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24th December to 30th December 2016

Let noble thoughts come to us from every side

WAR AND MAYHEM IN THE SEASON OF HOPE

Phones rang, notifications popped, media went into a frenzy. The start of this week saw two different acts of random (or maybe not) terror in different parts of the world, both triggering two questions, How safe are we? And did we bring this on ourselves?

At a time when the festive season is upon us, and half the world is ironically clad in red in spirit of Christmas, the other half is fighting a war - one, waged against humanity.

The first reported incident saw 12 people die and 48 suffer injuries at the Berlin Christmas market as a truck crashed into people gathered around wooden huts serving mulled wine and sausages at the foot of the Kaiser Wilhelm memorial church in the heart of what formerly was West Berlin.

The attack brought back fresh memories of a similar incident in Nice, France when a Tunisian-born man drove a 19-tonne truck along the beach front, pinning down people who had gathered to watch the fireworks on Bastille Day, like dolls.

While a media source first cited the suspect as a 23 year old Pakistani named Naved B, who arrived in Germany a year ago, the truck driver who was later captured

46 Church Road Stanmore Middx London HA7 4AH email@travelinstyle.co.uk

East, Africa and elsewhere have arrived this year and last.

The second terrorrelated event occurred at an art exhibit in Ankara, where the Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov was assassinated reportedly by offduty police officer Mevlut Mert Altinas. Witnesses said the gunman shouted "We'll make you pay for Aleppo" before firing at the diplomat, most likely referring to Russia's backing of the Syrian government in its brutal siege of Aleppo. While it remains unclear on how Russia would respond, given the already tense relations between Ankara and Moscow over the past year, centuries of historical rivalry and residual animosity, colliding foreign policies in the mess that is the Syrian civil war, there are several not so pretty escalatory scenarios that come to mind.

An unnamed gunman gestures after Meanwhile, the crucial shooting the Russian Ambassador battle of Aleppo has "finalto Turkey, Andrei Karlov ly" entered its last phase, as Syrian rebels retreated into a small pocket of their former bastion in the face of new army advances. and arrested, is yet to be confirmed.

The attack using a tractor-trailer to plow down a crowded Christmas market left Germany stunned and shocked. Authorities scrambled to determine who was behind the nation's bloodiest assault in decades.

Angela Merkel, widely known for her stance in case of Syrian refugees, acknowledged what people across Europe were in fear with the approach of the holiday season. One of the consequences of the attack was such, police special forces stormed a hangar at Berlin's defunct Tempelhof airport housing a refugee accommodation centre, as the arrested man was found to be registered there.

If a migrant link is confirmed, it could further sour sentiment towards asylum seekers in

Germany, where more than a million people fleeing conflict and poverty in the Middle

President Bashar alAssad's forces counted over 90 per cent of the Continued on page 26

England whitewashed

England opened the final day of the fifth test match on Tuesday at MA

Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, with 10 wickets Continued on page 32

Major events in 2016

Prime minister Modi leading Yoga day in India See pages 15, 16, 17 and 18

India clinch hockey crown

India produced a clinical performance on Sunday to outclass Belgium 2-1 and

clinch their second Hockey Junior World Cup Continued on page 31

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Asian Voice 24th December 2016

www.asian-voice.com

ONE ONE with Keith Vaz, MP

AsianVoiceNews

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to

Dr Dwayne Ryan Menezes Dr Dwayne Ryan Menezes is Founder and Director of two foreign policy think-tanks based in London – Human Security Centre (HSC) and Polar Research and Policy Initiative (PRPI).

He is also an Associate Fellow of the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London; and Principal Coordinator of PRISM, an EU-wide consortium of think-tanks and universities dedicated to understanding and addressing the causes and processes of radicalisation and violent extremism.

Previously, he served as Consultant to the SecretaryGeneral of the Commonwealth; He has also served as an Officer on the Management Committee of the UK Polar Network and a Governor of a Church of England school in West London. Dwayne read History at the LSE and the University of Cambridge, where he was a member of Gonville and Caius College. He graduated from Cambridge with a PhD in History and has been affiliated as a visiting or postdoctoral research fellow since with the Centre of Governance and Human Rights (CGHR), University of Cambridge; Centre on Migration, Policy and Society (COMPAS), University of Oxford; and Heythrop College, University of London.

Dwayne is also involved with the creative industries: he is a co-sponsor and producer (impact) of the Oscar-shortlisted, Emmy-nominated documentary, My Enemy, My Brother (2016), and the Director of Think-Film Impact Production Ltd., a film production company that makes and supports films that advocate positive social outcomes.

1) What is your current position?

Currently, I serve as Director of two London-based independent, international foreign policy think-tanks, Human Security Centre (HSC) and Polar Research and Policy Initiative (PRPI). While HSC addresses current and emerging threats to human security worldwide, PRPI focuses on Arctic and Antarctic issues.

2) What are your proudest achievements?

I look at the world with too much awe to see anything I have accomplished as a source of pride. I remember the awe and joy I used to feel as a child when the little black-eyed beans I’d

place delicately on some moist cotton would sprout in a couple of days. In recent years, I have felt a similar sense of awe and joy when ideas I’d similarly plant and nurture would take shape and grow into projects and enterprises bigger and more effective than I had thought.

3) What inspires you?

I like to surround myself with people I find wiser, more knowledgeable and more experienced than myself. It could entail reading works by and biographies of great men and women I admire, appointing Advisory Boards that bring together the great and the good in a particular field, or even inviting a group of talented and

like to run for Parliament, so I contribute more greatly in public service and effect the change I want to see.

Most of all, I’d like to ensure that the thinktanks and I do not lose sight of the vision and the values that were at our heart at the beginning of our journeys.

enterprising friends over for dinner. It allows me to recognise what I do not know and have yet to learn, to seek wise counsel and timely advice, and to draw inspiration to walk the extra mile.

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

As stimulating and fulfilling the experience of setting up and running a social enterprise can be, funding constraints can render it quite challenging. The challenges are all the more pronounced when one is a relatively young social entrepreneur.

While I have been very fortunate to see both the social enterprises I co-founded grow faster than expected and have the impact I hoped they would have, I am constantly reminded that the crucial work carried out by both organisations will only prove sustainable if their funding needs are met. Steering the ship effectively, while ensuring there is enough fuel to keep the engines running, is the biggest obstacle in the career of nearly every social entrepreneur, and I am no exception.

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

William Wilberforce. He was most certainly a man on a mission. The anti-slavery movement, with which he was involved, captured my imagination as a child. It led me to ponder about what were the greatest challenges of my day, and how I could make a difference. Perhaps that is how I ended up with these two think-tanks that address issues such as extremism and climate change.

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

It allows me to travel and meet the people directly impacted by or engaged with our work.

Whether this translates as discussing pressing policy issues with heads of government, or

spending time meeting refugees from Iraq or reindeer herders from the Sakha Republic, or supporting films that advance the values we hold dear, my current role allows me to wake up excited about the new opportunities each day will bring and go to bed hoping that my contributions might make a positive difference.

7) And the worst?

Defining success in my line of work can be quite difficult. If there is an outbreak of an infectious disease and a medical doctor should find himself having to treat many more cases than is usual, might his/her practice be seen as successful? In much the same way, it is hard to define success in humanitarian work. A thousand satisfied and generous clients would not constitute success if there are still people dying from disease, starvation or conflict each day.

8) What are your long term goals?

I would like to see both thinktanks continue to have great impact in the years to come and acquire financial security along the way. At some point, I’d also

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

I’d focus more on the UK’s place in the world. I am rather weary of the widely-accepted narrative of national decline. I believe in the UK and the force for good it can be in the world, as I believe the sun will rise every morning. The UK may have lost its empire, but it doesn’t need an empire to be outward-looking and great. I’d seek happier, healthier and more mutually respectful and beneficial relationships with Europe. I’d ensure the Special Relationship with the United States would remain meaningful and vibrant.

I’d also increase our focus on the North, building the potential of the UK to be the heart and the hub of a northern, transatlantic ‘Arc of Prosperity’ that includes the United States, Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Faroe Islands, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland.

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

Sir Ernest Shackleton. I’d love to listen to his stories about his previous adventures, watch the explorer do what he does best, and know in my heart that, in the end, this will just be one long – even if tedious – holiday as we will both survive and make it back to Blighty in the end.

Striking Blues: Another Winter of Discontent stares UK in the face With Southern rail services going off the rails with days of strikes and the Crown Post Office workers pushing ahead with walkouts, another Winter of Discontent is staring Britain in the face. Some cabin crew at British Airways have also called walkouts.

The unions are flexing their muscles. The unions’ renewed closeness to Labour Party under Jeremy Corbyn has given them the confidence to increasingly instigate strike action. Only last week Corbyn enjoyed the company of the rail drivers’ union Aslef at their staff Christmas party in London.

There can be little surprise that for some unions at least their interests not only coincide with,

but will be best served by Corbyn’s political ambitions. After all, it is the Labour party’s stated aim to bring the railway back under public ownership.

When Corbyn won the Labour leadership last September, some of Britain’s biggest unions’ leaders were among the first to greet him with congratulatory messages.

Needless to say, Britain’s union movement was once again welcomed back into the fold of the Labour Party. The result of that can now be felt in the wave of strikes currently threatening to bring parts of Britain to a grinding halt.

Andy Cook, chief executive of Marshall-James, which advises firms on industrial relations, says

in a BBC report: “It feels like there’s an undercurrent of discontent building. People are feeling the pinch. Average workers feel they are not being paid in line with profits and therefore are more willing to stand up.”

Frances O’Grady, general secretary of the TUC trade union body, says: “The causes of recent strikes differ from strike to strike, ranging from safety on the railways to closures of post offices.

Each dispute is specific to that workplace. Going on strike is always a last resort, especially for the hardworking staff who take pride in their work, and will lose pay while on strike.”

Well, the rail, BA and postal strikes are set to cause consider-

able inconvenience for many over Christmas and the new year. The government should think of some emergency legislation to keep a check on such unions' highhandedness in the transport sector. The hardship for the common man is undoubtedly severe, especially for those who are less mobile.

However, in the union strikes there is something more than what meets the eye – certainly something that goes beyond mere Luddism. Union leaders make clear that they are seeking to topple the Tory government.

Well, the ability of workers to withdraw labour is a vital liberty but that power must be exercised with responsibility keeping in mind the common man's interests.

Strikes: ●

Post office counter staff (CWU) will walk out on Dec 19, 20 and 22, in addition to those who deliver cash to branches on Dec 23 and 24.

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RMT conductors Dec 19-20 and 31, Jan 1-2; Aslef and RMT drivers Jan 9-14.

●

Professional pilots’ union Dec 23.

●

Cabin crew members of Unite Dec 25-26.

C MMENTS

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Asian Voice |24th December 2016

India to gain from geopolitical flux US President-elect Donald Trump has truly set the cat among the pigeons with his appointment of former ExxonMobil Chief Executive Officer Rex Tillerson as his administration’s Secretary of State.

The company happens to be a giant of giants in the global energy market. When a CEO operates on this scale, the question whether he has sufficient political experience becomes invidious. The sheer scale of Exxon Mobil’s operations requires that its top men rub shoulders with the leading political leaders across continents. They do not require tutoring by the paladins of various American think tanks many of whose parasitic activities are funded by government tax breaks. Their policy recommendations, not surprisingly, chime with whichever administration hires their services. Mr Tillerson,, furthermore, enjoys a cordial relationship with Igor Sochin, head of Russia’s energy giant Rosneft.

Mr Tillerson’s acquaintance with Vladimir Putin and the Order of Friendship he received from the Russian President in 2012 – the highest Russian award for a foreigner - brought a fit of the vapours on Senator John McCain, who snarled that President Putin was ‘a thug and a killer’ - an apt description, methinks, of the ignoble Senator who was shot down in his plane bombing and murdering innocent Vietnamese during America’s infamous war with Vietnam many moons ago. What is interesting is that the good and the great of the Republican Party, including James Baker, a former Secretary of State in the Senior Bush administration, Robert Gates, a former head of the CIA and a Defence Secretary, Dick Cheyne, a former Defence Secretary in the George W.Bush administration and numerous other notables, have endorsed Mr Tillerson’s appointment, hence the approval of the Senate looks more than likely. President-elect Trump’s reset button on US relations with Russia is clearly work in progress, and will be welcomed by all those who cherish a peaceful and stable world order.

Those with a vested interest in a hostile relationship between the two Great Powers, such as the present French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Aryault, the great Dane former Nato chief Rasmussen and his Viking successor, the Norwegian Stoltenberg and European Union subalterns in fealty to Barack Obama, feel aggrieved that their voices will no longer

carry the weight of yore. However, if they so wish they should have few problems maintaining a style to which they have grown accustomed.

The door to Russia appears to be a Japanese priority, too. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has visited Moscow twice, and made a beeline to meet with Donald Trump, shortly after the announcement of his election victory. Japan and Russia are likely to work with redoubled energy on a peace treaty, formally ending their state of war, the best part of a century after the Second World War. Where does this leave India? Enormously relieved would surely be the short answer. Indo-US relations may gain greater traction with the Trump administration less inclined to obey Beijing’s diktat on Taiwan and less indulgent towards China’s truculence in the South China Sea and in its neighborhood on land.

‘Better US-Russia ties are to India’s benefit. India has been worried about the strategic nightmare of a formal alliance between Russia and China, given how important Russia is to India on military and on energy supplies,’ said Nandan Unnikrishnan, Russia expert at the Observer Foundation in New Delhi.

‘Any easing of tension between the US and Russia will also make things easier for India.’ (See page 12 for the India-China standoff on the Dalai Lama) On cue, perhaps, India accorded a warm welcome to Indonesian President Joko Widodo and his wife H.J. Iriana, offering support to Indonesia’s position that all countries to the territorial disputes in the South China Sea should show restraint and respect the convention establishing international legal order of the sea and oceans. Both leaders said they were committed to upgrade defence cooperation between their respective countries.

China’s threat of conflict with the United States, if the Trump administration were to revisit the accepted America’s standard ‘one China’ policy in relation to Taiwan, should give pause to the country’s leadership. Igniting a military conflict with the US is surely not in China’s best interest anymore than it was in Imperial Japan’s interest, when it foolishly bombed the America’s Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbour, in Hawaii, on 7 December 1941. Recall, if you will, what the consequences were for the aggressor of this egregious folly.

UK’s new rules to Benefit Tata Steel Trade unions and industry alike have welcomed the British government’s decision to change its procurement rules for steel in major public projects in a bid to boost the steel sector’s prospects. It follows that this should benefit Tata Steel, which is a significant player in the UK. The British steel industry has been adversely affected by cheap Chinese steel dumped here and in Europe. The British government will henceforward extend procurement guidance to projects worth under 10 million pounds, and those launched by health and local authorities across the country.

Greg Clark, the Business Secretary, explained: ‘This will require projects below this threshold to consider the social and economic impact of the steel used. I don’t want contracts going abroad if the best value for money bid is a British bid with all the social and economic benefits that it brings. By updating our procurement approach on these major infrastructure projects we are creating a level playing field for the UK steel industry.’

As a postscript, one turns to the recent presence in India of Alok Sharma, Britain’s Minister for Asia and

the Pacific. Mr Sharma reaffirmed his government’s commitment to strengthen bilateral ties with India.

‘We think that the relationship is more important than ever,’ he told a meeting of the India-UK Business Council in New Delhi, in answer to a remark that the UK’s visa policy could affect commercial ties, he pointed to ‘Our bilateral trade is at 16 billion pounds and there is huge potential to do even better.’

He said that as the UK was still a member of the European Union, formal talks with India on taking economic relations would have to be deferred, but preliminary soundings had been made on the possible trajectory once serious negotiations commenced. On the question of Indian students wishing to pursue higher studies in the UK, the minister assured his audience that, ‘There is no cap on the number of international students in recognized institutions in the UK. We continue to welcome students from India. We approved 89 per cent of the Indian student visas and the Home Secretary will be consulting widely to ensure it is mutually beneficial.’

MPs disgrace themselves and Indian democracy The winter session of Parliament was a ‘washout’ – a word usually applied to an abandoned cricket match because of rain or poor light. That such a term was used by the media to describe the situation in Parliament over an entire session lasting weeks represents the present sickness in India’s public life. Parliament is where elected legislators are paid from the public purse to debate and discuss issues of national concern. Instead, it has now been reduced to a circus of brawling hooligans, with a weak and incompetent Speaker adjourning the House day after day.

L.K.Advani, the BJP elder statesman, now touching a venerable 90 years, lamented whether it was worth his while attending any more. President Pranab Mukherjee, once an able parliamentarian himself, has repeatedly called MPs to respect an institution that symbolizes the

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essence of democracy, but to no avail. The Opposition benches, led by the Congress party and the Trinamool Congress have shamed themselves and brought disgrace to the politics of the nation.

In a democracy, the Opposition presents itself to the public as a government in waiting. But would who, pray, would want a clown and a thundering nuisance, such as Rahul Gandhi, ever to be prime minister, and Trinamool Congress riff-raff to be ministers?

That it was the BJP in opposition which was primarily responsible for making such a mockery of Parliament is no excuse whatsoever for other parties to emulate such deplorable behavior. It is small wonder why Indian politicians in general command such little public esteem. They are often seen as the dregs of society, without scruple or conscience. Enough said.

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart.

- Helen Keller

Integration and Values Did you see the parents of British Pakistani boxer Amir Khan on TV? Or his wife? Both were arguing their values are the right ones. The hatred and animosity has boiled over to UK TV, Pakistani TV and very much in the public eye.

This comes as British Pakistani Minister for Communities says we should have an oath of allegiance to the UK. And as a Pakistani in Germany commits an act of terror.

The boxer’s mother’s case is that we only asked our daughter in law to wear a ‘duppata’ to cover her head and she was taught by her mother in law in the 1970s when she got married how to dress and she is only treating her son’s wife as her daughter. And the father in law’s case is that it hurts him and the family that the disgusting comments his daughter in law receives on social media.

The daughter in law’s case is that she is being told rudely and without any respect how to behave, dress and it all goes completely contrary to who she is and makes her feel hated.

Some thoughts on what this means for British Indians too.

It doesn’t help to say, ‘I blame the parents for being old fashioned’; ‘I blame the wife for being too modern for the family’; ‘I blame the son’. Gets you nowhere.

Equally either side being rude to the other and analysing who shouldn’t have been rude first is circular and pointless to analyse.

The problem is bigger.

A daughter in law does not want to be a daughter in the new house. My god, I don’t want to be a son in my in-laws house – I want to be a son-in-law – I get treated far better I reckon – like a spoilt King – love it. So please don’t use the ‘I am speaking to you as I would my daughter’ – treat them

as they are – a new guest – I bet you treat guests a lot better than your daughter.

Your ‘honour’ is not damaged by social media and ‘communities’ saying things about your daughter in law. It is damaged when you listen to those people.

Show the courage your son does when in the boxing ring. Be the change for right, not, a sheep.

You live in Britain. The individual has culturally rights and ways of thinking which is right for Britain and you live in Britain. Yes integration is individual rights on dress. I agree, every house in the UK on a Friday night has a British parent saying to a child ‘you’re not going out dressed like that’ – but the difference is they do not say that to the husband’s wife!

I cannot call Amir Khan a mother’s boy unable to stand up to his parents and put them straight on not interfering in his marriage. The guy is clearly a brave individual and I admire him as a professionally.

Little India, little Pakistan in Britain will work up to the point that individuals are paramount, not family, social, community rights. That is British heritage. If you don’t like it…expect grief…destroy the marriages of your children.

Respect works both ways and in Britain, age and parent only gives you so much of a green card to do and say what you want.

We poke fun at the Queen – you think parents get spared. So ensure respect feeds downwards too.

Daughters in law don’t care what your mother in law did to you. In Britain women are not unequal to men. Sons – better train up the folks to watch more Eastenders and Emmerdale and less Indian Soaps I think!

Editor: CB Patel

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Asian Voice |24th December 2016

ISIS terrorist's threats to city councillor who testified against him A Birmingham Muslim councillor has stepped up security after receiving chilling threats from terrorist Humza Ali after giving evidence against him at court.

Hodge Hill councillor Majid Mahmood has feared for his and his family’s safety after agreeing to appear as a prosecution witness in the case at Birmingham Crown Court.

The Labour council cabinet member was even warned to avoid public appearances.

And council bosses have provided him with extra security during recent public meetings - including Tuesday’s cabinet meeting.

The court heard that Mr Mahmood, who is also a solicitor, was sent a series of threatening and abusive messages by Ali via social media sites WhatsApp and Facebook.

One in Urdu and English

Labour Councillor for Hodge Hill, Majid Mahmood.

read: “Watch out. You nonbeliever. Rot in hell you pig.”

In another, sent during the 2015 general election campaign, he was told: “You should leave democracy and accept Islam”.

The abuse peaked around the 2015 and 2016 spring elections when Cllr Mahmood was out campaigning in the community.

Now following the case,

Mr Mahmood said: “This has been a very harrowing time for myself and my family. I would like to place on record my thanks to West Midlands Police, the Crown Prosecution Service, my family, friends and the Labour Party for their support especially during the last few weeks of the trial.”

And in a mes- Humza Ali (top right), Mohammed Ali Ahmed (bottom left), Gabriel Rasmus (front row, sage to the wider second left) and Abdelatif Gaini city he said: (front row, second right) “Humza Ali is not in their fight against radicalirepresentative of the Muslim sation on all fronts. I would community in Birmingham. therefore appeal to anyone in His views are not condoned or the community who is aware supported by the vast majoriof someone who may have ty of Muslims. All of us have a been radicalised to speak to duty, indeed a responsibility the police immediately.” to work with the police to help

Solihull dad 'killed by single punch as he broke up fight' on Costa del Sol A Solihull dad-of-four has died after allegedly being killed by a single punch as he tried to break up a fight on the Costa del Sol. Holidaymaker Nadeem Aslam died of head injuries after the alleged attack in the resort of Fuengirola at around 11.30pm on Thursday, December 8.

Reports in the Spanish press said the 42-year-old businessman had been drinking in an ex-pats pub with wife Jayne before walking with friends to get some takeaway food. Eyewitnesses say

one of his friends was then involved in a bust-up with two Polish men. As Mr Aslam tried to break up the fight, it’s claimed he was knocked to the floor by a single punch, hitting his head on the pavement. Paramedics battled for 45 minutes to try and revive him but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The alleged attacker was understood to have fled the scene before later handing himself in to Spanish police. A 34-year-old remains in custody in Malaga.

Witness Paolo Mortoni, a

Pupils hold protest after three children are run over outside school

Pupils from Sudbury Primary School held a protest

(Pic: Adam Tiernan Thomas)

Young pupils in Sudbury formed a “walking bus” to urge motorists to drive slower after three children were run-over outside their primary school last month.

They were taken to a central London hospital where they were treated for their injuries which are said not to be life-threatening or lifechanging.

Staff led 930 pupils from Sudbury Primary School in Watford Road, on the mile-long protest to raise awareness of traffic dangers. They formed their walking bus exactly two

weeks after two pupils and their toddler brother was hit by a car on November 25 at 3.30pm. The pupils showed their handmade posters with warnings including “Aggressive is not Impressive”, “Slower Speeds = Happy People”, “Slow Down for a Happy Town” and “Do Not Crash Car” to motorists as they drove past.

The day was given to a road awareness campaign with two assemblies in the afternoon, to encourage children to encourage their own parents not to drive to school.

British expat, told local newspaper The Olive Press that Mr Aslam and his wife were making their second trip to the resort this year. “They had been over in the summer for a holiday and had come back to unwind before he opened up his new waffle shop in Birmingham. We had all had a fair bit to drink in the Seaside Bar in the centre of Fuengirola and then Aslam, his wife and another couple from Birmingham went off to find some food,” he said.

Mr Aslam’s four children, aged between 14 and 22, are

Nadeem Aslam who died whilst on holiday

now understood to have joined their devastated mother in Spain. They were expected to return to the UK with their father’s body this week.

Alum Rock rapist jailed for 19 years for sickening attack on teenage babysitter A Birmingham rapist was caught after his brave teenage victim made a “secret” mobile phone call to police during the attack.

Rashid Ulhaqdad, 35, has been jailed for 19 years after travelling 100 miles to Liverpool to carry out the sickening assault on the 17year-old. But the serial sex attacker was caught after the victim dialed police while he was in her home.

Ulhaqdad, was jailed at Liverpool Crown Court last Rashid Ulhaqdad was jailed for Monday. This included a five- raping and assaulting a woman year extended sentence after in Birkenhead the judge ruled he posed a sigOn hearing police arrive, nificant risk of harm after she told her attacker to leave hearing he had previously by the back door - but then let attacked other women. in the officers, who ran in and The court heard he met caught him. the teenager after previously Ulhaqdad pleaded guilty delivering food to her home. to three rape offences, two They had exchanged numbers sexual assaults, assault and and arranged to meet at a relbreaching an order preventative’s home where she was ing him from arranging to babysitting her nephew. But meet women using his phone. he hit the victim with an He was also ordered to sign empty bottle moments after the Sex Offenders Register for she put her nephew to bed life. before threatening to kill her.

