India Post_09 05 2014 e paper by Ghanshyam Bisht

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VOL 20, No. 1042

September 5, 2014

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MODI WINS DOUBLE JAPAN INVESTMENT

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Dream run for rural 'Betis' in UP village Details on page 47

4 of Indianorigin among 25 top economists Details on page 27

12 Indian firms in Forbes' 50 best in Asia-Pacific Details on page 27

Kailash Kher

A music icon & an amazing personality

Sonia attacks Modi on price rise, clashes

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Chicago NRIs honor two Indian stalwarts

CONTENTS Bollywood ---------------------- 28-29 Classifieds ------------------------- 52

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INDIA POST SURVEY survey@indiapost.com This week’s question

Should China worry over India, Japan bon homie? Last week’s result

Should India’s Look East policy concern US? YES 27%

NO 73%

PERSONAL CHEMISTRY: Prime Minister Narendra Modi with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe before a delegation level meeting in Tokyo, Japan on September 1

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TOKYO: India and Japan agreed to enhance their defense and strategic cooperation to a new level during talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his counterpart Shinzo Abe, who also decided to speed up negotiations on civil nuclear deal that could not be concluded now. Striking good personal chemistry, the two leaders had "very fruitful" and "meaningful" exchanges after which Abe announced doubling of Japan's private and public

investment in India to about USD 35 billion over the next five years. The talks at Akasaka Palace (State Guest House) came on the third day of Modi's first major bilateral visit outside South Asia. Abe had gone the extra mile in receiving his old friend in Kyoto and spent the weekend with him on a tour of two ancient Buddhist temples apart from hosting a banquet.

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ere's a shout out to the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) - not so much because of my long association with this stellar organization, but because a lot of what it does is indeed praiseworthy. AAPI is among the few Indian American organizations that hold an immense potential for giving back to society, particularly to their native India. Here's an organization that never tires of ideating and coming up with some of the most innovative projects to extend a really long hand of support to reach out to the Indian government in order to serve the truly needy in India. With a vision to rope in the services of the over 100,000 Indian origin physicians in the US and the several hundred thousand across the globe, AAPI recently launched the SwaasthIndia Portal to help connect Government of India's health related requirements with the medical expertise of Indian origin physicians. How it works is that the governmental institutions and other healthcare providers in India keep posting their express needs and special requirements on the website and the NRI/PIO physicians who are registered on the site, depending on their own expertise, availability and willingness can offer their services wherever required. These services may include health screening camps or capacity building programs. Now, what this enables is for healthcare requirements from even the smaller towns, districts and remote villages in India to be posted here, and for the overseas physicians to reach out to the towns or villages of their choice. AAPI takes the responsibility of screening profiles of the physicians that may register their services, as also of publicizing the availability of this initiative. This seamless, two-way communication is expected to directly benefit thousands of hospitals - government, private as well as paramedical institutions in India. Now that's a perfect needs-based innovation for you. I know personally many Indian American physicians who nurture a keen desire to do something for India, but are not sure where to begin or how. I would say to them, check out SwaasthIndia, you will surely find a way.

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HIGHLIGHTS Bollywood: Virat denial Anushka Sharma has denied she is getting married to cricketer Virat Kohli after BCCI had declared such a scenerio

Cover Story: Modi in Japan Japanese PM Shinzo Abe has announced doubling of Japan's private and public investment in India to $ 35 billion

Community: Global leader Narendra Modi is emerging as a global leader with his pluralistic vision and strong nationalism, says Dr Agnihotri

Obama's delay Obama's delay in taking action on immigration has created uncertainty among both party advocates & lawmakers

Life style: Rural marathon On the dusty streets of Bichola in UP, India, girls, boys, amateur and professionals ran to promote child education

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Modi wins double Japan investment TOKYO: India and Japan agreed to enhance their defense and strategic cooperation to a new level during talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his counterpart Shinzo Abe, who also decided to speed up negotiations on civil nuclear deal that could not be concluded now. Striking good personal chemistry, the two leaders had "very fruitful" and "meaningful" exchanges after which Abe announced doubling of Japan's private and public investment in India to about USD 35 billion over the next five years. The talks at Akasaka Palace (State Guest House) came on the third day of Modi's first major bilateral visit outside South Asia. Abe had gone the extra mile in receiving his old friend in Kyoto and spent the weekend with him on a tour of two ancient Buddhist temples apart from hosting a banquet. Significantly, at an interaction with business leaders, Modi deplored the "expansionist" tendencies among countries which "engage in encroachment" and "intrude" into the seas of others, comments seen as a veiled reference to China. At the summit talks, the two

While agreeing on greater defense equipment and technology cooperation, the two sides decided to expedite discussions on modalities for the sale of Japanese

those having ideas of the 18th century, engage in encroachments and enter seas (of others)," Modi said at the business event. He did not name any country

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe at a delegation level meeting

US-2 amphibian aircraft. "The two Prime Ministers reaffirmed the importance of defense relations between India and Japan in their strategic partnership and decided to upgrade and strengthen them," a joint statement issued after the talks said. On the civil nuclear deal over which there were expectations of it being finalized during the visit,

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe after signing the agreements, at Akasaka Palace, in Tokyo

countries decided to elevate their ties to a Special Strategic Global Partnership, emphasizing that a developed India and a prosperous Japan was important for Asia and for global peace and security. "This is not just raising the relationship from one category to another... Our relationship is not only regional in its framework, but will have a global impact," Modi, who is on a five-day visit to Japan, said.

"In recent months, we have made significant progress in our negotiations on civil nuclear cooperation. Today, we have discussed this issue at length. We have

both Modi and Abe said they have directed the officials to accelerate negotiations for early conclusion of a bilateral agreement to strengthen their partnership. While India is said to be pursuing the deal with Japan on the template of the landmark Indo-US nuclear accord, Tokyo is said to be not that enthusiastic about that being the basis. The joint statement while making a reference to nuclear ties said,

reached better understanding of each other's positions through this discussion. "We have agreed to instruct our negotiators to work expeditiously to conclude the negotiations at an early date so that we can further strengthen our strategic partnership," it added. The 3.5 trillion yen (35 billion USD) of investment from Japan to India including Official Development Assistance (ODA) during a 5-year period will be under the aegis of India-Japan Investment Promotion Partnership for development of projects including infrastructure and building smart cities. The five-year period will also see the doubling of the presence of Japanese firms in India, Abe said. Abe also announced that as an example of Indo-Japan cooperation, Tokyo will help India in providing financial, technical and operational support to introduce Bullet trains, a project that Modi has been actively pursuing. Coinciding with the summit, Japan removed six of India's space and defense-related entities from its Foreign End User List. Modi appreciated this decision and said both the countries are looking forward to enhanced trade and collaboration in high-end technology. The six companies removed from Japan's end user list can now enter into transactions involving sensitive dual-use equipment, technology and software. "We have to decide if we want to have 'vikas vaad' (development) or 'vistar vaad' (expansionism) which leads to disintegration. Those who follow the path of Buddha and have faith on 'vikas vaad', they develop. But we see,

but the comments may be seen as targeting China which is engaged in territorial disputes with a num-

his first bilateral visit outside South Asia, Modi said," we both have decided to raise the relationship to a special strategic and global partnership by giving it a special emphasis". Asserting that his visit ushered in a dawn of new era in Indo-Japan relations, Modi said there is no "limit" to partnership between the two countries. Modi also said that Japan occupies top priority in India's foreign policy. He was effusive in his praise for Abe saying he spent a considerable amount of his valuable time to be with him in Kyoto for two days and in Tokyo. The Prime Minister said Abe has agreed to cooperate with India in all areas taking into account his vision of inclusive development of the country. "We will help you," Abe told Modi, adding he was ready to extend his help in Ganga cleaning project when he raised the issue.

The Emperor of Japan, His Majesty Akihito with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in Tokyo, Japan on September 2

ber of its neighbors, including India, Japan and some others including Vietnam. Thanking Abe for providing him an opportunity to make Japan

"This is an example of his love and respect for India," he said, adding the relationship between the two countries was also spiritual in nature. -PTI

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan Fumio Kishida calling on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in Tokyo, Japan on September 1

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'No red tape but red carpet for investors' TOKYO: Making a strong pitch for bringing Japanese investments into India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said there is no "red tape" but only "red carpet" for investors as the government has eased a lot of regulations. Asserting that his government is working on development and

there is no Red Tape but Red Carpet in India. We have eased off lot of regulations," Modi said. Calling for a new history between the two countries on the economic front, the Prime Minister said India is the only place where one can find "democracy, demography and demand". Modi, who was addressing

Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivering the keynote address at a Seminar hosted by JETRO and NIKKEI, in Tokyo, Japan on September 2

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Suzuki Motor Corp. Chairman and Chief Executive Osamu Suzuki (L) shake hands at a business meeting

increasing manufacturing activities, Modi said there cannot be a better place to make investments than India. "I have come to assure you that

Japanese investors at a seminar organized by the Japan External Trade Organization (Jetro) and Nikkei here, also said that India guarantees democracy, safety,

security and justice. He told Japanese investors that India is a "god gifted location" for reaching out to global markets. Referring to his government's 100 days in power, Modi said it has achieved what could not be

achieved in the last two-and-ahalf years. The country's GDP grew 5.7 per cent in the April-June quarter, the highest in more than two years. Modi said his government is ready to offer whatever is required to promote foreign investment

into India. "Without Japan, India is incomplete and without India, Japan is incomplete", he said. According to him, the coming together of Japan's hardware skills and India's software expertise can create miracle. -PTI

DNA of non-violence ingrained in our society: PM TOKYO: Prime Minister Narendra Modi sought to address concerns of international community over India not signing the NPT by saying that the country's commitment to peace and nonviolence is ingrained in the "DNA of Indian society" which is above any international treaty or processes. "India is a land of Lord Buddha. Buddha lived for peace and suffered for peace and that message is prevalent in India," Modi said at Sacred Heart University here while replying to a question by a student. During an interaction, he was asked how India would enhance trust of the international community without changing its stand on Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which it has refused to sign despite possessing nuclear weapons. Modi used the land of Japan, which is the only country to have been the victim of an atom bomb attack, to send out the message on this issue amid moves to have a civil nuclear deal with Tokyo. India refuses to sign the NPT because it considers it as flawed. Asserting that India's "com-

Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivering the address at the University of Sacred Heart, in Tokyo, Japan on September 2

mitment to non-violence is total", Modi said it is ingrained in the "DNA of Indian society and this is above any international treaty", apparently referring to India's refusal to sign the NPT. "In international affairs, there are some processes. But above them is the commitment of the society," he said, underlining the need for rising "above the trea-

ties". To buttress his point, the Prime Minister cited how India undertook the freedom struggle under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi with the entire society being committed to non-violence, surprising the whole world. He went on to add that India, for thousands of years, has had the belief in 'vasudhaiva

kutumbakam' (the whole world is one family). "When we consider the whole world as one family, how can we even think about doing anything that would harm or hurt anyone?" The question was asked in the context of India recently ratifying the Additional Protocol on Safeguards Agreement signed with IAEA, that will allow inspec-

tors of the atomic watchdog easy access to India's civil nuclear facilities. During the interactive session, the Prime Minister was asked by another student about how peace could be pursued in Asia despite China's "expansionist" designs. Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 9

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Pact to develop Varanasi as 'smart city' KYOTO: Nursing the ambition of creating 100 smart cities in India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi began his Japan visit with a pact being signed under which his constituency Varanasi will be developed as a 'smart city' in partnership with Kyoto. The Partner City Affiliation MoU marks the launch of smart heritage city program between the two countries as a detailed roadmap of cooperation will be prepared which will form the base for further understanding. Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who made a special gesture of flying to Kyoto to meet his Indian counterpart, oversaw the ceremony where the pact was signed by Indian Ambassador to Japan Deepa Wadhwa and Daisaku Kadokawa, Mayor of Kyoto, the Japanese 'smart city' which is a confluence of heritage and modernity. The Kyoto Mayor made a detailed presentation to Modi on how the ancient tradition of Japan's cultural capital has been preserved while building it into a modern city. Kyoto, with around 2000 temples and shrines, has been at the crossroads of history since the end of the Nara Period (794

Mayor of Kyoto Daisaku Kadokawa delivering a presentation for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in Kyoto, Japan on August 31. Ambassador of India to Japan, Deepa Gopalan Wadhwa is also seen

A.D.), it was the capital of Japan for over 1,000 years till the Emperor moved to Tokyo.

Under the MoU, both cities shall endeavor to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in the

Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaches out to 99 year old Saichiro Misumi, Netaji's oldest living associate in Japan, in Tokyo, Japan on September 2

Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacting with children during his visit to Taimei Elementary School, in Tokyo, Japan on September 1

Prime Minister Narendra Modi beats a traditional Taiko drum during inauguration of the Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) Japan Technology and Culture Academy in Tokyo on September 2

agreed fields based on principles of equality and mutual respect and benefit and continuously ex-

change information and opinion in the agreed areas and cooperate in important fields.

Treated to special Japanese 'chai' TOKYO: Prime Minister The two also had tea cakes Narendra Modi, who has repeat- along with the Japanese green tea. edly highlighted that he used be Abe then told Modi about tea a tea seller early in his life, was made in 1950 during the visit of treated to a special Japanese his grandfather Nobusuke Kishi "chai" by his Japanese counter- to India as the Prime Minister. part Shinzo Abe as per a tradition The traditional Japanese tea is in this country. The special gesture was Abe's way of showing affection to the visiting leader, keeping in with the Japanese tradition 'Chanoyu' prevalent since the 16th century. Modi sat on the floor Prime Minister Narendra Modi with his Japanese with knees counterpart Shinzo Abe during a tea ceremony at Akasaka Palace in Tokyo on September 1 bent as is the tradition in Japan and drank tea from a special powdered green and the utensils cup. Abe sat next to him to share are called Wamono (Japanese the moment. things).

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Stronger India is beneficial for world peace: US WASHINGTON: India is going to be a "very important" player globally and the stronger it becomes, the more beneficial it will be for world peace, a senior Obama Administration official has said amid preparations here to give a red carpet welcome to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. There is a "sense that there is a natural convergence, a natural convergence of views between India and the US both in terms of wider Asia Pacific region, Indian Ocean region as well as a broader view globally," US Assistant Secretary of State for Political Military Affairs Puneet Talwar told PTI in an interview. "We think India is going to be very important globally, but also in the Asian continent. We think, the stronger India becomes, the more capable it becomes, the more economic power it accrues, that's for the benefit of global peace and prosperity," Talwar said.

"That's what the United States wants ultimately. We share that very much with India. We see India playing a stabilizing role in that part of the world and taking on

Puneet Talwar

greater responsibilities that will accrue as it continues to emerge into its own," he said. Officials from both the State Department and the Defense Department said there is a natural convergence of India's "Look East

Policy" and the "Asia Pacific Rebalance" of the US. "We have our Asia Pacific Rebalance. India has its Look East policy. There is a natural convergence between those two. I think, that an India that is playing its rightful role, actually in our view is a very positive thing. It can't do harm. It can only do well in terms of providing stability, security, peace and prosperity in the Asia Pacific," Talwar said. "That is ultimately what we want and I have a sense that this is very much shared by India," he said. Having personally received feedback from his top three Cabinet ministers, US President Barack Obama and his administration have begun preparations for welcoming Modi to the White House, which going by indications would kick-off a new phase of relationship between the world's two largest and oldest democratic countries, officials said.

Sonia attacks Modi on price rise, communal tension RAE BARELI/NEW DELHI: Sonia Gandhi led the Congress attack against Narendra Modi government and flagged the issue of price rise as her party slammed both the Prime Minister and BJP for "rise in communal tension" as NDA completes 100 days in power. "People will give a reply to

Accusing the government of "causing rise in communal tension" in its first 100 days in office, Congress leader Manish Tewari in Delhi questioned the "silence" of the Prime Minister and accused it of encouraging organizations fanning it. Party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi spoke of a "consistent

maintaining a complete silence when Ashok Singhal (VHP) chief, Mohan Bhagwat (RSS chief) and Adityanath (BJP Uttar Pradesh chief) and Giriraj Singh (BJP MP from Bihar) do something else," he said. Attacking the government over the Prime Minister's planned interaction with students on the Teachers' Day, Singhvi said "are we allowed to make virtual propaganda? "Has the government ever used government machinery to influence impressionable minds with political or partially politic a l agenda?...It's an issue of misuse of state machinery for self-propaCongress President Sonia Gandhi interacts with village women during a visit to her constituency ganda." Rae Bareli on September 2 The Conwhether prices (of essential com- hiatus" in the over last 100 days gress spokesperson said he does modities) have gone down or in the "preaching and practice" of not think that any Prime Minister not," the Congress President told the Prime Minister and the gov- or President has "by a dictat" said reporters in Rae Bareli, when ernment. students from class one must asked about 100 days of Modi "Modi's eloquence and oratory, stand, sit and listen him. government. his using fine words of communal "Thank God, they have spared She was on a two-day visit to harmony and peace from the ram- the students from K G," Singhvi her Lok Sabha constituency. parts of the Red Fort and then said dismissively.-PTI

Strategic relationship, defense ties and commerce are likely to be the key pillars of the next phase of the relationship. This has been reflected in Obama's decision to send his Secretary of State John Kerry, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and

Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzeker, to India in the first 100 days of the Modi-led government. This is probably for the first time that an American Defense Secretary has visited India so early in any Indian government's tenure. -PTI

DNA of non-violence ingrained in our society: PM Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 6

family would rather prefer to starve," Modi said. He said if such is the treatment given to nature, then Indians can't harm the climate. Referring to the terminology of Climate Change, Modi questioned whether it is correct. "Is it climate change or habit change. Our habits have changed and we are fighting the nature. We should rather have communication with nature." He then suggested the students to read his book 'Convenient Action' on climate. Earlier, he told the assembly of all girls about the status of women in India, saying they are worshipped as goddesses in various

"You seemed to be troubled a lot by China," he quipped while addressing the student amid his observation that they were asking questions like journalists. Speaking further, he carefully avoided any direct answer to the question and merely said, "India is a democratic country. Similarly, Japan is also a democratic country. If India and Japan together think about peace and positive things, we can make the world realize the strength of a democracy. We should focus on progress and development instead of paying attention to others. If we pay attention to our situation, our condition will be better." He then narrated an imaginary story. "Imag- "Is it climate change or habit ine, there is darkness in a room. Someone goes change. Our habits have inside with a broom to changed and we are remove the darkness but he will fail. Another fighting the nature. We person goes inside with should rather have a sword to remove darkness. He will also fail. communication with nature." Another person goes with blanket to remove darkness, but he will also fail. forms. Then a wise man goes with a "India is the only country small lamp, the darkness will be which has gods in the shape of chased away. A lamp of peace, female," he said. Coining his senprosperity and democracy will tence in the context of a Cabinet, never be scared of darkness." he said education is linked to GodModi, who virtually turned into dess Saraswati, finance to Goda professor at the university, also dess Laxmi, Security and Home gave a lesson to the Japanese stu- Affairs to Goddess Mahakali and dents on Indian ethos in terms of Food Security to Devi Annapurna. respecting the nature when asked He also pointed out that women how a rapidly-growing India have 33 per cent reservation in would preserve ecology while local bodies in India. He talked about his personal pursuing sources of energy. "India is such a country where attachment to girls' education. In people love and communicate this context, he stated that while with nature," he said. leaving Gujarat when he became In this context, he said earth is the Prime Minister, he had aucrespected as mother, moon is tioned all the gifts he had got durtreated as 'mama' (uncle), sun and ing his 14-year tenure as Chief Himalayas as grandfather, rivers Minister. Rs 78 crore were colas mother while trees are wor- lected and it was deposited in the government treasury for use for shipped like God. "Let me tell you my own story. girls education. I come from a poor family. My At the university, Modi posed uncle once started wood business for a 'selfie' with a small group of but my illiterate mother told him Indians who were excited on seethat it is a sin to cut trees and the ing him. -PTI

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Aus satisfied with India's nuclear safeguards MELBOURNE: Australia has said it is "satisfied" with the nuclear safeguards India has in place, signaling sealing of a muchawaited deal on uranium export during Prime Minister Tony Abbott's visit to Delhi this week. "We have satisfied ourselves that the steps are in place," said Trade Minister Andrew Robb, who will accompany Abbott on his India visit. Prime Minister Abbott will arrive in Delhi on September 4 to further strengthen the strategic partnership and promote trade and investment between the two countries. Media reports recently said the two

sides have reached the deal on the civil nuclear agreement, which will be formally signed by Prime Minister Abbott during his visit. The negotiations between the two sides have been on since 2012 after Labor party reversed its decision to ban the uranium sale to India because New Delhi has not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. "The negotiations and work that's gone on between authorities in India and Australia have gone on for some years to develop a bilateral nuclear cooperation agreement which meets the international require-

ments and we are satisfied, our officials are satisfied that all the requirements have been met," he said in a radio interview to ABC channel. "And we are in a position, if that's what comes about with the Prime Minister's visit, to sign such a cooperation agreement," he said. Australia holds about a third of the world's recoverable uranium resources, and exports nearly 7,000 tonnes a year. Energy-starved India is looking to nuclear power to supplement its existing options to fuel economic growth. India has already concluded civil nuclear

cooperation agreements with countries like Argentina and Kazakhstan. Last week, Abbott had said he will visit New Delhi and Mumbai to strengthen the strategic partnership with India. Australia and India have strong and growing economic and trade ties. India is Australia's fifth largest export market, with total exports of 11.4 billion dollars, and there is potential for further cooperation in resources, science, technology and education. "My visit will be an opportunity to engage with Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi early in the term of his government to increase bilateral cooperation to advance our mutual interests," Abbott had said. Two years back, then Prime Minister Julia Gillard on her visit to India had announced that the two countries would begin negotiations for a nuclear safeguards agreement. -PTI

India, Canada to share experience in personnel management NEW DELHI: India and Canada will share experience in personnel management to improve governance through Information Technology, the government has said. During his meeting with Canadian Minister and President of Treasury Board Tony Clement, Union Minister of State in the PMO Jitendra Singh talked about various good governance initiatives taken up by the new government. "The two ministers announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two countries and sharing of experience in personnel management through Information Technology and data collection," according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions. Singh told the visiting minister how during the past three months, different initiatives had been taken up to accomplish Prime Minister Narendra Modi's commitment for good governance. He particularly referred to the attempts to strengthen the federal structure of the Indian Union through decisions like winding up of the Planning Commission and replacing it with another appropriate body, according to the release. Singh referred to the current phase of private-public participation in India and hoped that in the background of consistently harmonious relationship between India and Canada, the two nations will mutually benefit. Clement shared his government's inputs from Canadian Open Data Experience (CODE). He offered to share the same with his counterpart in India. Clement suggested that the Indian Government should provide its inputs and data which could help in improving the level of personnel management and governance in Canada as well, the release said. -PTI

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India, France to study polar Indian-American scholar to explore Dino extinction region-monsoon link HYDERABAD: India and France will lead a major international effort to study the impact of climatic changes in Polar Regions on the Indian monsoon, which has become a subject of intense debate over the years, a top Government official said here. "Recent findings say Polar Regions have a major impact on our monsoon on decadal scale. A major international effort, led by India and France, is being launched...we are discussing it. In October, it will be taken forward," said Shailesh Nayak, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences here. "Basically, we understand the melting that occurs in the Arctic can dramatically change atmosphere circulation, motion circulation and bring many other changes. Now how these changes are going to affect our monsoon...that is the study which we want to take it up on an international level," he told reporters on the sidelines of an event. "In October we will take a decision on that and in December or

in January next year we are going to make an announcement in this regard. Through this forum, whichever country participates they will spend their own money. Our estimate is USD 3 million for us. Right now eight countries

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The melting that occurs in the Arctic can dramatically change atmosphere circulation, motion circulation and bring many other changes. Now how these changes are going to affect our monsoonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; have shown interest," Nayak explained. Responding to a query on ElNino, a weather condition that generally leads to weak monsoon in India, he said "There is no di-

rect impact...we have been maintaining from beginning that as per our estimates the El-Nino, if it is to happen, is likely to happen in the end of the year (during December)." Earlier, speaking at the inauguration of an l workshop on `Science of Climate Change: Indian Ocean and Monsoon' at Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), Nayak said the last as well the current decades have witnessed unprecedented weather extremes. "Most scientists agree that the high incidence of weather extremes is not accidental. We had five cyclones and extremely heavy rainfall in Uttarakhand and Gujarat. "We need to improve our knowledge by increasing our efforts for understanding of basic physics, and employing statistical analysis and computer simulations of extreme events. We have launched a major project on 'extreme weather' to address such issues," he said. -PTI

Afghan election close to failure as Abdullah sets deadline KABUL: Afghan presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah has issued another ultimatum over the disputed election result, threatening to withdraw from all efforts to negotiate a solution to the deepening political crisis. Abdullah claims that fraud cheated him of victory in the June 14 election, and fears have risen of a return to unrest of the 1990s civil war after his supporters called

agreed to an audit of all eight million votes and the formation of a post-election national unity government. But Abdullah's spokesman Fazel Aqa Hussain Sancharaki said his team was on the brink of abandoning both parts of the deal potentially plunging Afghanistan's first democratic transfer of power into further turmoil. "Our patience is running out,

"The problem is that (Abdullah's) team wants more authority for the chief executive, for him to be like a prime minister," Tahir Zaheer, a spokesman for the Ghani campaign, told AFP on him to form a "parallel government". As tensions threatened to boil over, the United States brokered a deal between Abdullah and his rival Ashraf Ghani in which they

any announcement of results made by the fraudulent election commission will be rejected by us," Sancharaki told reporters. "We are setting this deadline that if tomorrow our logical de-

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mands of transparent auditing and an honest political process are not met, we will completely boycott the whole process." Last week, Abdullah pulled out of the audit but had said difficult negotiations on the national unity government were still under way. The talks have floundered over the new role of "chief executive officer" who will serve under the President. "The problem is that (Abdullah's) team wants more authority for the chief executive, for him to be like a prime minister," Tahir Zaheer, a spokesman for the Ghani campaign, told AFP, denying negotiations had already collapsed. "These threats of an ultimatum will not change anything, there is no logic in them. They have to be realistic." Abdullah won the first-round election in April out of a field of eight candidates, but preliminary results from the June run-off showed that he was far behind Ghani. Any street protests by aggrieved Abdullah supporters could set off a spiral of instability. Many of Ghani's supporters are Pashtuns in the south and east, while Abdullah's loyalists are Tajiks and other northern groups. -AFP

HOUSTON: An Indian-American scholar has won the prestigious 'Fulbright-Nehru Academic and Professional Excellence Award' which includes a grant to study the causes behind Dinosaur extinction. Sankar Chatterjee, a Horn Professor of Paleontology and Curator at the Museum of Texas University, will travel in the spring of 2015 to India to continue his ongoing research on his "Shiva crater" hypothesis, which, along with the "Chicxulub crater" of Mexico, has been linked to the extinction of dinosaurs 65 million years ago. "The Shiva crater is about 500 kilometers in diameter, and we discovered it from geophysical evidence and drill core samples in the Mumbai Offshore Basin on the western continental shelf of India," Chatterjee said in a statement. "The crater is largely submerged and buried by a 2 to 7kilometer-thick strata and is the largest oilfield in India.

