AV 19th March 2016

British Asian scientist Manish Patel upbeat as ExoMars sets off to find life on Mars P11

First & Foremost Asian Weekly in Europe Price 80p

Commonwealth Day: We are a family, bound by common values P06

FEATURE- Harley Street: Offering Reliable, Private & Quality Medical Treatment P16 Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister addresses investors on his two day visit to London P18

KING OF GOOD TIMES NOT IN HIGH SPIRITS 19th March to 25th March 2016

Let noble thoughts come to us from every side

Summons Issued to Liquor Baron Vijay Mallya for Loan Default

Just like death, law is a great leveller. It does not spare anyone. If you get on the wrong side of law, the long arm of the law is bound to catch you – whether you are a pauper or the King of Good Times.

The Enforcement Directorate has issued summons for appearance to heavily indebted liquor baron Vijay Mallya who left India leaving several banks miffed and moneyless. The summons came as part of the ED’s money laundering probe in the alleged default in payment of £90 million dues to IDBI. The Enforcement Directorate sources said Mallya has been ordered to appear before investigators on March 18. While the tycoon’s whereabouts are not

Vol 44 | Issue 44

officially known, he is believed to have shifted to London. It has been reported that he has settled in his Ladywalk estate in Tiwen, near St Albans, Hertfordshire. Reliable sources said he arrived in London, spent a few days at his home near Baker Street and then left for his 30acre estate which is guarded roundthe-clock. Bought from F1 racer Lewis Hamilton’s father, Anthony, locals believe it is one of the best homes in the village.

AMOUNT KINGFISHER OWES TO BANKS

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State Bank Of India IDBI Bank Punjab National Bank Bank of India Bank of Baroda United Bank of India Central Bank UCO Bank Corporation Bank State Bank of Mysore Indian Overseas Bank Federal Bank Punjab & Sind Bank Axis Bank 3 other Banks

Pound 160mn 80mn 80mn 65mn 55mn 43mn 41mn 32mn 31mn 15mn 14mn 9mn 6mn 5mn 60.3mn

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BRITONS BRING DOWN THE HOUSE WITH PERFECT 10 ACHIEVEMENTS

The Asian Voice Political and Pubic Life Awards this year had a new venue inside the Palace of Westminster, to celebrate a decade of these awards, held to recognise the achievements of Britons in various fields of work.

The Terrace Pavillion was bustling with anticipation, as guests and winners gathered at the venue, enjoying the Thames view. The highlight of this year's award was Sportsman of the Year, Riyad Mahrez, a rising football star, who is astounding the world with his incredible performances for Leicester Football Club in English Premiere League. He was accompanied by his wife, the club's Midfielder N'Golo Kante, Chief Executive Susan Whelan, Director of Football Jon Rudkin and his family members.

The compere for the evening was famous actress Sheena Bhattessa and Guest of Honour was the Rt Hon John Bercow, Speaker of the House of Commons, who gave a be-fitting introduction to Rt Hon Keith Vaz, MP, Co-host of the awards.

Vaz who will complete 29 years as an MP this June was thanked by the Speaker for being an industrious and assiduous member of the House of Commons, associated with several good causes and helping people in need, in all possible ways- personally and socially.

FULL STORY ON P14

Total: 696.3mn CONTINUED ON P 26

Rt Hon Angus Robertson MP

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TRAVEL FROM - Dep: 04-APR-16 - Ret:30-MAY-16 MUMBAI £409 DELHI £440 AHMEDABAD - £415 VADODARA - £423 CHENNAI £399 RAJKOT £499 KOLKATA £412 BANGKOK £433

BANGALORE HYDERABAD COLOMBO DHAKA DEHRA DUN -

£400 £404 £439 £443 £497

Sir Trevor McDonald OBE

Riyad Mahrez

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ONE ONE with Keith Vaz, MP

Asian Voice |19th March 2016

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to

Ajjay Mehrra

Ajjay Mehrra is an award winning designer for Menswear. He has broken fashion norms by hosting a fashion show in a running train in 1995 and holds a Guinness world record for the same. He is one of the oldest and most well respected brand names in the world and has always been incredibly fashion forward. Ajjay's strengths are his contemporary cuts, fine silhouettes, comfortable and practical clothing.

His clothing has always focused on tailoring and draping, which is now considered the epitome of fine clothing. Ajjay’s collection offers finely tailored and customized Indian Ethnic Wear and a wide collection of Western Formals. The range of western evening wear is perfect for those who want to stand out and make a fashion statement. In his assortment of tuxedos, designer suits, formal suits, coats, overcoats, shirts and trousers, you will find something that is just right.

1) What is your current position?

Currently I am the owner and designer of my label, The Ajjay Mehrra Collection.

2) What are your proudest achievements?

There are two achievements that stand out for me. The first would be hosting a fashion show on a running train, which got me into the Guinness World Book of records and the second would be

winning the award for the "International Designer of the year 2016" in the House of Commons.

3) What inspires you?

Men. I feel they are often the least pampered creatures of all of God's creations. I love influencing men to dress better and making them realize how the outlook of the world changes towards them if they only make the effort.

Sikhs celebrate Ravidass Festival with colourful parade through Leicester

Sikh celebration: Up to 2,000 people joined the procession

Hundreds of Sikhs marched through the streets of Leicester to celebrate the 639th birthday of an important religious figure in their faith.

Devotees have gathered at the Shriguru Ravidass Temple, in Harrison Road, Belgrave, to mark the twoday Ravidass Festival. It remembers Ravidass Ji, who is the subject of 41 verses in Guru Granth Sahib Ji, a holy book of the Sikhs. The temple was the start and finishing point today for a colourful parade accompanied by

music and hymns along Melton Road, Belgrave Road and Gypsy Lane.

Up to 2,000 people joined the procession or lined the streets to watch the spectacle.

Following the parade, the hymns and music continued at the Shriguru Ravidass Temple, where food and refreshments were laid on.

Sikh religious leaders from as far-a-field as France, Belgium and Italy will arrive in Leicester tomorrow to lead prayers as part of the festival.

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4) What has been the biggest obstacle in your career?

I think being overtly emotional. I've often let things go when I shouldn't have and this has led me to a position where I have to start over. Not my wisest decision but I've learned from it in the long run.

5) Who has been the biggest influence on your career to date?

My wife. She's my right hand man, for lack of a better word. She helps me work better and be a better man. Apart from this, the interaction between the Western and Indian world is very interesting.

6) What is the best aspect about your current role?

Being a staple in the wardrobes of the who's who of the world makes me so happy. And overall influencing men and their mindsets with regards to their dressing sense.

7) And the worst?

Being labelled just another Indian designer. I think I'm so much more than

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that, especially since my forte is western wear. I like to stand out from the crowd and it does niggle at me if somebody assumes I'm another run of the mill designer.

8) What are your long term goals?

I'd like to see my label spread across the globe. Long term I hope to see myself competing with others of the same calibre as me, while maintaining a distinct signature line.

9) If you were Prime Minister, what one aspect would you change?

Sometimes I feel like there is so much that needs a drastic change, that I can't particularly pinpoint any one thing. On the other hand it's fun to see how the country is adapting to all the changes, internal and external that are affecting it.

10) If you were marooned on a desert island, which historical figure would you like to spend your time with and why?

HRH Prince Charles. There is hardly anybody I have interacted with who is as gracious and more eloquent than him. I'd love to spend time with him and maybe convince him to try on some of my creations.

Holi Festival creates spectacular sea of colour in Reading Fashion show

Reading's Indian community came out in force to create a sea of colour to celebrate the Holi Festival.

Around 1,000 people turned up to this year's event at Rivermead Leisure

Centre, in Richfield Avenue, to have a huge celebration.

The festival is one of the biggest festivals celebrated in India, and is known as the "Festival of

Festival goers

Colours".

As part of the celebration, people colour each other in with water colours and powder.

Visitors to the event got to see a Holika play, which

tells the story of the origins of the festival, put on by local childrem.

There was also a "Colours of India" Fashion Show and Indian dancing displays on Lord Krishna.

Newsagent fights landlord’s plan to close family shop The owner of a family-run newsagent facing closure to make way for new homes has told of his “hopeless” situation as he anxiously awaits a court date to learn the fate of his business.

Sunny Patel, who bought Sunny News in Wimbledon Park Road, Southfields, 28 years ago, was asked to leave by the freeholder in March last

year.

The landlord issued a Section 25 order under the 1954 Landlord and Tenant Act declaring the lease had ended and applied for planning permission from Wandsworth council to convert the building from retail to residential use.

Residents backed Mr Patel, who runs the shop with his wife Jamie, by

sending 430 objection letters and a petition to the council.

Planners unanimously decided not to grant the landlord’s request and granted Asset of Community status — which protects businesses from development. But both have been overturned by the Planning Inspectorate on appeal.

Mr Patel, 55, is now

taking his case to court and is awaiting a hearing date. If he is not successful, he will have 90 days to leave the property.

International Development Secretary Justine Greening, who is MP for Putney, has backed efforts to save the shop.

Solicitors for the landlord refused to comment.

C MMENTS

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Coimbatore: Rising Smart City Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu’s second largest city after the State capital Chennai, once a comfortable watering hole for retired military officers, is today a bustling industrial city, with universities and engineering colleges of high repute. However, its modern roots were laid during the British Raj way back in 1866, when an enterprising Briton, Robert Stanes, set up a municipality and became its first Chairman. Coimbatore was up and running, with a number of textile mills which Stanes helped to establish. With the platform of production in place the next inevitable step, entailed the communications that would take the goods to market, hence the railway system made its bow. A road network grew in parallel, bringing supply and demand were into equilibrium.

The fledging city’s location was an added bonus, as geography has a critical role in economic and social development. Coimbatore lay astride Tamil Nadu’s border with Kerala, thence onward to the west coast abutting the Arabian Sea and the markets of East Africa: Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Zambia, Zimbabwe and the Republic of South Africa; up north to the United Arab Emirates, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt.

Coimbatore’s salubrious climate, nestling in the foothills of the Nilgiri range, coupled with its unfolding industrialization made it an attractive place to live. Its educational institutions brought in families with young aspirants seeking career opportunities. The economic boom led to a significant rise in population, outpacing the infrastructure: housing and public transport, with new privately-owned cars added to the traffic congestion on streets, roads and highways. Water resources were increasingly polluted and so was the air – the bane

of countries in the throes of industrial development.

Economic liberalization comes with a price; and intensifying ecological challenges have been a wakeup call for the citizenry. As in Bangalore, so in Coimbatore, it would appear.

Life without challenges would be a dull existence indeed. The greater the obstacle the greater must be the effort to surmount it. Business houses, aware that they, too, are civic stakeholders, have started engaging in social and environmental activity, leading to a broader people’s movement to clean silt from tanks and water bodies. The City Corporation has drawn up plans to link Coimbatore’s eight major tanks and water bodies and inlet channels under the Smart City plan. Corporation Commissioner K.Vijayakarthikeyan says the Public Works Department will be brought in to develop the tanks. Tank rejuvenation is one of the major components of the area-based scheme, but the authorities are looking ahead to new Greenfield infrastructure to take Coimbatore forward and secure its place as a magnet for nerds and their aspiring lifestyles. Summed up, Coimbatore aspires to become a centre of excellence fit for twenty-first century purpose. The city is thus expanding in a bid to create space for commercial activity and business offices and the GPS-enabled transport solutions to match, pavements that pedestrians will find comfortable to move, and easy availability of Wi-fi hotspots. Sewage treatment technologies are also on the radar. A buoyant can-do spirit drives the citizens of this splendid south Indian city. They are best able to monitor its development projects and make the city fathers and officials accountable to the public.

Coimbatore means business. Of that you can be sure.

Delhi, Hyderabad airports top global ranking Shortly before his departure from India, in the wake of the Commonwealth Games, as the Times South Asia Correspondent, Jeremy Page referred sneeringly to India’s chronic inability to construct infrastructure that worked. The Delhi Metro has left the London Underground trapped in the stone age, while Indian airports, once the butt of jokes from superior people, much given to flaunting their social pedigree and lifestyles, will be in mild trauma to learn and digest reports that Delhi and Hyderabad airports have achieved top global ranking.

While the Indira Gandhi Airport in New Delhi, managed by Delhi Airport Limited, a GMR-led consortium, retained the world’s number one position for the second consecutive year in the 25-40 Million Passengers Per Annum category, Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi Airport has featured in the top three airports for the seventh year in a row in the 5-15 Million Passenger Per Annum category. These rankings were announced by the Airports Council International in the 2015 Airport Service Quality recently. According to GMR, the Delhi airport scores a higher rating than its Indian counterparts in winning the maximum number of awards for last year. Delhi has been conferred with the Best Airport by Size & Region Asia Pacific (25-40 million passenger per annum category) Angela Gittens, Director General ACT World, said:

‘Airports have evolved into complex, customer-focused businesses in their own right, that in many cases are in competition with each other for passenger traffic, from duty-free outlets to restaurants to ambience, cleanliness, courtesy of staff, amenities, efficiency and more air travelers are expecting big things from the airports through which they travel.’ Quite so. The greater the expectation the greater should be the delivery. This in keeping with the spirit of enterprise.

While on the subject, a spate of new airports in India are works in progress, or have already arrived.

Kolkata’s, once the city’s second black hole, is now a spanking technological and architectural marvel.

Maintenance, alas, has been shoddy because of the Communist-led trade union principle of more pay geared to less work. New airports at Bangalore and Chennai are functioning, while the newly constructed one one in Mumbai commands wonder and will surely win global raking sooner rather than later. Kerala’s Kochi airport, catering the State’s sizeable and growing passenger traffic to and from the Gulf is, by all accounts, superbly constructed and superbly managed.

India’s infrastructure development, from high speed rail corridors, national highways is work in progress. India is surprising itself, while holding surprises for visitors from abroad long by their media to expect the worst.

Fringe groups threaten India’s peace Fringe groups and their lawless activities have been in the news lately. In the State of Chattisgarh, a gang of Bajrang Dal thugs vandalized a village church and attacked worshippers. The Bajrang Dal first came to prominence over over a decade ago, when one of its operative burnt alive an Australian missionary named Staines, and his young teenage son, resentful of the family’s presence among a community of Advasis in Odisha In another Odisha district, they stoked communal violence, when it was wrongly claimed Christians in a rural hamlet had murdered a prominent Hindu priest. It turned out that priest was killed by local Maoists. The political reverberations led to Odisha Chief Minister Navin Patnaik to sever party ties with the BJP. Staines widow, unbelievably, forgave her husband’s murderer and interceded on his behalf to prevent his judicial execution. Christian charity, you may say, but it emboldens Bajrang Dal and kindred bodies such as the Ram Sena in Goa to attach Christian properties and places of worship, safe in the knowledge that no jihadi retribution would follow. Then Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar (now India’s Defence Minister) took firm action and put an end to Ram Sena militancy. Likewise the BJP Chief Minister Raman Singh initiated prompt police action, leading to the

arrest of seven Bajrang delinquents. The poison stems from the insidious propaganda that India’s Christians are covertly anti-Indian, a wicked and preposterous allegation. Reports from Mumbai on a hate speech by Raj Thackeray, formerly of the Shiv Sena – but now head of a breakaway splinter party - targeting the city’s auto drivers for their Bihari ethnicity. Thackeray’s incendiary words led to rising tempers in the Bihar State Assembly. The Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has been silent thus far and so has the BJP’s coalition partner, the mainstream Shiv Sena.

Silence in India’s public spaces is usually counted as a blessing, but not in this case. Is Mumbai to be out of bounds for India’s non-Maharashtrian population?

Are Maharastrians to be banned in, say, Gujarat or Kerala? Where is India heading?

Chief Minister Fadnavis must bring Raj Thackeray to book, if evidence of his hate speech is established.

Irresponsible politicians frequently get away with blue murder because other politicians in power prefer to cower at the prospect of a riot. The cycle of blackmail and cowardly appeasement has surely run its course.

The time for action has arrived. Get cracking, Mr Fadnavis, Mr Modi, before it’s too late to douse the flames.

For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.

- Audrey Hepburn Rt Hon Lord Navnit Dholakia Deputy Leader, Liberal Democrats, House of Lords,

In Memory of Harish I K Patel There was not a single dry eye when I K Patel died on 27 July 1994.

People turned up in their thousands to pay respect to one of their own who had done so much to empower the community towards their economic development both here and in East AfrIca. My tribute then was simple.

Grown up men cried but tears could not explain why he was taken away at the zenith of his popularity. A slim figure who never sought publicity and yet his presence was always there. He made things happen. His word was his bond. I recall the late Dr.L M Singhvi, the then Indian High Commissioner in Britain describe him as a gentle giant who made the community what it is today. A thriving diverse but loyal British citizens who are a credit to the United Kingdom.

The tragedy has now struck again. I K Patel's best legacy was his son Harish Patel. He was a replica of his father. Last week the community paid its last tribute to Harish.His untimely death deprived us of a genuinely decent friend who followed in his fathers footsteps to carry out the family traditions of charitable work. Two generations of devoted father and son are no longer with us. Our prayers are with his mother Vimlaben his wife Gita and his children Poojan and Janki.

Again sadness of his death may blur our memories of the remarkable contribution Harish made in his short life. We

should celebrate his life and his achievements. He had deep religious convictions promoting temples and community centres which would bring people of different beliefs together.

Harish took great pride in supporting the Oxford Centre of Hindu Studies. We often travelled together for our meetings there. He mobilised our young generation towards their understanding of Hindu religion. This Centre has lost a good friend. When we last travelled to Oxford,he confided in me his serious illness and was almost resigned to the fact that he may not be able to complete his dream of the Centre becoming the focus of Hinduism in Britain.

Harish and I K Patel will long be remembered for laying the foundation of a strong, proud and prosperous Indian community in Britain.

Memories of their achievements will never fade away. They represent all our values and beliefs enshrined in the way they lived their lives.

May they rest in everlasting Peace.

Asian Voice is published by ASIAN BUSINESS PUBLICATIONS LTD Karma Yoga House, 12 Hoxton Market, (Off Coronet Street) London N1 6HW. Tel: 020 7749 4080 • Fax: 020 7749 4081 Email: aveditorial@abplgroup.com Website: www.abplgroup.com © Asian Business Publications

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Asian Voice |19th March 2016

Speaker of House of Commons unveils Leicester’s World Tree

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Citibond Travel presented with recognition by Jet airways

Colin Neubronner, Senior Vice President- Marketing & Sales, Jet Airways, Rajiv Shah, Director, Citibond travel, Hitesh Mehta, Director, Citibond Travel and Lydia Nazareth, GM UK & Ireland, Jet Airways

The Speaker of the House of Commons, Rt Hon John Bercow MP, unveiled Leicester’s World Tree at the junction of Troon Way/Melton Road, Leicester on Friday 4 March 2016 in the presence of Rt Hon Keith Vaz MP, City Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby; Assistant Mayor Cllr Piara Clair together with invited guests and local residents.

The 5m high sculpture, whose branches are filled not with fruit, but with bronze light bulbs, stands opposite the site of the former GE-Thorn Lighting factory, a light bulb making factory which was internationally known.

The light bulbs represent the site's history, and the map of the world at the base of the tree acknowledges the many communities who have made Leicester their home.

Leicester East MP Keith Vaz, who took the lead on Leicester’s World Tree project, chaired the advisory committee that selected the design.

Rt Hon Keith Vaz said: "We have often described Leicester as a mirror of the world where people have come from all over the world to settle.

"The World Tree will represent the role played by people of different cultures in making Leicester a great city –

Citibond Travel was presented with a sales recognition award by Jet Airways for the 7th consecutive year. The award was presented by Jet Airways abroad cruise “The Symphony” on Wednesday, 2nd March 2016. Citibond Travel established in 1974 with offices in London, Stanmore and Leicester have served the travelling community with dedication and professionalism.

and I am sure it will attract visitors from all over the world. I am delighted that Mr Speaker was able to take some time out of his busy schedule to visit Leicester for this historic moment.

"I would like to thank City Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby and assistant city mayor Councillor Piara Singh Clair for their support on this project.”

Man in court after bank account was used to launder £9,500 A man whose account was used to launder £9,500 in a bank fraud was given a suspended jail sentence. Muhammed Khalifa, 23,

admitted retaining a wrongful credit, last August.

He was given a 22 week prison sentence, suspended for 18

months, with a 35-day rehabilitation activity requirement and ordered to do 140 hours of unpaid work.

Hero shop worker fights off armed robber

Doctor who called for all Tory MPs to be shot apologises A Midland hospital doctor has apologised for a Facebook rant where he claimed “all Tory MPs should be shot.”

Orthopaedic surgeon Dr Usman Ahmed, who spent part of his early career at Birmingham Orthopaedic and Birmingham Children’s Hospitals and has been labelled a poster boy for striking junior doctors, penned he had “always hated the Conservatives. He also said all Tory MPs should be “given hell” in the expletive-littered outburst about the long-running junior doctors’ dispute on the social media site.

Worcestershire NHS Trust is understood to be investigating after a complaint by Redditch MP Karen Lumley, who claimed she feared for her safety if she had to be treated by the angry medic.

Brum terrorist Junaid Hussain's Islamic State papers leaked Police are hunting an armed robber who was forced to flee empty-handed after a hero shop assistant fought him off - by holding him in a powerful bear hug.

The masked thug struck at Hob Moor News in Small Heath at 3pm on Thursday, March 10, and demanded cash after pulling out a terrifying metal bar.

But the store assistant, 30, turned the tables by tackling the robber and holding onto him in a bear hug for almost a minute.

The desperate crook managed to wrestle free to flee the bungled raid only when a customer walked in and left the door ajar.

Store boss Choudhry Khan, 38, said the brave assistant, who does not want to be named, suffered minor hand and mouth injuries - but is now back at work.

Thousands of Islamic State documents containing the personal details of fighters, including a Birmingham man and his ex-punk rocker wife, have been leaked.

More than 22,000 documents show the addresses, telephone numbers and family contacts of those who have signed up to join IS, Sky News said.

One of the documents reveals the details of Birmingham-born terrorist Junaid Hussain. His form lists his fighter name “Abu Hasayn Al Britani”, his mother’s maiden name, his date of birth, the fact that

he has a secondary level education and was previously an “electronics specialist”.

Computer whizzkid Hussain, formerly of Kings Heath, was ranked third on a US kill list and was previously jailed for hacking Tony Blair’s address book and blocking a government anti-terror hotline with prank calls.

He used a range of encrypted messengers to talk to contacts and persuade recruits to join IS. It is understood the 21year-old was killed in a RAF drone attack last year.

UK Asian Voice | 19th March 2016

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100 days to go: EU battle lines drawn as Brexit debate rages on Tuesday marked 100 days until UK's referendum on European Union membership. As fierce debate continues in Britain, with seemingly daily stories of scandals and political bustups, many experts remain undecided on whether Britons will remain in the bloc, or break ties with Brussels and push for a Brexit.

The Daily Telegraph reported that according to their recent poll, it has been revealed that supporters of Brexit are more likely to vote in the forthcoming referendum, which could give the Leave campaign a decisive edge. Urging the Commonwealth citizens, Priti Patel MP, the Employment Minister and PM's Champion of Indian Diaspora, who is one of the key leaders for Vote Leave campaign, told Asian Voice, “The EU Referendum is a time where we have a chance to rejoin the rest of the world and in particular the Commonwealth countries with which we are so strongly culturally and historically tied. But membership of the EU acts as a barrier to us strengthening those links with our friends in the Commonwealth.� “Whilst we remain in the EU we will continue to

Priti Patel MP at the Commonwealth Day celebration by Vote Leave

hand over our money to Brussels rather than investing in our communities and priorities. Whilst we remain we are risking the safety and prosperity of our children, and our children’s children, because we simply have no control of our future.� “Voting to leave is the better, safer choice. We need to take back control over the destiny of our country and provide a positive vision for the future.

We have one chance to do this. We have one vote to decide this. And we have one very clear option: Voting to leave the EU on 23rd June and make our great country greater still.�

A cornerstone of the Brexit argument is resting

on border control. Skeptics, in the light of current situation have claimed that UK will not be able to properly control its own borders unless it cuts ties with the EU and its freedom of movement principle. ProEU campaigners however have rejected such claims, arguing that leaving the EU would damage existing immigration cooperation agreements that the UK enjoys with countries such as France and would subsequently leave the country isolated on border protection issues.

At the Vote Leave cocktail reception on Monday to celebrate Commonwealth day, Patel also insisted that exiting EU will ease access for

Indians/commonwealth citizens in Britain. But proEU campaigners have rejected that claim, stating border laws for non-EU immigrants in Britain remain unaffected by EU laws.

While Downing Street and the campaign to stay in Europe are attempting to kill of BBC's Wembley Arena Referendum, amid fears it will descend into a 'circus', the Queen has been drawn into a row over the EU Referendum after it was claimed she has allegedly expressed concerns about the direction of Europe during private conversations. It was reported that the Queen

allegedly made critical remarks about the EU during a lunch attended by former Deputy PM Nick Clegg.

Fears that Eurosceptics may use this to their benefit has spread like fire.

However Buckingham Palace insisted that the Queen is 'politically neutral'.

David Cameron according to The Times, has accused Brexit campaigners of viewing potential job losses and damage to businesses as a 'price worth paying' for Britain quitting the EU. He argued that the economic consequences of Brexit will be highly damaging.