Judge Robert Warnock She was raped three times described the rapist as a during her ordeal but man“predatory sex offender” as he aged to dial police. jailed him.

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In Brief

Bank raiders jailed for more than 20 years over armed holdups

Abdul Ghaffar

David Russell

Two armed robbers have been jailed after carrying out terrifying bank raids across Birmingham, which saw staff and customers threatened with an imitation gun.

Abdul Ghaffar was sentenced to nineand-a-half years after pleading guilty to three bank robberies and three counts of possessing an imitation firearm. His accomplice in the second robbery David Russell was sentenced to 11 years after being found guilty.

Birmingham Crown Court heard Ghaffar, 26, first targeted a busy Barclays bank on Washwood Heath Road when he burst into the branch wearing a balaclava on May 19. He threatened a cashier with an imitation handgun, and ordered her to hand over money, before escaping in a taxi.

The second raid took place at Lloyds Bank on Bordesley Green Road on May 26.

Funds raised for funeral for Syrian man stabbed in Birmingham

Friends of a 23year-old man stabbed to death at the weekend are raising funds for his Ibrahim funeral.

Ismail was found outside the Raxo Ibrahim Ismail shisha lounge on Moseley Street, Digbeth, Birmingham, in the early hours of Saturday. He was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital.

A post-mortem examination revealed he had stab wounds to his chest and back.

Police said they were investigating reports there had been an "altercation" beforehand.

Detectives granted extension in questioning terror suspects

Detectives have been given a further extension to the amount of time they are allowed to hold and question six terrorism suspects. Four men from Derby, a man from Burton upon Trent and a woman from London were arrested on suspicion of offences under the Terrorism Act last week.

The North East Counter Terrorism Unit was later granted more time to question the six people. A further extension means the suspects can now be held until Boxing Day. The four men from Derby are aged 22, 27, 35 and 36. The suspect from Burton upon Trent is aged 27 and the woman from London is 32.

Sources said the investigation was into a group believed to be working towards an attack, although a strike was not thought to be imminent.

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Choudary's ex-bodyguard the new 'Jihadi John'?

Is the former bodyguard (Mohammed Reza Haque) to hate preacher Anjem Choudary the new 'Jihadi John'?

Counter terror officials are probing if Haque has appeared in a chilling propaganda video for IS, beheading a prisoner.

Haque, from Bethnal Green, East London, has previously been pictured acting as a bodyguard for Choudary at demonstrations in London. Choudary was jailed in September for five years and six months for promoting support for IS. Someone who appears to be Haque features in the newly released video dressed in black and using a hunting knife to cut the head off a bound and

tioners to feature in an IS execution video. He was believed to be the man standing next to Brit Siddhartha Dhar, also known as Abu Rumaysah.

Counter terror sources confirmed that Haque is in Syria and said they were probing the video.

Stringfellow owns the eponymous club in Covent Garden and Angels in Soho and reportedly pays himself a salary of £1 million annuPeter Stringfellow and his dogs ally from the flown by two pilots and will revenues of his clubs. He be taken care of on arrival has two adult children

by Stringfellow's sister-infrom earlier marriages and law. two infant children from “The dogs have spent his latest marriage to his their lives in Majorca and third wife Bella, a former wouldn’t like English ballerina 41 years his junweather. They live better ior. The tycoon famously than I do. They were all PM invited former born in Spain, but speak Margaret Thatcher to tour very good English,” Stringfellows in 2005 and Stringfellow jokes. donated the use of the club Seventy-six-year-old for her to hold a fundraiser.

Brain test on 3-year-olds can 'identify future criminals' Scientists say a 45-minute 'brain health' test on threeyear-olds can identify if they are likely to grow up as criminals, obsese or get benefits. The discovery was made in a 35-year research of nearly 1,000 people born in Dunedin (New Zealand).

They found a fifth of the population is responsible for four fifths of crime, two fifths of obesity, three quarters of fatherless families and for claiming two thirds of benefits.

According to the study,

published in journal Nature Human Behaviour, the 'brain test' rating children on IQ and self-control, combined with information about deprivation and maltreatment, allowed scientists to predict “with considerable accuracy” which would go on to be the greatest burden on the state.

The study's director Richard Poulton said the findings shouldn't be used to stigmatise or stereotype but instead tackle childhood disadvantage.

Cancer deaths to 'drop in next 20 years' A leading cancer charity has said cancer deaths will plummet by 400,000 over the next 20 years, thanks to advances in research.

According to figures released by Cancer Research UK, the decrease – which equates to a 15% drop in the overall cancer death rate – is largely due to improvements in detection, diagnosis and treatments. For every 100,000 people in the UK, 331 died from cancer in 2014. But by 2035 this number is predicted to drop to 280 per 100,000 people.

101-year-old paedophile jailed A paedophile aged 101 has been jailed for 13 years for committing 30 child sex offences. Ralph Clarke, of Erdington, Birmingham, is thought to be the oldest person convicted in British legal history. He carried out 'repeated and sustained' abuse of two girls

Mosque signing paves way for Muslim-owned businesses to support Armed Forces

Mohammed Reza Haque and Anjem Choudary

kneeling captive, the Mail on Sunday reported.

Thirty-six-year-old Haque was nicknamed Giant by his fellow jihadis after fleeing to Syria in 2014.

Earlier this year it was reported he was among a group of masked execu-

Nightclub tycoon Stringfellow's pooches fly by private jet The saying, “Every dog has its day” is true if the life of these four pampered canines is anythig to go by.

Nightclub magnate Peter Stringfellow has chartered a private plane to transport his two chihuahuas Cindy and Ollie and two Yorkshire terriers Cindy and Ollie from his holday home in Spain to Italy.

Stringfellow could not join them on the flight, telling The Times he has “a business to run”. He will follow next month on a budget airline. “I will be going either easyJet or bloody Ryanair, for God's sake,” he said.

The pooches were attended by a stewardess,

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Asian Voice | 24th December 2016

and a boy when they were aged between four and 13.

The former RAF serviceman, who was born in March 1915, was given details of the sentencing by an intermediary.

He was told that before he could be considered for parole he would serve at

Ralph Clarke

least six years for 30 offences. The judge at Birmingham crown court said that he had shown no remorse.

A Nottingham Mosque has signed the Armed Forces Covenant, ushering in a wave of Muslim-owned businesses which are now committed to supporting members of the military.

The Karimia Mosque and Institute put pen to paper in a significant moment today, formally recognising the important role which the Armed Forces play in the UK and abroad and supporting their work.

The commitment has already had a big impact across Nottinghamshire, with 16 local Muslimowned businesses, from taxi firms like DG Cars to cargo companies such as MSA Transport, following the Mosque’s lead by signing the pledge which the government enshrined in law as a promise from the nation that the Forces community will be treated fairly.

As well as formalising their support for the Armed Forces, those businesses will now help personnel through looking to employ veterans and facilitating the needs of Reserves with support and appropriate levels of leave to work and train.

In attendance at the signing, Defence Minister Mark Lancaster said: “Karimia Mosque’s support is incredibly significant for the proud relationship between our Armed Forces and the Muslim community, and it has already paved the way for Muslim-owned businesses across Nottinghamshire to follow suit. That means opportunities for our people, and that these businesses will benefit from the unique skills and experience which the military community offers.”

Dr Musharraf Hussain, Chief Imam and CEO Karimia Institute, said: “We believe that the defence and security of our country is an important job. Those engaged in that task must be respected, supported and appreciated.

Muslims are one of the youngest communities in Britain therefore we are encouraging them to join and play their role in

Sir John Peace, Lord Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire, Dr. Musharraf Hussain OBE, DL and Mark Lancaster TD MP, Under Secretary of State for Defence

defending our country.

“Thousands of Muslims died for Great Britain during the First and Second World War. I think, by signing the Covenant, we are honouring those heroes too. We are making a solemn promise to show and encourage support for the Armed Forces community. We want the Muslim community to recognise and remember the sacrifices the Armed Forces have made and continue to do so.”

the Army Cadet Force. I am sure that going forward, we will be able to do a lot of great work together.”

The news is another example of the Armed Forces Covenant in action and coincides with this week’s publication of the Covenant Annual Report, which highlights achievements from the past 12 months and outlines targets for the coming year.

Some of the successes delivered through the

The signing of the Covenant will build on the strong ties already established between the Karimia Mosque and Institute and the Armed Forces, particularly 7th Infantry Brigade, based at Chetwynd Barracks, Chilwell.

Commander of 7th Infantry Brigade, Brigadier Charlie Collins was also in attendance at the event. He said: “We have built a strong friendship with Dr Hussain and members of the Karimia Institute.

Recently we enjoyed hosting two separate weekend events where the Muslim community spent time with our Reservists and Army Cadet Adult Instructors to find out about life in the Army and

Armed Forces Covenant over the last year include: Over 9,000 personnel benefiting from the Forces Help to Buy scheme, to the sum of approximately £136 million.

86% of the UK’s motor insurance industry committing to waive cancellation fees and preserve no claims discounts for up to three years when personnel and their families are posted abroad.

A network of nearly 200 Armed Forces Covenant champions was introduced across Forces units to act as the focal point for their local community and to help deliver information about the Covenant directly to personnel and their families.

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Asian Voice |24th December 2016

Brit-Asian women opt to marry Indian and Pakistani men in search of stability Rupanjana Dutta Dame Louise Casey's report has said that spouses from overseas has led to a failure of integration in the minority communityespecially Bangladeshi and Pakistani community, who bring spouses from abroad. It creates a 'first generation in every generation' phenomenon in which each new generation grows up with a foreign-born parent. This seems particularly prevalent in South Asian communities.

But surprisingly an increasing number of British Asian women are choosing to marry men from South Asia and not from the UK, many of them through arranged marriages.

These are not victims of Forced Marriage that are prevalent in some communities, but they are trend setters, deliberately seeking their spouses from abroad. Many claim they are witnessing an extra sense of responsibilities in men from South Asia, many because of their upbringings and exposures.

Anisha Thakker's* heartbreak led to marrying someone from abroad.

Speaking to Asian Voice she said, “I married to a man, an alliance through family friends. My story was bit like Mahima's in the film Pardes. My husband who was British-

Indian, did not work, whole day watched television, did not do any house work, half the time hung around with friends in pubs, and shouted abuses at me, even started hitting me. I had a job soon but then he soon started drinking away my money.

So I left him. I had much difficulty to get a divorce, but in the end I succeeded.

Years later I married someone else. But I chose a man from India, because my faith in someone from here was shaken by my own experience.”

The Asian Age wrote about Imrana, a BritPakistani woman who chose her secomd husband from Pakistan, after suffering through her first marriage- very similar to Anisha's story. “My first husband was from the UK. But he was an absolute nightmare. He would spend his evenings out with his mates almost every night and would come home stoned regu-

larly.

“The only reason his parents wanted him to get married was because they thought he would settle down and stop smoking weed.

They literally dumped their problem onto me.

“His idea of marriage was having someone to have intimate relations with and a cook. Nothing else.

“I eventually divorced him. His constant weed smoking made him paranoid and he started accusing me of having affairs and other idiotic things.

“It took me about two years to be ready to get married again. But this time I wanted a husband from Pakistan. I didn’t want to go through the same experience.”

Harpreet Kaur told Asian Voice, “My parents never cared whether we sisters marry men from here or India. I first visited India (Punjab) when I was 19 and I just loved it. I

moved to India for higher study, because I wanted to be closer to my roots. I was introduced to my future husband by my uncle in Delhi, soon we started talking over the phone and meeting. I liked him, there was a courtship of 2 years, and then I married him.

We came back to the UK recently, he as my dependent.

“Indian men are generally more accountable, something they are taught from childhood- to take responsibility of the family as a male member.

Though often that creates inequalities than not among genders, but in the long run, it is a quality I was looking for in my future partner, and found in Ajay. Moreover given his education and exposure, he believes in sharing responsibilities equallythat works very well for me.”

Karthik Jagannathan, a marriage counseller said, “In the era of virtual love, internet and dating sites, it is indeed interesting to see people finding love and stability through arranged marriages across oceans. Of course the way such marriages work has changed. Seldom an educated woman meets a man, and marries him on the second date. The courtship period helps to familiraise with one's ways.” (*Name changed on request)

National Action becomes first extreme-right wing group to be banned in the UK National Action has become the first extreme right-wing group on Friday 16 December to be proscribed as a terrorist organisation.

An order laid in Parliament on Monday (12 December) to proscribe National Action under the Terrorism Act 2000 has now come into effect following debates in the Houses of Parliament. As a result, being a member – or inviting support for – the organisation will be a criminal offence, carrying a sentence of up to ten years imprisonment.

National Action is a neo-Nazi group that was established in 2013 and has branches across the

Home Secretary Amber Rudd

UK. It has been proscribed following an assessment that it is “concerned in terrorism”.

The group’s online propaganda material, disseminated via social media, frequently features

extremely violent imagery and language. National Action also promoted and encouraged acts of terrorism after Jo Cox’s murder.

Home Secretary Amber Rudd said: "As Home Secretary, I am clear that the safety and security of our families, communities and country comes first.

"National Action is a racist, anti-Semitic and homophobic organisation which stirs up hatred, glorifies violence and promotes a vile ideology. It has absolutely no place in a Britain that works for everyone.

“Proscribing it will prevent its membership from growing, stop the spread of poisonous prop-

aganda and protect vulnerable young people at risk of radicalisation from its toxic views.”

Decisions about whether to proscribe a particular organisation are taken after extensive consideration and in light of a full assessment of available information. The Home Secretary took the decision to proscribe National Action prior to the trial of Thomas Mair, who was convicted and sentenced for the murder of Jo Cox MP. National Action becomes the 71st organisation to be proscribed, alongside 14 organisations connected to Northern Ireland.

New method to count Asiatic lions in India Experts at the University of Oxford have come up with the "most robust" method that will make counting Asiatic lions in India more accurate. Using a case study of the Maasai Mara National Reserve, and other conservancies in

Kenya, the new method was devised by Arjun Gopalaswamy and Nic Elliot of the Department of Zoology at Oxford.

Published in journal Conservation Biology, it adapts methodologies that have successfully been used

by scientists to count other big cats, such as tigers and cheetahs. Gopalaswamy said, "Good estimates of big cat abundance can only be obtained when a rigorous field method is combined with a tailor-made statistical method. This study

demonstrates the power of such a combined approach.

Think of it this way, a survey might reveal there are 200 identified lions, but it will tell you nothing about how many were missed and where. Our method crucially corrects for this prob-

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Stag do prank kills Best man Witnesses heard a loud 'bang' when Nishanthan Gnanathas, 31, was picked and thrown overboard during a trip in Portugal in July. The risk manager in London, was with 12 friends on a boat anchored for lunch on the River Tagus, when friend Youssef Ismail and Andre Van Eck decided to play a prank.

Westminster Coroner's Court was given details of the party, with Van Eck giving evidence that he had planned to throw Nish in the water at that specific spot after consulting with the captain who assured him it was "safe". Recalling the incident, he said, "We were on the boat standing, and Nish was just opposite me. Just before that, he went to get his phone, and Youssef took the phone off him. He said, look, I will take the photos." Van Eck said they were chatting for a bit before he "told the guys to move out of the way" when he picked the deceased up and threw him in. He added, "To my recollection, he grabbed one of the rails, and half swung back on himself, hitting the side of the boat- whether it

Nishanthan Gnanathas

was his head or his body, I don't know, but there was a big bang. He went under."

When asked if Nish was "willing" to be thrown in, he said he was more concerned about his beer.

"He protested in the sense he had a beer in his hand.

We had just started drinking. On a stag do beer is precious." Ismail, whose stag do it was, said, "We were on the boat and we pulled over. Nish ended up the water. He hit his head on the way in, everyone went 'ooh'. About six seconds later, myself and Andre jumped in. I couldn't find him, the water was very green. We were there until the police showed up." The body was found four days later.

Muslim woman falls victim to "sickening" attack

A young Muslim woman who was knocked down and dragged along the pavement by her hijab, was left shaken in Hall Lane in Chingford Mount, north London. The 27 year old was visiting a friend at a hair salon when two white men approached her from behind and tried to remove her headscarf. She was forced to the ground and heaved several metres before she was let off.

Witnesses saw her lying on the floor for almost 20 minutes before she managed to dial 999 and limp to a nearby Turkish restaurant. A waiter at the Fes restaurant said, "The poor girl was shaking like a leaf, we had to sit her down and give her water before she could speak. She told us two white boys shoved her then dragged her along the floor by her headscarf and lem that existed in previous methods by estimating density at a very fine scale so that we can produce a map to show which areas have high or low density."

The survey circumvents previous problems by using a "spatially explicit" approach, involving five field teams systematically

left her on the pavement.

She was having a panic attack when we saw her and could barely breathe."

Paramedics attended her and treated her for back injuries before they took her to a hospital. A diner, Hussan Bukhari said the woman was "absolutely terrified and in tears." "She had back surgery last month and was really worried it was damaged again as she couldn't walk by herself. She said 'They took nothing from me, not my phone, not my bag. They just thought they could get away with it.

I through this area was safe.' As a Muslim myself, that could have been my mother or sister who was carried in so I felt really protective of her." A Scotland Yard spokesman said officers were investigating the incident. searching the Maasai Mara National Reserve and surrounding conservancies for lions.

Their search effort during the 90 day survey was carefully logged. High resolution photographs of individual lions helped researchers log their unique whisker spots.

www.asian-voice.com AsianVoiceNews

Indian diaspora awaits RBI updates on currency ban The Indian diaspora in the UK is still worried about their old Rs 500 and Rs 1000 banknotes they have with them, as the deadline to deposit the cash draws close (30 Dec).

Awaiting PM NaMo's special consideration to allow them deposit the old currency here, some people wrote to Asian Voice, asking for a solution.

As we know British Indians can leave India with Rs 25,000 per person. Individually it is a small amount of money but collectively (200,000 visitors/year) it is around Rs 2500 Crore (£250mn) over a period of 5 years.

Asian Voice has proposedthat the Indian government allows BritIndians and NRIs to be allowed to deposit their money at Indian banks here in the UK after the necessary due diligence (eg proof of their last travel to India etc). They could withdraw this amount from their NRO account, whenever they visit India in the near future, after showing the deposit receipts.

The RBI has confirmed that anyone visiting can still leave India with Rs 25,000 but in legal tenders (the new notes).

Rt Hon Keith Vaz, told Asian Voice, “In November, I wrote to Prime Minister Modi, following a meeting with the acting Indian High Commissioner to he United Kingdom, HE Dinesh Patnaik. In that letter I proposed three measures, which would adrress the concerns of the diaspora: “1. Extending the deadline for the exchange of Rupees, for Indians living overseas, to after the Summer Holidays in 2017.

“2. Allowing British Indians to be able to deposit and exchange currency in Indian banks in the UK “3. Appointing a Special Envoy to the British Indian diaspora, based in the Indian High Commission.

“With regards to the exchange of currency in Indian banks based in the United Kingdom, I have now received a response from Mark Carney, Governor of the Bank of England.

“The Goveror has looked into this matter in great detail. He has now confirmed that all possible obstacles to this proposal have now been removed, and the Indian

UK Asian Voice | 24th December 2016

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

government can make the decision to permit currency exchanges in the UK at will.

“I have therefore written again to Prime Minister Modi, as well as Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to ask that they strongly consider allowing the currency to be exchanged in the United Kingdom.”

At the moment, NRIs would personally need to exchange the notes in India or authorise someone to do it for them. The foreign branches of Indian banks, both public and private sector, are not accepting cash outside the country.

If NRIs are travelling to India between 9 nov 2016 to the 30 December 2016, they can exchange or deposit it in their NRO account.

If NRIs are travelling to the country between 02 January and 31 March 2017, they can visit any of the specified offices of the RBI along with the required documentation, passport and visa details, that prove they were out of the country and exchange the notes.

Although the list of RBI offices that will accept this is still unclear.

If NRIs have the banknotes in India, they may authorize in writing enabling another person in India to deposit the notes into their bank account. The authorized person has to come to the bank branch with the notes, the authority letter given by you and a valid identity proof to deposit the money on your behalf.

If NRIs have the money abroad, they can send the money across to India through someone trustworthy and authorize them to deposit it on their behalf.

Sources reveal that the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seriously considering the proposal and the newspaper is hopeful that the deadline to exchange Indian currencies will not only be extended, but Indian banks in the UK may allow depositing these currencies here locally, as requested. It is perhaps wise to keep in touch with your local Indian bank branch to hear about updates, if any.

7

Like Diwali and Eid, British Asians celebrate Christmas in style Rupanjana Dutta The British Asian community, an integral part of this country, celebrates Christmas with the same spirit and enthusiam as they enjoy Diwali or Vaisakhi or even Eid. Growing up, in schools, children automatically become a part of the culture and festival, that shapes their individual identity later. From trees to greeting cards to presents to naitivity plays, Asian people of all ages celebrate Christmas as a festival of their own.

Of course in India, which is a home to 24 million Christians, Christmas is a big affair too. In Britain, similarly many minority communities, especially Indians celebrate Christmas with full fervour- pomp and gaiety.

Speaking to Asian Voice, Debasree Breen Ghosh, described how Christmas is celebrated in their household. “We do tree, wreath, presents, stocking, carols, the turkey, sprouts- everything. Of course two out of three (husband and daughter) of us are Catholic. But it's more of a cultural celebratory 'spirit of the season' thing for us than religious.”

Bharat Vaswani, said, “I call it Jesu Pooja. We celebrate Christmas as much as we do Diwali. We have a wreath and a Christmas tree all lit up. But then one half of us (my wife) is a Christian! Having said that I think Christmas is a wonderful and a beautiful event to celebrate. In the end it means we are celebrating the beginnings of good tidings.”

Suchira Ray, a lawyer by profession has also lived at several places in India, told the newspaper, “I do Christmas as well as any Christian.

Midnight mass, Naouhms brownies, cheesy decora-

tions, Christmas lunch at The Only Place. I have celebrated grandly wherever I have been. In the past five years have celebrated in Stuttgart, Bangalore, Calcutta and London.”

Prabhakar Kaza, an eminent personality from the BritTelegu community said, “We used to have Christmas tree when Aaditya (my son) was young. Now that he is grown up we have to wait for next generation.

We keep Jesus Christ and Mary in our Dussera (Gollu) at home. We go to St Albans Cathedral for Christmas eve midnight Mass, every year.”

Sheetal Gaur, told Asian Voice, “We do a tree every year, light up our house, have a get together at our place with some family and friends and buy lots of presents too.”

Diana Suja Madanraj, a Brit-Indian doctor from Liverpool, who now lives in N e w Zealand, told Asian Voice, “I love Christmas and go all out, but then of course I'm Christian so it's perhaps expected.”

Deepa Sugathan, a solicitor, who runs her own City law firm with Partners, is married to Mathew Philip. She told Asian Voice, “My son Ryan waits for Christmas the whole year. We start with Advent Calender (elf delivers it on 30 NOvember with Santa's letter confirming if Ryan has been on the Nice or Naughty list). Every day little treats come in till the big one on Christmas eve from the Northpole itself. Since Santa doesn't come through Chinmey these days, we leave the key and cookie next to the tree. Wreath, tree, lights and family lunch with my sister and friends- we do it all. That day my husband and brother-in-law cooks the roast. Ofcourse there is lots of wine, and I forgot to mention we almost make it to the midnight Mass.”

However for Pratik Dattani, Christmas means the new episode of Doctor Who is out, but for Titli Datta, it means the next Aamir Khan movie will be releasing.

Although the spirit of Christmas also stands for charity and compassion for the 'have nots', sadly it has been overtaken by extreme commercialism in recent years. Nevertheless, with the lit up trees and streets, German markets, carols, marshmellows and Santa Clause with his many grottos across towns – Christmas is indeed the favourite celebration for all.

Who is the be est bake er you know?

W

bakers to t enter the tent.

Visit: www.applyforbake eofff.c f o.uk

Applications close Sunda ay 8th Januarry 2017

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Indian style Christmas Asian Charities keep the Xmas spirit alive Dinner gain popularity Smita Sarkar

Christmas dining in an Indian style might be something you want to explore this year, with top Indian restaurants adding on items that is customary to Christmas lunch and dinner; in their regular menu.

The Red Fort restaurant at Soho has a moth-watering spread for Christmas lunch and dinner. Prem Sangwan, General Manager at the Red Fort and Zenna Bar said the chef has experimented with traditional British Christmas treats and given them some classic Indian flavours.

The lunch attractions include Lahsooni Turkey, that is charcoal grilled turkey breast pieces spiced with ginger, garlic and black salt. Starters will include Salmon Tikka Scottish Salmon marinated with mustard, ginger and garlic and seared in tandoor. Dum ka Guinea Fowl which is French Guinea fowl in a saffron, ginger- garlic, coriander and cardamom sauce is

the other special treat.

According to Priyanka Shivhare of the decadesold Veeraswamy restaurant at Regent Street, a special goose item Goose Plum Dopiaza - a slow tan-

Courtesy: Red Fort

door cooked goose breast with plum and caramelised onion masala is a must-try on Christmas day.

