupalli, MD, cited for her contributions in the field of medicine and public service. She is a pulmonologist practicing in Houston. India elections Story Continued from page 1 ects. If the Congress does better than before in UP, it will help the ascent of party's heir apparent, Rahul Gandhi, who is expected to be the partys choice for prime minister in 2014. The anti-incumbency is likely to unsettle the Akali Dal in Punjab, which has tended to vote for the Akalis and the Congress in alternate elections. The Congress' hopes of staging a comeback have been buoyed by its success in the 2009 parliamentary polls, when it won eight of the 13 seats while the Akalis won four. Manipur, Uttarakhand and Goa are the three other states going to the polls. Elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh will be announced later this year.
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Now Hindi course for high school students at Bensalem School District
Bensalem, PA: Bensalem Township, located on the outskirts of Philadelphia has become the first school district in the state to teach Hindi in its High School beginning September 2012. The School Board of Bensalem Township, in its meeting on January 11, 2012, unanimously adopted a resolution to introduce Hindi curriculum for High School students. The decision came after a series of promotional efforts made by Yuva Hindi Sansthan, a non-profit educational and cultural institution and supported by local Indian population. We are very happy that the school board has accepted the long term demand of our community, said Yagnesh Choksi, one of the directors of the school board. We consistently made efforts to introduce Hindi so that our children grow up with knowledge of the national language of India. The boards decision was made in the presence of dozens of Indian American Ambassador H S Puri handing over the check to Dr Michele Bachelet, Under Secretary General and Executive Director of UN Women United Nations: Ambassador H S Puri, Permanent Representative of India to the UN Jan 12 handed over a check of US$ 1 million towards Government of Indias contribution to the core voluntary budget of UN Women (United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women). This contribution constitutes the second installment of Indias multi-year pledge to provide five million US dollars as core predictable funding to UN Womens resources.The check was received on behalf of UN Women by Dr Michele Bachelet, Under Secretary General and Executive Director of UN Women. On this occasion, Ambassador Puri also reaffirmed the Government of Indias steadfast commitment to the goals of gender equality, the empowerment of women and gender mainstreaming enshrined in the mandate of UN Women.India is currently one of the members of the Executive Board of the UN Women.
Dr. Surendra Gambhir, chairman, YHS addressed the Bensalem Township School Board meeting held on January 11, when the board adopted a resolution to launch Hindi curriculum in its High School. (photo by Ashok Ojha) community members and Bensalem Ashok Ojha, YHS office bearers of Yuva Hindi president offered full support Sansthan. Dr. (Mrs.) Heather and help of his organization. Nicholas, president of Dr. David Baugh, Bensalem School Board, sup- Superintendent of Bensalem ported the need of diverse School District, expressed his population of Bensalem confidence that High School Township that comprised of a students in his district will variety of ethnic and cultural take advantage of the Hindi groups. We are confident 1 course that will be offered that Hindi learning will open for the first time. up new opportunities to About ten percent of familiarize our students about Bensalem Township, which Indian culture, she said. has a population of more than Promising to provide edu- 60,000, comprise of people of cational resources for jump Indian origin, mostly from the starting a Hindi curriculum at state of Gujarat.
The Sarker couple with the new bundle of joy dream of such a delivery," she added. Sarker and her 30-year-old husband, Aditya Saurabh, were already on their way to the hospital for a medical check-up. "We were coming here to check if it was false labor or not," she said. "I was like, 'Okay, I'm just doing it for peace of mind'". Wanting to avoid the always-crowded Lincoln Tunnel, they decided to take the commuter train 'PATH' that runs from New Jersey to New York.
Savithri Mani, Cultural Program Coordinator, with kids classes including yoga, Sanskrit, Though Christmas is largely a Vedanta, chanting, and Tae Kwon Christian holiday, it did not go Do, with multiple teachers. uncelebrated at the Gurukulam.
Srinivas Murali
Senator Mark R Warner to achieve consensus among different stakeholders on the politically sensitive issue.
Ro Khanna Marc Andreessen, and Peter Thiel," America needs to create an ecosysKhanna was quoted as saying. tem for innovation in the 21st centu"I learned a lot about what ry," he said.
Subrata De with Brian Williams Square. De was also lead producer on the anchors many presidential interviews, including six with President Obama. In addition to her work at Nightly, she was senior producer for Brian Williams Reports Taking the Hill: Inside Congress and Inside the Obama White House. She began her career with NBC News in 1998 as a field producer for Dateline. Shes the recipient of many industry awards, including two DuPonts, 4 Emmys, the RFK Journalism Award and a Gracie for Individual Achievement. De will lead both NY and DC based members of the Andrea Mitchell Reports team.
Jessi Kaurs book The Royal Falcon is being adapted for stage several musical genres, including jazz, hiphop and even rap. Kaur worked with her directors and songwriters to tweak her original story into something ready for the stage. She estimates that about 20 percent of the book was reworked and enhanced so it could be better expressed on stage. Kaur, a member of the Cupertino Fine Arts Commission, is a frequent speaker at interfaith conferences and addressed the Parliament of the World's Religions held in Barcelona, Spain, in 2004.
A US delegation led by the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius calls on the Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad, in New Delhi on January 11, 2012.
Rana Sodhi receiving 2011 Bhagat Singh Thind Community Empowerment Award at the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) Annual Gala.
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US Affairs TheSouthAsianTimes.info
The striking petition from Google protesting the bills in Congress. cessible at 5 a.m. Wikipedia is opposing the US Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and Protect Intellectual Property Act (PIPA) being debated by Congress. Jimmy Wales, who founded the
1 million sign petition to Obama assures to bring jobs back to US changed, our the recall Wisconsin Governor Washington: President Barack Americans havenot. In fact, but got- getsell loans and support they need Obama has reiterated his call to government has it's to their products around the
Madison,WI: Critics of Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin on Tuesday said they had collected more than 1 million signatures, or nearly twice as many as required, on petitions to recall Walker and force a new election. Leaders of the recall effort say the number of signatures is so large as to put any serious legal challenge out of reach. Barring a legal fight, Walker, a Republican who took office a year ago and set off a firestorm by curtailing benefits and collective bargaining rights for public workers, will face a new election in the late spring or early summer. Nationally, only two governors have ever been removed through recall. This sends a message, said Graeme Zielinski, a spokesman for the Wisconsin Democratic Party, who described the 1 million names as evidence that this was the largest signature drive for a recall effort in US history. Walker said in an earlier interview that he believed a recall election now appeared inevitable, but that he thought he would ultimately keep his job. On Tuesday, his campaign office issued a statement on his behalf about the petitions. I look forward make the government more efficient and assist companies to bring jobs back to the US from abroad. "Right now, we have a 21st century, but we've still got a government organized for the 20th century," Xinhua quoted Obama as saying during his weekly radio and Internet address Saturday. "Over the years, the needs of Gov. Scott Walker to talking to the people of Wisconsin about my continued promises to control government spending, balance the budget and hold the line on taxes, Walker said. Petitions were also submitted on Tuesday for recall elections of the lieutenant governor, Rebecca Kleefisch, and four Republican state senators, including Scott Fitzgerald, the majority leader who helped pass Mr. Walkers collective bargaining cuts over the protests of Democrats, who fled the state last year to block a vote. Democrats, who are in the minority in the State Senate, 17 to 16, hope to seize at least one seat and take control. Democrats had controlled both legislative chambers and the governors office before the election of 2010, when Republicans, including Walker, swept into office. ten even more complex. And that has to change." He proposed Friday to merge six trade and commerce agencies into one to make the federal government more streamlined and efficient. Officials said that 1,000 to 2,000 jobs would be cut through the attrition. "These changes will make it easier for small business owners to world," said Obama urging the US congress to reinstate the authority that past presidents have had to streamline and reform the executive branch.He also repeated his promise to put forward new tax proposals to reward companies that choose to bring jobs home and invest in America and eliminate tax breaks for companies that move jobs overseas.