Boris Johnson describ-

ing Cameron and his allies as a 'merchant of gloom' set our his vision of Britain as 'very very bright' outside EU, proposing a Canadian style free trade agreement. But later Mr Cameron said that the model Johnson has proposed was “too good to be true.�

NEXT WEEK LOOK OUT FOR l BREXIT: What are we voting for? By Nishit Patel l Should UK remain a member of the EU or leave the EU? By Jasvir Singh, City Sikhs Network

Indian employees may need to leave UK under new immigration law Indians in the UK could be affected by a new law from 6 April 2016, where they could be asked to leave the UK or not granted a Permanent residence (Indefinite Leave to Remain) in Britain, if their annual salary is below ÂŁ35,000.

The changes will affect professionals living and working in Britain on a Tier-2 visa who earn less

than ÂŁ35,000 at the end of five years of their stay in the country. According to the UK's Office of National Statistics (ONS), of the 55,589 Tier-2 sponsored visa applications cleared in 2014-2015, nearly 78% were for Indians (31,058).

The exact figure of those affected by the salary threshold requirements remains uncertain

but it is estimated to be between 30,000 and 40,000 workers.

The other major groups employed under this category include Americans, Australians, Chinese and Japanese nationals. However, the government remains adamant that the changes are essential to tackle the country's immigration problems.

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COMMONWEALTH DAY

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‘WE ARE A FAMILY, BOUND BY COMMON VALUES’ AsianVoiceNews

Asian Voice |19th March 2016

Rupanjana Dutta

It was a freezing but sunny morning in London.

People gathered at the Memorial Gates, Constitution Hill to pay homage to the Commonwealth soldiers, the focus of this year's commemoration being the engagement at Gallipoli in 1915-16. Chairs were laid on the grass, as people greeted and met each otherMPs, Peers, Ambassadors from Commonwealth Missions, former President of Nigeria, representatives of the Light Cavalry of the Honourable Artillery Company, contingent of serving soldiers whose families come from several Commonwealth nations.

The ceremony started with Queen's Guards passing by, followed by a speech from the Parton – Life President and the Chairman of the Memorial Gates Council.

Baroness Shreela Flather who has given a decade of her life to erect this Memorial Gates, started her speech by saying that this was her last year as the organiser. She said, “This Memorial was started by me in 1997, because that is the year I discovered there is no memorial for Indians. It started as the Memorial for Indians and as we went along, it was necessary to include the other non-white colonials. It's so important for the British today to remember all of us, who came served, fought and died. And we were being forgotten. But now to some extend we have reminded people about what happened. Now its upto you all, wherever you work or whatever you do, to remind them that a large number of Indians were there, in the first war, the Africans fought in Africa, the Germans were in Afrtica, and in the second war some Nigerans were actually in Burma. We owe something to all the people who are remembered here.

Nepal was almost like an off-shoot of Britain, it was never a colony, they were integral part of the British army and still are. This is something I want all of you to take back with you.

“Baroness Scotland was on the Millenium Commission. I gave her a hand-written commission, for the money for this Memorial in October 1997.

And she put that in the Committee the next day.

There are people who have helped, we had wonderful trustees and there people still committed to the Memorial.

She paid homage to a dear friend of the Memorial, Mr Laurie Philpotts who passed away. He was one of those

Guests paying tribute to the fallen at the Memorial Gates on Commonwealth Day

supporters of the West Indian origin, who came forward to help Baroness Flather right when she started her Memorial Gates journey. She also congratulated Dr Rami Ranger for his new CBE title and thanked him for sponsoring the tea at the commemoration ceremony for years.

C h a i r m a n Inderjeet Nihar said, “Since 1997 and beyond I have been hearing words like 'We were there too', 'we musnt let them forget' and this is what it's all about.

This Memorial is a testimony to Baroness Flather and her hard work since 1997, without which there will be no memory of this time in this country. The Memorial Gates Council has a mission, which can be described by 3 Rs. The first R- stands for Recognition of 6.5mn volunteers for the Empire, king and country, from British India to British Africa to West Indies. The second R is to Remember- in terms of

Gallipoli, is about the 5000 strong soldiers, the 14th Firozpur Sikh battalion, who fought alongside New Zealand, Australia and the Gurkhas, what is called Turkey today. It is not to take away anything from the heritage but to add to

illuminate history. Student of University of Oxford, Cambridge and Harvard are re-visiting history from a different perspective.

This is what we are trying to achieve today. To reeducate society in the UK, that there were contribu-

The remembrance wreaths at the Chhatri

it. What's happening to the world today, we need to revisit history in a particular way. It is also recognition of the fact that we have amongst us representatives of Kamal Mustafa Atatur, where Turkey was born.

The third R is to Re-educate, re-examine and re-

tions by other communities, we are part of the same fabric...”

He also urged presents guests to attend the National Army Museum exhibition at the event, showcasing soldiers engagement at Gallipoli, from Africans and Indian

perspctives.

And made a special mention about guestsrepresentatives from Kenya, New Zealand and Australia, joining for the first time and representatives from the Turkish Embassy.

Rt Hon John Whittingdale Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sports said, “This Memorial gates which pay tribute to the huge sacrifices of all those from the Carribean community, Indian subcontinent who paid supreme sacrifice in both the two world wars. I would also like to pay tribute particularly to Baroness Shreela Flather, who made this commemorarion possible.

This is a special year to mark 100th anniversary Gallipoli and battle of Somme, and the enormous contribution of what is now the Commonwealth, is being recognised through out to mark the first world war centenary.

We depended on the extra ordinary courage of those who served and we must never forget the international nature of that effort...What makes their heroism all the more remarkable, is that they were mostly volunteers, fighting for a country upon which many of them would ever set eyes. We pay tribute to the Commonwealth war graves commission which manages war cemetries of soldiers at 23,000 location in 154 countries.

Altogether more than 1.7mn people remembered.

The sheer scakle of that sacrifice is exztraordinary.

Soldiers from the Indian subcontinent played an

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important role through out the first world war. Those soldiers fought with most bravery, distinction, suffered appalling losses...”

Rt Hon Baroness Scotland QC Secretary General of the Commonwealth Designate said, “This morning is one of joy and sadness, we remember all of those who died so that we could be free, those who fought and lived to make a better world and make our Commonwealth real. It is a matter of great pride to me as a child of a Carribean, and a child of Commonwealth to be asked to be the Secretary General. It is a matter of great pride, because I stand here, I remember my grandfather fought in the first world war, and he fought with men from all over the commonwealth (representing 53 countries). And that legacy is one of amazing importance. I too would like to salute Shreela, without her passion and without her vision we won't be celebrating today...

“As I pass through these gates, on my way to House of Lords, I feel huge pride and I never ever fail to say a prayer and thank all of those who not only fought then, but also those who fight now to keep us free. The Commonwealth is a flame. We are a family.

We were a family in the first world war, we were a family in the second world war and we are a family today. We are bound by common values, common beliefs, in justice, in peace, in liberty and the new Charter is our legacy. So for those who fought for our freedom, it is our responsibility now to fight for the freedom of the 53. And I hope that we will not let them down, that they did not die in vain. And it's moving therefore to gather together as the flame burns

India and the Commonwealth

Dr Annette Prandzioch, Royal Commonwealth Society The Royal Commonwealth Society, the oldest and largest Civil Society in the Commonwealth, was founded in 1868, in a very different era. Governed by Royal Charter the Society promotes the values of the Modern Commonwealth.

The archives of the Society are located at Cambridge

University Library. A recent visit revealed a treasure trove, including Queen Mary’s private collection of books, photographic and personal scrap albums. Souvenirs of train tickets on the Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway and social events of the then Prince and Princess of Wales at Rawal Pindi in 1905, together with annotated photographs by Queen Mary of the Royal couple from their Indian Tour of 1911-1912 at the Durbar in Delhi and the King on his hunting trips, documented their visits to India in intimate and caring detail. One particularly beautiful book was presented to Queen Mary by the women of Bombay and featured beautifully paint-

ed pictures of local Hindu, Parsi and Muslim ladies.

The collection was presented by Queen Mary to the Society following concerns that if left with the original recipient, the India Office, the collection might be split up following partition.

But indeed times have changed, with India now an emergent global power with the manifest advantages of being the world’s largest democracy, with a solid rule of law, burgeoning skilled labour force and world leaders in information technology. And global challenges abound; from climate change to countering violent extremism, to bringing greater prosperity through trade and investment and a con-

tinued push for gender equality. These are all agenda items for the Commonwealth network to which India can bring so much.

March is always an important focus in the Commonwealth calendar, with Commonwealth Day having recently been celebrated at the UK’s largest multi-faith service at Westminster Abbey, with The Queen and other members of royal family in attendance together with heads of government, high commissioners and parliamentarians. This year the service was a particularly historic occasion, and broadcast live on the BBC, as it marked The Queen’s 90th birthday year and some 64 years as Head of

the Commonwealth.

The Society plays its own small part in effecting change and is leading a new initiative to preserve indigenous forests around the Commonwealth in The Queen’s name - the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy. There are already seven countries committed to this initiative and the hope and expectation is that India will also soon join. Next year is the India UK year – marking 70 years of bilateral relations with the UK as well as being an ideal time to mark India’s engagement with the Commonwealth and importance in this global network.

The Society hopes to play its part in honouring this relationship.

COMMONWEALTH DAY

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Asian Voice | 19th March 2016

7

Queen celebrates Commonwealth Day at the Westminster Abbey

Rt. Hon John Whittingdale MP, Baroness Shreela Flather, Rt Hon Baroness Scotland QC, Inderjeet Nijhar and wife Semra Eren-Nijhar

above this Memorial and to remember the many members of the armed forces from all the 5 regions of the Commonwealth who served in the first and second world war. We also should remember that they did so voluntarily, they were not bound or forced.

They stood together for what was right and free...”

The speeches were then followed by a minute silence and the Last Post.

The event concluded with music, the wreath laying ceremony and a short speech by the former President of Nigeria.

Her Majesty The Queen, the Head of the Commonwealth for 64 years, attended the annual Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey, the largest multi-faith service in the UK. Her Majesty was joined by The Duke of Edinburgh, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, The Duke of York, and Prince Henry of Wales. The Commonwealth Service was the first major ceremonial event for Her Majesty in her 90th birthday year.

Guests of honour included UK Prime Minister David Cameron, the Prime Minister of Malta and new Chair-inOffice of the Commonwealth, Dr Joseph Muscat, diplomats, High Commissioners, and faith leaders. Highlights of the Service included a principal reflection from former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and a performance from singer-songwriter Ellie Goulding. The Service was also attended by almost 1,000 school children from across the UK and several faith leaders.

The theme of this year’s Commonwealth service was 'An Inclusive Commonwealth.'

Kofi Annan said that, as a Ghanaian he felt very much part of the Commonwealth family: “It has never been more important for the Commonwealth to stress the bonds of human compassion and solidarity that unite us across the divides of race and religion, gender and geography.”

Lord Singh of Wimbledon CBE, representing the Sikh community at the Service said: “As a Sikh, brought up in the belief that, despite superficial differences of religion and culture, we are all members of the same human family, it is heartening to see this ethos becoming central to the working of the Commonwealth.”

Athletes across the Commonwealth also celebrated Commonwealth Day. The Commonwealth sporting movement marked the start of Commonwealth week by revealing the biggest-ever para-athlete participation in the next Commonwealth Games, which takes place in Gold Coast in 2018. The CGF and Gold Coast 2018 organisers have unveiled the largest-ever para-sport programme in Commonwealth Games history, featuring up to 300 athletes across 38 events in 7 sports.

To mark the historic announcement, Youth Games medallists and Glasgow 2014 para-athletes attended the annual Commonwealth Service at

Westminster Abbey in London organised by the Royal Commonwealth Society. Later, they met Her Majesty the Queen at a special reception at Marlborough House, home of the Commonwealth Secretariat. In attendance were Samoa 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games medallists Rebekah O’Loughlin, Georgina Boyle, Biatrice Cabbell and Glasgow 2014 para-athletes Samantha Kinghorn and Paul Brown.

His Excellency Kamalesh Sharma, Secretary General of the Commonwealth said: “The Commonwealth Games have long been known as the 'friendly games' and now they earn the welldeserved title of the 'inclusive games'. I commend the continuing commitment and positive efforts of the Commonwealth Games Federation to ensure the spirit of 'An Inclusive Commonwealth' is carried forward in practical ways.

Greater opportunity for participation by all advances the transformative potential of sport to empower and embrace all Commonwealth citizens as a global good.”

8

UK

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Asian Voice | 19th March 2016

CB Patel

The Art of Living The Art of Collecting and The Science of Living As I See It

The Art of Living is in the news in a very big way, especially on the satellite TV channels from India – for both wrong and right reasons.

In the beginning of the 20th century Swami Yogananda was the most wellknown preacher of Hindu spiritualism, especially in the USA. He followed the path (geographically) of Swami Vivekananda.

Yogananda, a Bengali-origin sanyasi, was a scholar of Vedanta with proficiency in Sanskrit and many other Indian languages, besides good command over English. He was very popular in the West Coast (California) as well as Chicago area of the USA. President Barack Obama has mentioned about “The Autobiography of a Yogi”

by Swami Yogananda which he had read.

Yogananda promoted the theory of Art of Living and at one stage it spread to innumerable locations in the USA. As it happens with such spiritual movements, Yogananda was challenged by some of his own disciples and the movement of Art of Living incurred unwarranted and damaging publicity.

Some 35 years ago, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar began the Art of Living project from Bengaluru (Karnataka, India). It’s a very well thought-out programme to regain one's sense of direction, peace of mind, to encourage development of self-consciousness which, in turn, can boost self-confidence, self-esteem and inspire positive attitude to life.

Over the years Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's message has become truly international and

he is one of the most well-known spiritual leaders of India with followers in almost all major countries.

Last weekend the World Culture Festival attended by some 3 million people was launched on the banks of the river Yamuna (near Delhi) with great razzmatazz, singing, dancing and all that jazz. Such a mega congregation of cultural representatives from so many different countries has never been seen before at any one stage, at any venue in modern world.

The parties opposed to BJP in general and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in particular spared no efforts to raise controversy and level umpteen number of allegations against the festival and its inspirer Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.

There were some genuine concerns about ecology, environment, planning permission, traffic management and such other issues, but it appears they all stemmed from

The Golden Tours Foundation based in London has two vacancies for dynamic team leaders to manage its Heritage Lotter y Funded pr oject ‘Remember ing Indian Soldiers in WW1.’ The projec t will deliver a wide range of activities including outreach, workshops and events.

Project Manager - To provide leadership to the project ensuring so that it fulfils its objectives. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who is passionate about managing a multi-faced workload working with diverse communities and a dedicated team of volunteers. The 18- month contract is based on working 3 days a week. Salary £30,000 per annum, pro-rata.

Essential Skills I Experience of managing public funded community focused projects.

I Line management experience and volunteer coordination I Excellent time management and communications I Proven ability to work within a tight budget I Flexible and hands on attitude Volunteer Co-ordinator - For this role we are looking for an experienced Volunteer Coordinator who will be responsible for recruiting, training and managing the workload of volunteers. The 18-month contract is based working two days a week, reporting to the Project Manager. Salary £26,000 per annum, pro rata.

Essential Skills I Experience of recruiting, training, retention and managing the workload of volunteers I Excellent communication skills I Experience of community focused projects I Flexible and hands on attitude I Able to demonstrate ties and connections within the target geographic areas

For informal conversation contact Jane Roemer at jroemer@goldentoursfoundation.co.uk.

How to Apply, go to www.goldentoursfoundation.co.uk for a job pack.

Closing Date 4th April 2016.

the fact that Sri Sri Ravi Shankar was one of the earliest “big names” who came out openly in support of Narendra Modi as the choice for India’s prime minister.

In India, in spite of Modi’s thunderous victory in 2014 General Elections, the Prime Minister’s detractors do not miss any opportunity to put him down through such silly attacks on cultural festival.

Time will prove what is the net gain or loss of such a worldwide epoch-making event.

Art of Collecting:

Till June 1979, Britain was called “Sick man of Europe”. It was true in economic terms.

Britain lagged behind Germany and France from the European mainland. Our prosperity especially productivity was far behind.

Margaret Thatcher, within a few hours of becoming Prime Minister, removed the exchange control regime and opened many doors for “free enterprise”.

Keith Joseph and others had convinced the Iron Lady that the UK will gain enormously by keeping its door open for international business.

Subsequently with the Big Bang, the UK has enhanced its prosperity almost unparalleled in the recent past and is not far behind Germany. The facts are there for all of us to see. In the last 30-odd years the prosperity has permeated to all over the country.

London today is much more beautiful and prosperous than ever before and our GDP also shows we are the sixth richest nation in the world. However, such a progress comes at a price. The rich are, of course, becoming richer. And it is not that the poor are becoming poorer, but the gap between the two is undeniably widening, with the consequences for all us to see.

The generation gap, the attitude to work, dependency on benefits and tendency to acquire wealth through both legal and illegal means as well as unabashedly opting for non-doms or tax havens are surely creating tensions which are harmful to the fabric of the society.

Those who have made millions and billions here are reluctant to pay the due taxes and their unwillingness to pay taxes where they have made their fortune is both confusing as well as is not welcomed by the law abiding citizens who pay their taxes and have stayed productive and remained resident in the country. The generation gap has its own roots somewhere in this disparity.

Every weekend the national tabloids publish glossy, attractive and bumper specials titled – 1. Art of Collecting (Financial Times) 2. The wise guise – how to spend it men's style edition (Financial Times) 3. Luxury by The Telegraph Such promotion or marketing of the most expensive goods or lifestyles is not to be frowned upon simply because those at the lower rung of the society can develop some sense of envy or jealously which, in turn, can lead to crimes.

Pub crawling, alcohol, drug dependency too has its roots in such extravagant lifestyle.

A House Full of Daughters by Juliet Nicolson will be published on 24th March. Sunday Times magazine on 13th March produced a beautiful extract from the book.

Juliet describes with great sensitivity her growing up at Sissinghurst Castle with details of secrets long held out of sight.

A House Full of Daughters is a family memoir which is a moving account of seven generations of women in Juliet’s family.

Juliet, a renowned historian, uncovers her family's past and makes significant discoveries about herself in the process, especially her initial awkward relationship with her mother Philippa is beautifully juxtaposed with the gradual easing of that tense relationship as she enters into matrimony.

The excitement of coming together of a

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couple in a marriage is delicately contrasted with a home truth when Juliet’s father Nigel declares: “The most important lesson of all is that the sex element of a marriage is about 10%.”

Her revelations of her mother’s descent into infidelity and alcoholism, especially her second marriage to an old but stinking rich Sir Robin McAlpine and her subsequent extravagant lifestyle is remarkably chronicled in the memoir. There is hope as well when she realizes her challenge is to embrace the good and reject the hazards that have trapped past generations.

The contrast is in the expectations and what we get in life.

I would recommend everyone to read this book, especially to those who have to acquire better understanding of their parents in spite of several contradictions and crises.

Along the way one cannot escape that Juliet and her husband James had opted “a normal life” which could be ideal for all.

The Science of Living

It leads me to think about the Science of Living as practised by Mahatma Gandhi.

On 9th January, 1915, Gandhiji returned to India for good after spending some 20 years in South Africa where he gained worldwide fame for his non-violent peaceful protest against racial segregation and apartheid.

It is difficult to visualise the Indian political situation 101 years ago.

Indian National Congress was established in 1885 helped by a senior Indian-British civil servant A O Hume. It was supported by many people from this country, but it remained a group of people meeting in some cities mainly Calcutta (now Kolkata), Bombay (now Mumbai) and Madras (now Chennai) and passed resolutions. At the most they were pleading for Home Rule.

Common Indians desirous of Independence had no clear idea how to go about it. Gandhiji by putting into practice a simple and well-planned process of mass mobilisation created an unparalleled following where people were willing to protest against the imperial power by adopting peaceful and non-violent means. They stuck to these principles despite being provoked by baton-weilding horse mounted police or lathi-charge or even firing. In this piece, today I need not elaborate much on the change of scenario within 5 years' of Gandhiji's return to India. How it happened?

Vinoba Bhave of the famous Bhoodan (land gift) movement, who was dedicated to Gandhiji’s ideals, was a lifelong follower of Gandhiji and inherited his spiritual mantle.

According to Bhave, Gandhiji preached and practised the following 11 principles to live a good life.

Truth, non-violence, not to steal, not to hoard, practising celibacy, self-help, embracing untouchables, fearlessness, using indigenous goods, simple food habits, and respect to all faiths.

This is ideal way of living life. It may not be possible to follow all the 11 principles, but some of them like – to be fearless, self-help, not to steal, not to acquire possessions more than what is needed (or hoarding), respect to all faiths can well be put to practice in our day-to-day life.

The idea behind bhoodan was that land, wealth and even learning, belonged not to an individual, but to society. Bhudan, therefore, was not to be seen as charity, but as sharing, which was the right way to live.

Vinoba Bhave said: “If there is poverty in the country, it should be shared, and if there is wealth, that too must be shared.”

Wealth creation is not the problem but it should not come at a price i.e. not at the expense of ethics, values or others.

Perhaps Art of Living is teaching the same thing. Perhaps the Science of Living preached by Gandhiji was much more fundamental.

UK Asian Voice | 19th March 2016

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Rani Singh, Special Assignments Editor

Paresh Rughani- Passionate and Motivational Public Speaker You have to watch Paresh Rughani in action to appreciate his skill at motivational speaking.

Paresh is a chartered accountant turned corporate trainer in management and soft skills courses. He now works on personal development and professional education.

He uses no notes. With big wide eyes behind thick horn rimmed glasses and a ready smile, he makes each member of his audience feel special.

Paresh distills motivational philosophies from well known thinkers and conveys them to audiences with easy to remember acronyms made up of letters.

Leaping around the speaking area from side to side, up and down, he makes an engaging, energetic performer who leaves you thinking even while you laugh.

Paresh holds a BA in Accounting and Finance, is a qualified chartered global

management accountant (CGMA), and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, Toastmasters International and Institute of Sales and Management Marketing respectively.

Turning Point

in 1990, a sudden turning point took place in Paresh’s life/career. He turned tragedy into opportunity, resolving to give his time to selfless service and charity work, without expectation of any reward.

Genesis of the public speaking

After the dramatic death of his four-day-old nephew on his birthday

Paresh Rughani

PRESENTS

YOUTH CONFERENCE 2016

Paresh says he always used own personal aims, hopes to lecture for accountants, and ambition. Sometimes and taught professional I’m thinking about the courses. pressure on all of my “I started in the indusfriends who qualified at the try. I worked for Siemens same time as me, but that’s and another couple of for them. I was keen to organizations, but do this and sacriI always thought ficed some of my that was not my Even if I do this goals, what I’ve cup of tea. At s t u d i e d , many, many university I because I can did a BA do this.” times, I would H o n s One of the Accountancy things Paresh still wake up and Finance does is make for four years, early and try to his sessions with a one year very interactive. rehearse it placement, and He also gets his even then I was audience members fascinated by the thinking hard as human touch. So my members of their comdissertation was on motipany’s team. He gives them vation; that money is not exercises geared towards the root of motivation, making their firm more there’s other things in life effective and successful, a which motivate you. I love useful game to play. playing with words.

Here’s an example of When my four day old his code exercises. nephew passed away a lot “I want to tell you about of people said ‘Oh life’s a the five Ps.” bitch! There’s nothing to “What five Ps?” look forward to.’ and I said “Answer; perfect plan‘No no no, why can’t we ning prevents poor perwork that into ‘life is a formance; plan your work beach’? Think of it as a nice and work your plan, plan to beach, think of it as a fail and fail to plan. I do beach’ and then I began this inside out. I’m revealthinking positive.

It ing a hidden secret, even became a metaphor for me, when I’m in the bathroom serving the community, having a shower, believe changing lives one at a me, I’m doing the conclutime, all the time. sion: how to spice this conclusion up, how to interact The challenges of with the audience, what’s public service something better I can do.

Paresh says: “If you want to So I practice this, you do public speaking and know? charity you sacrifice your

We will now be hosting our annual Youth Conference networking evening in end of April 2016. We have a fantastic line-up of speakers who will share their success stories, give motivational short talks to inspire and advise the younger generation, so that young people can fulfill their aspirations and get ahead in the world of work. There will be a scope to take part in Q&A and brief workshops.

Date & Time: April 2016, 5:30-9pm Venue: TBC Age: 15-40

CHANGE OF DATE

April 2016

REGISTER

NOW

on aveditorial@abplgroup.com by 15 April 2016

I work with letters.

Today I have everything done, it’s called A, B and C. So I say ‘A, I will talk about attitude and then I’ll do three things”.

Paresh puts hours and hours into his preparation.

“Even if I do this many, many times, I would still wake up early and try to rehearse it, try to time it, try to see myself in the mirror, my body language.”

Some of Paresh’s clients are; Ernst and Young, Deloitte, KPMG, PWC, Accenture, Citibank, Bank of Mauritius, Hilton Hotels, Marriott Hotels, Starwood Hotels, Intercontinental hotel group, Jumeirah hotels, Taj Hotels, Resorts and Palaces, ITC welcome hotels, Adani group, the Indian administrative service, Indian Institute of Technology, (IIT), Pitman Group, University of Leicester, Westminster University, Edinburgh Business School, Swaminarayan independent school.

In 2007, Paresh personally raised more than £5,000 pounds for the British Heart Foundation during an annual 10k challenge. He has also raised money for other charities including: Kids UK, Age UK, Barnardos, Anthony Nolan Trust, Cancer Research, Oxfam, Diabetes UK, Rotary International and others.