Quilon restaurant at the Buckingham Gate will be shut on Christmas, but restaurant manager Shantanu talks about the special items in their regular menu that is in the offer right now. Masala sea brem with kokum and chili, flambeed bibinca in rose petal ice cream and lamb shank slow cooked in onions, tomatoes and

spices are the main delicacies of the restaurant this season.

Les Portes Des Indes in Marble Arch will also be shut on Christmas day, but their festive tasting menu and Sunday buffets include the Guinea fowl tikka which is a slow cooked tandoori item in nutmeg sauce, goat samosasand a traditional green jackfruit with spinach item that have been grabbing rave reviews by the customers.

Christmas is about family and a meal with all the trimmings at the heart of it.

The Indian restaurants have kept this in mind and priced their menus accordingly, keeping it reasonable at around £50 per adult and £35 per child for a three course meal. They have also kept the comforts of the family gathering, the ambience and hospitality in mind this Christmas season. What awaits you now is a warm welcome and spiced up Christmas with some great tasting food.

Lord Bilimoria marks a decade in the HoL

In the 10 years since being appointed an i n d e p e n d e n t Crossbench Peer, Lord Bilimoria has gained a reputation of speaking passionately in the House of Lords Chamber on topics as diverse as entrepreneurship, higher education and, recently, Brexit. On the occasion of his 10th anniversary in the House of Lords, Lord Bilimoria chose to champion another matter that is close to his heart – philanthropy. And, on 5 th December, he held a reception in the Lord Speaker’s River Room to raise awareness about the amazing work of three charities that he supports: the Gurkha Welfare Trust, the Saalam Balaak Trust and the Cobra Foundation.

The event saw speakers discuss the role of their charities, how they got involved and the remarkable results that their work has achieved. A number of high profile MPs and Lords, as well as the Indian Law and Justice Minister, Dr Ashwani Kumar, were in attendance. As were representatives from the pinnacle of the British army, past and present, including the head of the British Army, General Sir Nick Carter, and the former head of the British Army, Field Marshal Sir John Chapple.

Speaking at the event, Piers Lawson detailed the

incredible work that the Gurkha Welfare Trust do to ensure that Gurkha pensioners are cared for in their old age, which includes providing pensions, healthcare, and housing, as well as disaster relief – since the devastation of the 2015 earthquakes in Nepal, the Trust has worked tirelessly to provide supplies, medical aid, and shelter to those affected. Nick Thompson spoke about how he was first exposed to the Saalam Balaak Trust, when travelling through India, and noted the ability of the Trust to provide a safe and nourishing environment for street children in Delhi, in order to help them reach their full potential or, in the words of the charity’s director, Sanjoy Roy, “achieve their dreams”.

Patrick Shervington explained the way in which the Cobra Foundation has collaborated with partners to provide health, education and community support for young people in South Asia, in particular noting its partnership with

Belu water, which has success raises funds for Water Aid. He recounted how Lord Bilimoria’s father, Lt Gen Faridoon Bilimoria, became the founding President of the Trust before tragically passing away on the very day that the Trust was recognised by the Charity Commission, and praised the contribution of the current President Field Marshal Sir John Chapple.

When concluding, Lord Bilimoria said: “This year marks ten years since my introduction to the House of Lords, where we are privileged to be able to host events for charities, something which I have done regularly over the years. To mark a decade in Parliament, I could think of nothing better than to highlight the work of three charities that I am associated with: the Gurkha Welfare Trust, the Saalam Balaak Trust and the Cobra Foundation, which has supported 92 charities since its inception.”

There is something about Christmas that makes us become friendlier, selfless and kinder towards the poor and vulnerable in the society.

Keeping the Christmas spirit alive, Asians charitable organisations belonging to different faiths and religions have come forward to spread happiness and benevolence by generously contributing their time, money and energy to pay back to the disadvantaged in London and Midlands in UK. Jasvir Singh, Chairman of City Sikhs, a charitable organisation of the Sikh Community working for the underprivileged told Asian Voice “individual volunteers from our group will be volunteering in Crisis Centres around London and the Midlands during Christmas.”

Rubeena Kaur Mehat, one of the Ambassadors for City Sikhs organised a donation drive for the homeless. The donation was made to Coventry Cyrenians on the 19 December, to be distributed on Christmas day.

Essential winter clothing, over 200 pairs of socks and gloves; unperishable food items like cases of beans, sugar, squash, tea bags, chocolate bars and energy drinks have been donated for the poor in London and Midlands.

The Khalsa Aid, another charity run by the Sikh community in UK have been volunteering for the crisis in war-torn areas of Syria, Iraq through donations and by kind.

“Christmas is a challenging time of the year for the susceptible and weaker sections and we encourage our volunteers and ambassadors to provide support

Rubeena Kaur Mehat organised a donation drive for the homeless to Coventry Cyrenians

in their individual and collective capacity,” said Jasvir.

According to the Hindu priest late Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj of the Swaminarayan Temple at Neasden, “In the joy of others lies our own.”

Keeping up with this Hindu spirit of giving, “the Swaminarayan Temple’s charity is supporting the national charity for the homeless CRISIS,” said Yogen Shah a volunteer with the Swaminarayan Temple. “Ten packs full of new winter and regular clothes has been collected and will be donated on Christmas day,” he said.

City Hindus Network’s (CHS) Charity has been involved in two big seva projects this winter.

According to Vice Chairman Neel Patani “first we partnered with AMURT, to feed the homeless – serving hot vegetarian meals to over 500 people in need.”

“Second CHN assisted ‘Wrap-Up London’ with their annual coat collection campaign, in order to collect warm coats and distribute to London’s most vulnerable people during the winter months,” said Neel.

The ‘Wrap Up London’ initiative have collected over 20,000 coats, to be

sorted and distributed this winter.

The joys of giving during this season seems to be deeply embedded in the Asian community as a whole.

Seven-year-old Arush Anand, an Indian origin Year 3 student at Nottingham High School came in the news recently when he was asked to write a letter to Santa at school.

His teacher was taken aback by the heartfelt letter that said “the only thing I want for Christmas is peace, like in Syria. Please give money to charities. PS: Don’t give me anything else,” he wrote in his school assignment.

Incidentally, Easter was the main Christian holiday and Christmas developed from the tradition of giving gifts to the poor and the following Boxing day when gift boxes were opened and people shared the joy of giving.

Christmas is all about the spirit of giving and an attitude of the heart that cuts across religion, races and social boundaries. It is a time to show your gratitude to the saviour – Lord Jesus and the Asian community, like always has come together to contribute and get their karma right in this festive season.

Indian student numbers increase while Britain plans to halve Tier 4 visas The Government figures have revealed that the number of Indians receiving visas to study in the UK has increased by 6 % in the third quarter of 2016 after seven years of decline. The 2012 abolition of poststudy work visas (PSW) has been believed to be one of the key factors for the subsequent decline.

Between July and September 2016, 8,692 student visas – known as Tier 4 visas – were granted to Indian applicants, compared to 8,224 issued during the same period in 2015. Some believe the fall in pound value against rupees, after Brexit has encouraged the Indian students to apply in Britain again.

Traditionally the busiest quarter for student visa applications – since 2009, when UK student

visas issued to Indians increased by 72% to 29,207. The number of issued visas increased slightly from 338 to 345 in the second quarter of 2016 compared with the same period in 2015, but the third quarter increase was the first significant rise since the first quarter of 2011.

Sponsored visa applications from Indians to study in the UK increased by 5% between 2015 Q3 and 2016 Q3 to 9,207, the largest number since 2013. Across all countries, there was a 2.6% increase in Tier 4 visas issued in the third quarter of 2016 compared with the same time in 2015.

However the Guardian has revealed that The Home Office is considering cutting international student numbers at UK universities by nearly half. The

threat is being greeted with dismay by university heads, who say some good overseas applicants are already being refused visas on spurious grounds.

The home secretary, Amber Rudd, pledged a crackdown on international student numbers at the Conservative party conference in October, to include tougher visa rules for “lower quality” universities and courses. But senior university sources are warning that they have seen Home Office plans that model slashing overseas student numbers, with one option to cut the current 300,000 to 170,000 a year. International students bring more than £10.7bn to the UK economy, according to Universities UK, the vicechancellors’ umbrella group.

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UK Asian Voice | 24th December 2016

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Rani Singh, Special Assignments Editor

Principal Specialist George Cherukara: Working in the Purest Form of Dentistry Aspiring youngsters are often attracted to dentistry as a noble, highly respected profession.

Of the many who practice dentistry, only a few reach the higher echelons of dental academia. George Cherukara, a Senior Lecturer and Honorary Consultant at the University of Aberdeen Dental School, has perhaps reached the pinnacle of his clinical academic career.

He disagrees, however, pointing to the dynamic pace at which dentistry is evolving. “There is something new to learn every day, hence the emphasis on life-long learning,� he remarks. There is a depth to his eyes as he speaks. George finds a strange charm about London, a wicked city that attracts him like a nail to a magnet.

That’s why he finds time to get back to London as the principal specialist at the Sterling Dental College. More about

that later.

Background and early memories George was born in Kerala, South India. His eyes shine as he introduces Kerala as ‘God’s Own Country’, blessed by nature, people, cuisine, variety and dynamism!

His childhood memories

are

many- of growing up in a large close knit family of five siblings, with one sister, the princess! His brothers being his heroes; a fiercely protective and loving Dad and Mum, the pains of

George Cherukara

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choice. “But becoming a rebellion of adolescence, dentist was probably influthe shocks of adulthood enced by one of my Dad’s and the realities of life - the friends. He was a dentist, transition from a protected but a gifted artisan. I used and loving childhood to to admire his cremanhood. ations, not just the “Also my dear dentures he made, grandparents. We lost our grandfa- To be working but the sculptures he made with thers very early, is good, but to waste Plaster of but were be working Paris; of birds, blessed by lovanimals and ing grandmothwith good humans. As a ers.� George’s people is even young boy I maternal grandbetter thought that is mother “probawhat I get to do bly shaped and when I become a influenced my perdentist too!� sonal life, and my paternal grandmother my professional life.� He Turning Point explains “The way I see and respond to people, help George graduated in others, my calmness, my Dentistry from the patience - well most of the University of Bangalore, time (he laughs). My dad Karnataka, the IT capital was a surgeon and spent of India. He came to the some years abroad while I UK in ’96. Moving to the was in a boarding school. I UK was the dentist’s used to spend holidays biggest turning point in with my grandmothers. My life. He says, “till then I was paternal grandmother was a happy go lucky kinda guy. more alive to the ‘New But coming here, I was World’, with astute busitaken from my comfort ness acumen, a confident, zone, priorities changed, matter of fact person�. “I soon I had a young family. had my fair share of being Little Joshua and naughty as a child, sweet Jonahthan brought purthough, according to my pose to my life. I started aunts and uncles; a tricky climbing the academic kid nevertheless. But my and career ladder. In hind grandmothers were very sight, I wonder if, at some caring. They ‘understood’ point work took over my me and realised it was all life.� For his Masters, he part of growing up in my went to Barts and The own unique way�.

London School of George believes his Medicine and Dentistry, father influenced his career where he also got a PhD

9

in Dentistry. “I was fortunate to have had caring mentors who encouraged me, and supported me�.

Challenges “We all find life challenging at various points, we meet those challenges with conviction and persevere. We are committed to the cause - to being good, to keeping it simple.

Being a full time student with a young family is a challenge that many have faced; the support mechanism called family sees us through tough times�.

Sterling Work George co-hosted the Sterling Charity Ball with Dr Parvin Kapoor and his team on December 3rd that raised a lot of funds for good causes.

He appreciates the Sterling Dental Group ethos.

Mr Amarjit Khambay, at the helm of the Group, is a committed philanthropist, and has raised large sums of money for projects ranging from children’s charities such as Great Ormond Street to cancer care in less developed parts of the world. “I am proud to be associated with the Sterling Dental Group. To be working is good, but to be working with good people is even better�.

10

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Asian Voice | 24th December 2016

Casey report on integration In a bid to sound even handed and politically correct Lord Popat claimed that, “there are detailed sections where British Indian and British Hindus were struggling”, in the Casey report on integration. I decided to read the whole report and find out where the British Indians and Hindus were failing in integrating in this society. In chapter after chapter there is no mention of this group. There is not a single instance in which this group has been singled out as failing in any aspect of assimilation in this society. On the contrary this group scores highly on issues like employment, housing and education.

The report mentions the 2015 ComRee poll in which, “respect for the law and freedom of speech are seen as attributes for being truly British”. On both these counts Hindus score highly. Hindus have the lowest crime rate and absolutely believe in freedom of speech. Having not found anything in the report to criticise the Indian Hindu community, Lord Popat makes his own list of areas where he finds the community, “less progressive than the rest of Britain”. He says the Hindu community needs to be more open to outsiders. He however fails to name in what areas Hindus need to be more open to outsiders. If by outsiders he means white British people than we are very open. Everyone is welcome to our temples, work colleagues and friends are invited to weddings, our young people are involved in numerous charitable works including volunteering at Christmas helping to provide food and shelter to the homeless. I know a lot of people who get on very well with their neighbors and often share food with them.

Lord Popat's second observation is that Hindus need to be more accepting of LGBT equality laws. LGBT community has always been welcome in Hindu temples.

In contrast according to a report of, The British Social Attitudes Survey 2013, 40% of Anglicans and 35% of Catholics thought that this community was always or mostly wrong! Lord Popat asks how do we encourage everyone to adopt English language?

According to the Casey report only 8% of Hindus do not speak English. However if Lord Popat means that we should abandon our languages than it is something even the report is not asking. Numerous studies have found that a child who is bilingual is at an advantage in mastering learning skills. As India develops into an economic giant our language skills will be highly prized in the job market. In the field of gender equality women are increasingly heading Hindu organisations.

Lord Popat advises the Hindu's to ensure free and transparent elections for temples and community organisations. However the House of Lords is completely unelected and yet it intervenes in the running of this country! Most people are appointed to the Lords because they have a strong influence on a political party or a party leader. Hindus are free of any extremists, there are a huge number of sects and temples and there is no conflict or violence at all. The idea of diversity and freedom to worship as well as respect for other faiths is intrinsic to the Hindu belief system. The Jewish and the Zoroastrian communities will confirm this fact to Lord Popat.

So the ideal community that the Casey report is aspiring for is right here in their mist! I urge Lord Popat to look into the facts more closely. The fact that we are hardly mentioned in the Casey report means that we are actually a role model to other faiths and communities.

Nitin Mehta Croydon

Demonitisation - An ambitious exercise I agree with Balubnai’s statement that demonitisation experiment is an ambitious exercise by current government. While planning an electric strike, the planners omitted human factor. All forecasts may have appeared perfect and smooth on designing board. But humans tend to panic at such sudden announcement. Result is long queues at banks and ATMs. Worse omission must be lack of foresight to see shortage of cash at both points. Staggering effect on small businesses, cash oriented transactions is also damaging India’s economy.

Cashless society being forced is another disaster, as a very small percent of people have bank accounts or even a smart phone. Cashless transaction is also invasion on freedom, privacy and discourages dissension. This move appears to widen gap between rich and poor by favoring smart phone and credit/debit card dealers. Promised benefit to public seems to be a façade to ease the pain of surgical strike. It is hard to understand joy at self-flagellation on promise of good times ahead, especially when terrorist attacks are still going on. While honest public is turned away due to lack of cash, millions of cash is found with looters, terrorists and smugglers. Unfortunately some bank staff are involved in money laundering racket.

Ramesh Jhalla By email

Demonetisation of currency notes and NRI After announcement by Narendra Modi on demonetisation of 500 and 1000 rupees due guidance was issued on such notes in possession. For NRI’s allowance was made whereby travellers to India can carry notes of other NRI with authority letter to deposit in their account. I am aware that many NRI’s have used this facility.

However I was disappointed with report in Asian Voice, which stated Rs 2500 Crores over 5 years of NRI’s are held in banned notes. This figure was derived by simple method of calculation of travellers over 5 years each carrying Rs25000. The limit of Rs25000 was only introduced in 2014. Of the 200000 NRI’s visiting India every year one can safely assume that 70% are repeat visitors. Moreover not everyone carries Rs25000 while leaving India. My own view is that holding will differ from £1 to £250 worth of NRI’s Indian currency in banned notes. This may show an average of perhaps £50 with much fewer travellers. So using simple statistical values over 5 years to sensationalise the amount does not justify for a quality paper like Asian Voce.

Government of India is trying to tackle issues of corruption and black money. Most NRI’s wanted action from Government of India for many years on this issues and it is worthy of current PM to show courage to deal with this.

I feel that making appeal to Narendra Modi to provide special facility for NRI’s to deposit banned currency in UK banks will just cause distraction in his fight against issues effecting progress of India. NRI’s are spread all over the world and Government of India would require more decision time to ensure any privilege given to NRI’s is not abused anywhere in the world.

Instead we should ask Mr Modi how we can assist him in this fight.

Suresh P Shah

By Email

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Back to Roots I wish to acknowledge the initiative of having a column "Back to Roots' in AV. The articles by Dr Hari Desai are fascinating and very informative.

I have now a much better understanding of history as well as those who shaped our lives before I was born. Thank you for this initiative.

I wish you and all at AV a great Christmas and a super 2017.

Subhash V Thakrar Bcom FCA FRSA By email

Donald in doldrums Donald Trump, America’s rich and affluent businessman, is all set to take office in January as the most powerful man on this planet. The person who has violated basic norms of international diplomacy; is electing individuals with no relevant experience for cabintet posts; is stirring up racial hatred and anti-semitism; is supported and celebrated by the Ku Klux Klan, will weild power over not only his own nation, but the world. It has also been said that Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, may have been involved in a Russian plot to interfere with the elections. However, there is a remote chance that this may not happen. Five weeks ago, even though millions of Americans voted for Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump won the election under America’s antiquated electoral system. The vote which really seems to matter will take place early this week when 538 members of America’s electoral college will gather in the capitals of their respective states. Under a complex system, the winner of the majority of the electoral votes would become president. If 37 of Trump’s 306 electors do not vote for him, he would have only 296 votes – one short of the majority and the tables would turn against him and Hillary may take charge. It would be interresting to wait and watch what turns out this week. From India’s point of view, Hillary and her husband Bill Clinton’s policies are anti-India while those of Donald Trump are more favourable to India.

Dinesh Sheth Newbury Park, Ilford

Drain the Swamp

Trump promised the USA voters during the campaign that he would drain the swamp in Washington. True to his words he has started well to fulfil his promise by not nominating a single candidate from the swamp for more than a dozen cabinet and other important posts. However, he has a long way to go to break the cosy club of the elitist Politicians and the Media. For the last few decades the club had a good time by not allowing any others to be included, mainly by keeping a strangle hold on the podium, for the dialogue on the future of the humanity. We are witnessing a fresh wind blowing in the world like in Philippines, Bharat, Austria, Italy, Poland, Britain and the USA. It is mainly due to the easily accessible new information outlets (Email, Facebook, Twitter, etc.) to the general public for dialogue. There is a lot of noisy resistance by the club to the little change which has happened like awards wapsi for Modi’s intolerance, blockade of parliament for Beata Szydlo’s restriction on so called “press freedom”, maligning BoJo for Brexit and effort to delegitimize Trump victory under the guise of Russian hacking and recount of votes. We should be happy to hear the recent comments by Trump on the capture of a drone by China, rumours of cancellation of daily briefings at the Whitehouse and annihilation of ISIS. The people are seeing the truth and hence, the change will occur in spite of loud protestation by Obama, Bligh and other elitist Politicians and the Main Stream Media.

Narsibhai Patel New Malden

Jayalalithaa’s final wishes in confusion Burial of Jayalalithaa’s (Amma) body has created confusion, especially among her immediate family members, as the final rights were performed by lackey stalwarts of her AIADMK party, without consulting immediate family members, political decision rather than giving her final rights according to her staunch Brahmin Hindu upbringing who had small temple built in her vast ground where she would pray for guidance and solace during troubled times.

Amma was buried next to her mentor, past party president and CM M. G. Ramachandran, in order to create a cult, giving her status on par with past famous leaders like Gandhi, Nehru, Bose and Sardar. Tamil Nadu did not have such famous political leaders during pre-independence struggle, the most famous and much revered personality is the late president Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, brilliant scientist, loved and respected across political divide. Jaya was extremely popular, clever, loved by the masses. Some 400 people died due to heart attacks and pure grief. However pundits are divided about her political career, as to how much the State has benefited, progressed and industrialized under her leadership. She was one of the most beautiful, clever and charming actress who utilized her fame and fortune to become political heavyweight, living legend. TN politics will not be same without her larger than life lustre personality. Pray God to give her soul Mox and family strength to bear this tremendous loss.

Bhupendra M. Gandhi By email

Unusual gold rush in Rajasthan Those who have visited this beautiful, historic, culturally rich, tourist friendly State of Rajasthan will appreciate why we have so much love and interest in this State that captures our imagination and is number one State on tourist map. Recently it has caught imagination of all Indians, especially local villagers for completely different reason, unusual gusher, insatiable “Gold Rush” in the hope of becoming millionaire overnight.

In the “Tonka District” of Rajasthan where abandoned stone quarry, partly filled with water, yielded historic gold coins dating back to 350/400 AD, minted during the reign of “Gupta Dynasty” when Samudragupta, decedent of famous kings Chandragupta and Asoka who ruled supreme. The dynasty was founded by genius Vishnu Prased Gupta; mentor to Mauryan dynasty, popularly known as Chanakya, the most famous name in ancient Indian history.

When villagers found few coins which were declared to be precious, news spread like wild fire, creating tizzy situation. People from all over Rajasthan descended upon this tiny village in vast numbers. Police had to move in to keep peace and to inform masses that this is government property which they will have to return at the local Diggi police station. It is believed that some 2000 precious coins were discovered and taken away by those who were first on the spot. In most cases government rewards finders who return them to government coffers.

Kumudini Valambia By email

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Pursuit of Sanskrit

Towards Studying Sanskrit in a Foreign Land Anahita Hoose Everyone who studies ancient languages gets used to being asked why anyone would go into such an obscure field. The answers will vary from person to person, as everyone has their own story to explain how they got interested.

In my case, a number of complex factors have led to my undertaking a PhD in Indo-European Studies at the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA).

The term ‘IndoEuropean’ is not familiar to everyone, but it simply refers to the language family to which many of the best-known Indian and European languages belong, including Sanskrit (and Gujarati, Hindi and related languages), English, the European classical languages Greek and Latin (together with French and the other Romance languages descended from Latin) and many others. All of these are descended from a language known as ProtoIndo-European.

ProtoIndo-European was never written down, but we can reconstruct many details about it from its descendants.

Like many people, I came to Indo-European Studies by way of European classical antiquity, which I studied for my BA at Oxford. I had always loved and felt I had an aptitude for language-learning, which I found uniquely stimulating, so I was thrilled when I found that I could attend lectures on the relationship between Latin and Greek.

Often the lecturer would show us how very different-looking words, in distantly related languages, were originally the same, although the connection was disguised by changes in the individual languages’ sound systems. Alongside the Latin and Greek words, we would look at the corresponding words in Sanskrit, the oldest of the great Indo-European classical languages, and the one with the largest literature.

After finishing my BA, I was keen to do graduate studies and knew the time had come for me to concentrate on historical linguistics. I chose to stay at

A photo taken during Anahita's last year at Oxford

Oxford for an MPhil in General Linguistics and Comparative Philology, in the course of which I had the opportunity to learn Sanskrit properly at last.

Both as a linguist and as someone who has always been proud of being halfGujarati, I was excited about being able to read Sanskrit texts, including parts of the Mahabharata and the Bhagavad Gita.

Soon I was learning about the language of the Vedas, especially the Rigveda, which, apart from its spiritual significance, is particularly important for IndoEuropean studies, since it dates from a period of such remote antiquity.

I now knew that I wanted to pursue an academic career. It was soon time to decide what I wanted to do my doctorate in.

Having fallen in love with Sanskrit, I decided to make applications to universities where my interest in the history of that language would be nurtured, like UCLA, where I am fortunate enough to work with Stephanie Jamison, a renowned scholar of Vedic and the co-producer of the most up-to-date complete translation of the Rigveda into English.

Making the move to LA was a huge decision for me, as a home-loving Brit who had never seen the New World or left the UK for more than two weeks at a time.

Despite being excited about the opportunities in store, I was apprehensive and expected to feel very homesick, as indeed I did during the first couple of months. Between the difficulty of making my British

Oxford Uni to drop “gender specific” titles It has emerged that the University of Oxford has advised its departments and colleges to remove the titles ‘Mr’ and ‘Mrs’ from their websites and leaflets as part of it’s “transgender guidance’.

Tbe guidelines which

are contained in a document written by the university’s equality and diversity unit also suggests that terms like Dr and Professor be retained but gives staff and students the option of omitting a prefix or title.

accent understood and the astonishing number of tiny differences between UK and US English, I was acutely conscious of the fact that I was in a foreign country.

Fortunately, though, the professors and my fellow-students were all so kind that I soon started to enjoy the sensation of being in one of the best places in the world to work on my subject.

One of the reasons why higher education in the US justly enjoys such a high reputation is the structure of American PhDs. Whereas in Britain a doctorate can be completed in a mere three years, this speed comes at the cost of having to focus narrowly on a single project.