"I have been invited to participate in the Koyna Drilling Project to study the core samples that may unravel the genesis of the Shiva crater," Chatterjee said. Grants were also awarded to about 800 other US faculty members, according to the statement, who are conducting their research

in 140 countries. The recipients, according to the release, are chosen based on their academic and professional achievements as well as leadership potential in their fields. The program was established in 1946 and has provided more than 1,08,000 Americans and 1,78,000 students scholars and teachers from other countries that have come to the US the opportunity to travel and observe other's political, economic, educational and cultural institutions. -PTI

Pashupatinath Temple gets boost after Modi's visit KATHMANDU: The number of Indian devotees visiting Pashupatinath Temple here for special pooja has gone up after Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered prayers at the 5th-century shrine during his visit to Nepal earlier this month, temple authorities have said. According to the chief of Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) Govinda Tondon, the number of people visiting the temple for performing special worship has increased following the live broadcast of Modi's special pooja by various Indian channels. Among the devotees visiting the shrine so far are Bollywood actor Anupam Kher and South-Indian actor Chiranjeevi, who have performed special pooja at the temple, Tondon said.

Chiranjeevi offered Rs 2 lakh for the special pooja and Anupam Kher donated Rs 5,100 for the pooja, he added. During his visit, Prime Minister Modi had spent 30 minutes for the special pooja while donating 2,500 kgs of white sandalwood worth more than Rs 2 crore to the temple. Many telephone enquiries about the special pooja have come after the visit paid by Modi to the temple, Tandon said. According to Treasurer of the Trust, Taranath Suubedi, the number of Indian nationals performing special worship and visiting the temple went up after Modi's pooja, resulting in the increase in income generation for the temple. Around 150 special pooja are performed everyday at the fifth century old temple.-PTI

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Drop environ nod for border projects: Rajnath NEW DELHI: Concerned over delay in strategic border projects, Home Minister Rajnath Singh has suggested exemption of environment clearance given to such projects falling within 100 km from International Border, Line of Actual Control and Line of Control. He said there is a need to deal with the issue of delay in according environment, forest and wildlife clearances in a comprehensive manner.

The strategic border projects include border roads, fencing, border out posts, floodlighting, surveillance infrastructure, power infrastructure besides others. The Home Minister said all executing agencies like CPWD and public sector undertakings engaged in border infrastructure work of the ministries of Home Affairs and Defense may be treated on par with Border Roads Organization in respect of envi-

"All strategic border projects falling within 100 km from IB, LAC and LoC may be fully exempted from obtaining environment/ forest/ wildlife clearances from the Ministry of Environment and Forest and the State/ Union Territory governments," "All strategic border projects falling within 100 km from IB, LAC and LoC may be fully exempted from obtaining environment/ forest/ wildlife clearances from the Ministry of Environment and Forest and the State/ Union Territory governments," Singh wrote to Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar.

ronment, forest and wildlife clearances. The suggestions were part of the recommendations of an interministerial group set up by the Home Ministry on how to get quick and time bound environment, forest and wildlife clearances as well as suggest any other dispensation or institutional

mechanism required for the same. Referring to the issue of compensatory afforestation, as raised by the inter-ministerial group, the home minister said that since a substantial time is lost in identification of suitable land for compensatory afforestation, it is proposed that the Ministry of Environment and Forest in consultation with states and Union Territories may create land banks both at the central and the state/ Union Territory level by identifying patches of land or degraded forests. Singh said a separate meeting of the National Wild Life Board may be held to consider border, security infrastructure proposals of the ministries of Home and Defense in a time bound manner to avoid delays. "It is requested that the proposals mentioned above may be considered for approval and issue of necessary notification/ instructions for early completion of time bound border infrastructure projects," the Home Minister wrote. While highlighting the issue of compensatory afforestation, as raised by the inter-ministerial group, he said that the forest

cover of states/ UTs varies from 3.52 per cent of the geographical area in Punjab to 90.33 per cent in Mizoram. "Since diversion of forest land for non-forest use is more common in states/ UTs which have

Mizoram which are already rich in forest cover do not have land for compensatory afforestation which is leading to an inordinate delay in getting clearances under the Forest (Conservation) Act 1980, whereas in states/ UTs hav-

Home Minister Rajnath Singh

large forest cover, commensurate compensatory afforestation is being carried out in these states/ UTs," he said. Singh said this has led to a situation that some states or UTs like

ing little forest cover, instances of diversion of forest land for nonforest use are less common and these states/UTs do not get the benefit of compensatory afforestation scheme.-PTI

September 5, 2014

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Congress disapproves of Chef gives Prince Charles flavor remarks by Digvijay of Indian food NEW DELHI: Senior Congress the party by working collecleaders Digvijay Singh and tively.... It is not appropriate". Janardan Dwivedi were under fire Echoing a similar view, Mistry from the AICC over their remarks questioned Singh and Dwivedi for concerning Rahul Gandhi and ad- their going to the press over invocating that elder leaders take a ternal party matters. backseat in favor of the young. "Those who have easy acces"It is not a good thing," party sibility to Congress President and general secretary Madhusudan Congress Vice President and who Mistry told reporters, questioning were and are party to the decision the two leaders issuing state- making process regarding elecments to the media on the issues when the Congress chief and vice president are "easily accessible" to them. The AICC briefing also saw spokesp e r s o n Abhishek Digvijay Singh Singhvi dubbing as "not appropriate" the statements of tions and who express their conSingh. cerns without any fear...then why Digvijay Singh had remarked should they go to the press to tell that Rahul Gandhi's silence on criti- all this. cal issues had contributed to their "They can meet the top leadloss in the "war of perception". ers and tell them directly. He had said the party vice-presiMatter ends there. Telling medent should be "more visible and dia does not solve problems", heard more" to bring the Congress Mistry said. back on the path of revival. Taking a dig at Dwivedi, he said The AICC has already dis- that it is the "prerogative" of the tanced the party from Dwivedi's party chief whether an office remarks that leaders of 65 to 70 bearer should be of sixty years of years of age should not take up age or forty and therefore it active posts in the organization. should be nobody's business to Singhvi also did not take kindly to the remarks of Maharashtra Responding to a volley of Chief Minister Prithviraj questions over Digvijay Chavan that Rahul Gandhi's reluctance to Singh's remarks, Singhvi join the Union Cabinet said, "This may be his percost the party. He wondered as to sonal view. But this is cerwhat was new as the tainly not the time to advise then Prime Minister each other through the meManmohan Singh had time and again re- dia rather than focusing on quested Gandhi to bestrengthening the party come a Minister. "It is an old and known view". suggest that one should retire afThe remarks of Mistry, who is ter a certain age. considered close to the Congress Besides age, there are various Vice President as well as Singhvi, other factors like performance and show disapproval by the leader- experience to decide on the issue ship of the remarks by Singh and of office bearers. "I fail to underDwivedi, who have been senior stand that as to why those who general secretaries in the party. have been involved in the whole Responding to a volley of ques- process are going public", he tions over Digvijay Singh's re- wondered. marks, Singhvi said, "This may be The development is significant his personal view. But this is cer- given the fact that a reshuffle of tainly not the time to advise each the AICC is on the cards in the other through the media rather wake of the Lok Sabha poll dethan focusing on strengthening bacle. -PTI

LONDON: Prince Charles has been getting a taste of spicy Indian food cooked by one of Britain's most celebrated Indian-origin chefs. Atul Kochhar, a Michelinstarred restaurateur who owns a number of popular Indian eateries here, has said he has been cooking Indian food for the heir to Britain's throne at his residence in Clarence House. "I have cooked Indian food for him many times," the presenter of television show 'Curry On With Atul Kochhar' told 'The Telegraph'. "I help with the Prince's Trust and also the British Asian Trust and I often get asked by him and his trustees to cook for the events, which is fan-

tastic," he said. The 44-year-old Jamshedpur-

Atul Kochhar

born chef, however, did not give out the Prince's favorite dish but

hinted at one of his favorites. "Whenever I am cooking dinner for him, I always put mutton on the menu. He is a big promoter of British mutton and I have always loved it as it lends itself well to Indian cooking," he said. When the Prince of Wales was on a tour in India last year with wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, he was teased by journalists for having a "bland" palate after he admitted that he found the cuisine on offer "too much to take". It seems he will be more adventurous the next time. PTI

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FIR against Sharifs amended to include terrorism LAHORE: Police has included "terrorism and blasphemy" charges in the FIR registered against Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, his brother Shahbaz and senior officials for their alleged role in the killing of 14 supporters of fiery cleric Tahirul Qadri here. On August 28, the police had registered murder and attempted murder cases against 21 persons including the Sharif brothers for their alleged role in the June 17 operation. Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid, Railways Minister Saad Rafique, State Minister Abid Sher Ali (also a relative of Sharif), former Punjab law minister Rana Sanaullah and other senior police officers who took part in the June 17 operation were named in the FIR. Fourteen people including two women were killed and 100 others suffered bullet injuries when police raided the house and offices of Pakistan Awami Tahreek's (PAT) chief Tahirul Qadri in Model Town in a bid to remove barriers from

there. "Today police included four more sections in the FIR - 7 antiterrorism act, 295-B (desecration of Quran), 365 (kidnapping) and 252 (tress passing)," Lahore police spokesman Niyab Haider told Press Trust of India.

There was an impression that the government allowed to register the murder case against the Prime Minister and 20 others on the 'insistence' of the establishment He, however, did not comment on a question whether these clauses had been included on 'any pressure'. "We have included these clauses on the request of the

PAT," he said. Earlier, Tahirul Qadri had rejected the FIR saying terrorism charges had not been included in it as the PAT's application had this section. "Unless the Sharifs and others are booked under terrorism charges we will not accept this FIR," he had asserted. There was an impression that the government allowed to register the murder case against the Prime Minister and 20 others on the 'insistence' of the establishment. The inclusion of four more clauses appear to be a step to "please" Qadri and an effort to convince him to start the talks stalled on the FIR issue. Three federal ministers (named in the FIR application) challenged the decision in the Lahore High Court but it upheld the lower court's decision. Federal Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid said the police had registered the FIR against the prime minister and others on the Lahore High Court's order and not on any body's pressure. -PTI

2,20,000 Indians granted Saudi visa in one month

BOLT FROM THE BLUE: Olympic gold medalist sprinter Usain Bolt having fun with cricketer Yuvraj Singh on the sidelines of a friendly cricket match in Bengaluru on September 2

DUBAI: Over 2,20,000 Indians, mostly domestic helpers and laborers, have been granted visas by Saudi Arabia in one month, officials said. "Since we resumed bringing in Indian workers at the end of Ramadan, the number of visas has reached 220,000," Ahmad Al Fuhaid, the labor ministry undersecretary for international affairs, was quoted as saying by the Gulf News. "Around 44,000 visas were for domestic helpers while the others were for workers in the public and private sectors," he said. The official, however, cautioned that the arrival of the Indian helpers and workers into the kingdom could take some time. "There are several procedures to be followed including security and medical checks and proper qualification and training," he said. India and Saudi Arabia had signed an agreement in January this year, regulating contractual relations between Indian domestic workers and their Saudi employers. The agreement covered 12 categories of workers including drivers, janitors, cleaners, waiters, gardeners and household managers working for individuals. -PTI

Cop faces trial for racially abusing Indian-Malaysian MELBOURNE: Facing trial for "I was looking at her, she was facallegedly racially abusing an In- ing me. dian-origin Malaysian taxi driver, "She was pointing her finger a New Zealand policewoman ap- towards my face and I pointed peared in Queenstown court. back at her and said, 'do not be Jeanette May McNee, 44, is abusive and racist, I am only docharged with using abusive lan- ing my job as a taxi driver' and she guage against taxi driver, Ganesh got more angry and she said, 'do Paramanathan, at Queenstown in New Zealand on November 3 Jeanette May McNee, last year. 44, is charged with using Police allege McNee said, "F*** off to India, abusive language against you come here and get taxi driver, Ganesh all the Kiwi jobs. Eat your curry and f*** off Paramanathan, at to India. This is a Kiwi Queenstown in New job." Police prosecutor Zealand Glenn Henderson asked the taxi driver to narrate the inci- not point your fingers at me'." dent, which happened in Lake McNee grabbed his left wrist, Hayes Estate, after he picked up a squeezed and twisted, he said. group of six people from central Paramanathan said he told her Queenstown and drove to drop- not to touch him or be abusive off points in Quail Rise and Lake and racist or he would call the Hayes Estate, Stuff.co.nz re- police. ported. "She got very aggressive... and After the alleged words were said, 'I am the police'." spoken, the driver told the court, The trial continues. -PTI

More parents comfortable outsourcing parenthood WASHINGTON: Many modern-day parents are comfortable off-loading traditional parental duties to professional care-givers, researchers, including one of Indian-origin, have found. Recognizing a need for help, many businesses now offer traditional care-giving services ranging from planning birthday parties to teaching children how to ride a bike. Researchers found that by outsourcing traditional parental duties, modern-day parents feel they are ultimately protecting parenthood. "Parents are increasingly outsourcing caregiving activities. The expanding array of care-giving services is blurring the boundaries between family and the marketplace and raising new questions about what is acceptable to outsource and how parents make sense of these sometimes contentious decisions," said research authors Amber M Epp and Sunaina R Velagaleti, both from the Univer-

sity of Wisconsin, Madison. To better understand the role of the marketplace in modern-day parenting, the authors conducted in-depth interviews with participants who varied in parenting views, practices, and challenges ranging from income to social class and the availability of help from immediate family. The interviews showed that

parents are more willing to turn to the marketplace for help once they have provided a strong baseline of activities that allow them to direct how care is given, protect their connections as parents, and assert their role as the primary caregiver. Achieving this balance helps parents maintain their feelings of responsibility, control, and intimacy, researchers said.-PTI

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Desi News A music icon & an amazing humble personality RITU MAHESHWARI India Post News Service

ollywood music industry is one of the fiercest fields ever. Kailash Kher took to the roots and based his quest to climb music ladder by leveraging Sufi style. Today Kher is one of the most admired pop-rock music singers, known for his fan following and openness. It is also a testament to the strength and appeal of what is undeniably one of the most unique voices in Indian music today. He has sung in 18 languages for Indian films and in over 300 songs for Bollywood. Kher is not only one of the most loved Indian artists internationally, but also among the most respected for his modest and inspiring lifestyle. Details on page 23

Sresta winning US over to organic food RAMESH SOPARAWALA India Post News Service

CHICAGO: Amerender Reddy, a no-nonsense chemist turned businessman from Dublin OH, was on a short visit to Hyderabad just a few years ago and it was just a chance that he saw a facility in his home town that touted Organic Food - spices, grain, flour, pulses, etc. For a while he questioned himself - was he really in India or in US as the concept of organic food though catching up really fast in his adopted land, it was a newer thing in remote India. Details on page 18

Chicago NRIs honor two Indian stalwarts S C SHAH

CHICAGO: A trio of community activists in Chicagoland - Jodh Singh Rawat, Kanubhai Brahmbhatt and Madhu Patel hosted a unique event here at Manav Seva Mandir last week honoring two Indian stalwarts, the Octogenarian Dr N Subbarao and Dr Amarjeet Singh. Many among Indian Americans would have faint memories of these two great frontline Indians and one of the objectives of this trio of community activists was to remind the NRIs here about the handsome work that Dr Subbarao and Dr Singh did for their motherland and the community at large. Details on page 20

COMMUNITY ACROSS AMERICA

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Indian Tricolor lights up Niagara Falls

September 5, 2014

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Details on page 22

'Modi emerging global leader, will usher in new world order' PRAKASH M SWAMY

NEW YORK: India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi is emerging as a global leader with his pluralistic vision and strong nationalism and penchant for public service, said Ambassador Dr Bhishma K. Agnihotri, former Ambassadorat-Large of Government of India here. Addressing a seminar on "PM Narendra Modi and New World Order" organized by Global Citizens Forum at One UN Plaza Hotel to a packed audience, Dr Agnihotri said that the newest leader in the Indian subcontinent has arrived like a boon to bring in a new global order and peace. India was used to passive leaders at the helm of affairs who sacrificed national interest and pride. The arrival of Modi on the scene heralded a refreshing change. In less than two months since taking office, he traveled to Nepal, Bhutan, BRICS Summit and now he has engaged Japanese leadership for fruitful cooperation. He is a leader with a clear vision and

commitment to enhance the image of India, he added. Dr Agnihotri said realizing the importance of BRICS, Modi ensured that India is at the top of the BRICS banking system of the group and thus play a pivotal role

Dr Bhishma K. Agnihotri

in shaping the policies in the years to come. Modi enjoys the mandate of the nation to move forward on the road of inclusive development. India is now in safe hands and will

rise again like a phoenix in the comity of nations earning respect and admiration of all. The golden era of India as envisioned by Swami Vivekananda and Sri Aurobindo will become a reality under Modi's leadership, he

‘There is a divine power working through Modi as I had observed that when he talks, it is as though Goddesses Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati combined are speaking’ added. Historians predicted that in every 175 year cycle India will witness the emergence of a yogic leader who can provide vision and leadership and in 2011 India cel-

ebrated the 175th year of Swami Ramakrishna Paramhansa. Dr Agnihotri said. "There is a divine power working through Modi as I had observed that when he talks, it is as though Goddesses Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati combined are speaking through him." Modi is bound to succeed in his efforts as he is inspired by Vedic tradition and grounded in disciplined teachings of Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh (RSS) that gave birth to patriotic nationalist leaders in India. The RSS produced some of the nation's best selfless leaders who have no personal interest other than serving India and its people. He has the combined values and virtues of a selfless leader with sincerity and honesty in approach. He does not hate anyone and loves all irrespective of color or creed. Of course Modi speaks from the position of strength and believes in India first, he said. Cont’d on page 19

Rishikant - Air India's new face in New York RAMESH SOPARAWALA India Post News Service

CHICAGO: Rishikant Singh, Midwest Manager for Air India in Chicago, is now up for a new assignment as Manager Air India, New York - Canada. This follows the now improved Air India, needing better marketing personnel where every guest gets treated like a Maharaja! Rishikant, Air India's Manager for the Midwest region since July 2012 has got additional charge of Canada since July 2014. He now joins New York as the Regional Manager Americas from September 14, upon retirement of his colleague Mr Norbhu. Singh's main job would be to grow revenues on Air India's non-stop flights to India,

though the US route is one of the least profitable because of fuel costs and immense distances. He aims to help his team improve customer service and brand image, now that Air India is part of the

Street very briefly. He went to Bombay in June 1987 and joined Air India, accumulating over 27 years experience since. Passenger revenues account for 95% of all revenues of Air In-

Singh had spent three years in New York completing MBA at Baruch College in the City University of New York in 1987 Rishikant Singh

Star Alliance. Singh had spent three years in New York completing MBA at Baruch College in the City University of New York in 1987 and as a licensed stockbroker on Wall

dia. His notable contribution was in revenue management's computerization of forecasting and seat inventory control, and field sales. Before taking up the Midwest operations, since 2007, he has

worked towards selection and implementation of a common IT platform for the merged carriers of Indian Airlines and Air India. He has exposure to airport operations, field sales, marketing, sales promotion, distribution channel, viability and profitability of routes and realignment of operations. His stint as Manager - Kuwait & Cyprus during 2004-07 saw Air India charting unprecedented sales growth of 60 percent. An air evacuation of Indian and subcontinent nationals fleeing Lebanon in the crisis of July 2006 was an experience he recounts with satisfaction and reflected happiness of those rescued. India is still close to his heart and he misses no effort at reviving patriotism among Desis towards their motherland.

Community Across America

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Modi emerging as global leader: Ram Madhav PRAKASH M SWAMY

EDISON, NJ: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is emerging as one of the most popular leaders in the world with several countries lining up to invite him, said Ram Madhav, General Secretary of Bharatiya Janata Party, here recently. Addressing a felicitation organized by Indian American community jointly by the Overseas Friends of BJP (OFBJP) and HSS, he said Modi invited the leaders of SAARC nations to his swearing-in ceremony and also visited Bhutan and Nepal sending a message of according high priority to the bordering countries. "The reception he received from the public in Bhutan and Nepal speaks of his popularity beyond India's borders," he said. He gave example of how India withstood the pressure of the world nations at WTO and safeguarded the interest of its farmers. He said that a man who gave five meetings a day during the elections has not uttered a word for the last 75 days and letting his work speak for himself and his government like a true karma yogi. Madhav said that Modi government accords high priority to hygiene and cleanli-

ness and set social service goals for the party. Commending the work done by Madhya Pradesh, government in this area Madhav exhorted the Indian Diaspora to help India achieve its goals. He said that India is re-surging under

Ram Madhav in NJ

the dynamic leadership of Modi and his government consists of young ministers who are working hard and brought a qualitative change in the work culture. The bureaucracy is responding and the files are being dusted off and cleared fast. He said that the recently concluded parlia-

OFBJP hosts Dinner reception for Jolly & Rathore VINESH VIRANI

CHICAGO: Overseas Friends of BJP (USA), Chicago Chapter, hosted a Dinner Reception at India House Restaurant in Schaumburg on Sunday, August 24 to celebrate the victory of the BJP in India and also to enlist a warm Diaspora participation at the upcoming reception for Prime Minister Narendra Modi scheduled for September 28 at New York Madison Garden Stadium.

mentary elections were historic because not only the mandate was huge for Modi but also the Congress Party was decimated to such a level that it could not fulfill the constitutional rules to attain opposition party status.

The program started with a large screen video presentation of Narendra Modi's Independence Day address from the ramparts of Red Fort to the delight of 125 plus attendees. The kick off of stage program was with the traditional 'Lighting of the Lamp' followed by 'Vande Mataram'. The dignitaries on the stage were Vijay Jolly, Global Convener BJP Overseas Affairs (New Delhi), Colon e l Rajyavardhan S i n g h Rathore BJP MP from J a i p u r, Rajasthan, Chandrakant Patel, President OFBJP (USA), Amrit M i t t a l , staunch supporter of ' S a n g h Parivar' activities and A m a r Upadhyaya, Vice President, OFBJP (USA).

