Asian Voice

‘British Punjabi’ - a 68 pages, A4 size, glossy colour magazine was launched on Thursday 8th July 2010.

For further information call Nikhil Gor at 020 7749 4009 VOL 39. ISSUE 11

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Qureshi arrogance mars Indo-Pak talks

Pakistan foreign minister’s belligerence drowns hope for peace in near future Even as people of both India and Pakistan really seek peace and better relations between the two neighbours, the political leadership in Pakistan seems to be more interested in their game of one-up manship, spoiling the very ambience of peace talks they claim they are eager to engage into.

Even as S M Krishna, Indian foreign minister was at his diplomatic best during talks in Islamabad, his counterpart, Shah Mahmood Qureshi chose to compare Indian home secretary with Hafeez Saeed, the JuD chief and also tried to play smart as he said Krishna was constantly taking instructions from New Delhi in an attempt to belittle his independence and confidence.

It was a serious viola-

‘Tendulkar Opus’ – A unique autobiography of India’s cricket god A special edition of the book to have Sachin’s blood in the page

Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna, right, shakes hands with his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi prior to formal talks in Islamabad on July 15

tion of etiquette on the part of Qureshi. After the Thursday joint press briefing in Islamabad, as Pakistan Prime Minister sought to do a bit of damage control, Qureshi again

struck a belligerent note.

He said he is interested in visiting India only if it was going to bear some concrete fruits.

Continued on page 22

Sachin Tendulkar, who enjoy’s the status of god for his millions of fans in India and abroad as well, will have his blood and DNA profile in a book – his autobiography, being published by Kraken Media. While his blood will be on the signature page, the DNA profile will be on a two metre gatefold in the book.

Titled as ‘Tendulkar Opus’, the book will have photographs of his family members that are not published previously anywhere. It will also have his own thoughts about his career. The book will be released in February

2011, coinciding with the Cricket World Cup to be played in India-Sri Lanka-Bangladesh.

The special edition will have all the 852 pages edged in gold leaf. The half a metre square book

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will be weighing 37 kg.

Sachin’s blood will be mixed into the paper pulp to make it a red resin.

In a report published in ‘The Guardian’, Karl Fowler, the chief executive of Kraken Media has said that having Sachin’s blood in the pages may be weird for many, but the idea is to get one as much closer to your god as possible. Sachin also has a great story to tell, as this is his first ever autobiography.

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Asian Voice - Saturday 24th July 2010

one to one Keith Vaz MP with

Paul Uppal MP, Member of Parliament for Wolverhampton South West Paul Uppal is a Sikh of East African descent who was born in Birmingham. His local connections to Wolverhampton are that he is a season ticket holder for Wolverhampton Wanderers and is also a Trustee for a large Sikh Temple in Wolverhampton.

A father of three children he has been married for nearly nineteen years and plays football once a week and attends his local gym twice a week. Paul runs his own business and in his time has been his own builder, secretary, accountant, lawyer and cleaner. "Don’t ask anybody to do something for you, if you’re not prepared to do it yourself".

Previous politicians have become somewhat famous for promising much and delivering very little.

During my time as the Prospective Parliamentary Candidate and now as the new MP, I will demonstrate that I care about Wolverhampton, its issues and its future. You'll see me actively involved in social action projects, voluntary projects and initiatives which promote social responsibility.

What inspired you to follow a political career?

My family background is typical of that experienced by many East African Asian families.

Having experienced the things that we did, the importance of politics was paramount and stressed upon me from a young age. Coming from this background it’s hardly surprising that I have ended up in this job.

What are your proudest achievements?

By far and away the most important job that I have had and the thing that has given me the most pride is being a father to my three children.

Nothing is more rewarding or vital in terms of putting life in perspective and keeping your feet on the ground.

What advice would you give to someone wishing to pursue a career in pol-

6) You are a newly-elected MP. What is the best thing about your current role?

Although it is a huge responsibility, I have already been able to lobby two large companies about bringing investment and jobs to Wolverhampton. On top of that, I have had the opportunity to speak to ministers and lobby groups with the result that you feel that by picking up the phone or going to meet somebody, you can actually make a difference and serve your constituents.

itics today?

Do something non-political before you get immersed in politics. It will strengthen your role as a politician and give you a much broader perspective. And finally, be very patient What

has

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biggest obstacle in your career?

It has always been about breaking down preconceptions even in primary school I was placed in a remedial class because it was assumed that I couldn’t speak English.

But I believe that fighting against those preconceptions has actually strengthened my character and made me more determined in a political sense.

5) Who has been the biggest influence on

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your life to date?

That’s really easy. The biggest influence has been my father. I would also like to say that he has been one of my closest friends too. Beyond that, my family have had a tremendous influence on my personal and political life.

7) And the worst?

The worst is spending time away from family, putting on weight, and waiting in the house until 2:30 in the morning to vote on legislation.

But overall, the positives far outweigh the negatives.

8) If you were Prime Minister, what one thing would you change?

My Asian values of self reliance, thrift and prudence are very important to me and it is in that spirit that so many members of the Asian community have spoken to me about their support in removing inheritance

People ■

Four Labour MPs broke the Party whip to vote against the proposal to keep 28 day pre charge detention.

Yasmin Qureshi MP joined Diane Abbott MP, Anas Sarwar MP and Chukka Unama MP in the No Lobby.

■ Tower Hamlets has the choice of two former Leaders for the new elected post of Mayor.

Councillor Helal Abbas the current Leader, Former Leader Michael Keith were added to the shortlist of six last Saturday.

■ Valerie Vaz MP was called at PMQs last week and sensibly asked a question about schools in Walsall

tax. Being penalized for success and in essence paying a double level of taxation and restricting the inheritance that you can pass on to your children goes not just against my values but that of the wider Indian diaspora.

9) If you could invite anyone, dead or alive to a dinner party, who would you invite?

First and foremost I would invite Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, along with my late grandfather and Ian Botham and Daley Thompson. I know it is a bit eclectic but these are all my personal heroes.

Anup Jalota serenades the House of Commons Mr Anup Jalota, the internationally renowned Indian singer of Bhajans, Ghazals and Geets gave a special live recital at the House of Commons, London on Thursday 15th July 2010.

Mr Jalota has performed across the globe in over 5000 live concerts.

His albums have earned a world record 100 Gold, Platinum and MultiPlatinum discs. Guests were invited to duet with the legendary Indian singer during his performance.

Mr. Speaker, Rt. Hon John Bercow MP, was the guest of honour at the event organised by Rt. Hon Keith Vaz MP, and awarded Anup the Annual Globe Award 2010 in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the Global Music Industry. The last recipient of the award was legendary artist M. F. Hussein, who also attended last night’s event.

Anup Jalota with Rt Hon Bercow

Keith Vaz MP said: “I am absolutely thrilled that Anup, as a celebrated Indian music superstar, was able to give a live performance for us at the House of

Commons.”

“I doubt the walls of the House of Commons have heard music of this type before: it was truly mesmerising.”

Asian Voice - Saturday 24th July 2010

COMMENT

Governance transcends frontiers Governance is today a moral currency gone global.

It is one of the essential elements of the politics of globalisation but its holistic application impacts social and economic ethics. The global financial crisis is a reminder that good governance does matter, and that our future well-being depends on it. Time was when the Western media were largely content to project corruption and poor governance as one of the distinguishing traits of the Third World, the elect of Europe and North America and, to a lesser extent, Japan, were exempt from this scourge.

This was clearly not the case, but with international media largely Western-owned and driven it was the West that was on message with its lacquered image and its dark projections of Asia, Africa and Latin America – Kipling's “lesser breeds without the law.” That vast numbers of America's black population were denied the vote or a semblance of equality with whites, and that calls for a fundamental change were often ascribed to malevolent communist agitators run from Moscow; that the apartheid regime in South Africa was for decades succoured by the West's indulgence; that some of the most corrupt and oppressive Third World regimes were recipients (some still are) of First World largesse: these were usually brushed under the carpet, or met with anodyne cliches of justification. But truth will out. And it has.

Belatedly.

America's subrime crisis and the Wall Street crash followed by the Tsunami-scale banking disasters in the UK and EU have brought home the reality that these hallowed regions owed their parlous plight to the cancerous corruption and greed of bankers and financial speculators. Bernie Madoff, serving a 150-year prison term for embezzling $60 billion of investors' funds, is a true blue Yankee, not a Rwandan or Congolese, a Bangladeshi or an Indian.

The New Orleans flooding following a seasonal hurricane and the scandalous mismanagement of relief measures, leading to mass looting and avoidable deaths, occurred in the world's richest country and on the watch of President George W. Bush. The BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has brought the Obama administration into the national and international spotlight, just as the Bhopal gas leak in November 1984 was the responsibility of the American Union Carbide company. The US establishment was as nonchalant about that disaster as it is energized by the looming catastrophe off the

country's eastern shores. It is damaging the American environment and endangering the livelihood of many Americans who fish in the Gulf of Mexico for a living. Double standards do little for good governance. Lord Mandelson reveals that 10 Downing Street for much of Labour's time in office was reduced to a clash of wills by feuding, factional mafias. The charges listed so far could well include America's misadventures in Vietnamese and Iraq.

Let us now move to Japan, where years of corruption in high places embodied in powerful vested interests have resulted in a colossal national debt whose continuing rise without let or hindrance has led to the crippling deflationary cycle that threatens to derail the Japanese economy, once the envy of the world. Much is made of China's superpower economy by sections of the Western media, the massacre of unarmed demonstrators in Beijing's Tienanmen Square conveniently placed on the back-burner lest it interfere with cheap and easy profits in New York and London and other western financial centres. The frequent coal mining disasters and the lawless appropriation of land and property by China's communist party oligarchs are signals of poor governance amid exalted GDP growth figures. We will ignore for the moment the plight of millions of rural migrants eking out a precarious existence in mega-city sweat shops for pitifully low wages.

Finally, to Pakistan, where US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived with some $500 million of aid in addition to the previous packages that were larger still. Her talk in Islamabad was of a new era free of old misperceptions leading to new bridges of understanding between the US and Pakistan. Pie in the sky, some critics would say. Or, to put it differently, old wine in new bottles. Truth is Pakistan is a dysfunctional state where even the pretence of recognisable governance has long disappeared from public view.The US has no coherent Af/Pak policy except throwing fistfuls of dollars on a lost cause. Pakistan cannot be part not part of the solution, when it the source of problem of the region's terrorism and insurgency. The Obama administration is positioning itself for a looming disaster in November's Congressional polls. The absence of a credible policy towards this war-torn area will have surely taken their toll.

Meanwhile, who cares for the law abiding citizens of Pakistan who go about their daily business in peace?

Delhi Commonwealth Games: showpiece or false extravagance?

The forthcoming Commonwealth Games in Delhi has raised many hackles. The Times Correspondent Jeremy Page fired a broadside at the venture, claiming that the monies spent on this extravaganza could have been used to better purpose housing and empowering the city's Dalits, among the poorest in the capital. Others would argue that the vast sums need to produce this showpiece could have alleviated the suffering of the people laid low by the Bhopal industrial disaster more than a quarter of a century ago. There is child malnutrition and a a multitude of other ills that continue to disfigure Indian society. These need urgent addressing through financial investment. These arguments have considerable moral force and need to be respectfully considered, but should these not have been aired earlier rather than on the eve of the Games?

There were similar pros and cons over the recent football World Cup in South Africa.

But such situations are not devoid of complexity. We have expensive theatres and hold concerts and film festivals amid pockets of social and eco-

nomic deprivation, but a society deprived of the enjoyments of the arts will be the poorer for the loss. Some people have the wherewithal to dine out and well, while others are condemned to rougher fare. Societies built on sound moral and political foundations strive constantly to get the balance right without always achieving the desired equilibrium. Would we abolish, say, international cricket in all its forms because there were slums in the vicinity of the stadia? In the context of famine or a serious natural disaster we no doubt would. Under normal conditions we assuredly would not. The poor also need their entertainment to ease life's burdens. So let us use common sense and imagination when we marshal our arguments.

One final point. Sporting extravaganzas leave the lasting benefit of improved infrastructure. The extension of Delhi Metro to the satellite city of Gurgaon is a legacy from which rich and poor stand to gain. Let us leave it at that for the present and do a further audit when the Commonwealth Games are over.

Imran Khan calls international cricket to order This year's the MCC Cowdrey lecture at Lord's was delivered by the former Pakistani allrounder and Test captain Imran Khan, a man whose presence lit up many a cricket field in every corner of the world where the game is played. He ranks among the sport's all-time greats. A fast bowler of awesome pace and skill, a batsman who fought with dogged purpose and a captain without peer in his country's history - Pakistan won the World Cup in 1992 with Imran at the helm and have gone downhill ever since he hung up his boots.

For Imran Khan Pakistani cricket is as dysfunctional as its politics and administration. Cricket reflects its society as the cricket commentator and writer John Arlott once remarked. The feckless per-

formance of Shahid Afridi must have distressed Imran no end. Uniquely qualified to speak on pace bowling, Imran warned that the current physical demands made on fast bowlers through constant cricket would lead to frequent burnouts and eventually result in the extinction of the species, much like the dinosaur. Test cricket for him still held pride of place; the one-day format had its appropriate place, but instant cricket - Twenty/20 biff, bang wallop – was putting fast bowlers under an intolerable strain. The International Cricket Council (ICC) would do well to pay heed to Imran Khan's words of wisdom, for the disappearance of the true purveyor of pace would end one of cricket's enduring glories.

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Thought for the Week Academics have now confirmed what many of us have long believed: that positive thinking leads to a longer and healthier life.

-The Observer Magazine, 2000

Barry Gardiner MP Member of Parliament for Brent North

Weeks at Westminster Barry Gardiner writes: Priyesh Patel made such a fine job of Stephen Pound’s article last week that I thought it would be sensible to let his talent flow once again…

Hello, this is Priyesh Patel again and you may remember my previous article for the Asian Voice last week. I have almost completed my second week at parliament and I am titling the article I am going to write – My weeks at Westminster. I want to start by thanking Barry Gardiner MP for Brent North and Steve Pound MP for Ealing North for providing me with this opportunity to have work experience with them and they have been a pleasure to be around and work with. Words cannot express my gratitude towards them and I will remember them as a successful politician one day.

During the time I have been in Parliament, I have seen a lot and gained expertise in various fields. Some of them include meeting new people in different places as well as handling constituency matters.

During these weeks of my work experience, I have begun to realise that an MP’s job is quite different to what someone may normally think.

I think that the society needs to know that an MP’s life is not at all easy or relaxed but actually very hectic, eventful and chaotic.

I met Barry Gardiner MP for Brent North through the Shree Swaminarayan Mandir BAPS in Neasden where he visited for a specific occasion. If it was not for him, I would not have any work experience placement. It has been a wonderful week with him and he is very jolly

when he comes in the room, cheering everyone up. He likes to get involved in asking questions in the chambers.

Finally, I would like to say that both MPs I worked with over the last two weeks really have given importance to young people and it is visible through what they do. They support young people and this is something positive for the community. I aspire to be like Steven Pound and Barry Gardiner and hopefully I will also become an MP one day and follow in their footsteps. They are role models for young people going into politics and they really have inspired me to becoming more ambitious about politics.

I will now continue the journey – the long trek on the road of politics.

Barry once again!

How good to see that Priyesh has not been put off politics by seeing it’s less glamorous side. We didn’t get Priyesh to shadow us for the late votes of course- two thirty in the morning- our latest vote this fortnightwas perhaps a bit too late for work experience and no doubt would have broken some laws on child labour!

Of course Priyesh understands and come from a long tradition of “service” in the Hindu community. This parliament though still has too few Hindu taking up the call to sewa on behalf of their community.

It is my confident exploitation that Priyesh Patel will emerge as a William Hague figure of the future.

Young, talented and determined to succeed. I trust that he will choose the Labour benches of course. After all Stephen and I will consider ourselves his political godfathers.

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4

Asian Voice - Saturday 24th July 2010

Well done Alpeshbhai!

Direct flight campaign

Send your articles to us

Why is Alpesh Patel not on rich list?

It is surely a question in many readers` mind. So may people with his advice has really become rich and some of them could be in a Rich List too!

May be in your case you don`t have to be in Rich List as it appears that he is surely a self-contended soul, you have achieved a lot more than money can buy.

Some people are born rich, others become rich and for some richness comes to them.

Also the article on page 18 A.V."Political Sketchbook" is equally interesting. Alpesh has very nicely reminded the Tory Govt. about their thoughts on India. Well done Alpeshbhai!

Well done to Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar and everyone who joined in the campaign of direct flight. This shows what can be achieved with people power and unity.

Though Mr Praful Patel has given positive indication, we must continue our demand and keep up the pressure until the flight actually takes off the ground.

This will bring a lot of relief to all of us who travel to Gujarat regularly and will save us lot of hassle and time.

Well done and keep up the good work.

British Asian community is composed of various groups. It is important that our readers as well as the wider community become aware of the various components of the British Asians.

We invite all major community organisations or any knowledgeable person to send around 700 words and upto 3 photographs for a new series of articles. This service is entirely free of charge. The selection of article will be done by an independent pannel.

Please email your article and picture(s) to our Editorial team at aveditorial@abplgroup.com.

CB Patel Publisher/Editor Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar

Shantilal Dudakia Croydon

Why propagate burkha?

I read your paper pretty regularly. I read the letter by Mr Ramesh V Moradabadi in Asian Voice, last week (AV 17th July, pg 4). He writes that burkha system is a way to preserve culture in a foreign country. First I am not sure, why a non Muslim is trying to defend the Islamic ways. Second, wearing burkha is not really preservation of culture, it is in a way alienating a someone from blending into the British society, if done without the consent of the certain individual.

While I have no issues with people sticking to their traditional outfits, but there are reasons why burkhas have caught attention in the west. It is very easy for an extremist to hide behind burkha and kill in the name of God. Yes, not all Muslims are terrorists. But for the sake of religious wars, behind the protection of a veiled face- people do try to sabotage a civilisation, that has struggled very hard to come this far.

Simply speaking, in schools if teachers cannot see the face of a student and vice versa, how is one supposed to blend with the British culture? If we live in this world, in this country, why should we not accept the British ways and try to alienate ourselves from the Britons?

It is very easy to be secular. But it is important to realise the reasons behind existence of certain rules. Everything is not an imposition of 'western culture' by the western countries on non-westerns.

If Britain has been tolerant enough to not to ban burkha like in France, we should try and trust the British laws a little. The small changes so demanded are for betterment of a multicultural society, for smoother social cohesion and not for discrimination.

Indranil Dutt London

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Ashok Dave Northampton

Islam tied up with terrorism Mr Pira’s contention that Muslims must advance according to time is admirable.

Introspection by Muslims to create peace oriented road map is needed. World can be pacified once the turmoil within Islamic world is quelled by Muslims themselves. Evil minded greedy and manipulative vested interests must be stopped from using Koran to excite gullible Muslims to become terrorists, diverting blame on Koran and Muslims.

Excitable parts of Koran should be relegated from the mass to inner circle of altruistic imams as proof of Islamic compassion.

Muslims must prove that peacefulness is a state of mind rather than statement.

The west appears to be justified in vitriolic response, which reinforces viciousness of terrorists. The terrorists seek support of scriptures but their sordid crimes speak louder.

Please preach that teachings of Koran are rock solid, eternal and indestructible.

Such faith would eliminate fears that Islam can be weakened by western influence. Knowledge and fearlessness can liberate and win friends.

Ramesh Jhalla Via Email

Sikh Kara I was glad to read about the investigations going into the school who spent £170,000 on legal battle in forcing Welsh schoolgirl to remove her Kara. I believe that it was a complete waste of public money on a issue that went too far. I think it also reflects ignorance and an extreme lack of understanding of the Sikh religion and requirements, on the part of the school.

Regardless of jewellery bans as part of school rules, they should make exceptions as the Kara is not seen by Sikhs as an item of jewellery. It is unfortunate that this case has been drawn out over two years over such a matter, but on the other hand it spreads awareness of issues important to the Sikh religion.

Nina Bains Via email

Please detach the form and send it with your payment or credit card instructions to address below

Debate on Burkha ban Writing in regards to the Burkha ban, I think in this day and age it is unacceptable to stop women from wearing Burkas, unless it directly infringes negatively on the lives of others. I agree with Damian Green who said to pass such a law, would be at odds with the UK's “tolerant and mutually respectful society.” Where we have come so far living in a multicultural Britain, imposing a ban like in France, would, I believe create even more hostility in feelings of 'them' and 'us.'

If one decides to wear a Burkha, then that is up to the individual, and part of their personal religious beliefs. I do not think Britain will follow France in this matter, but if it does, as Mr Green stated, it will be a very “Un-British thing to do.”

Jay Parmar Via email

Political posturing behind direct flight Lalubhai Parekh’s letter is spot on.

Community leaders like Shri C.B, Parekhji, Jayantibhai Patel, Virjibhai Shingadia and many more have served our community well, with dedication and selfless sacrifice, over the last three decades, if not more.

Although most are in good health, never the less they are all Senior Citizens.

It would be extremely selfish on our part to expect them to carry the burden indefinitely. It is time for the younger generation to step forward and participate, take on some of the duties they perform. The golden oldies should be wisdom on tap, not a plough horse!

Our community is blessed with many young, bright and highly educated intellectuals who can take over. But most prefer not to get involved for one reason or another. After all, it is a thankless task, work is hard and the reward is brittle.

The cancellation and now the restoration of direct flight to Ahmedabad is nothing more than political posturing of the worst kind. It was collective punishment for BJP, Modi and Gujarat for the tremendous progress the State is making under Modi that no Congress ruled State could emulate.

It is indeed a miracle, a pulling power of GS/AV and the people of Gujarat that have made it possible.

It is the credit but the Gujarati people of every persuasion, beliefs and stature which united in their demand for the direct service to be restored.

Bhupendra M Gandhi Via Email

UK EUROPE WORLD 1 Year £25 £55 £70 2 Years £45 £100 £125 £225 £300 *5 Years £110 £450 £550 *10 Years £200

Baba Ramdev's political party It was a very happy moment when I read in Asian Voice that Yoga Guru of India Baba Ramdev has announced the launching of movement against corruption from next month.It reflected that he has purified his soul with yoga. Now, really understood his role in India. Other religious leaders who are collecting millions of rupees in the name of temples, mosques and Churches and Gurudwaras should follow him and give their support to Baba Ramdev in this worthy task to make us all to be respected not only in other Nations but make us proud to be Indians.