Currently in my first year at UCLA, I can expect to remain there for another five years or so.

I plan to write a dissertation on the Atharvaveda, but despite my fascination with Sanskrit, I don’t think of myself as a Sanskritist. I have an in-depth knowledge of Greek and Latin, but I no longer think of myself as a classicist.

Although I have a graduate degree in linguistics, linguistics per se is not my main interest, but rather the stories of languages’ changes through time.

My course, with its greater length, allows me to indulge all of these interests: I can keep up my Latin and Greek by attending classes in the Classics Department while simultaneously pursuing my Indic studies with Stephanie.

Moreover, I expect to learn useful methodological skills and receive training in important professional skills, all while living amidst the exquisite beauty of California.

The road that’s brought me here has been a winding one, but I don’t regret a single turn.

(Anahita Hoose, a British citizen studying Vedic as an international student in Los Angeles, shares her experiences).

EDUCATION

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Asian Voice |24th December 2016

From Oregon to Varanasi and Oxford

Christopher Fleming Every time I enter the UK on my way to start a new term at Oxford the border force agents are surprised and intrigued to hear that I am writing a doctorate in Sanskrit Dharma stra.

Why, they ask, would an American come all the way to Britain to study an ancient Indian language instead of engineering, law or medicine?

The short answer, that I often tell people, is that Dharma stra is a fascinating, complex subject that people should study as one of the world’s greatest systems of jurisprudence.

Indeed, it is hard to imagine a more ancient or more philosophically sophisticated legal system than that contained in the Dharma stra sm tis, nibandhas and commentaries.

The longer - and equally true - answer is that like most people, I fell into my course of study through a series of often unexpected occurrences and through meeting with and learning from many interesting and wonderful people in the United States, India and England.

I took my BA in the history of religion at Whitman College, a small university in the state of Washington,

but the people of India were extremely kind and made me feel completely welcome.

I then moved to Harvard Divinity School to take an MA degree in Hindu Philosophy and Sanskrit. I wanted to unravel the secrets of the Vedas and the Ved nta, but I also became fascinated with k vya and Dharma stra.

When the time came to undertake a doctorate I Christopher receiving a trophy chose the University of Oxford because of its USA. I took a class on the strong international focus Vedas as part of my distriand for the University’s bution requirements. I was expertise in fascinated with ancient Dharma stra.

Indian religion and history After three years in and I was determined to Britain I am grateful to call learn Sanskrit. the UK home. One of the I spent a summer in great experiences in life is India with the moving to new places and International Summer meeting interesting people.

School for Jain Studies Although studying (ISSJS) and I spent a sumSanskrit has been mer studying Sanskrit at immensely rewarding from the South Asia Summer an intellectual standpoint, Language Institute at the I am most grateful for the University of Wisconsin in enduring friendships, colMadison. When I finished laborations and conversamy BA I was fortunate to tions with others that it has be elected a Fulbrightgiven me.

Nehru Scholar to India. I (Christopher Fleming, spent a year living in a American citizen studyVaranasi and studied ing Dharma stra as an Sanskrit philosophy. international student at Moving to a new country Balliol College, Oxford, was a difficult adjustment, shares his experiences).

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Asian Voice | 24th December 2016

The Queen is dead; long live the Queen. Jayalalithaa has gone to her rest; her likely long-term successor as chief minister as Tamil Nadu chief minister and AIADMK general secretary will surely be V.K. Sasikala, who stood next to Jayalalihaa’s coffin, as Jayalalithaa had once stood next to M. G. Ramachandran’s many years ago, and become his successor as chief minister and party chief.

The top leaders of the AIADMK, including party presidium chairman E. Madhusudhanan, have made their support for Sasikala clear, with potential rivals also chiming behind them.

There has been a long queue of the good and great at Sasikala’s door beseeching her to take over the reins of power.

In queenly fashion, she listened to their pleas graciously, and announce her decision, following a pause for reflection. The rise of Sasikala is in its early stage (Hindu 12, 13, Mint December 12)

Tamil Nadu politician Sasikala

Cyclone Vardah took its toll of lives and property, but nothing on the scale of last year’s storm at about the same time, because preparations to meet it were well in place before its dreaded arrival. Vardah’s force diminished rapidly, with restoration work put on a war footing (December 12, 13)

Ex-Air Chief Marshal Tyagi arrested Retired Air Chief Marshal S.P. Tyagi has been arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), along with his cousin Sanjeev Tyagi and lawyer Gautan

requirement that the 6,000 metre ceiling of VVIP helicopters as an operational necessity was reduced by Tyyagi to 4,000 metres, enabling Augusta Westland eligible for the contract, which was duly awarded to the company. Tyagi, in denial, said the decision was collegiate, involving senior officials of the IAF and the Special Protection Group and other agencies.

Twelve arrests in all have now been made.

Guido Haschke, Carlo Geros and Michel were the named the middlemen, who received hefty fees of millions of euro. A number of Indian companies allegedly played an active part in routing the bribes to the principal accused. (Hindu December

Huawei welcomes demonetization Huawei’s Enterprise Group is thriving on the back of customers such as Paytem and Fintech companies. ‘With the demonetization move by the Indian government, we have inched closer towards an economy that is based on digital computing technologies. New ICT technologies in the digitalization era are also providing opportunities for business models and opening up new market opportunities. We are also the main IT infrastructure supplier to Paytem, which is one of the biggest alternative payment solutions,’ said Derek Hao, President, Huawei India (Business Line December 9)

Canara Bank surge in e-transactions

Ex-Air Chief Marshal Tyagi.

Khaitan for alleged involvement in the controversial Augusta Westland VVIP helicopter deal.

Accused of routing the kickbacks, Gautam Khaitan was arrested earlier by the Enforcement Directorate.

Allegation A CBI official announced the arrests of Tyagi and two other persons after four hours of interrogation at CBI headquarters in New Delhi. The official said: ‘Mr Tyagi allegedly entered into a conspiracy with other accused persons in 2005 and consented to change the Air Force’s consistent

Canara Bank, headquartered in Bangalore, with country-wide branches has recorded a surge in its e-transactions through its various digital channels. ‘Ever since we took proactive measures to give a major thrust to cashless we are witnessing huge e-transactions via mobile banking, Mwallet, Empower, Debit/Credit cards,’ said Rakesh Sharma MD and CEO of Canara Bank.’

During the last one month the bank has undertaken 4170 lakh (1 lakh is 100,000) transactions and facilitated exchange of demonetized currency to the tune of Rs 1445.18 crore (1 crore is 10 million (Business Line December 12)

Mobile banking soars In the past eight months of the financial year, beginning April 1, 2016, to November, are already 1.36 times reported in the last full

financial year (April 1, 2015March 31, 2016). As per the Reserve Bank of India data, the full volume of mobile banking transactions from April to November this year soared to Rs by 1.71 times to Rs 53,086 crore as against Rs 38,949 crore in the entire stretch of the previous financial year (Business Line December 12)

compared to the unorganized sector.’ (Mint December 12)

India readied for ICBM launch

India is getting ready to launch an Agni V 5000-kilometre plus Inter-Continental Ballistic missile, capable of carrying a nuclear warhead, from the back of a purpose-built truck vehicle in the One in three households coming weeks. The launch is to owns a two-wheeler take place from Wheeler Island in the Bay of Bengal of the Odisha coast. ‘There are some minor technical snags in Agni V, which required tweaking, such as the missile’s battery and electronics configurations since the last test in 2015,’ said a source at the site. This is to be the final test of the series, folOne in three Indian households owns a scooter, moped or motorcycle lowing which induction into One in two Indian households Strategic Forces Command owns a bicycle, one in three a two(Times of India December 14) wheeler (scooter, moped or motorcycle) and one in 10 owns a India-Russia naval car, according to the data comexercises piled by the Household Survey on India’s Citizen Environment & India-Russia naval exercises – Consumer Economy. The survey Indra Navy 2016 – commenced reveals that the majority of car in the Bay of Bengal off the port owners were urban-based., while a majority of two-wheeler owners were rural-based.

(Mint December 12)

Demonetization pain endures However, while there have been winners, there have also been losers in the demonetization exercise. The agricultural sector involving farmers who need ready cash and masses of the urban poor who constitute the unorganized of informal area of the economy have been particularly hard hit. Chief Minister Navin Patnaik issued an urgent appeal to the Centre for more Rs 100 and Rs 500 demonetized currency notes to ease the difficulties faced by farmers in the State. Financial normalcy is likely to take longer than the timeline envisaged by the government.

(Hindu, Business Line, Times of India, Telegraph, Mint December 14

Nomura sees India as strongest economy Nomura Financial Advisory predict that the rupee will outperform some of its Asian peers. Its regional strategy ranks India as the best bet market in Asia.

However, a member of the Nomura panel calculates that the turbulence of demonetization will possibly lead to a percent point drop in India’s economic growth in the December quarter, ‘but beyond that, our view is that it is a big disruption but there is also wealth redistribution taking place, whether it is to the rural households or it to the government which is going to be used or the money that is going to banks vis-a-vis sitting under the mattresses…the organized sector is going to get more market share

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Lama. You can bet your bottom US dollar or demonetizes rupee that this won’t be the last.

President Pranab Mukherjee’s invitation to His Holiness to Rashtrapati Bhavan for the ‘Leaders for Children Summit’ organized by Kailash Satyamurti who, like the Dalai Lama, is a Nobel Peace laureate, aroused China’s ire. The Chinese protest declared loftily: ‘Recently in disregard of China’s solemn representation and strong opposition, the Indian side insisted on arranging for the 14th Dalai Lama’s visit to the Indian presidential palace where he met and took part in an event and met President Mukherjee.’

Sharp exchanges

China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang in Beijing accused the Dalai Lama of ‘anti-China activities separating Tibet away from China under the cloak of religion.’ Vikas Swarup, spokesman of India’s Ministry of External Affairs, responded with a prompt rejoinder. ‘His Holiness the Dalai Lama is a respected and revered spiritual leader. It was a nonpolitical event,’ he said Geng Shuang asked India to respect ‘China’s core interests.’

China surely must do likewise with India. It takes two to tango.

India is not the tributary state from whom Chinese rulers in the past expected the ritual kowtow.

China also expressed displeasure at the I n d i a n Ambassador to Mongolia, T. Suresh hosting Indian warships during an exercise a lunch for the visiting Dalai Lama in Ulan city of Visakhapatnam, in Andhra Bator (Telegraph, Hindu Pradesh. Three vessels from each December 17) See page 3 side took part in week-long drills. The Indian taskforce conBhatkal sentence sets sisted of a guided missile destroybar for terrorists er INS Ranvir. a frigate INS Satpura, and the anti-submarine corvette INS Kamorta, a tanker The convictions and sentencing and naval air support. The of Indian Mujahideen chief Russian Navy was serviced by a Yasin Bhaktal and his associates large anti-submarine ship of have been a notable feather in Project 1156, a guided missile the cap of India’s security agendestroyer Admiral Tributs cies, hence has set the bar for destroyer, a Kamoiv Ka-27 antiwhat others of the species can submarine helicopter, a tanker now expect when brought to trial and a sea tug. (TASS, Telegraph for crimes backed by irrefutable December 14) evidence. The Bhaktal group was responsible for the Hyderabad Chinese snarl over bomb blasts in 2013. Tracking Dalai Lama the terrorist and their convictions has contributed signifiChina has fired a broadside at cantly to ani-terror operations India, the subject being the Dalai (Times of India December 14)

Dalai Lama with President Muherjee in Rashtrapati Bhavan

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Priti Patel warns charities for alleged 'profiteering' The International Development Secretary Rt Hon Priti Patel has warned charities, during an appearance before MPs, that they must not forget that they only exist because of the "generosity and goodwill of people that contribute and donate to them".

The bosses of charities and aid contractors who enjoy six-figure salaries and bonuses while they are handed millions of pounds in foreign aid to fight poverty are "profiteering", the Secretary has accused for the first time, according to a report in The Daily Telegraph.

She reportedly said that

she wants to "drive value for money" for the taxpayer and suggested that charities and aid organisations should face "greater scrutiny" and be forced to provide more details of their

expenses and fees.

Mrs Patel also said that funding for a band described as Ethiopia's "Spice Girls" is under review to ensure that the project represents value for money. The group has been given £3.8 million by the Department for International Development.

Mrs Patel's comments came after it emerged that dozens of leading aid charities are giving their executives six-figure pay packages.

HRH The Prince of Wales, Founder and President of the British Asian Trust, hosted a high level meeting at Clarence House to discuss the outcomes of a new report commissioned by the charity, on rural livelihoods in India.

The British Asian Trust launched its new Rural Livelihoods Fund to address the issues faced by smallholder farmers in India, following the findings of its recent study.

Nearly 200 million people in rural India live in poverty and most of them are smallholder farmers. In fact, India has 25% of the world’s small farms - 118 million in all - and more than 50% of Indians rely on agriculture for their livelihoods.

A majority of Indian smallholders’ farmers are trapped in poverty, earning less than $1.25 per day, with a significant proportion of them being women.

Photo Credit: Justin Goff

British Asian Trust launches initiative to support farmers in India, following results of a new study fund aims to: ● Improve f a r m e r incomes by enabling better access and links to market ● Train farmers and agriculture workers in processing Manoj Badale, Chairman, British Asian Trust and packagintroducing HRH The Prince of Wales to ing skills, to Rikin Gandhi, CEO, Digital Green boost product value The Trust’s initiative ● Look at innovative soluwill put farmers at the foretions to scale up rural front of improving rural livelihoods work across livelihoods in India. Each India farmer supported by the The roundtable discusBritish Asian Trust will be sion at Clarence House a powerful and valuable brought together governpartner in the efforts to ment, private sector, guarantee India’s future NGOs, agricultural food security and reduce thought-leaders as well as poverty across the country. representatives from the Through a combination Anthony Pratt Foundation, of funding, expertise, partwhich has supported the nerships and thought leadlaunch of the fund with a ership from the private and $1 million donation. not-for-profit sectors, the

13

5 Personal Injury Incidents to Look Out For During the Festive Period Duncan Lewis are looking forward to Christmas and the New Year, as we are sure you are too. We wanted to offer some advice in order to help keep you safe over the holidays. As Matthew Smith personal injury solicitors, New Year and Christmas is one of our busiest times as it can often mean people take risks that they normally would not.

1. Road Traffic Accidents With the festive season comes an increased danger whilst driving. As the nights get darker and the roads become icier, it becomes more important to be vigilant. Aside from the inherent risks that come with the change in weather, it is also the season where many people travel all over the country to visit friends and family.

Long journeys can lead to fatigue whilst driving – if you feel tired, never risk the journey. The visits to family and friends may include the consumption of alcohol. Drink driving destroys many lives during this period and it is something that can easily be avoided.

A second drink doubles your chances of causing an accident so do not take the chance, be sensible.

2. Slips and Trips As roads and pavements turn into temporary ice rinks, especially early in the morning when everybody makes their way to work; local councils make every effort to spread grit salt as there are often areas that become dangerously icy. Slipping can cause serious injuries and it is best to avoid these areas where possible.

3. Accidents at work The office Christmas tree is out again and you have been given the responsibility of decorating it. Do not try putting the star on the top of the tree by standing on a swivel chair, or climbing on the shelves. Also, no matter how

much you want to create makeshift decorations for your desk, misusing office equipment can lead to nasty injuries.

4. Product Liability This is a minefield during Christmas, with dangerous wiring on your Christmas lights, defective toys and faulty gadgets – there are plenty of hazards to look out for. If you notice the wiring on your lights looks a little unsafe, buy new lights – do not risk being burnt or suffering an electric shock by hanging them up. Before you buy toys for the children, take some time to check that they meet basic safety requirements.

5. Sports Injuries As soon as the Christmas season starts, ice skating rinks start to pop up everywhere. Although it is impossible for most to stay on their feet whilst on the ice, there are often injuries that could have been prevented had the organisers managed the rink properly.

They can become overcrowded, boots may be unsafe to use or the ice may not have been resurfaced regularly enough. In any event, make sure you wear gloves and hats for some added protection from the trips and falls.

So wrap up warm and look after yourselves this Christmas, and be sure to contact us if an unexpected accident occurs.

Author Matthew Smith is a trainee solicitor at Duncan Lewis. He works in the Personal Injury department who ensure high quality representation in your personal injury claim at all levels. Duncan Lewis’ Accident and Injury Lawyers also provide access to the best doctors and medical specialists for clients making a personal injury compensation claim – and Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors offer a friendly and professional service, placing you and your family’s best interests first throughout the claims process. For advice on an all aspects of personal injury queries do not hesitate to call our specialist lawyers on 0333 772 0409.

Group of men arrested in Southall and set for deportation for immigration offences

A group of men were arrested in Southall on December 13 after being found to have overstayed their visas or entered the country illegally.

Immigration enforcement officers found the men during an operation targeting illegal workers in the construction industry.

Officers were acting on intelligence about suspected illegal workers in the King Street area, the Home

Office said.

Fifteen Indian men aged between 26 and 63, were arrested, and were questioned on their right to live and work in the UK. The Home Office said six of the men were found to have overstayed their visas, while nine had entered the country illegally. A 63-year-old man who was later temporarily released on health grounds must now report regularly

to Immigration Enforcement while his case is progressed. The remaining 14 were transferred to immigration detention pending their removal from the UK. Two of the 15 offenders were found in a van owned by S Kumar Construction, in Whitestile Road, Brentford, Home Office said. The company's owner was encountered at the scene and was served a notice warning.

Man suspected of stealing £1,600 wanted Police are searching for a man suspected of stealing £1,600 in nine armed robberies, including four armed robberies in the Newham borough.

The suspect, shown in CCTV stills, is wanted after three “terrifying” robberies at Coral in Barking Road,

Plaistow.

Police want to speak to the man who is described as an Asian man in his thirties and of medium build.

Anyone with any information can call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Landmark court case sees Brent man fined A man who ignored calls to remove car-trailers that were cluttering up a residential street in Brent for a decade has been ordered to pay nearly £6,000 following a landmark court case for the UK. Saiyed Hanif was ordered to pay the sum by Harrow Crown Court after the judge upheld a Community Protection Notice (CPN) from a case brought to magistrates by Brent Council earlier this year.

It is the first time in the UK that a CPN - a power that councils have under the Antisocial Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 - has been upheld at

crown court level, marking an important step in the crackdown on antisocial behaviour, the local authority said.

Hanif caused an eyesore on the road he lived in Orchard Close, Alperton , by illegally storing cars and trailers without number plates or any form of permit on public highway land.

Brent Council made repeated appeals to Hanif to remove the vehicles following complaints made by his neighbours.

It then used its power to issue the CPN, which can be done so when a resident’s behaviour is unreasonable and having a detrimental effect on the quality of life of those living in the local area.

Hanif was ordered by the judge to remove his trailers and vehicles from the street within 28 days, after which Brent Council would remove and destroy the vehicles in order to uphold the court’s orders.

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TLIGHT

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Asian Voice | 24th December 2016

Manjinder Virk: A Transcendent Talent 'Art – following the actors and immersing yourself in the mood – is a powerful way to empathise' Photo credit: Sarah Lee

Sunetra Senior

Captured in photographs and various movie stills, actress-writer Manjinder exudes a quiet accomplishment. Have the pleasure of watching, or better yet, additionally talking with her and this crescendos into a near impossible brilliance. For a start, she is currently playing Dr Kam Karimore on ITV’s much loved, iconic crime-drama Midsomer Murders, as a central, recurring character, often pictured as such between the two lead constables Chief Inspector John Barnaby (Neil Dudgeon) and Detective Sergeant Jamie Winter (Nick Hendrix), breaking down a professional barrier arguably more significant than glitz-deep Hollywood. The first Asian female to appear on the national emblem of a programme, she is the face of cultural diversity organically woven into the idyllic – historically symbolic - English countryside. *** Of course, Manjinder is no new-comer to penetrating ethnic perspectives, playing the main role of a British suicide bomber in the BAFTA-winning drama BRITZ, for which she received tremendous critical acclaim and appearing alongside fellow break-out star, gritty comedy-drama Four Lions’ Riz Ahmed. And it doesn’t stop there. Manjinder seems to proliferate and turn to gold everything she touches. As well as her commercial and television work, she also holds accolades for independent short films and features, for which she has both acted in and wrote: her biographical performance of playwright Andrea Dunbar in Clio Barnard’s The Arbor earned her nominations for Best Actress and Newcomer at the BIFA Film awards and Best New Comer at the LFF awards, while the actress’ own cinematic creation, Out of Darkness, featuring herself and long-time friend Ahmed, received Best film and Best Drama at Aesthetica Film Festival, and Best Film and Best Experimental Film at the Still/Moving Film Festival, Brixton. “I’ve just finished shooting a documentary/drama too – With Love from Calais – which was filmed at the Calais refugee camp,” Manjinder added. “I’ve always been as politically conscious as I am artistic, and the two are becoming very much interlocked for me. Artists - actors, writers and storytellers- all want to understand humanity, always in search for the motivations behind people’s actions. This quality is important, now more than ever: we need to be able to listen to each other to live peacefully together at the same time. I feel the refugee plight is very much underrepresented and simply acknowledging what we don’t discuss – what’s essentially stigma - can be enough in of itself. When I’m fiction writing, I also ask those contextual questions, together with delving into the human condition. ” Finally, collapsing every kind of divide, from the construction of social identity to vocations and the idea of fixed passions, Manjinder shows that having a unique, exploratory energy is the profoundest way to succeed. Sensitive and smart, contemporary yet classy, and warm and humorously humble to top it all off, the actress makes clear this is a gift that keeps on giving, and makes its mark through time and space.

Tell us more about your role on Midsomer Murders? What’s it been like; what makes the experience particularly special for you?

Kam is a forensic pathologist who came into the series very confident and eager. She is fascinated by her world and so incredibly committed. She’s also a strong female character who claims her place, but has playfulness about her. She liked to wind up the former detective a little bit. The writers do an amazing job. The episodes are about 2 hours long, and can stand alone. The show stays very rich plot-wise, with about 5 or 6 different people who could be the culprits. We’ve also got an exciting cast, including guest appearances from greats such as Sally Phillips.

You’ve had a range of deep and challenging roles. How do you research beforehand?

I read up a lot on the character and what they do, and create a back story. For example with Kam, I researched niche medical terminology, and went to see an amazing pathology exhibition at the Wellcome Centre. After getting to know the jargon, it actually becomes addictive. I watch crime dramas intently now because I can relate so much better!

And would you say that acting is a consummate meeting of emotional and intellectual memory?

Oh yes!

You are very progressive in your views. In terms of getting the mes-

sage across, do you think the arts can sometimes be more impactful in their visceral power than say the flatter, bureaucratic approach of news?

With my short film, With Love From Calais, I’ve thought about humanising news stories.

People do become immune to people’s suffering – just look at the responses to Aleppo it can be overwhelming. Art – following the actors and immersing yourself in the mood – is one way of stepping into shoes you wouldn't normally have got the chance to - giving empathy. It’s stimulating and can be very positive for discussion.

Do you have any new films hot off the wire?

I’m developing my first feature film – Home – which is a personal story. It’s also about second and first generation immigrants in England.

You are a big advocate for women and women’s rights. Tell us more about that?

As a mother, I’ve been more sensitive to the issue of parents working in film, and indeed across all sectors, and want to increase the numbers for female representation. I think there needs to be normalisation of family life.

We need to understand that being a parent doesn’t compromise your ability.

What grabs you most about the art of acting?

You can lose yourself in the moment in a way that’s very profound. I’ve also enjoyed work-

ing with great people. I’ve met some wonderful minds who share a mutual positive vision.

Was your becoming an actress, and the outspoken person you are today, informed by cultural background?

Absolutely - my mother, Jasvir Kang is a very strong first generation Punjabi woman and never allowed herself to be a victim. I remember when I was younger, she’d stand right up to racists in the city of Coventry where I’m from. She has such fight. She had a radio show too – Amber radio - where a lot of younger listeners would call in because she’d always hear them out. She’d never pass judgment. My father was very liberal too. He was always proud of his burgeoning family of Sikh artists!

Finally, what’s a good arthouse or independent film you’ve seen recently?

American Honey and Moonlight. Also Incendies. Paterson is another great one out right now – it’s very poetic and takes you on a journey.

The exclusive link to trailer of Manjinder’s new documentary/drama: vimeo.com/196156115?ref=em-share Other relevant links: twitter.com/manjinder_virk

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Today's teens staying away from cigarettes, alcohol It seems today's teenagers are relatively far more health-conscious and are staying away from bad habits at an impressionable age. This is the cleanest-living generation of teenagers ever on record.

According to latest NHS figures, the number of children smoking or drinking alcohol has drastically come down in the past two decades.

One in six (17%) of those aged eight to 15 said they had tried alcohol. This is the lowest figure recorded and down from 45 per cent in 2003.

The number of teens trying out cigarettes has fallen by three quar-

ters. Only 4% of children aged eight to 15 have even tried a cigarette, down from 19% in 2003. The Health Survey for England figures show that only 1 per cent of under-15s smoke regularly, down from 28 per cent in 2007.

However, health experts warned that there is still a way to go when it comes to obesity and exercise. Around a third of children are still too heavy, and only a fifth are as active as they should be.