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READERS’ VOICE

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Asian Voice | 19th March 2016

Things holding India back Niranjan Vasant mentioned two factors holding India back. There are many others ingrained in Indian psyche, will be difficult to overcome. Analogous to Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”, India is like a “blasted heath” where “fair is foul and foul is fair”. Everything leftist and liberal is projected as “fair”/ rightist projected as “foul”.

Press pushes miscreants towards “hovering through fog and filthy air”.

Loyalty transferred from one ruler to next eg raja, Moguls, British, Nehru dynasty etc, is not yet translated into Indo centric patriotism. Therefore Nehru dynasty that ruled for more than 60 years may return in 2019.

Misinterpretation of nonviolence and tolerance, resulting in passive mood of public, are a handicap when leftists create turmoil.

Meddling by local, and international espionage agencies hinder progress of India. Though Sardar Patel successfully united 500 states under one Union, underlying parochial divisions are still pulling India in different directions. This also might be one cause why Gujarati P.M. Modi’s every good effort is not appreciated, is mocked by opponents. But seething volcano under tranquil mien of P.M. Modiji threatens all miscreants who are making loud noises in Parliament and in public to divert attention from investigations that may be their nemesis.

Ramesh Jhalla By email

Britain and Europe

The current enigma: “if you cannot beat them, (do not) join them”. Are we the fifth largest economy in the world? Not in terms of per capita purchasing power parity income compared to 338 million Europeans in the 17 Eurozone countries: $30,000 yearly in UK compared to $33,000 in EU-17.

In Human Development Index terms (per capita income, number of years in school and life expectancy combined), we come 14th. In inequality, we rank 21st.

In productivity, we come 23rd. Europe’s all public services, institutions, ethos of stronger countries supporting weaker ones, manufacturing capacity, taxation system, governance, etc. must be better as they fare better on all above criteria.

We paid membership for 43 years at say £10 billion per year, that is, £430 billion, to incorporate thousands of rules and regulations into our laws. Do we now want to rewrite these by passing UK legislation? At what cost? History is repeating itself. EU started in 1951, Britain believed ‘common market’ would not work. It actively promoted ‘Free Trade Association’. British economy lost ground. It applied to join EEC in 1963: admitted after third application in 1973. 2016: Britain actively promotes free trade on its own as the modern Hercules.

Nagin Khajuria By email

Britain and Europe

The Gurkhas have been facing "apartheid" system in Hong Kong in the last British administrative Hong Kong. Different schools for the Gurkha children's and different terms and conditions for the Gurkhas, compare to our British Counterparts in pay,accommodation,education etc. And it is more than 200 years and the Gurkhas are still struggling hard to find the " STATUS " against the British government?

It is very unfortunate and sad to say that the "APART-HEID " system and the "Superior vs Inferior " attitude still exist in work place and on the buses etc in the 21st century in UK? Yam Gurung (rtd) By email

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Swearing in the street

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Heap praise where it is due

We have seen people being fined for spitting in the street, or littering in the lanes or even honking their car horns in the wee hours of the night. Now, in a new initiative, one council in the north of the country has come up with the idea of fining people who swear in the streets!

According to media reports, People in Salford Quayes will receive an on the spot fine for swearing in the street. It is not clear which words will be banned or whether the move will breach freedom of expression. The Council says that the order was brought in last year after they received complaints from residents about anti-social behavior.

Similar initiatives have already been in operation in some states in the U S. Could such scheme of fining people who swear in public places work in certain cities in India which are world renowned for their swear words?

Swearing is so common that it is a way of life in places like Surat and other cities in Gujarat. The swearing here is harmless and the swear words are not meant to cause offence.

However, a similar scheme, if it can work, will put people off from swearing in public places. Pardon my language, but this could take the piss out of people who swear randomly!

Dinesh Sheth Newbury Park, Ilford

Being a life long reader of GS/AV, I have been reading AV, especially "Your Voice" now "Reader Voice" column for a long time, although I put pen to paper on rare occasion.

Bhupendrabhai was the mainstay of AV for considerable time, when it was in its infant stage, being part of GS. I was fortunate to meet Bhupendrabhai when he kindly signed his two books "Ivory Tower" and "Olive Grove" popular novels, now my treasured possessions,as many of his stories were published in Asian Voice.

It seems Mr Khajuria who is also frequent, polished contributor, may not have met Bhupendrabhai, thus his low opinion of him! Besides being a prolific writer, Bhupendrabhai is also a social worker of repute, helping everyone who approaches him, with his writing skill, knowledge and connection, having interviewed so many prominent politicians in his own home, including Councillors, Mayors, MPS and Lords for various newspapers and magazine, including AV. I feel, as a reader, it is our duty to heap praise where it is due, especially for such unselfish voluntary services.

Dinesh Patel By email

Is there life after death?

Recently I came across interesting article where it stated that six out of ten believe they were contacted by their departed partners. As we live in modern, scientific world where most do not believe even in God and churches are practically deserted, such belief is indeed surprising.

Modern belief is “Dust to dust, ashes to ashes.” Then there are some who believe in resurrection of Lord Jesus Christ three days after his death. This is indeed a complex subject with no clear cut answer. As most people dearly love their partners, believe their lives are empty without them; perhaps this should not come as a surprise. So often such faith, known as “Post-bereavement Hallucinatory Experience (PBHE) may give comfort to the survivor and keep away depression, no matter how absurd it may sound to rest of us. Even medical profession who so often send patients with depression, anguish and trauma to faith healers feel such diversion may benefit the patient in the short term, to come to term with their loss.

Some Hindus believe in rebirth for similar reasons, belief once mocked but fast gaining popularity in the West. It seems such interlude in “Godless” Western world; such heterogeneous beliefs are fast gaining popularity, replacing old faith with new one! Perhaps readers with similar experiences may decipher, share it with us!

Kumudini Valambia By email

Self help is the way forward

Reservation is curse of modern India, as every Tom, Dick and Harry would like to climb band-wagon for easy ride to political, educational and financial advancement.

Fiduciary activists are in the pockets of political parties, mainly Congress for a “fist full of dollars” exploiting fragilities, fragmentary nature of Indian political system with regional parties normally holding national parties to ransom. Last election result was an exception rather than norm. Enterprising communities succeed without reservation. Sindhies, Parcis, Jains, Daudi Bhoras, Ismalis and Ahmedia Muslims are prime example of how to succeed with self-help. When I was studying in Bombay, I distinctly remember how Sindhies who were brutally thrown out of Sindh province in 1947, struggling to earn living with tiny, mobile shops and sleeping rough.

Although some government help was available, most were too proud to accept. But the community was united, with rich, well settled Sindhies helping their fellow community members. Now Sindhies, along with Parcis, Ismalis and few others are richest communities not only in India but throughout the world.

Sindhi shops selling famous brand watches and expensive electrical goods dominate prime sites in hot holiday destinations like Gibraltar, Canary Islands, Malta and Cyprus. There are hardly any poor Sindhies, Ahmedias or Ismalis.

Gujarati Patels are such enterprising community who have chosen reservation as short cut to success that may ruin Gujarat’s political stability and enormous economic success cemented by Modiji.

Bhupendra M. Gandhi By email

Save gujarati and consortium of gujarati schools

Further to the ‘Save Gujarati’ Open Letter campaign initiated by Gareth Thomas MP, we at the Consortium of Gujarati Schools wish to state that we welcome support from all persons, groups and organisations regardless of their political orientation. We are a non- party political, non sectarian organisation striving to improve the quality of learning and teaching of Gujarati and to raise the interest and commitment of our youth to learning Gujarati.

In view of the current uncertainty of the future of Gujarati GCSE and A Level, we would strongly urge all parents, teachers, students and members of the community to write to their MPs expressing their concerns in this regard. If you need any help, information or support, please feel free to contact any one of us. We look forward to your full support and co-operation.

Jayantibhai Tanna Chair, CGS (jntanna@aol.com – Tel: 020 8421 5536)

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Gareth Thomas, MP

Save Gujarati Labour, Harrow West

In a hectic and globalised 21st century, the languages we share and the relationships we build are crucial.

Our children should be at the forefront of this as ambassadors for the UK, communicating and working together with other young people across the globe. But in recent years, the resources the UK has dedicated to ensuring our young people learn the languages of dynamic and growing economies, such as India, hasn’t been adequate, and even more worryingly, is putting the study of languages like Gujarati at risk all together. The UK needs to properly resource the study of languages like Gujarati, ensuring we have the qualified teachers, examiners and classrooms available so languages can thrive and young people can get the education they deserve.

Local people active in the running of weekend community schools where the teaching of Gujarati is an important activity approached me to warn me that the exam board is once again planning to stop offering exams in Gujarati. That’s why I recently launched an open letter to the government, calling for the teaching and examination of Gujarati to be protected.

Within only a few days, hundreds and hundreds of people from across the UK have signed the letter demonstrating the strength of support for the teaching of Gujarati. From Harrow to Orkney, Southall to Cornwall, people want their voice heard and I’m determined to ensure the Conservative Government hears it. Forty years ago, we could get by with a little bit of French or maybe even German, but the world has radically changed in the 21st Century, and if young people in Britain aren’t able to converse in vital languages from superpowers such as India, Britain will lose out. Gujarati is the first language of Prime Minister Modi and was one of the remarkable Mahatma Gandhi's languages too. It’s the language of families with strong links to India from across the UK and is part and parcel of the rich web of family and trade ties between the UK and one of India's great states.

Over 5,000 have already got involved with the campaign, but if you haven’t already, feel free to sign the open letter at www.gareththomas.org/save_gujarat i or even pass the link on to friends, family or neighbours who might want to help save the teaching of Gujarati.

11

British Asian scientist Manish Patel upbeat as ExoMars sets off to find life on Mars The Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) and Schiaparelli lander — the first phase of the two-part, Europeanled ExoMars life-hunting program — phoned home Monday on schedule at 5:30 p.m. EDT (2130 GMT), 12 hours after blasting off together from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The rocket is scheduled to reach Mars on the 19th of October this year.

TGO's two solar arrays deployed shortly after radio contact was established, European Space Agency (ESA) officials announced via Twitter.

just after TGO's signal was received. "Go, go, go, ExoMars!" he said.

One of the scientists who worked on the project included Dr Manish Patel who hails from Bakrol, Gujarat and is the co-lead for the NOMAD instrument, and a Senior Lecturer in Planetary Sciences at the Open University and the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Oxfordshire.

He and his team designed and led the TGO’s ozone mapping ultraviolet (UV) spectrometer instrument and watched the launch via a live link from the

Artists impression of TGO launching the Schiaparelli lander near the Red Planet

"We have a mission, and for the second time, Europe is going to Mars!"

ExoMars flight operations director Michel Denis said from ESA's control center in Darmstadt, Germany,

European Space Operations Centre (Esoc) in Darmstadt, Germany.

Dr Patel said: "It was a bit of a numbing few minutes before the launch but I'm very happy, although

my life working on it so I am excited and nervous.

You're strapping an instrument you've devoted your life to on top of a great big bomb.

"I don't think we will see biological organisms there now but I think we may see life that existed, maybe billions of years ago which has gone extinct. I think within five to 10 years we will know whether there was life on Mars."

Dr Patel previously worked on a weather instrument for the ill-fated Beagle 2 lander which was part of ESA’s first Mars mission ‘Mars Express’ and was launched in June 2003. Beagle 2 was scheduled to land on Manish Patel the surface of Mars it's not over yet. I won't be on 25 December but Dr celebrating till we get final Patel was heartbroken separation and the signal when no contact was from the spacecraft telling received at the expected us it's on its way." time of landing on Mars, He continued: "The with the ESA declaring the instrument on board mission lost in February ExoMars is really a beta 2004, after numerous version of Beagle. I have attempts to contact the spent the last 13 years of spacecraft were made.

12

MEDIA WATCH

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Asian Voice | 19th March 2016

India was on red alert for an expected terror attack by Pakistani jihadi groups such as Laskar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen. Gujarat, Rajasthan and Delhi were believed to be the prime targets, but the metropolitan cities of Mumbai, Kolkata , Chennai and Bangalore, were also in a high state of readiness. National Security Guard commandos were dispatched to Gujarat to the scour border areas and keep close watch also on the seas off the west coast for jihadi assault groups attempting to snea in by sea as happened in Mumbai on November 26, 2008.

Significantly the tip off came from the Pakistan National Security Advisor Nasir Khan Janjua to his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval. The Times of India’s Indrani Bagchi (March 7) was quickly off the blocks with a piece suggesting a new chapter in Indo-Pakistani ties was on its way, having commenced with Prime Minister Modi’s unexpected arrival for a birthday bash at Pakistani Premier Nawaz Sharif’s home in Lahore.

No other scribe has been so bold, recalling that the visit was followed by a terror attack from across the border on the Indian Air Force at Pathancot, but Bagchi has long been given to sightings of such springtime swallows, presumably from some vantage point on the rooftop of US State Department in Washington. It is for the India’s intelligence community to give their professional take on the veracity of the Pakistani information. Was the Pakistani warning given with genuine good intent, or was it a false smoke signal for sceptics around the world doubting that Islamabad had forsaken its old ways for new.; that the leopard had truly changed its spots?

EPF tax roll back

Bowing wisely to the concerns of the salaried middle class, trade unions and legislators, the government has decided to roll back its controversial budget tax on withdrawals from the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF). Finance Minister Arun Jaitley made the following statement in Parliament: ‘In view of the representations received from various quarters, the government would like to do a comprehensive study of this proposal and therefore, I withdraw proposals made in para 138 and para 139 of my budget speech.’ (Mint, Business Line, Times of India March 9).

One can only commend a government that listens, is sensitive to the grievances of others, and courageous enough to revisit a policy that needs a second look.

This is democracy at its best. Well done.

Gujarat, Delhi, Tamil Nadu top investment places

According to the Delhi-based think tank National Council for Applied Economic Research, Gujarat, Delhi and Tamil Nadu rank as the country’s top investment destinations. The ranking is based on the success rate of states implementing 98 per cent of regulatory reforms set out by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion. Jharkhand is last, with Uttar Pradesh and Bihar preceding it on the NCAER list.

No surprises here.

Corruption and bureaucratic sloth are listed as primary investors’ concerns. No surprise either (Mint March 9)

Haryana jackpot

The Haryana government’s twoday ‘Happening Haryana: Global Investors’ Summit,’ in Gurgaon,

denied visas to the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (Hindu March 9). An answer was provided in last week’s issue of Asian Voice (March 12) on comment page 3, but further elucidation is called for. Such posturing from a country whose human rights record since its inception is among the poorest in the world is indeed ironical.. The genocide of the indigenous communities of the north American plain plus the commerce in African slavery, continuing discrimination after the abolition of that abominable Gurgaon

has brought in Memorandums of Understanding worth Rs 5.84 lakh crore, five times more than the expected Rs 1 lakh crore.

Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said it was a matter of great satisfaction that 39 of the of the MoUs worth Rs 1,28,000 crore were for the districts not falling under the National Capital Region (environs of Delhi). Gurgaon emerged as the major contributor to the State exchequer (Hindu March 9)

Power surge

Electricity generation clocked up an impressive 12 per cent growth in February, the highest rate of growth in the past ten years. The growth has come on the back of 11 per cent of additional capacities in thermal power generation in the past year. Private sector power utilities and independent power producers commercialized more capacities, giving a fillip to generation (Mint March 8)

Women fighter pilots Induction

June 18 is the day scheduled for the induction of first batch of women pilots into the Indian Air Force. Bhavna Kanth, Avani Chaturvedi and Mohana Singh are set to make history, as they complete their advanced stage training. The announcement was made by Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha on International Women’s Day (March 8). ‘I must thank the Defence Ministry for having approved the IAF’s proposal to induct women as fighter pilots,’ he said (Hindu March 9). An Indian TV channel reported that an Air India 14 hour non-stop flight from Delhi to the United States was manned by an all women crew from pilot, co-pilot to cabin staff. Jai Ho!

No lessons, please, on religious freedom

US State Department spokesman John Kirby expressed regret, at a press conference in Washington, that the Indian authorities had

institution in 1865 remains a blot on American society, the ritual litany of pious platitudes, notwithstanding. US policies in the Middle East have led to the decimation of the region’s Christians. Its blatant inference in Ukraine has led to bloodshed and conflict. Imagine if a US delegation arrived in Delhi and joined a demonstration calling for the overthrow of the elected government, as happened in Kiev two years ago.

India’s blemishes

India’s myriads blemishes have been emphasized from Rammohun Roy to Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar to Vivekenanda and Rabindranath Tagore, from Mahadev Govind Ranade to Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Mahatma Gandhi and B. R. Ambedkar, covering in all a 150- year period. Despite their calls, serious deficits and delinquencies still remain (see page3) ; they need to be addressed. But sermons from the likes of Barack Obama and his wretched crew are not what the patient requires.

Corrective measures must come from within India and not from vacuous pronouncements from a regime culpable for so many of the world’s current miseries.

FM deserves award: Harsh Goenka RPG Chairman Harsh Goenka, among the big hitters of Indian industry, didn’t stint praise for Finance Minister Arun Jaitley’s Union Budget.. He said the minister deserved a Grammy Award.

On its rural thrust Goenka said: ‘Revival of rural demand will benefit industry: Plus the focus on roads, railways, ports, irrigation, infrastructure.’ On the negatives, Goenka replied: ‘No boost for industry, no cut in corporate tax rate, no GST [Goods &Services Tax] (Business Line March 5)

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ices in India in 2015. The European defence and aerospace company said that it had set its sights to raising the figure to $2 billion by 2020 in the defence and civilian sectors. The company has 45 suppliers in India, highlighting its ‘Make in India’ initiative. (Business Line March 8)

P A Sangma: Much loved Speaker dies

Purna Sangma, the Former Speaker of the Lok Sabha has died, aged 68, in Delhi, following a heart attack. He came from a

Tata Motors, Bharat Forge, General Dynamics tie-up

Tata Motors, Bharat Forge and US major General Dynamics have joined forces to manufacture a combat vehicle for the Indian Army. The three companies then plan to bid for contracts with India’s Ministry of Defence to win contracts for their supply to the Army. Through this partnership we will be better positioned to help the country’s realize ‘Make in India’ vision, for the first completely indigenized combat vehicle, at the same time cater to the opportunities available right here in India,’ said Ravi Pisharody, Excutive Director (Commercial Vehicles) Tata Motors.

Capabilities

These combat vehicles will be compact and with weight between 18-20 tonne to enhance smooth and easy movement to combat zones; and they should be designed to carry guided missiles with a 4 kilometre range, three crew and eight combat-kitted infantry men.(Business Line March 8)

P A Sangma

humble tribal background in India’s North East region and rose to eminence, first as Chief Minister of Meghalaya, then as a Union Minister, where he displayed an enviable mastery of his brief, whatever his ministry. He studied political science at university, hence was well equipped to enter public life as a politician.

It was Indira Gandhi, he said, who gave him his first break; and his two-year period as Speaker is remembered with affection across the political spectrum.

Humorous, genial, gregarious, he had no enemies but a multitude of friends in all walks of life. He walked tall in everything he did.

Airbus procurements cross $500 million

The Airbus Group manufactured over $500 million of aero-structures, components, materials and serv-

Airbus aircraft

Larsen Toubro IPO gearing up for listing

Larsen & Toubro Technology Services, a subsidiary of parent engineering giant, Larsen & Toubro, should be ready with its Initial Public Offering by the end of the year, said newly appointed Director and CEO Keshab Panda.

‘The differentiation for L &T Technology Services is the strong core engineering culture and their investments in lab infrastructure for both embedded and mechanical capabilities. This has helped them build expertise in the verticals they operate in and up with innovative solutions,’ wrote Sidharth Rastogi, Partner and Practice Head, Zinnov, a while ago (Business Line March 9)

Coimbatore city. see comment page 3

Launch of latest Indian navigation satellite (March 10) See report next week

SP

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TLIGHT

13

Risha Jindal: Generation App Asian Voice | 19th March 2016

Sunetra Senior

18 year-old Risha is the co-founder and CEO of Digimeal: a handy low-cost cookery app which helps students to basically survive. Using just three of the ingredients from the fridge, Digimeal will recommend you a variety of simple-to-follow yet tasty recipes, also allowing you to utilise leftovers for economic and environmental conservancy. “The idea emerged when my older sister, Sumita, went off to university,” the young entrepreneur told us.

“Like many students, she wasn’t that aware of how to cook properly. She would be calling up my mum, asking her what she should do. And, as we discovered, it wasn’t just her; it was all her uni friends and flatmates. The problem was universal.”

Following this revelation, the two sisters entered their flavoursome solution into the Duke of York’s IDEA programme where they then went on to whisk away the award. Risha told us of the digital development process: “securing the funding was the most difficult part. It wasn’t enough to have the concept; we had to prove it was capable of traction. It is very expensive to launch into the market research and tech aid required, and we had to show the industry professionals that people would actually download the app.” But pragmatic as it is all is, Digimeal’s USP is the fact that it ultimately feeds inspiration: “it does make you want to come back to it” Risha continued “it provides you with that one recipe, but then there also other suggested combos, and the appeal of mix and match.”

Not just encouraging young people to cook, Digimeal also stresses the importance of a healthy lifestyle. Among the many apps driven towards grades and aptitude in the professional sphere, Risha’s bright, little feature shows that well-being too is a skill in the journey to personal success.

Authentic Passion Trumps in Politics I write to you from Delhi. It appears no one can understand why Trump will win the Republican nomination for the Presidency. Let me tell you why, especially if you’re a voter in any election or an aspiring politician: authentic passion wins.

People thought with Blair it was sincerity, but as Blair said this past week, it’s passion that wins. We lack politicians with either authenticity or passion, or worse still both. When they lack either of these, we see through them as career politicians ‘saying whatever it takes’ to win.

Anyone who has seen Narendra Modi or Ang San Suu Kyi will know it is this that wins landslides. Of course the inauthentic, the unpassionate wins. But if you want to be miles ahead, these two things give you the charisma needed.

Sadly most politicians appear to have had a charisma by-pass, except to their mothers. Some you may question why they ever stood? Well, in a bubble all the brown-nosers, hangers-on, ‘chamchas’ will gladly tell you how you would make a lovely amazing candidate, how else would you explain it?

Yes politics should not be about personalities but about issues – funny how those without a personality always say that. In fact politics should be about character, and if you lack passion and authenticity why should anyone trust you? You want to know why there is a trust deficit in politics? Because another way of saying there is no authentic passion, is to say what you’ve always known about politicians, ‘they will say anything to get elected’.

As Trump put it, ‘do you really want to elect someone to this role where this is their highest salary ever?’.

It worries me how many go into politics because they can’t get a job doing anything else. So how come they get elected?

First, you are voting for their party not them.

Secondly, you are picking the least worst option from a line up who work better than sleeping pills. If they can’t convince you they care on your behalf, how bad is that?

What we need is politicians with spark, who can speak to the common person – and clearly even billionaires can do that. So with the Mayoral elections, don’t believe the poorest politicians saying they are the only candidate to understand the troubles of the poor. In my experience, no one chooses to be poor. It’s because they’ve not had the opportunity, or others have kept them there. So beware the poor politician – is it as George Orwell warned, they’re just looking to get rich through politics. Don’t glorify and romanticise poverty.

What’s that? ‘Me’ you say? See what I mean about ego and bubbles. I have a rare mother and grandmother; instead of telling me what a wonderful MP or PM I would make, as everyone else’s mother tells them, they told me ‘why would you want that headache?’ I don’t have the ego for it. Thanks though. And that is what 99.9% of politicians should have said. We wish!

Minister Vara Meets PM Modi

Shailesh Vara MP, the Minister for Justice and Work & Pensions has met with Prime Minister Modi in New Delhi. Mr Modi and Mr Vara discussed a number of issues including the very successful visit to the UK last November, by Mr Modi, and how Britain and India can develop closer links between the two countries.Whilst in New Delhi, Mr Vara also spoke at the Global Leadership Forum which was attend by Business and Political leaders from across the world.

How would you sum up Digimeal in a few lines?

Digimeal stands as a helping hand for people who aren’t very competent in the kitchen, as well as providing instant ideas for meals; we also give you that extra info which makes your cooking easier. We have tailored the app and database so it corresponds with what students typically have in their fridge: cheese, chicken, peppers and onions seem to be the recurring staples.

What, in your opinion, is the component of a good app?

It should be easy to use, deliver what it says, and have a unique hook.

What did you think about with the product design of the app?

Universality of appeal: for example we made sure to stay away from colours associated with a specific gender.

As opposed to a girly pink, we went with a bright orange and turquoise so as not to alienate one side of the market.

Another important element was to keep the format simple. The more cluttered it looks, the more likely you are to alienate the customer.

Take advantage of your age: senior tech professionals will really value your fresh insight.

company called Dogfish to develop the technical product. We did have a basic knowledge of code, but they helped us with the algorithms and database, and we are able to come up with a prototype. The market research too was done in conjunction with them. Taking what I’d laid out, they informed me of what was popular in terms of app design, and I was able to modify from there.

You are a student yourself now at the University of Sussex, studying Economics and International Development. What are your hopes with the app business in the future?

Well app development has always been more of a hobby. Though my degree will certainly help, it is a natural interest that will likely take off independently. Post- degree, however, I will have that sharper, critical eye to spot problems I might have missed the first time around.

Are there any tech features that fascinate you right now?

Wearable technology: it would be interesting to progress the app in that vein.

It could be really good for calorie counting, for example, and expanding the lifestyle element.

What would be one of your favourite simple meals from the app?