There is no shortage of intelligent people amongst Indians and most of us work very hard to make our livings.So when Baba Ramdev ji start 'Bharat Swabhiman Jan jagriti yatra' he should ask the commitment from the people who take part in this yatra that they will never pay any one to get their work done. They will further help to campaign others not to pay bribery. Press and media should highlight this initiative of Babaji.

Dharam Sahdev Ilford

Guide with difference I am a food lover and it was very interesting to read about Divia Cadbury's new venture. There are so many online ventures that tell us where to go, what to eat etc. I think the plan Divia is talking about is really different.

But I am not sure if the £100 is a reasonable amount to charge for membership. Obviously this custom made service is a brilliant idea, but it does not justify the amount asked for a mere membership. Thousands of competitors will offer the same free!!

I have read the restaurant review column in your paper. It is a fairly well written piece. Obviously if people get such informations on community newspapers like yours, it is impossible that someone will pay £100 for a maximum of 25 dinners/year.

If it would have been a well researched information on general night out as well as restaurants with some discounted coupons/offers, that would have been very useful. Paying £100 for that deal may be worth while!

K Jamini Leicester

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‘Smile Pinky’ too gets the Oscar Boyle says Mumbai dwarfed the statuette

!

(Off Coronet Street)

Cricket crazy Indians for the first time was seen so euphoric on Monday morning, as they expected a couple of Oscars. British Indians in the UK, Dharavi slums, the shanty township of Mumbai, a village in Uttar Pradesh and almost the entire Bollywood waited in expectation, glued to their TV sets. They burst into celebrations as one by one, their heroes, the actors of the British Indian film and the music maestro, A R Rahman bagged the top awards in the world of entertainment.

British actress Kate Winslett also won the Oscar after having missed it almost five times earlier.

‘Smile Pinki’, a short documentary on a cleft-lipped Indian girl in Uttar Pradesh directed

by American director Megan Mylan, won the Oscar for the Best Documentary (Short).

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Asian Voice - Saturday 24th July 2010

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Asian Voice - Saturday 24th July 2010

Kapil’s

“Our London” CIIr Navin Shah AM

KHICHADI

London Assembly Member for Brent and Harrow

AUSTERITY. Fire to frying pan?

The new Con-Dem coalition government has embarked upon dangerous and rocky road of austerity measures. The biggest debate for the nation during the general election campaign was the scale and timing of cuts in services. Labour and LibDems argued against immediate savage cuts in public expenditure to avoid the real risk of double dip recession and escalation of unemployment. But the Tories took a different approach of deep and immediate cuts. In the post-election period Tories have stuck to their guns but the LibDems in the government, the partners of the unholy alliance, have dumped their pre-election pledges. This is true also when it comes to the other major issues such as the immigration and VAT where the LibDems have ditched their fundamental values. No wonder there is disquiet amongst backbench LibDem MPs, activists and loss of trust amongst voters who trusted the LibDems.

As to the packages of austerity measures, including the emergency budget to reduce UK’s 155 billion deficit and other cuts/changes in the pipeline, I have concerns about the lasting damage they will have on the deprived (young and old) in the community who especially need to be protected during the recession. Rumours are circulating of 40% expenditure cuts but this has been met with claims that this is to prepare the public for cuts that will be brutal. Analysts are focusing on a 25% budget cuts across Whitehall and its consequences. A Comprehensive Spending Review is scheduled for autumn, setting fixed 3 year departmental expenditure limits. The following measures are typical examples of the current bleak economic landscape and the misery being inflicted by the government that does not believe in protecting even frontline services.

Increase in VAT: The proposed VAT rise to 20% from 4 January 2011 the will have disproportionately high and crippling impact on people on lower income. The pre-election Lib Dem campaign claimed a rise in VAT would cost

the average family £400 per year but the same party in coalition is shamefully following the Tory line.

Public Sector Pay Freeze: The government announcement of freeze for public sector workers pay for 2 years will undoubtedly have serious effect on frontline services affecting adversely the poor section of the community in the main.

Whilst public sector workers are asked to take no increases in their pay, Tory Councillors like those in Barnet and elected Tory Councillors and Assembly Members on London’s Fire Brigade have sought it fit to fill their own pockets by making extravagant increases in their own allowances.

Public Expenditure Cuts: The only departments to be ring-fenced (protected) from a drop in real term budgets are health and Department for International Development. Only recently the government has announced scrapping of 152 Primary Care Trusts (PCT) in England by 2013 with its powers to be transferred to GPs (private sector). This is the same Government which two months ago saw the role of PCTs as “champion for patients”.

A Dangerous Budget?

Danger of a double dip recession by cancelling Labour public spending projects e.g.

Building Schools for Future, High Speed Rail – can have an almost immediate effect on employment. The Institute for Fiscal Studies has stated this budget is “by no means progressive”. Danny Blanch flower, economist and Monetary Policy Committee Member has stated this budget will result in falling living standards and rising unemployment, especially among young people. 70 applicants per graduate job suggests the danger of a ‘generation out of work’ may be true.

All of the above together with the benefits cuts, cuts in policing and education services including the introduction of the so called ‘free schools’ and abolition of ‘building schools for future’ programme would most certainly destroy frontline services and destroy quality of life of communities all over the country.

Minister vows to oppose calls for banning burkha in the UK Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman has vowed to oppose calls for banning burka in United Kingdom, and added that wearing a burkha could be "empowering" for some Muslim women.

Spelman claimed that a full-face veil was seen as "conferring dignity" in some Islamic societies, such as Afghanistan.

"We are a free country, we attach importance to people being free and for a woman it is empowering to be able to choose each morning when you wake up what you wear," she said.

On the other hand, Philip Hollobone, MP for Kettering, was accused by Muslim groups of "failing in his duty" as MP. Mr Hollobone is allegedly trying to bring in a Private Member's Bill to ban women wearing the burka or niqab in public.

He said he "took the view" that since a constituent was able to see his

face he should be able to see theirs.

He argued that he would not be able to satisfy himself of the identity of a person without being able to do so.

Mr. Mohammed Shafiq, Chief Executive of the Ramadhan Foundation said: “I have always supported the right of women to choose how they dress and any attempt to try to stifle the right of Muslim women as shown by Philip Hollobone MP will be strongly challenged, that is why I welcome the commitment shown today by the Immigration Minister Damian Green MP and the Environment Secretary Caroline Spellman MP to the UK Government never banning the Burkha and Veil.

The uniqueness of this great nation is its freedom; the right how to dress, speak and live according to one's own choice, that is why the right of Muslim women to wear the veil

should be protected by this Government and I welcome their commitment to freedom.”

He continued: “I do however believe that action should be taken by the Conservative Party and the House of Common authorities when a public servant refuses to meet his constituents because they wear the veil, this is a breach of the role of an MP and public service. I am writing to the Speaker of the House of Commons asking for that investigation.”

But the Minister’s remarks also sparked an angry reaction from critics on Sunday.

UK Independence Party Euro MP Nigel Farage, whose party is pressing for the burkha and other face coverings to be outlawed, said: "It is astonishing that a member of the Government in the 21st century can say that women covering their faces empowers them. It

by Kapil Dudakia - email: kapil@abplgroup.com Lighten up beautiful The market for skin lightening creams has exploded and is increasing at an exponential rate, both here in the UK as well as in India and other parts of the world. Can we call this the exploitation of a human condition, or a service for the betterment of humanity?

Many of these creams contain toxins that you would normally avoid at all cost. There have been cases when some creams have led to serious skin disorders as opposed to the nice light skin tone that the person thought they would be getting.

Such controversy surrounded the likes of Michael Jackson though it is now understood that maybe he had many more issues with his appearance than skin alone.

Even some Bollywood stars are jumping on the gravy train to become brand ambassadors for such creams. Every Tom, Dick and Harriet it seems is lured by the promise that if you are too dark for your liking the cream will make you lighter, whiter and therefore somehow, better looking.

Of course Lord Krishna would have had something to say about this given his skin tone.

Looks are important no doubt, but as he reminded us that maybe that which resides beneath the skin is even more important. How ironic that in the land of Lord Krishna, some feel compelled to change their skin tone to cheat nature (or is it themselves?).

However, at the same time make-up is seen as acceptable by society – so what is the difference between creams that change the colour of your skin, to using make-up that is often used to hide the blemishes that we all have in our skin or even plastic surgery? I suppose the answer possibly is the degree to which one goes to in reflecting the norms of society and trying to become more acceptable. There is the theory (at least for those from the Indian sub-condoes not. It disadvantages them in every walk of life.

Her comments are ignorant and ill-founded."

A recent YouGov opinion poll found more than two thirds of voters in Britain want full-face veils banned.

Earlier this month French MPs voted to ban the burkha in France.

tinent) that the Aryans of the Vedas era were very fair and that was equated to being higher up in society, more intelligent and more beautiful. This was obviously compounded later when you end up with the British Empire of white foreign rulers.

This human weakness is constantly being reinforced to such an extent that some people will go to any extremes to become ‘whiter’ or as it is commonly known, ‘fairer’. In contrast those who are ‘white’ it seems will do anything to become tanned. They will endure the wrath of the ‘Sun God’ and even skin cancer just as long as they get that healthy glowing tanned body. And if that does not work, you can always buy it in a bottle and become ‘orange’. It is only a matter of time when some company somewhere introduces a drug that can alter the basic element of the ‘gene’ that is responsible for skin colour. We may well all soon become a minor variation of brown. Thankfully I am already there so apologies to those companies who might wish to exploit me – I am OK gov. On the other hand, the promise of getting a full head of hair – now I wonder if that might entice me?

Pakistan, Living a Lie Recent talks between Pakistan and India failed even before they got off the ground.

Whilst Pakistan wanted to blame S M Krishna for the failure, what is obvious is that it lives a lie on a daily basis.

It is Pakistan that harbours terrorists. It is Pakistan that allows its soil to be used for the training of terrorists who attack not only India, but increasingly other targets in the rest of the world. It is Pakistan that has an intelligence service that answers to two masters, the Government and the terrorist clans. Pakistan has lost all moral and ethical authority to even begin discussions with

India on an equal footing. It is for Pakistan to get its house in order first. It is for Pakistan to prove it is worthy of being considered as a friendly neighbour of India.

It will take Pakistan decades of systematic and purposeful action to win the trust of not only India, but the rest of the world. It was therefore totally absurd and stupid for ministers of the Pakistani Government to even try and undermine the talks since it is Pakistan that needs India more.

The Pakistan that Baba-e-Qaum (Father of the Nation – Mohammad Ali Jinnah) dreamt was never realised and is buried deep under the corpses of millions who have died in vain since.

In 1947 Jinnah said, ‘You are free; you are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or to any other place of worship in this State of Pakistan.’

Adding in 1948 just before his demise, ‘In any case Pakistan is not going to be a theocratic State to be ruled by priests with a divine mission. We have many nonMuslims Hindus, Christians, and Parsis but they are all Pakistanis.’

The people of Bharat Varsh who went across to the newly created Pakistan did not realise that it would become a death sentence and turning their lives into a living hell. And why should we care? We do and should care because for thousands of years we were one country and one people. They might have forgotten their historical heritage and succumbed to the evil intentions of their masters.

Since independence generation after generation of Pakistani children have been brainwashed.

For all intents and purposes the collective psyche of the people of Pakistan has been compromised and until such time there is a change in that paradigm, can there ever be true peace between these two siblings of Bharat Ma?

Sun Mark wins The Queen's Award Sun Mark Ltd has received Her Majesty's highest honour of business for a second year- The Queens Award for Enterprise 2010. The Royal Warrant bearing the award will be presented by Her Majesty's representative, The Deputy Lord Lieutenant for the Greater London Borough of Ealing, Mr Robert Leader DL on Saturady 20th November at 7:30pm in SAS Radisson Hotel, Portman Square.

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Asian Voice - Saturday 24th July 2010

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Boy, 15, charged with Yajay murder A schoolboy aged just 15 has been charged with the murder of Birmingham student Yajay Sudra. This week, as tributes continue to pour in, shocked and speechless relatives and friends, all united in intense grief, are asking the same question: Why Yajay? he was attacked.

Choking back tears Paramedics tried desperYajay’s mum, Varsha ately to save Yajay but Sudra, revealed how her he died from a single son’s final words to her stab wound to the heart. as he lay dying in her Jay’s cousin Serju arms were: “Mum, help Vadher, 22, from me, Mum”. She added: “Basically he just came to say goodbye to me.”

Talented guitarist Yajay, 21, had been walking to his home in Marsh Lane, Erdington, on Friday a fortnight CCTV image which helped catch ago (Jul 9) when Yajay’s killer

Council’s cabbie invoice Birmingham City Council has spent a staggering £1.25 million on taxis in the last year, reports the Sunday Mercury. The bill included free rides for staff and troubled schoolchildren. A council official who attempted to justify the bill said that laptops and files were ‘too heavy to carry sometimes’. The authority, Europe’s largest, is currently looking to make cuts of up to £69 million by slashing 10,000 jobs from its 52,000 workforce, of which around a quarter are from ethnic minority communities.

MP sleeps on floor to save cash Credit to Paul Uppal, pictured, the new Tory MP for Wolverhampton South West, for his practical approach and consideration for not wasting taxpayers’ cash. While he looks for a suitable house in London, he is currently sleeping on the floor at his sister’s home rather than racking up hotel bills. He is managing with one PA “at the moment” and an office with a rent of just £300 a month.

Medical team donate £40k A Midland doctor and his team have raised almost £40,000 to buy cutting-edge new medical equipment at Walsall Manor Hospital. Consultant paediatrician Dr Gyan Sinha collected £21,000 through running a fee paying course which he had organised in his spare time for trainee doctors and £18,000 was raised by the Skanska team who competed in the Three Peaks Challenge.

New student leader The new president of Aston University Student Guild in Birmingham has pledged to encourage friendship and promote integration between all students.

When asked about collaboration between faith societies, “it gives each religion a chance to raise awareness of both its ideologies and beliefs,” said Prabhdeep, “it’s a great opportunity to find out more about your own religion or open your eyes to something entirely new.” Prabhdeep, 21, pictured, of Punjabi parentage, and from Gillingham in Kent, is studying Multimedia Computing at the university.

Stabbed to death: Yajay Sudra

London, described Jay as a loyal family man who recently showed incredible maturity to help his mother and 35year-old sister, Sonya Abbotts, come to terms with losing his father from cancer. “At times, he was quiet and just

kept himself to himself but he was very creative and talented, especially on the guitar,” said Serju.

Another cousin, Hiten Sudra, said: “We cannot take any of it in at the moment. There is just no reason for someone to do this. He was a caring and loving young man with his whole life ahead of him.”

Detectives from West Midlands Police thanked the public for their swift response to the appeals.

The 15-year-old schoolboy was arrested in Sutton Coldfield last Friday night and charged with murder the following day.

Bail for shooting suspects Four men arrested across the West Midlands on suspicion of murdering a high-profile public figure in India have been released on bail. The men were detained last week in connection with the death of Rulda Singh, pictured, who died a fortnight after being shot outside his home in Patiala, in the Punjab, on July 29 last year.

Chief defends £65k job ads Marketing Birmingham, the council-funded body responsible for promoting Birmingham has been accused of ignoring the Government’s public spending clampdown – by advertising for three new officials at £65,000a-year each. Marketing Birmingham chief executive Neil Rami said: “We do need to make sure we have got the right people in place to sell Birmingham.”

Reflecting on the past The Jewish community in the West Midlands are marking G-d, a three-week period of mourning. Local Jewish leader Rabbi Yossi Jacobs said: “During this period not only do we mourn the past, but we look forward to the future.” The final day, Aug 9, is the saddest day in the Jewish calendar. It marks the destruction of the two temples in Jerusalem and other sad events in Jewish history.

Kidney dialysis Elderly people who need kidney dialysis at home are more likely to receive treatment in Wolverhampton than anywhere else in the country, new figures show.

Nationwide 16 per cent of patients over 65 get home dialysis, compared to 17 per cent in the West Midlands and 21 per cent in Wolverhampton. All other patients who need dialysis are sent to hospital for treatment.

Doctor in dock An irate Birmingham medic who rammed into two teenagers because he claimed they threw a snowball at his car has been sentenced to 26 weeks’ imprisonment suspended for 12 months and disqualified from driving for 15 months after pleading guilty to dangerous driving. Dr Tarif Aslam Kapadi, 25, was also ordered to pay £985 in compensation and costs. Kapadi, pictured, who handed himself in to police half an hour after fleeing the scene, told Birmingham Crown Court that he wanted to scare the youngsters.

News in Brief Perplexed drivers A third of those who hire a car struggle with basic controls, according to a survey. Men are more flummoxed than women, probably due to their reluctance to read instructions, the poll by Kwik-Fit found.

Those having the most trouble were 18-34-year-olds, with 48 per cent being perplexed.

Bhavita weds Raj Kishorbhai Thakrar from Birmingham shed tears of joy as he blessed his niece Bhavita, and led her, as per Hindu tradition, along the aisle and on to the stage as she tied the knot to Raj, son of Navinbhai, Late, and Susilaben Chauhan. Bhavita, daughter of Jamnadas, Late, and Jiviben Ruparelia, paid a glowing and emotional tribute to her “mama”, uncle. The wedding, attended by over 350 guests, was held last Saturday at the Hare Krishna Temple, Watford.

Farewell to Maniben Tank Guru of traditional Gujarati bhajans, Pragjibhai Ladwa, joined mourners in Birmingham at the funeral of Maniben Karabhai Tank last Thursday. Septuagenarian Pragjibhai, pictured, performed bhajans at the family home in Sparkhill on two consecutive nights, of eleven. Separately, Pragjibhai’s annual round-the-clock Guru Purnimaa bhajans programme will take place this weekend (July 24, 25) at the Hindu Temple, Luton.

Arts in action This year’s ArtsFest, the UK’s biggest free arts festival, now in its 13th year, will take place over the weekend of September 10-12 in Birmingham. For more information go to www.artsfest.org.uk

Thanki, Joshi families shake hands Adarsh, son of Birmingham-based Chandrakantbhai and Jyotsnaben Thanki (former Chair, Hindu Women’s Network), and Neha, daughter of Rushmeebhai and Bhavnaben Joshi, were the centre of attraction at their pre-wedding party last Saturday. Held at the New Bingley Hall, Birmingham, the evening reception brought together over 700 guests.

Snow’s bike on a ‘ride’ Jon Snow has had another bike nicked but the thief may be regretting it. The newscaster has offered a £1,000 reward and has been tweeting progress on the ensuing manhunt. The mayor’s new Met police unit has the hoodlum on CCTV. Snow, pictured, is optimistic. “This bike’s too hot to handle,”he blogs.

“I’m going to get it back!” The power of social networking.

Pyramid scheme, pair in court Two women from Wolverhampton have appeared in court accused of promoting a controversial investment scheme which saw 37 people left a total of £17,500 out of pocket. Suman Mahmi, 44, and Leith Shakes, 68, are alleged to have persuaded members of the public to sign up for a so-called pyramid scheme.

It saw residents pay £500 into the scheme on the promise of a £3,500 payout. But only one in 16 received any payment, Wolverhampton Magistrates Court heard last week.

Jai Ho A R Rahman, the Indian musician, has chosen Syed PR to handle the UK ethnic press for his Jai Ho journey home world tour 2010.

Asian Voice - Saturday 24th July 2010

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UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 24th July 2010

AS IT IS

From ‘No Society’ to ‘Big Society’ PM David Cameron has elaborated on his ‘Big Society’ idea floated prior to the election, just before his departure to meet president of the USA. British and other media commentators have responded to this idea variously. Though DC claims ‘Big Society is not a cover for funding cuts’, others have different views. Mary Riddell writes in the Daily Telegraph on Tuesday: ‘ It will need more than jam and Jerusalem to create a Big Society’ adding ‘ Labour lacks a coherent voice to oppose the coalition’s scorched earth’ policies.

Look at whichever you can, whether you are a banker, businessman, teacher, and policeman, big wig to a labourer in construction industry, you are full of anxieties. In the Financial Times on Tuesday again, James Boxell writes, “slashed budget pose threat to ‘Big Society’, says charities”. Some strong stuff indeed. Power is much stronger intoxication, some says, it’s aphrodisiac.

Let me go back a bit. Gandhiji built up Indian National Congress involving various threads of the community when India was ruled by world’s greatest imperial power-only super power. Then his “back to basics” eventually created a mass movement energizing and empowering downtrodden, women, dalits and minorities of undivided India.

During the World War II the King and Churchill were also successful to create ‘Great Society’ in Great Britain.

Three important dates come to the frame. The reconstruction of UK and western Europe [1948 onwards], Independence of India [1947], and liberation of China [1948].

I was in my teens when we took part in ‘shramdan’ [voluntary labour] to do road building and other activities in villages. ‘Bhudan’, a Gandhian concept of land distribution spearheaded by saintly Vinoba Bhave did something but not to the extent it was needed. In China the communist cadres were not just pleaded with or requested or encouraged ,but forcibly harnessed to reconstruction.

Britain and Europe redeveloped rapidly, partly, thanks to Marshall Plan and free market policies emphasizing ‘incentives’ and ‘initiatives’. India with all the moralistic preaching, has yet to give suitable shelter, education, and other amenities to 60 per cent of its population.

Idealism, wishful thinking or day dreaming may not be enough at the present moment to move the masses. Margaret Thatcher did achieve enormous changes and turned ‘sick man of Europe’ to the fourth largest economy in the world. She never accepted the concept of ‘Society’, let alone small, big or medium size.

David Cameron, a well meaning politician, is full of ideas and idealism, embraces on a big idea, no doubt.

Perhaps this is not the time to say he is right or not.

It is for the future.

Valour and Sacrifice A senior diplomat of India, Asoke Mukerji has just returned to India after the successful completion of his assignment as India’s deputy High Commissioner in UK. His parting gift to the large British Indian community is a beautiful and inspiring book ‘Velour and Sacrifice, the first Indian Soldiers in Europe 19141916 [see page 3 of Asian Voice dt 17th July 2010].