Lamp lighting ceremony at OFBJP Dinner reception

Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 20

He said that the Congress got zero in 12 states and five union territories while BJP has representation from every state except Kerala. "Thus, BJP became a pan Indian national party", he said to thunderous applause. OFBJP President Chandrakant Patel, in his welcome address, exhorted the Indian Diaspora to give their might to the development of India. Earlier, the meeting started with ceremonial lighting of the lamp and offering flowers to the founding fathers of BJP followed by the rendition of Vandemataram led by Sumedh and Pushpahas.

Abhimanyu Gupta, Joint Secretary, HSS gave a presentation on HSS work in New Jersey while Chandrakant Patel highlighted the work done by OFBJP during the election campaign followed by a presentation of Lalji Goswami (Youth Convener, OFBJP). Ila Sukhadia spoke about Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America (VHP-A) and Prakash Waghmare gave a glimpse of Ekal Vidyalaya's work. Answering a question on the law and order situation in West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh, Madhav said that the government is closely watching the situation as the respective state governments are filing false cases on BJP office bearers to contain the party. To another question, he said that the media could no longer afford to ignore BJP. Answering a question related to Consulate services in US, he said that services will improve and OFBJP has a great opportunity to work with the consulates in improving the services. On the issue of appeasement of minorities by the Telangana government that promised to bring the rule of Nizam, he reminded that another Sardar Patel is now ruling India and India's integrity will be preserved at all costs. Krishna Reddy (Treasurer, OFBJP) presented the vote of thanks and recognized the community leaders including Sunil Nayak who provided the venue.

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Sresta winning US over to organic food RAMESH SOPARAWALA India Post News Service

CHICAGO: Amerender Reddy, a no-nonsense chemist turned businessman from Dublin OH, was on a short visit to Hyderabad just a few years ago and it was just a chance that he saw a facility in his home town that touted Organic Food spices, grain, flour, pulses, etc. For a while he questioned himself - was he really in India or in US as the concept of organic food though catching up really fast in his adopted land, it was a newer thing in reRajashekhar Reddy Seelam, Mantra Appeal for Organic food and Amerender Reddy

mote India. His inquires revealed that an Indian chemical engineer who worked as a top level executive in a chemical-fertilizer company, Rajashekhar Reddy Seelam , was the brain behind this organic move. Seelam's father had died of cancer and it really dawned upon him that injections of chemicals via food can be the cause of many diseases in the body, including cancer. Brooding over this, Seelam, an MBA from Ahmedabad with huge chemical background, left his lucrative job and started his own company, Sresta "that would promote only organic food from farm-to-fork." The first of its type organic food company in India, Sresta had a modest beginning in 2004 in Hyderabad, but Seelam was determined to make it a top of the line company with an end-to-end supply chain for cultivation, procurement, processing, and distribution of organic food. The brand selected was

24 letter Mantra. Amerendra Reddy intuitively felt that the company Sresta and its products could decidedly have better markets in developed countries like US. This is primarily because the concept of organic food thru organic farming is getting ingrained with the health conscious mainstream society. Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 22

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Chivukula honors Mridangam exponent PM SWAMY

TRENTON: Upendra Chivukula, Deputy Speaker of New Jersey State Assembly last week honored eminent South Indian classical instrumentalist and Mridangam exponent Tiruvarur Vaidyanathan with the New Jersey Assembly proclamation for his service and promoting Carnatic music abroad. The Citation said Vaidyanathan, born in a family of percussionists, began training at the age of six from his grandfather and uncle and through his inherent sense of rhythm, disciplined practice and urge to excel in the art of playing Mridangam, was showcased in concerts even when he was a high school student. He underwent rigorous training under the tutelage of Mridangam maestro Karaikudi Mani and with dedication and hard work, became a much sought after percussionist for countless

Deal signed for own facility of Bal Vihar RAJ IYER & ASHWIN PATEL

ST LOUIS: After a long four+ community center will also have a cation - Bal Vihar of St. Louis, a years wait, an agreement has been kitchen and large hall on the first non-profit organization, since its signed between Bal Vihar and floor. Bal Vihar is expecting to start inception in 1992 has been servHindu Temple for starting a facil- its classes at this new facility from ing the Metro St. Louis Indian ity to further Bal Vihar activities school year 2017-2018. community. The primary focus of for children. It is a moment of realization that this organization is to provide InOn July 31, Bal Vihar presented the dreams of having a permanent dian cultural education to stua check of $250,000 to the Hindu Temple to begin construction of the new building adjacent to the temple. In an auspicious moment, the priest offered at the feet of the Idol the documents reflecting the good faith of both the parties and for a bright future for the next generations. After the Bal Vihar and Hindu Temple management sign deal for community good prayers, the documents were formally signed and pre- facility for the community and sup- dents age 5-18, its application and sented to Hindu Temple along ported by the community would integration with the global come to fruition in the next few multicultural and multifaceted sowith the token amount. Bal Vihar has also committed to years. ciety. They are also taught discihelp the temple raise additional The new center is being built pline, tolerance and devotion in funds and assured another for other organizations within the their daily routine. The ultimate $150,000 upon occupying the community. Having a center next goal is "to throw the light of culbuilding. Both parties have signed to the temple will also help the tural knowledge on every child, to a lease of 99 years. A total of eight families to leverage the opportu- make every child an outstanding new classrooms and two large nity to instill more culture and faith citizen and to spread the song of rooms will be built on the second in their children. peace and harmony around the Center for Indian Cultural Edu- world." floor of the community center. The

Upendra Chivukula presenting the NJ Assembly proclamation to Tiruvarur Vaidyanathan while Dance guru Divya Yeluri, founder director of Nrithya Madhavi School of Dance, NJ and Venu Yelur, look on

leading musicians in India, it added. He has performed in leading venues such as Lincoln Center in New York and Kennedy Center in Washington DC. He formed a symphonic ensemble 'Vibrations' which performs multiple genres of

music on a global level as well as promotes music through his position as Faculty Member of SIFAS in Singapore and as a mentor of young musicians who established the Tiruvarur Talavadya Vidyalaya in Chennai, the official proclamation added.

'Modi emerging global leader, will usher in new world order' Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 16

US and the then USSR and the fall of Berlin Wall signaled the arrival of the unipolar world of America. With the arrival of China and reemergence of Russia along with India, the world is witnessing a multi-polar scenario, which will usher in a new world order, Dr Agnihotri said. Dr Bhupendra Kumar Modi,

Modi has changed the face of the government after taking charge and sends the message that public service is his first priority. He ensures that everyone in government works hard and changed the psychology of government employees who had started to come on time to give their best to the Modi is sending the mesnation. US Defense Secre- sage that he is neither protary Chuck Hagel has US nor pro-Russia but prosaid that India will India and would negotiate shape the destiny of 21st Century. He said from position of strength this while keeping Modi's leadership in mind. The US chairman (GCF) in his address, said needs India more than ever now that Narendra Modi is a true global being the largest democracy and citizen with nationalism in his heart. Dr Dinesh Agarwal, a leading strategic partner. However, Modi is sending the Indian-American scientist, said message that he is neither pro-US Modi government-in-action is nor pro-Russia but pro-India and crystallizing a new India. All the would negotiate from position of ministers, officers and bureaucrats strength. America should work with work in tandem in national interIndia now and the US administra- est that has never been seen in tion needs to engage Modi, he said. the last 60 years. He is committed The Cold War era witnessed to nation's progress and to make tension due to bipolar world of the India a Shreshtha Bharat.

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Chicago NRIs honor two Indian stalwarts S C SHAH

remind the NRIs here about the handsome work that Dr Subbarao and Dr Singh did for their motherland and the community at large. Emceed by Ms Gaitheri Rathore and presided over by noted oncologist from Indian, Dr Bharat Barai, the two-hour event was attended by 100 plus guests and invitees from all walks of life and all India communities. As put by Jodh Singh, "we also wanted to pay our respect and tribute to these two great souls and let them

know that NRIs do cherish their good deeds." Dr Subba Rao is probably the only living Gandhian who actively participated in Quit India movement in 1942 and got imprisoned for fighting for Indian Independence. He was the youngest satyagrahi wearing khadi at the age of 10 in 1942 in Mysore state. A socio-spiritual leader Dr S.N Subba Rao is a living and moving encyclopedia, making his presence felt and words memorable wher-

OFBJP hosts Dinner reception for Jolly & Rathore

BJP MP Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore and Vijay Jolly addressing the gathering

Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 17

The master of ceremony S.Vemuri set the tone with his eloquent opening remarks: "The spectacular rise of Narendra Modi is like the resurrection of a leader like Sardar Patel. After 67 years, the Sardar is back with a huge mandate from the people of India, to transform India into a modern, prosperous nation, free of corruption and scandals". The young and energetic MP Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore stressed the importance of public participation in politics for the vigilant functioning of democracy. He said, "I come from the most

admired profession of the Army to the least admired profession of Politics by choice, precisely for the reasons I mentioned". He urged the audience to show their support to the promising administration of BJP, by attending the September 28 Prime Minister's reception in large numbers. Rathore had already won the estimation of the people with his credentials which included the winning of Silver Medal for India in Shooting at the Athens Olympics in 2004. In his Keynote address, Vijay Jolly outlined the various ambitious plans of BJP for India's growth and said the Overseas Friends of BJP with chapters in

more than 41 countries has truly become a 'Global Organization'. Addressing the audience he said "I salute you for the Brand India you have created in the USA by your hard work and excellence in the various professions of engineering, medicine, business, as well as many other entrepreneur positions. Your voice and strength abroad are assets for us in India". He exhorted the Diaspora to join at the USA reception for Narendra Modi in large numbers. Chandrakant Patel gave a slide presentation of the various activities that OFBJP (USA) has been doing since its founding in 1991. Earlier, Amar Upadhyaya welcomed the gathering and introduced Chandrakant Patel. Bhailal Patel introduced the visiting BJP MP Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore and Prasad Yelamanchi introduced the Keynote speaker Vijay Jolly. Rohit Joshi gave the vote of thanks. This was followed by an excellent cultural program by students of 'Balagokulam' of Mundeline Sakha of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh. The program concluded with Dinner in the fabulous 'Banquet Hall Setting' of the India House Restaurant for the packed audience.

garlanded with fresh flowers by Hari Bhai Patel, president of Senior Pariwar. Dr Amarjeet Singh was garlanded by another comm u n i t y l e a d e r Thakar Singh Basati. Dr B h a r a t Bharai, president of the welcoming Jodh Singh welcoming guests committee, was welever he goes. He likes himself to comed and garlanded by Madhu be called a "ghoomakkad" - the Patel. Dr Subba Rao started his traveler. Dr. Amarjeet Singh is a noted speech by reciting bhajans in all scientist and Padmabhushan re- the main languages of India and cipient in 1985. Food was provided by the India House and Dr Subba Rao is probably rest of the preparations fell upon the shoulders the only living Gandhian of Jodh singh Rawat, who actively participated founder of Forum for in Quit India movement in Gandhi Awareness Worldwide and Kannu 1942 and got imprisoned Bhai Brambhatt of Yog for fighting for Indian IndeSetup Universal and Madhu Patel founder of pendence eklavya ashram. The Center of Indian Classical Music had their new venture from all the major religions of the launched in the presence of Dr world. The audience was spellbound. The way Dr Rao touched Subbarao and Dr Singh. Jodh Singh Rawat welcomed the whole world and the whole people gathered there and then humanity with his captivating lanurged Emcee Ms Rhatore to invite guage; he mesmerized everyone

Dr Amarjeet Singh, Dr N Subbaro and Dr Bharat Barai

A section of the audience at OFBJP reception

Dr Subba Rao up on the stage. The majestic looking grand Mahalxmi Hall of Manav Seva Mandir was glittering to find their two dignitaries on the stage probably for the first time, with different and extraordinary backgrounds. Dr Subba Rao was honored and

by words of wisdom. Dr Subba Rao spoke widely about Mahatma Gandhi and his mission, his vision and his philosophy of non-violence. Dr Amarjeet Singh thanked all for honoring him. Food was served by India House Restaurant.

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US postal stamp to honor Dr Akkineni BABU TANGEWALA

DALLAS: A postal stamp in honor of legendry actor Padma Vibhushan, Natasamrat Dr Akkineni Nageswara Rao will be brought out very soon by the United Stated Postal Service (USPS), according to the Akkineni Foundation of America (AFA). AFA President Dr Prasad Thotakura said, "It has been a long journey - submitting needed documents and literature from

Grays Lake temple hosts Karaoke Mehfil GEETHA PATIL

GRAYS LAKE: This Summer Season's 'Gata Rahe Mera Dil - Musical Night', in its fourth consecutive year, is one of the most popular annual music lovers' gathering at the Grayslake temple. This is the place for singers to come and share their talents. The key organizers made a welcoming environment for new singers and readers of Shayari to start out at this friendly podium. Their remarkable slogan is "if you enjoy listening to music or singing your favorite song/s, this will be the perfect platform for you." Accordingly, Mehul Rami, Manish Sharma, Amit Dave, Ajay Patel, Sumit Varshney and Kalpesh Bagaria organized this event by putting together several local old and new music artists and singers to showcase their singing talents and entertain the audience. It was a fun packed evening that featured non-stop karaoke singing with multiple rounds of genre-based on Bollywood music for over 100 attendees. Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 23

Karokee singers at Grays Lake Temple

Dr Akkineni Nageswara Rao

time to time and explaining Dr Akkineni's salient features but all that hard work has paid off. It is the first time in the history of the USA that an Indian movie actor will get this kind of rare honor of a commemorative postal stamp release. We sincerely thank USPS for consenting to our request to issue this postal stamp in honor of Dr. Akkineni Nageswara Rao." Dr ANR's Postal Stamp release special ceremony is slated in Dallas, Texas on September 20, the birthday of Dr ANR. AFA is also planning to release the stamp

in India at the first "International Akkineni Awards Ceremony" in the presence of ANR family members and to be held by AFA on December 17 at ANR College, Gudivada, Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh. The AFA Board consists of Dr Prasad Thotakura, President; Ravi Kondabolu, Vicepresident; Sarada Akunuri,Secretary, Dr. C. R. Rao, Treasurer. Board of Directors: Dr Srinivasa Reddy Alla, Murali Vennam, Bakthavatsalu Dhama, Chalapati Rao Kondrakunta and Rao Kalvala.

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Indian Tricolor lights up Niagara Falls PM SWAMY

NEW YORK: For the first time in history, the world-famous and most visited tourist spot Niagara Falls was illuminated with Indian tri-color, thanks to Indian-American physicians of Rajasthan Medical Alumni Association of North America (RAJMAAI). The Silver Jubilee celebration of RAJMAAI was held between Aug 14 and 17 at Hotel Marriot Gateway on the Falls in Ontario, Canada in which over 300 physicians and their families attended all over from the US. Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 24

Leaders of AAPI and RAJMAAI at the Silver Jubilee Convention

Sresta winning US over to organic food Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 18

With a few back and forth, and a few meetings with the top management brass, including Rajashekar Seelam, he got Sresta chanting its Mantra in this country too. The start was from Maryland three years ago and the marketing was through a chain of sub-distributors in all major cities, includ-

could be a facility in San Francisco. He said this did not mean that the company would dispense with its now developed marketing outlets. The facilities in cities like Maryland and Chicago would aim at serving the needs of distributors, retailers and consumers better with the first hand feel of their requirements and off the shelf supplies. "In fact, the number of sub distributors across the country -

eat items - are in huge demand. The range of products the company supplies is up from 40 to 75, and it plans adding more in the coming months. The total range of products that the company markets in India runs into 220 plus and this number is not static. It is going up. "We move cautiously in this country as we want to meet all technical and health related requirements," he said.

quality and are most competitive in prices, there should be no problem in making successful inroads in mainstream markets," he observed. It is not in the US market alone that Sresta has made its presence felt. Even before it came here, it had successfully entered many global markets. Its ready-to-eat products besides the usual items like spices, grains, dals, etc are

Mantra at Vegi Fest

ing Chicago. The management however felt that its aim would bet better served by having its own facility in major markets. Soon it got branched out to Elgin near Chicago, Illinois. Amerendra Reddy who acts more as a consultant to the company, said that the plans are to get in West Coast and by 2015 there

LA, Houston Atlanta, Detroit would function as before" he said in a talk to this paper. The business in USA is growing really fast and it has quadrupled in the past two years. "The growth is stupendous as our products - different varieties of rice, wheat flour (Atta), most types of lentils, spices-herb, and ready to

Tapping the mainstream American market is sine qua non for increasing sales here. Amerender said that the coming years would see our concerted efforts in this direction. The survey indicates that the organic conscious consumers are inclined to pay a much higher price for quality products and "if we are top in this area of

marketed in 15 countries covering North America, Canada, Western Europe and Australia. "The demand is huge and right now we do not meet even 3 to 4 per cent of this, which obviously means that there is huge potential for expansion and growth, "he observed. The farms, products, facilities are certified for EU, USDA NOP &

Indian NPOP standards. The processing facilities are certified for GMP, GHP, HACCP, ISO22000, BRC. Sresta is managed by people with extensive experience in agriculture, food processing, qa, sales, marketing and international trade. Sresta doesn't use preservatives even to store produce. It uses a technique where oxygen levels are kept low in the storage units. "This keeps them fresh," he explains. The hike in demand for Sresta products could not be met if there is no production back up. The management is equally alive to this factor. This is obvious from the fact that it has expanded its presence in India in a big way - from 8,000 to the current 70,000 acres and is expected to reach the coveted figure of 100,000 acres in 15 Indian States soon. Sresta's farming projects are spread across Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal and Northeast. The plans are for at least a 20 per cent growth every year, if not more, said Reddy Sresta's vision is sustainable livelihood for farmers, sustainable lifestyles for consumers and a sustainable Earth. It partners with local NGOs in India for mobilizing farmers and training them in Organic Agriculture as also with leading agriculture research institutions and experts in India and abroad to evolve best organic agriculture practices to improve agricultural productivity, farm sustainability and quality of the produce. With its objective of providing a huge portion of the family food basket with Organic alternatives, developing new products has also become a necessity, Amerender pointed out.

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A music icon & an amazing humble personality RITU MAHESHWARI India Post News Service

dian films and in over 300 songs for Bollywood. Kher is not only one of the most loved Indian artists internationally, but also among the most respected for his modest and inspiring lifestyle. The Sufi music icon says that folk music, which preceded mainstream music, has its place secure in the annals of music and it can never go out of style. Kailash Kher and Kailasa released their first album, Kailasa, in

He has sung in 18 languages for Indian films and in over 300 songs for Bollywood. Kher is not only one of the most loved Indian artists internationally, but also among the most respected for his modest and inspiring lifestyle. The Sufi music icon says that folk music, has its place secure strength and appeal of what is undeniably one of the most unique voices in Indian music today. He has sung in 18 languages for In-

2006, which resulted in the smash hits "Teri Deewani" and "Tauba Tauba." This was followed in 2007 by their second album Jhoomo Re,

which was also a critical and commercial success. In 2008, Kher was invited to become a judge on the television series Indian Idol, the local version of the successful singing competition. With his bubbly spirit and an infectious, expansive personality, Kher endeared himself to the Indian mainstream. It is impossible for Kher to walk the streets anywhere in India without his being besieged by adoring autograph seekers. He has earned even further admiration for the openness with which he treats his fans. In 2007, Kher participated in a concert tour in the US, Canada and the Caribbean entitled The Incredibles. While the show allowed Kher to perform in front of huge audiences at major amphitheaters, it was his appearance with Kailasa at the January 2008 edition of GlobalFest at New York's Webster Hall where Kher's true artistry was on display. The group's performance that evening electrified the audience, and proved to be the first step in

Community activist Dr V.K. Patel passes away JAYANTI OJHA

r V.K. Patel, 74, of Skokie, Illinois passed away on August 27 at Manor Care Nursing Home after a lengthy battle with thyroid cancer. His dignified and customary "Hindu" cremation was performed at Bohemian National Cemetery of Chicago on Thursday August 28 in the afternoon. David Pimm, Funeral Director, personally arranged all ends of the ritual as per Hindu Cremation Code of Ethics and Guidelines. Rajubhai Jani, Priest, guided his son Dr Satyen Patel to perform the "Antim Vidayi" rituals in the presence of over 500 people including close relatives, friends, and various members of Chicagoland area organizations. Many prominent community leaders, businessmen, doctors, pharmacists, trustees and dignitaries attended the last ceremony Dr Patel had his degree in medicine from the M.P. Shah Medical College in Jamnagur and came to this country in June 1972 for further studies. He started his professional career in 1978 and provided medical services for 36 years in several Chicagoland hospitals besides

running his practice as a family physician and pediatrician in Chicago. He was socially active and was associated with Gujarat Pragati Mandal, Gujarati Cultural

cational Trust and Dharati. Son of Kahandas Patel and Jadiba Patel, he was born in Langhnaj, India. Dr Patel was a loving father, grandfather, brother,

Ritu Maheshwari interviewing Kailash Kher

launching Kher's career as a global world music star. Ritu Maheshwari interviewed Kailash Kher for India Post during his recent visit to SF Bay Area. Ritu: How do you feel visiting Bay area? Kailash Kher: It feels great to be in Bay area. Over many visits to US, I find that Bay area always gives lot of positive experiences. Bay area fans are most lively and energetic of all. It makes me feel like I am in India. I can feel the warmth everywhere and that is what an artist looks for to thrive and survive. I am going to have a live chat with fans on Facebook and try to build a strong music community. Ritu: What changes do you see in the music industry over the

years? KK: Over the years, more than music, how music is received and appreciated has changed. A lot of music lovers have become passive listeners, with many means of getting music, some legitimate and some not, have come up. Fans need to get energetic in supporting the music and artist. I see some evidence of that happening, but we have long way to go. Ritu: What is your message to youngsters? KK: I wish my fans all the best and invite them to come to my show in large numbers. When they are satiated with the music, they will be able to make progress in life, as music soothes the soul and propels one towards success.

Grays Lake temple hosts Karaoke Mehfil Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 21

Dr VK Patel

Association, Gujarat Samaj of Chicago, the Manav Seva Mandir and the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI). Dr Patel was one of the founding members of the Kadva Patidar Samaj of Chicago (KPS) and conducted philanthropic activities in India such as the Langhnaj Edu-

community leader, and friend. He will be missed dearly. Dr Patel is survived by his wife, Premila Patel, daughter Seema Patel, son and daughter-in-law, Dr Satyen and Dipti Patel, two grandchildren and an extended family encompassing many nieces, nephews, and in-laws.

Summer season has motivated the 'Friends of Lake County' group to present high-energy performances by local artists who sang a variety of old and new Bollywood songs. The melodious, enjoyable, and romantic songs of the night reflected the human feelings and love. This memorable, mellow Music & Karaoke Night of Hindu Mandir of Lake County was held on a warm and pleasant night of Saturday, 23 August. Loving Shayari reading and over 40 Hindi melodious songs were sung by Radhika

Chemburkar, Amit Dave, Sachin Kalgoankar, Sumit Varshney, Mehul Rami, Manish Sharma, and many new singers. Enthusiastic devotees dedicated songs to their loved ones. Delicious dinner with mouthwatering snacks were served to the audience. The fare included yummy Mirchi Bajiyas, Samosa, Batata Bonda, Vada, Idli and hot masala tea. The devotees enjoyed their dinner while listening to mellow songs that made their memories of their teen and adolescent days, favorite actor and actresses including the legendary singers, afresh once again.

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Technology in the classroom - Does it help? MANASI MAHESHWARI

ecently, schools all over California have started issuing laptops or tablets to students as teaching tools to take notes in class and do homework. Are such devices actually beneficial or detrimental to learning? There are arguments for both sides of the discussion, but in my opinion, the daily use of technology for individual students in the classroom is not very helpful to them. While I agree that it is important to have access to computers to supplement learning and do

assignments, I believe such technology is not necessary in the confines of a classroom. It has been shown that students who type out their notes usually take longer and more comprehensive notes because they can get down information faster than those who handwrite their notes. While this seems like it would be beneficial, studies show that students who write notes on paper are required to summarize and make connections while writing so they can get all the information down. This makes them much more likely to

retain and understand information than those who just copy down a lecture verbatim. Another downside to technology during class time is the likeli-

hood of distraction. When a student is encountered with the choice of either listening to and taking notes on a long, perhaps tedious lecture or secretly playing games on their tablet, they are likely to choose the latter. Even without any intention to do so,

students can easily lose track of what they're supposed to be doing when they have such easy access to so many distractions. However, if it is necessary for school to implement technology use in class, it's important to have regulations to moderate and deter inappropriate use in the classroom so students can still have an acceptable learning environment. While technology is obviously an inherent part of the modern world and learning how to use it is necessary, having students use their laptops and tablets during class (not including classes devoted to learning about the use of technology) is more harmful than helpful.