Some 91% of mothers of overweight children, and 80% of fathers, believed that their children were the right weight.

Medical Miracle: Woman has baby after ovary frozen as child

Moaza Al Matrooshi and baby

This is an incredible moment or nothing short of a medical miracle after a woman became the first person to have a baby from an ovary removed and frozen when she was a child.

Twenty-fouryear-old Moaza Al Matrooshi's right ovary was removed when she was 9 before the onset of puberty. It was cryogenically frozen and put back last year. This made her fertile again, and following a successful course of IVF treat-

ment she gave birth to a baby boy at Portland Hospital, in London, on December 13, 2016.

Moaza Al Matrooshi from Dubai was born with beta thalassaemia, an inherent blood disorder that is fatal if untreated.

She needed chemotherapy, which would have left her infertile, so surgeons removed her ovary in the hope it might help her have a child.

Once restored, the tissue started producing eggs.

Man stays with bedridden wife as house catches fire Theirs was the ultimate love – living and dying together.

They lived till death did them part.

A devoted husband died by her bedridden wife's side after he refused to leave her alone as their house went up in flames, an inquest heard.

Sixty-sevenyear-old Roger

Freestone stayed with his 65-yearold wife Maureen when he could have saved himself from the blaze that was accidentally sparked by a cardboard box.

The inquest heard that the blaze started in the lounge of their home in March.

Both of them perished in the flames.

2016 IN A NUTSHELL

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15

Asian Voice | 24th December 2016

LOOKING BACK AT MAJOR EVENTS IN 2016 INDIA JANUARY

56 Padma awards at the Rashtrapati Bhavan • PanamaGate

• Dalits continue protests in Saurashtra

AUGUST • Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben resigns • PM Modi lashes out at fake gaurakshaks

• Guns fall silent at Pathankot IAF base

months following protests over the encounter of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani.

• India opposes UN resolution for moratorium on death penalty

DECEMBER • Centre pounds Corruption

• • • • • •

Six terrorists who attacked the Pathankot airbase were killed in an 80hour military operation 4000 Parsis converge for Udvada Utsav Modi makes surprise visit to Pakistan Indo-Pak talks hang in balance Uncertainty over J&K govt PM offers ST status to Assam communities French President Francois Hollande witnesses Republic Day celebrations

The biggest document leak in the history of the world, over 11 million documents saw the light of day revealing a list of individuals who paid firm Mossack Fonseca and bought benefits of the secretive, lax regulatory system in Panama.

• Sandeep Beecha takes charge as Flag Officer of Gujarat Naval area • Firework show goes out of control in Kerala temple

•

MAY

•

• Heatwave burns India

•

•

FEBRUARY • •

• 14 ISIS terror suspects arrested in massive crackdown • Three Gujaratis receive Padma Shri • Indian Navy flaunts at International Fleet Review

NaMo, following a series of attacks on Dalits by self acclaimed cow vigilantes, lashed out at the groups accusing them of trying to disturb the the peace and harmony of the nation.

Manipur's Irom Sharmila ends 16-yearlong fast Vijay Rupani makes new Chief Minister of Gujarat Modi's I-Day speech hits a raw nerve with Pak Pramukh Swami Maharaj passes away Head of the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha passes away in Sarangpur, Gujarat.

Kashmir Mayhem: Anarchy for 'Azadi' Protests sweep through the Valley as protesters hold 'azadi' rallies.

SEPTEMBER

Over 300 were killed and alarming water scarcity was reported major parts of the country as a heatwave made lives difficult • Gujarat government offers quota to placate Patidars • 2000 Indian links in fresh Panama leaks

• Indian government gives Surrogacy Bill a nod • Modi takes jibe at Pak during G20 meet • Mother Teresa named a saint by Pope Francis • Uri Attack: 18 Jawans killed by terrorists

• • • •

The Indian government launched fresh plans to confiscate a big chunk of black money deposited in the bank accounts after the demonetisation notification.

Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa no more Modi wins Time's online 'Person of the Year' poll India-Afghanistan target Pak on crossborder terror Bapu's Charkha among 100 'Most Influential Photos of all time'

INTERNATIONAL JANUARY • Explosion near Indian consulate in Jalalabad (Afghanistan) • Death for three for killing Bangla blogger • Fortune magazine cover upsets Hindus

JUNE The might of the Navy was on full show at the Indian Navy's biggest event ever.

• Headley reveals LeT and Pak Army role in 26/11 attacks • Lord Bhikhu Parekh honoured by Sardar Patel University • India clears misunderstanding with Nepal during PM KP Sharma Oli's visit

• African nationals attacked in National Capital • NDA celebrates 2 years of Modi Sarkar • Gulberg case hearing of quantum of punishment adjourned • Karnataka cabinet reshuffle triggers massive protests • Yoga Day celebrated across the Globe

MARCH

In what was the deadliest attack on the Indian Army in the last 26 years, infiltrators hit too close to home with a Pathankot-style strike on a camp near the LoC

OCTOBER

• Indian Finance Minister submits 'Vikas Ka Budget' • Mega show on Yamuna turns to major furore

• Modi gets tough on Indus Treaty • India-Pak in fresh war of words • PM calls Pakistan "Mothership" of terrorism

• • • •

A cover page of the American business magazine featured Amazon.com president Jeffrey Bezos as the likeness of Lord Vishnu, upsetting several religious sentiments Gurkha veterans and widows face harsh winter in tents following disasterous Nepal earthquake Merkel faces flak for migrant policy post NYE assaults Taiwan elects first femal president, angers China UN report reveals Indian diaspora largest at 16 mn

FEBRUARY • Global emergency over Zika virus • Sri Lankan Tamil leaders seek UN help on missing 400

With the main Yoga Day lead by PM Modi, people all across the world marked the day by participating in various Yoga events.

JULY

• • • •

'Art of Living' Guru Sri Sri Ravishankar's World Culture Festival sees opposition from environmentalists and Yamuna activists.

Ishrat Jahan case takes dramatic turn Andhra Pradesh CM visits the UK Vijay Mallya caught up in loan default case Modi to feature in Madame Tussauds

APRIL • President Pranab Mukherjee gave away

• Modi set for four-nation Africa tour • PM's much-awaited Cabinet expansions sees him induct 19 new ministers • 21 from Kerala suspected to have joined IS • Kashmir boils over killing of Hizbul poster boy Burhan Wani • Dalits thrashed in Una, Gujarat, spark protests • Kashmir violence continue Home Minister Rajnath Singh launched an attack on neighbouring Pakistan as he questioned its interference in the ongoing Kashmir violence.

BRICS Summit witnesses India put weight on the topic of terrorism, putting Pakistan in a spot yet again.

• Indian tanker captain to receive 21016 IMO Award for exceptional bravery at sea • Kerala man is key IS recruiter

NOVEMBER • Education takes a back seat in the Valley Schools remain shut for over four

The island nation's ethnic leaders asked top UN human rights officials to help determine the fate of over 4000 civilians who were reported missing in the country's civil war.

• Pakistan approves Hindu Marriage Bill • Pervez Musharraf miffed with Headley

16

2016 IN A NUTSHELL

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Asian Voice | 24th December 2016 claims of Pak army involvement in 26/11 • Allegations mar Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni's fifth term

MARCH • Islamic State bomb supply chain includes 7 Indian firms • Pak sets up JIT to probe Pathankot attack

• Sniper kills 5 policemen in Dallas; protests breakout • Pak philanthropist Abdul Sattar Edhi laid to rest • Bastille blood bath; terrorist in truck kills 84 in Nice • Prachanda set to become new Nepal PM

AUGUST • Solar plane completes historic roundthe-world flight • South Africa's ANC likely to lost local vote in major cities • Hillary makes history as Democratic nominee

APRIL

MAY • US lawmakers ask Obama to review F16s sale to Pak • IS targets Hindus, other minorities in Bangla • Wildfire blazes through Alberta • Obama lifts US arms ban on Vietnam

NOVEMBER • UN celebrates Diwali • Fraud charges against Gordhan dropped • Donald Trump becomes the 45th President of the United States • Hafiz Saeed plans big strikes in India • Indian lawyer elected to the International Law Commission • India-Japan sign landmark nuclear deal

• • • • •

Hillary Clinton was made the official Presidential candidate and launched an aggressive campaign to win the seat.

Syrian refugee makes it to the Olympics US asks Pak to act against all terror groups PoK's Gilgit erupts against crackdown by Pak security forces Republicans revolt, urge party to de-fund Trump Hindu Marriage Bill tabled in Pakistan National Assembly

After six years of negotiation, both the countries signed an agreement to commission nuclear reactors by global entities.

• India, Sri Lanka to sign new agreement: Sirisena

• Kenyan political unrest raises fears of new flare up in 2017 vote Kenyan residents worried as the country announced yet another election as political fights were bound to open.

• Bloodbath in Bangladesh

• Concerns over 20 per cent drop in GCSE Gujarati numbers • BAPS Charities UK donates £65,000 to Nepal Earthquake Relief Fund

• Pak full of untapped potential: Boris Johnson

SEPTEMBER • SA Minister Gordan refuses to ober police summons

• Two Indians in 'America's Richest selfmade Women' • ISIS sympathiser kills 50 at Florida shooting

JULY

MARCH

DECEMBER

JUNE

• Indian woman kidnapped in Kabul • Briton among 3 astronauts to return from space station after 6 months • Russian pop singer recites Sanskrit shlokas in Moscow

• Immigration Minister announces new enhancements to Indian visa service • NoGo vs BoJo Cabinet divided over Brexit • UK Universities issue statement favouring JNU students' freedom of thought

Jawaharlal Nehru University finds support from UK universities at a time when it was caught up in unrest. Institutes from the UK issued a statement condemning police presence in the campus and harassment of students based on their political beliefs.

• North Korea threatens nuclear attack on US, South Korea • Canadian PM Trudeau ribs Modi, says his cabinet has more Sikhs than India • 34 hurt in Brussels Airport bomb blast

• Prince Harry makes a trip to Nepal • Myanmar ushers in democracy • Nuclear arms in Pak at risk of theft by terrorists • Dr Mohamed Keshavjee conferred Ikeda Award for Peace • "Useless" Pak PM put up for sale on eBay

• SA Min Pravin Gordhan faces acid test on fraud probe • UN blames all for Syria

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan said he wouldn't obey a police summons linked to an investigation into whether he used the state revenue service to spy on other politicians in the ruling African National Congress.

• Pak PM Sharif writes to UN for intervention in Kashmir • Over 5 years of jail for Islamic preacher Anjem Choudary • Indian-origin scientist claims LemelsonMIT prize

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson hailed the "old friendship" between Britain and Pakistan during his first official visit to the country.

• Cuba bids farewell to Fidel Castro • Gen Bajwa takes over as Pakistan's new army chief • Experts ask Trump to establish early contacts with India

UK JANUARY • Siddhartha Dhar is Jihadi John • Passengers of London-Ahmedabad direct asked to disembark in Mumbai

OCTOBER • Bill tabled in US House to designate Pak as terror sponsor • Indian-American shoots 9 before being killed by police • RAF's Red Arrows to perform at the Indian Air Force • Sikh-American techie brutally assaulted • Ghana to remove Gandhi statue following protest

• Priti Patel launches Women for Britain campaign • Queen celebrates Commonwealth Day at the Westminster Abbey • The Asian Voice Political and Public Life Awards honours Britons • Advatech launches on-the-go medical services in London

APRIL • 56 elders honoured with Saraswati Sanman Awards Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar, along with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad organised the Shravan Sanman and Vadil Sanman Awards mid-March.

• Theresa May accused of wrongly deporting 48,000 students • Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visit India • Her Majesty the Queen celebrates her 90th birthday • Tony Blair used 'secret trust' to manage fortune • EU referendum countdown begins • Indian PM Narendra Modi joins world leaders at Madame Tussauds • Cross party British Indian Parliamentarians come together to support Remain campaign

MAY • Pravasi Bhartiya Divas evokes massive response • HE Navtej Sarna takes charge as new Indian High Commissioner in the UK • Union Jack makes its way to space for the first time • PM Cameron appoints Indian-origin Parliamentarians as special envoys

• Londoners choose their first ever British Muslim and Asian Mayor Sadiq Khan

FEBRUARY

Five men open fire in the Holey Artisan bakery situated in Dhaka's poshest area; distinguishing the Muslims from the non-Muslims.

• London gets its first ever Indian Deputy Mayor • Hindu journo barred from sharing utensils in Pak state-run news agency

Ghana government announced it would soon remove the statue of Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi, after a few of his "alleged past racist comments" surfaced.

• SA Prez Zuma quizzed over links to Gupta family

• Martyr's Day observed at Gandhi Statue, Tavistock Square • Senior Councillor resigns after alleged Islamophobia comment • EU denies Cameron the 4-year ban on migrant benefits • High Commission of India celebrates Republic Day in London • Brighton jihadist becomes senior terrorist member

• London to celebrate unique awards rewarding charities across the globe • Punjab National Bank celebrates 10 years of being in the UK • Asian Voice Charity Awards reward charities

2016 IN A NUTSHELL

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JUNE • NatWest Awards £2.5m for community projects

• Book on Swaminarayan Hinduism launched at King's College • Labour fights back Brexit chances With just 10 days remaining to the referendum, 14 of Britain's minority ethnic Labour MPs including Keith Vaz, came together and urged BAME voters vote to remain in the EU on 23rd June.

• Queen's Honours List 2016 the most "diverse" • Anand Mela inaugurated by Mayor of Harrow Cllr Rekha Shah • BAPS Children's Forum recieves Gold Award for Supplementary Education

Asian Voice | 24th December 2016

Veteran Labour MP Keith Vaz stepped down from the chair after being embroiled in a scandal following allegations that he paid for sex with male prostitutes.

• David Cameron quits as MP • Rig Veda enters UK House of Lords Newest Indian-origin member of the British House of Lords, Jitesh Gadhia took his oath of allegiance to the reigning monarch Queen Elizabeth II, using the ancient Vedic text of the Rig Veda.

• 16th Asian Achievers Awards raises record sum for charity

The Award night held at the prestigious Grosvenor House Hotel raised £180,000 for charity partner Indian Ocean Disaster Relief.

OCTOBER • Oxford University announces Cornelia Sorabji scholarship to exceptional Indian students • Lord Williams delivers Gandhi lecture on Mahatma's example for peacemaking today • May sets out Brexit blueprint to make Britain "truly global"

Theresa May stirred Britain on course to leave EU by 2019, pledging to trigger the two-year exit negotiation by March 2017.

• London Mayor Sadiq Khan says London is "open for Indian investments" • May lights a Diya at No. 1o

NOVEMBER

• Theresa May visits India

AUGUST

DECEMBER

• Cameron, the Bad Cook Former Prime Minister David Cameron sparks new controversy. Lists "undeserving" people for titles including knighthoods, MBEs and OBEs. • Brit-Indians honoured with peerage among controversy • Ministry of Defence celebrates Raksha Bandhan in London temple

• Lack of Muslim integration worries Britain • Brit-Indians call on NaMo to help with currency ban • New High Commissioner of India takes charge His Excellency Yashvardhan Kumar Sinha took charge of his post at India House in London.

SEPTEMBER

BUSINESS

• London Mayor visits Hindu temple on their second anniversary • Bhaktivedanta Manor hosts biggest international festival for Lord Krishna's birthday • London set to celebrate first ever Jammu and Kashmir festival • Keith Vaz quits as Home Affairs Committee Chairman

FEBRUARY

JANUARY • FDI in India grows by 35 per cent • US-based Blackstone acquires mall in Ahmedabad • World Bank sees India at top in growth • UK entrepreneurs may liquidate companies to escape tax rule changes • Indian FM Jaitley woos UK investors

cuts proposal • Vijay Mallya declared a proclaimed offender • India allows 100 per cent FDI in defence

• Indian GM Arun Jaitley urges Congress to pass GST • TCS rated world's most powerful IT services brand • Jet, Etihad become fastest growing airlines in India • Make in India Week racks up £152 bn in

investment pledges Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Make in India business expo finds foreign investment, garners praise.

MARCH • High Commissioner of India orghanises discussion on Indian budget for UK businesses

APRIL

• Diwali and Hindu New Year celebrated at Neasden Temple

• Labour MP Naz Shah seeks investigation into 'honour killing' of British national in Pakistan • Foreign Minister Alok Sharma visits India

• Tata's JLR becomes UK's largest car maker

• Then PM Cameron announces 'Help to Save' accounts • Hong Kong urges its industries to 'Make in India' • Hackers steal $81 mn from Bangladesh

JULY • Britain Splits!

Britain chose to leave the European Union, followed by intense drama that included Prime Minister David Cameron's resignation.

• Indians in the UK divided on Britain's future outside EU • Finance, Banking and Insurance Magazine launched at a Gala evening in House of Commons • Theresa May becomes Brit PM • May holds first Cabinet meeting

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• 14 Indians among world's top 100 venture capitalists • Tata bids adieu to UK operations • India allows 100 per cent FDI in e-commerce • Mallyua skips ED summons; faces tough action • Nita Ambani is Asia's most powerful businesswoman- Forbes

• India makes amendments to civil aviation policy, making it easier for new airlines to fly overseas • RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan says no to second term Rajan who hit the news headline quite often, chose to step back from a second term. Making the announcement at the last hour, Rajan surprised many by exercising the option to return to academia.

• Sunil Bharti Mittal elected head of the International Chamber of Commerce

JULY • £1.30 bn black money unearthed from overseas bank accounts • Tatas put Port Talbot sale on hold • India bright spot amid gloom, says World Bank chief • CII delegation and UK Minister discuss India-UK economic engagement and bilateral business opportunities post Brexit A high-profile CEOs delegation led by Naushad Forbes, President, Confederation of Indian Industry and Co-chairman, Forbes Marshall visited the UK to reinforce the vibrant and dynamic India-UK economic engagement and highlight new bilateral business opportunities post Brexit.

• Tatas refuse to give promises over Port Talbot steelworks • First cohort of Commonwealth First Export Champions to go on trade mission to India in November 2016 • India-UK hold talks on FTA for postBrexit deal • India avoided adverse Brexit effectJaitley

AUGUST • Diageo's deals with Vijay Mallya under Sebi scanner • India's first corporate Masala Bond launched at London Stock Exchange

• UK willing to buy stake in crisis-hit Tata Steel

MAY • Liberty House joins the race to acquire Tata Steel UK • RBI to make public list of wilful defaulters • Government to make customs clearance easy for NRIs

JUNE • Peer's 4-minute speech cost taxpayer £20 a word • Brit government weighs Tata pension

•

• • • • •

HDFC becomes first private company from India to issue a rupee-dominated bond abroad raising £340 mn in London.

Indian Parliament clears GST The biggest tax reform since 1991, Parliament unanimously voted for the Goods and Services Tax, giving it the green signal.

ED to attach over £600 mn worth of Vijay Mallya assets TCS ranks among top 100 US brands Indian Railway budget's 92 year old journey comes to a close Urjit Patel becomes RBI governor Tata Steel plant back in profit, but uncertainty continues over future

SEPTEMBER • Tata Motors Q1 net down 57 per cent over Brexit blues • UK economy copes after Brexit • ED attaches £663 mn worth properties of Mallya

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2016 IN A NUTSHELL

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Asian Voice | 24th December 2016 • Reliance Jio sends other telecom operators into a frenzy Reliance Industries announced their brand new 4G data plans at cheap costs.

• Liberty House remains frontrunner to buy Tata Steel

OCTOBER • Railway budget scrapped, merged with general budget • Marriott dethrones Taj as India's no. 1 hotel chain • Rcom and Rel Jio virtually merged says Anil Ambani

• Unaccounted black money worth £6.52 bn declared A total of 64,275 people declared their unaccounted wealth under the government's four month long Income Declaration Scheme 2016.

• India may ease FDI curbs on food retail • IMF cyts UK's 2017 growth forecast again • Rosneft takes over Essar in India's largest FDI deal • Cyrus Mistry sacked, Ratan back at the helm Tata Sons "replaced" chairman Cyrus Mistry with Ratan Tata who will be the interim chairman for four months.

• GST Council proposes four GST slabs

SPORTS JANUARY • South African batsman Hashim Amla defies England with form • Indian bowler Ravichandran Ashwin ranked number 1 in ICC Test Player Rankings

MAY • Sachin, Bindra become India's ambassadors for Rio Olympics • Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik qualify for Rio • Former Indian Cricket team captain Anil Kumble reappointed as ICC Cricket Committee head

JUNE • Gurpreet Sandhu becomes first Indian to play European Top Flight Football • 'Pocket Hercules' laid to rest • Muhammad Ali bids world good bye • Saina wins second Australian title

• Australia beat India in first ODI • Fauja Singh to be face of '100 years and Running' campaign • Messi wins FIFA world player award for 5th time • Indian women's cricket team stuns Australia • Shuttler Sindh wins Malaysia Masters title

FEBRUARY • Indian pistol shooter Heena Sidhu qualifies for Rio Olympics • Sania-Martina win Australia Open women's doubles • Banned Pak umpire threatens to sue BCCI

• Bindra announced flag bearer in Rio Olympics • India clinch series against Zimbabwe • Briton accuses India Hockey captain of rape and abuse • Silver for India in Hockey Champions Trophy

JULY • British boxer Amir Khan wants to bring India-Pak rivalry to the boxing ring • Indian goalkeeper Gurpreet Sindh Sandhu became first Indian to play Europa League

NOVEMBER • 16 Indian States make over 80 per cent in World Bank • FM presses on additional cess to cover revenue loss • Centre scraps Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes In a big blow to money launderers and black money enthusiasts, the Modi government scrapped its highest denomination currency notes early November.

• Tata Sons appoints new execs to steer group

Tainted Pakistani umpire Asad Rauf lashes out at the BCCI for imposing a five-year ban on him.

• Boxers and shooters keep India on top at the South Asian Games • Tennis player Mahesh Bhupathi wins first title in three years

MARCH • Indian women sweep T20 series against Lanka • India beat Bangladesh to win Asia Cup Final • Sharapova fails drug test

• Modi hints at more action to unearth black money • Demonetisation move fetches £54.4 bn bonanza for banks

• • • •

• Lancashire opener Haseeb Hameed set for big break • Rio Games winds up India put on a disappointing show at the Rio Olympics; returned with one silver and one bronze medal

SEPTEMBER • Green signal for England's Bangladesh tour • Gujarat set to host 2016 Kabaddi World Cup

• Modi announces task force to prepare for next three Olympics • Khel Ratna conferred to Sindhu, Sakshi, and Dipa • Guinness World Record holder Nungshi and Tashi Malik visit UK • Indians grab three medals at Rio Paralympics • Indian Javeli thrower Devendra wins gold at Rio Paralympics • Haseeb Hameed ready for tough England job

OCTOBER • India beat New Zealand, win 500th Test • BCCI rejects key Lodha panel recommendations on reforms • India thrash New Zealand- zoom to top in ICC rankings • Indian boy wins Chinese Taipei Open • Britain's golden girl bids farewell Jessica Ennis-Hill received a torrent of tributes from fellow Olympians after she bid adieu to her favourite sport at the age of 30.

• Abhinav Bindra making the most of his retirement • Redknapp runs over wife in freak accident • India beats Iran to claim Kabaddi crown TransStadia Arena in Ahmedabad saw Indian Kabaddi players put up a show and clinch the world series.

NOVEMBER • Indian Women's hockey team wins Asian Championship Trophy • Hameed makes history

AUGUST • India announced as venue to host Kabaddi World Cup in October • 'Desi' food for Indian Olympic contingent

DECEMBER • Tata to sell Yorkshire steel plants to Liberty group • Tata Steel brings OP Bhatt as interim chairman • India fastest growing economy at 7.3 per cent • Demonetisation weighs on manufacturing • Mistry hostile to promoters, must go: Ratan Tata

•

Sandhu was named in the Norwegian club Stabaek FC's squad for their Europa League qualifying match against Welsh Premier League side Connah's Quay Nomads FC. Andy Murray wins Wimbledon title for second time Hockey India team announces PR Sreejesh as captain for Rio Olympics Boxing star Vijender Singh clinches WBO Asia Pacific title Two Indian sports persons fail dope test Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra creates history

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Former tennis World No.1 Maria Sharapova said she failed a drug test at the Australian Open due to a substance she has been taking for the last 10 years.

• "More love in India" remark lands Shahid Afridi in soup

APRIL • British boxer in coma after injury • Kohli named captain of ICC World T20 XI • India demolish Pak in Sultan Azlan Shah Cup • Gujarat cricketer is Oman's Captain • Dipa Karmarkar becomes the first Indian woman gymnast to qualify for the Rio Games • London Olympic stadium likely to be named after Mahindra group

• • • •

Prime Minister announces 'desi' food for Indian contingent at the Rio Olympics, if they so wish. "The Centre will ensure that Indian athletes get Indian food according to their choice and requirements," he stated at a promotional event to send off the team to Rio. India's shooters, Hockey team disappoints at the Olympics Nita Ambani becomes IOC member Sania Mirza breaks down after loss Mo Farah defends 10,000m title despite fall

Haseeb Hameed broke a record before he took to the field, as he became England's youngest test opening batsman and the fifth youngest player overall.