Every British public library, let alone universities and large corporations, together with well meaning Indians [both individuals and organizations] must acquire a copy of this well documented book with moving pictures. The roll call of the Indian sacrifices in terms of men and material in the First World War is huge. Altogether, 1,302,394 Indian soldiers fought as part of seven separate Expeditionary Forces across Europe, Africa and Asia during the First World War. They were supplemented by 172,815 animals and 3,691,836 tons of supplies and stores. 121,598 Indian soldiers were casualties of the war, including 53,486 dead, 64,350 wounded and 3762 missing or imprisoned as on 31 December 1919.

Apart from this, India contributed equipment and stores worth over £ 80 million to the Allied war effort until 1918. In terms of direct monetary contribution, India gave £ 146.2 million from its revenues towards the cost of the war until the end of 1919-20.

- CB

Terror suspect returns to Pakistan despite claiming 'torture' threat Ahmad Faraz Khan was described by a judge as a "committed Islamist extremist" suspected of involvement in a plot to bomb Manchester in Easter last year.

But a tribunal, presided over by a senior judge, ruled in May that he and another alleged plotter, Abid Naseer, could not be deported in case it breached their human rights.

The Special Immigration Appeals Commission (Siac) said it was “satisfied” that the pair had been planning an attack but feared that they might be tortured.

Its decision caused an outcry and led to warn-

Abid Naseer and Ahmad Faraz Khan

ings from senior police figures that human rights laws were increasingly rendering anti-terrorism legislation ineffective.

But the Home Office confirmed last night that Khan, 23, had returned of

his own accord on Friday.

His father, a postmaster, telephoned him in May and urged him to come home.

But it is thought he finally decided to leave after Naseer was arrested

facing extradition to the US accused of involvement in a failed plot to blow up the New York Subway.

It is thought he under a control order, effectively restricting him to house arrest, at a cost of £225,000 a year.

The case raises questions over a legal process which allowed him to stay in Britain because of an apparent threat to his safety in Pakistan.

Eight other Pakistani nationals who were also arrested on suspicion of involvement in the alleged plot last year, had already gone back to Pakistan of their own accord.

Britain's most expensive car wash Gurcharn Sahota takes car fanaticism to a whole new level, in charging up to £7,200 per vehicle for his car washing services. Mr Sahota spends up to 250 hours to clean each luxury motor, with meticulous attention to detail, buffering and polishing every inch of the car inside and out five times, reports a national daily. Amongst his tools of trade is a forensic microscope to detect minute scratches, a bill of £8,200 for a tub of wax, and an array of 100 cleaning fluids.

The thirty year old accountancy graduate set up his business 'Elite

Gurcharn Sahota: Charges up to £7,200 for an extremely thorough car wash

Detailing' five years ago, after starting out by washing cars with a bucket and sponge.

He has now

Dixit Joshi quits to join Deutsche Bank Dixit Joshi, head of European equities at Barclays Capital, resigned in a surprise move to join Deutsche bank in an equivalent position.

Mr Joshi had been the prominent man behind hiring close to 1,000 new staff across Europe and Asia in the past 18 months.

But he was stripped of responsibility for Asia this year, as the bank put more emphasis on its efforts to expand there. This, and tension with other senior executives may have prompted Mr Joshi to look for a new role, as reported in The Financial Times.

Dixit Joshi

The Financial Times stated that BarCap did not mention who will replace Mr Dixit, but they expect it to be an insider, possibly from the New York stable of former Lehman bankers.

expanded his business and services by converting his parents garage into a Formula One style pit to

wash the underside of cars, and has even imported tiles from Italy which help reflect flecks of dirt on the cars.

As The Daily Telegraph quotes Sahota, ''I just want perfection.

Finishing is the best part because you know what it was like when you started.

That gives me great satisfaction.'' But is the price really worth it, especially in the recession? Sahota says that clients continue to flock to him despite the recession, because the cost of his service is 'peanuts' compared to the value of their cars.

School spent thousands on court case against Sikh Kara A Welsh school spent at least £170,000 on a legal battle to force a Sikh pupil to remove her Kara, (a religious symbol) only to lose the case.

Sarika Watkins-Singh stood up for her morals back in 2008, but was consequently suspended from school.

As reported in The Sikh Times, Cynon Valley MP Ann Clwyd detailed her two year battle to force the school to reveal the true costs. She said, “My patience has now run out. The school has run rings around the law to avoid explaining how much money has been wasted on this stupid ill-

Sarika Watkins Singh

considered action in defending the indefensible.”

The school is yet to release the relevant documentation, despite repeated interventions from the I n f o r m a t i o n Commissioner, who has strong legal powers to enforce the Freedom of Information Act.

NRI doctor faces action for false prescription An NRI doctor faces action for allegedly falsely claiming a patient had erectile dysfunction and collecting the prescribed tablets himself.

According to a disciplinary panel, 62-year-old Dr Mohan Tharakan of Whitley Bay allegedly wrote in the patient’s medical notes that he had erectile dysfunction even though the

man had seen the doctor for a cough.

According to a report in The Daily Telegraph, Dr Tharakan faces being struck off by the General Medical Council following a “fitness to practise” hearing after the incident in October 2006. Dr Tharakan, who has since retired, said he could not have used the tablets

himself because of heart problems.

He allegedly admitted collecting the prescription but claimed he only took them to his home to check there was no risk from the tablets.

A GMC panel refused to believe his explanation. The GMC will now decide what action to take.

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Asian Voice - Saturday 24th July 2010

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12

MEDIA WATCH

Asian Voice - Saturday 24th July 2010

Scrutator’s Truth will out. Eventually. There was much compelling evidence of the Pakistani state's guiding hand in the Mumbai terrorist attack of November 26. 2008 which claimed some 166 lives, but the clincher came with David Coleman Headley's interrogation in the US, when the Pakistani agent revealed in chilling detail the involvement of Islamabad's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in the attack and the subsequent slaughter of the innocents.

The Daily Telegraph's Dean Nelson, reporting from New Delhi (July 15), writes: “India has accused Pakistan's intelligence service of 'controlling and co-ordinating' the 2008 terrorist attacks on Mumbai.... India's Home Secretary said new evidence from a suspected senior terrorist had revealed that the Inter-Services Intelligence agency, one of Pakistan's most powerful state bodies, was behind the attack in which more than 166 people died.”

G.K.Pillai directly accused the ISI of collaborating with the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist group in mounting the attack.

He said: “The ISI has had a much more significant role to play in the Mumbai attacks. It was not just a peripheral role. They were literally controlling and co-ordinating it from the beginning to the end.”

Active player Dean Nelson again: “Mr Pillai said new details of the ISI's links to Hafiz Saeed, LeT's founder, had emerged when India's National Investigation Agency interviewed David Headley, the suspected LeT terrorist arrested last year at Chicago international airport. Headley.... told Indian investigators that Saeed, who was not among the LeT Mumbai suspects arrested in Pakistan, played a central role in pressing for these attacks to be executed according to a planned schedule.” David Headley: “He was not a peripheral player. He knew everything.”

Vikram Sood, the former director of India's Research & Analysis Wing intelligence agency, explained that the Home Secretary's claims reflected what most in India's security circles already knew. “You don't make

The Jeremy Page report in The Times (July 15) kept to the same broad contours of the Nelson piece. He referred specifically to the ongoing talks in Islamabad between Indian Foreign Minister S.M.Krishna and his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi, “the third high-level contact between the two countries in six months.” Meanwhile, Hafiz Saeed, the Let founder had been released by the Pakistani authorities from prison for lack of evidence, a decision upheld by the country's Supreme Court.

Murder most foul To get a true flavour of Pakistani society, read Irfan Hussain's column in the country's leading English-language Dawn newspaper (July 14). He relates a “sickening account of a Christian whose wife and four children

her father, but by the time he returned, the family had all been massacred. The head of the local police refused to register a case against the killers, saying: 'Khan is an influential man.....and I was pressured by higher authorities not to register the FIR [First Information Report]”.

Nobel Laureate Sir V.S. Naipaul described Pakistan as “criminal enterprise” since its birth. Western diplomats would no doubt disagree. For them, reports of the Masih killings are surely much exaggerated.

Mumbai’s Taj Hotel on fire in the terrorist attack, 26/11/2008

were killed last month in Jhelum. Apparently, Jamshed Masih, a Christian policeman was told to move from the predominantly Muslim neighbourhood where and his family lived.

Before the attack, Masih's 11year old son went to a local shop, and was refused service on the grounds that he was a nonMuslim. On his return locals led

by Maulana Mahfooz Khan entered the house, asserting that the boy had committed blasphemy and must be punished. Mrs Masih pleaded with the mob, and asked them to wait until her husband returned, but somebody threw a stone at her head.

Her daughter managed to call

Chennai plant, expects to export 5,000 cars this year.

“Given the rising demand worldwide for compact vehicles, we plan to accelerate our export strategy to not only enhance our business growth but also to further embellish India's reputation as a major regional auto manufacturing hub,” Ford India's President and Managing Director, Michael Boneham, said.

Besides South Africa, Ford

India's strengths The Financial Times (July 12) published a last-page interview with HCL chief executive Vineet Nayar. Can India ever beat China? He was asked. His answer: “I don't know what beating is. It's difficult to compete with India's services economy, because of the number and the quality of engineers coming out. The English language, the global outlook and the connection with Indians abroad is very, very strong.”

But can the Indian economy reach the level of China? shot back the FT interviewer.

Replied Mr Nayar: “India is working to its optimum. If India out grows the growth rate it is demonstrating right now, we will have [social] unrest. We should not bother about whether it is lower or faster than China. All the best to China, if it can sustain the growth rate and employment. The unrest in China is quite visible.”

So it is, but this can be made less visible with a whiff of grapeshot such as we saw on 4 June 1989 at Beijing's Tienanmen Square, when 300 Chinese citizens were massacred in cold blood in full public view.

For many of the great and good in the West, it was no doubt the desired smack of firm government so necessary to keep the peace among Orientals and other lesser breeds without the law.

Modern airports

these decisions, where the risk is so great the countries could end up fighting a war, at the level of major or colonel. [Pakistan's officials] keep saying they're helping but they're not. They're involved,” he said.

All this wasn't enough to convince Western diplomats in the region that the Pakistan military or intelligence agencies were directly culpable. They believed that Mr Pillai's claims were simply a ploy in the present Indo-Pakistan talks in Islamabad to prevent future terror attacks on India. As Pakistan remains a Western and Chinese surrogate such special pleading is scarcely surprising.

committed to joining the ranks of modern, industrialised nations.” Whatever next? No wonder British scribes kept away from the event.

Meanwhile, far away in Hyderabad, Lalita Pannikar was discovering the “other new sensation down south. In February, Hyderabad International Airport was ranked the fifth in the world and the best in the world in the 5 million-15 million passenger category by the

British correspondents in India appeared to have missed the opening of New Delhi airport's glittering Terminal 3. It can be a disappointment when complaints about the country's poor infrastructure are put right. The feckless natives are expected to behave according to perceived form. But Terminal 3 was designed and built in 37 months, where Heathrow's vaunted Terminal 5 took 60 months to complete, not to speak of the cock up that followed the hype that accompanied its opening.

The Hindu newspaper (July 4) told how Prime M i n i s t e r Manmohan Singh had opened the “swanky, worldclass Terminal 3 of the Indira Gandhi Airport, saying it signalled the arrival of the new India,

The Ford Figo

Geneva-based Airports Council International. So when I found myself going to Hyderabad earlier this month [July], I decided to see this wondrous beast for myself.”

She was blown by what she saw: the design, the technology, the quiet good manners of the staff and passengers, so different from the unruly north; and the airport's delicious southern cuisine (Hindustan Times July 7).

India growth forecast The Hindu (July 8) reported the International Monetary Fund a 9.5 per cent India growth forecast for 2010. This was based on robust corporate profits and favourable financing conditions fuelling investment.

IMF Director Dominic Strauss-Kahn said he expected India's accelerated economic growth to inch closer to that of China. He was “very impressed” by the Indian growth story, he said. “I think India is doing very well,” although he was concerned by its rising inflation, “especially food prices which are going up, but globally, India is doing very well. The rate off growth is very important. A lot of things have been done which are growth friendly,” he added.

Ford India exports rise Ford India recently flagged off a consignment of 1,200 units of its compact car Figo for export to South Africa, further burnishing India's image as an emerging hub for auto manufactures. The Figo, which is produced at Ford's

India also services markets in Thailand. According to Mr Boneham, “just as the Ford Figo had taken India by storm, we are confident that it will have a similar impact on South Africa.”

(Domain-b.com)

Oberoi hotels in top list The Hindustan Times (July 9) reported that the Oberoi Group's Vanyavilas Hotel in Ranthambore had been ranked the best in the world by Travel+Leisure magazine. The hospitality major also reinforced its position at the top with four of its properties making it to the magazine's top 15 list.

Commenting on the recognition, Oberoi Group 81-year old Chairman P.R.S.Oberoi said: “I am delighted that The Oberoi Vanyavilas has been ranked the best in the world and our four group hotels have been ranked among the 15 best in the world.”

The Amarvilas Hotel in Agra, the Rajvilas Hotel in Jaipur and the Udaipur Hotel in Udaipur, have been ranked fifth, 13th and 15th respectively among the world's best hotels in 2010.

Joe Leahy's FT profile (June 21) of P.R.S. “Bikki” Oberoi may have prefigured these awards but in hindsight it complements them by highlighting the eventful career of a truly remarkable man, and the organisation that has emerged from its modest roots in the Simla of the Raj generations ago to become the mighty national and global force of today.

Oberoi Vanyavilas hotel, Ranthambhore, in Rajasthan

EDUCATION

Asian Voice - Saturday 24th July 2010

Lord Dolar Popat joins the House of Lords On Monday 12th July, Lord Dolar Popat formally joined the House of Lords on Monday, 12th July, with the blessings of his guru and renowned saint Shri Morari Bapu. Bapu, originally from Gujarat, is a renowned 'Kathakar' (narrator) of Ramayana and has conducted his weekly discourses all over the world. During his visit to the house of Lords, Morari Bapu also impressed many members of the house with his humble approach, dignified personality and his mesmerising style of eloquence. Lord Bhikhu Parekh introduced him to the members.

Elaborating on the occasion, Lord Bhikhu Parekh, in a chat with Asian Voice, said “Lord Griffiths, chairman of British Methodist, after talking to Morari Bapu was really impressed. He described Bapu's personality as a real reflection of dignity, charm and an

Lord Dolar Popat and Shri Morari Bapu at the House of Lords

extra ordinary human being”.

Lord Parekh added, he had welcomed Morari

Bapu and briefed him in detail about the House of Lords for about 20 minutes. Bapu too was very

happy to witness the prayer, the grand arrival of the Lord Speaker and usual customs of the House of Lords. About 16 specially invited guests who had come for the formal joining of Lord Dolar Popat also bowed to Morari Bapu and took his blessings. Labour leader and one of the oldest British Indian MP Keith Vaz was amongst them.

Lord Parekh was impressed that though Morari Bapu already had a lot of knowledge about the House of Lords, yet he was inquisitive to know more. Going down the memory lane, Lord Parekh recalled that it was his second meeting with Morari Bapu after 28 years.

He was then the Vice Chancellor of M S University at Vadodara in India and Morari Bapu had come to the grace a convocation, and addressed the students and the gathering.

Three arrested during sham marriage operation in East Ham Senior officials at the UK Border Agency (UKBA), which is charged with removing the estimated 500,000 illegal immigrants in the UK, are re-examining the operating guidance issued to its officers.

Sad demise

Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar extend their deepest condolences to columnist Alpesh Patel, whose Grandmother Sushilabhen Rambhai Patel sadly passed away. Our prayers and thoughts are with Alpesh and his family during this difficult time. Her funeral was held on Monday 19th July.

She is survived by sons: Bipin R Patel; Yashvin R Patel; Janak R Patel, daughter: Jyotsna Patel, daughers-in-law: Ramila B Patel; Hansa Y Patel; Hashmita J Patel, grandchildren: Alpesh B Patel; Nishaan Patel (married to Deepa Patel), Priyen Patel; Nishika Patel (married to Dipesh Patel); Sunaina Patel; Archana Patel and great grandchildren: Chandni Patel and

A rule book which governs how raids are carried out also instructs officers not to "patronise" suspects, to give them "body space", to maintain eye contact with them, and to adopt a "relaxed" and "non-aggressive stance".

The UKBA said it was

reviewing the rules in an effort to make procedures more professional and modern. The ban on pursuits was introduced amid fears that a chase could lead to either an immigration officer or a suspect being hurt.

Earlier this month 11

immigration offenders were found in Dorset during a week of investigations, while last week officers arrested three people during a sham marriage operation in East Ham, east London. The UKBA removed 63,000 people from the UK in 2009/10.

Jewels of Romance

Wedding preparations are all about details and many brides-to-be start with finding the perfect location and choosing the colours for the big day.

Applying the same standards to your honeymoon is also a fine maxim. In The Bahamas you can choose the colour of the sand you’d like to feature in your honeymoon photographs, from soft white, crushed pink coral or ripples of golden sand. Then into the ocean blues … every shade of green, azure and turquoise surround this collection of 14 main islands, from the palest blue shimmering over the sand banks off Long Island to clear aquamarine around the Exuma Cays, deep indigo blue of the Blue Holes of Andros and white tipped surf cresting the sapphire waves off Eleuthera.

It’s a stunning palette and blends perfectly.

Pastel coloured clapperboard houses line the streets of downtown Nassau and throughout the little settlements, or villages, of Hope Town in The Abacos and Harbour Island. Vibrant colours are found in the Androsia fabric from Andros or the bright costumes of the

Junkanoo Festival.

That’s the colours sorted, now choose the ‘soundtrack’. The more well-known islands of Nassau/ Paradise Island and Grand Bahama are the places to go for the lively sounds of many restaurants, bars,

nightclubs and shopping interspersed with the sound of hooves as the horse drawn surreys carry you around the

interesting sights of downtown Nassau. There are plenty of beaches and places for romance such as a trip over to Blue Lagoon for the dolphin or sea lion encounters.

Slow down to a really gentle pace after the wedding mayhem with at least a few days, if not your whole honeymoon on one of the Out Islands like Eleuthera or Exuma where the rhythm of life slows right down. The casual informality simplifies your honeymoon wardrobe to cool summer pretties to enjoy island-style bars and restaurants overlooking the ocean where a string of fairy lights and moonlit nights reflected by the ocean are the glitziest lightshows in town.

The major operators such as British Airways Holidays, Thomas Cook Signature, Virgin Holidays and Kuoni feature some of The Islands of The Bahamas while the specialist operator Bahamas Flavour offers tailor-made holidays to any, or all, of them.

For more information on The Islands of The Bahamas please visit www.bahamas.co.uk

#VR^#OZ

13

I_TZ DOHK Z[H]_IVOP FVIW DOH

Education Is A Marathon Not A Sprint As you might imagine, at eTutors we experience a real pickup in our business activity in the short few months before exams are due to be taken. And of course we can and do help to ensure that the students that we work with are prepared by the time they sit down and turn over their exam papers; but really, acting at this late stage is Pankaj Vekria like starting to train for a marathon 4 weeks before you are at the race and under starter’s orders. Not only has the pupil to contend with all of the revision work and preparation for other exams that they are undoubtedly taking, but he or she is also trying to catch up in areas of weakness in a very short space of time.

Our preference is to work with students for at least six months prior to exams (and preferably longer) in order that we can support them properly and, more importantly, in a structured and focused manner to achieve their goals.

A couple of weekends ago eTutors spent two days exhibiting at the Swaminarayan School and I talked to many parents and students who had come along to enjoy the school’s annual summer fair. For those of you who don’t know about this event it is open to the public and is a really fun way to pass some time with the family. I’ve been before but never as an exhibitor and I really enjoyed myself.

What impressed me as I spoke with the visitors who came to the eTutors stand was the immense enthusiasm and commitment that parents in the Asian community have for their children’s education. I must have spoken to at least 500 people during the course of the weekend and what came across most was just how committed these parents were to ensuring that their children succeed in life and how very clear they were that education is the essential foundation for that success.

This leads me back to where I started: whether you are going to use eTutors or another tutoring service you need to understand that education, whether delivered in or out of school hours is a long haul business. Of course you can step up the effort during the final few weeks before exams but if you haven’t done the necessary ground work in the previous months and years then your child may struggle. What parents want for their children is that they get into a grammar school and then pass their A levels with grades that will allow them to go on to a Russell Group university. The trouble is that this is every parent’s objective so any assistance that you can provide to your child either through your own support for their education or through services such as tutoring is going to help. Please just remember that preparation for any competitive event, whether it be educational or sporting, is best started years in advance.

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I_TZ DOHK Z[H]_IVOP FVIW DOH

14

UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 24th July 2010

Disgraced crown prosecutor jailed A disgraced Crown prosecutor is behind bars after being jailed for four-and-ahalf years for bribery.

Sarfraz Ibrahim, 51, was caught out in a police sting after he accepted £20,000 to stop what he believed to be an assault case. Ibrahim, who was Gwent Crown Prosecution Service trials chief at the time, split the cash with an accomplice.

The head of the CPS condemned Ibrahim's actions and vowed that corruption would not be tolerated. Keir Starmer QC, director of public prosecutions, said Ibrahim had disgraced the CPS through a serious breach of trust, as reported by the Daily Mail.

Ibrahim, of Cyncoed, Cardiff, south Wales, admitted corruption, perverting the course of justice and misconduct in a public office.

His admissions, on the

Sarfraz Ibrahim

eve of a trial at Swansea Crown Court, related to a period between May and August last year.

Mr Justice Treacy heard that alarm bells had started to go off when Ibrahim came to the attention of the Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca).

He was spotted with a man named Saifur Khan, 36, from Cardiff, visiting a motorway services near Bridgend in the autumn of 2008. Ibrahim and Khan met with two men known

for their links to the cocaine trade in south Wales who were both under surveillance.

When Ibrahim and Khan were identified Soca set up an integrity test to see whether either man was corrupt. It led to a case file linked to a bogus assault charge being created which allowed the police to gauge the honesty of both men.

Undercover officers approached Khan posing as a wealthy businessman and his driver, the latter eventually being arrested for assault. The set piece arrest took place in a flat rented from Khan and eventually led to Ibrahim's intervention when he discontinued the case for cash.

Sarfraz Ibrahim's dramatic fall from grace is all the greater because he was held in such high esteem by his colleagues and profession in general.