Indian Tricolor lights up Niagara Falls Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 22

The Niagara Falls Parks Commission decided to illuminate the Falls with Indian Tri Color for 15 minutes on the night of India's Independence Day - August 15 perhaps for the first time in the history, according to RAJMAAI President Dr. Shashi Shah. "The Indian Tricolor was illu-

street level in the gorge opposite the American Falls. Each of the xenon spotlights produces more than 390 million peak beams and have a brilliance of 250 million candlepower. The grand sponsor of the celebrations was Dr Samin Sharma, world-renowned cardiac surgeon of New York City. The physicians discussed how to pitch in help the State of Rajasthan in providing best medi-

The illuminated Niagara Falls

minated vertically as the Parks Commission had no provision to illuminate horizontally. In 1997 and 1998, new fixtures replaced the outdated lamps and fixtures at the Illumination Tower, doubling the intensity of the lights on the Falls without doubling the hydro bills. Currently a total of 21 xenon lights, each with a 76-cm (30 in) diameter, are used to illuminate the Falls in a rainbow of colors. Eighteen are located at the Illumination Tower, beside the Queen Victoria Place and three are located below

cal care, opening and training of trauma centers across the state, continuing medical education programs, opening of book banks, to name a few. Noted Bollywood singer Kailash Kher entertained the guests and authentic Rajasthani cuisine was served. Dr Ravi Jahagirdhar, President of AAPI, Dr Ajeet Singhvi, Chair, Board of Trustees of AAPI, Dr Om Ganda and Prof. P.C.Dandiya attended the convention as honored guests.

Tech News Wipro to double headcount to 140 in Oman NEW DELHI: Country's third largest software services firm Wipro has said it plans to double its headcount to 140 people over the next 18 months in Muscat to meet increasing business requirements in the Gulf region. Established in 2011 in Oman, Wipro Gulf LLC has been growing rapidly over the last three years, delivering critical projects across oil and gas, aviation, engineering, banks and government sectors, Wipro said. "Buoyed by the rising demand for services, Wipro plans to double the headcount over the next 12-18 months," Wipro said in a statement. Wipro Oman currently employs 70 professionals and has provided services to more than 25 clients across sectors.-PTI

Nike to open its own stores in India NEW DELHI: Sportswear firm Nike has applied for permission to open company-owned stores to retail its products in the country, a government notification said. As per the Department of Industrial Production and Promotion (DIPP) website's notification, on August 29, Nike applied for 100 per cent FDI in single brand retail. The application has been made by Nike to retail its products, including footwear, apparel, equipments and related accessories in India, notification added. However, when contacted Nike spokesperson said: "Nike welcomes the government's decision on foreign direct investment in single brand retail in India. Nike currently operates its business here through local distributors and retail partners. This model works well for us and we may consider exploring opening Nike owned stores in the future." -PTI

Italian court accepts Finmeccannica request NEW DELHI: Facing a Central Bureau of Investigation probe in India, defense firm Finmeccannica has claimed that an Italian court hearing the VVIP chopper scam has accepted its "request for monetary measures" in the case against its subsidiary company AgustaWestland and accordingly imposed fines of over Rs 62 crore on it. -PTI

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September 5, 2014

(L -R) Anand Chandrasekaran, Chief Product Officer of Bharti Airtel with DirectorConsumer Business, Srinivasan Gopalan and Devraj Sanyal, Managing Director of Universal Music & EMI Music for the South Asia, at the launch of mobile application Wynk music in New Delhi on September 2

5.7% Q1 growth has generated huge positive sentiment: Modi TOKYO: Encouraged by economic growth of 5.7 per cent in the first quarter, 2014-15, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said it has generated a "huge positive sentiment" while exhorting Japanese businessmen to invest in India. Highlighting the achievements of the 100 days of his government, Modi said one of the major initiatives of the new regime was further opening of the FDI rules which too was being widely appreciated by the investors. Modi said this while addressing the a luncheon meeting hosted by Nippon Kiedanren - the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Japan-India Business Cooperation Committee here. "The GDP growth of 5.7 per cent in the first quarter of 2014-15 has generated a huge positive sentiment," he said. Improved performance of mining, manufacturing and services sector pushed India's economic growth rate to two-and-half-year high of 5.7 per cent in the AprilJune quarter and the government expects the trend to continue in the remaining fiscal.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing a business luncheon hosted by Japan Business Federation in Tokyo on September 1

India's economy had recorded a subdued growth of 4.7 per cent in the April-June quarter of the last fiscal, 2013-14. The previous high was recorded at 6 per cent in the October- December quarter of 2011-12. Modi further said that the clear

mandates received by the governments of both India and Japan, and the political stability they had generated, would deliver a strong push to bilateral ties. In order to encourage Japanese investments, a special management team would be set up directly

under the Prime Minister's Office. He said two nominees selected by Japan would also be part of the decision-making team which evaluates business proposals and assured Japanese businessmen and investors of policy- driven decisions to eliminate delays. -PTI

Chidambaram claims credit for high Q1 growth NEW DELHI: Former Finance Minister P Chidambaram has said the high growth that Indian economy has logged in the first quarter of the current fiscal was on account of the United Progressive Alliance policies and the new government must give it the due credit. "Can the Modi government name one measure that was implemented after May 26 that yielded results by June 30? They cannot. Hence the credit for Q1 belongs entirely to the UPA government. The NDA should stop being churlish and give credit where it is due," said the senior Congress leader. Improved performance of mining, manufacturing and services sectors pushed the

country's economic growth rate to two-and-half year high of 5.7 per cent in the first quarter of 2014-15. Earlier, Chidambaram had said the 5.7 per cent growth rate vindi-

P Chidambaram

cates position of the previous UPA government that the decline in GDP had been halted in the middle of 2013-14 as well as its forecast that the upturn will take place in

the beginning of 2014-15. He had said a number of steps were taken by the UPA government to revive manufacturing (reduction of excise duty), electricity (coal linkages) and Chidambaram had mining sectors, he said. said the 5.7 per Besides, a cent growth rate number of revindicates position forms were undertaken in the of the previous financial serUPA government vices sector and that the decline in these are the lead performing GDP had been sectors of the economy as per halted in the the latest CSO middle of 2013-14 data, he had said. -PTI

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September 5, 2014

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Nippon, Reliance Group launch India funds for Japan investors TOKYO/MUMBAI: With Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking greater investment flow from Japan into India, financial services giant Nippon Life has announced two dedicated funds in partnership with Anil Ambani-led Reliance Group to facilitate Japanese investments into Indian markets. Besides, Nippon Life also reiterated its commitment to a partnership with the Indian business conglomerate for setting up 'Reliance Bank' under an appropriate category of licenses to be issued by the Reserve Bank of India. The announcements - including for launch of one equity and another bond fund - coincide with Modi's first official visit to Japan as Prime Minister, during which he invited Japanese investments into India and said that the businessmen from the two countries can give a direction to world economy. Welcoming Modi on his Japan visit, Nippon and Reliance Group said in a joint statement that the two groups would actively expand their collaboration and contribute towards strengthening of IndoJapan relations. "The Prime Minister's visit to Japan reinforces the strategic focus of global partnership between India and Japan. "As a good role model of business partnership between Indian and Japanese corporations, Reliance Group and NLI Group will actively further expand their collaboration, which will contribute towards strengthening the relations between India and Japan," Reliance Group Managing Director Amitabh Jhunjhunwala said. Nippon Life Insurance (NLI) President Yoshinobu Tsutsui said,

"Reliance Capital is planning to set up its own bank which will cater to individual customers and small and medium enterprises all over India. "NLI is also participating in this

Nippon Life Insurance, a Fortune 100 company and the fifth largest private life insurer in the world with revenue of USD 65 billion and profit of USD 5 billion, is the biggest foreign direct investor bank project as part of strategic business alliance with a view to improve the financial infrastructure and contribute towards eco-

nomic growth of India." Among the two new mutual funds announced for Japanese retail investors, India Equity Selection Fund would allow Japanese investors to "directly invest in Indian companies with long term potential". Besides, the Short Term Indian Bond Fund would allow investors from Japan to directly invest in Indian government securities and corporate bonds. Nippon Life Insurance, a Fortune 100 company and the fifth largest private life insurer in the world with revenue of USD 65 billion and profit of USD 5 billion, is the biggest foreign direct investor in Indian asset management and life insurance sector till date. The Japanese insurer has 26 per cent stake each in Reliance Capital Asset Management (RCAM) and Reliance Life Insurance Company (RLIC), both part of Reliance Capital, the financial services arm of Reliance Group. -PTI

SBI-Japan bank in $152-mn credit deal MUMBAI: State Bank of India (SBI) has signed a loan agreement with the Japan Bank of International Cooperation (JBIC) to set up an export credit line in two currencies worth USD 152 million. The total amount in the export credit line consists of 13.5 billion yen and USD 21 million, a release said, add-

ing the loan is co-financed with the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi (BTMU).

This credit line will be utilized by Meja Urja Nigam to finance the procurement of steam turbine generators from Japan's Toshiba Corp and its Indian subsidiary to construct a super critical pressure coal-fired power plant (660 mwx2 units) in Meja, Uttar Pradesh, the release said. The plant is an equal joint venture between NTPC, a Central PSU, and UP Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam. The agreement was signed by SBI Chairperson Arundhati Bhattacharya and JBIC Governor Hiroshi Watanabe in Tokyo, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a state visit. Commenting on the development Bhattacharya said, "India has a strong appetite for infrastructural development and I see a greater role for JBIC in supporting Indian commercial banks and infrastructure companies." -PTI

Economy rebounding, inflation moderating: 100 days NEW DELHI: Encouraged by marked improvement in the Gross domestic product (GDP) numbers, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has said growth rate would accelerate further on back of improvement in investor confidence and moderation in inflation.

steps taken to increase investment in manufacturing and infrastructure. "The new government was clear about the direction in which it was to move. We wanted to expand economic activity, hasten decision making, easing doing business in country, open up significant sectors, expedite decision making, while maintaining the social sector expenditures in most areas," he added. On future agenda, the Minister said the government would soon roll out disinvestment plan, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley push Goods and Services Tax (GST) With government taking and try to get the insurance bill quick decisions to relax Foreign through in the ensuing Winter Direct Investment (FDI) norms Session of Parliament. and push infrastructure investJaitley said he was "more ment, he said the manufactur- confident" now of achieving the ing curve has turned and ser- fiscal deficit target of 4.1 per cent vices sector is looking up. of Gross domestic product "All I can say is the govern- (GDP) in the current fiscal, even ment is very clear whether it is as the deficit in July end had social sector schemes, or other crossed 61 per cent of Budget significant decisions, surely we estimates. will be moving in right direction. The Minister said that soon I am optimistic that as more and after the National Democratic more decisions in this direction Alliance (NDA) took over, he comes, we will be able to help had outlined government's prithe economy to grow a little orities which included containfaster," Jaitley said, while addressing his first Jaitley said he was "more press conference confident" now of achieving to mark 100 days of the NDA govern- the fiscal deficit target of 4.1 ment in office. per cent of Gross domestic Reflecting improvement in the product (GDP) in the current economy, the GDP fiscal, even as the deficit in growth rate in the April-June quarter July end had crossed 61 per of 2014-15 im- cent of Budget estimates. proved to 5.7 per cent, the highest in nearly two-and-half years. The ing inflation, restarting the GDP growth rate remained sub- growth cycle, rebuilding the infive per cent in the last two con- vestment cycle and keeping fissecutive fiscals. cal deficit at acceptable levels. "In the first quarter (AprilObserving that the Lok June), a 5.7 per cent growth rate Sabha election results itself is encouraging. With the long- changed the mood, Jaitley said, term impact of all the new initia- it was "after 30 years you had a tives setting in, I am sure the single party majority in Parliaimpact in the coming quarters ment and therefore decision will be much larger," he said. making, including economic deListing decisions taken in cision making, became easier." first three months in office, Unlike the previous UPA Jaitley said FDI restrictions in government, he said there were defense and railways have been no internal issues and all steps eased, decision making has- taken by the Finance Ministry tened, special mechanism cre- had the support of the Prime ated to resolve tax dispute and Minister and his office.-PTI

TechBiz Post

September 5, 2014

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America is our emerging market: Mahindra NEW DELHI: With an aim to be one of the most admired corporations by 2020-21, the Mahindra group is looking at its successful tractors business, where it is synergizing automotive technology with farm equipment, to take the lead. Already the world's largest tractor manufacturer by volumes, the USD 16.5-billion home-grown multinational is seeking to enhance its presence in the western market like the US. "The glamorous side is SUVs but frankly the tractor side is where we are number one in the world. Our brand is making global headway faster on tractors than auto," Mahindra Group Chairman and MD Anand Mahindra told PTI in an interview. Highlighting the progress that the group has made in the farm equipment sector, he said the latest tractor Arjun Novo was an example of it. "Our goal was to say we are second to none in technology. We don't want to be value for money tractor that is beating out John Dere and all...This product has incorporated auto technology in the tractor. If you look at electronics, suspension, ergonomics...the state-of-the-art knowledge of R&D we had in auto has come into (it)," Mahindra said. The new tractor is the first product to be rolled out since Pawan Goenka took charge of heading both tractor and auto businesses

of the group and also after Rajan Wadhera leading the group's tractor and automobiles R&D, he added. "Mahindra group is really getting its act together of synergy in

sold a total of 2,67,635 tractors, up 20 per cent from the previous year. In the April-July period this fiscal, the company's total tractor sales were down by 1 per cent to 91,962 units from 93,046 in the yearago period. Speaking on the group's amb i t i o n s , Mahindra said it was to become one of the most admired corporations or brands by 2020-21 but stated the group has not set any financial goals. "When you Mahindra Group Chairman and MD Anand Mahindra set the right targets, aspiraauto technology. This product tions and you work efficiently and (tractor) has gone to a different diligently, the numbers happen. level," he said. We never set financial Commenting on the expansion targets...(but) we have a very of the tractor business in devel- strong co-created aspirations...If oped markets, Mahindra said: "I we do become one of the most call America our emerging market; admired corporations or brands by they find it very amusing when I 2020-21, it cannot happen without said that. The fastest growth we your financial results," Mahindra have got in the last year and a half said. -PTI is in America. We have grown in 35-40 per cent." The main competitors there are John Dere and New Holland and in the segment Mahindra operates, its market share now has reached 10 per cent, he added. In the last fiscal the group had

12 Indian firms in Forbes' 50 best in Asia-Pacific NEW YORK: Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), HCL Technologies and HDFC Bank are among the 50 best public companies in Asia-Pacific according to a compilation by Forbes, which ranked India second behind China as home to the "world's next growth engines". The Forbes 2014 'honor roll of the Fabulous 50' lists best of Asia-Pacific's biggest publicly traded companies. China has 16 companies on the list, more than any other country, a distinction it has enjoyed for the last three years. However, the number of Chinese companies on the list has gone down from 20 last year on the back of slow economic growth in the country. India trails China with 12 com-

panies on the list, the same number as last year. The Indian companies on the list are Asian Paints, Axis Bank, HCL Technologies, HDFC Bank, Lupin, Mahindra and Mahindra, Mothersome Sumi Systems, Sun Pharma, TCS, Tata Motors, Tech Mahindra and Titan. HDFC Bank, India's secondlargest private sector bank, has made the list eight times, more than any other company since Forbes started the compilation in 2005. TCS makes it to the list for the seventh time while Tech Mahindra, the country's fifthlargest IT player, debuts on the list after net profits soared 112 per cent to touch USD 500 million. Indian conglomerate ITC failed to make it to the list this year.-PTI

4 of Indian-origin among 25 gen-next economists WASHINGTON: Four Indian- tion, and equality of opportunity. origin economists from the US feaGopinath, 42, American and Inture among the IMF's list of 25 top dian, also from the Harvard, studglobal financial experts under the ies international macroeconomics age of 45 who will have a major and trade with a focus on soverinfluence on the understanding of eign debt, the response of interthe global economy in the coming national prices to exchange rate decades. movements, and the rapid shifts Raj Chetty and Gita Gopinath in relative value among world curfrom Harvard University, Parag rencies. Pathak from the Massachusetts From MIT, 34-year-old Pathak Institute of Technology (MIT) played a role in applying engineerand Amit Seru figure in the list by top International Monetary Fund Published in the September publication 'Finance issue of the monthly journal, and Development'. Published in the Sep- the list is based on feedtember issue of the back received by global monthly journal, the list is based on feedback re- economists ceived by global economists, journal editors and its readers who were asked to ing approaches to name economists under 45 who will microeconomics. His research fohave the most influence in the com- cuses on market design, education ing decades on the understanding and urban economics. of the global economy. Forty-year-old Seru, an Indian Indian-American Chetty, 35, from the University of Chicago, rewho received his PhD at 23, com- searches financial intermediation bines empirical evidence and eco- and regulation as well as issues nomic theory to research how to related to corporate finance, inimprove government policy deci- cluding resource allocation within sions in areas such as tax policy, and between firms, and organizaunemployment insurance, educational incentives. -PTI

TOP TEN HINDI FILM SONGS

1 Galliyan: Ek Villian 2 Banjaara: Ek Villian 3 Saturday Saturday: Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania 4 Caller Tune: Humshakals 28 India Post

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September 5, 2014

nushka Sharma has denied she is getting married to cricketer Virat Kohli. After BCCI declared that Virat and Anushka are getting married soon, there were reports of Virat and Anushka's impending wedding. Anushka's representative has denied the speculation. "There are several stories online about Anushka Sharma's impending wedding. However I would like to set the record straight that there is absolutely no truth to these rumors and I would like to request you to refrain from conjecturing about the same," her representative said. Anushka was allowed to stay with Virat Kohli in the recently held England series and it cemented the report that the duo are seeing each other and contemplating wedding. On various occasions, the couple was spotted together. Virat was also clicked several times outside Anushka's residence. They got to know each other better during the shooting of a shampoo commercial. The duo instantly hit it off and are going strong till date.

5 Fugly Fugly Kya Hai: Fugly 6 Aaj Phir Tumpe: Hate Story 2 7 Samjhawan: Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania 8 Raat Bhar: Heropanti 9 Johnny Johnny: Its Entertainment 10 Humdard: Ek Villain

Anushka was allowed to stay with Virat Kohli in the recently held England series and it cemented the report that the duo are seeing each other and contemplating wedding

uperstar Shah Rukh Khan, who will be seen per forming stunts in his upcoming film 'Happy New Year', says he does all the heroic things on screen for his children Aryan and Suhana. "I have two children who tell me I should do more stunts so I listen to them more than I listen to her (wife Gauri). I like doing it. I have fun. I feel if I don't do something challenging then I am succumbing to that injury," Shah Rukh said in an interview. The 48-year-old actor is also prone to injuries. "I have made myself stronger to overcome the shoulder, back injury. As an actor it is important physically, emo-

tionally, mentally to be always challenged and try to do the best I can. The stunt (in Happy New Year) is difficult going down the buildingâ&#x20AC;Ś But it's on a wireâ&#x20AC;Ś It is safe but scary," he said. The Chennai Express star is in a profession where he has to be away from family most of the time but he does try to make up for it by going on holidays and being with them when he is not working. "The day I don't shoot, I am at home. I have become more reclusive... I have become more unsocial now. I get bored going to parties. But we have to go for work, launch events etc," he said.

Bollywood

September 5, 2014

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"I believe in freedom of speech; people are free to talk or write whatever they want, but I don't understand, why are they dissecting my career?"

hahid Kapoor's sister Sanah Kapoor is all set to follow the footsteps of her brother. She will make her Bollywood debut with Shahid and Alia Bhatt's starrer, 'Shandaar' to be directed by Vikas Bahl. Sanah will play Alia's sister in the film. Pankaj Kapoor will be playing their father. 'Shandaar' is a movie based on a lavish destination wedding and it is slated to go on floor in London, UK. Sanah is very keen to act in film. She has just completed an acting course from the Lee Stratsberg Theatre & Film Institute, New York. Sanah is S u p r i y a Pathak and P a n k a j Kapoor's daughter.

ome called her 'moody', some called her 'choosy' - actor Kareena Kapoor Khan has been on the wrong side of criticism ever since reports of her rejecting six films in five months surfaced. None of it, however, bothers the 33year-old. Amused, she asks, "I believe in freedom of speech; people are free to talk or write whatever they want, but I don't understand, why are they dissecting my career?" In the recent past, Kareena rejected films including Goliyon Ki Raasleela - Ram Leela (2013) and Queen, which eventually turned out to be blockbusters. She even said no to Karan Johar's Shhuddhi, Zoya Akhtar's Dil Dhadakne Do and Sujoy Ghosh's Durga Rani Singh. "It's an actor's prerogative what film he or she wants to be a part of ... it's okay if I didn't do a certain film, I have absolutely no regrets. The good thing is I am doing what I want to do, and people are loving m y work," says Kareena, u n abashed.

here are many yummy mum mies who always make heads turn in the film world but there is one hot mama who gets hotter with age. Yes, the sexy and the original item girl in Bollywood - Malaika Arora Khan. After delivering her son, she's done item songs like 'Munni' in 'Dabangg' and walked the ramp for designers like Anju Modi and it's hard to believe that she is mother to a kid. Perhaps her lifelong dedication to gym and yoga and strict diet keeps her in excellent shape. In one of her interviews she had confessed, "You'll never see me eating rubbish. I watch what I eat." Recently she was spotted at a power women fiesta transfixing everyone with her angelic and toned body. She has the sexiest back ever. Also, the supreme confidence she oozes while posing for pictures - no close-up can be ever bad for this voluptuous lass.