Mitt Romney walks to his campaign bus after holding a rally in Florence, SC, Tuesday. back, saying he felt that people who served their time should be allowed to vote and pressing Romney on his own position. Romney held firm on his position. "I don't think people who have committed violent crimes should be able to vote again," Romney replied. "That's my view."
US Affairs TheSouthAsianTimes.info
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Obamas proposed consolidation of six trade and commerce agencies into a single, streamlined department, he argues would create up to two million new jobs and double exports within five years, but his critics questioned the logic of creating a new bureaucratic behemoth.
ramifications for domestic job creation and economic growth. Exports supplied nearly half of U.S. GDP growth in 2010, and access to foreign markets is likely to be a primary factor in the country's long term prosperity. The Department of Commerce reports that 95 percent of global consumers live outside the United States, while the IMF states that roughly 87 percent of global growth over the next five years will take place overseas. A Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) task force report on U.S. trade emphasizes the trend: "With the fastest growth now taking place in emerging markets that are often unfamiliar to U.S. companies, the U.S. government needs to expand its trade promotion efforts." The United States currently ranks second-to-last among developed economies in trade as a percentage of GDP. In November 2011 (Bloomberg), the U.S. trade gap hit a five-month high, exceeding analysts' estimates at $47.8 billion. The Debate The White House claims a consolidated trade/commerce department would eliminate redundancies and provide U.S. firms and small busi-
Analysis
nesses in particular with a "one-stop shop" in navigating the federal bureaucracy. The administration expects the plan to garner bipartisan support, but some legislators have already pushed back. A joint statement from Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-MI) criticized the idea of folding the office of the U.S. Trade Representative (WashPost) into the proposed new department, saying it would hurt U.S. exports and job creation. Amy Wilkinson, a public policy scholar at Harvard's Kennedy School, raised questions over integrating the Small Business Administration into a "larger bureaucracy," saying it should be at cabinet level (CNN). David Rothkopf of ForeignPolicy.com called the consolidation long overdue and "an excellent initial step toward more sweeping reforms." Policy Options Outside of agency restructuring, experts have a variety of suggestions for how Washington can revive trade. Former Senator Tom
What's at Stake Specifics of the White House proposal are forthcoming, but any plan that enhances the ability of U.S. corporations to tap into the global marketplace could have significant
Daschle says the U.S. needs a more assertive trade policy, and recommends the Congress grant the president greater leeway to negotiate trade agreements under the Trade Promotion Authority. "We haven't had TPA authority now for many years," he says, "and it's not a coincidence that the trade agenda has languished.The Peterson Institute's C. Fred Bergsten says the United States should first attain a fully competitive exchange rate for the dollar. "The bulk of our current misalignment," he notes, "is vis--vis the Chinese renminbi and small group of other Asian currencies, which must be permitted to strengthen substantially." This CFR Task Force report on U.S. Trade and Investment Policy recommends several new policies to spur exports and increase the competitiveness of U.S. firms abroad, including an ambitious trade-negotiations agenda, a robust and strategic trade enforcement effort, a comprehensive worker retraining policy, and more competitive export financing. The author is Associate Staff Writer, Council on Foreign Relations.
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Priyanka Gandhi in Rai Bareli, Uttar Pradesh. confine herself only to campaigning in the assembly segments of parliamentary constituencies of her mother and brother, Priyanka shot
UP Chief Minister Mayawati. New Delhi: The Election It said that its order is in accorCommission rejected the Bahujan dance with the law and in keeping Samaj Party's (BSP) plea to recon- with its constitutional mandate for sider its Jan 8 order to cover statues ensuring level playing field during of elephants and party chief the elections. Mayawati, built in public places and The poll panel said the BSP's conat government expense, until the tention that the statues of elephants assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh are as erected are different from the over.It also expressed dismay at election symbol of party is not party chief and state Chief Minister acceptable. "In that case, other politMayawati terming the decision ical parties would be in a position to seek allotment of the elephant sym"casteist" and "anti-Dalit". "The EC needs to reiterate that it bol in different posture," it said. It said it is disturbed that takes its decisions and enforces them within the provisions of the Mayawati has cast serious asperConstitution and that does not sions on the commission by attributinclude considerations of religion, ing anti-Dalit and casteist motives to race, caste and community in the its order and also by alleging that manner allege," the poll panel said the directive is inspired by pressure from some political parties. in a release.
Uma Bharti. comes amid efforts by the BJP to Classes (OBCs) in the Uttar get backing of Other Backward Pradesh elections.
India TheSouthAsianTimes.info
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Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi.
New Delhi: Seeking to step up bilateral ties amid hiccups, India and China decided to set up a new mechanism to maintain peace on their border, and resolved to enhance mutual trust as they ended the 15th round of boundary negotiations.Called a "working mechanism for consultation and coordination on India-China border affairs," it was finalized after two days of talks between India's National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon and China's State Councillor Dai Bingguo, who are special representatives on the boundary question. The agreement was signed by India's ambassador to China S. Jaishankar and China's Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin in the presence of Menon and Dai. "The working mechanism will address issues and situations that may arise in the border areas that affect the maintenance of peace and tranquility, and will work actively towards maintaining the friendly atmosphere between the two countries," says the text of the agreement. It will help prevent misunderstanding between the two countries arising from incursion into each other's territory, stemming from the undemarcated Line of Actual Control (LAC). The mechanism will be headed by a Joint Secretary and a Director General from the Indian and Chinese foreign ministries respectively. It will also include diplomatic and military officials. The two countries stressed that maintaining and strengthening peace and tranquility in the IndiaChina border areas was very significant for enhancing mutual trust and for resolving the boundary question at an early date. The 16th round of boundary talks will be held in China.
Much is being read into every move of the army chief Gen. V.K. Singh since he sued the government over his age row. eral meeting and it was as per protocol. Soon after these bilateral meetings, Sharma and Gen. Singh met at the latter's office for half-anhour and this meeting too was in relation to the debriefing on the bilateral talks held with Nepal sources said. Much is being read into every move of the army chief since he sued the government over his age row, challenging the defense ministry's rejection of his statutory complaint to rectify records to indicate his birth date as May 10, 1951, instead of 1950. A day later, the defense ministry filed a caveat in the apex court, urging it not to pass any order on the general's petition before hearing its views. The Supreme Court is yet to fix a date for hearing the army chief's petition, though another public interest litigation on the same issue will come up for hearing on Friday. The row has pitted the seniormost officer of the 1.13-millionstrong army, the world's second largest, against the government, a first in independent India. It also has the potential to derail the succession schedule of the army, as 1950 birth year would mean Gen Singh retires in May this year and if 1951 is accepted as the birth year, he gets to serve another 10 months till March 2013, when his slated three-year tenure will end. The army's chief holds the posts for three-year term or till 62 years of age, whichever is earlier.
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India TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Nearly 250 authors from the world, including celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, will take part in the festival. day of the event. He was supposed to reach Jaipur on Jan 20 and address two literary sessions. The event's producer Sanjay Roy said in a two-line statement: "Rushdie will not be in India Jan 20 due to a change in his schedule. The festival stands by its invitation to the author." Nearly 250 authors from the world, including celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, will take part in the festival. Gehlot told reporters in Delhi: "We don't have any official communication when he is coming... but minorities in the state are protesting against it. I have informed him (Chidambaram) about the situation.
