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COMMUNITY
India Connect Q & A: Visa to India What are the normal processing times? Normal processing times are a minimum of 2-3 working days depending upon the visa category applied for and the application itself.
Asian Voice - Saturday 18th June 2011
London celebrates Ratha Yatra
London's 'Ratha-yatra' Festival of Chariots returned to the streets of the capital on Sunday 12th June 2011. London was illuminated by the wonderful colours and sounds of the annual Hare Krishna festival, a vibrant celebration of Indian culture and spirituality in the city. Despite the rain, thousands of
How do I withdraw my application and will I get a refund? If you wish to withdraw your Jiten Vyas, VFS Global application you are required to visit the application centre and submit your withdrawal request. VFS will not be able to provide you any definite timelines to get your passport back. You are requested to wait and check the status of your passport on our website Can I send my application directly to the High Commission? Where does it go if I have done so? All applications should be submitted at the specified visa application centres. If you have already dispatched your application to the High Commission of India (London) – your application will be redelivered to our Visa Centre on India Visa Application Centre, 142-148, Goswell Road, London EC1V 7DU. But please keep in mind that there will be a delay in the processing of your documents until they reach the Visa Centre from the High Commission. Where can I get the correct specifications of photographs? Each Visa Application Centre (except for Cardiff, Glasgow and Manchester) have in-house photo booths that will provide you with the required 50x50 size photographs for your application. The cost is £4 for a set of 2. I get a message of ‘No Record Found’ on my postal application. What is the processing timelines? Postal applications must be scrutinised before we can begin to process them. In case there are further details required to have been submitted by you or for example, the photographs given were not up to the specification – your application will be posted back to you. In this case, since we are unable to enter your details through our system, there will not be a record to track. In such cases, you can address your concern info.inuk@vfshelpline.com. It is always strongly advised to be ensure that you have read all requirements for an application before it is dispatched through the post. How do I track my application? You can track your application through the website by entering data required under the tab ‘Track your Application’ found on the left hand side of the homepage. How do I withdraw my application and will I get a refund? If you wish to withdraw your application you are required to visit the application centre and submit your withdrawal request. VFS will not be able to provide you any definite timelines to get your passport back. You are requested to wait and check the status of your passport on our website. What if I have lost my ICR for collection of passport? If you have lost your receipt, we will be unable to provide you with your passport without photographic proof of identification. If I need to offer a compliment for good service or a complaint for service not up to mark – to where can I address this? You can address all such feedback, including application queries to info.inuk@vfshelpline.com. Complete information is given under the tab ‘Contact Us’ found on the left hand side of the homepage.
For more information regarding any quires about Indian Visa please contact by email or post: Email: info.inuk@vfshelpline.com Customer Relations Department. India Visa Application Center, 60-62 Wilton Road, London SW1V 1DE
India Connect - your questions answered on India visas” a service offered by
festival-goers, pilgrims, and faith leaders from all over the world hand-pulled the three 40-foot high colourful chariots carrying the sacred deities of Lord Jagannath, Lady Subhadra and Lord Balarama from Hyde Park to Trafalgar Square. The giant chariots were accompanied by a procession of singers, musicians, and dancers. London pulsated to Indian spiritual sounds with instruments from across the globe. At Trafalgar Square, where the procession concluded, those who braved the wet weather enjoyed cultural and edu-
cational displays and exhibitions, revealing the spiritual heart of India. Revellers participated in lively workshops, sample traditional Indian music, food, and literature, or try sari-draping and face-painting. On the stage, festival-goers were treated to traditional Odissi temple dance, contemporary philosophical dramas, and energising mantra chants. In addition to all this, free sumptuous Indian vegetarian cuisine added to a special family vouting.