The sun-dried tomato pasta! It sounds simple, but with the suggested combo of ingredients it comes out really well.

What was the exact journey with development of the app?

My sister and I came up with the idea and the design, and consequently worked with a

Risha was named a finalist in the One to Watch category at the FDM awards

Finally, what would be your advice to other young entrepreneurs?

Take advantage of your age: senior tech professionals will really value your fresh insight.

It’s about more than content.

The demographic matters too. http://digimeal.co/

BRITONS BRING DOWN THE HOUSE

14

POLITICAL & PUBLIC LIFE AWARDS Asian Voice | 19th March 2016

Rt Hon Angus Robertson MP receiving the award from the Speaker of the House of Commons, Rt Hon John Bercow MP

Tobias Ellwood MP receiving the award from Sir Trevor McDonald OBE

Anup Sachdeva (Uflex) receiving the award from Air Marshal Sir Baz North KCB OBE

Journalist Matthew Parris, award recipient with Asian Voice Publisher/Editor CB Patel

Rupanjana Dutta The Asian Voice Political and Pubic Life Awards this year had a new venue inside the Palace of Westminster, to celebrate a decade of these awards, held to recognise the achievements of Britons in various fields of work.

The Terrace Pavillion was bustling with anticipation, as guests and winners gathered at the venue, enjoying the Thames view. The highlight of this year's award was Sportsman of the Year, Riyad Mahrez, a rising football star, who is astounding the world with his incredible performances for Leicester Football Club in English Premiere

Paresh Raja (MFS UK) receiving the award from Deputy Speaker Eleanor Liang MP

Rikin Lakhani (Kolak Snacks) receiving the award from Valerie Vaz MP and CB Patel

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Sir Trevor McDonald OBE receiving the award from the Speaker of the House of Commons, Rt Hon John Bercow MP

League. He was accompanied by his wife, the club's Midfielder N'Golo Kante, Susan Chief Executive Whelan, Director of Football Jon Rudkin and his family members.

The compere for the evening was famous actress Sheena Bhattessa and Guest of Honour was the Rt Hon John Bercow, Speaker of the House of Commons, who gave a befitting introduction to Rt Hon Keith Vaz, MP, Co-host of the awards. Vaz who will complete 29 years as an MP this June was thanked by the Speaker for being an industrious and assiduous member of the House of Commons, associated with several good causes and helping people in need, in

Rehman Chishti MP receiving the award from Sir Trevor McDonald OBE

Hotelier Jasminder Singh (The Mayfair) receiving the award from CB Patel

all possible ways- personally and socially.

Speaking about the CB Patel, awards, Publisher/Editor of Asian Voice and the host said, “The initiative to honour outstanding participants in public life and politics in the UK, began as a small experiment to honour all those who contribute so much in various ways, irrespective of nationality, colour, creed, gender and political affiliation.

“I am most grateful to Rt Hon Keith Vaz MP, his office as well as the Staff of the House of Commons who have enabled us to reach a very satisfactory stage so far...”

Rt Hon Keith Vaz MP and Chairman of Home Affairs

Rahul Dixit (Asset India) receiving the award from Major General Richard Stanford MBE and CB Patel

Manoj Ladwa (Europe India Forum) receiving the award from Lord Feldman and CB Patel

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Select Committee added, “The uniqueness of these awards is that they are held in the mother of Parliaments and that they honour and recognise political figures who have really impressed the British Asian community. They also celebrate Asian talent in the public and political sphere outside of Westminster…

“I hope the evening will be remembered as one where we celebrated achievement, but also looked to the future. We remain citizen of the most multicultural country in the world, and you are a mirror of that world...”

Receiving his awards, the most anticipated celebrity for the evening, Riyad Mahrez told the audience, “Thank you to the

Rt Hon Lord Feldman of Elstree receiving the award from Sir Trevor McDonald OBE

Red Fort receiving the award from Deputy Speaker Eleanor Liang MP

E WITH PERFECT 10 ACHIEVEMENTS POLITICAL & PUBLIC Asian LIFE AWARDS Voice | 19th March 2016

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Riyad Mahrez receiving the award from the Speaker of the House of Commons, Rt Hon John Bercow MP, Rt Hon Keith Vaz MP and CB Patel

Asian Voice and its readers for this prestigious award. It’s a great honour to be here tonight and to be nominated among some amazing athletes.

“Leicester is a proud multicultural city with a big Asian community, so it’s a great honour to accept this award from the Asian Voice as a representative of Leicester City and the city of Leicester.

“It’s already been an amazing season for everyone at Leicester City and we’re still working hard to finish strongly and to keep making our community proud.”

Receiving the

Parliamentarian of the Year award, Rt Hon Angus Robertson MP thanked the Asian community for their contributions in Scotland.

Renowned journalist Mathew Parris from The Times, receiving his award thanked Asian Voice, and said how he felt it was unacceptable that there was slight disregard for the Asian community- blamed after the misbehaviour of a certain minority group.

Receiving Community Engagement award, Rt Hon Lord Feldman of Elstree, the Chairman of the Conservative party, assured that the party is

Rt Hon Matthew Hancock MP receiving the award from Sir Trevor McDonald OBE

doing its level best to include more and more people of minority origin.

The community event of the year award was given to Europe India Forum. Receiving the award, Manoj Ladwa thanked all the welcome partners for their efforts to make Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Wembley stadium event such a success last November. Founder and CEO of the MLS Chase Group and UK Welcomes Modi Event Coordinator, Ladwa, who had just returned that evening from Brussles, where the Indian diaspora is preparing to wel-

come Mr Modi on 30th March, passed on the Indian PM's special greetings to CB Patel and the 'Mahatma of Leicester'the Rt Hon Keith Vaz. Thanking the readers of Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar for choosing the forum as a winner, he concluded by urging Britain to stay within EU. The charity for the evening was Silver Star, and some of the raffle prizes included Jet airways goodie bags, £500 voucher from Travelpack, a Leicester team t-shirt signed by Mahrez, a huge teddy bear and a bottle of Smirnoff.

This year's distinguished winners are:

Rt Hon Angus Robertson MP, Leader and spokesperson on the Constitution of the Scottish National Party in the House of

Commons of the United Kingdom (Parliamentarian of the Year) Sir Trevor McDonald OBE (Lifetime Achievement Award) Riyad Mahrez (Sportsman of the Year)

Matthew Parris (Journalist of the Year)

Rt Hon Lord Feldman of Elstree (Community Engagement) Jasminder Singh, The Mayfair (Hotel of the Year)

Rt Hon Matthew Hancock MP (Cabinet Minister of the Year)

Victoria Atkins MP (Conservative Backbencher of the Year)

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Manoj Ladwa, Europe India Forum

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Tobias Ellwood MP (Junior Minister of the Year)

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l l l l l l l l

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(Community Event of the Year)

Lord Kakkar (Peer of the Year)

Rikin Lakhani, Kolak Snack Foods Ltd (Ingenuity in Business) Rehman Chishti MP (Campaigner of the Year)

Jag Chauhan, Solar Security (Entrepreneur of the Year) Rahul Dixit, Asset India

(Fastest Growing Company of the Year) Anup Sachdeva, Uflex

(Award for Business Performance and Innovation International) Paresh Raja, Market Financial Solutions

(Fastest Growing Independent Lenders)

Stanley Tse, SeeWoo (Business in the Community Award) Lydia Nazreth, Jet Airways (Airline of the Year) Red Fort (Restaurant of the Year)

Sheena Amin (Young Professional of the Year)

Charlie Fremantle (Contribution to British Film Industry)

Ajjay Mehrra (Designer of the Year International)

Photo courtesy: Raj D Bakrania, PrMediapix

Charlie Fremantle (West london Film Studios) receiving the award from Valerie Vaz MP

Lord Kakkar receiving the award from CB Patel

Victoria Atkins MP, award recipient with Sir Trevor McDonald OBE

Ajjay Mehrra receiving the award from Valerie Vaz MP and CB Patel

Jag Chauhan (Solar Security) receiving the award from Deputy Speaker Eleanor Liang MP

Sheena Amin receiving the award from Lord Feldman

Lydia Nazreth (Jet Airways) receiving the award from Deputy Speaker Eleanor Liang MP and CB Patel

Stanley Tse (SeeWoo) receiving the award from Lord Feldman and CB Patel

16

FEATURE

HARLEY STREET: OFFERING RELIABLE, P

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AsianVoiceNews

Asian Voice | 19th March 2016

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Harley Street has nowadays become the symbol of private medical practices.

Undoubtedly one of the main reasons for its fame is its distinction from National Health Service (NHS).

Harley Street has gained international fame by providing quality private clinics, while NHS remains essentially funded by public taxes. Besides the unique concentration of hospitals, clinics and over 3000 doctors and specialists in such a relatively small area, adds more to its already existing fame.

Why go private?

When NHS is providing all medical services without any costs, the question arises why go private with Harley Street?

A survey by MORI (Market & Opinion Research International) has revealed that people are often preferring confidentiality of private clinics and doctors over NHS services.

And Harley Street is not only about just going private. Their clinics and employees broadly focus on specific medical issues, making their expertise and services are unparalleled.

Moreover their turn around time of service remains much less in comparison to the NHS. The most salient exception of UK's healthcare, that helps it stand out from rest of the Western countries is the publicly funded health service – the NHS. But with increasing numbers of people opting for private healthcare because of the length of NHS waiting times have caused major controversy and this resulted in some individuals’ questioning its reliability.

A survey conducted by OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) reveals that while 81.7% of the UK’s health costs are covered by the government by funding the NHS, behind only Norway’s 83.6%, the UK’s life expectancy, physicians per 1000 people and per capita expenditure on health were lower than most of the other developed countries surveyed. Such findings again act as a challenge to the NHS. Moreover people are also convinced by Harley Street's abundance of stateof-the art technology and equipments over that of the NHS. It is not obliged to adhere to government regulations and health plans. A private clinic must rely on its reputation to ensure it is deemed as trustworthy in the eyes of its patients and Harley Street and its clinics certainly have such high repute.

Location & Connection When Harley Street first came into being in the 18th century, London had not yet

grown to encompass it, and it was part of the village of Marylebone. Towards the end of the century, many attractive Georgian houses were build in the area, becoming a home for the fashionable and wealthy. It has been noted since the 19th century for its large number of private specialists in medicine and surgery.

By now, Harley Street is right in the centre of London as part of the City of Westminster. It is close to Regent’s Park and Oxford Street. The closest underground station is Great Portland Street or Baker's Street and it is very well connected by buses.

History At the beginning of the 18th century London was growing significantly with the start of the Industrial Revolution.

The area already known as “Marylebone Village” – that Harley Street would become part of – benefitted by this era’s growth by becoming littered with the large, picturesque Georgian houses you still see today. As well as being known for its wealthy inhabitants the area was famed for the entertainments held in Marylebone gardens that included bear baiting and prizefights. The largest manor in the area was called Tyburn estate.

Harley Street is owned by the de Walden family and managed by the Howard de Walden Estate. In 1711 the grid of streets around Harley Street, known as The Estate, was passed to Henrietta Cavendish Holles (the Duke of Newcastle's daughter) who married Edward Harley (the 2nd Earl of Oxford). Between 1715 and 1720, Edward, with the assistance of architect John Prince, decided to develop the streets around Cavendish Square for residential purposes naming many of the streets after

members of the family.

When Edward died the Estate passed to his daughter, Margaret Cavendish Harley who married the second Duke of Portland, and the area became known as The Portland Estate.

The Dukes of Portland had ownership for five generations until the fifth Duke died without issue in 1879 and the land passed to Lucy Joan Bentinck, widow of the 6th Baron Howard de Walden and thus it became the Howard de Walden Estate.

By 1860 many doctors had moved into Harley Street, choosing the area because of the quality housing, the central location as well as the accessibility to major train stations such as Kings Cross St Pancras and Marylebone. Moreover it enabled them to stay in their clinics for extended periods of the day without leaving and then be able to commute with ease.

As more and more doctors moved to the area they invited colleagues to work with them from their prestigious homes and Harley Street began to thrive as a medical centre, especially after the Medical Society of London opened in Chandos Street in 1873 then the Royal Society of Medicine in Wimpole Street in 1912.

Since the nineteenth century the number of doctors, hospitals and medical organisations in and around Harley Street has greatly increased. Records show that there were around 20 doctors in 1860, 80 by 1900 and almost 200 by 1914.

When the National Health Service was established in 1948 there were around 1,500.

Today there are over 3,000 people employed in the Harley Street area and the private clinics are modern, comfortable and welcoming; a far cry from the original days when Harley

Street doctors arranged their own appointments and dealt with correspondence by letter in candle light and resided in the house itself.

Now practices are run by highly qualified, competent and professional medical and auxiliary staff using state of the art technology and equipment.

Besides specialised clinics, there are private hospitals and private GPs available to suit the more general needs of the individual;

these too, just like the specialists, are fully equipped with the latest in technology and know-how and are equally worth visiting.

Why is Harley Street called so?

Harley Street takes its name from Edward Harley, the second Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer. In 1715, he began building the houses on Harley Street and surrounding streets such as Cavendish Square.

Ownership of Harley Street passed down through the Portland family and to the de Waldens, one of the wealthiest families in Britain, thanks to their London properties worth over £1 billion.

Who are the most famous people to have worked from Harley Street?

Many famous people have lived or practised on Harley Street, and if you walk along the street today you can spot the distinctive blue English Heritage plaques that show where these famous people resided or worked. Here are some of the most notable: Florence Nightingale, “the lady with the lamp”, began her medical journey on Harley Street at the Institute for the Care of Sick Gentlewomen from 1853.

The following year she was sent to the Crimean War. She and her team of volunteer nurses found terrible conditions: short supplies, neglected hygiene and mass infections.

Nightingale wrote to The Times calling on the government to tackle the poor conditions, and tended to the wounded soldiers, attempting to improve their nutrition and supplies and reduce overworking. She dedicated her life to improving healthcare, and is considered the founding of modern nursing.

Another famous doctor

Harley Street P

King Edward VII Hospital Sister Agnes A favourite of the Royal family with the Queen as its patron, King Edward VII Hospital was founded in 1899 by Agnes and Fanny Keyser for the treatment of Officers returning from the Boer war. It was renamed to King Edward VII Hospital Sister Agnes in 2000 and continues to serve the Armed Forces and veterans. To ensure its level of high quality staff is sustained, most employees of the hospital hold permanent positions. It has been awarded five stars by the FSA (Food Standards Agency)’s ‘Scores on the Doors’, the highest accolade for hygiene. Furthermore its nurse to patient ratio far exceeds that of the national average as detailed by OEMC. Importantly however the hospital does only treat patients of 18 years or older.

and High Dependency Unit.

The consultant who admits the patient will then continue to assume overall control of the treatment, keeping the patient up-to-date with changes by remaining in close contact with the healthcare team assigned to the individual; consultants are available 24 hours every day. There are eight operating theatres, including a robotic surgery suite.

The Princess Grace Hospital Boasting the first high-definition CT (computed tomography) scanner in London, the Princess Grace Hospital is similarly state-of-the-art.

It offers a wide range of consultants specialised in areas such as breast cancer, lithotripsy (removal of kidney stones) and oncology. It includes 120 registered beds and a Level 3 Intensive Care

The Portland Hospital for Women and Children As the name suggests this is the only private hospital in London to deal exclusively with women and children. It is owned by the HCA (Hospital Corporation of America), the largest private healthcare company in the world, and is one of the foremost obstetrics (maternity) specialist institutions in the

UK. Established in 1983, the Portland Hospital for Women and Children offers a range of services to patients and outpatients alike including Audiology and Imaging. It boasts an impressive average of three or four patients to every nurse, contrasting favourably with the national average of approximately ten (OEMC); in critical areas, such as NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) and the Labour Ward, this is one-onone, a deciding factor in the selection of this hospital.

The Harley Street Clinic A major focal point of all Harley Street practice, the Clinic provides 90 standard beds and an additional 22 critical care beds for all ages.

Although the recent installation of a dedicated oncology unit (the Harley Street

FEATURE Asian Voice | 19th March 2016

17

RIVATE & QUALITY MEDICAL TREATMENT

-voice.com

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was Joseph Lister, whose work in antiseptics was vital to making surgery safer.

Before his work, surgical operations were incredibly dangerous because of the high risk of infection. But his discoveries, along with new methods in anaesthesia, revolutionised surgery.

Lister lived in London just round the corner of Harley Street at 12 Park Crescent, though he made his big discoveries earlier while working in Glasgow

Lionel Logue

and Edinburgh. Without his work, neither life-saving surgery nor the cosmetic surgery procedures that we take for granted today would be possible.

If you watched the Oscar-winning movie The King’s Speech, then you will have seen the story of how the Duke of York and future King George VI (played by Colin Firth) was treated for a severe stammer by Lionel

Edward Bach

Logue (played by Geoffrey Rush), a Harley Street speech therapist. It was at 146 Harley Street that the Duke of York sought Logue’s help. In 1944, Logue became a founding fellow of the College of Speech Therapists, which became the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.

Among many other famous and talented doctors to have practiced in Harley Street over the years was the great British surgeon and polymath Sir Henry Thompson in the 1870s who specialised in surgery of the genito-urinary tract and was appointed surgeon-extraordinaire to the King of Brussels, and Doctor Edward Bach who practiced from Harley Street in the 1920s as a specialist in vaccines and bacteriology before moving to the London Homeopathic Hospital then developing the Bach Flower Remedies.

Private Hospitals Cancer Centre) has taken prominence, the Clinic’s considerable reputation for dealing with Cardiac issues, Neurosciences and Paediatrics is not to be ignored. The staff endeavours to give the patient the easiest possible stay and issue a welcome pack to ensure full preparation and understanding before admission. One of the major advantages of the Harley Street Clinic is its number of interpreters who ensure that most language differences do not erect a barrier to excellent health treatment. The Clinic is also a member of the HCA and has been endowed with Hospitality Assured

standards for service and business excellence.

The London Clinic The London Clinic offers over 270 beds, and much like the Princess Grace Hospital 24-hour consultant availability. Established in 1932 by doctors from Harley Street, it maintains this link by continuing to offer consultancy on the street, even though the main building is slightly removed. As the largest privately owned nonprofit hospital in the UK, it includes twelve operating theatres with myriad functions. Whilst it continues to offer high-end oncology and haematology services, it has

Florence Nightingale with her team of nurses

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Notable Residents of Harley Street • William Ewart Gladstone Victorian Prime Minister (1876- 1882) • J.M.W Turner artist (1798) • Sir Henry Thompson (1870s). Specialised in surgery of the genito-urinary tract and was appointed surgeon extraordinaire to the King of Brussels.

• Sir Frederick Treves (18531923). Credited with performing the first appendectomy in England on June 29th 1888 and of saving the life of King Edward VII who suffered appendicitis just before his coronation. He is perhaps best known for his friendship with Joseph Merrick, the ‘Elephant Man’.

• Sir Charles Lyell Geologist (1854- 1875) • Grantly Dick-Read Obstetrician (1890- 1959) • Sir Arthur Pinero Playwright (1909- 1934) • Queen’s College. One of the oldest girl’s schools in the UK, it has been situated on Harley Street since 1848.

• Masud Khan, notable Pakistani psychoanalyst, lived and worked from No.8.

• Sir William Beechey (Portrait painter) lived at No.13.

• Sir Grantly Dick-Read (Obstetrician) lived and had his practice at No.23.

• Sir Stewart Duke-Elder (Ophthalmologist) lived &

worked at No.63.

• Allan Ramsay (Portrait painter) lived at No.67.

• Sir Harold Ridley ( P i o n e e r i n g Ophthalmologist). Lived at No.53.

• Stafford Northcote, 1st Earl of Iddesleigh (British Politician, Conservative Chancellor of the Exchequer) lived at No.86.

• George Frederick Bodley (Greek Revival Architect) lived at No.109 from 1862 to 1873.

• Harriet Harman MP QC, Labour politician, born at 108 Harley Steet.

• William Henry Giles Kingston, Victorian author of boys' adventure novels, was born on Harley Street, 28 February 1814.

• Sir Charles Lyell (lawyer, author and geologist).

Lived at No.11 (which is now No.73).

• Charles Wilson, 1st Baron Moran, Winston Churchill's personal physician, had a private practice

theories into new avenues.

Nowadays, mental health is a highly respected medical field. Like all areas of medicine in the UK the top practitioners gravitate to the iconic Harley Street. From psychologists and psychiatrists to counsellors and psychotherapists, many businesses including our own namesake Harley Therapy Psychotherapy and Counselling are now found there.

Their counselling and psychotherapy rooms are located on the south end of Harley Street, close to John Lewis and Oxford Street and also have offices in Canary Wharf and the City of London for the convenience of the clients.

at No. 29 during the 1920s and 1930s.

• Karl Ghattas, Pakistani physician, poet and painter, lived and had his surgery at No.57.

its very best treatment validates its charges.

Celebrity Endorsement Some of the most celebrated doctors and surgeons in history have practised in Harley Street clinics, including the polymathic Sir Henry Thompson who reached international fame by operating on the King of Brussels to relieve him of kidney stones.

Celebrities today has made Harley Street more famous.Unlike of course the NHS any individual wishing to use Harley Street’s private facilities must be willing to pay the appropriate price.

Though the cost of the service can be justified as per the quality and reputation and

• Harley Street Laser Hair Removal • Harley Street Liposelection • Harley Street Liposuction • Harley Street Oncology Clinics • Harley Street Ophthalmology • Harley Street Orthodontists • Rhinoplasty Cosmetic Surgery in Harley Street • Harley Street Sexual Health Clinics • Harley Street Skin Clinics • Harley Street Sleep Clinic • Harley Street Weight Loss Surgery Clinics • Harley Street Fertility Clinics Doctors & Surgeons Harley Street surgeons are regarded as among the best in the world. They are all educated to an exceptional degree. Many, though competent in numerous fields, choose to specialise on particular areas of surgery. The ability to successfully treat specialised and uncommon healthcare issues makes Harley Street one of the leading medical names in the world. Harley Street surgeons always endeavour to be at the forefront of medical knowledge by attending lectures and other educational programmes to ensure they are fully up-to-date.

Furthermore they are trained in and have access to some of

recently opened a specialised cutting-edge cancer facility which showcases the CyberKnife, a ground-breaking robotic radiosurgery system.

Harley Street at UCH A little further afield than the other five hospitals, Harley Street at UCH is devoted entirely to the treatment of cancer. It is a product of a prosperous collaboration between the Harley Street Clinic and the University College Hospital and has provided a superlative standard of cancer treatment since its inception in 2006. The award-winning facility is registered with the CQC (Care Quality Commission) and specialises in haematological (of the blood), primary bone and soft tissue cancers. It includes a dedicated transplant team and treats over 3500 new cancer patients every year. As with all hospitals linked to Harley Street, Harley Street at UCH makes patient care their number one priority and offers ‘holistic’ treatment which including dietary advice on how to combat cancer. It is also a prominent member of the NLCN (North London Cancer Network) and in cooperation with its fellows works tirelessly on new ways to fight the disease.

How did Harley Street Become Known for the Best Psychotherapists?

In the 1900s the mind became the new medical frontier. Famous psychoanalyst Sir Sigmund Freud had developed his ‘talking cure’ in Germany, meaning the dubious mental health techniques of the 1800s such as measuring the skull and using magnets to relieve stress were finally challenged. After the Second World War psychotherapy began to take off with leaders such as Carl Jung driving forward Freud’s

Some clinics at Harley Street: • Harley Street Private Hospitals • Cosmetic Surgery at Harley Street • Harley Street Dentists • Allergy Testing in Harley Street • Harley Street Acne Treatment • Harley Street Botox • Breast Implants in Harley Street • Dermal Fillers in Harley Street • Facelifts Cosmetic Surgery in Harley Street • Harley Street Hair Transplant Surgery • Harley Street Laser Eye Surgery

the most advanced healthcare technology in order to further the excellent rate of success to which they are accustomed. Often they are leading experts in their particular field and the patient can be assured that they are in the best possible hands for whatever operation they are to undertake. Typically surgeons work together with nurses to fully accommodate all the patient’s needs and ensure whichever operation they have chosen to undergo is done as comfortably and successfully as possible.

Many of the doctors, specialists and surgeons in Harley Street are of Asian origin.

Reference: healthcentre.org.uk, harleystreetguide.co.uk, harleytherapy.co.uk, harleystreetaesthetics.com

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UK

www.asian-voice.com

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister addresses investors on his two day visit to London AsianVoiceNews

Asian Voice | 19th March 2016

Ragasudha Vinjamuri & Rani Singh

The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Shri Nara Chandrababu Naidu was in London from 11-12 March 2016 to launch the Prospectus for Andhra Pradesh capital Amaravati Smart City investment. The visit was packed with meetings, presentations and interactions.

At a glittering event hosted at UK India Business Council in London on 11 March, honourable Naidu presented the credentials of Andhra Pradesh and potential of Amaravati as its new capital, and has invited investors to build home away from home. The event was attended by MP and infrastructure envoy to India Rt. Hon. Alok Sharma, High Commissioner of India to the UK Mr Navtej Sarna, industrialist G.P Hinduja and several business and community leaders. The mesmerising leader has first spoken of challenges associated and has expressed confidence to make the new capital one of the leading cities in the world.

Strategically located close to Chennai, Bengaluru, Visakhapatnam and Hyderabad, the new capital city Amaravati is planned as a world class smart city and presents excellent opportunities.