Ramdev supporters, CWG scam: Suresh Kalmadi gets bail Congress workers clash
New Delhi: Supporters of Baba Ramdev and Congress party workers clashed after the yoga guru's activists held protests outside the Congress headquarters, police said. Two Ramdev supporters were arrested, police said. According to eyewitness, a group of around 15 Ramdev supporters shouted slogans and blackened the portrait of Congress president Sonia Gandhi on a board outside the party office at 24, Akbar Road. As they came to know of the incident, Congress workers came out of the office and clashed with the Ramdev supporters, in full view of the TV cameras and media persons. A Congress leader said the protesters were planning to disrupt the party press briefing scheduled at 5 p.m. The incident comes after Ramdev faced an ink attack at a press conNew Delhi: The Delhi High Court has granted bail to Suresh Kalmadi, MP and former chief of the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee, accused in a corruption case related to the 2010 sporting event. His aide V.K. Verma was also given bail. The court allowed bail to Kalmadi on a personal bond of Rs.5 lakh and surety of the like amount. Kalmadi was arrested April 26 last year for his alleged role in awarding a contract for installing the TimingScoring-Result system to Swiss Times Omega at an exorbitant cost of Rs.141 crore, allegedly causing a loss of over Rs.95 crore to the public exchequer. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had opposed the bail of the two accused. Kalmadi and Verma moved the court for bail on the observation of the Supreme Court in the 2G case that "bail should be the rule and jail an exception". The trial court in June last year rejected Kalmadi's bail plea, after which he approached the high court.
The former CWG chief Suresh Kalmadi is accused in a corruption case related to the 2010 sporting event. The accused individuals and two companies in the case were charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for cheating, criminal conspiracy and forgery, and booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
First Baba Ramdev faced an ink attack; later, his supporters blackened Sonia Gandhis poster at the Congress headquarters. ference. The yoga guru's supporters alleged that the attack was masterminded by the Congress.
Homai Vyarawalla. There was a spontaneity about her work, which required courage in those days," 78-year-old Nemai Ghosh, movie maestro Satyajit Ray's chronicler, photographer and friend said of Vyarawalla. Vyarawalla who started by clicking photographs as a teenager, took
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Conceptual artist Yoko Ono paints a graffiti on the wall of the Vadehra Art Gallery in New Delhi, and (inset) with John Lennon in those Flower Power days. der on handloom, silk, wool and plans for India, Ono turned philoleather. sophical. The women have woven and "There are so many things in embroidered 15 odhnis, or hand- this world we can take care woven drapes, to accompany of...Touching base like this, shakOno's installation on gender ing hands to realize that all of us injustice, "Remember Us" - a are very important people... we series of headless female torsos have accomplished that in two laid out on beds of burnt wood days in India. chips and a graffiti on the wall "But I will never leave my soul screaming "Uncursed" in from India. I will be here wherevEnglish, Hindi and Japanese. er I am," she said. The gender installation is at the Indian mysticism has been an centre of Ono's India-specific important influence in Ono's life, multi-media art project, "Our thanks to Lennon's brush with Beautiful Daughters". Transcendental Meditation at "Indian craft is very important Mahesh Yogi's retreat in the for the world and those girls as 1960s in Rishikesh. The couple well. Those girls will never have had even been known to seek an a bad time wherever they are audience with Sathya Sai Baba because they have the skill. We and traveled through the should all be like them and focus Himalayas in search of spiritual ourselves on something we love salvation. to do...and create our own des"The whole world is influenced tiny. by Indian spirituality. India is a "It is a very Asian thing - my very interesting land - it is the mother taught me about music centre of the world's spirituality," and art when I was four years she said. She is also attracted to old...Inside, I am an Asian and Buddhism. outside I am Asian and Western. "The whole world is influenced The world is getting very small," by Buddhism. It is not a religion she recalled. but a logical, theoretical idea Born in 1933 to wealthy don't kill anybody and don't fight bankers in Japan, Ono later with anybody," Ono said. migrated to the US with her famiKnown for her experimental ly. Asked about her long-term music and the Plastic Ono Band, which she set up with Lennon in 1969 to sing songs of peace and freedom, Ono fills her art with this new age search for liberation and people-to-people interface as well. Her live performance, "Cut Piece", in 1964 allowed the audience to step on the stage and snip her draped garment to pieces till she was unclothed. "Art is a tool of social change. But music is music and art is art... They meet sometimes and sometimes they don't. But there is always music around my art, Yoko Ono with artisan women from Bikaner with whom she is collab- touching it, nourishing it," Ono added. orating for an interactive installation, Heal Together.
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An excited Amitabh Bachchan became a chauffeur and drove Oprah from her residence to the party. 2005. After marriage, she appeared with her husband Abhishek Bachchan in 2009. Excited Amitabh Bachchan, who drove Oprah from her residence to the party, tweeted, "The gracious Oprah Winfrey visits our home, to meet us and bless the baby...warm hearted, endearing...drive her to the party in her honor. And Oprah in sari..looking lovely!!" Pregnant Lara Dutta seemed to be very excited to meet Oprah. On her Twitter page, the ecstatic actress posted a picture of her with Oprah and Shahrukh and wrote, "@Oprah and @iamsrk, two people I absolutely adore! Thankyou for making my day! Now can go into labour happily! Actress Sameera Reddy also tweeted, "My God! Oprah Winfrey is the warmest most down to earth person I have ever met! What a personality! I'm thrilled!" Oprah looked pretty in orange sari. She visited India for her new talk show 'Next Chapter'.
Trishala is Sanjay's daughter from his first wife Richa Sharma, who was an actress and died of cancer. hen it comes to his daughter Trishala, Sanjay Dutt is a very protective father. He does not want her in showbiz. The 22-year-old was interested in acting but Sanjay didn't back her. "Absolutely true and underline it 500 times," Sanjay said, about his opposition. "If somebody says give me the reason, I am going to show my finger because she is my daughter." Trishala is from Sanjay's first wife Richa Sharma, who was an actress and died of cancer. The 51-year-old Sanjay, now married to Manyata from whom he has twins, believes women have to struggle a lot in the film industry and he doesn't want his daughter to face all this. "If you want the reason, my father (Sunil Dutt) never wanted any female from my family to join the film industry. Not because film industry is a bad place for woman,
not because film industry is taboo in the country, only because it's a huge struggle for women. Being the oldest in the family I can't give up that legacy," said Sanjay, whose mother Nargis was a top notch actress of the 1950s and 1960s. This restriction is not only imposed on his daughter, but his nieces are kept away from the arclight. "My sisters would have also come... even their daughters, who are so pretty, could also have come," he said. Unfortunately, he didn't spend some quality time in her childhood days with Trishala, who was raised by her maternal grandparents in the US. "I have never seen the aspect of fatherhood with Trishala. That's a sad thing and my bad luck. I feel sad for her. Anyways that was my bad luck. I wish I could spend all those moments with her also. Nonetheless, we will make up."
Meryl Streep won the Best Performance by an 'Actress in a Motion Picture' for 'The Iron Lady'. picture-drama award for Clooney. The best actress in a motion picture-drama was won by Meryl
Streep for "Iron Lady" for her portrayal of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. In the best performance by an actress in a motion picture-musical or comedy, Michelle Williams took home the award for her performance in "My Week With Marilyn". Christopher Plummer and Octavia Spencer picked up the best supporting actors' trophy for their work in "Beginners" and "The Help" respectively. The ceremony saw veteran actor Morgan Freeman being honoured with the Cecil B. DeMille lifetime achievement award. Filmmaker Martin Scorsese won the best director for "Hugo", while Woody Allen's romantic comedy "Midnight In Paris" won the best screenplay gong, and Steven Spielberg's "The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of The Unicorn" bagged the best animated film trophy.