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Himachal to plant 45 lakh medicinal plants SHIMLA: The state forest department would plant 45 lakh medicinal plants and herbs across Himachal Pradesh, state health minister Kaul Singh said here. Presiding over the Van Mahotsav organized by the state Red Cross Society at Raj Bhawan, Singh said that a provision of Rs 126 crore has been made for afforestation, fencing of forests and survival of plants while Rs three crore would be spent on plantation of medicinal herbs and plants. Singh, who planted a sapling of "sandalwood" said that a target of bringing 17,500 hectare of area under plantation had been fixed and five lakh students from over 3000 schools had been involved in the afforestation campaign. The minister called upon NGOs to come forward for planting saplings and preserving the environment of the state which is a prerequisite need for healthy ambiance. -PTI

Â&#x201E; Health & wellness mall to come up in Jaipur JAIPUR: Bollywood actress and Padma Bhushan Awardee Sharmila Tagore has said India's first health and wellness mall would come up in Jaipur in the next two years. The health and fitness mall, to be built at a cost of Rs 110 to 120 cr, is specially designed where all verticals of doctors, chemists, path labs, ayurveda, homeopathy, gym, swimming pool, jogging track, spa, food court and every thing one can think of in terms of health and wellness would be available at one point, Tagore, who is also ambassador of GTM Builders and Promoters, told a press conference here. When asked how she keeps fit, Tagore smiled and said, "Sleeping on time, eating on time, exercise become a daily routine of my life." Actress Soha Ali Khan, who accompanied her mother, said, "Mental health is important as well as physical. It (mall) is a onestop shop for every one. I want it to be a great success, and that it comes to more cities." Speaking on the occasion, GTM Group's CEO Tushar Kumar said initially there is no tie-up with any government and the project would be a first in India, specially in Jaipur, for every class of society, specially middle class people.-PTI

Health Science

Tomato-rich diet may ward off prostate cancer Details on Page 35

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Doctors say new heart failure drug shows big promise

new study reports one of the biggest potential ad vances against heart failure in more than a decade - a firstof-a-kind, experimental drug that lowered the chances of death or hospitalization by about 20 percent. Doctors say the Novartis drug - which doesn't have a name yet seems like one of those rare, breakthrough therapies that could quickly change care for more than half of the 6 million Americans and 24 million people worldwide with heart failure. ``This is a new day'' for patients, said Dr. Clyde Yancy, cardiology chief at Northwestern University in Chicago and a former American Heart Association president. ``It's been at least a decade since we've had a breakthrough of this magnitude,'' said Yancy, who had no role in the study. It involved nearly 8,500 people in 47 countries and was the largest experiment ever done in heart failure. It was paid for, designed and partly run by Novartis, based in Basel, Switzerland. Indepen-

dent monitors stopped the study in April, seven months earlier than planned, when it was clear the drug was better than an older one that is standard now. During the 27-month study, the Novartis drug cut the chances of

Results were disclosed at a European Society of Cardiology conference in Barcelona and published online by the New England Journal of Medicine. Novartis will seek approval for the drug - for now called LCZ696 -

dying of heart-related causes by 20 percent and for any reason by 16 percent, compared to the older drug. It also reduced the risk of being hospitalized for heart failure by 21 percent. ``We are really excited,'' said one study leader, Dr. Milton Packer of UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. The benefit ``exceeded our original expectations.''

by the end of this year in the United States and early next year in Europe Heart failure is the top reason older people are hospitalized, and a leading cause of death. It develops when the heart muscle weakens over time and can no longer pump effectively, often because of damage from a heart attack. Fluid can back up into the lungs

and leave people gasping for breath. The people in this study were already taking three to five medicines to control the condition. One medicine often used is an ACE inhibitor, and the study tested one of these - enalapril, sold as Vasotec and in generic form against the Novartis drug. The new drug is a twice-a-day pill combination of two medicines that block the effects of substances that harm the heart while also preserving ones that help protect it. One of the medicines also dilates blood vessels and allows the heart to pump more effectively. In the study, 26.5 percent on the older drug, enalapril, died of heart-related causes or were hospitalized for heart failure versus less than 22 percent of those on the Novartis drug. Quality of life also was better with the experimental drug. ``We now have a way of stabilizing and managing their disease which is better than what we could offer them before,'' Packer said. -AP

Vardhan asks docs to devote time in villages NEW DELHI: Asking them to "think out of the box" to address nation's health issues, Union Minister Harsh Vardhan has made an appeal to all specialized doctors to spend at least a short duration of time in rendering services to patients in villages and hilly areas of the country. "Even after 67 years of Independence, health for every Indian is still a distant dream. But, I believe if we can put our heart and soul to it, we can achieve it...And, therefore I appeal to all doctors, in every specialty to devote at least some time in small villages, where access to specialized medical services is not easy," he said. The Health Minister, who was speaking at the launch of World Simulation Society here, also urged the doctors to "use and

revive the ancient wisdom of India" in solving medical problems. "It is time for us to think out of the box, think afresh and have a new dream. And, I think that we

us back," he said. "I am not asking doctors to leave their practice here and go to a village. But, an arrangement could be worked out whereby let's say, doctors could visit a village or a hill town voluntarily or during a vacation, where the boarding and lodging could be arranged locally," he said. The minister also said that the government was planning to soon start a series of programs and Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan workshops, aimed have the intellectual acumen to at raising awareness about eradifind out new solutions for the cating "preventable deaths". health issues that is still holding "Here, everyone has been talk-

ing about treatment and not prevention. And, through a series of activities and workshops, involving various health officials and different departments, we will be very focused on prevention of diseases, early diagnosis of preventable diseases," he said. "Efforts are already on to upgrade district hospitals, turn hospitals into super-specialty hospitals, open AIIMS-like institutions and new AIIMS in various cities across the country," he added. The World Simulation Society aims at raising awareness about creating simulated medical environments through dummy patients, to prepare doctors and others for conditions such as trauma and emergency. -PTI

Health Science Post

September 5, 2014

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Health law factors into governor's, Senate races LITTLE ROCK, Ark.: Democrats Mark Pryor and Mike Ross took different positions on the president's federal health overhaul plan when it came before Congress four years ago. But, running in the two hottest races in Arkansas this fall, both find themselves under attack on the issue and attempting to navigate around it as they struggle to prevent a complete Republican takeover of the state's top offices. Pryor, running for re-election to the Senate, and Ross, a former congressman running for governor, are facing Republican opponents who are running on an anti ``Obamacare'' message. Both Democrats are trying to embrace part - but not all - of a law that is generally unpopular in Arkansas but that is extending insurance to thousands of residents who didn't have any. ``I think the challenge for the Democrats in both races is to focus on the specifics, the particulars and try to get away from the generic label, which remains pretty unpopular, even toxic here,'' said Hal Bass, a political science professor at Ouachita Baptist University.

For Pryor, a two-term senator who voted for the health care law, that's meant pointing out certain benefits of the measure without mentioning it by name. For Ross,

Mike Ross

the Democrats' gubernatorial nominee who voted against the overhaul and called for its repeal, that's meant vowing to continue the state's compromise plan to expand Medicaid under the law. The races are among the most expensive and closely watched in the nation. Pryor is being challenged by freshman U.S. Rep. Tom Cotton in a race that could

help determine which party controls the Senate next year. Ross is running against former congressman Asa Hutchinson. Pryor's seat and the governorship are two of four statewide offices still held by Democrats. Though candidates in both races have raised other issues, blasting the health overhaul has been a common theme for Republicans as they've steadily gained power in the state over the past two elections. Cotton regularly brings up Pryor's vote for the health care law, and Hutchinson criticizes Ross for voting for a version of health reform legislation in committee before voting against the bill that was signed into law. Pryor last month began airing an ad where he touts the benefits of the health care law - without naming it - and says his battle with a rare form of cancer 18 years ago influenced him. ``No one should be fighting an insurance company while you're fighting for your life,'' Pryor says in the ad. ``That's why I helped pass a law that prevents insurance companies from canceling your policy if you get sick, or deny cov-

erage for pre-existing conditions.'' Ross has been running partly on a promise to keep alive the state's ``private option'' Medicaid expansion, which is using federal

Mark Pryor

funds to purchase private insurance for the poor. More than 183,000 people are enrolled in the program, which was crafted as an alternative to the Medicaid expansion called for under the health law. ``As a Christian, I think it's the right thing to do and I'm going to do my best as governor to continue to fund it,'' Ross told a group of Delta leaders earlier this

summer. According to a Gallup survey released last month, the share of uninsured residents in Arkansas dropped about 10 percentage points - from 22.5 percent in 2013, to 12.4 percent in the middle of this year. Cotton and Hutchinson have regularly skewered the health care law in speeches and ads as an example of government overreach. But they've also tried to tread carefully around popular parts of the law, especially the ``private option.'' Hutchinson, for his part, has stopped short of saying whether he'd support continuing that program next year and says he wants to review its progress. ``We know that Obamacare's not working. It's fatally flawed and the Legislature dealt with this the best they could,'' Hutchinson said earlier this year. Cotton also calls for the health law's repeal, but has been careful to say that he wants to address the same problems the overhaul's backers say it solves, such as consumers being unable to get insurance because of pre-existing conditions. -AP

Health Science Post

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Heart exercises also benefit brain USFDA grants QIDP status TORONTO: Exercising to improve your cardiovascular strength may protect from cognitive impairment as you age, according to a new study. Researchers at the University of Montreal and its affiliated Institut universitaire de geratrie de Montreal Research Centre studied 31 young people between the ages of 18 and 30 and 54 older participants aged between 55 and 75. "Our body's arteries stiffen with age, and the vessel hardening is believed to begin in the aorta, the main vessel coming out of the heart, before reaching the brain," said Claudine Gauthier, first author of the study. "Indeed, the hardening may contribute to cognitive changes that occur during a similar time frame. "We found that older adults whose aortas were in a better condition and who had greater aerobic fitness performed better on a cognitive test. "We therefore think that the preservation of vessel elasticity may be one of the mechanisms that enables exercise to slow cognitive ageing," Gauthier said. The researchers compared the

older participants within their peer group and against the younger group who obviously have not begun the ageing processes in question. None of the participants had physical or mental health issues that might influence the study outcome.

The researchers were interested in the brain's blood flow, as poorer cardiovascular health is associated with a faster pulse wave, at each heartbeat Their fitness was tested by exhausting the participants on a workout machine and determining their maximum oxygen intake over a 30 second period. Their cognitive abilities were assessed with the Stroop task. The Stroop task is a scientifically validated test that involves asking someone to identify the ink color of a color word that is

printed in a different color. A person who is able to correctly name the color of the word without being distracted by the reflex to read it has greater cognitive agility. The participants undertook three MRI scans: one to evaluate the blood flow to the brain, one to measure their brain activity as they performed the Stroop task, and one to actually look at the physical state of their aorta. The researchers were interested in the brain's blood flow, as poorer cardiovascular health is associated with a faster pulse wave, at each heartbeat which in turn could cause damage to the brain's smaller blood vessels. The results demonstrated agerelated declines in executive function, aortic elasticity and cardiorespiratory fitness, a link between vascular health and brain function, and a positive association between aerobic fitness and brain function. "The link between fitness and brain function may be mediated through preserved cerebrovascular reactivity in periventricular watershed areas that are also associated with cardiorespiratory fitness," Gauthier said. -PTI

New drug may treat common anemia WASHINGTON: An experimental drug designed to help regulate the blood's iron supply shows promise as a viable first treatment for anemia of inflammation, scientists say. Anemia is a condition that occurs when red blood cells are in short supply or do not function properly. When an individual has anemia, the body does not get enough oxygen, since there are fewer red blood cells to carry the iron-rich protein hemoglobin that helps distribute oxygen throughout the body. The most common form of anemia in the hospital setting is anemia of inflammation, which occurs when the body's immune response is activated during illness or infection. When the body fights a disease, it deploys an inflammatory response that triggers increased secretion of a hormone called hepcidin that reduces the amount of iron available in the bloodstream. As iron is needed for the production of red blood cells in the bone marrow, many patients develop anemia. The only current treatment strategy for anemia of inflammation involves targeting the under-

lying disease or infection. As the principal regulator of iron, hepcidin has become a target for researchers developing novel therapies for blood disorders. One hepcidin inhibitor, called lexaptepid pegol (lexaptepid), has demonstrated efficacy in treating anemia of inflammation in animal studies. Lexaptepid inactivates hepcidin, thereby maintaining the transport of iron to the bloodstream.

In order to evaluate lexaptepid's potential in humans, investigators induced a safe and temporary model of anemia of inflammation in 24 healthy male adults and randomized them to receive lexaptepid or placebo. Volunteers received a low dose of Escherichia coli (E coli) endotoxin to induce controlled inflammation and received either

lexaptepid or placebo 30 minutes later. After nine hours, iron in the blood stream had decreased in the placebo group, whereas this decrease could be prevented by treatment with lexaptepid. In addition to determining whether lexaptepid interfered with hepcidin production, researchers also sought to determine whether the drug influenced the immune response. All volunteers experienced similar flu-like symptoms, increased body temperature and white blood cell count, and higher concentrations of inflammatory and signaling proteins, demonstrating to investigators that lexaptepid did not interfere with the immune response process. "It is quite encouraging that lexaptepid helped maintain appropriate levels of iron in the bloodstream of healthy volunteers without compromising the immune response," said lead study author Lucas van Eijk, of Radboud University Medical Center in Nijmegen, Netherlands. The study is published in Blood, the Journal of the American Society of Hematology. -PTI

to two Wockhardt drugs

NEW DELHI: Drug maker Wockhardt says that two of its anti-infective drugs have received Qualified Infectious Disease Product (QIDP) status from the US health regulator. Two drugs - WCK 771 and WCK 2349 - have received QIDP status, which allows fast-track re-

These drugs will be entering their global Phase-3 clinical trials early next year, he added. QIDP status is granted to drugs which act against pathogens which have a high degree of unmet need in their treatment and are identified by the Centre for Disease Control, USA, a top US gov-

view of the drug application by the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA), Wockhardt said in a statement. This is the first instance of an Indian pharmaceutical company receiving QIDP status, it added. Commenting on the development, Wockhardt Founder Chairman and Group CEO Dr Habil Khorakiwala said, "This is indeed a proud moment for us. Not only does the status allow for fast- track review of our drug application, it also grants a five- year extension to the drug patents in the USA, which is a major support for the commercial aspect of the drug."

ernment health and safety body. WCK 771 is an intravenous (IV) drug while WCK 2349 is a solid oral tablet. Both act against Methicillinresistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA), which causes a range of diseases from skin infection to severe respiratory infections. "In case of severe infections like Hospital Acquired Pneumonia (HAP), current medical cure has a very limited reach, causing a high unmet need and mortality. Both of these drugs are effective against MRSA and have shown potential in treatment of HAP," it added. PTI

Centre to expedite issue of soil health cards NEW DELHI: Aiming to issue soil health cards to all farmers in next three years, the Centre has come out with uniform norms to expedite the process of testing soil nutrients in irrigated and rainfed areas. As per official data, only 5.69 crore soil health cards have been

issued to farmers till last fiscal. Highlighting the importance of soil testing to achieve higher farm production, Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh has written to the state governments seeking their views on new norms at the earliest. For irrigated areas, the Centre has proposed testing of NPK (Ni-

trogen, Phosphorous, and Potash) nutrients in the soil based on landholding, while micro nutrients in a sample grid of 10 hectares, as per the draft norms. For rainfed areas, both NPK and micro nutrients are proposed to be tested in a sample grip of 10 hectares. That apart, the Centre has proposed norms for setting up of soil testing labs for every 50,000 acres of irrigated land and 1.5 lakh acres of rainfed land. The state governments have been suggested to make use of funds under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) for setting up of new labs and issue of soil health cards. This has been done as funds under the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) would not be sufficient to create the required number of labs. Currently, financial assistance for creation of new soil testing laboratories and strengthening of existing soil testing laboratories is being provided under NMSA. -PTI

September 5, 2014

Health Science Post

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Cigarette substitutes pose risk due to over-use WASHINGTON: Alternatives to conventional smoking such as e-cigarettes may still pose a risk to human health due to overuse, a new research has warned. Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable death worldwide, researchers said. In order to overcome this addiction, many people resort to nicotine replace-

ment therapies. A recent literature review by researchers at the University of Miami (UM) suggest that small dosages of nicotine found in cigarette substitutes could be harmful to human musculoskeletal system, due to overuse. The researchers investigated and summarized the last five years of studies, on the effect of nicotine on wound and skeletal healing processes in humans. The report suggests that more information is needed on the potential effect of cigarette substitutes like Electronic cigarettes (E-cigarettes), which are fairly new to the market and not regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). "E-cigarettes are marketed as safe alter-

natives to cigarette smoking, however the harms associated with their overuse have not yet been widely investigated," said Herman S Cheung, James L Night Professor in the UM College of Engineering, and senior author of the report. "We hope to increase awareness and promote further investigations into this field," said Cheung. The findings show that nicotine can be beneficial at low dosages. For example, exposure to low dosages of nicotine promotes collagen production and skin wound repair. Yet at higher dosages cells involved in the wound and skeletal healing processes actually become ineffective. That's why overuse of nicotine-replacement, which still contain small amounts of nicotine, can present a health risk. However, what constitutes a low or high dosage depends on the cell type. "Not all cells respond to nicotine in the same manner. What could be a low dosage for one is a high dosage for another," said Carlos M Carballosa, doctoral student in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the UM College of Engineering and primary author of this review. "The effects are to some extent, reversible, once exposure to nicotine stops," said Carballosa. The findings were published in the Global Journal of Medical Research. -PTI

Ebola takes toll of health workers in WAfrica LAGOS: Nigeria has confirmed a fresh case of Ebola in a doctor whose husband died from the virus, adding to a growing list of health care workers in West Africa hit by the epidemic. The woman's husband was also a doctor and died in the city of Port Harcourt on August 22 after treating a patient who had contact with a Liberian man who brought the virus to Nigeria in late July. She was in stable condition at an isolation unit in the financial capital, Lagos, said Sampson Parker, the health commissioner of Rivers State, of which Port Harcourt is the capital. Nigeria's medics have paid a heavy price in the outbreak, of the six people who have died from the disease in Africa's most populous nation, two have been doctors and two others nurses. Another doctor and a pharmacist were put into isolation at a unit outside Port Harcourt, Parker said. "They have not been confirmed (as having Ebola) and we are awaiting the result of investigation," he told a news conference.

The World Health Organization has voiced concern about the number of health care workers hit by the Ebola outbreak: more than 120 health workers have died and over 240 others infected so far. The disease has killed a total of 1,552 people and infected 3,062 as of August 26, according to WHO figures. In Guinea, where 430 people have died in all, nurses told AFP they lacked basic medical equipment to treat patients and had even bought items such as gloves and protective clothing themselves. In Senegal, doctors were treating a young Guinean man who became the country's first confirmed case of the disease. He was said to be in a "satisfactory" condition in hospital. The case lends credence to fears that the hemorrhagic fever, for which there is currently no vaccine, is spreading rapidly. At current infection rates, it could take six to nine months and at least USD 490 million to bring under control, by which time over 20,000 people could be affected, the WHO has warned. -AFP

Tomato-rich diet may ward off prostate cancer LONDON: Men who eat over 10 portions a week of tomatoes have an 18 per cent lower risk of developing prostate cancer, according to a new research. Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men worldwide. Rates are higher in developed countries, which some experts believe is linked to a Westernized diet and lifestyle. To assess if following dietary and lifestyle recommendations reduces risk of prostate cancer, researchers at the Universities of Bristol, Cambridge and Oxford looked at the diets and lifestyle of 1,806 men aged between 50 and 69 with prostate cancer and compared with 12,005 cancer-free men. The study, published in the medical journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, is the first study of its kind to develop a prostate cancer 'dietary index' which consists of dietary components - selenium, calcium and foods rich in lycopene. Men who had optimal intake of these three dietary components had a lower risk of prostate cancer. Tomatoes and its products - such as tomato juice and baked beans - were shown to be most beneficial, with an 18 per cent re-

duction in risk found in men eating over 10 portions a week. This is thought to be due to lycopene, an antioxidant which fights off toxins that can cause DNA and cell damage. "Our findings suggest that tomatoes

may be important in prostate cancer prevention. However, further studies need to be conducted to confirm our findings, especially through human trials," said Vanessa Er, from the School of Social and Community Medicine at the University of Bristol, who led the research. The researchers also looked at the recommendations on physical activity, diet and body weight for cancer prevention published by the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) and the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR). -PTI

September 5, 2014

Health Science Post

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New tool maps how drug Govt planning Innovation abuse affects brain Health Fund WASHINGTON: Scientists have developed a laser-based imaging tool to map how drug abuse disrupts blood flow to the brain. A new method for measuring and imaging how quickly blood flows in the brain could help doctors and researchers better understand how drug abuse affects the brain, which may aid in improving braincancer surgery and tissue engineering, and

Using their new and improved methods, the team was able to observe exactly how cocaine affects the tiny blood vessels in a mouse's brain lead to better treatment options for recovering drug addicts. Researchers from Stony Brook University in New York, and the US National Institutes of Health, demonstrated their technique by using a laser-based method of measuring how cocaine disrupts blood flow

in the brains of mice. The resulting images are the first of their kind that directly and clearly document such effects, according to co-author Yingtian Pan, associate professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Stony Brook University. "We show that quantitative flow imaging can provide a lot of useful physiological and functional information that we haven't had access to before," he said. Drugs such as cocaine can cause aneurysm - like bleeding and strokes, but the exact details of what happens to the brain's blood vessels have remained elusive - partly because current imaging tools are limited in what they can see, Pan said. But using their new and improved methods, the team was able to observe exactly how cocaine affects the tiny blood vessels in a mouse's brain. The images show that after 30 days of chronic cocaine injection or even after just repeated acute injection of cocaine, there's a dramatic drop in blood flow speed. The researchers were, for the first time, able to identify cocaine-induced microischemia, when blood flow is shut down - a precursor to a stroke. -PTI

NEW DELHI: With the need to making health care affordable and accessible to all, Union Health Secretary Lov Verma has said the Government is considering to set up an 'Innovation Health Fund' under the national health policy. "New systems will be put in place in the National Health Policy and the Government may even consider setting up an Innovation Health Fund," he said at 'FICCI Heal 2014' function here. Verma also urged the industry to compile best practices and innovations of the industry and submit it to the Ministry for consideration. Speaking on various innovations in the health sector, he said that the color coded linen in hospitals is a simple method of differentiating various linen, hence reducing the risk of cross-infection. The coding should be followed by hospitals right up to district level health care centers, he suggested. "Ayush is another initiative of the Government which has the potential but has not been utilized to its full capacity till now. There is great scope for popularizing alternative medicine and mainstreaming it with general medicine," he said. The Secretary also dwelt on the importance of Electronic Health Records (EHRs) and appreciated FICCI for supporting the government in this initiative. Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director-SEARO, World Health Organization (WHO), emphasized the need for innovation to make health care affordable and accessible to all.

"There is the need for innovations in developing new drugs, vaccines and diagnostics. Then there is the 'Health Systems' innovation need such as the use of technologies such as mobile phones by health workers for patient referrals, event reporting and disease surveillance. "Similarly, further innovation is needed

"Ayush is another initiative of the Government which has the potential but has not been utilized to its full capacity till now. There is great scope for popularizing alternative medicine and mainstreaming it with general medicine" in tele-health for tele-consultations and their scale up is quite clear. And finally there is need for 'Household' level innovations that should bring better health to people by themselves and their community efforts but supported by innovative approaches that are sustainable," she said. Speaking on the occasion, Dr A Didar Singh, Secretary General, FICCI said, "We propose to create a virtual pooling of industry CSR funds by creating IISH (Indian Industry in Solidarity for Health) Kosh to channels funds into priority area in health care identified by the government." -PTI

India among top 3 in Asia medical tourism MUMBAI: India is placed among the top three medical tourism destinations in Asia, mainly due to the low cost of treatment, quality healthcare infrastructure and availability of highly-skilled doctors, says a study. "Within Asia, India, Thailand and Singapore are the three countries that receive maximum medical tourists owing to low cost of treatment, quality healthcare infrastructure, and availability of highlyskilled doctors. "These three countries together accounted for about 60 per cent of the total Asian revenue in 2012," the report Medical Value Travel in India by KPMG and FICCI said. The research was conducted in India and other Asian countries and interviewed public sector stakeholders and domestic company heads or CEOs of renowned hospitals between July and August 2014. Estimated at USD 78.6 billion as of 2012, the sector has emerged as one of the largest sectors in India and is poised to grow at an annual rate of 15 per cent to reach

about USD 158.2 billion by 2017, it said. It pointed out that Asian countries have introduced various marketing strategies to attract medical tourists. In the past few years, Asia has taken the lead as one of the most preferred destination for medical value travel. Primary growth levers in this regard include low priced treatment options, availability of variety of treatments, improved infrastructure in terms of healthcare facilities and attractive locations for spending time after treatment. While Thailand positions itself as a dual purpose destination for both medical and economic holiday with an attractive location, Singapore promotes itself as a destination for fine quality in medical treatment. India is known mostly for its cost-effective medical treatments along with high standards in cardiology, orthopedics, nephrology, oncology and neuro surgery, it said. The country is also known for its alternative treatment options such as yoga and ayurveda, it said. -PTI

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Rural ministry for doubling allocation to villagers NEW DELHI: The Union Rural Development Ministry has suggested doubling the amount of financial assistance offered to villagers to build homes saying the current allocation of Rs 70,000 was "insufficient". A paper on National Gramin Awaas Mission (GRAM) prepared by the ministry on housing said the amount should be Rs 1.5 lakh. "At present the unit assistance is found to be insufficient. Unit assistance needs to be increased to Rs 1.5 lakh or so in plain areas or a little higher in difficult /hilly areas with the toilet becoming an integral part of the house," says the discussion on GRAM, a rechristened version of Indira Awas Yojana. At present, unit assistance is Rs 70,000 (Rs 75,000 in difficult areas).-PTI

Â&#x201E; DLF asked to pay Rs 4.5 lakh to client NEW DELHI: A real estate firm has been directed to pay over Rs 4.5 lakh to a woman after being found guilty of wrongly taking around Rs 1.5 lakh from her on the basis of forged papers by a consumer forum here which said it was a clear case of "extortion" and "cheating". The New Delhi Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, presided by C K Chaturvedi, asked DLF New Gurgaon Homes Developers Pvt Ltd to pay Rs 4,49,720 with interest to Delhi resident Shilpi Gaur and said the case attracted "criminal liability" and "investigation". Gaur had booked an apartment in the firm's upcoming project 'New Town Height' in Gurgaon in 2008, by paying over Rs 28 lakh but after she learnt that no construction was going on at the site, she sought the refund. Though the money was refunded by the firm, it deducted Rs 1,49,720 as brokerage amount.-PTI

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Ohio official warns of driveway paving scams COLUMBUS, Ohio: Ohio's attorney general says residents should be on the lookout for driveway paving and contractor scams. Attorney General Mike DeWine's office reports it has received more than 60 complaints involving asphalt, concrete or paving since June. In half of the complaints, consumers reported the transactions began with a doorto-door visit.-AP

PE investment in real estate to cross Rs 12,000 crore NEW DELHI: Private equity investment in real estate sector jumped over two-fold to Rs 4,100 crore in the first six months of 2014 and is likely to cross Rs 12,000 crore by end of the year. According to a report by property consultant Cushman & Wakefield, the PE investment in the sector was Rs 6,450 crore in 2013. The consultant noted that there is an increase in interest globally in committing funds for Indian real estate through private equity. The funds are being raised mainly for housing projects and leased office purchases. "Private Equity (PE) investment in real estate in India is likely to exceed Rs 12,000 crore (about USD 2 billion) by the end of 2014," C&W said. The first six months witnessed PE investments in realty sector of about Rs 4,100 crore, and the consultant expects it to be about Rs 7,900 crore in the second half. "The total investment in first half of 2014 was more than double the investment in the first half of 2013 at Rs 1,650 crore. This is also the highest levels of investments in the first half of the year since H1 2009," C&W said. Of the total PE inflows in the first half, housing segment accounted for nearly 60 per cent at Rs 2,357 crore. Office assets contributed Rs 1,435 crore and retail Rs 300 crore. "In the residential asset class, private equity funds are now being viewed favorably by develop-

ers as PE money is being used for de-risking projects and as strategic long term partnerships for further expansion and development," C&W said. Total number of deals in the first

est levels of transaction activity in the first half with investments of Rs 2,005 crore, a sharp increase from Rs 103 crore in the year-ago period. Mumbai received a PE invest-

half of 2014 increased to 28 compared to 13 in the year-ago period. Average deal size increased by 16 per cent to Rs 146 crore. Bengaluru witnessed the high-

ment of Rs 1,140 crore, while transaction volumes in NCR and Pune were recorded at Rs 580 crore and Rs 167 crore, respectively, during H1 2014.