Oxfam- Bringing Fame to Misfortune In an age of celebrity culture, film stars, pop singers and other wellknown personalities have a crucial role in focusing attention on the plight of those who are suffering and living in poverty .

Oxfam has had huge support from many familiar and credible faces to help fight its cause.

It is not only leading Western names- like Scarlet Johansson and Helena Christensen- who have lent their support to Oxfam’s campaigns on education, healthcare and climate change, but also some major figures from the Asian subcontinent.

These include Indian cinema’s biggest star Amitabh Bachchan, who in 2007- the year that Oxfam was a charity partner to the International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFAs)- gave the organisation his support.

see some of the fundraising efforts in the UK - and meet some of the volunteers who give up their time to support Oxfam’s life-saving work”.

In the lead-up to the IIFA awards ceremony more than 100 shops took on a Bollywood theme with window-displays and South Asian clothing on sale, and opportunities for people to find out more about volunteering .

Oxfam campaigners and volunteers also took part in fringe events in Yorkshire.

Many other wellknown celebrities have also helped highlight Oxfam’s work. Meera Syal raised awareness of Oxfam’s pioneering gift catalogue, Oxfam Unwrapped , which allows each of us to donate items that are life-changing and often life-saving for the people that Oxfam works

Mr Bachchan, who has starred in more than 150 films, helped the Oxfam shop in Westbourne Grove, London to launch a series of Oxfam events in the run-up to the prestigious awards weekend in Yorkshire. He said it was a real honour to help Oxfam because it fights poverty and suffering in more than 70 countries, including his homeland of India.

“Oxfam makes a great impact on people’s lives around the world with its work, providing emergency response and supporting long-term projects like health-care, education and training - ultimately improving the livelihoods of millions. Many people in India have benefited from Oxfam’s projects so it was important for me to

with around the world.

Each and every gift is carefully selected to ensure that they are what people need most to make the biggest difference to their lives.

Buying an Oxfam Unwrapped camel- which was Meera Syal’s choicecan help a family in so many different ways.

“Camels are a hardy and valuable asset - they can go 15 days without water, and they produce dung for fuel and fertiliser, and drinkable milk”, said Meera.

The organisation also has a good following amongst performers from the British Asian community, including the DJ, television presenter and radio presenter Bobby Frictionreal name Paramdeep Singh Sehdev-

Peers face travel expenses inquiry

Baroness Uddin, Lord Paul and Lord Taylor

A parliamentary expenses inquiry is investigating the large claims made by two Labour peers for travel to “main” homes they rarely visited, according to House of Lords insiders.

Baroness Uddin and Lord Paul could be suspended for up to a year if they are found to have brought parliament into disrepute.

The disclosure comes as Lord Taylor of Warwick, the first black Tory peer, was last week charged with fraud relating to £11,000 worth of expense claims. The charges came after a police inquiry sparked by a Sunday Times investigation.

Both Uddin and Paul have also been investigated by the police but were not charged. They are now the subject of a Lords inquiry.

The Lords has the power to suspend members for the duration of the parliament. However, insiders say the maximum penalty for Uddin and Paul would be 12 months’ suspension.

The charges against Taylor followed a Sunday Times investigation that raised questions about his expense claims of more than £70,000 in 20012007. On Friday he was charged with six counts of false accounting during

2006 and 2007 totalling £11,000.

Taylor lived in Ealing, west London, but was paid overnight allowances because he claimed his main home was outside the capital. When initially challenged, he said he had been living at his mother’s home in the West Midlands. However, her house had been sold in 2001. Further inquiries revealed that Taylor has been using the address of a house in Oxford owned by his step-nephew’s boyfriend.

Taylor has resigned from the Tory whip and will appear before magistrates next month.

Mahadevbhai Who?

By Reva Sharma I must confess that before last Saturday night if you'd asked me who Mahadevbhai Desai was I wouldn't be able to give you much of an answer.

2 hours, one actor, and the story of a lifetime. Later I walked away feeling as though I had learned a great deal not just about the man who worked as Gandhiji's secretary and confidante for 25 years with unmatched devotion but also a lot more about India's strug-

gle for freedom and the effect it had on those who lived through it.

It's a tall order for one actor to single handedly portray over two dozen characters without the help of a supporting cast, even some costume changes or any prompting, but Jaimini Pathak managed to seamlessly mutate almost from Mahadevbhai, to Bapu to Pandit Nehru, to Dr Ambedkar to Sardar Patel and others with total ease. Mahadevbhai's diary entries were

brought to life by Jaimini's enthusiastic performance, laced with humourous anecdotes, like Gandhi's penchant for adding bicarbonate of soda to everything he cooked, to more serious comments of the caste system in India.

Particularly stirring was his depiction of Gandhiji's salt march and the dramatic way he brought out the impact of salt on people's lives and to the British rule.

Equally powerful was the scene post

Mahadevbhai's death, with the fulfilment of Gandhiji's call to "Do or Die". Jaimini's understanding of the history has enabled him to provide a wonderful perspective on the most challenging period in India's history through the eyes of a man who was closer than most to its greatest contributor.

A 2 hour monologue that is eye opening, intellectual, entertaining and informative. What a pity there aren't more shows in the UK.

Jonaid Jilani

who took part in a DJ set in an Oxfam shop in 2007 as part of ‘Oxjam’.

Oxjam is Oxfam's largest music event and the UK's biggest festival.

It's a music festival with a difference- that the listener gets to make it happen!

Every year hundreds of music-lovers get involved by organising their own local music events, all across the UK, throughout the month of October. The proceeds from these events go to Oxfam to help fight poverty and improve the lives of the world's poorest people.

In 2007 the actress Scarlett Johansson made a 10-day visit to India and Sri Lanka accompanied by the Indian actor Rahul Bose , where she saw firsthand the difference to people’s everyday lives humanitarian aid can make, visiting Oxfamfunded schools, meeting survivors of domestic violence and witnessing the devastation of the 2004 Tsunami.

“Having visited Oxfam-funded school programmes in rural communities has made me realise how vital education is to developing countries in bringing people out of poverty and giving them a sense of dignity, selfworth and confidence”, Johansson later said.

Whether they are from the streets of London, New York or New Delhi, what’s certain is that these well-known names have made a huge difference to Oxfam’s fight against poverty and injustice, and that their future support will remain crucial.

For more information about Oxfam and its India project or to donate please call 0300 200 1242

Muslims eject 'unclean' guide dogs from buses Religious objections not enough to order guide dogs and blind owners off buses, transport minister rules after number of reports sparks Lords debate. The transport minister has intervened to stop guide dogs and their blind owners from being ordered off buses because Muslim drivers or passengers consider the animals unclean.

The refusal, for religious reasons, to carry even guide dogs has become so widespread that it was raised in the House of Lords last week by Lord

Monson, a crossbench peer.

Norman Baker, the transport minister, signalled to bus companies that a religious objection was not a reason to eject a passenger with a wellbehaved dog. “If dogs are causing a nuisance, a driver has every right to ask the owner to leave,” he said. “It is much more questionable to be asked to remove a dog for religious reasons. One person’s freedom is someone else’s restriction.”

Drivers have discretion to refuse to carry non-disabled passengers with dogs.

Asian Voice - Saturday 24th July 2010

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Asian Voice - Saturday 24th July 2010

16 Asian Voice Saturday 24th July 2010

Katrina hopes to find ‘True Love’ this year

Nominations for 57th South Filmfare Awards Finally the biggest event of this year arrives as the South Indian film celebrities are curiously looking for the big day to bag their honors. Yeah! It’s all about the 57th South Filmfare Awards scheduled to be hosted on August 7.

Actress Tamanna was invited to inaugurate the press conference of marking the event.

The nominees for the best actor of Tamil Cinema 2009 are Surya (Ayan), Arya (Naan Kadavul), Prakash Raj (Kanchivaram), Jayam Ravi (Peranmai) and Kamal Hassan (Unnai Pol Oruvan) while the best actress nominees are Tamanna (Kanden Kadhalai), Sneha ( A c h a m u n d u Achamundu), Pooja (Naan Kadavul), P a d m a p r i y a (Pokkisham) and Shreya Reddy (Kanjeevaram).

Meanwhile, cherubic Tamanna, who was invited for the press conference of Filmfare Awards, was glad for having nominated for the best actress category in both Tamil and Telugu (Koncham Ishtam Koncham Kashtam) films. Having worked with almost all the young superstars in South Indian film industry, Tamanna mentions that all her co-stars are best in their unique attributes.

Silambarasan’s Vedam remake titled Vaanam

This entire week has been a crucial phase for Silambarasan as he was busy holding discussions with producer R.B. Choudary over remaking the Telugu blockbuster Vedam.

Finally, Silambarasan has revealed the film’s title as Vaanam (meaning ‘Sky’ in English).

The official confirmations about other star casts and technicians will be revealed shortly.

According to the sources, Anushka seems to have refused this offer as she feels that she may not be

able to do justice to the character if she has to redo it. It seems the producers are holding talks with Aadukalam fame Tapasee for performing the female lead role while Manoj of Ennai Theriyuma will perform another lead role.

The original version featured Allu Arjun in the lead role of a cable operator while Anushka as a sex-worker and Manchu Mohan as a rock star. The film is about five different characters and how their lives are intercrossed on an unexpected day.

17

Priyanka Chopra has everyone vying for her attention these days. From top notch directors to the most soughtafter actors, everybody wants to work with her.

She certainly isn’t complaining.

“Life is shaping up better than planned. Things have just happened to me. Touchwood,” Chopra smiles.

And with a week-long vacation with her girlfriends coming up next, life couldn’t have seemed brighter for the actress.

The vacation is well-deserved.

She has just wrapped up the schedule of her two upcoming films Siddharth Anand’s Anjaana Anjaani and Vishal Bharadwaj’s Saat Khoon Maaf. “I really need it. I haven’t vacationed in a long time,” says Chopra.

But once the vacation is over, she will be back to her packed schedule. In August, the 28-year-old is headed to Brazil to shoot for Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi. When she returns in October, Don 2 shooting will take off, followed by Anurag Basu’s Silence in March.

“I am going to travel all over the world with these films. I love exploring new places,” she says.

The actress, however, regrets that she has to say no to so many scripts that she would have loved to work on. “I just don’t have the time to do all those films.”

She has explored quite a few places in India in the last few months, thanks to Saat Khoon Maaf. From Kashmir, to Coorg and Pondicherry, Chopra had a blast travelling to all these beautiful locales. “But Coorg is my favourite. I had heard so much about its lush beauty.

When I went there, I was actually mesmerised,” she says. Apart from the lovely locales, shooting for SKM has been quite an enriching experience, though strenuous, for her.

In the film, she plays the role of Susanna, a woman who ages from 20 to 65. “It was challenging because it marked the journey of a woman. I had to make sure my mannerisms and moves gelled with the age I was portraying,” says Chopra, who also used prosthetics to look old.

Despite that, she is being wooed by seven men in the film. “It certainly made me feel special,” she blushes.

With Kajol expecting, there’s no break for daddy Ajay Ajay Devgn, who was to leave on a US tour with daughter Nysa last week, had to cancel his plans at the last moment.

A source close to Ajay said, "Ajay had promised Nysa on her birthday that they will take a ten-day break to visit USA and Disneyland during her summer holidays. Usually, Ajay, Nysa and Kajol go off for a break but now that Kajol is expecting, it would have been impossible for her to travel."

The source said that Ajay had been shooting continuously through the year and hadn't taken a break for a long time.

"They were to leave in the first week of July.

There were a few patchwork scenes left for Ajay to complete for his next release Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai." The scenes were crucial to the film and couldn't wait till Ajay's return from the US, added the source.

He also had to shoot the title song for Golmaal 3 that required his dates. "There was no way that Ajay could postpone the shoot, as it's an important song.

They couldn't go even after the shoot was over, as Ajay starts shooting

for Madhur Bhandarkar's Dil Toh Bachcha Hai Ji and Nysa's school will soon re-open.

Now, Ajay will have to wait for a couple of months before he can take a break," the source said.

There was nothing that Katrina would have liked better on her birthday last week than to be with her family in London. In fact, she had planned and plotted for months and weeks to make her birthday wish come true.

But then, star proposes, producer disposes. Just when Katrina took a break from her shooting in Spain from Zoya Akhtar's “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara” to spend the days leading to her birthday in London her plans were thwarted.

Katrina had to return to shoot in Pampolona for Zoya's film a day before her birthday.

Trying hard to conceal her disappointment about being deprived of her annual family get-together Katrina says, “Yes, I had planned well in advance to spend my birthday with my family in London. But some scenes for Zoya's film have been rescheduled and I've to go back on Thursday, a day ahead of my birthday, to Spain. Never mind. I'll be working on my birthday and that's the best way to bring in my birthday”.

Looking at the brighter side Katrina says, “My two youngest sisters Isabella and Sonia came to Spain with me, so I have a part of my family with me. And I couldn't hope to be with a better unit on my birthday. Zoya Akhtar is one of the coolest

directors I've worked with”.

Looking at the year Katrina says, “I got to work with two women directors Zoya and Farha Khan this year. And they were both such fun to work with. I also had a big hit Raajneeti. I couldn't have asked for more. In the coming year, I hope to find love.

Every girl needs someone to share her life with”.

Katrina returns to India next month to face one of her biggest challenges as an actress. On August 11 she has to perform an item song with Akshay Kumar for Farah Khan's Tees Maar Khan.

Sighs Katrina, “It is like no other item song. It will have elements from both Indian and western dance forms. It will blend various styles and give me a chance to perform what could possibly be my most challenging on-screen dances. I can't wait to return and start rehearsing for the number”.

SRK lives life king-size!

Naz Choudhury Brings Bollywood to Dragon’s Den Entrepreneur Naz Choudhury 26, presented a very unique pitch which was thriving of passion, belief and confidence in BBC’s Dragon’s Den. He also delivered a spectacular performance by members of his dance team ‘Flex FX’.

After a strong pitch leaving the Dragon’s in awe, Naz did not receive the investment as he was looking which was £200,000, was unsuccessful on this occasion.

The dragon’s advised him to find a business partner who can bring in finances and new work and who is as passionate as he is about entertainment, legacy and Bollywood.

and Flex FX is not just an up and coming Dance Company.

Naz has been performing, creating and producing excellence for the past 10 years and now is in search of a new venture and this is a great platform for him.

Catch up with Dragon’s Den online on the BBC website.

To keep up with Naz’s latest ventures, visit www.flexfxproductions.com

Dragon’s eventually took centre stage and caught him off guard going into his past but he always stood his ground and kept his respect throughout the

program.

Overall it was a great way for him to get out to the mainstream and show the nation he his prestige

Bebo uncomfortable with Saif’s kids Recently, the Chotae Nawab, Saif Ali Khan essayed the role of a very responsible dad. He indeed is a devoted boyfriend and would 'follow' his beau, Kareena almost anywhere, but he recently surprised the world when he achieved a greater degree of responsibility to be with his kids and his ex-office Amrita.

It's rumored that Kareena Kapoor is quite uncomfortable with Saif's kids. She avoids them as much as she can.

Everytime they are around, she disappears and when the children come to stay with their dad, Kareena moves to her own apartment.

Kareena-Saif are one of the hottest Bollywood couples and are seen almost everywhere together. Be

it a red carpet function, a movie premier or a social page 3 party, the two are always seen together.

However, everytime Saif's children come to visit him; he has to leave her company in order to give some quality company to them. It seems that fatherhood is still alive inside him and from what it seems, it's not just alive but also quite active in Khan's persona!

So the Chotae Nawab flew off to London after his “Agent Vinod's” schedule in Morocco ended. He did this only to spend some nice time with his children. The children are with Amrita, Saif's former wife and all of them are having a gala time there.

Shah Rukh Khan was in South Africa for the FIFA finals, and all that exuberance, hollering and cheering was quite a high for this sports buff, but it sapped his energy. He ended up with flu and bad throat, of course, the fact that the game was really over only paled his high spirits.

So, the hotel he was staying in left no stone unturned to pamper the superstar. When they heard that SRK wasn’t feeling too well, they served him a special ginger lemon drink every few hours.

Their best chefs were put to work to dish out simple Indian fare like daal, chawal and sabzi to appease his taste buds.

Such are the privileges of being the King Khan, huh?

Live life king size, SRK! That’s the way to be.

New Hindi movies releasing this week Khatta Meetha

Top 5 Bollywood movies for the week 1 2 3 4 5

Milenge Milenge New I Hate Luv Storys 1 Raajneeti 2 Red Alert - The War Within New Raavan 3

1 2 6 1 4

financial voice

Asian Voice - Saturday 24th July 2010

Fraud claims pushing up car insurance premiums AA warns about bogus or exaggerated claims fuelling quotes Car insurance frauds are pushing a record rise in premiums for honest motorists and that include the so called “crash-for-cash” scams.

Other forms of unseen frauds include rising costs from personal injury claims, many of them often believed to be bogus or exaggerated, experts say.

According to details

by AA, the cost of comprehensive cover jumped more than 12 per cent between April and June, 2010.

About the frauds, earlier this year a High Court judge imposed record damages of almost £400,000 on a ring of criminals who staged accidents to reap the benefit from insurance claims.

The gang, which

staged at least 30 accidents around Greater Manchester in a single year, would brake suddenly and deliberately on quiet roundabouts making it almost impossible for the motorist behind to avoid crashing into the back of their car.

They then claimed for both damage to the car and personal injuries from the collision.

Even the cheapest quotes for comprehensive cover increased by 11.5 per cent in the threemonth period, compared with the previous quarter, to £704, according to the AA’s closely watched British Insurance Premium Index.

It was the biggest increase since the organisation began tracking the trends 16 years ago.

BoB joining london High Street soon Customers to get competitive offers on their savings London high street will see an invasion by quite a few foreign banks soon, all with new business styles for customers. Bank of Baroda, a leading psu bank from India is among them, coming with an internet banking model.

Others to come include Metro Bank of America, First Save of Nigeria and Virgin, UK’s own bank to compete.

Metro Bank is launching its first “store” (branch). US firms are also looking at buying stakes in building societies here.

JC Flowers, a private equity firm from USA, is in talks about taking a 49% stake in the Kent Reliance for about £50m and is looking to buy into more high street names.

Bank of Baroda starts its entry to mainstream British banking with the launch of four market-lead-

S S Mundra

ing fixed-rate savings accounts for internet customers. It has provided banking services to the Indian ethnic population since 1957 through branches in London and the Midlands. Its internet bank will launch within two months. Baroda’s fiveyear internet savings account pays 4.9% a year.

It also has a three-year deal at 4.3%, two-year at 3.8% and one-year at 3.15%. The accounts are available via the price comparison site

Moneysupermarket.

It joins several other foreign banks close to the top of the best-buy tables.

First Save, from Nigeria, has a 30-day notice, variable-rate account paying 1.5 percentage points over Bank rate (giving a current rate of 2%) and a 90day notice account paying two points over Bank rate (2.5%). This compares to a top rate of 2.58% for a 30-day notice account from Melton Mowbray building society, and matches the rate for Northern Rock’s 90-day notice account.

Homegrown newcomers, such as Virgin Money, are also stepping up the competition.

Rachel Thrussell of Moneyfacts, the comparison site, said: “The high street is undergoing a big shake-up. The public do not trust the big four banking giants any-

more and are trying others for size.”

The fixed-rate bestbuys have been dominated by foreign banks for some time, and Bank of Baroda is looking to increase its influence. SS Mundra, the chief executive of BoB said a top-paying cash Isa would be launched within months of the internet bank going online.

In second place behind Baroda in the five-year savings best-buy table is ICICI, also an Indian bank, which is paying 4.75%. ICICI pays 4.15% for three-year accounts. In comparison, the Post Office, whose accounts are provided by Bank of Ireland, is offering 4.1% over three years. Both ICICI and the Post Office pay 3.7% for two-year savings, while Santander, the Spanish bank which took over Abbey, pays 3.75% over two years.

Goldtrail collapse leads to spoiling of holiday plans of thousands of Britons Those already abroad will be flown back by CAA A leading tour operator and specialist in flights to Greece and Turkey, Goldtrail collapsed last week, spoiling holiday plans of tens of thousands of Britons. It is estimated that about 50,000 people had their holidays booked with the failed operator.

These customers will have to rearrange their plans, or may be they will have to cancel them this summer.

They will also have to wait for months, or possibly

years for refund of their money.

Hundreds of holidaymakers bound for Turkey were stranded at Glasgow Airport after the collapse of the firm. On Friday night 180 passengers checked in for a flight to the Turkish resort of Bodrum only to be told three hours later that they wouldn't be going on holiday after all.

Holidaymakers watched departure boards

House prices likely to be hit after new loan rules

UK banks causing distress to elderly customers

The UK Financial Services Authority (FSA) announced new affordability for those seeking mortgages and analysts have warned that these reforms are likely to depress the prices of houses that are already under pressure. FSA has proposed that lenders should impose tougher affordability tests and also check borrowers’ income in all mortgage applications.

These reforms could mean that potentially fasttrack loans are prevented.

“Liar loans” or self-certification mortgages, which were highly popular during the housing market boom would perhaps come to an end.

Banks in UK are facing the ire of their elderly customers as in many cases, accounts are frozen on wrong suspicions of customers being mentally incapable or involved in fraud.

It is the responsibility of the customers to prove that they are capable to manage their affairs.

Suspending an account can leave customers without cash for months, during which time bills may go unpaid and debts mount.

Savers and their families also complain that banks often appear unsympathetic and in no hurry to unlock a frozen account.

USA Green Cards

Start a New Life in America

18

announce repeated delays before their 8.45pm flight was cancelled at around midnight.

A Glasgow Airport spokesman said: "People had checked in then the company went into administration."

In a statement issued on its website, the CAA said: "We have taken steps to protect customers booked with Goldtrail Travel Limited after the company ceased trading.

Banks can freeze accounts for a number of reasons, with the onus usually on the customer to prove that it should be reopened. Accounts are commonly frozen during divorce, where there is a dispute over whom the money belongs to, and in cases of bankruptcy.

Banks will also bring down the shutters when money laundering or fraud is suspected.

If you are dissatisfied and make a complaint, the bank has eight weeks to respond. If it fails to do so, or rejects your complaint, take your case to the Financial Ombudsman Service (0800 0234567, www.fos.org.uk).