Bigg Boss 5. Meanwhile, Pooja said she was happy that a saucy poster of Jism 2 has been well received. "I am glad that curiosity has increased so soon. I assure you, we will take this curiosity to the peak. I will not let the heat die down because Jism 2 is going to create a lot more 'jadoo' and lot more 'nasha'," Pooja added. She also said Jism 2 will be totally different from the previous movie.
Mahesh Bhatt had offered the movie to Sunny while she was participating in the reality show Bigg Boss 5.
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RK and Ranbir have been paired together to host the 57th Idea Filmfare awards 2011 this year. There are awards and then there is Filmfare. The premium film magazine's award show is something else. If you are featured on Filmfare, you have arrived they say. The prominent award show
began in 1954. The awards get widely noticed for its sheer star presence and long-standing association with Hindi cinema. The hosts of Filmfare are often quirky, cheeky and fun! They amuse the audience with their mad antics. They take healthy digs at their contemporaries and nominees thus keeping everyone glued to their
seats. It was Shah Rukh and Saif who got the ball rolling. Soon after, the younger generation took over with Ranbir and Imran playing the perfect hosts. Filmfare will happen on 29th of January at the Film City this year for which Shah Rukh and Ranbir have been zeroed in as hosts.
The hosts of Filmfare are often quirky, cheeky and fun! They amuse the audience with their mad antics.
Castro's daughter wants No love between Gauri, Priyanka? f rumors are to be believed then Our source recalls that when Gauri Banderas to play dad! there seems to be no love lost and SRK who share a happy vibe with
between Gauri Khan and Priyanka Chopra. Obviously all the talk of an alleged more than good friendship between her superstar husband Shah Rukh Khan and his Don leading lady Priyanka Chopra is the reason why Gauri is supposedly indifferent to PC. What is a coincidence is that years ago, Gauri was reportedly indifferent to another Ms World Aishwarya Rai. Says our source, When Ash walked out Chalte Chalte, SRK's home production, things between Gauri and the former Ms World were strained.
Years ago, Gauri was reportedly indifferent to another Ms World, Aishwarya Rai.
Abhishek Bachchan went to wish him for his birthday (Feb 5) before he had married Ash, they were very warm to Bachchan Jr but Gauri wasn't particularly friendly with Ash at that point. However it seems that now things are perfectly pleasant with at least one Ms World and Gauri. Yes Gauri did make it to Aishwarya's baby shower and she shares a nice equation with the entire Bachchan family. Let's hope the other Ms World title winner Priyanka too manages to get back into the gracious Gauri's good books.
"Castro's Daughter" will tell the story of Fernandez, born in 1956 of a romance between young Fidel Castro and Cuban socialite Naty Revuelta, who was married to a doctor at that time. he estranged daughter of Cuban leader Fidel Castro wants Hollywood actor Antonio Banderas to play her father in the upcoming biopic "Castro's Daughter". Alina Fernandez suggested the name of the "Mask of Zorro" star to production company Mankind Entertainment. The movie would be directed by Michael Radform, and shot in Puerto Rico. "I have been a huge fan of Antonio for years, and hope to see him play my father. I think he has a phenomenal charisma, and think he
Madhavan, a kunwara?
indi cinema is indeed going places! For the first time on the Indian screen the audience will witness a divorce party. Well, separation calls for celebration in Ashwini Chaudhary's " Jodi Breakers", being produced by Prasar Vision Pvt Ltd. "Parting ways has always been considered to be a negative and heartbreaking experience. But in "Jodi Breakers", we have given it a very humorous color. Following his break-up, the song, "Kunwara", shows lead actor Madhavan celebrating his singleton status once again. His friends have thrown a party for his new-found freedom," smiles Ashwini.
has the nerve to play the role perfectly... I'm very excited that he would consider this," Fernandez said. "Castro's Daughter" will tell the story of Fernandez, born in 1956 of a romance between young Fidel Castro and Cuban socialite Naty Revuelta, who was married to a doctor at that time. Fernandez, who now lives in the US, studied medicine and international relations and worked briefly in public relations for Cuba's National Theater. She later became a model and left the island nation in 1993.
The director has shot the song in different locations to capture the exuberance of bachelorhood. "We wanted to capture the joy of liberation as if a big burden has been lifted of the chest. To enhance it, we even shot a foam party sequence. The song has become a hot favorite with the people especially males who are so used to enjoying freedom. The trend of celebrating separation is looked upon with a different aspect today. It is no longer an embarrassment. In fact, I have had friends who after separating have often had a pleasant and cozy meal at a restaurant experiencing a sense of relief," laughs Ashwini.
The film Kunwara shows lead actor Madhavan celebrating his singleton status once again.
The song is still a work in progress and the concept will be finalized in coming weeks.
fter going Ooh La La last year, Vidya Balan is now gearing up for her first item number in Vidhu Vinod Chopra's Ferrari Ki Sawari. The track will be shot lavishly and will see Vids go ultra-glam for it. Reveals a source, "She's never really attempted an item song before, so there was some scepticism. But once she saw portions of the film and met up with Vidhu, she was sold on the idea." The song will be a major highlight of the Rajesh Mapuskar film. "Vinod and Vidya share a great professional equa-
tion since her big break in Parineeta. Naturally, it was very hard for her to resist the offer," reasons the source. The song is still a work in progress and the concept will be finalized in coming weeks. The source adds, "There's no rush to shoot the song, which tentatively will be shot early next month. The team wants Vidya as involved as possible in the process. They're trying to make her feel as comfortable as possible." The choreographer for the number is undecided for now.
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Features TheSouthAsianTimes.info
Motherland- a performance art act by artist N. Pushpmala to be presented at the India Art Fair.
illed as one of the biggest carnivals of art this year, the fourth India Art Fair in Delhi Jan 25-29 will feature more than 1,000 artists by 91 art houses from 20 countries, including works by Salvador Dali, Pablo Picasso, Damien Hirst, Anish Kapoor, Anthony Gormley and Jean Miro. India's coming of age as an international art destination and recovery of the art market postmeltdown will be the highlights of the event to be held at the National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) Ground in Okhla. The focus of the fair is foreign participation. It is likely to draw leading art houses like Hauser and Wirth (Switzerland), Galleria Continua (Italy), Lisson Gallery (UK) and White Cube (UK) and top-of-chain experts to address forums on business, aesthetics, art practices and awareness. Neha Kirpal, the founding director of the fair, said "the 2012 edition of the fair presents the strongest and most diverse contingent of galleries seen at the
fair to date". Nearly 60 percent of galleries are from Asia, including Indian galleries, which make up about half of the exhibitors overall, while 26 percent are from Europe. The remaining 14 percent are from North and South America, the Middle East, Africa and Australia, official statistics said. Estimates say the India Art Fair, founded as the India Art Summit in 2008 as a pioneering platform of modern and contemporary art in India, has attracted more than 170,000 people in the last three years. "The art fair has seen tremendous growth over a short period of time, and much of its success can be attributed to its focus on providing a relevant and transparent platform for the Indian art scene. It has received unprecedented interest from international museums and private collectors, and cultivated a whole breed of new collectors and art enthusiasts within India," Kirpal said. The fair, which has changed its
venue from Pragati Maidan to the NSIC Ground this year, has made a new fashion statement with a new business model. The fair this year will host its visual feasts in designer tents spread over 12,000 square meters designed by veteran set designer Sumanth Jaikishan. "The growing size of the fair, increasing footfall, the global interest generated by the fair and a booming trade drove the organizers to invite foreign partners," a source said. The Indian art market is estimated at a little over Rs.2,000 crore. One of the immediate spin-offs of the new business model of the fair has been the formation of the Collectors' Circle - an outreach program to build an international chain of collectors and art experts - in the run-up to the fair. One main attraction of the fair will be corollaries and collateral events like the video lounge, sculpture court, art book shop, site-specific public art events and live art shows in venues across the national capital.