‘Conservative Future’ grand launch held in Harrow By Nikhil Gor Last Thursday saw the Grand Launch of Harrow’s Conservative Future (CF) branch, which represents the youth wing of the Conservative Party. The launch was held at Café Café, Harrow on the Hill with special guests Bob Blackman, Member of Parliament for Harrow East and Cllr Sachin Rajput, GLA Conservative candidate for Harrow and Brent. The evening brought together youngsters from across Harrow, ranging from students to young professionals. Ameet Jogia, Chairman of Harrow CF said that, “the launch was a great success and is the first event of many to come.” Ameet added “that Harrow CF is open to all, not just for die-hard Conservatives and provides students with the opportunity to find out the Conservative Party is about and what it can offer. Harrow CF also helps young people get engaged in politics and to take responsibility of issues in their local area.” Harrow CF currently also helps students gain work experience in Harrow’s Conservative Associations and Conservative MPs. Asian Voice interviewed Bob Blackman MP on Conservative future and community relationships. What does "Conservative Future" mean ? Conservative is the future of
Cllr Sachin Rajput, Bob Blackman MP, Ameet Jogia
Conservative Party. It gives opportunity for young generation from age group of 18-35. The purpose behind is to create a new breed of conservative activist and become conservative politician and party leaders who will lead the community through politics in coming future. Young generation who are interested to join Conservative politics by joining the "Conservative Future" helps them to learn how to campaign, how election process works what are the main tasks and how to achieve them with a team effort. My message to young generation is that join party, learn the basics and then get elected as MPs, Councillors, Assembly Leaders. What is the objective of Conservative Party ? Any party objective is to pass their message across generations. They are the future leaders and going to lead the country with their full spirit.
How was your interaction with young prospects and audience ? Today there are some outstanding people present. They have the basic ideas but they need to gain some real experiences. It will make them tough. No party ends with or without a leader. It has to continue with new ideas and new talents. What were the main subjects, this young audience were more interested in? It was very interesting, They talk about climate change and understand how they are going to deal with it later as they are quite young at this stage. They didn't raise important subjects like Education, Economy which I would like them to raise in coming future. Any particular message you want to give to our readers ? My message to Asian Voice and its readers is regardless your age embrace politics, come and join party- if you believe in family, law and order and continue respecting individual lives and rights to create enterprise, wealth, and be the best in what you can do. Conservative values are the same as Asian Values. While concentrating on professional, personal and social life you must also involve equally in politics. Those who came from East Africa know if you do not take part in politics, you will never represent or belong to a country!
OBITUARY rose fell to the ground. I picked it up and kept it as a memory of a moment of history – a forgotten era. As they covered the coffin and lifted it for the final journey, there was media frenzy outside the hall. Suddenly 8 sombre faced men picked up the coffin and carried it out for its final journey – The journey of no return. Even in death, he was destined to haunt the galleries of fame. Immortalised, Husain was frozen in the hour glass of Shahnaz Husain with late M F Husain time. A flawless white sheet the world. Nothing mattered. He covered his mortal remains. My was now part of another world. head reeled. I could not believe it The saddest part was when a huge Husain is no more. The aura was plank was brought that covered the heart wrenching and emotionally coffin and a long wreath of flowers draining like the shattering sound was placed across the length. On of silent thunder. top of the wreath was a tiny white At last Husain was at peace card that read, “Husain – you are a with the world. His life was one celebration – you will always great celebration. remain in our hearts”. A small pink
Husain-the end of an era By Shahnaz Husain Husain lived life on his own terms! That life was not just to be lived but celebrated. It was a sad day. Lightening had struck the world of art. I walked into the Idara Jafaria, London – Crowds of men on the right and women on the left. As you walk into the hall, the musky smell of flowers - grim faces, muffled moans, holy citations the hearse, the wooden box with nails, swollen blood -shot eyes, a sea of heads bowed in homage to our very own Picasso. The somber aura was overwhelmingly. In the centre of the room lay the coffin. After some chanting of prayers, the public was given permission to file past. It was heart wrenching to see Husain’s body in the casket – at last at peace with