• Ahmedabad boy all set for New Zealand debut • Narinder Batra becomes first Indian president of the International Hockey Federation • PV Sindhu creates history, wins 1st super series title

DECEMBER • India bag bronze at 4-nation hockey tournament • Pak loses first series to New Zealand in 30 years New Zealand took nine wickets in a dramatic final session of the second cricket Test against Pakistan to win by 130 runs.

• Indian women lift Asia Cup again • L&T to build world's biggest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad

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REALESTATEVOICE

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19

Asian Voice |24th December 2016

OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE NEW! With the end of 2016 approaching, it’s time to take a recap of the year and try to peek into the next.

Suresh Vagjiani Sow & Reap London Property Investment

This year has been a tumultuous one, where we ended up holding assets which were high in value and could not be sold due to the dampening market conditions. For most of the projects we have somehow or another found a way out. Some by going back to the drawing board and finding another more innovative strategy, some through finding JV partners, and making the deal attractive to them.

One we had to let go of.

Property development is about three things mainly.

One is reading the market, another is doing the development on time and

on budget, and lastly getting the borrowing right in terms of rates and Loan to Value.

One or more of these factors can destroy the deal, as we have painfully learnt.

These few deals which haven’t gone to plan will be a blemish on our immaculate record of trades and sourcing deals.

To date we still have an exceptionally high record of both trading and sourcing deals.

On a positive note we are finally due to complete on a deal in Marylebone for £3m today, I say due because at the time of writing the funds have not yet been received by the lawyer, and the date for completion is today.

AVOID THE ROTTEN APPLE The private rented sector is becoming more and more competitive, while most tenants are unlikely to cause any hassle, some will wreak havoc, meaning you need to be on the lookout for any bad apples.

Ensuring that the right tenants move into your property can save you hassle down the line, such as the lengthy and costly eviction process. Some stick out like sore thumbs, so are easy to avoid, but others rely on deception and secrecy.

Here are some tips to help

you avoid bad tenants.

of the potential tenant.

Referencing Research reveals that a staggering 38% of landlords do not carry out checks on prospective tenants, leaving themselves vulnerable to bad tenants. Referencing checks can provide a landlord with an idea of what to expect, such as if the potential occupier will pay their rent on time.

These checks will also reveal if the person has any criminal convictions or county court judgements against them for debt, which should give a landlord a clearer picture

Be wary of tenants who try and get around referencing checks, as this could be an attempt to keep their history hidden.

It is likely that such a person would target landlords that have just entered the buy-to-let property market or private landlords that choose to work without the help of lettings agencies.

BUY TO LET OPPORTUNITY West Kensington, London, W14 Purchase Price: £399,000

Guarantor This may not be required in all cases, so use your initiative to decide if a guarantor will be needed or not. Tenants that work

Worst case notice will be served and we will then have 10 working days, which take us to 4th January 2017, to complete.

There is a new strategy which we will be pursuing with a vengeance in 2017.

It will bring life back to property investments.

To do investments in the same way as the rest of the market doesn’t really give you an edge. The market is too small and knowledgeable. Generally, when a development is sold, it is sold with the appraisal done by the seller to ensure 20% to 30% is left for the incoming purchaser.

There can be an edge if you know of a planning angle which the seller has missed or you can do the development very cheaply part-time or receive benefits, or couples who apply for a joint tenancy may not be able to pay the rent if their situation changes, so in these instances it may be a good idea to give yourself added protection.

Deposit Landlords should take a deposit, which generally equates to four to six weeks' rent. This provides the owner of the property with a degree of protection should any damage to the property occur or if the tenant absconds without paying their last month's rent. Deposits must legally be held in one of the government's three protection schemes until

by having in-house builders.

On the whole, this is the market. The property market in particular is very backward looking, there is not much innovation and forward thinking. Demographics are changing and there is a lot going on, especially in London. The property market is unable to read the current trends, and even at times when it does, it is very slow to the tenant vacates the property.

Be on the lookout for any potential occupiers that ask you to forego the deposit, as it could be an indicator of a rotten apple.

Inventory Taking an inventory will reduce the chances of a dispute happening when a tenant leaves a property.

Write down what the house contains and make a note of any existing damage, taking photos as well. This means you have the evidence necessary to prove any missing items or

A large two bedroom ground floor flat, situated within walking distance of Holland Park. ● Share of freehold ● 24 hour Porter ● Property in this location is being sold for around £870 per sq. ft., while this is going for around £599 per sq. ft. ● Close to all the amenities of Kensington High Street Call us now if you are interested!

●

react.

We have a strategy which will be yield focused in the prime parts of London.

This means you still adhere to the scared mantra of Location, Location, Location; but the concentration is on the monthly cash flow. Yes, it is possible to get one. We will be announcing a seminar in the beginning of the year, which will be an opportunity for you to attend and see first-hand what we are planning.

new damage is the fault of the tenant.

At Sow & Reap we ensure that these checks and balances are carried out, in order to protect your investment. Give us a call for a free consultation regarding your rental property.

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FINANCIAL VOICE

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Asian Voice | 24th December 2016

Consultant Editor Financial Voice Alpesh Patel The Financial Problems of Your Children Dear Financial Voice Reader, Our schools are in crisis. No, not because of lack of funding. Your children are brewing problems for the future – no, not childhood obesity. But lack of basic practical skills for life. I’ve said it before, we must teach digital skills, online banking, writing emails, networking, how pensions work, basic principles of loans, taxation, investment, savings.

Our schools on the whole have Shakespeare on the menu and that is important because our legislators very much in touch with the needs of inner city problems that a touch of Hamlet can solve.

But actually, you need schools with more remote learning, taught by the best teachers in the world, on demand videos and if the children do not pay attention, the ex-Military Sargent will be able to sort that out.

This way you ensure consistency of quality of education far more than at present. Of course you need teachers but for the things remote video learning cannot do.

Why does a State school student in Glasgow not have access to a great teacher from Eton via video courses? The government can pay for the one of costs of creating the courses.

Who decided that Egyptian history is more important than understanding how to use a search engine or the internet. Will there be controversy on what is taught?

Sure, but an independent board of the likes of Bill Gates, Richard Branson, and Professors from University and Captains of Industry can thrash out the subject areas.

We would have a more productive work-force, cut costs, improve creativity because children could learn in a modern way and do what they find more interesting because there would be more choice without the expense of more teachers.

And in case you think I am an anti-education barbarian – I am a Visiting Fellow in Business, Oxford University and have degrees in Law and in Politics, Philosophy, Economics. I know education is important.

But it is still as it was 200 years ago – with the odd sprinkling of computers.

Don’t believe me? Bill Gates teaches his children through the free Khan Academy. I teach people through my free webinars, not in person in a classroom.

Mistry resigns from all Tata Group companies After a bitter battle against Ratan Tata, ousted Tata Group Chairman Cyrus Mistry quit from the boards of six listed companies, including Tata Motors and Indian Hotels and vowed to shift his fight to a "larger platform".

In a statement, Mistry said the objective of effective reform and best interests of employees, shareholders and other stakeholders of the Tata Group "would be better served by moving away from the forum of the extraordinary general meetings".

Mistry, 48, has not resigned from Tata Sons, where he still continues as a director despite being removed as chairman, or from the operating firms.

Tata Sons, the holding company of the $103 billion group, has called extraordinary general meeting (EGMs) of listed companies to consider its proposal to remove Mistry as director on their board.

"In order to be more effective, serve the objective of governance reform, and to regain lost ethical ground, I have decided to shift from the forum of the EGMs to a larger platform and also one where the

rule of law and equity is upheld," Mistry has said in the statement.

LIC to abstain from voting: Meanwhile, state insurer Life Insurance Corporation of India's decision to abstain from voting on a resolution to oust Mistry from the Tata Consultancy Services board may be an indication of the manner in which the ball has fallen in Tata Sons' court.

Choosing a hands-off approach, LIC has eased the way for the Tatas to wrest a simple majority on resolutions needed to axe Mistry from company boards. Sources said LIC has already sounded the department of financial services under the ministry of finance on the matter and has obtained the government's views.

No plans to step down as chairman of Tata Trusts, Ratan Tata: Ratan Tata, interim chairman of Tata Sons, said that contrary to media reports, he has no plans to step down as chairman of Tata Trusts "at this point in time."

Tata Trusts, which control 66% in Tata Sons, is the holding company of the $108-billion Tata Group.

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Indian economy surpasses that of UK India has managed to overtake United Kingdom in terms of the size of the economy - the first time after nearly 150 years, owing to Britain's recent Brexit-related problems and thanks to India's rapid economic growth. This dramatic shift has been driven

by India's rapid economic growth over the past 25 years as well down slide in the value of the pound over the last 12 months, a report published in Forbes magazine said.

"Once expected to overtake the UK GDP in 2020, the surpassing has been accelerated by the nearly 20 per cent decline in the value of the pound over the last 12 months, consequently UK's 2016 GDP of GBP 1.87 trillion converts to $2.29 trillion at exchange rate of GBP 0.81 per $1, whereas India's GDP of INR 153 trillion converts to $2.30 trillion at exchange rate of INR 66.6 per $1," the report said.

Interestingly, economic think-tank Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) had, in December 2011, forecasted that India would become the "fifth largest by 2020" but India has crossed this significant milestone much sooner.

"Furthermore, this gap is expected to widen as India grows at 6 to 8 per cent p.a. compared to UK's growth of 1 to 2 per cent p.a. until 2020, and likely beyond. Even if the currencies fluctuate that modify these figures to rough equality, the verdict is clear that India's economy has surpassed that of the UK based on future growth prospects," the report said.

Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju while celebrating India's landmark, said, "India overtakes UK & becomes 5th largest GDP after USA, China, Japan & Germany."

India remains fastestgrowing large economy, beating China: Research and analysis division of The Economist Group, the Economist Intelligence

Unit said India continues to be the fastest-growing large economy beating China, in its global economic outlook this month. Director of G l o b a l Forecasting at the EIU, Joseph Lake tweeted the highlights of the session saying, "India remains fastest-growing large economy, beating China. Iran looks good.

Strong showing from Africa: Tanzania, Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda."

They, however, cut down India's economic growth forecast from 7.3 per cent to 6.5 per cent in 2016-17 because of cash shortage from "botched implementation of demonetisation". The group also warned that the health of the Chinese economy remains the biggest risk to the global economy, stating that "growth in China will lurch down from 6.2 per cent in 2017 to 4.2 per cent in 2018." "This kind of shift is unprecedented in modern China and will come at a time when the global economy is uniquely unprepared to react. Consequently, 2018 will be a year of anxi-

ety around the world, characterised by volatility in real economies and financial markets."

The EIU warned that the collapse of the Chinese economy, which has become increasingly reliant on credit to sustain its rapid expansion, will have ripple effects around the world.

"Worst-hit will be those countries that depend on exporting commodities to China, such as Australia, Chile, and Mongolia." Also directly affected will be countries that have deep and broad trading relationships with China, such as South Korea and Taiwan.

"The rest of the world will feel a chill through declines in equity prices and in consumer and business confidence."

Lake sent out a series of tweets saying, "Iran looks good. Strong showing from Africa" Tanzania, Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda."

"Venezuela from bad to worse (Maduro clings on till Dec election), UK +Italy weak spots in Europe, Syria a shameful situation for the world." "Brazil economy contracted by more than 7 per cent in 2015-16. We cut our 2017 growth forecast to 0.5 per cent following poor recent data. No bounce."

Contribution of NRGs recalled Speaking at an event on the contribution of NonResident Gujaratis (NRGs) in the development of Gujarat, organised by the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry NRG Committee, Gujarat Governor O P Kohli said that with a natural instinct for travelling abroad, NRGs while contributing to the economic development of country in which they reside, also remain connected to their motherland and steadily contribute through remittances, social activities, weddings, tourism, educational activities and other development activities.

Dr Neerja Gupta, Advisor and Coordinator of the Study Abroad Programme and Diaspora Studies, Gujarat University and Global Chair of Academic Council, Global organisation of People of Indian Origin, addressed

the participants saying how tremendous the NRG contribution to the development of the state was. The Gujarati community tends to never drift away from its culture and tradition.

In his introductory remarks, KH Patel, Chairman of NRG Committee of GCCI, said that almost 6500,000 Gujaratis resided abroad out of the 25 million NRIs, and that they were law abiding people who made an excellent contribution to the country of their residence.

Major concentration of NRGs are in USA, UK,

Canada, East Africa, South East Asia and in the Gulf countries. While majority of them are in business and industry, a good number of them are professionals in the fields of engineering, medicine and information technology etc.

While contributing handsomely to the motherland, NRIs and NRGs had a dominating presence in the hotel industry. Hotels were like honeycombs for them.

Medical Tourism was a major attraction for the NRIs, NRGs and even foreign nationals not because the medical services were

cheap but because of our concept of Atithi Devo Bhava.

The state government after establishing a NRG department had taken a number of initiatives such as issuing OCI cards, Gujarat Card etc. The NRG Wing of GCCI since its establishment in 2008 had conducted many programmes for the benefit of local Gujaratis as well as NRGs. Bipin R Patel, President GCCI, welcomed the guests and Shailesh Patwari, Sr. Vice President, GCCI proposed a vote of thanks.

Gupta comes to the rescue of UK's last aluminium smelter Indian-origin metal tycoon Sanjeev Gupta has said he will invest £120 million in Britain's last aluminium smelter as part of a deal to rescue the site and safeguard hundreds of local jobs.

Gupta's Liberty House and his father's related business, Simec, will pay around £330 million to buy the plant at Lochaber, in the

western Scottish Highlands, and two hydroelectric plants that power it.

The group has committed to invest a further £120 million, creating up to 600 jobs in coming years, Gupta said.

Gupta's plans include creating an aluminium wheel manufacturing facility with 300 jobs directly and another 300 in the sup-

ply chain.

Overall, the Guptas estimate that the investment will generate up to 2,000 jobs in the supply chain and add £1bn to the local economy in the next decade.

Gupta is executive chairman of Liberty House Group and of the wider family concern - GFG Alliance - strategic board.

Liberty has also said

that it aims to protect the existing 170 jobs at Lochaber and expand metal manufacturing and downstream engineering in the region.

Besides the smelter and the hydroelectric plants, the latest acquisition includes a 100,000-acre estate which captures rainwater to power the hydro-electric generators.

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WORLD Asian Voice | 24th December 2016

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Pak senate passes resolution for notebandi In Brief ISLAMABAD: Within a month of the controversial demonetisation of high value currency notes in India, Pakistan senate has passed a resolution seeking withdrawal of Rs 5000 notes from circulation to halt money laundering.

Senator Usman Saifullah of Opposition Pakistan People's Party tabled the resolution, arguing that the Rs 5000 note was being used in illegal transactions and should be withdrawn. He however, found strong resistance from the ruling Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz government.

A member of the PPP said the government must withdraw the highest denomina-

tion currency note "in order to reduce illicit money flow, encourage the use of bank accounts and reduce the size of undocumented economy."

Opposing the resolution, law minister Zahid Hamid said the move would have repercussions on the economy and the masses in general, as is

happening in India. He also added that the withdrawal of the notes would create crisis in the market and people would resort to foreign currencies in absence of Rs 5000 notes.

Hamid said that around 3.43 trillion Rs 5000 banknotes were in circulation in Pakistan, around 30 per cent of the total currency in flow in Pakistan now.

"Such a huge number of currency notes cannot be pulled from circulation without causing a monetary crisis.

If such steps are taken, people will lose confidence in the Pakistani rupee and will instead prefer foreign currency due to the steep drop in

supply of local currency notes," he said. Retorting, Saifullah said that instead of withdrawing the Rs 5000 currency note, its printing should be halted and the withdrawal should take place in a time span of three to five years.

Pak ranks 117th on the list of corrupt nations out of 175, according to the 2015 Corruption Perceptions Index reported by Transparency International.

Corruption rank in the country averaged 107.90 from 1995 until 2015, reaching an all time high of 144.00 in 2005. Saifullah said the most illegal transactions in the country were carried out using the Rs 5000 note.

Policy shift? Pak and Russia hold first-ever consultation ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Russia held their first ever consultation in Islamabad, as informed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Its statement added that a wide range of regional issues and key areas of mutual interest, including economic cooperation and connectivity were discussed. "The two sides exchanged views on important global and regional developments. It was also decided that the next round of consultations will be convened in Moscow in 2017," the statement added.

Director general, ministry of foreign affairs, Ahmad Hassain Dayo, led the Pakistani side while Alexander V Sternik, third CIS department head at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led the Moscow delegation. Both

the countries' troops had held their first-ever joint military exercises in September in Cherat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The joint drill named 'Friendship 2016' was seen as a step in the growing military-to-military cooperation between the two countries that remained rivals for decades during the Cold War. Pak decided to warm up to Russia following the 2011

killing of al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden, in a military operation by the US in Abbottabad, followed by the killing of 24 Pakistani soldiers the same year in Nato airstrikes on a check post along the Durand Line, Pak's disputed border with Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, to keep its long-term ally on its good side, Moscow had ignored

Islamabad for long, until New Delhi's inclination towards Washington began to grow.

During the last 15 months, Pakistan's Army, Navy and Air Force chiefs travelled to Russia and the exchanges resulted in the signing of a deal between the two countries for the purchase of four MI-35 attack helicopters. Not only that, Islamabad is also considering purchase of advanced Russian war-planes. During his visit to Moscow in July, Pakistan's chief of air staff, Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman, discussed purchase of Su-35 fighter jets with his Russian counterpart. The move was considered a major policy shift on part of Russia in the wake of growing strategic partnership between the US and India.

Strengthening bridges between Kenya and the world Dhiren Katwa Kenya celebrated the 53rd anniversary of its independence this month. After 68 years of British rule, on December 12, 1963, Kenya attained independence as a Commonwealth realm, with Queen Elizabeth II as head of state until the following year on 12th December 1964 when it became a Republic. I met Kenya’s High Commissioner to the UK, His Excellency (HE) Lazarus Amayo, a truly inspiring, remarkable gentleman with an impressive career thus far.

The youngest in a large family of politicians, academics, lawyers, bankers and administrators, HE believes these relatives gave him the desire to pursue his long career in the public sector, culminating in his current role as a High Commissioner of Kenya to the UK which he has held since November 2014.

HE, who holds a BA from Spicer Memorial College, India and an MA from Delhi University, taught Geography and Biology for two years in a secondary school, his first experience of public service.

After eight years working in HR, of what was then the Kenya Post & Telecommunications Corporation, he entered politics in 1989 and was elected as

an MP, and subsequently appointed Assistant Minister for Education. He later became the CEO of Catering Levy Trustees, a state corporation, in 1993.

HE’s first diplomatic posting (1994-2004) was as High Commissioner to India, with concurrent accreditation to Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Singapore. Here, his greatest achievement was increasing the number of bilateral engagements, and reactivating and convening the Joint Commission, “a framework

Lazarus Amayo

for the purposes of guiding relations between India and Kenya.”

In July this year when India’s Premier Narendra Modi visited the Kenyan capital Nairobi, Kenya’s President, HE Uhuru Kenyatta, described the visit “extremely significant.” He explained: “It is evident in our fashion as more African women embrace Indian clothing and beauty practices, it is evident in Swahili music

of our coastal regions and it is part of what makes many Indians feel at home when they are in Kenya and vice versa.”

Friendship between India and Kenya goes back a long time. In 1896, 32,000 Indians came to Kenya to build the Kenya-Uganda Railway. They took on jobs as skilled labourers, artisans, bricklayers, carpenters, plumbers, tailors, motor mechanics and electrical fitters. And when the Railway was finished in 1902, about 7,000 of those workers stayed behind to build a future in East Africa. During my meeting with HE at the Kenyan High Commission in Portland Place, London, HE asked me, ‘apne Pharmacy kiya, fir journalism me kaise aa gaye?, which translates to, ‘you studied pharmacy, how did you get into journalism?,’ He’d clearly googled me. I was amazed by this, his Hindi too.

Also sat in with us was High Commission’s First Secretary, Fredrick Kidali.

Commenting on the numbers of British people living in Kenya and Kenyans living in the UK, he says “there is a lot that binds us together”. HE is keen to emphasise flourishing economic relations, noting that the UK is Kenya’s second-largest export destination and its largest European investor. Although there are over 210 UK companies oper-

ating in Kenya and the value of investments standing at around Stg. £2.5 billion, HE would like to see this number increase. “There are vast opportunities in Kenya for UK companies and entrepreneurs,” he says.

Asked if he sees terrorism as a challenge for Kenya. He said, “Terrorism is a global challenge that requires the concerted efforts of the international community to tackle it. Kenya is doing its part within the framework of the Africa Union to help ensure peace and security in the subregion.”

The High Commissioner added that what happened 17 months ago were isolated incidences which the Country has overcome and that Kenya is as safe as any other nation in the world. British mainstream media, in particular, tends to paint, some say, a bleak image of Kenya in its day-to-day coverage. I put this to HE for comment. “Our desire is to enhance relations for the mutual benefit of our people,” he smiled.

HE is married to Mrs. Nelly Amayo, and the couple have three grown-up children. A role model High Commissioner, HE is a man who not only inspires but plays a pivotal role in making a positive difference to the lives of all those he comes across. Me included.

Indian-American elected mayor of California's 'Apple' city

New York: An Indian-American woman has been elected the new mayor of Californian city Cupertino. Savita Vaidhyanathan was sworn in last week in a ceremony. "I've had several congratulatory messages saying that I'm the first woman mayor of Indian-origin. Yes, I do take a lot of pride and prestige in that," she said. "I do want to thank the residents of the city of Cupertino that voted me in not looking at ethnicity at all. Thank you for your trust in me, and maybe we did break that silicon ceiling and put a few more cracks in that glass ceiling," Vaidyanathan said. She took over from Barry Chang who was mayor from 2015.

Indian-origin teens top science contest in US

HOUSTON: Three teenagers of Indian origin in the US, have bagged a scholarship worth $2,00,000 in a science competition for their innovative research that will help diagnose several health problems, including schizophrenia.

Sixteen year old twin sisters Shriya and Adhya Beesam, 11th grade students in Plano, Texas, shared the $1,00,000 grand prize in the 17th Annual Siemens Math, Science and Technology Competition for their project titled 'Linked Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System: A Novel Approach to Schizophrenia Diagnosis." Also, Vineet Edupuganti, a senior at Oregon Episcopal School won the top individual award worth $100,00 for developing an ingestible battery that could change the way doctors diagnose and monitor health problems.

US professor gets life threats over anti-Trump comments

LOS ANGELES: A California college professor who had made anti-Trump comments now remains in hiding after receiving death threats.

Olga Perez Stable Cox, who taught human sexuality at the Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, fled the state after a video of her rant was posted on Facebook and caused her trouble. In the roughly two-minute video secretly filmed by one of her students, the professor can be seen telling her class, "We are in for a difficult time. But again, I do believe that we can get past that. Our nation is divided' we have been assaulted, it's an act of terrorism." The video caught national media attention and prompted outrage and threats to her life.

Russian aircraft with 30 on board crashes, no fatalities

NEW DELHI: A Russian aircraft with 30 people on board crashed in Yakutia, Siberia, however, no fatalities have been reported. A law enforcement source said the plane crashed, adding, that "The Il-18 plane, which flew from the Koltsovo airport in Yekaterinburg on December 19 and crashed 27 km from the Tiksi village," the source added. The crew and passengers were evacuated and have been taken to a hospital near the crash site. Over 100 servicemen and two military Mi-8 helicopters are working at the Ilyushim Il-18 emergency landing site in Yakutia, a source from the regional emergency services said. "The search and rescue operation involves about 100 servicemen and two Mi-8 helicopters from the Tiksi airbase. The crash landing site has been found, it is located some 30 km from the village of Tiksi," the source added.

China gifts chandelier to Jinnah museum

KARACHI: China gifted a crystal chandelier to Pakistan, replacing an earlier one at the mausoleum of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, given by the Communist country 46 years ago. Chinese President Xi Jinping described the gift as a symbol of their all-weather strategic cooperative partnership. The new chandelier was unveiled by President Mamnoon Hussain, created by using 3D scanning technology at the Mazar-e- Quaid. Xi said that China-Pak friendship served the fundamental interests of the two countries and contributed to peace and development of the region.

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Indra Nooyi joins Trump's strategic policy forum

WASHINGTON: IndianAmerican PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi has joined Donald Trump's Strategic and Policy Forum that aims to assist the president-elect in implementing his economic agenda, as announced by the presidential transition team.

Chennai-born Nooyi, 61, is the only Indian-origin executive in the 19 member team which was announced early this week. Three new members were also announced in addition to the current 16. Other corporate hotshots to join the forum are Uber CEO Travis Kalanick, and SpaceX and Tesla chairman, Elon Musk.

The forum, which includes some of America's most highly sort after business

leaders will meet with the president frequently to share their specific experience and knowledge as he implements his economic agenda.

A media release said that the forum would be chaired

by Stephen A Schwarzman, chairman, CEO and cofounder of Blackstone.

"America has the most innovative and vibrant companies in the world, and the

WASHINGTON: US president-elect Donald Trump acknowledged the contribution of Indian-Americans in his electoral triumph, saying his victorious campaign did "great with the Hindus."