The minister highlighted Andhra Pradesh as Sun Rise state that has the second longest coastline in India and how developing world class port infra struc-

CM Chandrababu Naidu with HE Navtej Sarna, Alok Sharma MP and other panelists

(photo courtesy: Raj D Bakrania, PrMediapix)

ture leads to an increase of trade facilitation, including cruise tourism. The proven visionary projected building 6 new airports by 2020 including a mega Aerotropolis, among the four Greenfield and two Brownfield airports enabling connectivity with communities and markets.

He has also highlighted that the 8th largest state in India has attracted 70 billion pounds nominal GSDP so far. He compared the demographics of Britain and the state in terms of GDP, Per capita income and urbanisation. He has drawn attention to how the state has outpaced the growth of Indian economy at 10.50% in the current year and projected a targeted growth of 15% for the next year. He underscored the potential in terms of natural resources and stressed on the state’s strong agricultural and thriving manufacturing sector with its industrial corridors, hubs, special economic zones and the land bank. He called attention to the 1.4 billion pound investment opportunities in infrastructure development in industrial corridors in terms of roads, power and industries.

As part of key achieve-

ments, he has emphasised that land pooling for building new capital Amaravati was one of the most innovative urban development plans in the country. He said that Andhra made history as the first state of India to conceive and execute a state wide architecture integrating services of all government departments. The charismatic leader referred to a 2015 World Bank Study which ranks Andhra Pradesh 2nd in the country for the ease of doing business, obtaining infrastructure related utilities and environmental procedure compliance. He brought to the fore the targeted approach for development in terms of energy, petroleum and petrochemicals, aerospace and defence, automobile and components, textiles, life sciences, food processing and mineral based industry. Having achieved zero power cuts milestone, the power surplus state offers one of the most conducive business environments in the country and would make a perfect choice for investment and infra structure building. The planned power capacity augmentation includes implementation of energy efficient initiatives and smart grid that

promises power generation from wind, solar and renewable energies. His presentation highlighted extensive opportunities in tourism sector in terms of MICE, recreation, heritage and medical treatment.

He finally drew parallel to the world class education that the state has to offer and highlighted sector specific universities being set up in sports, energy, aquaculture, logistics and hospitality for upgrading skills among the youth and ensuring availability of skilled manpower.

At the end of the two day visit, a press meet was arranged at St James Taj and he outlined the discussions and outcomes, including a 1000 bed hospital to be set up soon and the adoption of smartcities. He has interestingly revealed that he was not aware of an Amaravati section in British Museum depicting Buddhist artefacts. He has briefly touched building Venkateswara temples in various countries across the world. He announced that an MOU would be signed between the state government of Andhra Pradesh and the London Stock Exchange on mutual

cooperation for bond raising and financing for Amaravati.

He said that he had asked Canary Wharf to partner with his government to develop Amaravati. He had also made a similar request at a meeting on smart cities with 20 British entities including the Greater London Authority, the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and JCB. CM Naidu met with British Cabinet Minister Oliver Letwin, sovereign bond managers and financial investors for the exploration of development of his state capital.

When it came to concrete outcomes from the visit, his second day in London appeared to be more fruitful, however.

The Minister also revealed that the King's College Hospital, London will set up a 1,000-bed major hospital in Amaravati, the new capital of Andhra Pradesh.

Naidu added, "I visited the Indo-UK health Institute and the King's College Hospital London this morning. The King's College Hospital has agreed to set up a 1,000bed hospital in Amaravati immediately and make it their headquarters as they plan to set up eleven hospitals in different parts of India. They will manufacture equipment necessary for the hospitals in India itself. Not only they want to set up a world-class hospital but promote Health Tourism in India. The foundation for the hospital

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in Amaravati will be laid in the first week of June."

He further said the new capital city aspired to become a leader in the healthcare sector and has identified healthcare as one of its focus sectors. A 'Health City of 2,585 hectares has been planned in the capital and land has been reserved throughout the city for healthcare infrastructure. A medical academy and research centres are planned in the capital, providing access to a talented workforce.

"Leading institutions like AIIMS and the Indo-UK Institute of Health have already shown interest in setting up hospitals in the capital," he stated.

The chief minister expressed that he was happy that his government has set up an office for Amaravati in London.

"Vijay Goel, partner Singania & Co, a leading solicitor firm here, has offered to set up the office free of cost," he said. The office will coordinate with investors and help them invest in Amaravati. He had a separate meeting with Non-Resident Telugus in the UK where the NRTs offered to adopt villages in Andhra Pradesh for their speedy development. He had also met Lord Kiran Bilimoria, Chancellor of the University of Birmingham and Chairman, Cambridge Business School of Management and said that Bilimoria had promised him cooperation between AP universities and Birmingham and Cambridge universities.

Ealing and Hillingdon Conservative Associations host fundraising dinner The Radisson Blu Edwardian London Heathrow was a dignified setting for the Ealing and Hillingdon Conservative Associations fundraising dinner. It was an evening with London Mayor Boris Johnson, MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip, Zac Goldsmith, MP for Richmond Park and North Kingston and Conservative Mayoral Candidate, and Cllr Dominic Gilham, GLA candidate for Ealing and Hillingdon. The Radisson Blu - part of the Jasminder Singh family’s Edwardian Hotel Group hosted the two receptions for the event and co- sponsored the three course dinner.

Speaking about the importance of the upcoming Mayoral elections, London Mayor Boris Johnson said, “This is a crucial election for everybody who loves our city and who wants to have a unifying mayor.”

Promoting Zac, Boris added, “I think Zac

first time for all primary school children.

Dominic Gilham Councillor and GLA candidate speaking about why he thinks he suits the Asian constituency, said: “I spent 25 years living in Southall and then the rest of my time I’ve been in Hillingdon, so I’m the best for both boroughs.

Cllr Seema Kumar, Boris Johnson MP, Mayor of London, Zac “No one would Goldsmith MP, London Mayoral candidate and community members know better how well the Asian community together in harmony and Goldsmith is the man, has done in Southall. I hope Zac Goldsmith would be a because he has wonderful they will recognize that I superb mayor of London. I credentials as a man who can represent them, I don’t hope very much people will wants to build housing but see colour. My own children support him.” not destroy London’s green are from the Philippines so He gave a thunderous spaces in outer London, a we have a mixed race anyand entertaining speech man who has passion about way. picking holes in the opposithe environment, who has "We don’t have Indians tion candidate and praising lots of interesting and origior Pakistanis who struggle that of his own party, while nal ideas for low carbon with the language! They’ve Zac Goldsmith came over in vehicles and how to improve integrated, they’re now his talk as straight honest. this city. A man who, I British culture.”

He pointed to his own think, understands that Speaking exclusively to record of achievement in his London is composed of Asian Voice, Zac Goldsmith constituency, with examples mini-communities, many said, “Boris Johnson can like healthier and cheaper nationalities, many people take a lot of credit for putmeals now available for the who must be brought

ting London back on the map as the most important city on Earth. I am standing to protect that success, to make it work for all Londoners.

“We have an issue in London, a problem in London, and that is that too many people, despite that success, feel that they’ve been locked up; they’ve been priced up in their own city. So we need to put that well, we need to make London affordable for Londoners in order to keep that light shining.”

When asked why Asians should choose him over an Asian candidate such as Sadiq Khan, he said, “I don’t think people in London vote for people for their race or their background.I don’t think that’s logical, because London is the most diverse city, or one of most diverse cities on Earth. We have so many different languages, so many different backgrounds; different ethnic groups who contribute so much for London. They get

on, we have a harmony in London, and the mayor’s job is to speak for all Londoners, not just for one group. I really hope that ethnicity doesn’t ever come into politics in this country, because it would be divisive and unhelpful.”

Cllr Seema Kumar who was busy seeing to the huge gathering of guests of all nationalities and many businesses, in between talked to Asian Voice briefly. Endorsing Zac as the candidate of Asian choice, she added, “I believe in Zac as a good candidate.

He is very committed and understands the needs of residents, communities and businesses. He enjoys Asian culture, but then he’s also the people’s best person, he’s the person for every community. That’s why you’ve seen present here people of so many nationalities, especially Londoners supporting Zac.” A successful luxury auction was conducted by Julian Gallant.

RAsian EALESTATEVOICE Voice | 19th March 2016

www.asian-voice.com AsianVoiceNews

Suresh Vagjiani

Sow & Reap A Property Investment Company

London - a multi-dimensional story

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19

There is a ‘let’s sit on the fence and see what happens’ type of mood in the market; the market is pausing. This is certainly the case for higher value properties.

Properties around the £500k mark are still flying off the shelf, as demonstrated by auction lots. One flat in Fulham which we valued at the top end at £420k went for £490k only last month.

Savills had brought its auction which was due on March the 28th forward by a whole month in order to incentivise buyers to purchase before the stamp duty rise. The auction achieved a sales rate of 81%. Its sales rates previously have been 85% and prior to this even up to 91%.

Therefore, did bringing the auction forward have any impact what so ever? Maybe not.

In reality I don't feel the stamp duty rise will have a huge impact especially at the lower levels. Lower level now means above the level of £500k to £1m, as in over half of the boroughs in London the average property price is now around £500,000.

The London market may dampen temporarily, just whilst everyone absorbs the rise. I believe it will not have the impact that many are anticipating which is a long term slowing down of transaction volumes, and reductions in price.

The market is more robust than this, it has absorbed two stamp duty blows already and is still standing strong.

Of course the world economics has shifted and there are decisions which hang in limbo which may impact the property market, depending on which way they land.

But the truth of the matter is where will people put their money if not in property? The demand for London property is wide and comes from many diverse segments.

In 2009 onwards, investors were purchasing ex council properties in central locations, and renting them out to the DSS. The rates of return were extraordinary. To give an example, we sourced a three bedroom property in Westbourne Park Road, London, W2 in November 2009, for a price of £312,500. The rent achieved on this property after completion was £720pw. This gave an annual rental of £37,440 and a yield of 12%.

To put this further into perspective, you would have only needed £46,875 for the 15% deposit to purchase this property. Your mortgage costs would have been around £13,281 (typical mortgage) and after all costs your net income would have been around be £20,415 which sounds crazy, as it means you would have received a 43% net return on your money. Crazy but true - we were doing this for our clients.

This property I remember specifically, as one client came all the way from Sussex over a weekend to look at this property from the outside. He came and went and then told me on Monday morning the property was ugly. I told him that he wasn’t going to be living there therefore the looks are unimportant, what he should be looking at is purely the numbers. He wasn't convinced, though he did go on to buy a prettier property from us at a later date.

Real Deal The

This week’s Real Deal is not exactly a deal …

It was a no brainer to do this deal, yet the take up wasn't as aggressive as one would think. There were the Doubting Thomas's who sat on the fence and then there were those who were doing it on the ground, they were doing these deals. This segment in the market was mushrooming.

Mushrooming is actually the correct word, as this sector was growing in the dark, there was little publicity about the yield being obtained in Westminster. Those who did one deal, wanted more of the same, they told their friends they were actually getting this rent in reality.

There was talk this was a honeymoon period, and not a viable long term investment and the government was likely to put a cap on this, this would bring this whole segment of this housing sector crashing down. These ex-council properties were bought on the basis of an over inflated and temporary yield. The demand was coming from only one sector and that was the courtesy of the government, who were going on a mission to enforce cuts.

I heard this talk, and it still didn't make much sense, ok the rental yield was temporary, but even if it lasted for one year you got almost half your deposit back. After all the overriding factor of property investment is location.

This is the governing and overriding factor in a property investment not the yield, and these properties were in key locations, as the inflated rents were given only for housing in top London Boroughs.

The yields came down a few years later, when the government enforced their cuts, but the property values didn't - they kept rising and rising. The point being the demand is so strong and multi segmented, if one segment drops away others will quickly fill the gap.

Now ex-council properties are almost on par with private properties in terms of price. In many ways they make better BTL investments.

The current value of this property according to Zoopla, is £550,000 which is a rise of 176% in six and a half years.

It’s an invitation only seminar.

It will take place on Wednesday 23rd March, in Central London, where we will reveal details of our most lucrative investment to date.

You will be able to meet and interact with the experts, who have studied this opportunity in depth in person.

Call the office to register your interest.

The above experience demonstrates the multidimensional demand of the London market. Many people cite the lack of Chinese money to be a concern from the demand side. This may affect the new build sector, but there is a renewed interest from the Iranians, I'm hearing this from the ground. There are calls coming in to some of the Middle Eastern colleagues I have; they want to spend.

I suspect for properties around the £500k mark there will be no notable decline in demand. The supply at this level is limited and there is always a herd chasing these properties. A £15k increase in stamp duty won’t enter most savvy investors’ minds when purchasing a property. On a long term basis of five years plus it makes little difference in the investment.

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Tips of the Week

l Don’t just walk into your bank and ask for a mortgage, you will just get a product but not the most suitable one. If you are looking for advice consider using a specialist mortgage broker. Remember interest rates are not the only point to consider, arrangement fees and exit fees are equally important. l Control your emotions. When it comes to an investment property don't think how your family will fit into the rooms a few years down the road, keep the two separate.

20

ASIANVOICE

Asian Voice | 19th March 2016

Consultant Editor Financial Voice Alpesh Patel

Dear Financial Voice Reader, We reward failure in finance. As I said on BBC World, look at the banker bonuses at Deutsche Bank, just as their shareprice is the same level it was over 10 years ago. A banker’s job for his company is to do one thing and one thing only – make the share price go up.

That is their job. If any deny it, their investors and fellow Board members would sack them – but instead we reward failure by giving more money to them.

The same in fund management. When I wrote my ‘Diary of an Internet Trader’ column in the Financial Times, I noted how so many fund managers cannot outperform a simple index tracker. Yet they market well so get lots and lots of money.

Why do we do it? We don’t know any better? We are lazy? They are clever how they misinform us? For instance a common way they cheat us is telling us how a fund manager is in the top quartile. You know what that means? It means in the top 25%. If at school I said I came in the top 25% no one would be impressed at home. In fact, they’d be unimpressed with me coming second.

So how is it with money we are happy with someone coming in the top 25% we give them lots of money? It is misinformation.

When I beat in the Financial Times competition Neil Woodford over a decade ago to predict the FTSE 100, I came within 0.5% over 12 months of the final value, Neil came within 30%! Ie he was wrong – massively. So guess whose asset management company went on to raise hundreds of millions of money of other people’s money? Me – who in the same paper head to head with him outsmarted him, beat him, smacked him down? Audited by the Financial Times.

In public? Or him? White middle-class like most of the City?

Him of course.

It’s who you know, not what you know. It’s marketing. And when you market, it helps if you’re a white male I reckon.

To make the point even more clear how rubbish fund managers are, I set myself a challenge that a computer can outperform them. If a computer can beat the best chess players in the world then why not fund managers who are mediocre?

So I created algorithms and let the UK largest most awarded financial software company for private investors monitor it and over the past 11 years the software did not do as I expected against fund managers.

It did better. It beat the richest man in the world, Warren Buffett and every single UK companies fund manager.

You can see why I called it Alpesh Patel Special Edition. And unlike your fund manager it doesn’t charge you 2% of your assets annually.

But it’s so good, I’m not taking on any new people.

You can see the results, but do not buy it at www.sharescope.co.uk/alpesh. Please throw your money away with rich fat cat City fund managers instead. You deserve them.

Like an artist whose work is not appreciated, I am sulking.

India's factory output dips 1.5% in Jan

India's industrial production contracted for the third consecutive month in January prompted by a sharp decline in manufacturing and capital goods sectors, posing fresh challenges for policy makers against the backdrop of a sluggish global economy.

Data released by the Central Statistics Office showed that industrial pro-

duction shrank an annual 1.5 per cent in January as compared to 2.8 per cent growth in the year-ago month and a decline of 1.2 per cent in the previous month. The manufacturing sector, which accounts for 76 per cent of the index, fell 2.8 per cent year-on-year in January compared to a growth of 3.4 per cent in the year earlier month.

www.asian-voice.com

Prime Minister David Cameron announces 'Help to Save' accounts AsianVoiceNews

British Prime Minister David Cameron has announced a new savings scheme in a bid to reward low-paid workers who take part, with a bonus of up to £1,200. The 'Help to Save ' accounts will be launched later this year to encourage people on low incomes to save, and will be available to employees receiving inwork benefits. The scheme will enable around 3.5 million employees on working tax credits or universal credit to save up to £50 a month and get a bonus of 50 per cent. It will help them earn a maximum of £600 after two years.

People can also subscribe for an additional two years.

The move comes after officials claimed nearly half

David Cameron

of Britain's adults have set aside less than £500 for

emergencies.

Cameron said he wants to give hard-

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

working people extra support to fulfil their potential and transform life chances across the country. He said, “That's what these new measures will achievehelping someone start a savings fund to get them through difficult times, giving people on low incomes a pay rise and making sure teenager have the experience and networks to succeed.” Changes to the national minimum wage will further boost almost 500,000 young workers' pay by an average of £450. Under 18s will see national minimum wage rates increase from £3.87 to £4.00 an hour, while those in apprenticeships will gain a rise to £3.40, an hourly increase of 10p.

FICCI president hails passing of real estate bill FICCI president Harshvardhan Neotia has hailed the passing of Real Estate Bill, 2016 in Rajya Sabha and said that it was a major step in enhancing the credibility of construction industry. He said that this bill would bringing in transparency and accountability in execution of projects.

Prime minister Narendra Modi said that bill was a "great news for home buyers". The bill, which seeks to regulate the property sector, bring in

transparency and help protect consumer interests, is now slated to be taken up by the Lok Sabha.

The key features of the bill are: All projects will have to be registered with regulatory authorities, and developers will have to disclose project information including details of the promoter, project, layout plan, land status, status of approvals and agreements along with details of real estate agents, contractors, architects and structural

engineers.

There will be no discrimination of any kind on basis of religion, region, caste, creed or sex and gender and we will include that in the rules. The government may bring in a "nondiscriminatory" clause to allow anyone (including a transgender) to buy property in a complex. When some members raised the issue of discrimination in selling flats and plots to certain communities, Urban development minister M

Venkaiah Naidu said the constitution provides equality for all.

Builders will have to deposit a minimum of 70% collections from buyers in an escrow account to cover cost of construction and land. State-level Real Estate Regulatory Authorities will be established to regulate transactions related to both residential and commercial projects and ensure their timely completion and handover.

Lord Mayor of the City of London to visit India Rupanjana Dutta

The Lord Mayor of the City of London Jeffrey Evans is visiting India from 17-23 March going to Delhi and Mumbai, with a delegation.

In 100 days, as the 688th Lord Mayor, he has already visited 11 cities in the world, renewing overseas links with the City of London, and India is the next destination. The agenda includes looking to develop partnership in various areas.

On reaching Delhi, the Lord Mayor, who is visiting India for the first time, will be meeting the Indian Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Power and Renewable Energy Minister Piyush Goyal. A meeting with the Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, is in the pipeline.

He will also be meeting with senior representatives of British Business Groups (BBG) and UK India Business Council (UKIBC) in Delhi.

The Lord Mayor will be meeting the Mansion House Scholar: an award given to one or more pupil, who could be tomorrow's leaders. The scholarship in conjunction with Chevening, facilitates a brilliant student to gain experience of a lifetime to study in

Lord Mayor

one of UK's universitiesincluding an opportunity to work with one of City's highest businesses. There are 26 participating nations, and the local High commissions help to reach out to right applicants. He is meant to attend the Education UK Alumni Awards hosted by the British Council.

On 21st March the Lord Mayor will be having breakfast with UK banks viz.

HSBC, Standard Chartered, Barclays and RBS, visiting the SEBI Chairman and National Stock Exchange, attending a roundtable by City of London Corporation, Mumbai on internationalisation of rupee, followed by a dinner reception with the CFOs of Indian companies.

Speaking about internationalisation of money, the Lord

Mayor who is against Brexit, said, “This has a tremendous potential. As trading partners, we could assist in this matter and there are a number of conversation in place.”

On 22nd, he is meant to have breakfast with the Indian companies on inward investment to the UK, followed by an event with HR heads jointly hosted by Odgers Berndston India for delegates including professional qualification providers, and is also meant to call on EXIM bank. The Lord Mayor will also attend a roundtable organised by Confederation of Indian Industry on green finance, followed by a meeting with R Gandhi, the Deputy Governor of RBI and roundtable discussion on Fintech collaboration

opportunities before he makes his way back to London.

Speaking excitedly about Green Finance and its opportunities, Mr Evans said, “There is a lot of potential in India, and there is a major initiative to be discussed. The British government could help international companies wanting to invest in India in this area, though nothing specific has been discussed as yet.

Britain would like to offer to put the right system and procedure to make this possible.”

UK is a global hub in the fast-growing green finance arena, according to a new report released recently by the UN Environment Programme's (UNEP) Inquiry into the Design of a Sustainable Financial system.

The report came as policymakers and financial institutions focussed on how to mobilise the capital required to implement Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change which were agreed last year. The City of London Corporation, is taking initiative to launch Green Finance with the aim of making London the world leader in green finance.

CURRENCYVOICE

www.asian-voice.com AsianVoiceNews

Asian Voice | 19th March 2016

Paresh Davdra is the Dealing Director of RationalFX,

All eyes on ‘Brexit’ Currency Specialists.

All eyes are still on the ‘Brexit’ issue, the week started with Bank of England Governor Mark Carney addressing a cross-party Treasury Committee regarding Britain’s membership of the EU. Carney issued a warning of Brexit risks, highlighting a short-term hit to growth and downturn foreign investment. Mr Carney said: "There could be lower levels of activity because of the degree of uncertainty that could affect investment and household spending.”

Certain members of the Treasury Committee accused him of making ‘pro-EU’ comments however Mr. Carney emphasised that the BoE was not taking sides in the EU referendum. "We will not be making, and nothing we say should be interpreted as making, any recommendation with respect to that decision," he said.

Governor Carney said a vote

by Britain to leave the European Union could hit the country's economy and prompt some banks to move away from London's global financial powerhouse. "It's reasonable to expect certain firms would take a view in terms of relocation, and I’d say a number of institutions are contingency planning for that possibility," he said.

Economic data was quiet this

21

Foreign Exchange

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

week but Wednesdays U.K. industrial output data showed that we rebounded in January after a steep drop in December.

Monday saw the factory Orders (YoY) (Jan) released for Germany which came out at 1.1%, increasing from the previous figure of -2.2% and beating the expected 0.0% showing a slight expansion for the German economy in terms of new orders within the economy. Along with that we saw the Producer Price Index (YoY) released for Italy which came out at -2.5% up from -3.2% In Germany industrial production jumped more than forecast in January as strong domestic demand overpowered the drop in export orders. The output rose 3.3% m/m in January after an upwardly revised 0.3% decline in December. The annualized figure rose 2.2%.

Thursday signalled one of the most volatile days in currency markets following the ECB press conference and rate decision. As expected by markets the ECB cut deposit rates by 10 basis points further in to negative territory to 0.4% which means the ECB will be charging banks more to hold their overnight funds and thus incentivising banks and financial institutions to increase lending

activity to ultimately increase economic output. This went hand-inhand with the marginal lending rate also cut from 0.3% to 0.25% which means banks and financial institutions will be charged less for borrowing from the ECB overnight. Furthermore, Mario Draghi has also increased the quantitative easing programme by €20bn a month, bringing the asset purchase programme to €80bn from a previous of €60bn.

This was expected as there was always going to be pressure on the ECB to expand their monetary policy given the single-currency bloc slipped back in to negative inflation for February. Market participants were most surprised by the cut in the ECB base rate to an all-time low of 0.0% from 0.05% amid growing concerns of a fresh economic crash - naturally off the back of this EUR depreciated across the board massively with both GBPEUR and EURUSD reflecting the negative sentiment in the Eurozone given the interest rate cut.

However, the gains made against the EUR were only momentary as in the following press conference Mario Draghi implied interest rates would stay ‘very low’ for at least another year and played down the speculation

of further interest rate cuts. As a direct result to these comments; we saw EUR strength return causing EURUSD, GBPEUR and GBPUSD all dramatically retraced the previous gains made.

Market participants interpreted Draghi’s comments as positive for the Eurozone as it was insinuated no further interest rate cut was required to boost economic output.

In US the labour market conditions Index kicked off the week with a reading of -2.4 against the previous 0.4. This figure is the lowest recorded since the source was first released in 2014.

Unemployment claims for the US were printed better than forecast as the publication came out showing individuals who filed for unemployment decreased to 259K from a previous 277K, however this data was overshadowed by the ECB meeting. Given the dual mandate operated by the Federal reserve of price stability and employment; the recent unemployment data puts the Fed in a good position to for an interest rate hike when the FOMC meet at the end of this month.

US MBA mortgage application volumes grew 0.20% in the last week, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Weekly Currencies As of Tuesday 15th March 2016 @ 11.15pm GBP - INR = 95.87

USD - INR = 67.20

EUR - INR = 74.57 GBP - USD = 1.42 GBP - EUR = 1.28

EUR - USD = 1.10 GBP - AED = 5.24

GBP - CAD = 1.89

GBP - NZD = 2.14

GBP - AUD = 1.89

GBP - ZAR = 22.17

GBP - HUF = 398.53

www.rationalfx.com

Information provided by RationalFX. None of the information on this page constitutes, nor should be construed as financial advice. The exchange rates used are the commercial foreign exchange rates provided by RationalFX. For a live quote or to find out more about how RationalFX can help you, call us on 0207 220 8181.