Living, working and retiring to the USA has never been easier and buying a home there has never been cheaper.

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American Life, Inc. has been securing Green Cards for hundreds of people for over 14 years. We are the largest and most popular EB-5 investment company with a 100 per cent success rate. The investor, spouse and unmarried children under 21 all qualify for the visa with the right to apply for (dual) citizenship after five years. We have Asian investors who will provide references.

Please contact Richard Robinson, in the UK, on + 44 (0) 207 408 9450; richard@eb5-visa.net or visit www.eb5-visa.net.

American Life Inc. sales are managed by Taroa Investment Company Ltd, 16 Hanover Square, London W1S 1HT.

Better investments for a Better life

FINANCIAL VOICE

Asian Voice - Saturday 24th July 2010

19

Property Focus Suresh Vagjiani Managing Director of Sow & Reap, a Property Investment & Financing company.

The Cheapest – Not Necessarily The Best One of our clients recently completed their first investment property purchase last week. They are a working class couple. They had bought their first home after being married in Perival, Middlesex.

A three bedroom semi detached house in a very residential street.

The property had increased in value over the period they had purchased the property. The mortgage had gone down by a small amount. It was time for a remortgage and hence they approached us. They had a meeting with us to discuss primarily getting a remortgage product and perhaps comtemplate investing in properties.They had one child at the time aged 4 years when they originally came to see us, now they have two.

If they carried on as they were and simply remortgaged to get the cheapest rates and concentrated on paying the mortgage off they would have had a property without a mortgage in shorter space of time.

We advised them not to go for the cheapest mortgage and instead to consider the possibility of investing into property. With a combined income of less than £50,000 after taxes and mortgage payements etc there is not much disposable income left over. And life is not getting cheaper. As their children grow up there will be futher costs such as university fees and of course the expensive wedding costs to consider.

If they carry on as they are it will be very difficult to meet these. They will end up working themselves to the grave with no substantial savings and very little leisure time.

In order to drive this point home we simply asked how much they had bought their property for. They had purchased their property for £100,000, this was in March 2000. The property had grown in value to £300,000 mid 2008 when we had our initial meeting.

Therefore the price of the property had risen 3 times within an 8 year period.

This means they had £200,000 of equity in the property. We asked how much they had saved during this time. The savings was in about £20,000 which is minuscule in comparision to the rise in property value. It is important to note the property has risen in value without any effort on their part, it happened all by itself. No need to get up in the morning to go any where. No need for any major effort or investment strategy, this happened by itself and is the strongest way to encourage someone to invest. The proof of the pudding is their own home not with a

clever financial adviser selling them products they themselves do not fully understand. These products are mainly pushed on the tax benefits attached to them such as ISAs. Even with the tax benefits the rate of growth is so small. Generally these products have no comparision when you compare the growth gained from property and even taking off the tax at the highest level.

In short these are rip offs. I remember a whole page in the FT not to long ago discussing which bank account or ISA to put your money in.

The returns where between 1% - 3%.

3% if you commit your funds for over 2 years.

wards rather than forwards which at the rate the pace of life is moving is now a demand not an option.

After they were comfortable with the idea of investing into property, their next step was to see what was the best way of financing this investment. The cheapest and only means for them was to dig into the current property. We could have simply remortgaged and got them a lump of money out of the property. The danger is however the money may well be languishing in an account earning the paltry rates of interest the FT article was discussing.

We instead advised them if they were serious then they should not go for the most cheapest mortgage product but

Property simply and naturally rises in value. This will always be the case, as going back to basics money is printed, potentially there is a infinite supply. Land is finite. Therefore there is only one way property prices will go medium to long term.

We advised the Patels they have already experienced the rise of property value for themselves in their own home.

We do not have to prove this to them, just simply highlight the point. The other point to note is this was not an investment for them, this happened as a symptom of the purchase. The aim of the purchase was a need for shelter for their growing family. This being the case it would be reasonable to assume if a property was purchased as an investment with this aim in mind, it should in theory grow better than the home which grew in value on the back of being a residential purchase.

They quickly saw the logic of what we were pointing out to them. We cannot really sell the concept of investing into property. We simply point out the facts.

These can be verified by anyone. These are long term decisions. The danger however is not making the wrong decision regarding property but procrastinating and not making a decision, this causes people to lose opportunites and go back-

instead the most appropriate product. An overdraft facility based on the property value would be the most suitable. The way this works is a pre agreed limit is already offered to you. You pay interest on the amount you borrow and from the day you borrow and no more. Exactly like a bank overdraft, but much cheaper. In fact this is the cheapest form of finance you can get. This is because the security to the lender is the strongest you can get.

Even if the BTL property was bought 6 months later at least interest is not paid on any excess funds, it is only paid from the point you use it. Or considering a worst case scenario, if they never use the excess funds, no issue. The only down side is the valuation and arrangement fees. Not large considering the greater scheme of things.

There are many names for this kind of

flexibility such as offset, overdraft, flexi etc. Mainly each lender tries to have their own name to differentiate themselves in the market place. The principle is the same. There is one main difference however, with most of these products the interest rates go up and down. There is one lender who at the time was offering a fixed rate overdraft of 5.09% fixed for 10 years. This means you have money on tap at this rate whenever and if you wish to take it. So if you come across any investment which offers you more than 5.09% you can use these funds to invest. You can put them back again after taking them out without penalty.

This is what we arranged for this couple. They were not speculating on whether the rates will go up, they simply wanted as less variables as possible in their lives. Especially as this was the first time they were taking this step.

After the overdraft was arranged they came to us again a few months back to take advantage of our property sourcing service. We suggested the best place to invest was central locations, from both the rental and capital growth point of view.

We sourced a two bedroom property in Westbourne Park, a stone throw away from fashionable Notting Hill. The purchase price was £275,000. It’s a first floor apartment which will rent for £484 pw.

The annual income for this property will be £10,000 per annum after mortgage costs. This will effectively be the equivalent of what Mrs Patel earns currently on a part time basis. This is not the main return from the investment in property but just a side income. The main return will be the growth in property value. At 5% per annum the property will grow at £13,750 per annum, at 10% the property will grow at £27,500 per annum. More than they currently save.

If you have funds lying idly in your property or in an account, call us now to discuss your options.

n Mortgages n Commercial Finance n Property Sourcing n Gujarat Properties - Sale & Resale T: 0207 706 0187 F: 0203 014 8484

E: info@sowandreap.co.uk W: www.sowandreap.co.uk

31 Southwick Street, Paddington, W2 1JQ Registered in England No. 05083823

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FINANCIAL VOICE

OVL declines offer after no response to data request

Lakshmi Nivas Mittal

take up the stake, people in the knowledge of matter have said. LUK also holds equal stake in CIR. Interestingly, now even LUKoil wants to sell off their holding in CIR. Rest of the 50% shares are with KazMunaiGaz of Kazakhstan.

Africa iron ore mines jv with NMDC likely National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC), a government of India owned company

India considering purchase of BAE Systems M777 howitzer

is keen to set up a joint venture with ArcelorMittal.

Talks between the two are in progress for some time now, NMDC chairman and managing director Rana Som said on Monday. He may visit Senegal next month to further discuss the proposed JV with ArcelorMittal.

NMDC has plans for the joint venture to develop iron ore mines in Africa.

The two had earlier decided to develop a mining field in the West African nation of Senegal and form a joint venture to carry out the project.

Som also said NMDC was aggressively looking for foreign acquisitions. He added “It was scouting for two assets in Australia.”

StanChart now offers online remittance for NRIs

These guns are primarily made in UK, integrated in the USA ness, said: “The US govt is currently discussing the provision of 145 systems to India as well as several other countries.”

BAE System' facility at Hattiesburg, Mississippi, carries out the final integration and test of the weapon system. The prime contract management of the M777 programme and manufacture and assembly of the complex titanium structures and associated recoil components are undertaken at Barrow-inFurness in Britain.

With sales of £22.4 bn in 2009, BAE Systems is a global defence, security and aerospace company with approximately 107,000 employees worldwide.

Even as India is considering purchase of BAE Systems M777 howitzer guns for the Army, the company has received orders for 93 guns from the USA. The total order book has gone up to 955 guns and the value of the entire book is over £1 bn.

Of the 93 guns, 58 are for the US Army and US Marine Corps, while 35 are for Australia, as they are buying the guns through US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme. After the USA and Canada, Australia has become the third country to buy M777.

Mike Smith, managing director for BAE Systems' European Weapons busi-

Customers of Standard Chartered, the UK based banking major can now avail of ‘Transfer2Home’, an online remittance service as a part of the NRI services offering from the bank.

Customers in UK, USA, UAE, Singapore, Hong Kong and Bahrain will now be able to transfer money to India.

Standard Chartered Bank is entered into a tie-up with TimesofMoney for the service.

TimesofMoney is a leading payments serviceprovider, which serves various financial institutions with this service.

AIG agrees to settle fraud case by Ohio pension funds The US giant to pay $725 mn in one of the largest class action settlements In one of the largest class action settlements in US history, American International Group Inc. (AIG) has agreed to pay $725 mn to settle the long running securities fraud lawsuit filed by three Ohio public pension funds.

The group had been facing allegations of wide ranging fraud from October 1999 to April

2005 about accounting fraud, bid rigging and stock price manipulation.

The litigation had begun in October 2004. After payment of $175 mn withing 10 days of preliminary court approval of the settlement with a class of shareholders, AIG may fund the remaining amount of $550 mn through one or more com-

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It comes a day after the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission reached a $550 mn settlement in a case against Goldman Sachs Group Inc (GS.N).

That case stemmed from Goldman's marketing and packaging of a collateralized debt obligation that turned toxic during the financial crisis.

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By Amit Patel

Primum non nocere, Patience and Balance

Mittal looking for selling stake in Kazakh oil firm Steel tycoon Lakshmi Nivas Mittal is looking for buyers to acquire the entire stake that one of his companies, Mittal Investments Sarl is holding in a Kazakhstan oil company. Mittal had proposed that OMEL (ONGC-Mittal Energy Ltd.), a joint venture with the ONGC Videsh Ltd. (OVL) would buy stake in the Kazakh company – Caspian Investment Resources (CIR), but later went ahead alone and bought 25% stake from LUKoil of Russia. MIS paid US$ 980 mn for the stake.

Later, he wanted to sell the stake and offered it to OVL, but did not respond to OVL’s request to provide data about CIR. Following this, OVL has turned down the offer to

Asian Voice - Saturday 24th July 2010

Leadership Matters

The Latin phrase ‘Primum non nocere’ is translated as ‘First, do no harm’. This is one of the ethics taught to every medical student around the world meaning that when treating a person, the first critical action is, in fact, to take no action.

Instead they should assess and diagnose the problem and then set about trying to tackle it.

The current economic downturn has forced many business leaders into taking drastic measures such as reducing overheads, cutting benefits and eliminating any wastage (anything which is not making money).

The days of plenty are certainly over, many companies and indeed some countries are struggling to remain solvent.

So spending cuts are necessary, of this there is no doubt. The question is what to cut, by how much and when to stop. The Government has announced cuts to the Policing budget but claim

that...Should we be doing a lot more? Should we be doing less?…the truth is it's about balance.

Patience is a virtue here.”

If you think this is no time for patience, consider this quote, “Patience is waiting. Not passively waiting. That is laziness.

But to keep going when the going is hard and slow - that is patience”. It is clear that things are not going to get better anytime soon and leaders will be faced with more difficult decisions. But in the midst of all the uncertainty, they must strive to maintain a sense of patience and balance, for without these there is only panic. Action needs to be taken and swiftly, but we must remember, ‘First, do no harm’.

(Amit Patel has over 15 years experience in the field of Leadership and Human Resource Management).

L&T GIC gets nod for insurance business

Mukesh Ambani appointed MDG member Reliance Chairman is the only Indian on UN’s key advocacy group Mukesh Ambani has earned the distinguished honour of being appointed a member of MDG – a key advocacy group on Millennium Development Goals of the United Nations. Head of the Reliance Industries Limited, Mukesh Ambani will be contributing to finding ways to fight socio-economic evils such as poverty.

The RIL boss is the only person from India and will be in company of global leaders like Bill Gates of Microsoft, noted philanthropist Ted Turner and Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus among others.

The U.N. said the top Indian industrialist will also look at the special needs of the least developed countries (LDC) and landlocked developing countries.

The MDGs are eight international development goals that all the 192 United Nations member States and at least 23 global organisations have

agreed to achieve by the year 2015.

The MDG Advocacy Group will support the U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in building political will and mobilising global action, says the world body.

One of the first tasks of the Group is the preparatory process for the MDG Summit in September this year. The Summit is being seen as a turning point in the collective effort to achieve the goals by the 2015 target date.

Mr. Ambani is a member of the Prime Minister's Council on Trade and Industry, Government of India, and the Board of Governors of the National Council of Applied Economic Research, New Delhi.

Mukesh is expected to focus on a global partnership for development that will include development of an open, rule-based, predictable, non-discriminatory trading and financial system.

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that they will not affect front line services (with less Police officers on the street?). There is talk of a ‘graduate’ tax because those people are likely to earn more than non-graduates (isn’t that what income tax is for?) And the official estimate of 600,000 public sector job losses over the next five years is tempered by claims that employment on the whole will increase over the same period. Does anyone sense a danger of these expansive cuts adding to the problem rather solving it?

In contrast to all this cost cutting, Steve Ballmer (CEO, Microsoft) said at the Microsoft CEO summit in June, "The need to think in a balanced way about an investment (even in the current economic uncertainty) is hugely important. We spend about $9.5 billion in R&D…There is absolutely no way to assess payback on the bulk of

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India will soon have another significant player in the general insurance sector, as L&T General Insurance Company has received the necessary license from IRDA to commence general insurance business. The company is promoted a reputed engineering giant – Larsen & Toubro.

L&T considers financial services an important business, given the size and the opportunity in the sector. The company has an overall vision of building a wholesome financial services business.

24th player in the general insurance sector, the company will be offering a complete range of retail and institutional solution for individuals, small and medium enterprises as well as corporates in both – urban and rural markets.

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FINANCIAL VOICE

Asian Voice - Saturday 24th July 2010

21

Foreign Exchange Rajesh Agrawal is the Chairman & CEO of RationalFX, Currency Specialists.

For any further information call 020 7220 8181 or e-mail info@rationalfx.com

These Tests May Be Too Stressful To help end the panic on Wall St. the Federal Reserve Bank performed stress tests on American banks last year.

These tests decided how bad bank losses were and forced banks without enough capital to raise more, with the tax payer becoming the investor of last resort.

The European Central Bank is now following suit and the results are due this week.

The differences between the two sets of tests seem so far quite apparent. The American tests were run with almost military efficiency whereas the efforts of Europe seem to have been less defined and the figures for re-capitalisation seem open for negotiation.

Regulators must, it appears, strengthen their efforts to make sure that these tests really work for the World’s largest banking system.

These stress tests are definitely needed although banks and transparency are not always a good combination when a widespread loss of confidence is apparent it could cause a run on the banks and a general slowing down of the whole sector. It is also a possibility that these tests may also fudge the issues of sovereign debt by assuming re-structuring

of debt on trading books and not on physical loans thus no longer viewing capital as the bench mark for solvency.

There is also the belief that some European banks are still suffering from the effects of bad debts left over from the boom years and the fear of contagion

is raising debt costs for other banks.

Some European banks have been locked out of the world’s borrowing markets reflecting concerns over involvement with the problems in southern Europe, indicating they are still sitting on bad debts. Unless

faith can be restored in the European banking system, heavily reliant on wholesale borrowing and move away from central bank support the double dip recession remains a strong possibility.

The Federal Reserve only had to test 19 banks on Wall Street, while the European system is far bigger with 91 banks to be tested and the process could be potentially hampered by, various different national fiscal policies, political bickering and bureaucratic quangos.

Some results are beginning to look confused, German banks, although in poor shape, can continue to borrow cheaply because they have the backing of a strong and wealthy government.

For these European stress tests to work three things need to happen. Firstly some banks need to fail, secondly each bank’s exposure to vulnerable economies should be disclosed in detail, thirdly the tests have to be both rigorous and consistent across the whole European banking system.

The worst-case scenario is that irregular testing can lead to the tests becoming irrelevant.

The results are expected on the 23rd of July.

Weekly Currencies As of Tuesday 20th July 2010 @ 1pm GBP - INR = 71.8649 USD - INR = 47.36 EUR - INR = 61.11 GBP - USD = 1.5202 GBP - EUR = 1.175 EUR - USD = 1.2901 GBP - AED = 5.5944 GBP - CAD = 1.6004 GBP - NZD = 2.1342 GBP - AUD = 1.7333 GBP - ZAR = 11.5861 GBP - HUF = 341.43

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.

22

Asian Voice - Saturday 24th July 2010

Train mishap kills 66 in West Bengal Late on Sunday night, a speeding passenger train rammed into another at Sainthia station in Virbhum district of West Bengal, killing 50 people on the spot, while around 100 others were injured, some of them seriously.

The death toll went up to 66 late on Tuesday, as many of the injured succumbed in hospitals.

Railway sources who're investigating the accident say "human error" is the likely cause the driver of the Uttarbanga Express did not slow down as he approached the station.

He hit the Vananchal Express that was pulling out of Platform 4. The Uttarbanga driver most likely overshot a critical

Onlookers stand at the site of a train accident at Sainthia in the eastern Indian state of West Bengal on July 19

signal near the station at around 2 am on Monday.

Witnesses say they shouted at him to stop, but he was going so fast, that he could not brake in time.

The Uttarbanga driver has died

Indian physios barred from practising in US Tens of thousands of Indians who went to the United States to cash in on the health industry boom have been served a blow as the federal government has decided against allowing Indians to sit for the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE), a licentiate test without which students cannot practice in the US. The decision was taken by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy, a national body, reasoning that it found ‘‘systematic and methodical sharing and distribution of recalled questions by significant numbers of graduates of programmes in the affected countries as well as several exam preparation companies specifically targeted to these graduates’’. Apart from Indians, students from Pakistan, the Philippines and Egypt have also been barred from taking the exam. ‘‘The federation recognizes the significant consequences of this policy decision but feels that it needs to be made clear to all candidates that the federation will not tolerate security breaches,’’ it stated in a notice sent out to all the candidates who had registered to take the NPTE. Candidates will now have to wait for a year, which is when the federation is likely to introduce a more secured

version of the test.

A parent from Mumbai whose daughter is enrolled with the University of Pittsburg said the US government’s decision was not fair as they had found no evidence against Indian students sharing the questions with their friends.

Even in the communication released to students, the federation stated, ‘‘Evidence was obtained through extensive forensic analyses of exam performances as well as a variety of legal actions brought by the federation in the United States and abroad.

Most notably, this includes the raid and seizure of evidence from the St Louis Review Center in Manila, Philippines, and its alleged owners/operators, Gerard L Martin, Roger P TongAn and Carlito Balita, which revealed the widespread sharing of hundreds of live test items.’’

Announced on Sunday, the decision caused ripples among the student community, some of whom are speaking of filing a case suit in an American court. ‘‘This unfortunate news has disheartened me and shattered my dreams.

What should I do next? I am not able to find any way,’’ noted Vijayta on a blog that has several students agitated with the US government’s decision.

‘Tendulkar Opus’ – A unique autobiography of India’s cricket god

Continued from page 1 The entire proceeds from the sale of the 10 copy special edition will go to a charitable foundation set up by Sachin and will be used to help build a school in Mumbai.

The rest of the about 1000 copies will be a smaller edition of the spe-

Just 10 copies, all pre booked @ US$ 75,000 – another 1,000 copies at $2,000 – $3,000 cial one, containing about 75 per cent of the previously unpublished material about Sachin and his signature.

The collision was so severe that the roof and sides of one of the compartments of the Vananchal Express were slammed onto an overhead bridge for pedestrians. A part of another

compartment of the Vananchal Express split and fell on the road along the tracks after being thrown over the bridge.

The Army help was taken for rescue operations.

Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee who has inspected the site of the accident said the accident raises suspicion, implying that there may have been some sort of sabotage.

"Human life is very important," she said. Two months ago, another major accident in West Bengal near Jhargram saw the Gyaneshwaari Express derailed - 148 people were killed. Banerjee rejected claims of sabotage by Naxals in the area, blaming the accident on "a political conspiracy."

Sajjan Kumar’s plea in antiSikh riots dismissed by HC A plea challenging the framing of charges against him by Congress leader Sajjan Kumar was dismissed by Delhi High Court this week.

A trial court had recently ordered and charges were framed against Sajjan Kumar for his role in the 1984 antiSikh riots in the capital.

Former Outer Delhi MP Sajjan Kumar is facing prosecution in two cases in which he has been accused of inciting a mob against Sikh community in the aftermath of former prime minister Indira Gandhi''s assassination on October 31, 1984, leading to killings of several persons.

The trial court had in May this year framed

Bombay HC rejects demat accounts plea for Hindu Gods Deities should remain in temples and not in stock markets. With these observations, the Bombay High Court rejected recently a plea by a Sangli trust, challenging the decision of NSDL. The trust wanted to open demat accounts in the name of five deities.

As the National Securities Depository Limited refused permission, the trust had filed a petition before the Bombay High Court. The Sangli based trust had contended that if Income Tax department has issued Pan cards in the name of the deities,

NSDL should have no problem in allowing demat accounts.

“Trading in shares on the stock market requires certain skills and expertise and to expect this from deities would not be proper,” observed Justices P B Majumdar and Rajendra Sawant while disposing of the petition filed by a religious trust.

The counsel for the trust Uday Varunjkar argued that shares, debentures and mutual funds can also be regarded as a property. The deities have a right to acquire property,

including shares and debentures and this is in keeping with various judgements of high courts and the Supreme Court.

S Ganesh, a senior officer of NSDL, filed an affidavit saying only deities of registered public trusts can acquire property.

The Sangli-based trust was a private religious body, he said and contended that private trusts which were not registered under the Bombay Public Trusts Act could not acquire property in the name of religious deities.

charges of murder, dacoity, mischief to property, promoting enmity between different communities and other provisions of the IPC paving the way for trial of Kumar and five others. CBI had accused Kumar of provoking people against members of a particular community during the carnage that led to the killing of five persons in Delhi Cantonment area.