urrying down the steps of a Delhi Metro station, I jump into the first available train. Eyes stare at me. I am not only the lone woman in the train car but also the only foreigner. Like 1.5 million other people in Delhi, I ride on the Metro every day. To get to work, I spend almost 45 minutes on the rail, including switching train lines, before reaching my destination. The first couple of times I rode the Metro, I thought two things: people are staring at me and why do women not use the Metro. It took me days to realize there were 'women only' compartments at the front of each train. Since starting to use these, I enjoy watching men enter and look around to see only women. They quickly make their way down the train to the general compartments looking as though they mistakenly walked into the wrong washroom. I have never seen 'women only' compartments or sections in my home country of Canada. Although I never had a problem at the back with the men, I feel safer with other women around, especially when the train is so full there is not enough room to move. I have seen people trying to jump into trains that were full, while Metro security try to pull them out so the door can close. Not to say the women that ride the Metro are not a little aggressive when they rush for seats. When two girls go for an
Foreigners beware that some etiquette existing in other countries does not exist on the Delhi Metro. open seat, neither backs down which usually results in them both semi-sitting on each other in one spot. There is no Metro in Winnipeg, my home in central Canada. The city of about 680,000 people has been trying for years to build a rapid-transit system, but does not have the funds. The cost of riding the city bus is 2.45 CAD (Rs.125) -- much more expensive than the Metro here, which only costs me Rs 16 for my ride across the city. I am jealous of the Metro system in Delhi and wish we had a progressive alternative to the bus and taxi systems in Winnipeg. I have ridden on other Metro systems in Vancouver and Toronto, Canada's largest cities, and feel that the Delhi Metro can compete on a global scale. The Metro also offers a fixed rate for everyone, including foreigners. When taking taxis and auto-rickshaws in Delhi, foreigners usually get quoted a much higher price than locals. It can get frustrating when you get overcharged for transportation just because you are not from here. Tanya Tonning, who is from Norway, is
starting her tour of Asia from Delhi and has been using the Metro to get to markets for shopping. She says it was an easy system to understand and was better than walking the streets of Delhi. "It was very clean. I didn't expect it to be that clean when you look around outside," Tonning said. She stays at a backpacking hostel in Saket where most clients are foreigners wanting to see the sights of Delhi. The hostel encourages its visitors to use the Metro to get around the city and provides them with a map of how to reach the nearest station. Foreigners beware that some etiquette existing in other countries does not exist on the Delhi Metro. There is almost no waiting for people to deboard the train before rushing in, sometimes resulting in getting a shoulder push. Even when seats are reserved for women in the general compartments, I usually see just men sitting there. People hold on to their seats and rarely offer them to people who may need it more. When someone asks someone for a seat, they simply squish over and give them a portion of the seat. Then when someone on the bench gets off, you can spread back out. On my first day ever on the Metro, two people on different trains gave up their seats for me. Maybe they saw in my face it was my first time and I was a little nervous, because the luxury of getting offered a seat has never happened again.
Diaspora TheSouthAsianTimes.info
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Rickie Sehgal was caught boasting in a video that he could provide David Cameron's mobile number or a dinner with him for 10,000 pounds
Not murder, says Oxford don's widow; Indian-origin academic gets bail
London: Indianorigin Oxford mathematician Devinder Sivia, who was arrested after an eminent professor was found dead at his home, has been released on bail. The professor's widow said her husband was not Steven Rawlings (left) was found dead at friend Devinder Sivias home (right) murdered while Sivia's father described the aca- Rawlings failed to pinpoint the demics' relationship as that of exact cause of his death. Daily Telegraph said Sivia spent "brothers." The body of Steven Rawlings, a over 24 hours in custody but was 50-year-old astrophysicist, was released after detectives said it found at Sivia's home in was possible the death was not the result of any foul play. Oxfordshire Wednesday. The Oxford professor had sufSivia, a 49-year-old Sikh mathematics lecturer at Oxford fered a breakdown last year. A friend of Rawlings said he University, was arrested. He was released on bail Friday as police had spoken to the professor just downgraded the investigation into hours before he died and that he Rawlings' death, reported Daily seemed troubled and was considering resigning from his post at Mail. Rawlings' widow Linda said the Oxford. "He (Rawlings) was thinking about the future and condeath was not a murder. "Steve and Devinder were best templating handing his notice in friends since college and I believe to St Peter's College. He had a very intense job and he this is a tragic accident." "I do not believe that Steve's was a very intense person," Daily death is murder and I do not Telegraph quoted the friend as believe Devinder should be tar- saying. The friend added: "He had nished in this way," Linda was had a breakdown last year and on that occasion was found wanderquoted as saying. British police are now looking ing around the village in his dressat "underlying health issues" after ing gown in the middle of the a post-mortem examination of night."
Avtar Kolar and wife Carole were bludgeoned to death motive for the murders, but said detectives are looking into a number of lines of inquiry, including a rise in burglaries and gold thefts in the area.
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Op Ed TheSouthAsianTimes.info
By Amulya Ganguli
ayawati's statues and her election symbol of elephants carved out of stone have been covered, the Congress' pro-Muslim sops have been shot down, the officials believed to be biased in favor of the ruling party have been transferred by the Election Commission and bundles of cash meant for distribution among voters have been seized. The country is ready for another electoral bout among political parties under the commission's stern, impartial gaze, which promises that the contests will be free and the outcome fair. It is the certainty about the results reflecting the popular mood which has facilitated the task of forecasts since the earlier ugly phenomenon of booth-capturing, impersonation and forcibly keeping at bay large groups of voters, mainly in the Hindi heartland, is no longer prevalent. As is known, this remarkable cleansing of the electoral system is the contribution of T.N. Seshan, who was chief election commis-
The country is ready for another electoral bout among political parties under the Election Commission's stern, impartial gaze, which promises that the contests will be free and the outcome fair. sioner from 1990 to 1996. Since his time, the commission, like the Comptroller and Auditor General's office, has been a truly autonomous body. As a result, perhaps the most crucial of the "cow belt" states, Uttar Pradesh, will see another riveting battle between the two old regional adversaries, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Samajwadi Party (SP), and two "national" parties with limited local influence, the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with all of them accepting the results without making too much of a fuss. In all likelihood, the anti-incumbency factor, which led to the SP's ouster in 2007, may be felt by the BSP this time, largely because of the latter's neglect of significant development projects that make a
to hit the BSP in Uttar Pradesh, it is also likely to unsettle the Akali Dal in Punjab, which has tended to vote for the Akalis and the Congress in alternate elections. The Congress' hopes of staging a comeback have been buoyed by its success in the 2009 parliamentary polls, when it won eight of the 13 seats while the Akalis won four. In Uttarakhand, the party had to hastily remove Ramesh Pokhriyal from the chief minister's post in favour of B.C. Khanduri, who held the office earlier, in view of the corruption charges faced by Pokhriyal's administration. In fact, there is little doubt that the BJP would have lost power if Pokhriyal had remained in office. Even now, memories of his time in power may damage the party's prospects. In Manipur, the Congress may gain from the differences that have cropped up between two constituents of the People's Democratic Front (PDF) - the Janata Dal (United) and the RJD with the enmity rooted in Bihar between these two parties souring their relations in the northeastern state.
The views expressed in Op Eds are not necessarily those of The South Asian Times.