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22

www.asian-voice.com

More Sikhs in Canadian cabinet than in India In Brief AsianVoiceNews

Asian Voice | 19th March 2016

VANCOUVER: At a public engagement in Washington DC, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau ribbed Indian counterpart Narendra Modi saying, “I have more Sikhs in my Cabinet than Modi does.”

True, Modi Cabinet has only two Sikh ministers, Maneka Gandhi (Sikh by birth) and Harsimrat Kaur Badal while, Trudeau inducted four Sikhs in his 30-member cabinet last year.

In his good humoured ribbing, Trudeau reminded the world how he managed to compose the almost flawless representative cabinet; with a minority as well as a gender balance. With a 50-50 distri-

cabinet include Defence Minister Harjit Singh Sajjan, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Small Business and Tourism, Bardish Chagger, and Minister of

bution of seats amongst men and women, Trudeau's “Because it's 2015” remark won over the world when he was asked about the unmissable balance after elected to power. Sikhs in the Canadian

US pledges to work with India against LeT, JeM WASHINGTON: India and the US sail on tough seas with both the countries facing disagreement on several mutual issues.

However, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Washington later this month for the Nuclear Security Summit. He will, however, also look forward to enhance bilateral ties in other areas.

A read-out on Modi's visit spoke of both the sides agreeing to work for achieving concrete results in key areas of bilateral cooperation, including defence and trade &

century, they agreed to deepen their already close collaboration on these issues.”

In the United States Congress, embassy officials said, the foreign secretary had meetings with chairman of senate foreign relations committee senator Bob Corker (who has opposed the F16 sale to Pakistan), chairman of senate armed services committee senator John McCain and chairman of senate intelligence committee senator Richard Burr to exchange views on bilateral, regional and international issues.

investment.

“Of course, we discuss differences. This is robust relationship which can endure differences,” said Indian foreign secretary S Jaishankar who was in America recently. A statement said both the sides discussed “US-India collaboration against Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-eMuhammed, and other terrorist threats.”

US national security council spokesman Ned Price said, “Building on their leaders' commitment to make the US-India partnership a defining relationship for the 21st

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Science and Economic Development Navdeep Bains.

Sajjan and Bains are turbaned Sikhs, and the fact that a bearded, turbaned Sikh heads the military of a western country, an ally and neighbour of the United States, is a matter of pride for many Sikhs, who are having a rough time South of the border.

A Sikh heading the Canadian military should be of no surprise either. The first Sikh settler in Canada is said to be Kesur Singh, a Risaldar Major in the British India Army, who arrived in Vancouver on board Empress of India in 1897.

Identities of 22,000 foreign IS militants leaked LONDON: A huge cache of stolen IS documents revealing the names and details of thousands of foreign recruits have been released by German intelligence. Called a “devastating” coup for intelligence agencies around the world, the documents show that more than a dozen of Britons were among 22,000 “entrance questionnaires” taken by the Islamic States' border authority in 2013.

German interior ministry confirmed that officials believed the list was authentic. Details about where it was retrieved from or the identities of the people on the list, however, have been declined. News of the list was reported by a team of investigative reporters from a Munich daily. The piece only got attention when a pro-opposition Syrian news website published a selection of the forms online showing a 23 part survey detailing the extremists' names, birth dates, nationalities, hometowns and blood types. Prospective members were also asked to choose if they wanted to be used as suicide bombers, soldiers or in another role, and to elaborate any previous jihadi experience.

“It will be a great blow for their recruitment process because these documents show not just the people joining but the networks involved in radicalising them and facilitating their travel. Any recruit will know they are very likely to be discovered and there will be serious consequences for them, it doesn't inspire a great deal of confidence,” said Afzal Ashraf, visiting fellow at Notthingham University's centre of conflict, security, and terrorism. He also said that claims of a disillusioned IS member leaking the files could spark damaging internal purges, executions and in-fighting.

Germany’s interior minister, Thomas de Maizière, confirmed the documents were real and they would facilitate “speedier, clearer investigations and stricter prison sentences” for those returning from Syria and Iraq. De Maizière said the materials help clarify “the underlying structures of this terrorist organisation”. Britons identified in the documents so far had previously been revealed to the public and are dead, killed in US-led strikes, or their whereabouts unknown. Sixteen Britons are thought to be on the list, among them Junaid Hussain and Reyaad Khan.

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Muslim flyers grounded for ‘staring at crew’ in US

LOS ANGELES: Two Muslim women were escorted off a plane in United States after a member of the cabin crew accused them of “staring” at her. With the rise of Islamophobia, these incidents occur on a regular basis. The women who flew from Boston to Los Angeles without incident were singled out after the JetBlue plane landed. Passengers said they had heard a member of cabin crew tell a coworker that she “did not appreciate” being stared at. One of the passengers, a Sharon Kessler wrote on Facebook, “It was a terrible moment-honestly-these women sat quietly, watched movies- it felt like overkill from this flight attendant.”

Murdered Pak guv's son found after 5-year captivity

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani forces have recovered slain Punjab governor Salman Taseer's son, Shahbaz after almost five years of captivity.

Interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Khan briefed the Pakistani parliament on National Action Plan against terrorism. “I have some good news. I just received information regarding the recovery of Salman Taseer's son.” An intelligence input about his presence in Balochistan's Kuchlak area helped the military recover Shahbaz. Baloch counter-terrorism department head Aitzaz Goraya said, “We surrounded a compound and raided it. We did not find anyone except a single person there.

He told us his name is Shahbaz and his father's name is Salman Taseer.” Shahbaz's recovery follows the execution of his father's assassin in Rawalpindi

Dhaka court upholds death penalty of Jamaat leader

DHAKA: Bangladesh Supreme Court has upheld the death sentence of top Islamist leader Mir Quasem Ali, making way for his execution. In a major blow to the fundamentalist Jamaat-e-Islami party, Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha announced the verdict saying, “The sentence is maintained,” to a crowded courtroom. The decision comes 16 months after the country's International Crimes Tribunal sentenced 63 year old Ali to death for the atrocities committed during the liberation war in 1971. Ali was sentenced for charges including mass killing and tortures, running a militia torture cell.

Modi, Sharif may meet in Washington: Sartaj Aziz

WASHINGTON: A top aide to Pak Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said that the premier may meet his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi this month on the sidelines of the Nuclear Security Summit. Foreign Affairs Adviser to Sharif, Sartaj Aziz, confirmed the speculation saying, “There are chances of meeting between the two. There are possibilities, when they are here. They would interact with each other. Whether there would be a structured meeting I do not know. Depends on...Chances are there.” He added, “We do not know (when foreign secretaries would meet).

He (Indian Foreign Secretary) has to come to Islamabad first. We are hoping that now.”

Two stolen Indian statues seized before auction in NY

NEW YORK: Two stolen Indian statues dating back to the 8th and 10th centuries and valued over $4,50,000 were seized from auction house Christie's just days before an auction next week. Authorities said they had begun the search for the arti facts in 2012. The auction house said it had no knowledge the items were stolen and described them as a 10th century sandstone column of Rishabhanata and an 8th century sandstone panel of the equestrian deity Revanta and his entourage. Subhash Kapoor, a former Manhattan gallery owner is the subject of an international investigation after allegations emerged of him running one of the biggest antiquities smuggling operations ever uncovered in the States.

WORLD Asian Voice | 19th March 2016

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F-16 sale to Pakistan gets Senate nod AsianVoiceNews

WASHINGTON: Even after voting approval for the sale of F-16 fighter aircraft to Pakistan, the US Senate's attitude towards Islamabad surely seems to be changing.

While Senator Rand Paul's resolution against the sale was defeated 71-24, sources said the issue was more about Paul's attempt to challenge the Congress leadership.

Republican Senator Paul said, “We've got a lot of things going on in our country that need to be taken care of, and we don't have enough money to be sending it to Pakistan.”

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Bob Corker

Arguing at the senate floor, he said, “I can't in

good conscience look away as America crumbles at

home and politicians tax us to send the money to corrupt and duplicitous regimes abroad.”

Meanwhile, India lobbied against the sale, and continues to maintain the pressure.

As Paul's resolution favours India, sources following Congressional debates said India did not favour the resolution that created a procedural issue in the Congress. Many feel efforts from the Indian side wasn't good enough which is why it ended in a failure.

People also suggested that India should not get

into such public lobbying efforts unless it was playing to win.

Back home, there is some anger within the government that the US chose to announce the deal when New Delhi was recovering from the Pathankot terror attack.

But the Senate's foreign relations committee leadership maintained that it was better to dangle the planes before Pakistan so that Washington could have leverage over Islamabad, lest it gravitate towards China and Russia for such purchases. The debate essentially

23

answered the question: why eight jets, and why now. “They are just throwing out some bones to Pakistan to keep them in line for the next few months,” one legislative observer explained.

Republican senator Bob Corker, who has said he supports the sale but will not allow US taxpayer to subsidize it, explained it more tactfully. “It's about whether we as a country would prefer for Pakistan to buy American made fighter jets or whether we would prefer them to buy Russian jets or French jets,” he observed.

Nomination deadline

Suu Kyi loyalist elected Myanmar's president

All entries and nominations must be received before midnight on 29 March 2016.

Finalists will be announced in May 2016.

NOMINATIONS OPEN NOW!

Are you a UK Based Charity who seeks to solve the most pressing social issues of our time, both in Britain and globally?

Nominate yourself for the Asian Voice Charity Awards 2016 by visiting our website www.asianvoicecharityawards.com

The Awards ceremony will be held on Friday 20th May 2016 at the Sheraton Park Lane Hotel, London

Award Categories

For Charities and Not-for Profit Institutions

I Charity of the Year Htin Kyaw and Aung San Suu Kyi

N A Y P Y I T A W (MYANMAR): Myanmar's parliament elected Htin Kyaw as the country's new president in a watershed moment that ushers the longtime opposition party of Aung San Suu Kyi into government after 54 years of direct or indirect military rule. The joint session of the two houses of parliament broke into thundering applause as the speaker Mann Win Khaing Than announced the result: "I hereby announce the president of Myanmar is Htin Kyaw, as he won the majority of votes." Immediately, the state-run Myanmar TV's camera zoomed in from above on a beaming Suu Kyi, sitting in the front row, clapping excitedly, for a live nationwide audience.

The 70-year-old Htin Kyaw, a longtime confidant of Suu Kyi, will take office on April 1 but questions remain about his position and power. Rightfully, the job belonged to Suu Kyi, who has been the face of the pro-democracy movement and who endured decades of house arrest and harassment by military rulers without ever giving up on her non-violent campaign to unseat them. But a constitutional provision barred Suu Kyi from becoming president, and she made it

clear that whoever sits in that chair will be her proxy.

Still, Htin Kyaw will be remembered by history as the first civilian president for Myanmar and the head of its first government to be elected in free and fair polls.

After the parliament session ended, Suu Kyi did not comment as she exited, leaving the new president to deliver the first reaction.

"This is a victory for the people of this country," Htin Kyaw said in a brief comment to reporters.

He secured 360 votes from among 652 ballots cast in the bicameral parliament, where the vote count was read aloud and announced by a parliament official. The military's nominee, Myint Swe, won 213 votes and will become the first vice president. Htin Kyaw's running mate from the National League for Democracy party, Henry Van Tio, won 79 votes and will take the post of second vice president.

"We are very satisfied with the result of the presidential election," said Tun Win, a legislator from the Arakan National Party. "He really should be the leader.

I hope he can lead this country to peace and stability, equality and implement the rule of law in this country."

This award recognises a UK-registered charity for their outstanding work and contribution to society, as well as demonstrated excellence service and achievement in its work over the last five years.

There is are no criteria on the annual income, but the charity must demonstrate consistently delivered outstanding service for their size and yearon-year-growth I Start-Up of the Year This award is similar to Charity of the Year, but specifically for charities that have been operational for three years or less.

I Outstanding Achievement

This award recognises an individual who has demonstrated dedication, professionalism and integrity throughout their career, and who has produced an identifiably profound effect on the sector in the UK or otherwise through their work and management over at least a 15-year period.

I Most Enterprising

This award recognises a social enterprise or the trading arm of a charity that has made a significant difference to beneficiaries through its ability to generate income to meet its social goals over the last two years.

I Fundraising Campaign This award awards an overall campaign that used a variety of innovative fundraising approaches to display real quantifiable results to achieve or exceed its targets in the last 12 months.

I Outstanding PR Team

This award recognises excellence in charity PR, either in-house at a charity, or an agency undertaking a PR campaign on behalf of a charity.

Benefits of the specific PR campaign must be proven to show extensive press and media coverage in the last 12 months.

For Charity/Corporate Partnerships:

I Excellence in Corporate Social Responsibility

This award recognises the best corporate partnership and corporate responsibility programmes. It honours a company which goes beyond simply CSR projects to engage in partnerships in the last two years with either UK-registered or international charities, social enterprises or unincorporated charitable projects, to demonstrate quantifiably positive impact to the community.

The partnership should demonstrate significant positive outcomes and impact, as well as innovation in its approach

I Consultancy of the Year

This award recognises a consultancy firm that has demonstrated a real commitment to the sector and sector organisations in its work, showing a real worth

in sharing its expertise during the last 12 months.

The work could take a range of forms: such as on the overall strategic direction of a charities, advisory services for philanthropy, social impact assessments, M&A activity, change management, leadership and development, business planning for charities and social enterprises. It could also relate to work not for one organisation, but more widely, such as thought leadership that has driven positive change in the sector.

I Investment Management Award

This award recognises excellence in the professional services offered to the sector, showing evidence of real quantifiable investment returns, especially within the last 12 months, but also within a wider timeframe context, and show a real understanding of the investment needs of charities, with which they work.

FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AND OTHER INFORMATION CONTACT

020 7993 8987 or 0207 749 4085 or email: moeketsi@economicpolicygroup.com

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In a first, AP budget presented in full e-format Asian Voice | 19th March 2016

HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu presented the 2016-17 budget in full electronic format with budgetary proposals supplied to the state legislators in Tablet computers, marking a first. Tablet PCs fed with the budget proposals, socio-economic survey 2015-16, and other related documents were given to the legislators, and mediapersons were given the data in pen drive.

“I am happy to inform the House that the budget for 2016-17 is unique on several

Yanamala Ramakrishnudu

counts. First and foremost, it's an e-budget with all documents being made available in easily readable format on a Tablet that you can carry any-

Chennai tops in health cover, Mumbai worst CHENNAI: Fresh data from the National Family Health Survey-4 shows Chennai has the most health-insured people among all metros, followed

by Hyderabad. The data says almost all metros have more than doubled their insured population in the past 10 years, in a pace that global organisations say have not witnessed anywhere else in the world. Households covered by health insurance in Chennai is 56.9 per cent, followed by Hyderabad with 49.8 per cent and Kolkata with 26.1 per cent. The lowest is Mumbai with an coverage of mere 12.4 per cent. Data for New Delhi is yet to be released. With the government's health insurance scheme that covers nearly 50 million people in Tamil Nadu, more than half of Chennai's households have a member covered by a health scheme or health insurance. More than three-fifth of the people in

Tamil Nadu got insurance in the last decade, lowering the number of uninsured by 60 per cent from 2005-06. At the national level, 17 per cent of the population was under the health net until 2014.

Experts link the leap in numbers to the state-sponsored health insurance schemes in TN, Kerala, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra.

The climb began when a statesponsored scheme was launched by the DMK government in July 2009, two years after the AP government launched its Arogyashri. In 2012, the AIADMK regime upgraded the scheme and extended its coverage to include some 15 million families. While state insurance is available to the poor, many in the middle and upper-income group now have a companysponsored insurance or an individual insurance.

Pathankot attack: Centre sends £635,000 bill to Punjab C H A N D I GARH: Punjab government has refused to pay a bill of £635,000 issued by the Centre as payment for the paramilitary forces deployed during the Pathankot terror attack in January. In a letter, it states that the expenditure for each company is Rs 1,77,143 per day. It has also directed the Punjab government to bear the transportation charges.

Eleven companies of the Central Reserve Police Force and nine companies of Border Security Force were deployed to support the airbase during the terror attack.

An irked state government replied to the bill saying that the deployment of “these units was in national interest and expenditure thereon should not be billed to the state government.” Punjab home ministry wrote, “These paramilitary forces, along with Punjab police, were used to carry out sustained search and combing operations in the area up to 10-12 km around the periphery of Tibri

where and refer to at any time,” the Minister said in his speech. He also called the budget “truly decentralised” as each of the 20,800 drawing and disbursing officers in the state prepared the proposals for the unit under their control. “This is a genuinely outcomefocused budget with unwavering focus on performance and outcomes rather than the tra-

ditional input-based budget.

It is also a demand-driven budget based on the needs of the grassroots and expectations of the people. We have obtained inputs from the public and incorporated them suitably.”

In the 125 minutes, he took to read out the 57-paged text, Yanamala quoted APJ Abdul Kalam, HW Longfellow, Swami Vivekananda, Shakespeare, Winston Churchill, Thomas Jefferson, Franklin D Roosevelt, BR Ambedkar and Wilfred Peterson.

Vijayakanth decides to go it alone in TN poll CHENNAI: DMDK chief Vijayakanth put an end to all speculations after announcing that his party will go it alone in the coming assembly polls in Tamil Nadu. He said his party members were confused when TV channels owing allegiance to select political parties aired views according to their “whims” on the party's probable decision.

The DMDK had won 29 out of 234 seats in the last assembly polls had tied up with the AIADMK for the 2011. For the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the party had joined BJP, but drew a blank. While the PMK had already announced its intentions to contest alone, Tamil Nadu might just witness a six-cornered contest between the AIADMK, DMK, DMDK, PMK, MNK, and the BJP.

Vijayakanth

The national party barely has a presence in the state and it is not clear if it would join hands with any regional party or make allies with smaller parties. The elections will also show several chief ministerial aspirants, other than Jayalalithaa, compete.

Reports say MDMK chief Vaiko, VCK leader Tirumavalavan and Karunanidhi's son MK Stalin too aspire for the seat.

Sarpanch leads women to stop exam cheating

In Brief

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Migrant worker wins £100,000 lottery in Kerala

KOZHIKODE (KERALA): A 22 year old migrant worker from Bengal who went to Kerala looking for employment saw his luck do a backflip after he won a government lottery for £100,000. Mofijul Rahana Sheikh from Lakshmipur, West Bengal, purchased the 'Karunya' lottery ticket on March 4, the day he arrived in Kozhikode, for Rs 50. He won the prize in the draw the next day, and went straight to a police station seeking protection. Fearing other migrant workers in his group might attack him, he was taken to a bank where he opened an account and submitted the ticket.

Muslims force Kerala newspaper to apologise

THRISSUR: Kerala's leading daily, Mathrubhumi, issued an apology after it printed a purportedly offensive comment curated from social media on Prophet Muhammad. The comment was followed by protests from several Muslim organisations who demonstrated outside its offices.

Groups like the Popular Front of India said the comment hurt the sentiments of the community. Printed in its Kozhikode and Thrissur editions, the newspapers said the comment that was picked from social media, was added as a reaction to the speech made by Justice Kemal Pasha on the topic 'Law against domestic abuse' at a seminar. “We understand the comments hurt the sentiments of followers. We apologise deeply for the error,” it said.

Hyderabad motorists to be jailed for 'wrong' parking

HYDERABAD: Hyderabad traffic police have tightened their belts, ready to prosecute people who park their vehicles in the 'wrong' places. As per a new norm, any motorist found parking either dangerously or obstructively anywhere in the city more than three times in a row, will be dragged to court, and might even end up behind bars. Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Jitender said, “We have decided to crack the whip on people who pay no heed to the safety of other road-users and park anywhere they wish. So far, we have been issuing challans to such offenders. But here on, we will file chargesheets and seek imprisonment from courts.”

Earthquake warning system in Haryana

Army cantonment, laying of night ambushes and nakas in the vicinity. Because both Pathankot Air Force base and Tibri Cantonment area are vital defence establishments and CAPF was deployed for protecting these two vital installations in the national interest, it is requested that expenditure amounting to £635,000 may please be waived off.”

Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal said, “For 15 years of militancy in Punjab Army was here. The state government was billed for it and they even charged interest on it. If you call in the Army to handle a local issue, it is one thing. But if Pakistan attacks here and you ask us to pay for it, my entire budget goes awry.” The state currently strains under a debt of £125,000.

BHIVANI: Taking matters into her own hands, sarpanch Sunita of Dhanana village has decided to put a stop to the increasing cheating cases in board exams. As the police and the Board for School Education, Haryana completely failed to curb the situation, Sunita picked lathis along with other women and stood out the village school to guard the examination centre.

“Students may pass the exams by cheating, but they would not be able to make a career in future. They may remain unemployed in future if they cheat now and I don't want the children of my village to be unemployed.”

School principal Nihal Singh commended the action say-

ing, “Sunita and other women have taken a brilliant initiative. It's only because of them that the cheating cases in our school has completely vanished.”

Bahadur Singh, member of the flying commission appreciated the women saying if women of other states followed suit, the state could soon root out the cheating practice from schools.

Sarpanch Sunita had received appreciation from the administration earlier also for her weekly cleanliness campaign in the village.

She was honoured by the district administration for involving the local residents in cleaning the village on every Sunday.

CHANDIGARH: Haryana's new secretariat in Chandigarh has become the only building in India to have an early earthquake warning and security system. The system is already being used in 26 countries around the world and can provide crucial seconds for evacuation in event of an earthquake.

Installed and demonstrated by a team from Terra Techcom Private Limited, New Delhi, and Secretary Electronics GmbH, Germany, who have collaborated with India for the project, the system uses a master and a sub-master device which prevents false alarms and a six-horn siren at the terrace with a 6-km range, said Bijender Goel, managing director, Terra Techcom Private Limited.

Sale of Guru Granth Sahib in England flayed

AMRITSAR: Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee chief Avtar Singh Makkar has condemned the open sale of 'swaroops' of the holy Guru Granth Sahib at a car boot in Wolverhampton, England.

In a statement, he said it amounted to showing disrespect to the book, adding that the scripture cannot be put for sale in a bazaar or any other place. He has appealed to the British government to take steps to put a check on such incidents in the future.

INDIA Asian Voice | 19th March 2016

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THE SPIRIT OF MAHATMA

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Dr Rizwan Kadri

Dr Rizwan Kadri is a young historian known for his research on Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Dr Kadri is currently working as an Associate Professor in Shree Swaminarayan Arts College, Ahmedabad. He is also a Ph.D. (History) guide in Gujarat University and Raksha Shakti University. During his academic career Dr Kadri has won many awards such as the ‘Gujarat University Gold Medal’, ‘Sanskar Award’, Jawaharlal Memorial Fund, New Delhi, Meritorious Prize. He is also known for his inspiring lectures, particularly on the Indian Freedom Struggle and Sardar Patel which made him very popular among the scholars as well as common people. In his English translation “The Spirit of Mahatma” Dr Kadri has added a new perspective to the relationship between Mahatma Gandhi and his personal secretary Mahadev Desai, who was like a son to him. Dr Kadri chanced upon this very valuable source of information while going through the file preserved in the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, New Delhi.

Asian Voice has been publishing Dr Kadri's translation in a series.

T

his has increased our responsibility in the matter. The sincerity and honesty of Shri Hanumanji and Tulasidas for Lord Ram, with which Mahadevbhai has served Bapuji and through him the country itself, dictates that his biography be presented to the world. For this it is your responsibility to collect the raw material. In this effort, Thakorebhai Desai must also help. I will extend my cooperation, even if it is for a limited time.

Now I shall give you my suggestions for this, as they occur to me at the

moment.

Before he joined Bapuji at the time of the Godhra political conference, Mahadevbhai and Narharibhai were close friends. For his college years, we can also refer to 5 to 7 persons like Vaikunthbhai and Brelvibhai. I shall write to them a letter when I come to Ahmedabad. But it will be you who may send reminder letters to them and receive information from them. At the time of Mahadevbhai’s demise these persons had written articles about it in newspapers and we can get

some information from these writings as well.

However, many other sources also must be tapped.

All this will begin at a proper time. However, your task now is to approach Durgabahen and seek her help to find out the names of persons who have known Mahadevbhai

Part - V in his childhood. Some of these people may already be in with one-leg-in–thegrave condition. If we do not extract information in time, it would be lost for ever.

You will get great details from your talks with Shri Durgabahen.

You may not write details

I n M em o r y o f o u r l o v i n g F at h er Kushal Dutta

(5 January 1948 to 18 March 2015) They say that time heals everything.

It has been an year since you have left us. Not a day goes by, when we don't feel your absence. Whether it is the empty spot in a chair or an eerily silent room on a Sunday morning, your absence is felt every day.

We won’t immortalise you in the stars, because they fade away. We won’t remember you with a poem, for it will be forgotten one day. We will just keep you safe in our hearts, so that you are with us in every way.

We miss you.

Love as always, Vivek & Rupanjana Death Anniversary Prayer & Puja: Date: Tuesday 5 April 2016 Time: 10am-2pm Venue: Swabhumi, Kolkata

that may not be necessary or presentable to the world. But, for us, nothing is unnecessary. Even a small detail can transform the character of an entire Chapter.

Therefore you should write down all the information you get hold of as Chitragupt had done.

Do not carry loose papers when you go to collect information. Write the information in a bound notebook.

Later on, in American style, we shall write material in loose papers and then classify it and put them in separate boxes, and classify them, and then prepare the ledgers. As all the information is to be collected from Surat district, so you will get help not only from Durgabahen but also from Babla (Narayan Desai) and Jugatrambhai Dave. As you too hail from the same district, it is our additional advantage.