Besides Kumar, other accused in the case are Balwan Khokhar, Krishan Khokhar, Mahender Yadav, Captain Bhagmal and Girdhari Lal. The trial court had on July seven framed charges against the politician in another case in connection with the anti-Sikh riots.

New blood test helps identify HIV status of newborns A simple blood test is now helping India identify the status of children born to HIV positive mothers as early as six weeks after their birth, instead of 18 months. Till recently, paediatricians in India, on detection of anti-HIV antibodies in children below 18 months, could never tell for sure whether they were already infected or the antibodies were transferred to them from their mother. Therefore, doctors couldn't even start the life-saving AntiRetroviral Treatment -the only effective way to treat HIV -- on them.

Deer safari in Gandhinagar soon The GEER-Indroda park in Gandhinagar has begun work on 30 hectares of land to develop a deer safari. By October you will be able to drive in and share space with black bucks and nilgai roaming free along the banks of the Sabarmati, while sitting in a car.

Approved by the Central Zoo Authority of India (CZAI), the safari park is coming up in Gandhinagar, around eight km from Indroda park. Director of Gujarat Ecological Commission C N Pandey said the project would cost Rs 500,000.

"We don’t need large

investments as this will be a nature safari which does not need much construction. Work is in the final stages and in all probability, we would be able to open it for public by October," he said.

The safari will mainly cater to nature lovers in Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar

and surrounding areas, who rarely get to see animals in the wild.

The Devaliya park in Gir is the inspiration for the Gandhinagar deer safari with the exception that there will be no lions here.

Devaliya hosts some five lions in a natural environment but enclosed in a four square km area. It gives people a sense of the wilderness. The officials are also working on the possibility of allowing private vehicles into the deer safari. The modalities are

being worked out as entry would have to be restricted and officials would have to fix the duration that a visitor can spend in the park. To begin with, officials would have a vehicle for those who come without cars.

GEER officials are in the process of preparing three tracks which would be between two km and 2.5 km long. Once Central Zoo Authority of India (CZAI) inspects the animals, they would be shifted from Indroda park to the safari area giving visitors a chance to be face-toface with these animals in the wild.

also surprising that none in the Pakistan government found any fault with Qureshi’s arrogance.

Pillai touched the raw nerve of the Pakistani establishment with details of their involvement as gathered from the interrogation of David Colemn Headley in the USA. Apparently, Pakistan made a point about India not being prepared to move ahead on Kashmir issue. On their part, Islamabad has shown no

sincerity in action against Hafeez Saeed and other perpetrators of Mumbai attack.

Headley has reportedly confessed that ISI, the Pakistani intelligence agency was equally active and responsible as it co-ordinated the Mumbai attacks. BJP and others in India have all the while been saying that there is no point in going for talks with Pakistan.

It is a real irony that while people, artists and even sports persons as

well as voluntary organisations from both the countries want peace, Pakistan political leadership and successive governments seem to be hostages to the designs of the Pakistan army. People of Pakistan in particular want the kind of life, peace, progress and freedom that Indians enjoy, but are helpless as their leaders are unable to deliver. They too suffer from the monster of terrorism created by their own rulers.

Qureshi arrogance mars Indo-Pak talks

Continued from page 1 Qureshi tirade brought a storm of protest in India, with the principal opposition party, the BJP asking government of India to stop dialogue. The party also was angry that S M Krishna did not defend the Indian home secretary when Qureshi launched a verbal attack on him.

Even the ruling party, Congress was forced to defend G K Pillai while the govt. was silent. It was

23

Asian Voice - Saturday 24th July 2010

A Bihar court summons to Sonia Gandhi for ‘insulting Hindus’ Congress President and chairperson of India’s ruling UPA, Sonia Gandhi has been summoned by a court in Muzaffarpur, Bihar. A senior advocate, Sudhir Kumar Ojha has filed a complaint before the court, alleging that in a poster used in Uttar Pradesh in 2007, Sonia Gandhi was depicted as Goddess Durga, which is an “insult to Hindu religion”.

The mater is to be heard by the court on July 29. Additional District and Sessions Judge has directed Sonia Gandhi to appear before the court in

Shrimad Bhagwat Katha by Rameshbhai Oza in Switzerland A unique programme of Shrimad Bhawat Katha discourse by wellknown “Kathakar” Pujya Shri Rameshbhai Oza (Pujya BhaiShree) during the forthcoming “Shravan” month of Hindu calender has been organised under the aegis of ‘Vaishvik Sanskruti Parivar Bhagwat Gyan Yagya Samiti’ at Interlaken, Switzerland.

Mr. Pravin Kotak, the convener of the Vaishvik Sanskruti Parivar Bhagwat Gyan Yagya Samati said that the Bhagwat Katha has been organised from 30 August to 05 September. Mrs. Vinaben and Mr. Nareshbhai Nagrecha family (India / UK) are the chief hosts of the Katha.

31st August is the birthday of Pujya BhaiShree and the day will also be celebrated with all the grace and joy by all attending the Katha.

Devotees settled in any country can directly attend the Katha at Interlaken.

They should visit the website of Pujya BhaiShree at www.sandipani.org / www.bhaishreeinswiss.com or contact Guideline Travels Pvt. Ltd. Mumbai, India on phone no. +91 22 40622211.

person or through her lawyer.

UPCC President Rita Bahuguna and the party's Muradabad district president also have been asked to appear before the court the same day in the case.

Ojha in his petition

alleged that a photograph had appeared in the Muzaffarpur edition of a Hindi daily on June 21, 2007 of the Congress President allegedly depicted as Goddess Durga which was "an insult to Hindi religion and the Hindu community".

The picture was also displayed in the office of Congress in Muradabad.

Ojha alleged that Sonia and others had connived to have the picture displayed "to insult the religion of the Hindu community".

Pathankot girl meets Obama 21-year-old Aanchal Bhalla has created a sensation by shaking hands with top world leaders, including US President Barack Obama, during the G20 Summit held in Toronto last month. Aanchal, brimming with youthful exuberance, arrived in her home town and has immediately became a celebrity of sorts. The Pathankot lass was a final year student in Jesus and Mary college, New Delhi.

Aanchal was selected after she cleared a elaborate selection process put in place by the National

Service Scheme - a Union government programme run by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.

As many as 140 delegates from all 20 participating nations took part in the deliberations. The young delegates held discussions with renowned economists and discussed the same topics that were debated upon by world leaders at the summit.

Recounting her experiences, Aanchal said: “The issues debated were recovery from global recession and the more recent European debt crises.”

After Karnataka, Maharashtra in political row with Andhra Pradesh

Naidu in Maharashtra custody for 4 days, TDP to prevent Chavan from entering AP Even ss the Maharashtra government decided to drop all charges against TDP chief and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu, TDP workers in Andhra Pradesh have vowed to prevent Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan from entering the state.

Chavan was scheduled to visit Puttaparthi in Anantpur district, the abode of Satya Sai Baba.

Maharashtra chief minister is to come in a special flight to Puttaparthi and then proceed by road to Prasanthi Nilayam. TDP workers are planning to prevent Chavan from mov-

ing ahead at the Puttaparthi airport itself.

They are seething at the manner which Maharashtra government has treated their party chief and 74 others, who have been arrested held in custody four days. Naidu had refused to seek bail and he alongwith the party workers were held at a Dharmabad college.

The action in the Chandrababu Naidu drama has shifted to the Aurangabad airport, with his convoy driving on to the tarmac. At the airport, Shiv Sena workers are protesting amid heavy police bandobast.

3 Delhi policemen get life sentence for fake encounter killing of 2 In a case of abduction and killing of 2 people in a fake encounter by Delhi police, a court sentenced 3 policemen to life imprisonment.

The three were also ordered to pay a fine of Rs. 410,000 collectively.

Families of two youth killed by them should be paid a compensation of Rs. 150,000 each from the fine, the judge said.

Additional Sessions Judge Dharmesh Sharma, delivering the sentence, remarked, “This case is a

stark illustration of alarming increase of criminal behaviour of the police force, as the protectors turn predators”.

The 3 men were held guilty of murder, abduction and criminal conspiracy for killing Zulfikar, 28, and Nazakat, 26.

They abducted Zulfikar and Nazakat from Ghaziabad court and killed them at a place under Timarpur police station in Delhi on July 31, 2006.

According to the prosecution, constable Ashok Kumar was harbouring a grudge against the duo as they were accused of killing his younger brother Digamber in 2004.

Kumar had hatched a conspiracy with all the other accused, including the then Assistant Sub Inspector Pramod Kumar Tyagi who could not be arrested and was declared a proclaimed offender, and eliminated the victims.

In divine light

By Rajen Vakil

The six celestial maidens or apsaras The Mahabharata talks about many fairies and nymphs called apsaras.

Out of these, six are celestial. Let us try and understand what they represent in our psychic structure.

‘Ap’ means water and ‘sara’ is to glide – apsara is the one that glides on water. The word for snake ‘sarp’ also means the one that glides but snakes glide on soil whereas these celestial damsels glide on water. Water is symbolic of our emotional structure; in theosophy, this emotional structure is called the astral body. In effect, energies that glide across our emotional centres are apsaras.

Throughout our scriptures, there are many instances where rishis have helplessly fallen in love with ‘apsaras’, symbolising the power of these energies to glide across even advanced emotional centres. If we take the earth, the physical body of the earth is the continents and its landmass, whereas the water or the oceans is the emotional or the astral part of the earth.

The names of the six apsaras are Urvashi, Purvachitti, Sahajanhya, Maneka, Vishwachi, and Gritachi. Today, many modern psychologists talk about emotional intelligence, i.e. the usage of the power of our emotional energy. In the workings and the functions of the apsaras, our rishis have hidden the deepest secrets of our emotional structure.

Urvashi: ‘Uru’ means wide, large, or to prevail, ‘vasha’ means to control or hypnotise. This is that power of our emotional energy which through loving, sweet, and kind words or deeds influences another person or brings that person under our control. The sweetness of the emotional centre pervades that person’s heart or mind and they feel they are in love.

Purvachitti: ‘Purva’ means before or first and ‘chitta’ means conception – the art of perception without thought. When we see someone, thoughts based on our memory or what we already know about that person come to our mind. My teacher used to advise feeling a person’s energy through the heart before a thought was formed. This feeling or sensing is represented

by Purvachitti; we can feel a person without the interference of memory.

Sahajanya: ‘Saha’ means together and ‘jana’ means to be born – that

which is born together.

For instance, love for a child lies within our subconscious, but it only surfaces or manifests with the birth of our own child.

So effectively, the love was born only with the birth of the child. This is the art of doing one action to give birth to another. In many people’s destiny, if they desire to earn money directly, they may not be successful in doing so, but if they venture into something totally different purely out of joy of doing

it, it may yield results. For example, pursuing creative activities such as painting, gardening, or any other could result in money flowing into that person’s life; through activities where it was least expected. This is an example of Sahajanya, one thing giving birth to another.

Maneka: Maneka comes from the words ‘Manan’ and ‘karoti’, which means to make the mind do (something). We are born with a lot of potentialities. Gurdjieff calls this our essence. Of all these, very few become actualities, which he calls as personalities.

For instance, a person maybe born a very good artist but for some reason becomes a surgeon, but this artistic potentiality lying within can also make that person a surgeon whose work has the grace of the work of art. In life, we can’t do many things at the same time and have to follow a certain singular path, but the power of enriching and enjoying that path with our hidden potentialities is what Maneka represents.

Vishwachi: ‘Vishwa’ means universal and ‘anch’ is to ask – that is to ask of the universal consciousness or mind.

Whenever we go to a temple and ask something of the deity there, it is our individual mind trying to ask something from the universal mind. The universal mind knows all our

desires. Whatever we get in life, whether on a physical plain – say material well-being, or on subtle plain – say family, friends, well-wishers etc, first manifests in the universal mind in a very subtle dimension before coming to us. In all of us, lies the power to ask in the right way to the universal mind so that our needs and comforts can be fulfilled.

This power is called as Vishwachi.

Gritachi: means that which gets attached easily. To play the game of life, our emotional centre must get attached to relationships. If we were just to see the truth about everything, then it would be very difficult to get attached.

For instance, the fact is that my child is mine, but the truth (or reality) beyond the fact is something different – it is a soul that has come through me. So, in one dimension, my child is mine but in reality it is not so. But to love and care for the child, one has to get attached and this quality to get attached and care for is represented by Gritachi.

Pictured here is an apsara from The Sun Temple at Konark. Let us try and read the symbology of it. The lushness of her figure (or Urvashi) hypnotises us. On seeing her, if we sense the very first feeling we have within us without thought or memory, it is a soft beautiful feeling of love (or Purvachitta). She is looking down with deep love at her child (or Sahajanya), the love that only manifests with the birth of her own child. She expresses this love and joy by tying on her dancing anklets.

She is in deep introspection awakening her creativity to express in her dance (or Maneka). At the same time, she is in deep meditation in the universal mind asking of it to look after her child while she is performing her dance (or Vishwachi).

She is attached to her child and is smiling at the child’s mischievousness and the child’s attempts to attract her attention (or Gritachi).

(Edited by Chintu Gandhi) The author is in the U.K. to provide practical yoga (through rhythmic breathing) sessions and talks up to the 19th of August. These will be free to attend. For details, please email 3srb@live.com or call Chintu on 079 04981705

24

Asian Voice - Saturday 24th July 2010

Geeta Gopinath named professor of economics at Harvard Noted academician Gita Gopinath has been named professor of economics at the prestigious Harvard University, becoming the first Indian-origin woman professor in the institution's history.

Gopinath, 38, has been a member of the Harvard faculty since 2005 and was named associate professor in 2009. Her focus area is business cycles in emerging markets and price fluc-

Geeta Gopinath

tuations across international borders.

A University of Delhi alumnus, Kolkata-born Gopinath has a Ph.D in

economics from Princeton University.

She was an assistant professor of economics at the University of Chicago's Graduate School of Business. She is also an associate of the National Bureau for Economic Research, the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, the International Growth Centre at the London School of Economics and Oxford University.

Earlier this month, IIT alumnus Nitin Nohria took over as the 10th Dean of Harvard Business School (HBS). At HBS itself, Nohria is among some 25 teachers of Indian-origin in a faculty of just over 200. Nobel laureate Amartya Sen is currently the Thomas W Lamont University Professor and Professor of Economics and Philosophy at Harvard.

SevenHills Hospital, a complete HealthCity opened in Mumbai SevenHills Hospital, tipped to be Asia’s largest hospital when completed was inaugurated in early July by Honourable President of India, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil at Mumbai.

Conceived and designed as a complete HealthCity, the leading private hospital is coming up on a sprawling area of 17 acres at Marol in Andheri, very close to the international airport.

In the first phase, 300 bed facilities have become operational. The total capacity of SevenHills Hospitals will be 1500

beds and the entire facility is scheduled to be completed and become functional by the end of 2010.

The spacious hospital offers medical, surgical and diagnostic services under one roof including Internal Medicine, Cardiology, Paediatric Cardiology, paediatrics, Obstetrics and

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Gynaecology, Bone & Joint, Neurosciences, Nephrology & Urology, Oncology, Rehabilitation, etc. “Our vision is to make affordable and good quality healthcare accessible to our patients. At our facilities, we create a hassle-free environment for patients and their rela-

tives. Hence, we call our Mumbai facility a HealthCity and not just a hospital” said Dr. Jitendra Das Maganti, Chairman & Managing Director, SevenHills Hospital.

SevenHills Group has over two decades of experience in the healthcare sector, providing quality healthcare and valuable expertise, supported by a team of compassionate and dedicated medical professionals. The Group currently has two hospitals in Mumbai and Visakhapatnam.

Sangh bats for Sadhvi, Sanjay Joshi Vaidya asks BJP to take back Govindacharya too While Jaswant Singh was welcomed back to BJP with a bit of fanfare, the decision on the imminent return of Sadhvi Uma Bharti continues to be lingering. This has irked RSS, the umbrella orgainsation of the Sangh Parivar. M G Vaidya, a senior ideologue in an article in the daily ‘Tarun Bharat’ has virtually asked BJP to take back Uma Bharti, Sanjay Joshi and Govindacharya.

Vaidya and Sanjay Joshi both hail from

Gujarat. Going at a length, Vaidya has even said the crimes of the three are less grave than that of Jaswant Singh.

Hence, they deserve a better welcome.

Uma's possible return to the party has been talked about from before she quit the outfit she had floated, the Bharatiya Janshakti, in March this year. But Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and some RSS leaders are said to be opposed to her return to the party.

OCI getting popular among Indian Diaspora The OCI scheme from government of India, a special kind of facilitation for Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) is fast picking up, as more than half a million Indians settled abroad have acquired the OCI cards.

These cards entitle them to visa free entry to India and hassle free stay in their native place. The scheme was first mooted way back in 2005 with the

aim to woo the wealthy and influential Indian Diaspora across the world.

As per available details, Indians in 91 countries have been issued a total of more than 573,000 OCI cards. The scheme though gained momentum only during last four years.

Nearly half of these were American citizens followed by British, Canadians and Australians.

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25

Asian Voice - Saturday 24th July 2010

The revelations of Mahabharata

By Maninder Kaur Mr Rajen Vakil, arts graduate from Bombay University crossed the path with spirituality at a young age. He studied under enlightened beings such as Swami Brahmavedantji, and Didi Vimala Thakar, but finally found his spiritual journey through Sri Tavarialji. He writes Asian Voice's weekly Mahabharata column, and is currently touring the UK with his practical yoga sessions and talks. On Mr Vakil's visit to the Asian Voice offices, we posed a few questions.

Mahabharata is a very heavy subject, how did you think of writing on and about it?

Mahabharata is mainly stories, and beneath the stories you find much mystery of life hidden. It just started revealing itself, and so I started writing about it.

Who is your favourite character in Mahabharata?

Krishna is my favourite character.

He's multi dimensional, and in his young age he has done everything which takes many lifetimes to go through. When you unravel the symbology of his life, it's very enlightening.

How would you justify Gandhari and Dritharashtra's blind love for their children who bought over an unending

catastrophe on talking about.

Hastinapur?

How can the It's not a quesyounger generation of tion learn from Dritharashtra, it's the Mahabharata? every parent who I would say blindly loves their that whatever path child. Here is a you are on, be it blind King and a medicine, pharmaRajen Vakil wife who can see, cy, politics, whatever branch you're but she refuses to studying as your professee. And that is Gandhari. sion, use the Mahabharat Then there's a deeper as a companion volume meaning to her character, and maybe a lot will be because Ghandar comes revealed which is not even from the word ghand, taught to you in schools. which means smell. Smell is one thing which conFor example, the nects the lower dimension Mahabharata reveals the to the higher dimension, or whole science of how medvice versa and this is what icine comes into plants, was there in Gandhari. and that's not written any“That which is found in where. Nobody has said these pages may be found how each plant gets its elsewhere, but what is not medicinal value from the on these pages exists moon. So this is something nowhere"- please elaboto be studied, and it could lead to so many other disrate. coveries also.

As the Mahabharata Tell us about the yoga grows on you, you suddensessions and talks that you ly realise there is no knowlhave come to the UK to edge outside of the do.

Mahabharat. It's the most The sessions teach a fantastic book ever written, system of breathing exerthat is if it has been written by one person, and you cises. So this is total health can't imagine what kind of in about ten minutes a day. brain must have written Total health refers to physthis. Each story as you go ical, emotional, mental and deeper reveals something spiritual health, as well as a new. It's a complete spirituway of breathing. If you al science, and not only breath in rhythm, there are that, but it's a science of no emotional stops, you politics and psychology. have peace all the time. It's a very simple thing, and Maybe even Psychiatrists that's what we mainly have not reached even half come here to teach. of what Mahabharat is

World leaders back Taliban involvement in Afghan peace process Kabul: India and the US on Tuesday joined the global community in backing Afghanistan government’s efforts to involve Taliban elements in the peace process but made it clear that amnesty should only be offered to those who had no links with alQaeda and other terror groups.

“The Afghan government’s Peace and Reintegration Programme is open to all Afghan members of the armed opposition and their communities, who renounce violence, have no link to international terrorist organisations, respect the Constitution and are willing to join in building a peaceful Afghanistan,” said a draft communique at the international conference on Afghanistan in Kabul.

Renewing his call to Taliban to lay down arms and join the peace process, Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai outlined his

Hamid Karzai (L) and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon at the Foreign Affairs Ministry in Kabul on Tuesday

commitment to take charge of the nation’s security by 2014.

Speaking at the key conference on Afghanistan’s future held in Kabul amidst a total lockdown of the capital city, Mr. Karzai said his government remained determined to take up the responsibility for all military and law enforcement operations by 2014. As fears grow over the course of the nine-year-old war against terrorism in the wake of the Obama Administration’s plan to

begin withdrawing U.S. forces from this country by 2011, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton promised that Americans and allies will continue to stand by Afghanistan.

Ms. Clinton said that the planned withdrawal of the troops was not a sign of flagging commitment.

“The July 2011 transition process is too important to push off indefinitely. But this date is a start of a new phase, not the end of our involvement,” she told the conference attended by a galaxy of leaders, including UN chief Ban Ki-moon, India’s External Affairs Minister S. M. Krishna and Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi.

Mr Krishna said it is essential to ensure that “support, sustenance and sanctuaries for terrorist organisations from outside Afghanistan are ended forthwith.”

Syria bans full-face veils at universities Damascus: Syria has banned the face-covering Islamic veil from the universities. The education ministry's ban on the niqab comes as similar moves in Europe spark cries of discrimination against Muslims. An official at the

ministry says the ban, which affects public and private universities, is only against the niqab - a full veil that reveals only a woman's eyes - not headscarves, and aims to protect Syria's secular identity.

The niqab is "inconsis-

tent with the values and ethics of academic traditions", said minister of higher education, Ghaith Barakat. The black robe known as a niqab is not widespread in Syria, although it has become more common recently.

26

Asian Voice - Saturday 24th July 2010

A heroine’s welcome for Baroness Warsi in Pakistan Britain’s first Muslim cabinet minister has returned to her Pakistani roots Islamabad: Baroness Warsi, Britain’s first Muslim cabinet minister, was given a heroine’s welcome in her grandmother’s village.

More than 2,000 people cheered and threw fragrant rose petals in the air – not the sort of reception usually afforded the chairman of the British Conservative Party – as she addressed them deep in rural Punjab.