Subcontinent TheSouthAsianTimes.info
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Pakistans Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani. sonally before it on Jan 19. He said the government wanted no confrontation with any institution, including the judiciary, and that no one should degrade the mandate of the elected govern-
Mansoor Ijaz claims to have delivered a memo to then chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mike Mullen. Islamabad: A Pakistani court dismissed a plea to file a case against Pakistani-American businessman Mansoor Ijaz who forwarded a secret memo to Washington that said President Asif Ali Zardari last year feared a military coup. Additional Sessions Judge Syed Wajahat Hassan in Islamabad rejected the petition to file the case against Mansoor Ijaz, reported Geo News. The petition was filed on Jan 7 by Pakistan Peoples Party activist
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International TheSouthAsianTimes.info
11 people are dead and 22 still missing days after the Italian cruise liner Costa Concordia crashed into rocks.
The book by Tokyo-based journalist quotes late leader Kim Jong-ils son as saying that the collapse of North Koreas economy is likely unless it initiates reforms. Without reforms and liberalization, the collapse of the economy is within sight, he quoted Kim as saying. But reforms and opening up could also invite dangers for the regime. Gomi, a Tokyo Shimbun journalist who had assignments in Seoul and Beijing, claims he exchanged 150 emails and has spent a total of seven hours interviewing Kim Jong Nam, who was seen as a possible successor until he fell out of favor with Kim Jong-il in 2001. Not long after Kim Jong-ils funeral, Jong Nam suggested in an interview with a Japanese TV network that he opposes a hereditary transfer of power to his young half-brother, who is believed to be in his late 20s. That was a rare public sign of discord in the tightly choreographed succession process, but analysts said Jong Nam spends so much time outside his native land that his opinion carries little weight.
Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov warned that an attack would spark a regional refugee crisis and incite inter-communal tensions in the region. Moscow: Russia has warned that a military strike on Iran would be a "catastrophe" with the severest consequences which risked inflaming existing tensions between Sunni and Shiite Muslims. "As for the chances of this catastrophe happening, you would have to ask those constantly mentioning it as an option that remains on the table," foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said when asked on the chances of military action. Israeli defense minister Ehud Barak earlier said in Jerusalem that his country was not even close to deciding to attack Iran and believed that a military option remained "very far away". Lavrov warned of the "severest" consequences of an attack that he warned would spark a regional refugee crisis and incite inter-communal tensions in the region. "I have no doubt in the fact that it only add fuel to the fire of the stillsimmering Sunni-Shiite conflict. And I do not know where the subsequent chain reaction will end. He added that punitive sanctions aimed at winning more transparency from Iran had "exhausted" themselves and only hurt the chances of peace. "Additional unilateral sanctions against Iran have nothing to do with a desire to ensure the regime's commitment to nuclear non-proliferation," Lavrov told reporters at an annual briefing outlining Russia's foreign policy views. His comments came as EU diplomats closed in on a July date for a full oil embargo that would suit nations such as Italy with a strong reliance on Iranian supplies. Lavrov said Russia had evidence that Iran was ready to cooperate more closely with inspectors from the United Nations IAEA nuclear watchdog and was preparing for "serious talks" with the West. He also hinted that Europe and the United States were imposing the measures with the specific purpose of torpedoing new rounds of talks. "Iran is now waiting for an (IAEA) delegation so that it can discuss serious issues. So the sanctions that can now be adopted by the European Union can hardly improve the atmosphere or make the talks productive," said Lavrov.
Business TheSouthAsianTimes.info
23
Global growth is now projected at 3.1 percent for 2013, down from its June estimate of 3.6 percent. Washington: The World Bank has lowered its global economic growth rate forecast to 2.5 percent in 2012 from its previous estimate of 3.6 percent, amid risks triggered by the ongoing eurozone crisis. Developing countries should prepare for further downside risks, as the eurozone debt problems and weakening growth in several big emerging economies are dimming global growth prospects, the Washington-based organization said in its newlyreleased flagship report "Global Economic Prospects (GEP) 2012". "The world economy has entered a very difficult phase characterized by significant downside risks and fragility," the report said. The bank has lowered its growth forecast for 2012 to 5.4 percent for developing countries and 1.4 percent for high-income countries, down from its June estimates of 6.2 percent and 2.7 percent respectively, reported Xinhua. Global growth is now projected at 3.1 percent for 2013, down from its June estimate of 3.6 percent.
The 43-year-old Jerry Yang also resigned from the Boards of Yahoo! Japan and Alibaba Group Holding limited. San Francisco: Yahoo's co-founder Jerry Yang stepped down from its board along with all other
Even airline promoters such as Vijay Mallya, chairman of Kingfisher Airlines, have supported 49% FDI for foreign carriers. crore) and debt is projected to rise by another $3-4 billion (up to Rs 22,000 crore) if Air India goes ahead with the Boeing 787 order , according to the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA ). Kingfisher and AI are struggling to survive and other carriers remain undercapitalized . Ajit Singh said FDI was among the important things required by airlines to survive the severe financial turbulence. "We all know that the aviation industry is under a lot of stress," he said.
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Sports TheSouthAsianTimes.info
MS Dhoni now presides over a disintegrating Test team that has lost seven consecutive Tests on foreign soil, four of them by an innings and the rest by margins of 196, 319 and 122 runs. seas campaigns and his own form, not just with the gloves but also with the bat, no longer warrants a guaranteed place in the Test side." Dhoni made 220 runs in four Tests in England last year at an average of 31.40 and has managed just 102 runs in three matches in Australia at 20.40. India, ranked the world's top Test side until they were blanked 4-0 in England, will slip to fourth
Books TheSouthAsianTimes.info
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eath is rarely spoken about in our homes. I wonder why. Especially when each one of us knows that death has to come, has to strike. Its inevitable. This line from Yas Yagana Changezi says it best: Khuda mein shak ho to ho, maut mein nahin koi shak (You may doubt the existence of God, you cant doubt the certainty of death). And one must prepare oneself to face it. At 95, I do think of death. I think of death very often but I dont lose sleep over it. I think of those gone; keep wondering where they are. Where have they gone? Where will they be? I dont know the answers: where you go, what happens next. I once asked the Dalai Lama how one should face death and he had advised meditation. Im not scared of death; I do not fear it. Death is inevitable. While I have thought about it a lot, I dont brood about it. Im prepared for it. All that I hope for is that when death comes to me, it comes swiftly, without much pain, like fading away in sound slumber. Till then Ill keep working and living each day as it comes. I believe in the Jain philosophy that death ought to be celebrated. Earlier, whenever I was upset or low, I used to go to the cremation grounds. It has a cleansing effect, and worked like a therapy for me. In fact, Id written my own epitaph years ago: Here lies one who spared neither man nor God Waste not your tears on him, he was a sod Writing nasty things he regarded as great fun Thank the Lord he is dead, this son of a gun. I had even written my own obit in 1943 when I was still in my twenties. It later appeared in a collection of short stories, titled Posthumous. In the piece, I had imagined The Tribune announcing the news of my death on its front page with a small photograph. The headline would read: Sardar Khushwant Singh Dead. And then, in somewhat smaller print: We regret to announce the sudden death of Sardar Khushwant Singh at 6 pm last evening. He leaves behind a young widow, two infant children and a large number of friends and admirers. Amongst those who called at the late sardars residence were the PA to the chief justice, several ministers, and judges of the high court. I had to cope with death when I lost my wife. Being an agnostic, I could not find solace in religious rituals. Being essen-
tially a loner, I discouraged friends and relatives from coming to condole with me. I spent the first night alone sitting in my chair in the dark. At times, I broke down, but soon recovered my composure. A couple of days later, I resumed my usual routine, working from dawn to dusk. That took my mind off the stark reality of having to live alone in an empty home for the rest of my days. When friends persisted in calling and upsetting my equilibrium, I packed myself off to Goa to be by myself. I used to be keen on a burial because with a burial you give back to the earth what you have taken. Now, it will be the electric crematorium. I had requested the management of the Bahai faith if I could be buried. Initially, they had agreed, but then they came up with all sorts of conditions and rules. I had wanted to be buried in one corner with just a peepal tree next to my grave. After okaying this, the management later said that that wouldnt be possible and that my grave would be in the middle of a row and not in a corner. I wasnt okay with thateven though I know that once you are dead it makes no difference. But I was keen to be buried in one corner. They also told me later that
do not know what happens to us after we die but one should help a person go in peace at peace with himself and with the world. Ive lived a reasonably contented life. Ive often thought about what it is that makes people happy - what one has to do in order to achieve happiness. First and foremost is good health. If you do not enjoy good health, you can never
Absolute Khushwant: The Low-Down on Life, Death and Most Things In-Between By Khushwant Singh & Humra Quraishi. Penguin India, Rs 250.