After getting the details from his birth to college at Mumbai, we shall get the first draft written up by Shri Jugatrambhai. His writing is very good and I believe he will also draw

the character-outline of Haribhai, the father of Mahadevbhai, very well indeed. I shall add my own tribute to that, as I too have tasted the delight of the talks I shared with Haribhai once or twice.

We must open an office at Sabarmati Ashram for writing of Mahadevbhai’s biography.

We must collect all the notes and details of the literature pertaining to it in that office.

Narharibhai has a proper idea about books like ‘VirajVahu’, ‘Mani Varta’, ‘Chitrangada’, ‘Prachin Sahitya’.

‘Satyagraha ni Maryada’ etc. and the activities related to them. We shall request him to contribute a chapter. This can also include the writings of Ghokhale into Gujarati. I think Mahadevbhai had translated into Gujarati the tributes expressed by Gholkhale for the stalwarts. The excellent command that both had over language, seems to compete with each other. Ever since Mahadevbhai came to Bapuji he gave his reading, writing, heart and service to him, and so also to ‘Young India’ and ‘Navjivan’. Therefore, you should collect and read through all the files of

25

Young India and Navjivan since its beginning, down to August 1942. Mark all the writing and weekly letters by Mahadevbhai with a red pencil line. Mark the individuals, events and books referred in them with a thick red line underneath. Write the Marginalia in a black pencil. It would be nice if you can do this work, otherwise I shall have to do it. (I have done this Marginalia for Bapuji’s biography with Chandrashankar).

Once the Marginalia is prepared, we can consider that a large part of writing the biography of Mahadevbhai, and even of Bapuji, as completed.

Bapuji had put Mahadevbhai for a short period at the service of Motilalji and Chittranjandas as well. We must find out the correct dates of these. He provided satisfactory services and then rushed back to Bapuji in time.

Mahadevbhai had edited ‘Independent’ of Motilalji, and we must get its relevant files.

I will dictate a letter after coming to Ahmedabad to solicit information about Mahadevbhai from the following persons: To be continued

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Modi attacks critics of cultural heritage AsianVoiceNews

Asian Voice | 19th March 2016

“If we keep damning ourselves, criticising everything, then why will the world look at us at all,” said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at the controversial World Culture Festival of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Art of Living on the Yamuna floodplains. “India has the cultural heritage that the entire world looks for. We can satisfy that need of the world in some measure.

But this can happen only when we take pride in this heritage.” Prime Minister Modi was present for about two hours at the event organised by Art Of Living foundation. He praised the work the foundation was “doing across the world” and likened the three-day festival to a “kumbh mela” of art. “When you look at a country through the prism of art, you realise the internal strength of that country.”

The festival ran into trouble after environmentalists protested against the fest on Yamuna plains.

The National Green Tribunal fined AOL £50,000 ordering them to pay “prior to commencement of the event”. A bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar asked the Art of Living

Narendra Modi at the inaugural ceremony of the World Culture Festival of Spiritual Leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in New Delhi.

Foundation to deposit the amount before March 11.

The tribunal also slapped fine of Rs 500,000 on Delhi Development Authority and Rs 100,000 on Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) for not discharging statutory functions. It also asked AOL to give an undertaking that enzymes will not be released into Yamuna river and that no further degradation of the environment will happen. Along with the fines, NGT also directed that a biodiversity park be developed in the entire area in question. “For the

damage caused to the environment, ecology, bio diversity and aquatic life of the river, the foundation should be held liable for its restoration in all aspects,” the bench said.

NGOs and environmentalists had sought cancellation of the festival on the ground alleging it would seriously endanger the fragile ecosystem on the riverbed. Environment activist Anand Arya, rued that over 1,000 acres of the sensitive area between Delhi and Noida stand shorn of even a “single blade” of grass. Petitioner

King of Good Times Not in High Spirits

Continued from page1

“The summons has been issued to Mallya under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act in connection with the IDBI case,” official sources said.

Mallya has also been asked to furnish documents related to his personal finances. ED investigators also questioned former Chief Financial Officer of the grounded Kingfisher Airlines (KFA), A Raghunathan, who has blamed Mallya for the financial crisis that befell KFA and said he only worked as per the directions from the latter. Vijay Mallya is in the centre of a hotchpotch as he finds himself hounded by banks, the government, and the media.

Under fire over dues of Kingfisher Airlines in unpaid loans and interest, Mallya left the country on March 2. The news came only after a 17-bank consortium moved the Apex Court to prevent him from leaving the country. Meanwhile, in an interview with Sunday Guardian, the businessman said, “I do not feel the time is right to return to India. I feel passions are high.

People need to think rationally,” hinting that he may not even choose to return at all.

Despite being cornered and facing the worst crisis of his life, Mallya – putting up a brave face, with a bit of the Dunkirk spirit – said that

loan defaults are a business matter and banks give out loans knowing the risk involved. “They decide, we don’t. Our own business was flourishing, but plummeted suddenly. Don’t make me the villain. I have the best intentions.

I’m quiet because I fear my words will be twisted like of others.”

He, however, later chose to deny even participating in the interview. He tweeted, “Shocked to see media statements that I gave an interview to Sunday Guardian without verification. I have not given any statement to anyone.” To which a journalist from the paper replied, “We stand by the Vijay Mallya interview in the @SundayGuardian and we will be putting up the email trail that culminated in his interview.” The paper indeed released an email trail refuting Mallya’s claims.

Simultaneously, back in India, the Hyderabad court has issued a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against him in connection with the alleged dishonour of a cheque of Rs 5,000,000 to GMR Hyderabad International Airports Ltd. The 14th Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court had issued four NBWs on March 10 against Mallya and another senior official of the company. GMR counsel G Ashok Reddy said, “He and others were supposed to appear before the court on March 10. They did not appear... Hence, court issued

NBW order which has to be executed by 13 April.”

Last week Mallya claimed that he was pursuing a one-time settlement with the lenders of his airlines by paying 50% of the £900 million dues, soon negated by the banks.

Mallya said that banks have already recovered £249.40 million and that he was making efforts to reach a one-time settlement with them. The total exposure of banks to Kingfisher Airlines was around £700 million as of 2014. Since then, banks have sold £124.40 million worth of United Breweries shares.

A chief of a bank said, “Till date, we have not received any concrete offer for a settlement from Mallya.” (The report has appeared in Times Of India on 11, March 2016). Bankers said a one-time settlement which usually includes a waiver would be difficult as most of the lenders belong to the public sector. An official with a bank with an £80 million exposure said, “Given that Mallya is now declared a wilful defaulter and that the investigative agencies are now involved, I expect that recoveries can only take place through a court order and a process involving auction of assets.”

SBI Caps Trustee Company will auction the airlines’ erstwhile headquarters ‘Kingfisher House’, situated near the Mumbai Airport, on March 17.

Manoj Mishra of Yamuna Jiye Abhiyaan questioned the “legality” of the event saying the area being destroyed “every moment” will take a long time to recover and slammed the organisers for the “lack of understanding” on their part.

Sri Sri had made his chagrin regarding the verdict clear saying he would rather go to jail than pay the fine imposed. He had also tweeted that AOL was not “satisfied” with the verdict of the NGT and would appeal against it. In the meantime, lawyers repre-

senting Sri Sri said it was difficult for them to pay £500,000 before the commencement of the festival and sought four weeks' time. The bench granted them three weeks saying if it did not pay Rs 2500,000 immediately, a grant of £250,000 given by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism for the event will be held “attached” or as surety till the foundation paid up. It took exception to Sri Sri's comments saying, “Certain statements have been made that which impinges on the rule of law and are capable of shaking the public confidence in administration of justice.”

Adding, “If anybody hurts the image of the tribunal, he will be taken to rule of law. To maintain the dignity and majesty of the institutions, rule of law has to be upheld.” AOL's lawyers argued that Ravi Shankar had made the statements on going to jail in a different context and had no intent to disregard the conditions imposed by the tribunal.

Regarding the biodiversity park, the Art of Living foundation said it was committed. “We are working with environmental experts as per the directions to set up the biodiver-

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

sity park at Yamuna floodplain. We are committed to cleanse the river and we will do it,” Akshama Nath, a lawyer of the AOL said.

Regarding payment of the entire amount, she said, “Money is not the issue here. There is already enough in the account of various agencies but they are not bringing it to use.

As far as we are concerned, we still have three-weeks' time for it. Whether we approach the Supreme Court or not is yet to be finalised.” The DDA has confirmed receiving Rs 2500,000 as the first instalment of the green compensation.

Several invited global leaders pulled out of the controversial festival, leaving the global cultural festival dry. Guest of Honour Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, Nepal President Bidhiya Devi Bhandari, and former Afghan President Hamid Karzai, include those who cancelled their attendance.

According to a statement issued in Delhi, “A number of leaders slotted for participation, including those from the host country” withdrew their participation.

India to pursue economic reforms: Modi Talking at the Advancing Asia summit co-hosted by the International Monetary Fund and the government of India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “My agenda for reform to transform is yet to be finished.

Entrepreneurship is booming, following a series of steps we have taken.”

The PM, along with IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde on the dias, said reform of global institutions such as the World Bank and the IMF has to be an on-going process. “I am very happy that the IMF has decided to finalise the next round of quota changes by October 2017,” he said, a day after

Narendra Modi with Christine Lagarde

the central government tabled a supplementary demand of grant of £6.96 billion in the Parliament for increasing India's quota in IMF with higher voting rights. Modi said several people have said the 21st century is and shall remain the Asian Century. “We are a ray of hope for global economic recovery. India has also dispelled the myth that

democracy and rapid economic growth cannot go together,” Modi said. He also added that his country has shown the world that a large, diverse country like India can be managed in a way that can promote economic growth and maintain social stability.

With its focus on macro economic stability, clean out corruption and interfere in decisions of banks and regulators, his government is helping the farm sector but not by giving hand-outs.

“We aim to double farmer incomes. We have increased investment in the rural and agriculture sector, because that is where a majority of India still lives.”

2-year-old dies after biting chilly A two-year-old girl in Delhi recently died after accidentally biting into a green chilly at home. Doctors at AIIMS said the girl, otherwise healthy, choked to death despite attempts to resuscitate her. The autopsy report said the death was caused by respiratory failure following aspiration of gastric contents into her respiratory tract.

Consuming chilly has often led to several minutes of trauma for those not used to spice but in the case of two year old Aaarti (name changed) the incident had extreme tragic consequence.

The girl, who had bitten green chilly accidentally at

home, died in spite of all medical intervention within 24 hours. Her autopsy, which was conducted at AIIMS, later confirmed that the death was caused by respiratory failure following aspiration of gastric contents into respiratory tract.

Dr Chittaranjan Behera, the autopsy surgeon, said: “Aspiration of gastric contents resulting in death due to respiratory failure is not uncommon. However, this is the first such case involving the accidental bite of a chilly at our hospital. It is rarely reported in medico/legal literature.”

The doctors have published the case study of the victim in the Medico-Legal

Journal aiming to educate the medical community and public at large about the risk of consuming such substances.

As per the report, the two-year-old had bouts of vomiting due to burning sensation caused by chilly bite. Though she became conscious immediately afterwards, the vomiting continued.

Doctors say it is possible that the gastric content or vomit aspirated into the windpipe which choked her and she stopped breathing.

Though the doctors at a local hospital she was rushed to managed to revive her initially, the girl died within 24 hours.

HEALTH&WELLNESS

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5 dry fruits that are packed with incredible benefits FOOD

FITNESS

LIFESTYLE

tain a lot of fats. But in reality, cashew nuts when eaten in moderation, actually help you lose weight.

Cashew nut oil too, is used in a number of cosmetics.

It helps to reduce tan and prevents skin damage. It also helps protect your cracked heels and nourishes them. Cashew nuts are rich in Vitamin E and they have anti-ageing properties as well.

Health benefits: Cashew nuts help control cholesterol, blood sugar, prevents migraines and high blood pressure.

ry fruits are packed with various vitamins, essential fats and nutrients and they keep you healthy and fit. They also have a number of skin benefits too. That is why, it is not surprising to see a number of dry fruits as the core ingredient of beauty products. So let us have a look at 5 dry fruits that should be a regular part of your diet.

D

Almonds

Almonds are jam packed with essential fatty acids, fibres and proteins.

Almonds are effective in treating acne. This dry fruit makes excellent face packs as well. For radiant skin, take crushed almonds (which have been soaked in water) and milk. Apply the mixture on your face to remove dead cells and dirt.

For your hair, you can use almond oil to add lustre and shine to dull hair.

Health benefit: Almonds also improve your haemoglobin and promote blood circulation. They also reduce cholesterol and help in prevention of lung and breast cancer.

Raisins

If you want to protect your pearly whites and your beautiful eyes, you must eat a handful of raisins daily. Raisins prevent tooth

decay and keep cavities at bay. They are also a good source of Vitamin A, and they protect your eyes from vision related problems.

Raisins also keep your skin healthy and beautiful as they contain resveratrol, an antioxidant that slows down skin ageing.

Health benefit: Raisins are loaded with potassium, magnesium, phosphorous and iron and they promote blood circulation. They are highly recommended for those suffering from anaemia.

Walnuts

Walnuts are one of the healthiest nuts which are full of good fats and nutrients. Omega 3 fatty acids, which are found in abundance in walnuts, nourish

dry skin and improves its texture. Mix a handful of walnuts with three tablespoons of yoghurt and blend it. Apply this scrub on your face daily for smooth and soft skin.

Walnut, if used in the form of oil, contains linoleic acid, which prevents wrinkles and fine lines.

Health benefits: Walnuts are called brain food and not without reason. Nearly 60% of our brain structure comprises of Omega 3 fatty acids which are found in walnuts. Walnuts are also instrumental in promoting cardiovascular health.

Cashew nuts

There is a myth about cashew nuts that they are unhealthy since they con-

Improve your stamina, BP with beetroot juice

B

eetroot's deep, overpoweringly red juice has now earned it the reputation of a big endurance-boosting and blood pressureimproving sensation.

Scientists at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center have found that a daily dose of beetroot juice significantly improved exercise endurance and blood pressure in elderly patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFPEF). Exercise intolerance, shortness of breath and fatigue with normal amounts of exertion, is the primary symptom of HFPEF and is due partly to non-cardiac factors that reduce oxygen delivery to active skeletal muscles.

Emerging evidence suggests that dietary inorganic nitrate supplementa-

To Our Readers

We are publishing these items in good faith, kindly consult your Doctor before you try to implement it. We do not hold any responsibility for its efficacy...

tion has beneficial effects on blood pressure control, vascular health, exercise capacity and oxygen metabolism. The team found that the daily dose of beetroot juice improved aerobic endurance by 24 per cent after one week, as compared to the single dose which produced no improvement.

Aerobic endurance was measured as cycling time to exhaustion at a fixed workload lower than their maximum.

Another finding was

that consumption of the juice significantly reduced resting systolic blood pressure in both the single and daily dose groups by 5 to 10 mmHg. Although, larger trials need to be conducted, these initial findings suggest that one week of daily beetroot juice could be a potential therapeutic option to improve aerobic endurance in patients with HFPEF, which has implications for improving everyday activities and quality of life, said senior author Dalane Kitzman.

Pistachios

Pistachios are powerhouse of nutrients. Rich in Vitamin E, they protect your skin from UV rays, premature ageing and even skin cancer. Pistachio oil has demulcent properties, which basically means that they help smoothen your skin. They also contain carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin, which are rarely found in nuts.

Besides this, pistachios also contain antioxidants, which neutralise the free radicals, thus preventing ageing.

Health benefit: Pistachios help stabilise blood sugar, help in digestion, prevent heart diseases and provide your body with fibres and proteins.

| Asian Voice | 19th March 2016

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High-salt diet may lead to liver damage

t was known that high salt intake would lead to high blood pressure and other side effects, now researchers have found that high salt diet might cause liver damage in adults and developing embryos.

"This study demonstrates that high salt exposure in mice (four per cent sodium chloride or NaCl in drinking water) and chick embryo could lead to derangement of the hepatic cords and liver fibrosis," said Xuesong Yang from Jinan University, Guangzhou, China, and his colleagues. Our bodies need a small amount of salt - the US government recommends one teaspoon per day if you are a healthy adult. Among other functions, the sodium ions from the savoury mineral help regulate water movement within the body and conduct nerve impulses.

I

But too much of salt can be dangerous and in this study the researchers wanted to explore its potential effect at a cellular level.

The researchers gave adult mice a high-salt diet and exposed chick embryos to a briny environment.

Excessive sodium was associated with a number of changes in the animals' livers, including oddly shaped cells, an increase in cell death and a decrease in cell proliferation, which can contribute to the development of fibrosis.

"The pathological mechanism may be the result from an imbalance between oxidative stress and the antioxidant system," the researchers explained. On a positive note, the researchers found that treating damaged cells with vitamin C appeared to partially counter the ill effects of excess salt.

3 exercises to fix back pain

he best way to treat back pain is by regular exercising. Stretching, muscle exercises and stamina training are far more successful in tackling lowerback pain than other treatments. Those who performed a range of exercises had a 35 per cent reduced risk of lower back complaints over a year's time.

These exercises had benefits that stayed longer.

Besides, making lifestyle changes like sitting in the correct posture, bending correctly and avoiding lifting heavy items or rather, lifting them appropriately further reduced the risk.

These three exercises will help you further:

T

27

Decompression breathing • Keep your heels slightly apart and your toes touching.

• Unlock knees, shift weight onto your heels, and gently pull them toward each other.

• Stand tall, reach your arms overhead, and press your fingertips together.

While inhaling, lift the ribcage away from the hips. On exhale, tighten the core to support your

Hold for 15 to 20 seconds.

spine.

Modified founder • Stick out your hips, inhale and reach your arms out in front of your heart.

• Keeping your hips back, press your fingertips together.

• Slowly, lift your arms and keep the core pulled in and maintain a neutral spine.

Woodpecker Named after the bird's movement, this not only strengthens your back but also your butt muscles.

• From a lunge position, press your front heel and stand tall.

• Lift the back heel up off the ground and reach the arms out in front of your heart.

• Drive your butt as far back as you can, without moving your knee, until you feel a stretch in your hamstrings.

• Tighten your core, maintain a neutral spine and slowly reach the arms overhead.

• Hold for 20 to 30 seconds, before repeating on the other side.

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Rahman to debut in filmmaking with '99 Songs'

Suriya's '24' progressing fast in Mumbai

AsianVoiceNews

M

usic maestro AR Rahman who has wowed the world with his impeccable music, has ventured into the world of script writing and movie producing with his movie '99 Songs'. The first look of the posters is out and features two dancers in the air, hanging on by an airborne piano, with flower petals making the title of the movie. Rahman unveiled the first poster on Facebook. '99 Songs's is a musical written by Rahman and produced by his own company YM Movies.

Vishwesh Krishnamoorthy of 'The Dewarists' fame will direct the movie.

A

ctress Trisha is a busy these days with her first film 'Kodi' with Dhanush and her first heroinecentric film in Tamil 'Nayaki'. The former Miss Madras is said to be playing dual roles in the film which is touted to be a horror comedy. The actress has also started dubbing on her own in Tamil films. However, the big news is, she is going to try something bigger with her voice. Trisha might lend her voice for a song composed by 'Nayaki' music director Raghu. An official affirmation is yet to come. Trisha won't be the first actress to croon musical numbers in films.

Lakshmi Menon and Remya Nambeesan are well known heroines who have given chartbusters.

S

outh Indian superstar Suriya's mega budget sci-fi flick '24' is all ready to hit the screens in April. Directed by Vikram Kumar of 'Yaavarum Nalam', it is one of the most anticipated films of the year with the actor playing triple roles and a negative character for the first time. The shoot of the film has been completed and the post-production works are in process as the project involves a lot of computer graphic works. '24' stars Samantha and Nithya Menen as female leads with music by AR Rahman. The film is produced

by Suriya under his 2D Entertainments banner and will be released by Studio Green of KE Gnanavelraja.

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Trisha joins Shruti, Lakshmi Menon & Nambeesan

Asian Voice | 19th March 2016

Simbu shoots 30-day schedule in just 14 days

K

ollywood actor Simbu left everybody stunned when he wrapped up a monthlong schedule for his Tamil romantic-drama 'Accham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada', in just 14 days, despite an injury. A source from the film's unit said, “The final schedule was supposed to be completed in a month, but Simbu ensured that he completed the shoot in 14 days. While the team feared the shoot might be postponed after he was injured on the sets, Simbu managed to complete everything much in advance.” The source added, “The injury didn't stop him from shooting. As promised earlier, Simbu wanted to complete shooting and then take a break. There were days he would shoot non-stop for many hours.

The team was stunned with his commitment.”

'Kapoor & Sons'

Parineeti to co-host TOIFA 2016 with Riteish

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A dramedy revolving around the, yes, Kapoors! Two estranged brothers, a couple on the verge of falling out, and a 90 year old grandfather who is the only one living life to the fullest.

arineeti Chopra is all set to co-host the second edition of the Times of India Film Awards, 2016, along with actor Riteish Deshmukh. An evening of importance for all those involved in the film industry, the gala will be held at the Dubai International Stadium on March 18. A statement read that this is the first time both the actors will share a stage and entertain their fans and friends with some quirky acts.

Presented by Gulf Air and Splash, the event will witness performances by Bollywood hot shots like Shah Rukh Khan, Varun Dhawan, Jacqueline Fernandez, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Yo Yo Honey Singh, and many others.

Akshay, Saif’s sons are the next Khiladis

A

kshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan have worked together in a handful of films and are known to be good friends.

Sharing their bonhomie, sons Aarav Bhatia and Ibrahim Ali Khan seem to be sharing their time. The two have been spotted together on several occasions and have also been sharing their dubsmash videos. Ibrahim and Aarav were lately seen watching a movie together, and now, a photo of the two posing in shorts have been doing the rounds on the world wide web. Fair and lanky with looks taken from his 'Nawab' dad, Saif, Ibrahim is quite the rage with girls already. He is one of the most talked about celebrity kid in Bollywood.

Katrina goes for a taxi ride with Ranbir

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anbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif have re-united! For their upcoming movie 'Jagga Jasoos'. The final schedule has begun and from what a leaked video from the sets reveal, both the actors take a taxi from the other side of the road, come and put their heavy luggage bags inside and go for a ride together. The scene has been shot on the streets of Belleville, Cape Town.

Another still shows both of them sitting opposite each other, engaged in a conversation with Kapoor's friend Ayan Mukherjee.

The former couple split ways recently, triggering speculations of the movie's completion. In another story, Kaif has already started looking for a house, for which Salman Khan's manager has been helping her.

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Deepika Padukone’s outing with Djokovic

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Sonakshi's name in Guinness Book of World Records

A

UK tabloid has spotted Tennis pro Novak Djokovic in LA with date, who was none other than Bollywood's Deepika Padukone. Failing to identify the actress, who has only just delivered about 10 super hits back home, and is currently working opposite Vin Diesel for xXx: The Return of Xander Cage, the tabloid went along describing her as “leggy brunette.” In a report, it said, “The world number one tennis player appeared to have had a great night as he was pictured exiting the bar – popular among LA's

O

ur beloved Sona is in The book! Participating with several other women in an initiative to set a record for 'Most people painting their fingernails simultaneously', actress Sonakshi Sinha collaborated with Inglot, manufacturers in colour cosmetics, and its Indian franchise partner Major Brands for the event.

Held on International Women's Day, 1,328 women sat together simultaneously painting their nails with a range of Inglot O2M nail enamels.

“I am extremely thrilled to have been a part of this unique initiative on Women's Day. Achieving a Guinness Book of World Records title is truly commendable and I would like to thank Inglot and Major Brands for giving me the opportunity to create history along with thousands of other women.” The group broke the previous record of 1,156 people painting nails simultaneously, created by Taiwan Nail Association at Banqiao Stadium in 2011.

Jack Brockbank from Guinness World Records was present at the event to validate the record. Zbigniew Inglot, the company’s Chairman of the Board of Directors, said, “It is wonderful to have achieved the Guinness World Records title in India for Inglot and Major Brands India. Engaging with thousands of women through this initiative has been exciting for the brand. We look forward to creating new milestones and building a stronger connect with our consumers in India.”

Preity shares photo of her 'hush-hush' marriage

P

reity Zinta's wedding was the topic for debate in the last few days. The actress has finally shared a photo, the first after her marriage to boyfriend Gene Goodenough.

Sharing a photo with her husband Goodenough, she wrote, “I was holding on the “Miss Tag” rather seriously till now, until I met someone “Goodenough” to give it up for So no I join the Married Club folks.. Thank you all for your good wishes & for all your love Love you all Ting! Let the Goodenough jokes begin.” Preity also shared a photo of herself with a message that read, “All I want to say to all the women out there is- “Don't tell me sky is the limit when there are footprints on the moon” Do dream big, achieve big, love big & spread the love #internationalwomensday and yes ! Everyday is my day not just today ! Ting”

Charusmita

A-lister set – in the dark hours of the evening with a female companion.”

Describing the said “female companion”, the report read, “The leggy brunette slipped her towering figure into a flirty frock with was decorated with a statement floral print and skimmed her knees. The pretty lady teamed her smart one piece with a black tailored cape-coat and a pair of towering stiletto sandals which further heightened her willowy frame.”

Deepika Padukone is an A-list actor in Bollywood and has worked along with some of the industry's best.

For the extensive and rather tedious description of Novak's dinner date, a little time researching on her wouldn't really have hurt.