C&W Executive Managing Director South Asia Sanjay Dutt said: "Clarity in the governance process and the advent of a stable government with BJP winning elections with a thumping majority at the centre will be critical to the stability of the investment market." Stating that PE investment is largely towards commercial office space with high occupancies or for residential projects as construction capital, Dutt said this trend is expected to continue for the rest of the year. "There is high liquidity being committed from both domestic and offshore investors," C&W said. Many sovereign and pension funds are also committing funds to Indian real estate, like All Pensions Group, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, Qatar Investment Authority, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, State General Reserve Fund of Oman and GIC of Singapore, through fund managers. -PTI

REITs will help in reviving core sectors KOCHI: Sebi's decision to allow setting up of Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) is expected to go a long way in reviving the core sector of the economy, including the vital cement and steel sectors, a senior official of the market regulator has said. Addressing a conference organized by CII here, Ananta Barua, Executive Director, Sebi said, "the Real Estate Investment Trust is a concept that has been prevailing around the world in different forms. The entity should have minimum capitalization of Rs 500 crore". "Initially, we were planning

to put the minimum capital base of Rs 1,000 crore. However, after a series of discussions, we decided to bring it down to Rs 500

lakh. These units would be listed on stock exchanges and traded like stocks or mutual funds. "These units would be

He said the Trust could invest in multiple properties and function on the lines of Mutual funds. Investors could pick up units with a minimum face value of Rs 1 lakh crore", he said. He said the Trust could invest in multiple properties and function on the lines of Mutual funds. Investors could pick up units with a minimum face value of Rs 1

highly liquid and investors could benefit from capital appreciation," he added. The trusts could invest in a single property or multiple properties, he said. -PTI

Real Estate Post

September 5, 2014

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Blighted homes to become French immersion housing ARNAUDVILLE, La.: A project called Les Deux Mondes - two worlds - is slowly coming to life in Arnaudville. The project will provide guest cottages to visitors and students coming into the area as part of Arnaudville's French immersion program. It is the brainchild of Tony Adrian of Leonville and Matt Henrich of Sunset. A narrow street behind Russell's Food Center was already home to four rundown properties and the pair have brought in three more. They don't look like much now. Workers are still adding roofs to the two of the structures. But Adrian said they should be ready for occupancy by Jan. 1. ``This was a distressed area for years,'' said Adrian, who said the four existing houses had become home to squatters and vagrants. ``I'm told there was a lot of drug activity and general rowdiness going on,'' he said. ``People say they were afraid to even come out of their houses.'' The squatters had also turned the area that borders Bayou Teche into a trash dump. ``We have already removed four dump-truck loads of trash,'' Adrian said, pointing to piles of trash waiting to be carried away. He said he and his business partner are working with designers from Baton Rouge to restore the houses, all of which date from the 1920s or before, and turn them

into a showplace of which Arnaudville can be proud. Adrian said he and Henrich are followers of the philosophy espoused by Eddie Cazayoux, former

He said he and his business partner are working with designers from Baton Rouge to restore the houses, all of which date from the 1920s or before, and turn them into a showplace of which Arnaudville can be proud director of the University of Louisiana's School of Architecture and now head of EnvironMental Design in Lafayette. ``He is all about sustainable architecture,'' Adrian said. ``His philosophy is, Don't tear it down - fix it up and build on it.'' Adrian knows the benefits of that philosophy firsthand. He and his wife, Marie Bossard, live in a Cazayoux-designed house that requires no electrical lines. That is exactly what he and Henrich plan to do with these houses. ``These are all still structurally sound,'' he said. The pair will not just restore the buildings but also enhance, in-

Panel rejects new fee for solar homes in Utah SALT LAKE CITY: Advocates of renewable energy are hailing the rejection of Rocky Mountain Power's request for a new fee for residential rooftop solar panels in Utah. They're calling the Utah Public Service Commission's decision a victory for clean air and energy as well as consumer choice. Rocky Mountain wanted to charge residential customers with solar panels a $4.65 monthly fee to cover its distribution costs of energy for times when solar is not putting power in the grid. But the commission ruled the utility failed to prove the fee was justified. ``What a bright day for Utah's future,'' said Sarah Wright, executive director of Utah Clean Energy. ``This order protects energy choice in Utah, and recognizes the potential solar has to benefit all Utahns.'' The utility hopes the commis-

sion revisits the issue, Rocky Mountain spokesman Dave Eskelsen said. The company argues such residential customers are not paying their fair share of its fixed costs to maintain the power system. ``It is a little disappointing that the commission did not take at least an interim step,'' he told The Salt Lake Tribune. ``We understand that emotions are running high. We look forward to participating in the accumulation of more information.'' Only Arizona and Georgia currently charge residential rooftop solar customers a monthly fee to help cover a utility's fixed costs, the Desert News reported. At the same time, the commission approved a 1.9 percent rate increase for all residential customers that will boost monthly bills by an average of $1.76. The increase is expected to net the utility $35 million in the next year.-AP

stalling solar panels so they will draw only minimally on local utilities. ``They will be extremely well insulated and energy efficient,'' Adrian said. He added that the pair, who met casually a few years ago at one of the events hosted by Arnaudville's NUNUs Arts and Culture Collective, makes a good fit. ``We are both environmentalists. I have the construction and restoration experience and Matt has some experience as a landlord,'' Adrian said. ``I knew Matt wanted to put his money into something tangible. This is an opportunity for us to invest in the community. I can't think of a better community to invest in.'' He said the pair is serious about that investment. It's contracting with local carpenters and buying as many fixtures and building supplies as they can from local sources. One element that at-

tracted the pair to the site was is border along the bayou, now part of a national paddling trail. Adrian and Henrich have worked out an arrangement with

`We are both environmentalists. I have the construction and restoration experience and Matt has some experience as a landlord,'' Adrian said. ``I knew Matt wanted to put his money into something local business owners who can rent kayaks to visitors and bicycles to visiting students so they won't need to use cars.

In addition to working with designers, they are also cooperating with the state's Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to upgrade the bayou area. They have brought in tons of fill dirt to turn the land between the houses and the bayou into a miniature garden, with traditional plants, trees and bushes with flowers and fruit. Ardian said that is important, because each house will get a new porch facing the bayou. ``That is the way it used to be done. We are designing these to look like houses used to look in the 1920s and '30s. We want this to remind people of the past,'' Adrian said. Although most of the cottages will be available to rent individually, he said, he plans to outfit one of the larger ones with multiple beds _ perfect for visiting student groups that take part in the town's French immersion program.-AP

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September 5, 2014

City Palace

ota is an inviting tourist destination on the banks of the Chambal River and is one of the most dynamic and picturesque cities in the state of Rajasthan. Historians put the date of establishing Kota in the 12th cen tury as a part of Malwa Plateau. The basic foundation of the Kota city was laid in 1264 AD after the Rajputs took over the place from a local tribal chief. With grandeur, rich heritage and history, Kota rulers were known for their legendary deeds and wars fought with Mughal emperors. A monument of Rajput culture and gallantry, Kota is renowned for its splendid heritage. Kota's coat of arms was highly accomplished for its marvelous design, which is displayed in museums in Kota. The coat design was a masterpiece with winged Garuda as the base. Attractive temples with many legendary stories behind, historical forts and imposing palaces with Rajput architectural styles are all housed in the landscape of Kota. Modern Kota is an industrial town with most modern and luxurious amnesties. The major attractions in Kota are the ancient temples. One of the great temples in the locality is Kansua temple enshrining Lord Shiva with a unique feature of four faces. One of the best museums in Rajasthan is located in Kota and is a place most visited by tourists viewing the ancient and historical artifacts of Rajasthan. Animated miniature paintings are marvelous attractions of this museum. Kota is famous for textile weaving, impressive handicrafts, cosmetic items, oilseed and cotton milling, distilleries and dairy products. Famous Doria Saris originated from the weaving mills of Kota and it is the only place where one can get best of these saris. Metal handicrafts are specialty items of Kota's skilled artists. Kota is also very popular for the Victorian style buildings adapted from the British. Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 42

ahal da M Abhe

September 5, 2014

Travel & Hospitality Post

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Foreign tourist arrivals in Kerala rise by 8 pc JAIPUR: Over 8.58 lakh foreign tourists visited Kerala in 2013, marking a growth of 8.12 per cent from last year, a top Kerala Tourism official said here. Foreign tourist arrivals went up from over 7.94 lakh in 2012 to over 8.58 lakh in 2013 registering an increase of 8.12 per cent, T V Anupama, Additional Director (General), Kerala Tourism, told reporters during a press conference here. "Foreign exchange earnings received by the tourism industry in the state went from Rs 4,571.69 crore in 2012 to Rs.5560.77 crore in 2013," she said. The domestic tourist arrivals also registered a 7.75 per cent variation with arrival going up from 10.07 cr in 2012 to 10.08 cr in 2013, she said, adding, Kerala gets over 5 lakh tourists from Rajasthan

alone every year. She also informed reporters that Kerala and United National World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) have signed an MOU for "spice route revival project" to promote the two millennia-old spice route that links the south western coast of India to Europe through tourism. The Muziris Heritage Site (MHS) stretches across from the municipality of North Paravur in Ernakulum district to that of Kodungallor in Thrissur district. Project's objective is to promote awareness and understanding of the cultural distinctiveness and diversity of Muziris. More than 25 museums will be there to showcase the Muziris Heritage, she said. "Kerala Tourism has also come out with a unique nature based soft-adventure holiday program Natventure," she said. -PTI

Group trips across Grand Canyon will need permit FLAGSTAFF, Ariz.: Groups of hikers and runners who want to do grueling excursions across the Grand Canyon will soon need a permit -a move officials say will cut back on overcrowding, litter and safety issues at the popular tourist attraction in Arizona. The permit requirement begins on Sept. 15 and involves any group that publicly advertises a trip from rim to rim. The trips take visitors 21 miles over steep, rocky and winding terrain, with elevation changes of a few thousand feet and temperature variances of more than 20 degrees. The park has no limit on the number of one-day permits it will issue. The $175 fee will help park officials educate visitors about trail etiquette and free up rangers to respond to life-threatening injuries, Grand Canyon spokeswoman Maureen Oltrogge said.

She said people have abandoned gear, left litter on trails and crowded restrooms near the Colorado River, sometimes with little regard for fellow visitors.

``People might not be thinking about the impact to others,'' she said. ``Everyone comes to the canyon generally with a different idea of how they're going to experience it.''

The permit requirement comes as Grand Canyon National Park is revising its backcountry management plan and will be in place until that plan is issued sometime next year. Each group can obtain a single permit each day for up to 30 people. At least one member must be certified in wilderness or emergency medical response and CPR, and there must be general liability insurance. The rim-to-rim excursions are most popular in May and October, and officials said hikers and runners must be able to complete them within 24 hours. The traffic on Bright Angel, South Kaibab and North Kaibab trails can include as many as 600 hikers and runners headed across the canyon.-AP

Wi-fi hot spots in cities, tourist centers soon NEW DELHI: The Department of Telecom (DoT) is working on a mechanism to provide wi-fi hot spots in cities with population of over 10 lakh and in tourist centers. The DoT has held meetings recently with telecom operators for the scheme. It has not been decided if the service will be free or chargeable, sources said. "We are planning to provide wi-

powered knowledge economy. The program includes projects that aim to ensure that government services are available to citizens electronically and people get benefit of the latest information and communication technology. The program will be implemented in phases from the current year till 2018. The vision of government un-

fi hot spots in cities with a population of over 1 million and in tourist centers. Meetings have been held with telcos regarding the same but we are yet to take a call if it will be a free or chargeable service," the source added. The scheme is part of Digital India program, which has been approved by the government. The program comprises various projects worth about Rs 1 lakh crore to transform the country into a digitally em-

der Digital India project includes creation of ICT infrastructure like high speed Internet at gram panchayat level, on demand availability of government services like health, education etc, and digital empowerment of citizens specially through digital literacy. The program will be monitored by a committee headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) will accord approval for projects. -PTI

St Xavier exposition on India's tourism calendar PANAJI: The sacred exposition of relics of St Francis Xavier to be held in Goa this year-end will be a part of the Indian Tourism calendar, Union Minister Shripad Naik said here. "The exposition of the relics is supported by us. We will provide all the possible financial help for the event," Naik told reporters here. He said the event would be promoted in a big way and it would be part of the Tourism Ministry's campaign. "We will promote the event in the country and also abroad," Naik added. The decennial exposition will be celebrated from November 22, 2014 to January 4, 2015 at Old Goa, nine kms away from here.

Pope's Ambassador to India Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio will be present for the concluding mass of the once-a decade celebration. Francis Xavier, a Basque, was born in Spain on April 7, 1506, and arrived in Goa on May 6, 1542. He died in December 1552 and was first laid to rest in Portuguese Malacca. Later his body was moved to the Portuguese colony at Goa, today a popular tourist enclave, and installed in the Basilica of Bom Jesus. The basilica holds the relics of the saint. Every 10 years, the relics are moved in solemn procession to the nearby Se Cathedral where they are available for public veneration for 44 days.-PTI

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KOTA

Monument of Rajput culture and gallantry Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 40

ATTRACTIONS City Palace: A confabulation of Mughal and Rajasthani architecture and art, City Palace is the monument for the glorious royal past of the Kota city. City Palace is a fantastic landmark in Kota attracting thousands of visitors every year. The palace is adorned with imposing wall paintings, mir-

pond, a habitat for crocodiles. A suspension bridge facilitating the crossing of the bridge is very attractive. Kishore Sagar: Kishore Sagar is an artificial picturesque lake dating back to 1346 constructed by the Bundi Prince Dehra Deh. It is located by the side of attractive Brij Vilas palace museum. A cute palace named as Jagmandir is lo-

Royal Cenotaphs

ror walls, mirror ceilings, hanging illuminated lights and floral decorations. Breathtaking marble floorings and walls and stylish fashioned entrance, all these make City Palace a memorable location. The attractive garden around the palace adds to the beauty of the Palace. Chambal Gardens: Chambal Garden, a beautiful garden in the backdrop of Chambal River, is a much sought picnic spot in Kota. The garden located at Amar Niwas on the softy landscape of Chambal River encloses a well maintained

cated at the heart of the museum. The enchanting palace is a red sandstone monument of the grandeur days of Kota. Reflections of the exquisite palace walls and domes in the azure water of the Kishore Sagar Lake are breathtaking.

Kota Railway station

Alnea: On the banks of River Alnea is a location near Kota noted for its pre-historic carvings. Many enthusiastic travelers interested in archeological sites never miss the opportunity to visit Alnea. Historians and archeologists confirm that the carvings, especially on rocks, in Alnea are of pre-historic age. The carvings are based on ancient legendary stories and using the ancient sharp tools made out of rocks and stones. Kaithoon: Kaithoon is renowned for the specialized designer hand woven saris named as Kota Doria saris. These saris are hand woven with real gold threads. Textile weaving rules this place. The majestic dress materials from Kaithoon are of high quality cotton fabrics. These are made exquisite and richer by designer fashions and embroidery with real gold and silver threads. Best time to visit is from September to March. HOW TO REACH By Train: Kota railhead lying in the main line of Delhi-Mumbai route is well connected to all major cities in India. Passenger, express and super fast train services are available from Kota to other cities. By Air: Sanganer Airport located in Jaipur is nearly 245 km from the city Kota. Jaipur airport

is connected to metro cities Mumbai and Delhi. By Bus: State buses of Rajasthan Road Transport Corporation connect Kota (Bundi road

bus station) to all other cities in Rajasthan. Kota is connected by bus to Udaipur (240 km), Ajmer (230 km), Bikaner (450 km) and Jaipur (250 km).

Boating at Chambal Garden Chambal River

September 5, 2014

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In first, memorial will be open on night of 9/11 NEW YORK: The Sept. 11 memorial plaza will be open on the night of the attacks' anniversary this year; the first time the general public will be able to visit ground zero on the commemoration date. The plaza will be closed to the public during the remembrance ceremony and much of the rest of the day, but it will open from 6 p.m. to midnight for those who want to pay respects and view one of the most evocative observances - the twin beams called the Tribute in Light - from an especially ``meaningful vantage point,'' memorial President Joe Daniels said in an email to victims' families. A symbolic shift for a site that was inaccessible to the public for years after the attacks, the plan reflects its increasing openness as more gets rebuilt. The memorial plaza, with its massive reflecting pools etched with the names of the dead, opened in 2011. But to control crowds amid construction elsewhere on the World Trade Center property, tickets and security screening were required until this spring. Since the

In this Sept. 10, 2013 file photo, the Tribute in Light rises above buildings during a test in New York

ticketed, underground memorial museum opened in May, open access has been allowed during days and evenings at the plaza, which joins the streetscape of lower Man-

hattan even as it serves as a place of remembrance protected by police and security guards. Museum officials said that security measures would be in place for the

public hours on Sept. 11 but that they couldn't disclose details. The night hours on Sept. 11 will provide visitors a solemn setting for looking at the Tribute in Light, which

first appeared on March 11, 2002, to mark the six months that had passed since the attacks. It has become a moving, quietly powerful element of the anniversaries since. It shines from a roof near the trade center, traditionally from sunset to dawn. Formed from 88 powerful bulbs positioned into two squares that echo the fallen Twin Towers, the light memorial reaches four miles skyward, according to the Municipal Art Society, a nonprofit group that orchestrates the $500,000-a-year project. The museum will be closed to the public throughout the day. The private anniversary ceremony will be held on the plaza in the morning, a tribute that has centered on reading of the names of the nearly 3,000 people killed in New York, at the Pentagon and near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, in the 2001 attacks, as well as recognizing the six people killed in the 1993 trade center bombing. ``Of course, remembering those we lost is something we do each and every day,'' Daniels noted in his message. -AP

Volunteer campground hosts important to Ohio parks COLUMBUS, Ohio: When they say they love kids, Jim and Judy Froehlich mean it. The couple from Sunbury have nine children and 32 grandchildren, yet, after his retirement from the trucking business four years ago, they had more free time than they preferred. ``When your kids grow up and move away,'' Mrs. Froehlich said, ``you don't have as much to do and don't see as many people.'' So they bought a 27-foot trailer and volunteered to become campground hosts at nearby Delaware State Park. Which explains how, on a recent Saturday morning, Mrs. Froehlich found herself near a campground shower house, surrounded by a pack of 12 rambunctious children. They played with the Froehlichs' dog, Maddy, and told Mrs. Froehlich about their plans to attend the Ohio State Fair that day. Nearby, Mr. Froehlich, 73, was cleaning up after a morning of selling coffee and doughnuts to campers - a weekly ritual much like the craft program that Mrs. Froehlich, 66, oversees on Saturday afternoons. The couple are two of about 350 campground hosts at 60 Ohio park campgrounds who voluntarily do this (and much more) in exchange for a free camping spot. Many hosts serve for months

at a time, often for the entire peak camping season - generally from Memorial Day through late September. The Froehlichs usually move their camper to the park in May and leave in October. ``It's a big commitment,'' Mrs. Froehlich said. ``You do have to love camping; that's for sure.'' She camped often when her kids were young (both Jim and Judy were married previously).

cigarette butts and beer cans out of fire rings. They fix flat bicycle tires, help set up tents or cast out snakes. ``I'm the snake man,'' said Jerry Boyle, a host at Mount Gilead State Park in Morrow County. ``When there's a snake in a cabin, I come and get them out. I'd say it happens about once a week.'' Many hosts, Hetzel-Evans said, live near the campgrounds where

Hankins, 64, of Marengo in Morrow County, said he and wife Retta, 63, camp at Delaware for a week every month in the summer. His grandsons ages 10 and 11 seek out the Strohms as soon as they arrive. Host duties vary a bit from park to park, but the heart of the job is customer service. Because they live at the campgrounds, hosts are an important resource for campers with issues or questions that arise when full-time park staff members aren't available. ``We think of them as ambassadors,'' said Heidi Hetzel-Evans, who oversees all volunteers for the Ohio State Parks division. ``They are a liaison between visitors and staff.'' As such, hosts serve as jacksof-all-trades. They clean up campsites between visitors - picking

they volunteer, camped there in the past and decided to join the program upon retirement. Most but not all are retired. At Delaware, Butch and Justine Strohm of Plymouth, in Huron County, became hosts 12 years ago, and both still work full time Justine, 55, in the Plymouth school district and Butch, 58, as a thirdshift steelworker. The Strohms camped at Delaware for years and developed a friendship with a host. When an opening for a host came up, they stepped up. ``We enjoy meeting people,'' Mr.

Strohm said. ``You watch people's kids grow up. There were triplet girls here; we got to know them over the years and were invited to their (high-school) graduation. ``The regular campers, they all know us.'' Indeed, when John Hankins and his family go to the Delaware grounds, they head for the loop where the Strohms are hosts. Hankins, 64, of Marengo in Morrow County, said he and wife Retta, 63, camp at Delaware for a week every month in the summer. His grandsons ages 10 and 11 seek out the Strohms as soon as

they arrive. ``You bond with them and actually build a relationship with them, almost like family,'' Hankins said. ``All the other camper hosts are nice, but we just got attached to Butch and Justine.'' Although they aren't required to, many hosts also help the parks financially. At Delaware, the proceeds from the coffee and doughnuts $130 on the recent Saturday - and donations at the afternoon craft program go into a fund that has been used for park improvements.-AP

Tourism ministry wants taxes cut on its products PANAJI: Union Tourism Ministry has appealed to the Finance Ministry to lower taxation on tourism products and related services, which will result in increasing footfalls in the country, Union Tourism Minister said here. "We have requested the Finance Ministry that the taxation on the tourism products and related services should be lowered so that we can attract more visitors to the country," Union Tourism Minister Shripad Naik told PTI. He said that the services like tourist taxis, hotel tariff should

have lower taxes, which will make destinations cheaper compared to international rivals. "The tax rebate can be offered to hotels so that they will have low tariffs. We have also asked the ministry to consider cutting down the visa fees. We have 100 US dollars as Visa fee while Sri Lanka charges only 25 US dollars. We need to bring visa fee at par with other world destinations," Naik said. He said that the Finance Ministry has in-principle agreed to look into the demand and lower the Visa charges. -PTI

In Brief Corpus Christi native tapped to run ICE CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas: A Corpus Christi native is poised to become the first Latina to head U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. President Barack Obama has announced he was nominating 62year-old U.S. district attorney Sarah R. Saldaña as assistant secretary of ICE. The division of the Department of Homeland Security is tasked with responding to the influx of unaccompanied children crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. The Corpus Christi CallerTimes reports that Saldaña is the youngest of seven siblings. Her nomination requires Senate approval. She won Senate confirmation in 2011 to become the first Latina serving in her current post. Previously, Saldaña was a federal prosecutor in Dallas who worked on the City Hall corruption case that sent former Dallas Mayor Pro Tem Don Hill to federal prison for 18 years. -AP

El Salvador opens consulate in South Texas McALLEN, Texas: A Texas border city at the center of the immigration surge has welcomed its fourth foreign diplomatic office. The government of El Salvador inaugurated its new consulate in McAllen here. It joins Honduras, Guatemala and Mexico in the city. From October to July, 63,000 unaccompanied children were arrested after entering the U.S. illegally, double the number from the

Immigration

Many young immigrants have benefited through DACA

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Details on page 45

Obama's delay on immigration creates uncertainty WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama's possible delay in taking action on immigration has created uncertainty among advocates and lawmakers from both parties, barely two months before the November national elections. Democrats who were bracing for the impact that Obama's longawaited announcement would have on their campaigns are now rethinking aspects of their campaign strategy. Republicans who were considering legislative attempts to block Obama must reconsider whether that's the best use of the few remaining work weeks before Election Day. And immigration advocates, already frustrated by how long it's taken Obama to act, must decide whether to pressure the President publicly to stop stalling or remain hopeful he'll give them a favorable outcome in the end. Obama in June said that by the end of the summer, he'd announce what steps he had decided to take to fix the U.S. immigration system in the absence of a legislative fix from Congress. But Obama backed away from that deadline and the White House acknowledged it was

possible the decision would slip past the end of summer. It was unclear whether any delay would be a mere matter of weeks or could push the announcement past the November elections. ``The president is determined

Reluctant to be seen as putting on the brakes for political reasons, White House officials suggested that if the decision slips past summer, it would be because of the situation on the border, not the election.