"My grandmother, she was living in this village of Bewal and no one thought that her granddaughter would ever be a minister in the United Kingdom," she said in Urdu, to cries of "zindabad", which means live-long.

Her father left Pakistan in 1960, arriving in Britain with only £2 in his pocket.

He went from working in a mill to running a bed

manufacturing business with a turnover of £2m, providing the inspiration for Baroness Warsi's Conservative politics.

Her appointment to the cabinet in May attracted banner headlines in Pakistan, where people are enthralled by her family's immigrant-tominister story.

The capital Islamabad had been decked out with welcome banners ensuring a tumultuous welcome by the time she arrived in Bewal.

Businessmen tossed handfuls of fiverupee notes in the air.

Baroness Warsi, 39, flanked by security guards armed with automatic weapons, said she was delighted to return to the

Protest against France’s burqa ban

Demolition of Hindu temple triggers protest

Islamabad: Hundreds of Muslims staged a protest in Karachi on Sunday against a ban approved by France's lower house of parliament on wearing burqa-style Islamic veils.

The bill passed in France bans face-covering veils everywhere that can be considered public space and is seen as part of a determined effort to define and protect French values.

It has disconcerted many in the country which has Europe's largest Muslim population, about 5 million of the country's 64 million people are believed to be Muslim.

Rawalpindi: The demolition of part of an 87-yearold temple triggered protests by the minority Hindu community in the Pakistani garrison city of Rawalpindi before authorities said they would prevent the rest of the shrine from being pulled down.

Hundreds of Hindus were joined by Muslim residents when they took to the streets to protest the demolition of a large section of the temple by a man who had leased the structure from the Auqaf Department, an autonomous body of the Provincial Government.

The temple on Tipu Road, opposite the Rawalpindi Medical College, is located near a 'shamshan ghat' or crema-

Baroness Warsi

village where her father began his journey. But she also had a serious message for her audience, some of whom had arrived carrying visa applications for trips to Britain.

Having spelt out the principles that helped her get on in Britain, she called for Pakistanis to help their country in the same way.

"You could say that with all those principles we should go to the UK,"

tion ground. It was built in 1923 by Lala Tansukh Rai, the Raees-e-Azam of Rawalpindi, in memory of his wife. Muslim residents of the area joined Hindu and Sikh protesters to express solidarity with them and blocked the road for an hour. Following an assurance from police that the demolition would be stopped, the protesters dispersed.

Channa Lal, the chief Hindu priest for Rawalpindi and

she said. "I say you can bring those principles here.

Baroness Warsi has been given a roving brief in Cabinet and asked to use her Pakistani connections to help strengthen relations with Islamabad, and tackle the issue of immigration.

"Britain has always helped us a lot but now she has come here the relationship will be even better," said Malik Farkh, 60, who had waited for two hours in the sweltering heat to see her.

She is the third cabinet minister to visit Pakistan in the past six weeks, a reflection of the country's importance in terms of trade, immigration and the war in neighbouring Afghanistan.

Islamabad, said that religious rites were performed at the temple before bodies were cremated at the shamshan ghat.

Hindu Sabha president Jag Mohan said local residents noticed some labourers demolishing the structure and digging up its foundations on Monday morning.

Jag Mohan said he and some other people went to the site and asked the labourers to stop the work and produce orders authorising them to demolish the temple. The staff of the Auqaf Department too said the labourers were not allowed to demolish the building, he added. Before partition in 1947, the 'shamshan ghat' was spread over 277 kanals of land.

US wants continuation of Indo-Pak talks, says Hillary

Islamabad: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Monday told the Pakistani leadership that the US wants the continuation of dialogue between New Delhi and Islamabad so that the two sides can resolve their outstanding problems amicably, diplomatic sources said.

Clinton, who is currently here for the USPakistan Strategic Dialogue, made the remarks after a delegationled by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi briefed her on the meeting between the Foreign Ministers of India and Pakistan here on July 15.

"The Secretary of State made it clear that the US is interested that the process between Pakistan and India should be sustained," a diplomatic source familiar with the discussions said.

Hillary Clinton (L) meets with Asif Ali Zardari (R) at Islamabad on July 18

The Pakistani delegation told Clinton about the reasons why the Foreign Ministers had been unable to make any headway in their talks.

The Pakistani side contended that the Indian team led by External Affairs Minister S M Krishna had focussed only on the issue of terrorism and shown no interest in addressing Pakistan's con-

cerns, including the Kashmir issue, Siachen and the need for a regional strategic restraint regime, the sources said.

Clinton responded to these issues by saying that the US would like India and Pakistan to amicably resolve their outstanding problems and address issues between the two countries, the diplomatic sources said.

Clinton meets Zardari Hillary on Sunday met Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and discussed a host of issues, including the drone attacks that Pakistan says undermines national consensus against the war on militancy.

According to Pakistani news agency APP, the issues relating to the strategic dialogue between Pakistan and the US, bilateral relations, regional situation, fight against militancy were discussed at the meeting.

Clinton unveils US aid package Meanwhile, Hillary announced aid projects worth 7.5 billion dollars for Pakistan.

Hillary made the announcement at the beginning of a day-long "strategic dialogue" in Islamabad on the second day of her visit.

In focus ISI paid Rs2.5 mn to LeT for buying 26/11 attack boat, says Headley New Delhi: In revelations that clearly show ISI role in the 26/11 attacks, Pakistani-American terrorist David Headley has told his interrogators that the Pakistani intelligence agency had paid Rs 2.5 million to LeT to purchase a boat which terrorists used to travel from Karachi. Headley also identified through voice sample test two ISI officers who handled the 10 terrorists who carried out 60-hour attack in Mumbai on November 26, 2008. Giving these bits of information on the basis of interrogation of Headley carried out by an NIA team recently, official sources here said the ISI role in the attack was very clear from the revelations made by the LeT operative who is in the custody of FBI. Sources said Indian investigators also have information that chief of ISI Lieutenant General Ahmed Shuja Pasha had met one of the handlers of the Mumbai attack, Sajjid Mir, who is currently in a Pakistani jail. "All these information have been shared by India with Pakistan through the multiple dossiers given to it," a source said. India’s home secretary G K Pillai had earlier stated that ISI was "literally controlling and coordinating the (Mumbai) attack from beginning to end". Headley, who is currently in US custody, had done the recce of several terror targets in Mumbai during his multiple visits to India for the LeT which carried out the 26/11 attack.

18 killed in militant attack Peshawar (Pakistan): Eighteen Shiite Muslims were killed and four others were injured on Saturday when Sunni militants opened fire on a vehicle convoy escorted by security forces in Pakistan's restive tribal region, officials said. Gunmen attacked the two minibuses with assault rifles and rocket propelled grenades as the convoy was heading towards Peshawar, the capital of the north-western province of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, from Parachinar, the main town in Kurram tribal district. 'Six people died on the spot while 12 succumbed to their injuries when they were being transported to the hospital or at the hospital,' said a health official at military-run hospital in Tull, a small town in the district of Hangu.

'Among the dead are also eight women and one child,' said the official. 'Two of the four injured are in critical condition.' Kurram, one of seven tribal districts located along the Afghan border, has a long history of armed clashes between Sunni and Shiite tribesmen. The fighting has intensified for the last two years as Sunni tribesmen are increasingly getting support from Taliban militants, who also follow Sunni Islam. Heavily armed Sunni militants have besieged the Shiite-dominated areas, closing the Parachinar-Peshawar highway, the main road that links Shiite areas with the rest of the country.

At least 11 Shiites were killed earlier when assailants opened fire at a bus travelling from Parachinar to Peshawar in the Afghan district of Samknai.

Elite pay few taxes, widening gap Islamabad: Much of Pakistan's capital city looks like a rich Los Angeles suburb. Shiny sport utility vehicles purr down gated driveways. Elegant multistory homes are tended by servants. Laundry is never hung out to dry.

But behind the opulence lurks a troubling fact. Very few of these households pay income tax. That is mostly because the politicians who make the rules are also the country's richest citizens, and are skilled at finding ways to exempt themselves. That would be a problem in any country. But in Pakistan, the lack of a workable tax system feeds something more menacing: a festering inequality in Pakistani society, where the wealth of its most powerful members is never redistributed or put to use for public good. That is creating conditions that have helped spread an insurgency that is tormenting the country and complicating American policy in the region.

It is also a sorry performance for a country that is among the largest recipients of American aid, payments of billions of dollars that prop up the country's finances and are meant to help its leaders fight the insurgency.

US declines to go public on ISI's role in 26/11 Washington: With Secretary of State Hillary Clinton topping off high-level visits to Islamabad by US and Indian officials in an effort to get Pakistan to forswear terrorism, American officials have adopted a cautious tone on role of its troubled ally in terrorism, declining to publicly confirm ISI's hand in the 26/11 carnage while implicitly holding it responsible. Even as the heat generated by exchanges between the foreign ministers of India and Pakistan after their Thursday meeting is still glowing, Clinton will land at an unspecified time (because of security fears) this week in I slamabad to try and accomplish what SM Krishna could not – persuade Pakistan to give up terrorism to achieve strategic objectives. She will follow-up on Af-Pak envoy Richard Holbrooke's effort of using the aid carrot to wean Pakistan away from terrorism.

27

Asian Voice - Saturday 24th July 2010

5 Pakistanis among 20 held for Uganda blasts Kampala: Security forces have arrested more than 20 people, including five Pakistanis, for two bombings last week that killed at least 73 people in the Ugandan capital, the police chief said. "In terms of those who are in custody, certainly it is more than 20," Kale Kayihura told reporters.

Among them were five Pakistanis who had a shop in a Kampala suburb, Kayihura said. "They are being questioned.... They have to explain themselves," the police chief said.

Kenyan pastor charged for bomb plot Nairobi: A Kenyan pastor has pleaded not guilty to two charges over an alleged plot to bomb a campaign rally for next month's constitutional referendum.

John Kamau Mbugua and two other men were arrested on Saturday, allegedly in possession of fertiliser and a detonator. Police say he was planning to travel to Mombasa, where churches had helped organise a rally for the "No" campaign.

Last month, a grenade attack on a similar church rally led to six deaths.

Ahead of the August 4 referendum, some fear a new outbreak of political violence.

Tanzania’s albinos living in fear Dar-es-Salam: Albinos are living in fear in Tanzania because the practitioners of witchcraft are hunting and killing them for their body parts. The killings continue despite government efforts to stamp out the grisly practice.

Once, albinos used to seek shelter from the sun.

Now they have gone into hiding simply to survive, after a series of killings linked to witchcraft.

In Tanzania, 25 albinos have been killed in the past year.

The latest victim was a seven-month-old baby. He was mutilated on the orders of a witchdoctor peddling the belief that potions made from an albino's legs, hair, hands, and blood can make a person

rich.

Sorcery and the occult maintain a strong foothold in this part of the world, especially in the remote rural areas around the fishing and mining regions

Nelson Mandela celebrates birthday, Kenneth Kaunda attends Pretoria: World leaders hailed his contribution to human rights as the architect of South Africa’s liberation from the apartheid regime as Nelson Mandela celebrated his 92nd birthday on Sunday with his family and a few invited guests. Former president of Zambia and another tall African leader, Kenneth Kaunda was among those who attended the private gathering. Grandchildren presented Mr Mandela with a three-tier cake and sang "Happy Birthday,

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dear Granddad".

Morgan Freeman Sunday was undertook a roadalso the first annutrip from al Nelson Mandela Johannesburg to International Day, Cape Town, declared by the engaging in comUnited Nations. munity projects For the occaalong the way sion, ordinary peosuch as building a ple in South Africa Nelson Mandela fence at an Aids and abroad committed centre at an impoverished themselves to devoting 67 township. "I take it as my minutes of their time to connection to Madiba. We should do it everyday," said community service, to Freeman, referring to mark the number of years Mandela spent in politics.

South Africa's first black A group of 30 bikers president by his nickname. including Hollywood actor In Spain a 15-mile

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charity walk in Madrid was held late Sunday.

In Vienna, on the sidelines of the 18th International Aids Conference, South African Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe led dozens of delegates in a chorus of "Happy Birthday, Madiba" accompanied by the sound of vuvuzelas.

Mandela stepped down in 1999, after serving one term in office. He has made few public appearances since he retired from public life in 2004.

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of Mwanza, on the shores of Lake Victoria.

Nobody seems to know why the killings are happening now, but Ta n z a n i a n President Jakaya Kikwete is now putting pressure on the police to identify where albinos live and offer them protection.

This is not an easy task as some policemen are being "bought off" in order to look away when such appalling crimes are committed. The last adult albino to be murdered - just a

few weeks ago - was Nyerere Rutahiro.

He was eating dinner outside in his modest rural compound, when a gang of four strangers burst in, and threatened to arrest him.

As his wife Susannah looked on helplessly, the men began to hack at Nyerere's arms and legs with machetes.

"We want your legs," they shouted, "We want your legs," his wife recalls, still deeply traumatised by what she saw.

Nyerere was clearly being targeted for being albino - but in every other respect he was an accepted part of his community.

A father of two in his 50s, farming cassava - just like everybody else.

Asian Voice & Gujarat Samachar news weeklies are very grateful to Exquisite Events UK for sponsoring delicious Punjabi food for the launch of “British Punjabis 2010” magazine

28

UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 24th July 2010

This week to celebrate the first birthday of CB Live, CB will be available to answer any question and talk about the problems of the viewers.

The famous Gujarati singer, Mayaben Deepak will join CB Live to sing a few popular numbers.

Sneh Joshi - 020 8518 5500

If you do not have a tv, go to www.tvunetworks.com and watch CB Live on TVU Player Channel 75203

To ask questions please call on: 020 8963 1001

Don't miss !!!

For more information e-mail: cblive_matv@yahoo.co.uk

The Highways Agency announced that an eightmile stretch of the M6 in Lancashire would be the seventh site in England where the lights are turned off between midnight and 5am. The quango, which is responsible for more than 4,000 miles of motorway and trunk road, said the move will save money and carbon emissions and even stop light pollution.

Already one in five councils are turning off street lamps during the early hours to save money and more lights are

expected to be switched off on quiet stretches of road in future.

But road safety campaigners warned that accidents are more common on unlit stretches of road.

The Highways Agency admits that turning off street lamps can increase accidents.

Andy Withington, the area performance manager for south Lancashire, said only quiet stretches of road are chosen and pointed out that junctions, where most accidents happen, will be lit.

Coming Events l Art Exhibit: “The Great Indian Desert.” 20th - 30th July 2010 at The Nehru Centre London, 8 South Audley Street, W1K 1HF. For further details email: nehrucentre.org.uk/www.hcilon- don.in l Janmashtami Festival on Thursday 2nd September-5th September.

Bhaktivedanta Manor, Watford, Herts, WD25 8EZ, Contact: 01923 851 000 l Freedom Run Event: 5 km run, jog or walk, Sunday 15 August 2010, Old Deer Park, Richmond, London TW9, Freedom Run Team on 7506678084 or email at 5augustfreedomrun@googlemail.com

Editor: CB Patel Associate Editor: Anne Hoose Deputy Editor: Rupanjana Dutta Tel: 020 7749 4098 - Email: rupanjana.dutta@abplgroup.com Senior News Editor: Dhiren Katwa Chief Financial Officer: Surendra Patel Tel: 020 7749 4093 - Mobile: 07875 229 220 Email: surendra.patel@abplgroup.com Accounts Executive: Akshay Desai Tel: 020 7749 4087 Email:accounts@abplgroup.com Advertising Managers: Alka Shah Tel: 020 7749 4002 - Mobile: 07944 151 893 Email: alka.shah@abplgroup.com Kishor Parmar Tel: 020 7749 4095 - Mobile: 07875 229 088 Email: kishor.parmar@abplgroup.com Advertising Sales Executive: Rovin John Goerge - Email: rovin.george@abplgroup.com Tel: 020 7749 4097 - Mobile: 07875 229 219 Nikhil Gor - Email: nikhil.gor@abplgroup.com Tel: 020 7749 4009 - Mobile: 07875 229 200 Business Development Managers: Urja Patel - Email: urja.patel@abplgroup.com Liji George Tel: 020 7749 4013 - Email: george@abplgroup.com Design and Layout: Harish Dahya & Ajay Kumar Tel: 020 7749 4086 Email: graphics@abplgroup.com Customer Service: Saroj Patel Tel: 020 7749 4080 - Email: support@abplgroup.com (BPO) AB Publication (India) Pvt. Ltd. 207 Shalibhadra Complex, Opp. Jain Derasar, Nr. Nehru Nagar Circle, Ambawadi, Ahmedabad Tel: +9179 2646 Fax: +9179 6061

As social life is likely to gather a pleasant momentum throughout this week, this is bound to present a better prospect, not only for striking up new friendships but also romantic encounters. This is going to be one of those times when insignificant events give rise to unexpected developments especially regarding work and health.

TAURUS Apr 21 - May 21

Only on CB Live - MATV Sky 793 - Thursday 7:00pm to 8:00pm

Fears for road safety on motorways

Much enthusiasm goes into professional ambitions right now, but you need to be your own boss in many ways. You will be determined to place your lifestyle on a foundation of greater security. Taking a broad perspective on the prevailing cosmic pattern, far-reaching change begins to gather momentum.

ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 20

The Hindu Experience Eighteen months ago a pioneering idea was initiated. A question was asked; How can we showcase, Practice, Promote, Protect and Preserve our diverse rich culture for the generation to come?

Various brain storms and thought showers led to evolution of The Hindu Experience.

The Baal Zone will provide useful holistic experiences, development and learning opportunities. It will also help to nurture and cultivate hidden talents and generate interest in actively pursuing these skills.

Light-hearted, dynamic activities will be created by providing an interactive environment of fun and variety.

Get involved in interactive workshops with insightful and renowned speakers. Break out into stimulated debates and discussions on key issues. Explore dynamic learning areas to compliment your journey with a chance to meet interesting people and network.

Get an understanding of what our Dharma is, how it is relevant and what it can offer us in today’s world.

An opportunity to engage and listen to talks

on stress management, workshops on Yoga and daily living balance.

Explore exhibitions on Vaastu Shaastra and Ayurveda, meditation

At home, be at your diplomatic best and try not to tread on anyone's toes. Passions will run from hot to cold, and relationships may suffer. Even the most strong-willed Geminis will be more open to compromise to keep the peace. Plan your spending and set sensible budgets. All things considered, your health should be robust.

GEMINI May 22 - June 22

CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 22 It seems that the winds of change begin to gather momentum and put a strong focus on domestic and family matters. The outlook remains optimistic as developments point the way forward and bring you a sense of real achievement.

Don't be afraid to act if your instinct tells you it's time for change.

and acupressure. Also discover daily practices for healthy well-being.

Let your imagination be captured by talented individuals displaying high quality performances on the main entertainment stage and your senses experience the aromas and flavours of authentic vegetarian and healthy cuisine from India.

For more information, please visit http://www.thehinduexperience.org Come to The Hindu Experience, Kingsbury High School and Grounds, Sunday 25th July 2010, 9am - 6:30pm.

Chief Executive Director: Kamlesh Amin Tel: +91 922 710 4308 Email: kamleshamin123@yahoo.co.in Editorial Co-Ordinator (BPO): Suresh Samani (M) +91 9898441330 Email: sureshsamani@yahoo.com Dy. Editorial Co-Ordinator (BPO): Nilesh Parmar (M) +919426636912 Consulting Editor (BPO): Bhupatbhai Parekh, Ahmedabad, Gujarat Tel: +91 79 2630 4142 Mumbai: Kanti Bhatt, Hemraj Shah (Jumbo Advertiser) Horizon Advertising & Marketing: 205 Shalibhadra Complex, Opp. Jain Derasar, Nr. Nehru Nagar Circle, Ambawadi, Ahmedabad Tel / Fax: +91 79 2646 5960 (M) +91 9913346487 Email: horizonadvt2009@yahoo.in Neeta Patel, (Advertising Manager) (M) +91 98255 11702 International Advertisement Representative: Jain Group(South India) Tel: +91 44 42041122/3/4 Fax: +91 44 25362973 Mumbai: +91 222471 4122 Email: jainmedia@eth.net

Asian Voice Main Office

Karma Yoga House, 12 Hoxton Market, (Off Coronet Street) London N1 6HW. Tel: 020 7749 4080, Fax: 020 7749 4081 www.abplgroup.com © Asian Business Publications

Asian Voice switchboard: 020 7749 4000 Gujarat Samachar switchboard: 020 7749 4080 Sales: 020 7749 4085

LEO Jul 23 - Aug 23 Although the very practical affairs of life continue to be highlighted, this does not mean that there will be all work and no play. In fact, you will be very much in demand socially. From a financial point of view take stock of where you’re at rather than to launch any ambitious new business plan.

VIRGO Aug 24 - Sep 23 The accent’s very much on relationships. The opening up of a more diverse social life is a point in favour of romantic attachments, if this is what you want. You will achieve a lot more, especially when you're motivated by your own desires.

The general pattern of things continues on a progressive and buoyant theme.

LIBRA Sep 24 - Oct 23 Jupiter, the planet of abundance, is transiting your partnership sector. You have plenty of romantic options. Financially you are still not out of the woods as Saturn is transiting your sign for quite a while. At work you will experience a relaxed atmosphere and this will help you to get on with everyone around you.

SCORPIO Oct 24- Nov 22 Jupiter's transit in your solar 6th house, you will find it easy to do well at work and rise to great heights. During this transit you will enjoy robust health and find physical activities very enjoyable. Plan your spending and set sensible budgets to reach your financial goals.

An inspiring boost to matters of communication but make sure your curiosity on a range of topics does not lead to a scattering of mental energy. With a surge of enery and enthusiasm, this is a favourable time to make fresh starts. Personal relationships may be more intense.

SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 - Dec 21

CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan 20 You will feel confident as the week begins. The cosmic energies are decidedly invigorating at the moment. If you are taking a holiday, so much the better ! Not only do you have Venus putting a favourable emphasis on travel but, with Mars you can be sure of deriving the utmost pleasure from adventures and excursions.

AQUARIUS Jan 21 - Feb 19 Resist making any hasty moves when it come to finances - this is a time to focus on consolidation of current assets rather than attempting to make any new investments. Guard against being too impatient and restless. Any obstacles that have stood in the way of your heart's desires should melt into the background soon.