they would chant some prayers, which again I couldnt agree with, because I dont believe in religion or in religious rituals of any kind. Though Im quite fit, I know I dont have much time left. Im coming to terms with death, preparing myself. And since I have no faith in God, nor in the day of judgment, nor in the theory of reincarnation, I have to come to terms with the complete full stop. I have been criticized for not sparing even the dead, but then death does not sanctify a person, and if I find the person had been corrupt, I write about it even when hes gone. I dont believe in rebirth or in reincarnation, in the day of judgment or in heaven or hell. I accept the finality of death. We be happy. Any ailment, however trivial, will deduct something from your happiness. Second, a healthy bank balance. It need not run into crores, but it should be enough to provide for comforts, and there should be something to spare for recreationeating out, going to the movies, travel and holidays in the hills or by the sea. Shortage of money can be demoralising. Living on credit or borrowing is demeaning and lowers one in ones own eyes. Third, your own home. Rented places can never give you the comfort or security of a home that is yours for keeps. If it has garden space, all the better. Plant your own trees and flowers, see them grow and
blossom, and cultivate a sense of kinship with them. Fourth, an understanding companion, be it your spouse or a friend. If you have too many misunderstandings, it robs you of your peace of mind. It is better to be divorced than to be quarreling all the time. Fifth, stop envying those who have done better than you in life - risen higher, made more money, or earned more fame. Envy can be corroding; avoid comparing yourself with others. Sixth, do not allow people to descend on you for gup-shup. By the time you get rid of them, you will feel exhausted and poisoned by their gossip-mongering. Seventh, cultivate a hobby or two that will fulfill you - gardening, reading, writing, painting, playing or listening to music. Going to clubs or parties to get free drinks, or to meet celebrities, is a criminal waste of time. Its important to concentrate on something that keeps you occupied meaningfully. I have family members and friends who spend their entire day caring for stray dogs, giving them food and medicines. There are others who run mobile clinics, treating sick people and animals free of charge. Eighth, every morning and evening devote 15 minutes to introspection. In the mornings, 10 minutes should be spent in keeping the mind absolutely still, and five minutes listing the things you have to do that day. In the evenings, five minutes should be set aside to keep the mind still and 10 minutes to go over the tasks you had intended to do. Ninth, dont lose your temper. Try not to be short-tempered, or vengeful. Even when a friend has been rude, just move on. Above all, when the time comes to go, one should go like a man without any regret or grievance against anyone. Iqbal said it beautifully in a couplet in Persian: You ask me about the signs of a man of faith? When death comes to him, he has a smile on his lips.
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Education TheSouthAsianTimes.info
he boy sat in his seat nervously, but with a hopeful expectation he had not known before. Mrs. Steinheart, his English teacher, was returning book reports to his seventh grade classmates, and she would be returning his any moment now. Sitting in his seat, a small smile came to the boys face as he thought back to the hours he had devoted to writing the report and recalled the sensation of those magical moments when he first came to realize he had loved what he had written and had loved the words he had used. It was the first time the boy, who had just recently begun to experience the joy of reading, had ever read his own writing with a rushing sensation of pride and ownership. Pride and ownership associated with his schoolwork were emotions never experienced before by the boy, who had long ago sensed that his teachers and even his own mother and father regarded him as a loser playing a futile game of catch-up his first six school years. But now, in the first half of his seventh school year, he had finally caught up. And, most amazingly, he experienced the joy of putting his own thoughts into words. Come up for your book report, Mrs. Steinheart bellowed. The boy walked to his teachers desk and took the three page report from her hands. Racing through the pages, the boy found his grade on the bottom right hand corner of the final page: A/F.
The boy tried to maintain his composure. He could not allow his classmates to see him cry. He knew the teacher gave two grades the top for content the bottom for grammar, but he had carefully monitored his grammar as he wrote and had reread the report when he had finished. Finding no signs of Mrs. Steinhearts red pen on his paper, he could not imagine where he had gone wrong. He knew he had to find the courage to question the teacher, and so he did when the bell ending the class finally rang. Mrs. Steinheart, Why did I get an F in grammar? Where are my mistakes? questioned the boy who had never questioned a teacher before. Thats not an F. That is a question mark. I graded the paper an A. The question mark is about you writing it. I did not think you could write this well. That is why I wrote the question mark, and thats why I will not be crediting you with an A in my marking book for your next report card. Months passed, and the boy whose smile had been erased from his face raised his hand from his seat in the back of the room. Can I go the bathroom Mrs. Steinheart? No you cannot. When the discomfort racing through his bowels turned into pain and fear, the boy raised his hand again, lifting it high for his teacher to see. But she seemed to be looking in every direction but his. He continued to keep his hand raised, as moments turned into
The recollection of the bad experiences of childhood endures long after the memories of the good experiences have disappeared. This is true with children in their relationships with their parents. It is true with children in their relationships with their teachers.