I was the unwanted child in my family: Kangana

'Q

u e e n ' Kangana Ranaut has always been open about her humble roots and her past.

In a bold confession made at the launch of a new cover of Femina, the actress said her personal life was never easy as she was the “unwanted child” in her family.

“My parents had a child before Rangoli, who died within 10 days of his birth. He was called Hero. My parents couldn't emerge from the loss of that baby boy. But

then Rangoli happened and she was taken care of, there was a huge celebration. But when I was born, my parents, my mother especially, couldn't come to terms with that fact that they had another baby girl.” Kangana further said, “I know these stories in detail because every time a guest visited, or there was a gathering, they repeated this story in front of me that how I was the unwanted child. It's very hard to live in an environment where you're reminded and constantly told that your existence just happens to be there... That you are not meant to be.”

The latest cover of Femina shows Ranaut and her acid-attack victim sister Rangoli.

Priyanka inspires Goan women cops

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'Chauranga' – LAFF’s promise to enthral continues

Asian Voice | 19th March 2016

riyanka Chopra i s already taking the film industry, both national and international, by storm. Her latest release 'Jai Gangaajal' that shows her in the role of a ballsy cop named Abha Mathur, has caught the eye of several policewomen in Goa. Superintendent of Police Priyanka Kashyap, after the film screening said, “Women are empowered from within.

Whether the system supports or not, at the end women will decide the course of their lives. Women in leadership roles bring in healthy changes to the system and bring the much required change that the system needs.” Police Sub Inspector Reema Naik said the film was an inspiration for a police-woman like her.

Cinema is a magical place where the unstated and the understated find face and voice. The 18th London Asian Film Festival, presented by ‘Tongues on Fire’, is a celebration of this form of art that has entertained, informed and educated us since decades. As part of the festival from 4th to 13th March, I watched ‘Chauranga’, a film inspired by real life events and it is disturbing, to say the least.

Disturbing, because its message leaves you with a sense of shock and violation. The film was screened at Genesis Cinema, followed by a Q&A session with Tannishtha Chatterjee, Chauranga’s lead actress, with Daya Thussu, a professor of Global Media at the University of Westminster with an expertise on Indian soft power.

'Tongues on Fire' is a not-for-profit organisation whose goal is to provide a platform for independent film and arts with a link to South Asia. Chauranga (‘Of Four Colours’) is a story that umbrellas numerous mini-plots, forming a arrative depicting the archaic caste system in India. It is set in rural Bihar and revolves around Santu and his three-member family.

Santu’s mother Dhaniya (Tannishtha) is a Dalit woman who is having a secret affair with the local upper caste absolutist strongman, Dhaval (Sanjay Suri). She does this in the hope of a better future for both her sons. Santu (Soham), the younger son, is a curious young fellow who gets infatuated with Dhaval’s daughter,

Shah Rukh Khan offers job to his fan

When in panic, Alia calls her father first

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e is called the King of Bollywood for a reason. Shah Rukh Khan, who is gearing up for the release of his upcoming 'Fan', recently offered job to one of his real life ones. Shivam Jemini posted a trailer of the movie on Twitter, saying that he learnt visual effects because of Shah's company Red Chillies VFX. “I have worked on it for more than 60 hours (Because the reason behind learning VFX is also 'you', Red Chillies VFX) so that you'll see this and wish me 'Happy Birthday'. Hope you'll see it and like it.” Much to the boy's surprise, the actor tweeted back saying, “Come and work with us at the VFX studio, man. Well done.”

unaware of its lethal consequences. The trouble with Chauranga is that it seems incomplete at several points. Too many miniplots exist without a proper end. Veteran actors like Dhritiman Chatterjee and Swatilekha Sengupta have been under-utilised and the film-critic-turnedwriter-director Bikas Mishra could have explored an ethnically appropriate casting. Despite the drawbacks there are some chilling scenes which stayed with me after the end– especially that of a Dalit boy being thrown by Dhaval’s goons into a well, and his (Dhaval’s) and family Purohit’s (Dhritiman) first reaction is to declare an urgent need for ‘purification’ of the well. Another scene – where the two young boys, unaware of their loving mother’s death, are beaten up by Dhaval, the sole witness to her eerie death. The creepy purohit, the ageing religious mother, the suffocated and neglected wife (Arpita), the innocent but protective older brother (Riddhi Sen) – all of the characters have tremendous potential, but none of them is followed from starting to end and that’s where Chauranga lost me. But the gripping acting prowess of Sen (Bajrangi) and Maitra (as little Santu) sure promise a bright future for Indian cinema.

ell, it was no secret that Alia Bhatt is a complete daddy's girl. In a recent interview, the 22 year old said she reaches out to her papa whenever she is caught in a panic situation. “He never makes me realise that 'I know more than you'. He treats me like an equal and that's the best way to have a father and daughter relationship. He is like a friend, he is level-headed and he knows how to tackle every situation. In a panic situation, the first person I call is my father.”

To be seen next in Shakun Batra's 'Kapoor & Sons', Bhatt Jr believes that people take their family for granted. “We take our family for granted and don't give them too much of time. I have not met my family for the longest time because of my hectic schedule. So, I feel this should not happen.”

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UK

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Asian Voice | 19th March 2016

Why I had to speak out - Cllr Arooj Shah Labour councillor Arooj Shah has revealed the harassment and intimidation she has suffered as an Asian woman councillor.

In an interview for the BBC’s “Newsnight”, the St Mary’s ward councillor slammed the actions of a minority of “venomous Asian men”. The programme, which aired on Friday, was responding to claims by the Muslim Women’s Network UK about the blocking of vocal, independent Muslim women by male members of the Labour Party of Pakistani heritage.

Councillor Shah claimed influential local Labour members had spread damaging rumours about her, and that an image of a nude model with her head superimposed on to it had been posted through her door.

She also claimed some members of the local

Arooj Shah

Labour group would support her male colleagues but not her — just because she is an Asian woman in politics.

Speaking afterwards to the Oldham Chronicle, Councillor Shah said: “I have to emphasise it’s the minority of venomous Asian men I’m speaking out against. It was really hostile in 2011/12 when they saw my ambitions to become a councillor. It brought out their insecurities.

“Now I’m so resilient

This week paid subscribers of Asian Voice will receive a copy of the AV Political and Public Life Awards magazine with their newspaper.

Coming Events

l National Association of Patidar Samaj (South London Branch) Holi Puja, 7-9:30pm on Wednesday 23 March 2016, Tooting High Street, London SW17 0RG Contact: Nishaben: 0787678240 l Gurjar Hindu Union Ltd presents Holi: Festival of Colours Wednesday 23-24 March 2016, 6:30-9:30pm, Apple Tree centre, Crawley, Bharat Lukka 07967339790 l Gujarat Hindu Society presents Holi-Hutashani, Wednesday 23 March 2016, 7pm South Meadow Lane, Preston PR1 8JN CONTACT: 01772253901 l Shree Ram Krishna Centre presents Holi, 5:30pm Carrilion Sports Ground LEIC’s LE11 1ST Contact: 02509 218 274 Editor: CB Patel Associate Editor: Rupanjana Dutta Tel: 020 7749 4098 - Email: rupanjana.dutta@abplgroup.com Deputy Editor: Anand Pillai Tel: 020 7749 4002 - Email: anand.pillai@abplgroup.com Senior News Editor: Dhiren Katwa Chief Operating Officer: Liji George Tel: 020 7749 4013 Email: george@abplgroup.com Advertising Managers: Kishor Parmar Tel: 020 7749 4095 - Mobile: 07875 229 088 Email: kishor.parmar@abplgroup.com Senior Business Development Manager: Rovin J George - Email: rovin.george@abplgroup.com Tel: 020 7749 4097 - Mobile: 07875 229 219 Head - New Projects & Business Development: Cecil Soans - Email: cecil.soans@abplgroup.com Tel: 020 7749 4097 - Mobile: 07875 229 111 Advertising Sales Executive: Rintu Alex - Email: Rintu.alex@abplgroup.com Tel: 020 7749 4003 - Mobile: 07816 213 610 Business Development Manager: Urja Patel - Email: urja.patel@abplgroup.com Graphic Designers: Harish Dahya & Ajay Kumar Tel: 020 7749 4086 Email: graphics@abplgroup.com Customer Service: Ragini Nayak Tel: 020 7749 4080 - Email: support@abplgroup.com Leicester Distributors: Shabde Magazine, Shobhan Mehta Mob: 07846480220 (BPO) AB Publication (India) Pvt. Ltd. 207 Shalibhadra Complex, Opp. Jain Derasar, Nr. Nehru Nagar Circle, Ambawadi, Ahmedabad.

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ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 20 The Sun transits your first

Friday’s programme was the first time her family knew of the harassment she had faced.

Since the programme Councillor Shah has received messages of support from men and women across the country, including Oldham Council leader Jean Stretton who tweeted her pride in her “friend and Cabinet member” for speaking out.

house and this affects your personal identity, appearance, outward behaviour, and selfexpression. This marks the peak of your physical solar cycle, and you are in the position to make an impression on others, and to assert your personal influence. Increased energy and a renewed feeling of confidence is with you now, so take advantage of your charisma to achieve your goals.

Connecting all strands of Diversity through Carnatic Music

GEMINI May 22 - June 22 The Sun illuminates your sector of friends, social gatherings and group activities. You will be in constant demand and will be in a position to network with new-found friends who will promote your cause.

Personal relationships are also to the fore and some of you might even find true love. This is a time to follow your dreams and ideals.

that while it might momentarily annoy me, it doesn’t bother me.

“I want to speak out to shame the men who act in disgusting ways but also to give women strength and confidence in what they do.

We can’t allow a small minority to drain every ounce of energy from us.”

Councillor Shah, who was elected to represent the ward in 2012, said

Three role model women from the Midlands were honoured for their respective achievements at a prestigious ‘Carnatic Culture’ music festival in Birmingham.

Trophies were presented to three women as part of the Birmingham Thyagaraja Festival, an annual event which brings to life the tunes and teachings of Thyagaraja, also known as the singing saint.

(1) Deirdre Kelly, Professor of Paediatric Hepatology.

She set up the Liver Unit at Birmingham Children’s Hospital in 1989 and developed it into an international unit. Indian-born Professor Kelly is a graduate of Trinity College, Dublin. (2) Ann Evelyn Lucas OBE, Coventry City Council’s first female leader. Ann is a Labour Councillor in

Holbrooks and a champion of women’s rights; (3) Narinder Kaur Kooner is a Labour councillor for Handsworth Wood ward in Birmingham. The mum-offour is an ardent campaigner on human rights and a community engagement activist.

Distinguished guests included the Lord Mayors of Birmingham, Coventry, Solihull, Walsall, Deputy Mayor of Dudley Cllr Mohammed Hanif and Mayoress Khanum, George Marsh David and Bradnock, Acting Lord Lieutenant and Deputy Lieutenant of the West Midlands, respectively and Kenneth Holmes, President of Coventry Rotary Club.

To find out more about the work and activities of Shruthi UK visit www.shruthiuk.com

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TAURUS Apr 21 - May 21 The Sun travels through your twelfth house now, marking a time of retreat and regeneration. This also heralds a time for research and unfinished behind-the-scene activities. Matters which have dragged on for a while should now be re-assessed and put to rest. Some of you will be looking to spiritual enlightenment and take up yoga and meditation.

CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 22 More than any other time of the year, your focus is drawn to your career and standing in the society. This is the time when you are more interested in, and focused on, accomplishing something important.

Contact with authority figures is more likely during this period. Recognition will come your way whether you ask for it or not, and the responsibility that goes with it.

LEO Jul 23 - Aug 23 You are feeling most adventurous and willing to achieve higher knowledge and spiritual growth. This is a good time to broaden your horizons through travel and higher learning. This may take you to far off lands in pursuit of your new-found goals. You must distance yourself from the mundane grind of life and take on something which is more meaningful for your inner growth.

VIRGO Aug 24 - Sep 23 The Sun energizes your sector of change, transformation and regeneration. On a more practical level, you may be dealing with joint finances and shared resources now more than usual. You should also make sure that your tax affairs are in order. You are more willing than usual to explore and delve deeper into life's secrets and arrive at meaningful conclusions.

LIBRA Sep 24 - Oct 23 As the Sun transits your seventh house, you have a greater need than usual to be in a relationship. The emphasis is on "us" rather than "me".

Social interactions of a personal nature are highlighted. This is likely to be an extremely busy time for most of you. Use tact and diplomacy in your dealing, otherwise you are likely to come across as over confident and egotistical.

SCORPIO Oct 24- Nov 22 The Sun transits your solar sixth house and highlights your health and also makes you take pride in your day to day work. Hence, you should enhance your skills, get organized and take up a health regime for your well-being. This transit highlights the need for efficiency and as such you should bring in the new and get rid of the old ideas that do not work.

SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 - Dec 21 After a period of relative inactivity, you are coming out of your shell, ready to perform and to express yourself creatively. This is a very progressive period of the year, when you are inspired emotionally. You take more pride in your your love affairs, your children, and your hobbies and are generally very sociable and make friends easily.

CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan 20 With the Sun transiting your solar fourth house of family and home, these areas are highlighted during this period. Buying or selling of property or even renovating it will be uppermost in your mind as you will be trying to put your roots down permanently. It is also a time when family life will be charged with emotions so be diplomatic and respect other people's views.

AQUARIUS Jan 21 - Feb 19

You are exploring and searching now, making connections, and paying attention to your immediate environment. Socially you are very popular and your communications strengthen your connections. You will be busy with errands, paperwork, phone calls, and light socializing. Siblings, close relatives and friends may play an important role in your life during this period.

PISCES Feb 20 - Mar 20 The Sun highlights your second house of finance, and your focus is on material affairs and comfort issues. This is a good time to plan your future investments carefully to maximise your profits. Mentally you will be in top form, perhaps feeling quite passionate about expressing your ideas and views. It is certainly a good time to get involved in lively debate.

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'More love in India' remark lands Shahid Afridi in trouble AsianVoiceNews

Shahid Afridi, the 36-yearold Pakistan cricket captain, was dragged to court for "committing treason" and "hurting sentiments" of Pakistanis, a day after his statement that the national cricket team was "loved more in India" than in Pakistan.

A senior lawyer served a legal notice to Afridi for his statement in India ahead of the World T20 tournament.

"I have served a legal notice on Shahid Afridi and 'de facto' chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board Najam Sethi for their love for India over Pakistan. I have also written to PCB chairman Shahryar Khan to launch an inquiry into the statement of Afridi in India," said advocate Azhar Saddique.

"Afridi has let down the whole Pakistani nation for expressing more love for India than Pakistan. In fact he has committed treason. Now

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who will ensure that Pakistani team will play against India in Kolkata in T20 match to win," said Saddique. At a press conference in Kolkata, Afridi had said, "I've not enjoyed playing anywhere as much as I

have in India. I am in the last stage of my career and I can say that the love I have got in India is something that I will always remember. We have not got this much love even from Pakistan. There are cricketloving people here, much like in Pakistan. Overall, I've enjoyed a lot playing in India in my cricketing career".

Saddique said Afridi's insensitive statement has not only hurt the sentiments of Pakistanis but also made his (Afridi) life vulnerable. "God forbid if Pakistan loses match against India, Afridi keeping in view his 'pro-India' statement nobody here will forgive him ever," he said, adding Afridi is neither an ambassador nor a diplomat and he made "uncalled for comments" which he should take back.

"The PCB should investigate the role of Najam Sethi as he might have pushed Afridi to speak in

favour of India. Sethi always advocates Indian cause," he said. The notices have been sent to the residences of Afridi and Sethi.

Earlier, when the Pakistani cricketers arrived in Kolkata they were given a warm welcome.

The Pakistani cricketers arrival was delayed by a day as the country's government wasn't happy with the security arrangements in India.

Finally after an assurance from India's Home Minister Rajnath Singh, the team finally arrived.

The Pakistanis were scheduled to play in Dharmashala, the state government refused to host Pakistanis there owing to security reasons prompting the authorities to shift the venue to Kolkata.

Pakistanis will play against India on March 19 at the Eden. Then they travel to Mohali, to cross swords with New Zealand on March 22 and Australia on March 25 in their remaining Group B fixtures.

Ghosh and Naik become first Indians to finish on podium in British rally Car rally enthusiast Amittrajit Ghosh and codriver Ashwin Naik are the first Indians to finish on podium in British Rally Championship. The first round of the 2016 British Rally Championship, had 143 teams competing, held from March 5-6 and the winner of the event scored 25 points towards the championship. The duo become the first Indians to not only compete in BRC but also the first Indians to win a podium in this series.

Ghosh and Naik finished third on their debut at the British Rally Championship (BRC) on Sunday. While they were in the lead their car developed mechanical prob-

There was no stopping Indian boxing star Vijender Singh as he notched up his fourth successive knockout professional win by pummelling Hungary's Alexander Horvath in under three rounds at Liverpool, England.

Vijender had little trouble outpunching his opponent, who failed to get up after being thrown off balance by his body blows in the third round.

"I don't know what happened to him, I think he was looking to get out by making an excuse. It's a good start to the year for me.

I am happy to register another knockout win. I

Amittrajit Ghosh and Ashwin Naik gets a podium finish in British Rally Championship.

lems, yet managed to managed to finish third.

Speaking about the experience, Amittrajit reportedly said, “We are

happy to have got a podium in our first ever international event. More importantly, we are pleased with the pace we

have shown against championship regulars in our first outing. It is sad that we hit trouble on day 1 while leading but that’s Rallying. We take back a lot of experience and good memories from here and hope to be able to continue in our quest to compete in more international events.�

The next round of the BRC is the Circuit of Ireland Rally on the 8-9th April 2016, which also doubles up as a round of the European Rally Championship. Amittrajit will start testing a Ford Fiesta R5 mid-year to participate in a round of ERC or WRC2 before his 2017 outing.

SPORT Asian Voice | 19th March 2016

India eases visa norms for Pak World T20 fans

The Modi regime, keen to promote cricket diplomacy with Islamabad, has eased some of the visa conditions for Pakistani fans arriving in the country to watch ICC T-20 World Cup games. Visitors from the neighbouring country now no longer need to attach a copy of their return air ticket; besides, Pakistani citizens above 65 years and below 15 years of age will be exempt from police reporting.

A senior home ministry official said India expects to issue around 1,000 visas to Pakistanis for the upcoming tournament, with the highest turnout expected for Indo-Pakistan matches. "Though we are more or less following the 2012 norms for issuing visas to Pakistani spectators, we have decided not to insist on proof of return journey after some visitors complained of inconvenience on this count.

The incoming flight ticket and match ticket issued in the applicant's name as well as proof of hotel reservation, will suffice," said a senior officer.

Also, the officer added, Pakistani fans above 65 years or below 15 years will be saved the trouble of going through police reporting upon arrival at the venue of the match. "The visa duration will not only cover the match/matches for which the visa is sought but also the time for in-bound and return journey," he said.

Stating that unlike in 2012, when visas were last issued to Pakistani cricket fans, India will not limit them to 250 per match. "There is no hard and fast rule...visas will be issued even if more than 250 fans apply," said an officer.

With the Mohali Indo-Pakistan match now shifted to Kolkata, the fans who have already applied for and been issued visas will now be allowed to change their port of arrival from Amritsar/New Delhi to Kolkata. "They can approach our missions in Pakistan for the same," said a home ministry functionary.

Incidentally, even as it facilitates "genuine" and "bona fide" Pakistani cricket buffs, the government is taking all precautions to monitor "terror" elements who try to enter the country under the pretext of watching the games. All Pakistani visitors will be required to give their biometrics both while entering and exiting India. Besides, they would be required to do police reporting soon after they arrive at the venue of the match.

"We will monitor the arrivals and departures.

Our system will detect those who overstay the duration of their visas," said a senior officer.

Vijender clinches 4th successive KO win

Vijender Singh

think this is a great start for me looking ahead to my WBO Asia title bout in India (on June 11) this year," Vijender said after the bout.

"My target is to win the Asia title in front of my home crowd and looking forward to register two more knockout wins in April before I play in India," he added. The 30year-old Indian, who went into contest on the back of three successive knockout triumphs, continued to be a cut above his rivals, who talk big but deliver little inside the ring.

The 20-year-old Horvath, with an experience of seven pro fights before the latest, had been

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dining on snake blood to prepare himself but it seemed the bizarre routine helped little in countering the ferocity of India's first Olympic and World Championships bronzemedallist.

Vijender walked into the arena to the trademark beats of popular Bollywood song 'Singh is King' and was cheered vociferously by the sizeable Indian community present inside. The Indian took barely a few seconds to get a measure of his rival and once that was done, Vijender landed some telling jabs to unsettle Horvath, whose spat out his gumshield twice in the opening round itself.

Vijender did exceptionally well in commanding the pace of the bout and managed to drain the Hungarian in the second round itself.

Horvath's body language was sluggish while Vijender executed his counter-attacks with the right mix of confidence and power.

Horvath's agony ended barely a minute into the third round when Vijender's body blows brought him to his knees, giving the Indian his fourth knockout triumph.

Vijender will next be seen in action on April 2, the opponent and venue for which would be decided later.

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Asian Voice | 19th March 2016

Indian women win T20 match; men lose to NZ

New Zealand maintained their record by winning the opening T20 match against India in Nagpur, while the Indian eves produced a clinical performance as they thrashed Bangladesh by 72 runs in the opening group league fixture of the ICC World T20 on Tuesday at Bengaluru. Indian men have never won a single T20 match against the Blackcaps till now. New Zealand had struggled to cope with the tough conditions after Kane Williamson opted to bat, but by reducing the home team to 43/7 in 10.2 overs the squeeze was applied on India in stunning manner.

India were eventually bowled out for 79 in 18.1 overs, with Mitchell Santner leading the rout with 4/11.

India's run of seven wins in a row has come to a halt.

New Zealand dropped Tim Southee and Trent Boult to accommodate three spinners, and the decision proved a masterstroke.

Taking wickets was the only way of beating India in defence of a total of 127, but New Zealand's ability to do so in pairs was what left everyone stunned.

India lost Shikhar Dhawan in the first over of

Indian Women celebrating victory

their chase, sweeping at Nathan McCullum, but that was not as alarming as Mitchell Santner's opening over which accounted for Rohit Sharma and Suresh Raina, both out to feeble shots. Rohit skipped out and was beaten for turn to be stumped by a fumbling Luke Ronchi, while Raina merely turned one to midwicket for the simplest of catches. In his first over at a major tournament, the leftarm spinner had struck two telling blows with tidy, smart bowling.

The fourth wicket came when McCullum returned to bowl the fifth over and

held a return catch from Yuvraj Singh, which needed clarification from the third umpire. Virat Kohli had appeared to be batting in a different game on a different pitch as he clipped and drove Corey Anderson for sumptuous boundaries, but a faint edge to the legspinner Ish Sodhi's first delivery of the game had Kohli walking.

Here, Williamson's shuffling of his bowlers was crucial. Santner returned to bowl his second over, the tenth of the innings, and won an lbw shout against Hardik Pandya with a quicker ball. Four balls later,

Sodhi flung himself to his left to hold a fine return catch from Ravindra Jadeja.

M S Dhoni, standing at the non-strikers' end, looked stone-faced.

A big six down the ground off Sodhi gave the fans reason to cheer, but celebrations were soon muted when R Ashwin fell to the same bowler, for Ronchi's third dismissal. That left India to get 52 from 19 balls, but when McCullum held a low catch at long-on to get Dhoni (30) off Santner, the flame had been extinguished. Santner capped his first outing at an ICC event with exemplary figures, hav-

ing earlier contributed a crucial 18 to New Zealand's total.

Such a dramatic collapse from India was not what many could have predicted, even factoring in the slow and low nature of the Nagpur track. In the first half, New Zealand's aggressive intent against a settled and successful Indian bowling attack had misfired more than it hit the bullseye.

Brief scores: New Zealand 126/7 in 20 overs (Corey Anderson 34, Luke Ronchi 21*) beat India 78 in 18.1 overs (Virat Kohli 23, Mitchell Santner 4/11, Ish Sodhi 3/18) by 47 runs

Indian women thrash Bangladesh

Indian women thrashed Bangladesh by 72 runs in the opening group league fixture of the ICC World T20 on Tuesday. Batting first, India scored 163 for five with skipper Mithali Raj scoring 42 off 35 balls and Harmanpreet Kaur smashing 40 off 29 balls with three fours and two sixes.

In reply, Bangladesh could only manage 91 for five in 20 overs as they never looked like posing any chal-

lenge for the 'Women In Blue'. Put into bat, skipper Raj and her opening partner VR Vanitha added 62 runs for the opening wicket.

The Indian captain started her innings by cracking back-to-back boundaries of Salma Khatun in the second over of the match.

Mithali was lucky on 28 as Khadija Tul Kubra spilled a return catch after she plopped a catch at a height.

She was picked up by legspinner Rumana Ahmed, who foxed the batswoman, who ended up giving a dolly to Jahanara Alam.

With scoreboard reading 95 for 2 in 15th over, Harmanpreet upped the tempo with two sixes. Then in 18th over, Harmanpreet clobbered two consecutive boundaries of Rumana. The shots were treat to watch as she hammered one over midwicket and followed it up by whipping the ball between deep midwicket and long-on.

Brief scores: India 163 for 5 (Mithali Raj 42, Harmanpreet Kaur 40, Veda Krishnamurthy 36 no, VR Vanitha 38); Bangladesh 91 for 5 in 20 overs (Anuja Patil 2 for 16, Poonam Yadav 2 for 17).