Addressing thousands of supporters at a 'Thank You' rally in Orlando, Florida, Trump said, "We have a lot of people here tonight from the Indian community, Hindus. We did great with the Hindus."

The event did in fact, see a sizeable population from the community. "Where are they? We have a big group.

There they are. I want to thank you. You folks were

amazing. They were amazing and voted and they were fantastic," the billionaire said pointing out at the IndianAmericans in the crowd. The Trump campaign's stint with India has long been in the public's notice as they made a point to constantly engage with the community. A fortnight before the elections, Trump attended a charity event organised by the Republican Hindu Coalition to raise funds for Hindu victims of terror in Kashmir and Bangladesh.

In his address, the president-elect pledged to work for the betterment of IndiaUS relationship and said he

Indra Nooyi

pioneering CEOs joining this forum today are at the top of their fields," said Trump.

"My administration is going to work together with the private sector to improve the business climate and make it attractive for firms to create new jobs across the US from Silicon Valley to the heartland." The presidential transition team said members of the forum would be charged with providing their individual views to the presidentinformed by their unique vantage points in the private sector on how government policy impacts economic growth, job creation, and productivity.

"The forum is designed to provide direct input to the president from many of the best and brightest in the

business world in a frank, non-bureaucratic and nonpartisan manner," the media release said. As chairman and CEO of PepsiCo, Nooyi heads a company that has more than $63 billion in annual net revenue, and more than $35 billion in the US alone. PepsiCo is the largest US food and beverage company with about 110,000 employees and 100 plants across the country.

During the general election Nooyi was Hillary Clinton supporter. After Trump's victory she said election has left her daughters, gay workers, employees and nonwhites devastated as there was “serious concern” among them about their safety in the US with Trump as president.

would be the best friend of India in the White House.

He also praised Narendra Modi for his economic reforms and steps that he has taken to remove bureaucratic red tape. The Trump campaign released an advertisement in which he was seen saying "Ab ki Baar Trump Sarkar", copying Modi's historic 2014 election punchline.

In his public address, Trump said, "Dream big and bold and daring. I am asking you to believe in yourself and asking you to believe in America. Together, we will make America great again."

Exxon CEO is US secy of

state: Trump officially selected Rex Tillerson, the chief executive of Exxon Mobil, to be his secretary of state. In taking the step, Trump is dismissing bipartisan concerns that the globetrotting leader of an energy giant has a too-cozy relationship with Russian president Putin. A statement from Trump's transition office brought to an end his chaotic deliberations over the top job.

The oil company stands to make some major gains as well: It has billions of dollars in deals that can go forward only if the US lifts sanctions against Russia.

Donald Trump thanks Indian-Americans

Pak airline sacrifices goat to ward off bad luck Pakistan's national airline PIA has shocked the aviation world by the apparent sacrifice of a goat beside a plane at the nation’s main international airport.

The animal was slaughtered before a test flight of a PIA plane of the same type that crashed on December 7, killing all 48 people on board. The plane was flying from Chitral to Islamabad when it came down.

Muhammad Azam Saigol, PIA's chairman, had put in his papers last week citing personal reasons.

The Pakistan's national airline has been widely mocked for sacrificing the goat to ward off bad luck.

Priyanka becomes UN's newest Goodwill Ambassador Brown for introducting her.

"Thank you David Beckham and Millie Bobby Brown for inducting me into the UNICEF global family.

Always delighted to meet like minded people who believe that there is humanity left in us after all," she wrote alongside the image.

In her acceptance speech, PC said, "My involvement with UNICEF began ten years ago in India. Today, I stand here humbled enriched, committed because of that exact experience. I want to thank the India team who has worked tirelessly with me for 10 years now for the amazing journey so far. And I want to thank the UNICEF for giving me this opportunity to extend the work that I can do."

Pegging yet another achievement before the year closes, actress Priyanka Chopra was recently announced as the UNICEF Global Goodwill Ambassador to promote child rights. PC, who was present at the organisation's 70th anniversary event at United Nations Headquarters in New York, was inducted to the position by fellow Goodwill Ambassador David Beckham.

The actress took to Twitter to express her joy.

She wrote, "Can't believe it's been 10 years! Honoured to now serve as UNICEF Global Goodwill Ambassador along with this amazing group For Every Child." She also thanked Beckham and actress Millie

Defence spending: India beats Russia to take 4th spot The Narendra Modi government's stress on increasing and modernising the country’s defence facilities has helped India to outgun Russia and Saudi Arabia inbecoming the world’s fourth-largest defence spender.

The Asia’s third-largest economy spent $50.6 billion in 2016, up from $46.6 billion last year in defence budget. According to the 2016 Jane’s Defence Budgets Report, released by research firm IHS Markit, Russia was at the fourth place last year,

but in 2016 it slipped to the sixth spot.

The US, China, and the UK remain the top three. The report says that by 2018 India will become the third-largest in the group, surpassing the UK. In 2014, India purchased some $5.57 billion worth of

arms, ammunition, and related goods from abroad. In 2016, India also signed a €7.8-billion deal to buy 36 Rafale fighter jets from France. In 2016 the US spent $622.03 billion, China $191.75 billion and UK $53.81 billion on defence.

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In Brief Puerto Rico beauty crowned Miss World 2016

MARYLAND: Puerto Rican Stephanie Del Valle was crowned Miss World 2016 at the 66th edition of the Miss World pageant held on 18 December 2016 in MGM National Harbor, Oxon Hill, Maryland. Yaritza Reyes from Dominican Republic was titled first runner up and Natasha Manneula from Indonesia was adjudged as the second runner up. Grand finale of the most prestigious pageant was hosted by former Miss World 2013 Megan Young, and actor Jason Cook. Stephanie clinched the coveted crown after defeating 117 contestants from around the globe. The Miss World pageant this year introduced new segments.

Ban may run for S Korea presidency

SEOUL: UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon has hinted that he may run for presidency of his native, South Korea. Ban, who will leave his current post at the end of the year, was initially evasive about his political future. However, after leaving the UN, the 72 year old plans to take a rest, then go to South Korea and "try to meet as many people as possible, which may include political leaders and leaders of the community, societies and my friends." Stating that South Korea is "in turmoil", he told reporters, "I will really consider seriously how best and what I should and I could do for my country." There are chances of a poll taking place within two months after the country's parliament voted to impeach current President Park Geun-hye over an influence-peddling scandal-allowing a close friend to profit from her connections with the presidency.

19 Pak embassy staff have slipped out in last 5 years

ISLAMABAD: At least 19 employees of Pakistan's foreign affairs ministry posted in missions abroad cannot be traced. It is said they used their assignments as an opportunities to slip out of the country. The Foreign office maintains a list of staffers sent to Pakistani missions in First World countries from where they managed to disappear for good.

"Whether they went on to seek asylum, became illegal immigrants or betrayed their country remains unknown," the report said. It added that the runaway officials were posted in the US, the UK, Canada, France, Sweden, Switzerland, Spain, and Mexico from where they disappeared. "The popular destination remains the US where eight of these staffers disappeared followed by the UK with three, and two each in France and Sweden and one each in Canada, Switzerland, Spain and Mexico."

33 die in Siberia after drinking bath oil

MOSCOW: Thirty three residents of Irkutsk died after drinking bath oil, hoping to get as drunk as alcohol. Investigators released a statement saying they had detained two people suspected of distributing the bath oil. The product had a warning on its label saying it should not be swallowed, but people ignored it and chugged it down. It remains unclear whether those selling the product were marketing it as a cheaper substitute for alcoholic spirits such as vodka. "Forty two people have been admitted to medical institutions of whom 25 have died," investigators said in the statement.

"Investigators and the police are conducting searches at markets where the liquid was first obtained. More than 100 points of sale have been identified."

34 bodies of PIA flight crash victims identified

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences has begun receiving DNA reports of 48 victims of the Pakistan International Airlines flight that crashed near Abbottabad on December 7. So far, 34 bodies have been identified. PIMS Vice Chancellor Dr Javed Akram was quoted as saying that 13 bodies are yet to be identified as some of the DNA reports were still under process. He said it has been decided that bodies will be sent to Chitral on a C-130 after receiving the reports of the remaining victims which have to be identified.

"There are eight bodies in Polyclinic and the remaining are in PIMS. We expect that the operation will be completed soon," Dr Akram said.

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The other side of the remarkable Jayalalithaa Anand Pillai The problem with people is they not only have short memory but they tend to remember only the last scene and not the entire episode.

M o h a m m a d Azharuddin played some fantastic cricket for India, but unfortunately people remember him more for ‘fixing matches’ than the class batsman that he was.

This is perhaps because the last scene of his cricketing career was all about ‘match fixing’.

Even though the Indian courts have given him the clean chit, people’s memory finds it tough to erase the black spot in his career.

Similarly, in the case of J Jayalalithaa, especially after her untimely demise, many tend to think she was some kind of saint because of her populist measures, which, of course, stood her in good stead politically – the record-breaking back-toback two Assembly election victories is a testimony to that. But there is certainly more to her than meets the eye.

Jayalalithaa had done commendable work for Tamil Nadu as a mass leader and chief minister, but honestly scanning

BROOKS NO DISSENT: Shows the world who's boss

through her political career one can’t deny she had a lot of faults and committed costly mistakes, which even cost her dear.

But now that she’s gone, one doesn’t talk about them. The reason being – it is considered in poor taste to speak ill of the dead. Everyone is aware of her flaws, but few want to rake them up. It is the elephant in the room.

But in the sympathy wave one should not gloss over some home truths in her illustrious life that perhaps a die-hard Jayalalithaa fan would not feel at home reading them.

But then that is legacy and history is all about.

Too much has been written about her enigmatic charisma or four-time chief ministership, or for that matter the voracious

reader that she was, her knowledge, and her runaway-hit welfare schemes (from support for abandoned babies to free medicine) targeting the poor and the downtrodden. All these make good headlines.

But one should also know that the film star turned politician was convicted twice for corruption (for amassing wealth disproportionate to her income). The most unremarkable thing about her remarkable career was her poor record of atrocities against the lower castes.

She allied with the dominant Thevar caste and looked the other way when the Dalits were maltreated by the upper caste. She was at the helm in 2011 when the Tamil Nadu police fired at a gathering in

Ramanathpuram district, killing seven Dalit villagers. Except for setting up an inquiry commission, she did nothing to alleviate the caste tensions between the powerful Thevars and the Dalits.

Also, she did little to prevent young Dalit men getting involved with girls from higher castes from being hacked to death.

The Divya-Ilavarasan tragic love story is an example. On July 4, 2013, the body of Ilavarasan, a young Dalit boy, was found on a culvert adjoining the

higher, Vanniyar caste. In retaliation, hundreds of Dalit homes were set ablaze in Dharmapuri by the Vanniyars while an outnumbered police force stood by and watched.

Ilavarasan’s killers have still not been convicted.

In early 2016 another Dalit boy, V Shankar, was hacked to death in full public view in Udhumalpet, a town in Tirupur district in Tamil Nadu, by his upper-caste in-laws. The entire chilling attack was captured on camera. His mistake too

THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: J Jayalalithaa

railway track in Dharmapuri, northern Tamil Nadu. Ilavarasan’s mistake was falling in love, and eloping and marrying Divya, who belonged to the

was marrying an upper caste girl, Kausalya, who is from the politically powerful Thevar caste. Thevars are a dominant community in Tamil Nadu and are

known to be a strong support base for Jayalalithaa’s AIADMK. Jayalalithaa could not take criticism of hers and her policies. She filed over 200 defamation cases against opponents (of the likes of Dr Subramanian Swamy) and journalists, sometimes only for denouncing her policies.

Over a dozen cases were filed against The Times of India, The Hindu and others, forcing the Supreme Court to chastise her. “(You) can’t use defamation case(s) to throttle democracy. This is not done,” the apex court told Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa.

Finally, howsoever powerful Jayalalithaa might have been, both politically and financially, she could not escape the inevitable – death.

It has been said that death is the great equaliser. Certainly, it’s the one thing that none of us can escape, so in that regard, we’re all the same. Death does not spare anyone, not even the wealthy, famous, or talented. Jayalalithaa lived like a Queen and never settled for anything less but death is the great leveller and came to her the same as to everyone else.

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TN CM meets Modi, seeks ÂŁ2.26 bn relief In Brief

NEW DELHI: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and sought ÂŁ2.26 billion relief packages for the cyclone-hit areas in the state. He briefed Modi on the ongoing restoration works following the devastating impact of Cyclone Vardah. He even submitted a memorandum, seeking disaster relief from the Centre.

Vardah that hit the state on December 12, brought with it massive destruction, particularly in Chennai and other northern areas.

Panneerselvam visited all the cyclone-hit districts including Chennai, Kancheepuram, and

O Panneerselvam and Narendra Modi

Tiruvallur and reviewed the relief operations. During his whirlwind visit, he visited the Ripon Building and held a

It's official, Sasikala to be next party chief CHENNAI: In a little over two weeks after Jayalalithaa passed away, the AIADMK has announced her closest aide Sasikala Natarajan to replace her as the chief of her party. Sasikala, 54, holds no post in the party, but AIADMK spokesperson C Ponnaiyan said rules would be amended if needed to place her in control.

"It is the desire of the entire party. Sasikala has functioned as the conscience of Amma," he said. Former TN chief minister Jayalalithaa succumbed to a massive cardiac arrest. Sasi lived with her at her huge Poes Garden bungalow, and is addressed as Chinamma.

Following her death, Panneerselvam, a loyalist who carried her photo in his shirt pocket everyday, was made the new Tamil Nadu Chief Minister. Arrangements for his oath hours after Jaya died in the hospital were attributed to Sasikala. Sasi is known to have a considerable say in appointments and in

Sasikala Natarajan

the selection of candidates. At the nationally-televised funeral, it was Sasikala, who performed the last rites.

Meanwhile, AIADMK MP Sasikala Pushpa has moved the Madras high court saying the general council of the party should be restrained from choosing the general secretary of the party. Though no date for a meeting of the general council has been announced as yet, it has to be normally held within this calendar year, to satisfy the election commission norms.

BJP sweeps Chandigarh municipal poll CHANDIGARH: In a clear indicator of which way the election could go, the BJPAkali Dal alliance swept the Municipal elections in Chandigarh on Monday. Out of 26 seats, 21 went to the ruling party and the Congress received four seats. The Bharatiya Janta Party won 20 seats and Akali Dal got one.

The municipal elections are a welcome news to the alliance since it was fighting anti-incumbency n the state after having ruled for 10 years. Their contenders in the state assembly polls will be the Congress party and Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party, which hopes for a repeat show of its Delhi win in the elections last year.

This victory is seen as an approval rating for the Prime Minister and his demonetisation plan which is supposed to fight corruption, terrorism and black money. With Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Goa elections scheduled for early

2017, the government is also expected to announce farmer friendly packages in the Budget.

Meanwhile, the Opposition, led by Congress, has said that the government is insensitive to the common people's problems. But the government has been reiterating that the people support the move and despite hardships, they are weathering the short-term inconvenience since it is for the good of the country. The BJP had also set up a stronger holding in civic elections in Maharashtra and Gujarat and credited PM Modi's battle against black money for it.

meeting with officials, visited a relief centre at Manali, met fishermen leaders in Koonanguppam and inspect-

ed the damaged boats and distributed relief material in two camps. The CM also convened a meeting at the Sub Collector Office at Ponneri, Tiruvallur, which is also severely hit by the cyclone. He also visited relief centres and distributed materials in Kancheepuram district. Before leaving to review the places, he had met with Forest Minister Dindigul C. Sreenivasan, PWD Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami, Revenue Minister R.B. Udhayakumar, Chief Secretary P. Rama Mohana Rao and Director General of Police T.K. Rajendran and senior officials and reviewed the situation.

Karnataka minister resigns over sleaze tape BENGALURU: Karnataka Excise Minister and senior Congress MLA HY Meti resigned after a sex tape involving him was released in public. While the tape is said to be just 30 seconds long, and does not show the women he is alleged to be involved with, the minister can be seen clearly, with his trademark spectacles indulging in some kind of sexual act.

Once the tape was released to regional Kannada television channels, Meti went to Krishna, home office of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and submitted his resignation which was accepted and forwarded to Governor Vajubhai Vala.

Later addressing the media, Siddaramaiah said, "Meti submitted his resignation voluntarily on moral grounds

and I have accepted it, after the CD was released. I have also ordered a CID inquiry into the entire episode to get to the truth of the incident, after the minister claimed that it was a conspiracy against him and that he was trapped in the act."

He said there was no embarrassment to the government and that the resignation was not sought for. This is the second incident involving his ministers; primary and secondary education minister Tanveer Sait was caught watching sleaze pictures on camera recently.

Meti's sex scandal rocked the state earlier last week, after RTI activist Rajashekhar complained of death threats from the minister and his camp for saying he had a sex tape on him.

Pathankot attack: JeM chief Masood named key conspirator

NEW DELHI: The National Investigation Agency which is probing the Pathankot terror attack, has filed a comprehensive chargesheet in connection with the case. According to a media report, it has named Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Maulana Masood Azhar as the mastermind of the attack on the Indian Air Force Base.

Other than Azhar, the chargesheet also names his brother Rauf Asghar and two other top operatives. The chargesheet was filed by NIA in Panchkula special court, Punjab. It highlights JeM's role in spreading mayhem in India and refers to the nefarious plans of the outfit.

Immediately after the Pathankot incident, Rauf had hosted a video message claiming responsibility for the strike, and glorified the role of his brother Azhar who was released in exchange for passengers of hijacked Indian Airlines plane IC-814 in 1999.

The Centre will use the chargesheet at various international forums to highlight Masood's role in the case

Maulana Masood Azhar

relating to the Pathankot terror strike carried out on 2 Januar this year. The Home Ministry had earlier given sanction to NIA to file the chargesheet against Azhar, his brother and two handlers of four terrorists- Qashif Jan and Shaid Latif, under the Unlawful Activities Act. The four terrorists who had entered India from Bamiyal area of Gurdaspur, had carried out the strike at the Pathankot IAF base- killing eight people including seven IAF and NSG personnel.

The chargesheet will also include evidence of linking the footprints of one of the terrorists obtained from Bamiyal besides matching of DNA sample found from a soft-drink can in the hijacked car of Punjab Superintendent of Police Salwinder Singh.

5 IM agents convicted for Hyderabad blasts

HYDERABAD: The special National Investigation Agency court found five members, including IM co-founder Mohammed Ahmed Siddibappa alias Yasin Bhaktal guilty of triggering twin blasts in Dilsukhnagar area, Hyderabad, in 2013. The convictions came three years after bombs tied to bicycles ripped through Hyderabad's bustling locality, killed 18 people and injured 131 others. Judgment followed one-hour proceedings by the special court inside the fortified Charlapally prison.

Prosecution will seek capital punishment for the five convicts. "The minimum sentence they could receive is a life term, and the maximum, capital punishment. We will seek the maximum punishment for murder and waging war against the country- the death sentence," NIA special public prosecutor K Surender Rao said.

The five terrorists were convicted under various sections of the IPC, the Arms Act and Unlawful Activities Act.

Karunanidhi undergoes trachesotomy

CHENNAI: DMK chief M Karunanidhi who was admitted to Kauvery hospital due to breathing difficulty, has undergone trachesotomy to optimise breathing. A bulletin issued by hospital's executive director Dr S Aravindan said the condition of the former Tamil Nadu chief minister was stable. "Karunanidhi was readmitted with breathing difficulty due to throat and lung infection. He has undergone trechesotomy and is on antibiotics. He is stable and is being treated by a team of doctors," the bulletin read. He was first admitted to the same hospital on December 1 for "optimisation of nutrition and hydration," After medical treatment, he improved substantially and was discharged on December 7.

3 held with heroin, new currency notes

AMRITSAR: Three people were arrested with 600 gram of heroin and Rs 1200,000 in new high-value currency in Amritsar. Karaj Singh, Malkeet Singh, and Jaswinder Singh were arrested outside a Suvidha centre in Pataka market on Chamrang road before they could deliver the heroin. The police said a total of Rs 1549,000 were seized from them, and out of that Rs 1200,000 were in the new high-value notes. They also said the contraband was smuggled into India from Pakistan. Just last week, the police had arrested Gurnam Singh and recovered 5 kg of heroin from his possession.

He had sold a part of the heroin to the three people arrested. They have been booked under relevant sections of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.

Punjabi singer quits Cong, joins BJP

NEW DELHI: Noted Punjabi folk singer Hans Raj Hans left the Congress and joined the Bharatiya Janta Party, in the presence of party chief Amit Shah at the party headquarters.

Once indicted, he called Prime Minister Narendra Modi a "Babbar Sher" and said, "I will fulfil my duty whatever responsibility is given to me." Hans, who was with the Congress, and earlier with the Akali Dal, said he was influenced by several "revolutionary decisions" taken by the PM in the interest of the country and its people. He said that under Amit Shah, the BJP has expanded and its popularity has increased manifold.

Punjab elections: Cong releases list of 61 candidates

CHANDIGARH: The Congress has released a list of 61 candidates for upcoming Legislative Assembly elections in Punjab. Chaired by Congress president Sonia Gandhi, comprising party vice-president Rahul Gandhi, and former prime minister Manmohan Singh, the committee held a one hour meeting to assess the current political landscape and devise suitable plans to counter Aam Aadmi Party and the ruling combine of Akali-BJP.

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HERITAGE - HISTORY Asian Voice | 24th December 2016

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

25

Politics of Southern India: From Periyar to Jayalalithaa Anti-Bramhinical Tamil movement headed by Non-Tamil Brahmins!

Dr Hari Desai A 25-year-old Kannadiga Congress leader E V Ramasamy Naicker goest to Kasi (Banaras,UP) on a pilgrimage in 1904. It brings disillusionment in his life about Hinduism. He witnessed reprehensible activities such as begging and floating of dead bodies.

EVR experienced what he called Brahmanic exploitation. He was not offered food despite being hungry since he was a nonBrahmin. He was forced to feed on leftovers from the streets. This was a turning point in his life. His selfrespect was hurt.

The second time he felt hurt was in 1925 and

resigned from Congress.

Even when he played a key role in 1924-25 Vaikom Satyagraha in Travancore State where the Untouchables (now known as Dalits) were not allowed to walk in and around the temple area, Congress mouthpiece “Young India” report on Vaikom

Kamraj and Periyar

when it lost election to Congress headed by C Rajgopalachari in 1937. The Justice Party earlier had won the elections and ruled Madras for 13 years after 1920. Rajaji as Chief Minister (Premier) imposed compulsory Hindi in schools. This gave a golden opportunity to Periyar to agitate. Periyar transformed the Justice Party into a social organisation called Dravidar Kazhagam (DK) and withdrew from electoral politics in 1944. He wanted to carve out Dravid Nadu (Dravidian Nation) from Madras Presidency. In 1939, Periyar raised the slogan “Dravid Nadu for

Karunanidhi with Annadurai

Satyagraha did not even mention his name. He was elected the President of Madras Presidency Congress Committee in 1922. EVR, now revered as Periyar (Big River), got the Self-Respect Movement Institution registered with the objective of political education of the masses, freedom from slavery of caste system, meaningless ceremonies and blind superstitious beliefs in society. His movement was described as “dedicated to the goal of giving nonBrahmins a sense of pride based on their Dravidian past”.

Periyar took over the leadership of a nonBrahmin political party, called the Justice Party, officially the South Indian Liberal Federation, established in 1917 by T M Nair and P Thengataya Chetty

Dravidians” replacing the “Tamil Nadu for Tamils” which was used since 1938.

He became blind supporter of the British as head of the Justice Party. The party supported the infamous Rowlatt Act and even defended the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. In a separatist conference held at Kanchipuram, Periyar released the map of the proposed Dravida Nadu. The demand for Dravidistan was made in August 1940 Conference, five months after the Pakistan resolution at Lahore.

Even Mohammad Ali Jinnah and Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar were sympathetic to Periyar’s dream.

Since DK became quite influential due to the popular movement in the society, some of Periyar’s activists, including C N Annadurai, insisted on contesting the

elections. EVR was resisting but when the 70-year-old widower Periyar married a 32-yearold Maniyammai – Annadurai, who belonged to weaver community, broke away from him.

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) was formed in 1949. “Anna” (Elder Brother) was not for a separate nation, but Periyar continued demanding it even after the British left. Periyar gave a call to consider August 15, 1947, the Indian Independence Day, as a day of Mourning.

In 1955, Periyar was arrested for his public agitation of burning pictures of Rama.

He also shoed the image of Krishna and Rama , stating that they were Aryan gods that considered the Dravidian Shudras to be “sons of prostitutes.” Even in 1957, he agitated for an Independent Tamil Nadu.

He was sentenced to six months imprisonment for burning Indian Constitution. Not only Periyar but his widow Maniyammai, who took over his party DK after his death in 1973, also continued the tirade against Hindu and Aryan symbols.

She set fire to the effigies of Rama, Sita and Lakshmana at Periyar Thidal, Madras (now Chennai) in retaliation to the Ramaleela celebrations where effigies of Ravana, Kumbhkarna and Indrajit were burnt in New Delhi.