If you're currently romantically involved, your lover could well go from strength to strength in the area of passion. Although the very practical affairs of life continue to be highlighted, this does not mean that there will be all work and no play. In fact, you will be very much in demand socially.

PISCES Feb 20 - Mar 20

time

Asian Voice - Saturday 24th July 2010

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nieghboor 25 Forzen precipitation 26 Lizard with sticky feet 28 Still 31 Where van Gogh painted like mad 34 Dawson or Gide 36 Sharer’s pronoun 37 Chri stopher and Bruce 38 Poppy extract

Shushi choice Slightly askew Zest Domineering Will contents Group psyche parts of ranges Western state capital Truns back Pipe cleaner Dunne of Hollywood Duck product

K I W A N I S

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N O T T E U R O O R A M S I K S P I T E S T E D E E N G O I S E N A L A G N E W J A A L O N C I S O S T E R

I N A H E A P S S W Y E R S

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Actions speak louder than words. Explanation: Run, Hit, Jump are all actions and the volume level for them is higher that than of Dictionary which simply contains a whole lot of words. Hence you get Actions speak louder than words.

Solution of 96 :

WHATZIT? - 97

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Find the familiar phrase, saying or name in this arrangement of letters.

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MINDBENDER-97

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Soaks up rays Busboy’s tote Soap additive Sports zebras Soup ingredients, perhaps Pieces for two Unwraps Tex-Mex menu items Multi-speaker music systems Goofy error Even the score Islamic women’s quarters Leaks slowly BP merger partner Not so many Philosopher Mach Chop into tiny pieces Historic periods Missile storage space record a voice-over

Solution of Crossword-96

58

Not as much Trigger-happy Branchlet Sicilian volcano Novelist Morrison Privileged few Imagined Basketball player Actress Greer I haven’t a clue New Yoerk

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60 Desirable assignment 62 King toppers 63 Middle of a tassel?

64 Boo-hoos 65 Do a postal job 1 Stop gripping 2 “___Frome” 3 Audible expression of contempt 4 Wursts 5 Cultural 6 Morse Code symbol 7 Wildebeests 8 Holy cow!

9 Hide away 10 Glacial deposit 11 Without guilt 12 Single ting 13 Richard of “Chicago” 18 Wounds with a tusk 22 Cause anxiety 24 Giraffe relative 27 Preserved for later

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HOW TO PLAY Each row, column and square 3x3 box is a sub-grid of 9 cells. Fill in the grid so that each subgrid contains the digits 1 to 9. Every puzzle has one solution.

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Today’s Ratings: 08-average |09-good |11-outstanding How many words of four or more letters can you make from the letters shown in today’s puzzle? In making a word, each letter may be used once only. Each word must contain the central letter.

There should be at least one seven-letter word. Plurals, foreign words and proper C names are not allowed. British English R O Dictionary is used as reference.

H

T E

KAKURO - 97

Solution of KAKURO - 96 20 12

Solution of Spellathon - 96

C

The numbers in the pink squares refer

Example to the sums of the digits that you must fill into the empty spaces directly below or to the right of the pink square containing the number. For instance, in the given example, the 2 boxes below 12 must contain 2 digits that add upto 12, whereas for 20, the 3 boxes places horizontally next to it must add upto 20. No zeroes are used here, only the digits one through nine.

Note: A digit cannot appear more than once in any particular digit combination.

For instance in the example, we cannot have the combination of 8+4+8 for 20.

inky, kiln, like, liken, link, silk, silken, silky, sink, skein, skin, SKYLINE, slink, slinky

By Dr Anil Mehta

Historic Stirling : A gateway to the Highlands Lying at the heart of Scotland, at the junction of Lowlands and Highlands, Stirling is of immense strategic importance (historically) and rightly known as the gateEntrance to Stirling Castle way to the Wallace Monument celeHighlands. In the medieval brating the 13th century times to take Stirling was patriot and ‘braveheart’ to hold Scotland. Several fame William Wallace who battles which changed the won great victory against course of Scottish history the English (King Edward were fought here including I) at the Battle of Stirling two of Scotland’s most cruBridge fought on the nearcial battles for its indeby field in 1297. It was pendence from the English undoubtedly Wallace’s i.e. William Wallace’s victofinest hour. The monument ry at the Battle of Stirling is a five storey, 220 ft, freeBridge (1297) and King standing tower topped by a Robert the Bruce’s victory Scottish crown. Exhibits at Bannockburn (1314). inside include an audioAlthough a town of modest visual presentation of the size, Stirling was given battle and Wallace memoCity status in 2002. rabilia including his History is very much famous sword. There are alive in Stirling. It enjoyed splendid views from the hill. You can reach the top of the monument if you can manage to climb 240 spiral steps (entrance by ticket).

Two miles south of the city the Bannockburn Heritage Centre commemorates the winning of the most decisive battle of Bannockburn to retain Scotland’s independence

by Robert the Bruce King Robert the Bruce against the much larger English force of King its golden age in the 15th Edward II in 1314. The to 17th centuries when its battle was fought on the castle was a favoured resnearby field. It was a turnidence of the Stewart ing point in Scottish history (English Stuart) monarchs. strengthening Robert’s It grew up around its castle and the old town below the castle is still protected by the original 16th century walls.

Stirling is dominated by its castle which stands on a steep 250 ft volcanic hill and looms large over the town below. It’s one of Scotland’s finest medieval fortresses and a popular visitor attraction. The castle complex which dates Wallace Monument from the late 14th century claim to the Scottish is composed of Royal throne. The centre shows Palace, Great Hall, Chapel an audio-visual presentaRoyal, and the regimental tion of the battle and backmuseum of the Argyll and ground to it. A stunning Sutherland Highlanders. bronze equestrian statue The castle deserves furof Bruce stands outside ther discussion and I will the centre (entrance by write about it in my next ticket). article.

Modern Stirling offers At the foot of the castle excellent shopping opporis the old town with its cobtunities (especially Thistle bled streets and many hisShopping Centre) in its torical buildings. For exampedestrianised streets. If ple, Argyll’s Lodging just you are an art and history outside the castle is the lover, then head straight most impressive 17th cenfor the Smith Art Gallery tury townhouse in and Museum on Albert Scotland, giving insight into lavish 17th century Place. A small and compact place, it offers a fasciaristocratic life. It’s a real nating insight into the art pleasure to walk on the and history of Stirling in cobbled streets with a particular and Scotland in remarkably different feel to general (entrance free). So modern Stirling further you see, a visit to Stirling is down the road. not merely a visit. It’s a Two miles north of journey through some 800 Stirling, high on the hill is years of Scottish history. the striking National

30

Asian Voice - Saturday 24th July 2010

Vision to spread Yoga

By Maninder Kaur In a world of quick fixes and fast paced lifestyles, Swami Ramdev Ji has managed to popularise the ancient Indian traditions of Yoga and Ayurvedic lifestyles, through his workshops and talks worldwide.

With a mantra of “Good health is humanity’s birth right, ” his vision is to take Yoga to every corner of the world.

Swamiji's journey started in 1995, when he co - founded the Patanjali Yoga Peeth Trust in Hardwar, Northern India.

It is now regarded to be the largest Yoga and Ayurvedic institute in the world, with the trust training teachers to teach Yoga in institutions throughout the UK, USA, Canada, Dubai, Africa and Nepal.

Returning from America, Swamiji arrived in the UK for visits in London and Glasgow.

AV talked to Swamiji about Yoga, his lifestyle and involvement in politics.

How did you come to start yoga?

I started at the age of nine. When I started doing Yoga I only did it for myself, I didn't know I would be teaching Yoga to others. Then I slowly started practising, but my body was very weak.

When I was young, I had a paralysis attack, but I

Yoga Guru, Swami Ramdev Ji visited Wembley on July 11th 2010, to honour Ghurkha Soldiers who have fought for the British army

have managed for the last twenty years, and have successfully been performing and preaching Yoga.

Why did you decide to formulate the Bharat Swabhiman political party?

Because I want to eliminate any bad politics that are happening, especially in India. I want to get people involved in something that has no political ties. Just like Yoga is healthy and clean, I want to make Bharat Swabhiman healthy and clean for the whole of India.

I have gone to villages around parts of India and collated members to help me. So far I've got at least 100,000 people behind me in each district so far. My motto is to eradicate corruptness, the black market and black money completely in India.

Why should people choose Ayurvedic medicine over western treatments?

British modern medication cannot cure your problems, it can only control your problems. But if you are taking Ayurvedic medications you can cure your problems through Ayurveda, and there are no side effects or complications. Ayurvedic medications and Yog are both curing and balancing your system.

What is your message for our readers?

I would like to thank AV and GS for all the support they have given us throughout the year.

Yog, tradition, spirituality and our values are very important in this day and age. If we keep close to these concepts, then we will have good health, prosperity and peace.

(As translated by Sunita Poddar)

Sindhi Saibhaji

Ingredients: • 1 each - carrot, capsicum, onion, small cabbage,potato, brinjal, tomato, ladyfinger (okra) • 100 gms. french beans • 1/2 bunch each spinach, coriander, khatta (3 leaved) greens.

• 1/2 bunch any other leafy greens.

• 1 cup green gram dal • 1/2 cup horsegram dal (channa dal) • 4-5 green chillies • 2-3 clovettes garlic • 1 tsp. red chilli powder

• 1 tsp. dhania (coriander seed) powder • 1 tsp. salt • 1/2 tsp. turmeric • 3 tbsp. oil • 1/2 tbsp. ghee • 2 pinches asafoetida Method: • Clean and wash dals.

• Clean, wash and chop spinach and vegetables except tomato.

• Heat oil in a pressure cooker, add all the vegetables, spinach and dals.

• Mix well, add enough water to cover the contents.

• Add all masalas and mix.

• Place whole tomato on top, cover and pressurecook for 3 whistles.

• Cool the cooker, open and handblend the contents.

• Heat 1/2 tbsp. ghee add a pinch of asafoetida add to the mashed vegetable.

• Serve hot with paratha or steamed rice Making time: 30 minutes (excluding cooling time) Makes for: 6 Shelf life: Best fresh

By Spriha Srivastava

A R Rahman – The Asian Mozart Its summer time in London and I have never been so busy as a journalist. There is an event almost every other day and it feels like time is running away so quickly.

But in all this rush when an exciting opportunity to meet your favourite singer comes your way, you simply forget about the rest. And if that favourite singer is an Oscar Award and a Grammy Award winner, then it surely icing on the cake. I am pretty sure many of those reading this column would have guessed that I am talking about A R Rahman or the “Mozart of Asia” as he is known.

As I made my way through the crowded roads of Camden Town into the Holiday Inn hotel at Jamestown Street where Mr. Rahman had been staying, I went down the memory lane to a time when I was 13 year old. I remember a few of my friends and I had prepared a dance number for the Republic Day function on the song “Maa Tujhe Salaam” by A R Rahman. It is a song that touches the heart of every Indian as it salutes mother India for being the best. And it is since then that I fell for his voice.

Now, twelve years later I was making my way to the executive suite at the Holiday Inn to interview him. As I entered the room, I saw him sitting quietly on a chair in the middle of the room. A short man with curly hair and rather strong features, he smiled at me as I walked towards him. He looked absolutely cool and calm and I sat in front of him, rather nervous trying to set up my voice recorder and making sure everything was right. And even while I was doing that, he asked me about my background, my job and my favourite film.

Here are the excerpts from my brief conversation with A R Rahman.

Your association with Mani Ratnam has been a long one. 18 years back it was Roja and now Raavan. How has this journey been?

The journey has been good. This is the tenth film and I am very proud of this film. He does films that people don’t get sometimes, they get it later – like when Dil Se

A R Rahman with Spriha Srivastava

came in. He has got his own way of thinking and expressing. So from his first film, initially people will say it is not good but a year later they will say “oh I watched it 25 times.” So it’s got something which people don’t understand but they still like it. And same way for music, I do music for him; in the beginning they don’t like it but later it becomes inevitable for them later. So I guess there is some magic there.

Given that you had training in the west, what kind of influence does the western music have on you?

Well, it’s got nothing to do with the training in the west or east. It’s your mind. Your mind can think and you can get out of your shell in your mind and do anything.

But of course training really helps you. Not as much as a real life experience when you go somewhere and fail an fall down and break your legs and get healed and start running. That’s the best kind of learning experience that I have.

There is a heavy western influence on the bollywood music and that is why we still crave for traditional music, such as that in Guru or Raavan?

Yes, infact in India if

you take a look at the audience that goes to the theatre is young people.

Old people prefer to stay home and watch it on TV. Here, I am not generalising everybody but most people prefer to watch it on DVD or TV. Most of the movies are catering to the young population and that is why you see that kind of music, unlike the old era where people used to love poetry and stuff.

Who has been your inspiration in music?

My inspiration comes from my intention to do music and to have multiple other things through music. And if you ask me about musical inspiration, I have like hundred thousand people and it is extremely difficult to name one.

And finally, there are two big performances coming up for you. What sort of experimentation should Londoners expect?

Just buy the tickets and come and watch. It’s based on my songs but it will be a new experience for all. We are trying our best to push the limits and do something that is exciting for all.

(A R Rahman will be performing on July 24th and 26th at The O2 and Wembley Stadium respectively)

Let us know what you think.

Email Spriha at spriha@abplgroup.com

Sport world

Asian Voice - Saturday 24th July 2010

31

Fabulous footsteps for the British Asians to follow

By rupanjana Dutta

Naynesh Desai, Chairman of the Bunbury black tie ball is doing a fantastic charity work in this country. The story is worth telling.

On Thursday 6th May the world's biggest procelebrity cricket club- The Bunburys held their fourth annual black tie ball at the Grosvenor House in London's Park Lane.

The idea of annual dinner came about when David English about 4 years back discussed celebrating 21years of The Bunbury with Naynesh Desai, an old friend and the only British Indian associated with this club.

A solicitor, Naynesh represents cricketers including Sir Ian Botham, Kevin Pietersen, Allan Lamb, Mark Ramprakash, Wasim Akram, Virendra Sewag, Irfan Pathan, Sunil Gavaskar and Mohammad Azharruddin.

The Bunburys are a pro celebrity club founded and run by David English

Devon Malcom, Naynesh Desai and Darren Gough

Association.

Over the last four years the Bunburys have called upon legends of the game of cricket, music and film together once a year to raise money for The Leukamia Research Fund and the English School's Cricket Association.

In April this year, Sir Ian Botham completed a special anniversary walk, celebrating 25years since his first walk in aid of Leukamia research, a cause very close to his heart. As a final celebra-

This year's event was attended by over 800 guests- many charismatic and famous personalities.

The evening started with Beefy’s suitably reflective introduction, followed by Nick Hancock, who narrated some truly connotative anecdotes on the theme of, ‘Walking with Sir Ian Botham’. After Nick, many more speakers such as Sam Torrance, Darren Gough and Chris Tarrant offered their ‘tale of the unexpected’ regarding their first-hand experi-

tic charity auction which included the opportunity for two guests to attend a VIP trip to Sky’s 150th live England v Pakistan 3rd npower Test Match at the Brit Oval on the first day of playthis VIP hospitality package was sold for £3,000.

Other outstanding lots included Piers Morgan’s donation of two VIP tickets to the ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ live Semi-Final show and an ‘OK Corral’ style invitation to join the Botham family in North Yorkshire for a day of shooting.

Lord Jeffrey Archer, a remarkable auctioner

Mike Gatting (ex Eng captain) and Usha Teji

CBE which has raised over £14million for different charities over the years. The Bunburys have also produced 50 English cricketers through the English School's Cricket

Sir Ian Botham and Lady Botham

tion, David English CBE, the founder of Bunburys dedicated the 4th Annual Bunbury Ball to salute Sir Botham's devotion towards Leukamia and Lymphoma research.

ences of Botham’s walks followed by entertainment from Damien Flood.

Later in the evening Jeffrey Archer took over from the MCs for the night and hosted a fantas-

Further welcome surprises followed, with a bat donated by Eric Clapton signed by 13 players who have scored 100 centuries, including Viv Richards, Boycott and Mark Ramprakash, raising £5,000. Status Quo’s gift of a limited edition signed Fender brought in £7,000 towards the total proceeds for the evening’s selected charities. This unique raffle draw closed off the sporting segment of the evening and the stage was prepared for a quintessentially favourite British act, the inimitable

Mayor of London’s Sky ride in Ealing attracts thousands of cyclists Mayor of London, Sky, British Cycling and Ealing borough Council jointly organised Mayor of London’s Sky Ride Ealing last weekend.

An estimated 13,000 people attended the event.

Riders at the event enjoyed traffic-free streets, the green spaces of Ealing Common, local sights including Ealing’s popular Town Hall, Pitzhanger Manor House, Lammas Park, and a range of bike-based entertainment.

Two more such mass participation cycling events are scheduled to take place this summer in the capital, including the Mayor of London’s Sky Ride Redbridge on 15 August and the Mayor of London’s Sky Ride due to take place in central London on Sunday 5 September.

The Mayor of London

Sky Ride events in the capital are part of a series of initiatives in London during what the Mayor has dubbed London's 'Year of Cycling', including Transport for London's delivery of landmark cycle superhighways and cycle hire projects.

Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, said: “I am so proud of the fabulous Sky

Ride events we organise in London, they are simply a wonderful way for the whole community to get together and rediscover their love of cycling. It is heart-warming to see people of every age and ability cycling along car free streets in their own neighbourhood.”

Cyclists were also able to meet the Mayor of London’s

transport advisor, Kulveer Ranger and Team Sky road riders from Britain’s new professional road cycling outfit.

Kulveer Ranger said: "It was great to see thousands of families enjoying the perfect weather for cycling and out pedalling around the queen of the suburbs. The community spirit along the route was something to behold and it was quite wonderful to see the various church fetes and people selling cakes for charity. The Mayor of London's Skyride really brought the cycle revolution to Ealing."

Corin Dimopoulos Sky’s Director of Cycling commented: “The Mayor of London’s Sky Ride Ealing has been a huge success and we’re delighted with the turnout and feedback we have had from participants.”

Allan Lamb, Jeff Thompson and Dicky Bird

Status Quo- a favourite of Sir Ian Botham.

The final highlights of the evening’s play featured the Rick Parfitt Jnr & the RPJ Rock band, DJ

They can lose sight that they are the fortunate ones, and there are unfortunate people in this world who rely on their charity. Besides myself

Chris Tarrant and Sam Torrance

Lora- a perfect corollary to Status Quo’s performance.

Naynesh Desai, Chairman of the dinner since 2007, and a Partner in Arlington Sharmas, is a Gujarati from Zambia and has lived in the UK since 1973. He said, "I believe we have to give something back to the community, to the country. It is economically a difficult time and during this time the less fortunate ones suffer more.

Life for Asians in this country, who have done well for themselves, can get very comfortable.

there are no other British Asian/Indian who are directly involved with this event. It is a great event and we wish there were more British Asians involved with us and I would welcome more people joining in next year's event."

CB Patel, Publisher/ Editor of Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar, who attended the event believes that over a quarter million pound was raised for charity in one evening. He said, "Where is the credit crunch? It all depends on the cause and the people involved.”

Star athletes skipping CWG irks Indian sports minister Star athletes announcing their pull out of the forthcoming Commonwealth Games has irked Manohar Singh Gill, the sports minister of India, while IOA (Indian Olympic Association) president Suresh Kalmadi said absence of one or two top athletes does not matter.

Taking strong exception to pullout of some of the star athletes from the Commonwealth Games, Sports Minister MS Gill on Sunday asked CGF President Mike Fennell to bring those champions to New Delhi instead of an army of officials.

Scottish cycling star Chris Hoy is the latest Olympic champion to withdraw from the Games after Jamaican sprinters Usain Bolt and Shelly Ann Fraser decided to give a miss to the October 3-14 Games.

“Commonwealth Games is a sporting event and not the

meeting of officials. These athletes drifting away doesn't please me nor the Organising Committee”.

An upset Gill said he would raise the issue at a meeting of the Sports Ministers of all the Commonwealth Nations on October 4.

“What happened with Hoy is that Brtish Cycling Federation told him that you better take part in the European Championship to qualify for the Olympic Games in London 2012. This championship consists of valuable Olympic points. Mr Kalmadi did not share the minister’s concern and said the minister should not hype the issue. “It does not matter if one of two players skip the Commonwealth Games....

The best of the world are coming and new champions will be created,” he said.

32

Asian Voice - Saturday 24th July 2010

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Saina closer to topple Chinese domination Indian badminton star rises to no. 2 ranking

Lady luck, it seems is smiling all the way on Saina Nehwal, the Indian badminton star. Having recorded a hat trick of titles in as many weeks, Saina last week improved her international ranking as she scaled to no. 2.

She has reached from on. 5 to no. 2 in a matter of months. She reached the last four stage of the All England badminton championships in March.

In this triumph, the Hyderabadi became the first Indian women player to reach that far.

Thereafter, in a matter of just around 4 months, she scaled to the no. 2 position, though she also witnessed a descend of one place – to no. 6 before the journey northwards.

Reacting to her latest achieve-

Saina Nehwal

ment in rankings, Saina said, “I am very happy to achieve the world number two so soon in my career.

The last three wins have really helped me. It is a great feeling but I feel my priority still will be to win more tournaments for India rather than focussing on ranking”.

"It will be difficult to hold on to the ranking but I hope to continue my hard work and win more titles and become the number one player soon," Saina added.

She now has 64791.2637 points and is just behind Chinese Yihan Wang, while Xin Wang also of China is in the third place.

Next, Saina will be playing the World badminton Championship in Paris next month, and later the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.

Imran Khan inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame Pakistan’s World Cup winning captain Imran Khan was honoured with the Hall of Fame cap last week in London. ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt honoured him.

Pakistan’s one of the best all rounders, Imran Khan had been inducted some time ago, but due to his pressing commitments, he had been unable to receive the cap. In his response, Imran said, “It is really an honour for me and for my country. I served the game with utmost honesty and am happy to receive the cap here,” Imran said.

Imran joins batsmen Hanif Mohammad and Javed Miandad as Pakistan’s representatives in the initial intake of 55 players into the Hall of Fame, a joint venture between the ICC and the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations (FICA). The trio were joined last year by Wasim Akram who was voted in at the end of 2009.

“I achieved many things during my cricketing career, including winning the World Cup in 1992, but to be named amongst the initial 55 inductees, alongside Hanif and Javed makes me very proud.”

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