minutes and the minutes seemed to drag on forever. Knowing it was his last chance, the boy partially raised his body out of his seat and began to move his hand in a desperate wave. What is it? the teacher asked with a howl. Can I go to the bathroom? How did I know that you were going to ask that question? Okay leave. It was too late. The laughing taunts, smiling insults and cruel jokes that followed him the remainder of the afternoon followed him throughout the remainder of the school year. The boy would never forget that afternoon, just as he would never forget the question mark that substituted for what should have been his first A. Despite the kind, patient and nurturing teachers the boy had no doubt encountered before and after Mrs. Steinheart, whenever he thought of teachers, he thought only of her. And while forty years have passed, the image of Mrs. Steinheart as his composite recollection of all teachers would probably have remained had his life not taken a strange twist. Twelve years later, the boy who had turned into a man became a middle school English teacher; and ten years after that, the man who had never forgotten being a vulnerable boy became an assistant principal, whose responsibilities included supervising English teachers and, incidentally, working for many years with seventh grade students In the event you havent yet guessed, I was that boy. And whenever I think back to the seventh grade, I become that vulnerable boy again. I have come to believe that the recollection of the bad experiences of childhood endures long after the memories of the good experiences have disappeared. This is true with children in their relationships with their parents. It is true with children in their relationships with their teachers. It is certainly true with me. Had I not become an educator myself, having witnessed first hand that the overwhelming majority of teachers are the polar opposites of Mrs. Steinheart, it would be her image discoloring my picture of teachers the rest of my life. I would think of that whenever I encountered people who seem to hate teachers, and I have certainly encountered my share. Each time I would ask myself, Who was the Mrs Steinheart who wounded them? There must have been such a teacher and such a wound to explain such animosity. Using this as my premise, I developed my own psychological theory about this phenomenon many years ago. I named it the Mrs. Steinheart theory. I had many occasions to apply this theory during the ten years I was an English teacher. Telling a new acquaintance my occupation, I would not infrequently hear a comment like, You seem so nice. You cant be a teacher. I applied this theory during the twenty years that, before my retirement, I was an assistant principal. Informing someone I just met what I do for a living, I would often hear a comment like, I hope you dont let those rotten teachers get away with anything. I have also applied the Mrs. Steinheart theory to even the rare breed of fair and objective politicians, journalists, commentators, who abandon this fairness and objectivity only when it comes to teachers, who become their singular whipping boys and girls. That the success of these individuals can probably in large be credited to the many caring, nurturing and knowledgeable pedagogues who were once upon a time ago their teachers is a point apparently lost on these grown men and women. They just like me, I suspect, were the victims of a Mrs. Steinheart in a year that a teacher stole from their childhood. Robert Golomb is currently an adjunct professor of graduate education, writing and school administration. Before his retirement, he had served ten years as a NYC middle school English teacher and subsequently twenty years as an assistant principal. He writes on range of educational, political, cultural and international topics. He can be contacted by email: MrBob347@aol.com
Lifestyle TheSouthAsianTimes.info
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Shah Rukh Khans tweet pic with son Aryan and daughter Suhana at recent Dubai family trip. SRK was out in the dunes, also played midnight soccer with them. grabbed on the streets, and played daddy cool for his little angel. As a parent, it was a rare, special moment for him. "Taking daughter for a cycle ride in Bandra...hmmm, let's see how it
Swarovski embellished wedding invitation cards. designers are entering. Prices have skyrocketed. Everyone, including the NRI, asks for the fanciest and most exclusive design even if it's not worth the amount spent. Some even say Indian designs are simply outstanding and can't be found anywhere else," he said. Triveni Bakshi, a Canada-based NRI, is completely in
Wedding invitation cards in box shaped design awe of Indian designs. "Yes! It's true that Indian wedding cards have no match. I personally like a lot of bling, something which has to do with fabrics or metal. Indian designs have so much variety - scroll with silk fabric and traditional Indian fonts or silver plated wedding card with embossed content." "Innovation is the key and keeping this in
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Humor TheSouthAsianTimes.info
figure out where the apples came from. One theory is that they were swept up from an orchard by a tornado and dropped on the road, but Keresley parish councillor Sandra Camwell has a more logical explanation: witches. We're in an area with a spooky history, where there have been witches for centuries, after all," she told The Telegraph. If it were just apples falling from the sky, we wouldn't have too much to worry about. In fact, we might pray that more apples fall, especially in parts of the world where people would lie on their backs and open their mouths wide. London man: Yes!!! That apple just saved me a lot of money! Tourist: But you didn't even eat it. London man: Eat it? Are you bonkers? Why would I eat it? I just wanted it to knock out my loose
tooth, so I wouldn't have to pay the dentist. Unfortunately its more than just apples falling from the sky. Just ask anyone who follows the news closely and theyll tell you about the thousands of frogs that fell in Odzaci, a small town in northwestern Serbia, in 2005, or the hundreds of fish that fell in Lajamanu, a town in Australias northern territory, in 2010. When I told my family, who live in another part of Australia, about the fish falling from the sky, they thought I'd lost the plot, a woman named Christine Balmer told The Daily Mail. But no, I haven't lost my marbles. All I can say is that I'm thankful that it didn't rain crocodiles! Raining frogs and fish is bad enough, although you might get a meal out of them. But here's a warning: if something falls out of the sky, make sure you identify it before you put it in your mouth and start chewing. Even if it looks like a real fish, you should always turn it around to see if you can spot the words Made in China. Experts believe that the frogs and fish were swept up by tornadoes or sucked up in a storm, but how do they explain what happened in
Kentucky in 1876? Pieces of meat as large as three or four square inches fell from the sky into someones yard. According to The New York Times, two gentlemen, who tasted the meat, express the opinion that it
was either mutton or venison. I dont know about you, but if chunks of meat fell from the sky into my yard, I wouldnt be tasting it. Id be running through the streets screaming, "Witches! Witches!"
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.
by Mahendra Shah
Tech Life
timers or set alarms. It helps make your everyday life easier, like if you are in a car and then you have to text someone but you cant use your hands so you activate Siri and tell it who to text and what to text. It also finds answers for you from the web, such as if you ask how many miles are in a yard and you dont have a converter app it will look it up online and give you an answer. Android was soon to follow. So Dexetra made an app called Iris, Siri spelled backwards, which was supposedly developed in under 8 hours. It at first was a copy of Siri only it wasnt as smart or resourceful but that has changed because they kept adding updates which built it up to something more than a copy. It still cant send text messages, make calls or set timers but in due time they will make the program as good as Siri but for right now Siri is still superior.
Astrology
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There are also some who indulge in tall talk and calumny; they are ever ready to slander. But our duty is to love all. If they do not give up their wicked ways, why should we leave our noble ways? Huzur Baba Sawanji Maharaj
father that he did not want to make a graveyard of his body. He then stuck to the vegetarian diet even as a young boy. He also observed obedience to the Master no matter what. He often spoke of following the Masters commandments in spirit and letter. He did this himself, and this helped him achieve the ultimate goal of union with God. When his Master told him to give satsang in his town, he did so regularly. One time when Hazur happened to visit that town, Sant Kirpal Singh Ji got word that his Master was nearby. He was in a dilemma whether to run to see his Master or give satsang. He ultimately decided that since Hazur had told him to give satsang he should do so. Then, when satsang was over, he went to the place where Hazur had been, only to learn that Hazur had already left to return to his own ashram. Sant Kirpal Singh Ji was heartbroken that he had missed the darshan of his Master. He then went to see Hazur later that evening. When he had a chance to meet with Hazur he asked whether he had done the right thing in giving satsang instead of going for darshan. Hazur reassured Not letting obstacles stand in the way of his spiritual goals Sant Kirpal Singh Ji did not let any obstacle stand in the way of achieving his spiritual goals. Neither physical pain, negativity of others, or setbacks stopped him from his chosen path. Think of the stamina needed to meditate for long hours, yet he did so no matter what. Think of the grueling schedule of work, career, family, and meditation he observed, yet he never became sidetracked. Think of the labor he put in to do seva. After a long days work he would engage in physical or intellectual seva to help others. Although he may have been tired, he would go out and serve others after work. He would stay up late doing seva for his Master, often working the whole night through. As tired as his body may have been, he attended to meditation and seva. Think of the criticism he received from others as he made progress on the spiritual path. When he had the love and attention of Hazur others became jealous and tried to make things difficult for him. Yet, he never let any of these difficulties stop him from doing what was Singh Ji Maharaj did not give up when the road appeared to end and then a turn carried the road higher. He made the turn and kept going no matter what it took and did not stop until he reached his goal of union with God. Once when others were critical and making it difficult for Sant Kirpal Singh Ji Maharaj to see Hazur, he had to endure a period of separation from his Master. Others did not allow Sant Kirpal Singh Ji to see Hazur. Hazur wrote a beautiful letter to Sant Kirpal Singh which said that there are all sorts of disciples who come to satsang: "There are some whose hearts are overflowing with love and are ready to sacrifice their allbody, mind, and money. There are also some who indulge in tall talk and calumny; they are ever ready to slander. But our duty is to love all. If they do not give up their wicked ways, why should we leave our noble ways?" This encouraged Sant Kirpal Singh Ji to keep going, to stay true to the ethical virtues, to meditate and do seva despite hardships inflicted by others. He knew that, despite these difficulties, he had the love and blessings of his