Demonstrators are arrested outside the White House in Washington on Thursday, Aug. 28, during a rally calling for President Barack Obama to stop deportations of migrants in the country illegally and to make a decision on how to provide relief for immigrant families. U.S. Park. Police said 145 people were arrested.

to take the kinds of steps that are available to him,'' said White House spokesman Josh Earnest. But he added he had no details about when that would happen.

For months, the Obama administration has been working to stem the surge of unaccompanied minors crossing into the U.S. Those numbers have declined, but offi-

cials have said the numbers could creep back up as cooler temperatures arrive. The White House has been coy about what options Obama is considering, but much of the focus has centered on steps Obama could take to defer deportations for millions of people in the U.S. illegally, effectively granting them permission to remain and work in the U.S. Republicans say that's beyond Obama's authority and even a few endangered Democrats have said Obama should look to Congress to take that step. For Democrats, who are fighting most of their toughest races this year in conservative-leaning states where Obama is unpopular, presidential action has been seen as a likely liability in the election, fueling Republican arguments that Obama is exceeding his authority and that he and Democrats are refusing to enforce immigration laws. Chris Lehane, a Californiabased Democratic strategist, said the timing of Obama's action could affect whether voters enthusiastic about immigration show up to vote. Cont'd on Page 46

Indian American indicted in visa fraud Consul Sandra Agreda greets guests at the opening of the El Salvador Consulate in McAllen. El Salvador also has consulates in Houston and Dallas.

same period a year earlier. Another 63,000 families - mothers or fathers with young children - were arrested during that October-to-July period. Children from El Salvador accounted for about a quarter of those unaccompanied children. Those arrests have slowed, however. Arrests of children traveling alone and children and parents traveling together dropped by about half in July from the previous month and the downward trend appears to have continued in August. -AP

WASHINGTON: A 30-yearold Indian American businessman has been indicted on charges for exploiting a US visa program to fraudulently raise approximately USD 160 million from nearly 290 Chinese nationals who invested in the project while seeking US residency. Chicago-based Anshoo Sethi, who purported to be building a USD 912 million hotel and convention center complex near O'Hare International Airport, was charged with eight counts of wire fraud and two counts of making false statements in a 10-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury. The indictment filed before a Chicago-court seeks forfeiture of at least USD 11 million in admin-

istrative fees that Sethi allegedly collected from Chinese investors and expended as part of the fraud scheme. Sethi, the founder and a managing member of A Chicago Convention Center LLC, misappropriated at least USD 320,000 of the fees to purchase luxury goods for

expenses, according to the indictment. The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) sued Sethi over the purported project in early 2013 and the case was settled earlier this year. Approximately USD 147 million, which had been escrowed by

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) sued Sethi over the purported project in early 2013 and the case was settled earlier this year. himself, his family, and friends, and for an unrelated civil lawsuit settlement to fund a cosmetic surgery business, and for other personal

Sethi and frozen by the SEC, was returned to Chinese investors. According to the indictment, Sethi solicited Chinese nationals

who were interested in obtaining EB-5 visas to invest USD 500,000 each plus a USD 41,500 administrative fee in A Chicago Convention Center and the Intercontinental Regional Center. He said that the USD 500,000 would be used for construction of the complex and the USD 41,500 would be used for administrative and marketing expenses, the indictment alleges. Under current US laws, foreign nationals get green card or permanent residency if they invest USD 1 million, or at least USD 500,000 in a domestic project in a high unemployment or rural area and their investment would create or preserve at least 10 jobs for US workers. Cont'd on Page 46

Immigration Post

September 5, 2014

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Many young immigrants have benefited through DACA MICHELLE S. VELASCO

ugust 15 marked the twoyear anniversary of the implementation of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The policy was announced through a memorandum by then Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano on June 15, 2012. The Memo directed the heads of Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS), and Immigration and Customs Enforcement

• The new version of Form I821D (6/4/2014 edition) • Form I-765 • Form I-765 Worksheet • Submit the $465 fee for the employment authorization application • Submit only new documents involving removal proceedings or criminal history that was not previously provided to USCIS (Note: USCIS does not require previously submitted documentation establishing the applicant's DACA eligibility)

ICE and USCIS released their renewal processes in February and early June, respectively. ICE had begun issuing DACA to eligible immigrants in removal proceedings prior to August 15, 2012 (ICE) to implement DHS's decision to grant deferred action, and employment authorization, to certain eligible individuals who entered the U.S. when they were younger than 16 years old. Now, nearly two years have passed since DHS began accepting applications for the program on August 15, 2012. DACA recipients who were among the first to apply and receive DACA and employment authorization must now undergo the process of renewing their DACA. ICE and USCIS released their renewal processes in February and early June, respectively. ICE had begun issuing DACA to eligible immigrants in removal proceedings prior to August 15, 2012, when USCIS began accepting applications. To be eligible for DACA renewal, the recipient must (1) not have departed from the U.S. on or after August 15, 2012 without advance parole; (2) have continuously resided in the U.S. since the first DACA approval; and (3) not have been convicted of a felony, significant misdemeanor, or three or more misdemeanors, and does not otherwise pose a threat to national safety or public safety. The renewal process for ICEgranted and USCIS-granted DACA recipients is the same: Complete and submit the following forms:

USCIS has advised DACA recipients to renew approximately 120 days (4 months), but no more than 150 days (5 months), before their current DACA grant expires. USCIS also anticipates that in the event it cannot process the submitted applications before the initial DACA expires, it might issue extensions of the initial DACA to prevent any lapse in time before the renewal is approved. Since its implementation, DACA has been granted to over 550,000 recipients, according to

cil recently published a study of the economic impact of DACA on the recipients. The study found that through DACA, many young immigrants have benefited economically through such activities as obtaining new jobs, getting driver's licenses, and opening bank accounts. We can also imagine what has been the psychological impact on these young immigrants of coming out of hiding and being able to be productive members of American society and the American workforce. They have experienced the excitement of receiving an approval notice and the much sought after work permit, then a valid Social Security Number and card, and then oftentimes a State Identification Document in the form of an ID or driver's license. Though it has undoubtedly bettered the lives of half a million recipients, DACA has been a double-edged sword. While it provides recipients protection from removal from the U.S. and allows them to work legally, DACA is still far less than what these young immigrants would have received from the government had the DREAM Act or Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR) passed in Congress. The DREAM Act would have granted a way for eligible young

DACA has provided more than half a million young immigrants security from removal and a means to work lawfully in the U.S. The DACA recipients, sometimes also called Dreamers, can now live openly and work USCIS statistics released on March 2014. DACA has provided more than half a million young immigrants security from removal and a means to work lawfully in the U.S. The DACA recipients, sometimes also called Dreamers, can now live openly, work, and contribute to their own and their families' wellbeing. The economic and social repercussions of this have not yet been fully studied or revealed, though the American Immigration Coun-

immigrants to apply for permanent residence, and therefore, lawful status. S.744, the CIR bill passed by the U.S. Senate on June 27, 2013, and that has since stalled in the House of Representatives, included stipulations for the implementation of the DREAM Act's provisions. In contrast, DACA is only granted for two years, and DACA recipients must renew before the expiration of their deferred action and work permits. Moreover, DACA recipients do not have

lawful status in the U.S. (although they do not accrue unlawful presence upon the grant of DACA since they are still authorized to remain), and there is no direct pathway to permanent residency or U.S. citizenship. One limitation that some DACA recipients face is getting a driver's license. Until recently, two states, Arizona and Nebraska, refused to grant driver's licenses to DACA recipients. The Ninth Circuit, on July 7, 2014, struck down Arizona's law that denied driver's licenses to DACA recipients. Arizona Dream Act Coalition v. Brewer, No. 13-16248, WL 3029759 (9th Cir. July 7, 2014). This much-maligned law was put in place as soon as DACA was first announced in the summer of 2012. Governor Jan Brewer issued Executive Order 2012-06 "Re-Affirming Intent of Arizona Law In

Response to the Federal Government's Deferred Action Program," August 15, 2012, directing Arizona state agencies to design rules to prevent DACA recipients from becoming eligible to obtain state identification such as driver's licenses. Arizona's Department of Transportation's Motor Vehicle Decision changed its requirements for state identification eligibility such that Employment Authorization Documents (EADs or work permits) with the DACA category code of (c)(33) would not be accepted as proof that the license or ID applicant's presence was authorized in the U.S. Five DACA recipients living in Arizona, along with the Arizona Dream Act Coalition, filed suit to stop Arizona from enforcing its policy. Cont'd on Page 46

PRADEEP ROY-SINGH B.A. LL.B. M.B.A. J.D. Attorney-at-Law

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Obama's delay on immigration Bernalillo County changes immigration-check policy creates uncertainty Cont'd from Page 44

``All of these elections are going to be so laser-tight - 5,000 votes one way or the other - that at some level, what's out there at the broader, national level at election time could push things over the edge,'' Lehane said. Obama's timing could affect congressional action on a mustpass spending bill to fund government operations into December. Congress is expected to make that its first order of business when lawmakers return from their summer recess in early September. A number of Republicans have raised the possibility of using that legislation to block Obama from expanding deportation deferrals or granting work permits to those here illegally. Such a move would set up a confrontation between the Republican-controlled House of Representatives and the Democratic-controlled Senate that raises the specter of a government shutdown, which would likely be blamed on Republicans and could hurt their prospects in November. Sen. Marco Rubio, a Florida Republican, has been urging Obama not to act alone on immigration, and warned the president

in a letter that doing so would imperil prospects for overhauling immigration laws after the election. Rubio's spokesman, Alex Conant, called the apparent delay a positive sign and one he hoped Obama would make permanent.

House. Kica Matos of the Fair Immigration Reform Movement said that after spending months keeping the pressure on Obama, the group had been shifting into preparations for the announcement itself. Now, Matos said, ex-

Demonstrators outside the White House

``It appears that the White House made a short-term political calculation that this was bad for them in the midterms,'' Conant said. Immigration advocates were taken aback by word of the potential delay, having been given no advance warning by the White

hausted advocates will have to keep up the pressure to ensure Obama doesn't get cold feet and call off the announcement altogether. ``They say they're going to move forward, then somebody goes boo and then they hide,'' Matos said. -AP

Many young immigrants have benefited through DACA Cont'd from Page 45

The Ninth Circuit found that the law violated the Equal Protection Clause and there was no rational basis for the Arizona government's policy. The decision hinged on Arizona's refusal to accept as proof of "authorized presence" in the U.S. an EAD based on DACA category (c)(33) work while they continued to accept EADs based on (c)(9) and (c)(10) categories, which respectively correspond to applicants for adjustment of status and applicants for cancellation of removal. The Ninth Circuit systematically rejected each of Arizona's arguments that it had a legitimate state interest in upholding the policy. Initially the Court rejected Arizona's argument that (c) (9) and (c) (10) noncitizens could demonstrate authorized presence in the U.S. while (c) (33) could not. Putting aside the nonsensical use of the term "authorized presence" which holds no actual meaning in immigration law, Arizona conflates the immigration con-

cepts of unlawful presence and unlawful status - two very different things. Unlawful presence is used in determining admissibility under the 3- and 10-year bars, while a noncitizen not in lawful status may be authorized to stay in the U.S. The Court's clearly did not make that mistake: "Employment Authorization Documents

The Ninth Circuit systematically rejected each of Arizona's arguments that it had a legitimate state interest in upholding the policy merely "tied" to the potential for relief [i.e. (c) (9) and (c) (10) categories] do not indicate that the document holder has current federally authorized presence, as Arizona law expressly requires." Arizona Dream Act Coalition, at *9.

Moreover, the Court found that Arizona's other four arguments also could not hold up against a rational basis test. Arizona could not show it might have to issue licenses to 80,000 unauthorized immigrants (less than 15,000 Arizona residents have applied for DACA). DACA recipients cannot access state or federal benefits using a driver's license alone. Though the DACA program might be canceled at any time and DACAs could lose their authorized stay, the same could occur to (c) (9) and (c) (10) noncitizens whose corresponding applications are denied. Therefore, these arguments also do not pass the rational basis test. The Court went on and mentioned that additionally, Arizona's policy "appears intended to express animus toward DACA recipients themselves, in part because of the federal government's policy toward them." Id. at *25. The court pointedly stated: "Such animus, however, is not a legitimate state interest." Id. To be continued

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.: New Mexico's most populous county no longer will keep inmates in jail while their immigration status is being checked if there's no order to keep them in custody for other reasons once they've posted bail. Bernalillo County officials said the new policy means the county won't keep inmates confined at the Metropolitan Detention Center merely on the basis of a request from immigration authorities. County Attorney Randy Autio said the policy change is a result of court rulings around the country, the Albuquerque Journal reported. ``We can't violate somebody's rights for the convenience of another agency,'' Autio said. Autio said the county will still notify Immigration and Customs Enforcement if there's been a release order. ``If this person is truly a danger to the community, we want ICE to take action,'' he said. County Commissioner Wayne Johnson expressed concern about the policy change. The county's old practice was in place for years without problems, he said. Federal immigration authorities are overloaded, ``and we're not

helping that situation potentially,'' Johnson said. ``This just seemed like a dangerous time to be changing that policy.'' Commissioner Maggie Hart Stebbins said the change was correct.

County Attorney Randy Autio said the policy change is a result of court rulings around the country, the Albuquerque Journal reported. ``Courts around the county have been ruling that these voluntary ICE holds are unconstitutional,'' she said. The New Mexico Association of Counties has urged local jails to consider their release policies in light of the court decisions, Autio said. Dona Ana County earlier this summer made a policy change similar to what Bernalillo County is doing. -AP

Indian American indicted in visa fraud Cont'd from Page 44

Each Chinese national who invested USD 541,500 in the project also applied for an EB-5 visa with US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), but no EB-5 visas were actually granted to investors through the convention cen-

Sethi also allegedly falsely represented that that the State of Illinois and the federal government were investing funds and providing tax credits for the project ter project, federal investigative agencies said. The indictment alleges that Sethi falsely represented that the project had executed franchise agreements with established hotel brands, namely Hyatt,

Starwood, and Intercontinental Hotel Group, to operate at least three separate hotels at the complex, knowing at the time that no such agreements existed. Sethi also allegedly falsely represented that that the State of Illinois and the federal government were investing funds and providing tax credits for the project, including circulating a forged letter stating that the project qualified for financing through the Illinois Finance Authority. He also falsely represented that the City of Chicago had agreed to provide approximately USD 97 million through Tax Increment Financing and distributed a fake agreement and a fake city ordinance as evidence that the project had been approved for TIF financing, the indictment alleges. Sethi further falsely represented that the USD 41,500 administrative fee was fully refundable if the investors' EB-5 visas were not approved, even though he knew that he had spent nearly all of the administrative fees collected and did not have the resources to repay the investors.-PTI

Mehroom, a winner, proudly shows her medals

47 India Post

www.indiapost.com

September 5, 2014

Pics : Preeti Verma Lal

PREETI VERMA LAL

f you throw a dart on the world map, it probably will not fall on a village called Bichola. Zoom a little, you'll find Anoopshahr. Zoom further and you'll know that it falls within Bulandhshahr district of Uttar Pradesh. Now, scrape the skin of the feudal heartland. Within its everyday banality, it packs a heavy dose of feudalism and rowdiness - it is a bane to be born a girl, not many dreams grow on its silken loam, poverty smothers joy, its mien so feral that

founder of Pardada Paradadi School (PPES), released green and yellow balloons in the sky, hundreds wearing tees with Aao Sath Chale (Come, let's walk together), emblazoned in white, ran through the sleepy village which was waking from Saturday slumber. There was no dress code. Few girls wore salwar kurtas, a few women in saris, some men had no shoes, some did not even know what 'marathon' is. But when the loudspeak-

The half marathon was organized to promote girl child education and create awareness about health

Asian marathon champion Sunita Godara with Virendra Sam Singh, founder of PPES

Participants prep themselves before India's first rural half marathon

men carry guns to protect themselves. The most glaring is gender inequality in a brazenly macho world where, until recently, not many dared challenge this hereditary feudal claptrap. August 31, 2014. That one morning, on the dusty streets of Bichola, during India's first rural marathon (half marathon), girls, boys, amateur and professional runners ran to promote child education and raise awareness for health. At 6 am, when Arjuna Awardee Sunita Godara, the 1992 Asian Marathon Champion flagged the race and Virendra Sam Singh,

ers blared rang de basanti and chak de India songs and strangers egged them on with throaty bhaag milkha bhaag repetitively, the runners forgot their harsh realities. And ran. Swiftly. Not merely to win. More importantly, to fly free like birds. To break shackles of male/female stereotypes. To muster self confidence. To believe that dreams are real. They can. The half marathon was held under the aegis of PPES, which, since 2000, has been working towards improving the lives of rural girls/women through education, employment and empowerment. Cont'd on Page 49

49 India Post

September 5, 2014 www.indiapost.com

Our ancient sages were engineers too! NEW DELHI: Ancient yogis and sages were not just medical healers but also systems scientists and systems engineers, who saw the body and the universe as interconnected engineering system, says email inventor V A Shiva Ayyadurai who has done pioneering research in this field. Last week, Ayyadurai presented at Sages and Scientists Conference in California his paper, which validates scientific foundation of Ayurveda and Siddha. The paper is being published in the International Journal of Systems of Systems Engineering. According to him Ayurveda and Siddha were designed to be proactive to protect and strengthen the body before illness set in. "They are about living a proper lifestyle," 50-year-old Ayyadurai, an MIT systems scientist, technologist, entrepreneur and Chairman and CEO of CytoSolve, Inc., told PTI. In 1978, Ayyadurai invented the world's first email system at the age of 14 and was awarded the first US copyright for "email". It is the 32th anniversary of email. On August 30, 1982, the US government officially recognized Ayyadurai as the inventor of email by awarding him the first US copyright for email for his 1978 invention. He was inspired by his grand-

mother, who used to heal people in the traditional way, in undertaking the study on ancient medicine. "People sought her help for all sorts of ailments. She would pre-

scribe personalized medicine, which included particular herbs, particular massage, and mantras. I saw many people being healed by her, and as a child I was inspired

V A Shiva Ayyadurai

to become a healer," he says. Mumbai-born Ayyadurai, who left with his family at the age of seven to live in the US, came back to India in 2007 to study Indian medicine with the aim of discovering the Rosetta Stone that connected the worlds of Ayurveda and Siddha with modern scientific principles. "I discovered the foundations of Ayurveda and Siddha, and more importantly I found that all of Western control systems engineering principles had actually been discovered by the great ancient Indian sages, 5,000 years ago," he claims. Ayyadurai observed that the terminology of Ayurveda and Siddha such as Vata, Pitta, Kapha, etc. have a direct one-to-one correlation to the terminology used in control systems engineering. Our ancient yogis and sages were not just medical healers, but systems scientists and systems engineers, who saw the body and the universe as an interconnected engineering system, a system of systems that are governed by fundamental engineering systems principles," he says. Ayyadurai's paper is entitled "The Control Systems Engineering Foundation of Traditional Indian Medicine: The Rosetta Stone for Siddha and Ayurveda." "This work uncovers the scientific foun-

dation of traditional systems of Indian medicine: Siddha and Ayurveda, from core principles shared in modern control systems engineering. The discovery provides a much-needed integrative framework to develop a systems medicine that overcomes the reductionism of modern healthcare," he says. The findings provide a muchneeded integrative framework, across east and west, ancient and modern, to develop a systems medicine that overcomes the reductionism of modern healthcare, says Ayyadurai. His exposition presents the core principles of Siddha and Ayurveda in a cohesive manner and their direct relationship to the nine concepts of controls systems engineering. Ayyadurai believes that there is a need to take pro-active measures to popularize Ayurveda and Siddha in India. "Based on the current health habits, Indians are projected to have 300 million diabetic patients over the next 10-20 years. Western medicine was developed for crisis and war, such as if you got shot or wounded, to put the soldier back on the battlefield. It works well for catastrophic situations, but it is absolutely ignorant about prevention and lifestyle," he says. -PTI

Stories of Indian fighter pilots from 1971 war NEW DELHI: The heroism, gallantry, flying skills and unmovable determination displayed by Indian fighter pilots during the 1971 liberation war of Bangladesh is the subject of a new book. Recounted in third person by Dhirendra S Jafa, Wing Commander (Retd.) Indian Air Force, "Death Wasn't Painful", brought by Sage books, salutes the sacrifices made by these fighter pilots, many of whom were taken prisoners of war (POW) and spent months in Pakistani prisons before returning to India. Jafa, who himself took part in countless bombing missions in erstwhile West Pakistan, was taken a prisoner of war following the crash of his SU-7 fighter bomber aircraft near North Lahore and was awarded Vir Chakra for the unparalleled bravery displayed in the battlefield. He was lodged in the POW camp of the Pakistani Air Force at Rawalpindi, alongwith 11 other Indian fighter pilots, all of whom

had their own stories of capture, beatings, torture and injuries to tell. The book, thus, is the tale of these 12 fighter pilots in enemy captivity- their deprivations, their longings for home and families, their interactions with Pakistani military officers and civilians is recounted. It also recounts their not so latent pride in being Indians and representatives of a victorious nation, their indomitable spirit of freedom and their everyday struggles with boredom and loss of hope, while waiting behind bars in the country they had just defeated in the war. While depicting the intrepid life of fighter pilots in actual combat, the book also has an introspective side where it portrays the subtle and human reactions of soldiers when faced with the harsh realties of war- injuries, death, broken families, alienation and grief. The experiences of POWs are finely drawn. A fighter pilot's life in actual combat, where death is

but a glorious martyrdom, is juxtaposed with the tepid, monotonous and uninspiring life of prison, w h e r e brave, fearless soldiers ponder over the inevitability and futility of war. In between these rather philosophical, often gloomy monologues on the pros and cons of war, there are personalized stories of individual velour and determina-

tion shown by Indian soldiers.

Jafa and his compatriot's ability to find humor, in most unlikely situations is an added advantage, like the story of Flight Lieutenant Jawahar Lal Bhargava, "the eversmiling, every-ready-with-advice, HF-24 pilot, who had after his capture by villagers in a remote area in Sindh, successfully enjoyed their hospitality by carrying on as a downed Pakistani Pilot". Or the immediate reaction of Flight Lieutenant Harish Sinhji after the news of his release to India finally reached him: "Looks like our countries have decided to play poker with prisoners of war." Then there are the inspiring stories of Flight Lieutenant S S Malhotra, who was awarded Vir Chakra for downing a Mig-19 over Pakistan's strongest Air-Base station Sargodha, and the story of Kala Sandhu, who was instructed by his peasant father either to win recognition for his bravery in battlefield or achieve martyrdom. Cont'd on Page 49

September 5, 2014

India Post 49 www.indiapost.com

Dream run for rural â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Betisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Cont'd from Page 47

Promoted by Blackberrys, In-

lend support, cheer and participate. Among them was Justice (Retd.) Sat Paul Bangarh, Shishir

Gupta, an American Express consultant, Amit and Shalini, doctors from Delhi, Action Aid campaigner with Beti Zindabad badges, Indian Oil officials. At 10 am, when Mehroom, 17, a Class XI student of PPES walked up to the podium to receive the winner's medal, drops of sweat were caught in her brow and her feet still sore with the run. Her eyes, however, were laden with an unseen grit. Mehroom had not merely run 5 kms, her dream of

Winners of the half marathon with the organizers

Stories of Indian fighter pilots from 1971 war Cont'd from Page 48

Lunch being served for Pardada Pardadi School

dian Oil, D&B, supported by Run With Foundation and impeccably organized by Lokenderpal Singh of Axalta Coating Systems, and Ankur Agarwal who holds a doctoral degree in Computer Science and Applied Mathematics, the half marathon had nearly 1,000 participants of which 75% were women. So many drove through the pot-holed road into Bichola to

Asian marathon champion Sunita Godara with a young marathon participant

becoming a nurse had taken a giant leap. And, on the dusty playground of PPES, feudalism and gender inequality ran its last lap. Breathless and defeated!

Students of Pardada Pardadi School

In the chapter, 'The Breakout', Jafa recounts the story of Flight Lieutenant Dilip Parulkar, Harish Sinhji and Melvinder Singh Grewal, who made an epic escape from the Pakistani prison, following on the foot-trails of J Murray's "A handbook for travelers in India, Burma, and Ceylon", published in 1906, but were recaptured just five miles short of Afghanistan. The chapter, 'The Great Homecoming' recounts the doubts, and dilemmas of these POWs and their frustrations with the Indian leadership for leaving the question of Kashmir open, despite comprehensively defeating Pakistan. "The long, purposeless incar-

ceration in enemy jail. Feelings of abandonment and neglect by our own countrymen. Long hours to think and debate. Monologues, discussions and arguments. "Anger and frustrations at having to fight over the same issue (Kashmir) again and again. Then seeing the gains frittered away, again and again. At such cost, at such sacrifice of life and limb. Nothing to show in the end. No lasting gain for the country. No lasting honor for the fighting man. "All this interspersed with peace. Peace worse than war," writes Jafa, feeling betrayed that the gains made in the battlefield on the back of soldiers lives were ceded to Pakistan during diplomatic talks. -PTI

Datebook

50 India Post

NEW JERSEY Upcoming Sun, Sep

• South Asian Theater Festival 2014

NEW YORK Upcoming Fri, Sep 5

• P. Unnikrishnan Live in Concert - Classical

Venue: HCrossroads Theater, 7 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick , NJ 08901 Time: 2:00 pm Contact: 201-320-4617

Venue: Hindu Temple Auditorium - Flushing, 143 - 07 Holly Avenue, New York, NY 11355 Time: 7:00 pm Contact: 917-498-8261

Fri, Sep 26 • ICS Navratri 2014

Sat, Sep 13

Venue: Dunn Sports Center-NJ, 600,Pearl Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07202 Time: 8:00 pm Contact: 848-219-5000

Sat, Sep 27 • Secaucus Navratri 2014 Venue: Meadowlands Expo Center, 355 Plaza Dr, Secaucus, NJ 07094 Time : 08:00 pm Contact: 201-921-9918

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ILLINOIS

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Upcoming

Sat, Sep 06 • Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Aman

Sat, Sep 6, 2014 • Sediq Shubab and Aryana Sayeed Live In San Francisco

• J K Yog Satsang and Bal Mukund Hindi Classes are held every 2nd and 4rth Sunday of Month

Venue: Chabot Collage, 25555 Hesperian

Chicago Satsang Information: J K Yog, Chicago - Swami Mukundananda Venue: Clarion Inn/Waterford Banquets, Board Room, 933 South Riverside Drive, Elmhurst, IL 60126 Time: 3:30pm-5:30pm Contact: Ajay & Arti Chandhok @ 630-561-4807 Website: www.jkyog.org

Ali Khan and Ayan Ali Khan - Sanskriti Music & Dance Festival Part 2

Venue: Amador Theater, 1155 Santa Rita Rd, Pleasanton, CA 94566 Time: 5:30 pm Contact: 408-887-5948

• Miss Pakistan World / Mr. Pakistan World 2014

Mon, Sep 10 • Shreya Ghoshal Live In Bay

Venue: United Palace Theatre, 4140 Broadway, New York, NY 10033 Time : 06:00 pm Contact: 416-898-2016

Area

Venue: San Jose City National Civic Theater, 135 W San Carlos St, San Jose, CA 95113 Contact: 5102008784

Sun, Sep 14 • Not Out An Ageless Comedy

Sat, Sep 13 • Vivekananda Vedanta Society

Venue: Hindu Community Centre, 143-09 Holly Ave, NY 11355 Time : 6:00 pm

September 5, 2014

Chicago

Shivanam Sankirtan Venue: Barbara Lee Senior Center, 40 N. Milpitas Blvd, Milpitas, Ca 95035 Time :6:00 pm to 8:30 pm Contact: www.bksiliconvalley.org.

Sun, Sep 13 • Naari- Ladies Event Venue: Sneha Restaurant Banquet Hall, 1214 Apollo Way, Suite 404 B, Sunnyvale, CA 94085 Timet: 5:30 pm Contact: 510-865-6274

Fri, Sep 19 • Tihai 2014 Festival Venue: Reed L.Buffigton Visual and Performing Arts Center (Chabot College), 25555 Hesperian Blvd, Hayward, CA 94545 Timet: 6:30 pm Contact: 925-413-8875

Sat, Oct 4 • Raas-Garba With Jayshree Gohil & Group

Venue: Bren Events Center, 100 Mesa Rd, Irvine, CA 92617 Contact: 951-318-7375

Blvd, Hayward, CA 94545 Time: 6:30 pm. Contact:510-894-5376

Sun, Sep 14 • Nothing Like Lear Vinay Pathak Venue: Carrington Hall, 1201 Brewster Avenue, Redwood City, CA 94062 Time: 6:00 pm Contact: 408-579-9426

ATLANTA Upcoming Sat, Sep 6 • Sri Sita Rama Kalyanam Venue: Norcross High School, 5300 Spalding Dr, Norcross, GA 30092 Time: 9:00 am Contact: 404-916-9899

Sat, Sep 13 • Art Competition Venue: Chattahoochee Technical College, 2680 Gordy Pkwy, Marietta, GA 30066

Upcoming

1st and 3rd Sunday of Month • Chicago Children's Bal Mukund Character Building Program and Hindi Literacy Classes Venue: Vogelei Center, 650 W. Higgins Road, Hoffmann Estates, IL 60192 (Next to Nissan Dealership) Contact: Ajay & Arti Chandhok @ 630-561-4807

Mondays and Fridays • Free ESL - English as Second Language Classes Metropolitan Asian Family Services Venue: 9015 N Milwaukee Ave, Niles, IL, Time: 10:30am to 12:30pm Contact: 773-465-3105

Time: 10:00 am Contact: 678-429-7105

Mondays and Fridays

Sat, Oct 04 • Navaratri Mela - 2014

• Free ESL - English as Second Language Classes Where: Metropolitan Asian Family Services

Venue: Independence High School, 86 School Dr, Alpharetta, GA 30009 Contact: 404-786-7860 Time: 8:45 pm

Venue: 9015 N Milwaukee Ave, Niles, IL, Time: 10:30am to 12:30pm Contact: 773-465-3105

Horoscope

September 5, 2014

India Post

www.indiapost.com

Your Weekly Future by Pandit Parashar

SEPTEMBER 5TH - SEPTEMBER 11TH, 2014 (March 21 to April 20)

rayers performed by you or on your behalf will show almost instant results. Help and guidance from a matured person should not be ignored if you really want to succeed. You may put worries aside and continue to enjoy life with family. This is the right time to go for that important exam for students. You may successfully recover some old money during the week.

(September 23 to October 22)

ou will need more than your budget to meet your fresh commitment and you may need to borrow more from another source. It will be better to cut down on red meat or spicy food for some time. Boss may assign additional load of work with deadline. You may start calling people overseas more frequently. You can definitely rely on big help from a well known person this week.

(October 23 to November 22)

(April 21 to May 20)

ome of you will be relocating this week. Some money will go on buying some nice decorative items for the house. Spouse if career oriented will benefit from favorable planets. There will be sudden and unexpected positive change in career this week. Diplomatic approach will get problems resolved quick. It will make some one more mad if you do not react to their allegations.

ast performance will make you known as an authority in professional circle. Some thing you read will bring drastic change in your earlier religious beliefs. Mars in first will bring energy back to extremes. Some of you may join or start going to a gym to get back in shape. Opponents will start disappearing one by one. You may ignore an offer that require you to compromise.

(November 23 to December 22)

(May 21 to June 20)

ou may finally see the letter you had been waiting for in mail. Clearance received will lift roadblocks making way for big im provement in career. Bank balance will continue to grow slow and steady. You may develop taste for sweets but keep an eye on quantity. There is absolutely no harm in playing few lottery ticket this week. Let the past go if you want to move up in life.

nd you will continue to doge bullets. Problems will be followed by excellent solutions. One of the major obstacle stopping you from moving forward in career will be over with the help of some one lot younger in you. You will be spending lots of money on a child. You may change your plans to attend a religious ceremony on last minute. Bank balance will continue to grow.

(June 21 to July 22)

pportunity will not be less than a financial jackpot. Speculation and lottery will be profitable. Some of you may need to have vision checked by a professional. There will be slight delay in moving plans. Children will be a big source of happiness this week. Avoid getting over excited with the changes and try to hold the information in your heart only.

(December 22 to January 19)

ou may give final shape to upcoming positive changes in career and sign all documents and close the deal. You may be able to dispose off a property also for big gains. Boss will finally agree on your proposal and take necessary steps. Ideas expressed by spouse are not bad, think. You may also get in touch with a trusted person to clear some confusions in your mind.

(July 23 to August 22)

our bold actions will cause panic in opponents mind. Gamble you take will pay off in big way. Chance of getting money through legal channel and lottery too strong. Long distance plan will take final shape. Some of you may be seriously exploring a new opportunity recently offered but in another state. It is going to be another rewarding week for people working as brokers.

(January 20 to February 18)

nd planets will bring the necessary changes causing excitement in life and give you another reason to celebrate with fam ily. help will come from some one famous and well connected person. Spouse may buy some artistic items for the house. You may again go out of your way to help a needy person. Big change in your attitude will not get noticed and you will make more friends.

(August 23 to September 22)

oney wise things will start picking up all of a sudden. Hardwork performed in the past will pay off and a big check will arrive through mail. People in business will have many opportunities make money on side. You will make cautious attempt to buy a franchise or running business. Handle all tools with slight care.

PANDIT PARASHAR, CEO & COO Astro Scan USA is also available for individual consultations. He can be reached at: parashar@parashar.com

(February 19 to March 20)

trong Mars in ninth will help you overcome imaginary fears occupying mind for quite some time. Long awaited change in ca reer may ultimately take place this week. Confidence level will be at peak. You will quickly recover from any illness. This is the right time to go for that highly competitive exam.

510-886-4370 www.parashar.com

India Post

Classifieds

September 5, 2014

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HELP WANTED Consulate General of India, Chicago, Invites applications for the post of a JUNIOR CLERK. Interested candidates holding a Bachelor's Degree, with a good knowledge of English, computer skills, ability for web research etc. may apply for the post. A latest copy of curriculum vitae containing date of birth and other particulars may accompany the application. Applications may be sent either through email oncci@indianconsulate.com or by post addressed to the Head of Chancery, Consulate General of India, 455 N Cityfront Plaza Drive (NBC Tower Building), Suite No. 850, Chicago, Illinois 60611

BY SEPTEMBER 20, 2014

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Philosophy

September 5, 2014

India Post 53

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Page Sponsored by Sahanis SADHGURU JAGGI VASUDEV

very aspect of growth that you know always amounts to accumulation. Your body is growing, that's accumulation. Your business is growing, that's accumulation. Your family is growing, that's accumulation. But when you talk of spiritual growth, it is a big deception because this is not about accumulation. This is about dissolution. Growing means dissolving, not acquiring. It is because of this contradiction that spirituality seems to be so difficult. Throwing does not take effort. Throwing needs madness, but accumulation requires enormous efforts. You are accumulating, because the way you are right now is not sufficient. You need to add something to yourself to feel a little better. Somebody thinks accumulating money is crude, but accumulating artwork is better. Somebody thinks accumulating things is crude, accumulating people is better. Somebody thinks all these things are crude, accumulating knowledge is best. Whether you gather stones or gods, it makes no difference. It is fundamentally coming from a sense of insufficiency. Why spirituality seems to be mind-boggling is not because it is difficult, but because this growth will not happen unless you dissolve or throw SWAMI SIVANANDA

nly ordinary people think that Ahimsa is not to hurt any living being physically. This is but the gross form of Ahimsa. The vow of Ahimsa is broken even by showing contempt towards another man, by entertaining unreasonable dislike for or prejudice towards anybody, by frowning at another man, by hating another man, by abusing another man, by speaking ill of others, by backbiting or vilifying, by harboring thoughts of hatred, by uttering lies, or by ruining another man in any way whatsoever. All harsh and rude speech is Himsa (violence or injury). Using harsh words to beggars, servants or inferiors is Himsa. Wounding the feelings of others by gesture, expression, tone of voice and unkind words is also Himsa. Slighting or showing deliberate discourtesy to a person before others is wanton Himsa. To approve of another's harsh actions is indirect Himsa. To fail to relieve another's pain, or even to neglect to go to the person in distress is a sort of Himsa. It is the sin of omission. Avoid strictly all forms of harshness, direct or indirect, positive or negative, immediate or delayed. Practice Ahimsa in its purest form

away everything that you have accumulated. Throwing away does not mean you have to take the things from house and throw them on the street. It is just that you don't accumulate within yourself. If it is in the house it is convenient, but the problem is you are carrying it in your head all the time. That is burdensome, that is killing. If money is in the pocket, it makes life comfortable, but if you carry it in your

seeker, that's all that is needed. If your seeking is the only quality you have, that is definitely the most important thing. Most of the seekers are only off-and-on seekers. In 24 hours, how many of you are even conscious of your seeking, and how many moments? "No, no, I have done so many programs. I even did 55 days of Hata Yoga." What you did yesterday is not the point. People think, "Sadhguru…no compassion in

can you still be a seeker? "No, I have been a seeker for 10 years." That doesn't mean anything. Are you a seeker now? Because the existential is only now. The rest is all psychological. I see a lot of past seekers. They have been seekers for 25, 30 years - veterans. What to do with that? Only if someone is hungry now, you can serve them food, isn't it? If someone is alive now, you can feed them. Somebody was - what

Spiritual growth is not accumulation, but dissolution Why spirituality seems to be mind-boggling is

All adversities are here to help you. They can become instruments of your progress. - Swami Rama

not because it is difficult, but because this growth

Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev

will not happen unless you dissolve or throw

We are what our thoughts

away everything that you have accumulated.

have made us; so take

head, it is perversion. It is taking life in a million different ways. So, throwing it away does not mean throwing them from where they are. It means don't make it a part of yourself. You use it, you enjoy it, you experience it, but you don't try to make it a part of yourself. Questioner: Sadhguru, what should be the foremost quality of a seeker? Sadhguru: If you are a genuine

him. It doesn't matter what we have done, once again he is asking, 'What have we done today?'" Because if you are a seeker, what you were yesterday doesn't mean anything to you. "What have you done today?" is the whole thing. The psychological survives, nourishes and flourishes on the past. The existential is of the now. Unless you are truly concerned about what you are doing today and how you are right now, how

can you do with them? Are you a seeker now, right now? If you are, that is what means most to me because only then can I do something with you. If you are a past seeker, we are just neighbors. If you are a seeker now, I have something to do with you right now. Excerpted from www.ishafoundation.org. The 57th birth anniversary of Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev will be celebrated on 3 September.

and become divine. Ahimsa and Divinity are one. If you practice Ahimsa, you should put up with insults, rebukes, criticisms and assaults also. You should never retaliate nor wish to offend anybody even under extreme provocation. You should not entertain any evil thought against anybody. You should not harbor anger. You

through his sincere prayers. He said: "O my Lord! Thou hast given Mukti to Thy enemies, Ravana and Kamsa. Why canst Thou not give Mukti to my enemies now?" A saint or a sage possesses a magnanimous heart. Pavahari Baba carried the bag of vessels and followed the thief saying: "O Thief Narayana! I never knew that You visited my cottage.

no power of resistance and endurance. It is a shield, not of the effeminate, but of the potent. Ahimsa is a quality of the strong. It is a weapon of the strong. When a man beats you with a stick, you should not entertain any thought of retaliation or any unkind feeling towards the tormentor. Ahimsa is the perfection of forgiveness. When thoughts of revenge and

far. - Swami Vivekananda There is no enemy out of your soul.The real enemies live inside yourself, they are anger, proud, curvedness, greed, attachmentes and hate. - Lord Mahavir Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated. - Confucius

bodies. - Aristotle Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe,

riors is Himsa. Wounding the feelings of others

wings to the mind, flight to

by gesture, expression, tone of voice and un-

Pray accept these things." The thief was quite astonished. He left off his evil habit from that very second and became a disciple of Pavahari Baba. Ahimsa is the acme of bravery. Ahimsa is not possible without fearlessness. Non-violence cannot be practiced by weak persons. Ahimsa cannot be practiced by a man who is terribly afraid of death and has

Thoughts live; they travel

single soul inhabiting two

Using harsh words to beggars, servants or infe-

should not curse. You should be prepared to lose joyfully even your life in the cause of Truth. The Ultimate Truth can be attained only through Ahimsa. Remember the noble actions of great sages of yore. Jayadeva, the author of Gita-Govinda, gave large and rich presents to his enemies who cut off his hands, and obtained Mukti (liberation) for them

Words are secondary.

Love is composed of a

Practicing Ahimsa, put up with insults, rebukes, assaults

kind words is also Himsa

care about what you think.

the imagination, and Swami Sivananda

hatred arise in the mind, try to control the physical body and speech first. If you succeed in this by practice for some months, the negative thoughts of revenge, having no scope for manifesting outside, will die by themselves. Excerpted from sivananda.org. The 127th birth anniversary of Swami Sivananda will be celebrated on September 8

charm and gaiety to life and to everything. - Plato The key is to keep company only with people who uplift you, whose presence calls forth your best. - Epictetus

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September 5, 2014

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The Islamic State Caliphate: A mirage of resurrection

he current turmoil in West Asia may be traced to the aberrant imposition of a Western order in the aftermath of the defeat and collapse of the Ottomans and the eventual denial of the idea of a Caliphate by its leadership. The Caliphate, which had lost its religious and civilizational magnetism, was substituted by a mosaic of states that was mandated more by the promise of colonial influence and economic profit. This led to a situation when

India Post

VIJAY SHANKAR

cial flow to fuel the movement would suggest the work of trained minds and the organizational precision of professionals; besides it also makes the IS the richest militant group in West Asia. Timing of the fierce advent of the IS and its leadership of the movement to establish a new Caliphate is distinctly ominous. The West in a state of economic exhaustion, militarily fatigued, geopolitically starved of ideas and facing the prospects of a world order being put in disarray by a revisionist China; neither has the stomach nor the resolve to block the onslaught. The only check on the abuse of unconventional and maleficent power has always consisted in opposition by an equally formidable rival, or of a combination of several countries forming a league of defense; unfortunately such an Fighters from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) marching in Raqqa, Syria alliance has not been formed. the underlying antagonism and probability of the IS extending its Development of a Strategy economic dispossession have reach into a nuclear arsenal. The When Toynbee suggested the erupted in aggression and a yearn- impending withdrawal of US emergence of a Universal State he ing for a return to the Universal forces from the region will only saw in it disintegration of a civilizaState. serve to catalyze such a calami- tion as it encountered disastrous The Islamic State (IS, varyingly tous scenario. 'time of troubles', such as wars within called the ISIS or the ISIL) has and without followed by the estabswept from Syria into Iraq in a mael- Sustaining the Richest lishment of a universal state-an emstrom of destruction and has in a Terrorist Group pire in the throes of decay. Ultimately short but bloody campaign laid the universal state collapses. Ideologically the IS is driven by waste to the northern third of Iraq. The menacing feature of the Islittle other than a deep rooted maNo political Islam or civilizational lamic State is that the end of a ruinlevolence (towards the US in parimpulse here, just rabid intolerance. ous historical rhythm is synchroticular) for the near quarter cennized today with the draw down of In its wake it has disrupted the tury of armed turmoil and sectaran external enforcing dynamic and correlation of political forces in the ian carnage that has visited the the intolerable availability of weapregion as the US seeks a quick region without near term hopes for ons of mass destruction. blocking entente with Iran; Syria restoration. In such circumstances the progsees in the situation an opportuThe fallout has been a demonnity to settle scores with the in- izing of plurality and a fierce rejec- nosis can only be a universal casurgency raging within; Shia or- tion of modernity. Resurgence of tastrophe unless a three pronged ganizations find common cause to the banished Iraqi Republican strategy is put in place: offset the IS; Sunni States carry a Guard has provided muscle to the â&#x20AC;˘ Firstly arrest the rampage of cloaked bias towards the IS to the movement and the revival of the the IS by a coalition of regional extent that a recent New York Baathist faction infused a much forces under UN aegis. Times report suggests funding by needed organizational framework â&#x20AC;˘ Secondly, choke the money Turkey, Saudi and Qatar; terrorist to the IS. flow both from patron States and organizations in Afghanistan and The feeble capitulation of the the IS' financial dealings by tarPakistan welcome the new leader- 350,000 US trained Iraqi security geting beneficiaries. ship that has displaced al-Qaeda forces stands testimony to the â&#x20AC;˘ Thirdly, deny access to weapand Kurdistan has been cata- vigor of the enterprise. The sei- ons of mass destruction through pulted to the forefront of opposi- zure of over 400,000 pieces of small rigorous guardianship of known tion to the IS. arms, artillery munitions, the pil- sources. As the fanatical outburst of xe- laging of USD $430 million from The writer is former Comnophobia stretches south and the Central Bank of Mosul and the mander-in-Chief, Strategic eastward the IS' influence will in creation of a self sustaining finan- Forces Command of India and due course manifest in the fertile Jihadist breeding grounds of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Pakistan today, as many perceptive analysts have noted, represents a very dangerous condition as its establishment nurtures fundamentalist and terrorist organizations as instruments of their misshapen policies in Afghanistan and Kashmir. The essence of Pakistan's rogue links will, unmistakably, seduce the IS into the sub-continent underscoring the distressing

Policy changes

s should be expected, there are changes in government policies with a change in regime. Pundits in the media are protesting day in and day out that the Modi government is making changes in established policies. If these established policies have not borne fruit for so many years, why should these policies be persisted with? Even if the new policies also fail, we would have learned a lesson and there would be scope for correction. But where is the case for persisting with policies which have failed all the time? Take the case of the Hurriyat separatists being allowed to meet the Pakistan envoy in the heart of India, the capital city of New Delhi, every time there is an attempt at dialogue between India and Pakistan. The Opposition parties, particularly the Congress, say they have always been allowed to do so. That was the case under the previous weak-kneed regime which could not make up its mind on anything and allowed things to dither. Instead of debating this ad nausea among ourselves, Pakistan should be asked how has its engaging secessionists on Indian Territory helped in its dialogue process with India. As former foreign secretary Kanwal Sibal has forcefully argued in a column in Indian Express, can Pakistan demonstrate that its persistent counsel to the Hurriyat has advanced the cause of peace in Jammu and Kashmir? It is an affront to the sovereignty of India to have separatists talking freely with the very foreign government which has spawned this separatism. If Pakistan is once again going through convulsions, part of the credit can be given to Narendra Modi. Modi is feared in Pakistan and the Pak Army believes his tough stance could easily be translated into strong retaliatory action if Pakistan tries another mischief. The Army is no longer in the supreme position it was under Musharaff and it is straining at the leash that Nawaz Sharif has sought to put over it. His gestures of peace to India and his acceptance to attend Narendra Modi's swearing in ceremony was anathema to the army. It has hastened to take control through protests orchestrated by it because it wants to be in control to deal with the coming strong tactics of Modi. The new Indian government might call the bluff of Pakistan on its pretence of not interfering officially in the affairs of India and only allowing the non-state actors to go and create mayhem there. In a speech during his visit to Kargil in Kashmir, Modi had declared openly that Pakistan had lost the strength of waging a conventional war against India and was therefore resorting to terrorism to destabilize India. There was no reaction from Pakistan to this charge the truth of which is apparent to every Indian but it has not been openly expressed for fear of terrorists. Modi is the first PM to openly announce this fact. Pak army is determined to destabilize India to take revenge for its defeat in 1971 Bangladesh war but it cannot do so openly. Pressure has also been mounting from India to take action against the perpetrators of the Mumbai attack. It is the fear of Modi which is forcing the Pakistan army to recover the powers being denied to it ever since the ouster of Musharraf. It wants to be in a position to deal with the perceived threat that is Modi. And the peace minded Nawaz Sharif is a hurdle in their mission. Land acquisition for roads and infrastructure development is another issue which is in for policy changes. The UPA II government in its last days passed a populous law increasing compensation for land acquisition and also requiring a host of approvals from the panchayat and other bodies. The construction of new roads is making no headway even under the new government because of this law which will have to be changed as early as possible.

September 5, 2014

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56 India Post

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