The Congress had C Rajgopalachari, a Brahmin, and K Kamraj Nadar, a non-Brahmin, as some of the finest Chief Ministers of national stature, but the Dravida Movement gaining momentum deprived Congress of power. In 1967, Congress rule came to an end in Tamil Nadu.

Annadurai of DMK became Chief Minister after winning majority in the assembly elections but he could not live long as he died of cancer in 1969. He challenged PM Jawaharlal Nehru on Hindi in 1953 and led Madras Anti-Hindi agitation in 1965. This made him a hero of the people.

Anna was a journalist of repute and a personality

Periyar with Rajaji

from the film world. A mammoth 15 million people attended his funeral as per the Guinness records. After his death his lieutenant and film scriptwriter M Karunanidhi, a barber, became the Chief Minister and boss of the party and continues to head the party even at 92.

If Karunanidhi was a screenwriter in Tamil cinema, M G Ramachandran was a superstar of Tamil films. Though a Brahmin of Malayali origin, he was accepted by Tamil film fans as their own. Married to one-time actress Janaki, MGR continued to have affairs with his heroines. J

Jayalalithaa was one among them. MGR could not get along well with Karuna and his breakaway faction of DMK was named All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) in 1972. His popularity and fan clubs brought him the political power in 1977.

MGR became the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.

Karuna and MGR became CMs again and again. Even Jaya was also fortunate to be CM six times.

Karunanidhi wants his son M K Stalin to be his successor.

Recently the heroin of MGR films and his protégée J Jayalalithaa, a Tamilian

Brahmin, died. She was born in Karnataka. All the three Chief Ministers Anna, MGR and Jaya Amma died in harness. She was so popular with the masses that even after refusing to enter into coalition with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's BJP, Amma could get her party win 37 out of 39 seats in the Lok Sabha and majority in the assembly elections for two consecutive terms. The Dravida ideology has taken a back seat.

The administration is run on the whims of the leaders.

Personal interests of the leaders are taking the centre stage unlike in Rajaji and Kamraj era. Current Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, an upper caste Thevar, was nominated by Sasikala, who has just been a close friend of the late Jayalalithaa. The Dravida movement has turned into a money minting movement for both the DMK and the AIADMK. Periyar is almost forgotten in practice.

Next Column: Lokmanya Tilak preached Gandhian Non-violence (The writer is a Sociopolitical Historian. E-mail: haridesai@gmail.com)

26

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INDIA

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Asian Voice | 24th December 2016

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Taxmen to probe how Bhajiawala got £145,000 in new notes

The income tax department has began inquiry into how Surat-based financier Kamlesh Bhajiawala managed to get £145,000 in the new Rs 2,000 denomination. Sources in the income tax department said they were investigating if bank officials colluded with Bhajiawala. "It has been

official said. "When an individual can get only Rs 24,000 per week, how could he manage to get such a huge amount? We suspect the connivance of more people."

The income tax department, which began search operations at the office and residence of Bhajiawala on

Kishor Bhajiawala

just a month-and-a half since demonetization," an

December 13, has so far seized unaccounted cash to the tune of £145,000 (all in new currency notes), gold worth £148,881 gold jewellery worth £492,963, diamond jewellery worth £ 139,345 and silver ingots worth Rs 77,81,800.

The total value of the seizures, excluding 50 kg

silver, is around £1.04 million, sources said. Besides, the income tax department has also found some 150 sets of property documents from Bhajiawala which revealed that he used to give loans against property and if the person failed to pay the loan he would have the property transferred to

West Indian and Indonesian currencies feature Hindu gods

War and mayhem in the season of hope Continued from page 1 one-time opposition stronghold of east Aleppo and appeared on the verge of retaking the entire city. A Syrian military official said the "operation in eastern neighbourhoods is entering its final phase." Social media has been rife the past week with "good bye" tweets from Syrians trapped in Aleppo. #mylastwords was trending on the World Wide Web where civilians gave us a glimpse into the horrifying state of life.

After four years of ceaseless violence and numerous deaths, the battle of Aleppo is coming to a close. In the fight over control, several innocent were displaced worldwide, several died in a bid to survive and those who stayed back, 0 clinged on the faint hope of arriving relief as the rest of the world looked the other way.

A Christmas market in central Berlin is seen on Tuesday, a day after a truck smashed into the market, killing 12 people and injuring dozens more

While the Christmas is a season for compassion and love, Western powers along with allies revolted against Assad,

that led to unbelievable bloodshed. One must learn that Genocide of the Jews, or that of the Hindus in Multan by

Afghans or during partition of India hasn't earned anyone anything, other than pain and a lost generation.

Currency notes and coins from over 193 countries of the world was put up for exhibition at TJSB Sahakari Bank in Manjalpur, Vadodara. While the exhibition saw several rare currencies up for display, two notes, from West Indies and Indonesia caught everybody's eye as they featured images of Lord Ganesha and Lord Krishna.

The exhibition

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his name. "The documents relate to all the undisclosed property.

Preliminary inquiry shows that these properties are located mainly in Surat," a source in the income tax department said. These properties include residential units and commercial establishments.

Chinese

§ь³ ¸ѓ³Ъ New Year »Ц»Ц »§´¯ºЦ¹ અ¸Ц¾Цç¹Ц ÂЬ± એક¸ §¹є¯Ъ

When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.

- Maya Angelou

CAPRICORN DEC 22 - JAN 20

presented several types of currency notes and coins in different shapes, sizes, and colours, of different value, from several countries including India.

Also up for display was an old note of Rs 1000 banned in 1978. Also to be seen were coins dating back to the time of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Akbar, and Aurangzeb.

Dear Readers, Like every year, our glossy calendar marking holidays and auspicious dates will be delivered to every subscriber's doorstep in January 2017.

Since you may not receive the calendar before end of next month, here is a copy of the January calendar for your reference.

Our calendar, that features colorful photos and vital informations, has found pressing popularity over the years. Not only do our subscribers receive a copy free with their newspaper, many of them choose to buy it as a gift their friends and family. For a reasonable amount of £36/annum, you can gift the two weeklies to your loved ones in the UK. New subscribers will also receive the calendar (till stocks last) with their first copy of the newspaper.

Readers who wish to buy copies of our calendar can contact 020 7749 4087.

Next Issue will remain closed

Asian Voice office will remain closed from 26th December till 2nd January, so 31 December issue will not be published.

Subscribers will receive the 7 January issue next. We extend our greetings for Christmas and New Year to all our friends, readers, subscribers and advertising partners.

HEALTH&WELLNESS AsianVoiceNews

FOOD

FITNESS

C

onsuming a handful of nuts- at least 20 gmcan cut the chance of heart disease by nearly 30 per cent, the risk of cancer by 15 per cent, and that of premature death by 22 per cent. It can also reduce the risk of diabetes by 40 per cent and the chance of death from respiratory disease by half. Nuts and peanuts are high in fibre, magnesium, and polyunsaturated fats - nutrients that are beneficial for cutting cardiovascular disease risk.

Researchers from Imperial College London say those in the study were eating a range of nuts, including walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts, cashews, pistachios, pecans, Brazil nuts and peanuts. All types of nuts

protected against heart disease and reduced the risk of early mortality. Peanuts were found to cut the risk of stroke, while tree nuts were associated with the reduced risk of cancer.

Researchers said the benefits appeared to come from the nutritional value of nuts. Study co-author Dagfinn Aune said: "Nuts and peanuts are high in

AsianVoiceNewsweekly| Asian Voice | 24th December 2016

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LIFESTYLE

A handful of nuts a day can reduce risk of major diseases

fibre, magnesium, and polyunsaturated fats nutrients that are beneficial for cutting cardiovascular disease risk and which can reduce cholesterol levels. "Some nuts, particularly walnuts and pecan nuts are also high in antioxidants, which can fight oxidative stress and possibly reduce cancer risk.”

Although nuts are high in fat, there was also evidence they could reduce the risk of obesity, he suggested. Dr Aune said that just a handful of nuts seemed to have a “substantial effect” with results found consistently across a number of diseases. The team analysed data from 29 studies including more than 800,000 participants.

While there was some variation between the populations that were studied, such as between men and women, people living in different regions, or people with different risk factors, the researchers found that nut consumption was associated with a reduction in disease risk across most of them.

No added benefit was found from eating more than 20g or 0.7 oz of nuts daily. Earlier this year a separate study by Imperial College London suggested that feeding babies peanuts early could prevent allergy.

Sleep deprivation can put strain on heart A

new study has found that just one night of sleep deprivation is enough to cause strain on the heart - forcing it to work around 10 per cent harder the next day. According to the study people who work in fire and emergency medical services and other high-stress jobs are often called upon to work 24-hours have a high risk of straining their heart.

"For the first time, we have shown that short-term sleep deprivation in the context of 24-hour shifts can lead to a significant increase in cardiac contractility, blood pressure and heart rate," said study author Dr Daniel Kuetting, of the University of Bonn, Germany.

For the study, 20 healthy radiologists, including 19 men and one woman, with a mean age of 31.6 years were recruited and their hearts checked before

and after a 24 hour shift, with an average of three hours of sleep. The researchers measured the strain on the heart as well as blood pressure and heart rate. Following sleep deprivation, the participants showed significant increases in the strain on their hearts, with the organ having to work around 10 per cent harder than usual. The participants also had significant increases in levels of thyroid stimulating hormone and cortisol, a hormone released by the body in response to stress.

"The study was

To Our Readers

We are publishing these items in good faith, kindly consult your Doctor before you try to implement it. We do not hold any responsibility for its efficacy...

Laughter is the Best Medicine While at a store Santa, a boy asked for an electric train set. "If you get your train," the salesman told him, "your dad is going to want to play with it too. Is that all right?"

The boy became very quiet. So, moving the conversation along, the salesman asked, "What else would you like Santa to bring you?" He promptly replied, "Another train." *** Martha cast one of her students as the innkeeper for the Christmas pageant. All the third grader had to do was tell Joseph, "There is no room at the inn." But during the performance—after Joseph begged for a room for his pregnant wife—the boy didn’t have the heart to turn him down. "Well," he said, "if it’s so urgent, come on in." *** Three buildings in town were overrun by squirrels—the town hall, the hardware store, and the church. The town hall brought in some cats. But after they tore up all the files, the mayor got rid of the predators, and soon the squirrels were back. The hardware store humanely trapped the squirrels and set them free outside town. But three days later, the squirrels climbed back in. Only the church came up with an effective solution. They baptized the squirrels and made them members. Now they see them only on Christmas and Easter.

designed to investigate reallife work-related sleep deprivation," added Dr Kuetting.

“As people continue to work longer hours or work at more than one job to make ends meet, it is critical to investigate the detrimental effects of too much work and not enough sleep.” Dr Kuetting said the results of this pilot study, which were presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America are transferable to other professions in which long periods of work are common.

"These findings may help us better understand how workload and shift

27

duration affect public health," he said. In the past lack of sleep has been linked with factors such as disrupted metabolism and raised levels of’ cortisol, all of which may lead to higher blood pressure and increased stroke risk.

In 2010 a major study by the University of Warwick found that people who slept for less than six hours each night were 12 per cent more likely to die prematurely - before the age of 65 - than those who slept the recommended six to eight hours a night. But sleeping too much has also been linked with ill-health, and an increased risk of early death.

"Sir, if you don't have spare change on you, please swipe your card to proceed funds"

The incredible benefits of rock salt R

ock salt is the purest form of salt unprocessed and raw, devoid of environmental pollutants and chemical components. It contains 84 out of the 92 trace elements required by the body, including potassium, iron, calcium, zinc, magnesium, copper and so on. Contrary to popular belief, it is not kala namak. “It is actually known as sendha namak in Hindi, and is a highly crystalline salt. It is made by evaporating sea water and does not contain high amounts of sodium chloride (unlike table salt),” says a nutritionist. It is used during Navratri across North India as a fasting ritual. It facilitates the cellular absorption of minerals, and plays an important role in replenishing the body’s electrolytes and maintaining the pH balance. According to an Ayurvedic physician, rock salt is cooling rather than heating and is far more balancing for pitta, in comparison to other forms of salt. It’s mildness and diverse mineral content helps to minimise the potential hazards of excess salt. It is very highly regarded in Ayurvedic tradition.

The benefits of rock salt: Improves Digestion: Rock salt improves digestion and is a natural way to relieve stomach pain. You can add a few crystals of rock salt and fresh mint leaves to a glass of lassi and reap the benefits. Rock salt can also be used to cure stomach infections.

Boosts Metabolism: It can be used to stimulate your body’s metabolism and ultimately improve the

functioning of your body.

Stabilises Blood Pressure: Rock salt helps stabilise blood pressure by maintaining a balance of high and low blood pressures. For people with hypertension, it is a better alternative to table salt as it is high on potassium.

Boosts Immunity: Rock salt provides all the essential trace minerals and greatly improves the body’s immune system. It fights harmful bacteria and helps kick illnesses to the curb.

Treats Sinus: Rock salt is beneficial for people suffering from respiratory problems and sinus.

Gargling with rock salt provides relief against sore throat, dry cough and tonsils, or dissolve rock salt in water and inhale steam.

Promotes Weight Loss: Rock salt reduces sugar cravings by reactivating insulin, and hence results in weight loss.

Promotes Sleep: Rock salt regulates the level of melatonin and thus, regulates our sleep cycle.

Reduces Stress: Rock salt helps to relax the body and mind. To treat and manage stress and anxiety, mix a tablespoon of rock salt in water and take a relaxing bath.

Purifies Air: Rock salt crystal products tend to reduce airborne irritants, pathogens and allergens by pulling water vapour out of the air. Himalayan pink salt is a natural ionic air purifier that pulls toxins from the environment and neutralises them. Just adding a salt lamp in your room or near your desk at the office does the trick.

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24th December 2016

Suriya’s 'Singam 3' postponed again!

Cyclone Vardah has forced Suriya to postpone the release of his much waited film 'Singam 3' once again.

Earlier the release of the film was delayed to avoid clash with Ram Charan’s mega hit Dhruva. Suriya took to Twitter to share this news with his fans and followers and said, “Dear all! #S3 stands postponed due to several external factors, not under our control! Believe it’s for the larger good! Need all your support!” Having said that, he didn’t reveal the reason for the same but it is assumed that it is due to the same cyclone, which has caused a lot of destruction in the past few days and film industry too is facing the wrath of it. So due to the harsh weather conditions, general movie going audience is assumed to feel discouraged to catch a film in theatre. And looks like 'Singam 3' won’t see the light of the day this year.

Earlier 'Singam 3' was supposed to release on December 16 and was pushed back to December 23 due to Ram Charan’s Dhruva. Suriya had then stated that the release date of 'Singam 3' has been pushed back to avert a clash with Ram Charan’s Dhruva. He went on to say that the Dhruva team is like a family to him, hence, on their request to change their release date, Suriya and company agreed without hesitation. And after averting one clash with Ram Charan’s Dhruva, the film was up for another clash with Jayram Ravi and Arvind Swamy starrer 'Bogan,' which is hitting the silver screen on December 23. But now with 'Singam 3' moving out of the way, makers of 'Bogan' will have a free run, unless cyclone plays a spoilsport.

Rajinikanth’s 2.O set damaged by cyclone Vardah

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yclone Vardah has d a m a g e d Rajinikant's 2.O sets and upset the shooting schedule. The crew was planning to shoot in an IT park in the city but the strong winds blew away the plans. A source said, “The team had erected a set at a popular IT park in Ambattur where several films have been shot before. An office of the Artificial Intelligence Research Centre was created there. Even a military vehicle was seen near by.

The shooting took place as per schedule on Sunday, but the crew had to quickly wrap and run on Monday when the wind picked up speed. The storm hit the shooting spot, leaving the set partially destroyed. This has forced the team to put a halt to the shooting mid way.”

Karthi to romance top Telugu heroine

A

The team tried hard to save the sets but it got partially destroyed due to the rain and wind. The crew of 2.O is now trying to reconstruct the sets and finish the scenes. Directed by

Shankar, 2.O is the sequel to Enthiran. It stars Rajinikanth, Amy Jackson and Akshay Kumar in pivotal roles. The film is supposed to be release in Diwali next year.

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

fter giving back to back hits with ‘Thozha’ and ‘Kaashmora’, Karthi is busy shooting for Mani Ratnam’s ‘Kaatru Veliyidai’ in which he is paired opposite Aditi Rao Hydari. The film is nearing completion and he is ready to begin shooting for his next in early 2017.

Karthi is joining hands with director Vinod of

‘Sathuranga Vettai’ fame for new film for which Telugu cinema’s top heroine Rakul Preet Singh has been signed for the heroine’s role.

The pretty young actress was approached for Vishal’s ‘Thupparivaalan’ but things did not seem to work out and she is returning to Tamil after ‘Yennamo Yedho’ opposite Gautham Karthick

Vijay's ‘Bairavaa’s’ record breaking Kerala business

I

layathalapathy Vijay’s ‘Bairavaa’ the front runner for the Pongal 2017 race is doing top business in all territories so far. In Kerala which is Vijay’s fort, the film has reportedly fetched £730,000 which is the new high after Superstar Rajinikanth’s ‘Kabali’ which sold for £800,000. ‘Bairavaa’ is produced by Vijay Productions and directed by Bharathan with Santhosh Narayanan providing the music. The ensemble cast along with lead pair Vijay and Keerthy Suresh include Jagapathy Babu, Daniel Balaji, Aparna Vinod, Vijayaraghavan, Thambi Ramaiah, Mime Gopi, Sathish and Sriman.

WOW! Samantha as Nadigaiyar Thilagam

O

ne of the most sought after actresses in the South, Samantha has ‘Irumbu Thirai’ with Vishal and Arya and ‘Aneethi Kathaigal’ with Vijay Sethupathi apart from a few Telugu biggies.

Samantha has been approached to play the role of the legendary actress Savithiri in a

biopic on her life to be directed by Nag Ashwin planned as a bilingual in Tamil and Telugu.

Savithiri known as the Nadigaiyar Thilagam was and still is considered as the female equivalent of Nadigar Thilagam Sivaji Ganesan. This could be the biggest film yet for the talented Sam to portray such a giant on screen.

Thala Ajith's stunts amazes Hollywood stuntman

H

ollywood stuntman Jorian Ponomareff is the stunt double for Ajith in the upcoming ‘Thala 57’ directed by Siruthai Siva which is being shot in Bulgaria.

Ponomareff who has worked in films ‘Mission

Impossible – Rogue Nation’ and other biggies has raved about Thala Ajith in his social media page. Jorian Ponomareff has said that he had the honour of stunt doubling for Thala Ajith "who is a huge star in India" and has also stated

that" Ajith himself is a great pilot and has done lot of risky stunts with my bike...very impressed by his simplicity". Whether at home or foreign shores Thala just by being himself gets people talking in awe of him.

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AR Rahman in Oscar race once again

I

ndian music maestro AR Rahman is once again in the race to win Academy Awards as his work for 'Pele: Birth of a Legend' has found a spot in the list of Oscar contenders for the year. Rahman had registered a double Oscar win for his music 'Slumdog Millionaire' in 2009. This time, his name features in a long list of 145 scores in contention for a nomination in the Original Score category for the 89th Academy Awards.

Also, 'Ginga', his acclaimed number

from the 2016 biographical film, is in the Oscar race too. It is part of the long list of 91 songs, which are competing for a spot in the final nominations for t h e Original Song cate-

gory. The long lists of both the categories were released by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on its official website.

Final nominations for the 89th Academy Awards will be announced on January 24, ahead of the presentation ceremony, which will take place on February 26 at the Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood.

Rahman had earlier

made India proud with his twin win at the Academy Awards platform for Danny Boyle's 'Slumdog Millionaire' in 2009. He was lauded for his Best Original Score as also the Best Original Song 'Jai ho' from the same film, with lyrics by Gulzar.

In 2014, Rahman's work in Hollywood movies like 'Million Dollar Arm' and 'The Hundred-Foot Journey', and Indian film 'Kochadaiiyaan' was also among the contenders. Not only that, in 2011, Rahman had received two nominations for the 83rd Annual Academy Awards for his original score in Boyle's '127 Hours' as well as original song 'If I Rise' for the same movie. However, he did not bring the golden statuette home.

Vani Kapoor is French actor Kev Karan Johar dumps Adams bowled over 'interfering' SRK? single and looking

by Kangana for someone

V

D

F

rench actor and comedian Kev Adams was bowled over by Kangana Ranaut and was also amazed by the fan following of Amitabh Bachchan. The 25-year-old actor will be seen in filmmaker Vikas Bahl's IndoFrench collaboration movie, tentatively titled 'Interpreter.' Adams said he watched Bahl's award winning film 'Queen' and was quite impressed by it.

When asked about his impressions about Kangana, Kev said, "I am a huge fan. She is amazing in the movie. Vikas explained me about the work and someone who works with Phantom (production house) told me that when she saw Kangana at the airport, she was natural and easy but while shooting, she was this shy character."

"I think it's a great work of acting she did in Queen with the help of

Vikas who is a great director. I know she is big here.

I can't wait to meet her," he added. When quizzed if the 'Tanu Weds Manu' actress will be seen opposite him in the 'Interpreter', Kev said, "I think I know that Vikas wants a big Bollywood actress."

To which, the filmmaker added, "We wanted to confirm a big actor first. I think in the next couple of months, hopefully there'll be an announcement." 'The New Adventures of Aladdin' star said he "I know Amitabh Bachchan. He is like the Pope. He goes out of his house, and waves hands. I really respect that.

Sometimes there are girls waiting outside my house too. So his is impressive," the actor quipped. Kev also said he finds Alia Bhatt 'really beautiful' and hopes to catch 'Befikre', which has been shot in Paris.

irector Karan Johar was keen to have Shah Rukh Khan in his next movie.

Karan had apparently narrated the script to Khan, but he didn't quite like it and later turned down the offer. Karan tried hard to convince Khan, but Khan instead made some suggestions regarding the story line. But this suggestions didn't go down well with Karan and he decided to approach Hrithik Roshan for the lead role.

"Eventually Karan has decided to move on and approach Hrithik with the same script. Hrithik liked it and immediately agreed to come on board," the source added. There have

been reports that Hrithik is reuniting with Karan Malhotra for a project backed by Johar's Dharma Productions.

However, the film in question isn't the one everyone's talking about.

It was about a film Karan and Hrithik were working towards making an ambitious project titled Shuddhi. After it was delayed, the actor walked out of it. However, it wasn't an unceremonious exit.

Hrithik issued a formal statement wishing Karan and his team the best of luck for the film.

Unfortunately, Shuddhi has, for the time being, been put on the back burner.

Kareena gives birth to baby boy

K

areena Kapoor Khan and Saif Ali Khan’s family is now complete. Saif Ali Khan made the exciting announcement that he and wife Kareena welcomed their first child, a baby boy. All members of Kareena and Saif’s family were present when Kareena gave birth to her baby boy

via C-Section at Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital.

Confirming the arrival of their baby boy, Saif Ali Khan said: “We are very pleased to share with you all the wonderful news about the birth of our son Taimur Ali Khan Pataudi, on the 20th of December 2016.

ani Kapoor whose film 'Befikre' is doing well says that she has found newer things about life after her role in the film. She feels that in order to enact a scene she has to be convinced about it first. She says, "I guess I am one of those people who needs a justification because I feel if I am not convinced, who will convince the audience?"

The film delves on modern day relationships and Vaani admits that she is single and is wanting to find someone who will be

crazy about her. She says in an interview, "I want somebody who's very passionate about things in life. Loyalty is utmost priority and I expect him to be just crazy about me. So, I can be crazy about him too. Because I'm a giver so I also need a person who can give in a relationship otherwise I'm only the one giving while others are just receiving." The actress also wants to date someone who is not from the industry. She says, "The kind of things I want in my man might be a little difficult when it comes to an actor."

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Elderly woman from Edgware missing An elderly woman has gone missing in Edgware.

Sivarany Kanagashbai was reported missing by Harrow police around 11.30am on Sunday.

The 81-year-old was last seen wearing a pink dressing gown.

Residents have been asked to call 101 if they see her.

Dad giving up family Christmas to care for terminally-ill patient

Businessman who imported dangerous counterfeit toys 'put profits before safety of children' A rogue businessman ‘put profits before children’s lives’ by importing counterfeit and dangerous toys worth thousands of pounds.

Abdul Rasheed Khan’s warehouse in Broughton, Salford, was raided three times by Salford council trading standards officers over a nine-month period from 2014.

Potentially lethal counterfeit toys - including unsafe bow and arrow sets and a stretchy toy which officials say could have ‘strangled a child’ - were seized. Now council bosses have issued a preChristmas warning over

counterfeit goods, saying anyone buying fakes on the cheap is putting their own lives and the lives of others at risk.

Khan’s company, Glorious Imports and Wholesale Ltd, based on Overbridge Road, is no longer trading, Salford council said. Thousands of pounds worth of fake goods and toys - ranging from Disney and Super Mario figurines to Lego, Gucci belts and smartphones were seized in the raids.

Khan, 44, who the council said was ‘only concerned about profit’, was prosecuted under the Trade Marks Act and

pleaded guilty at Manchester Crown Court to 24 charges of selling fake goods.

The council said that he ignored safety legislation and warnings from trading standards officers.

Khan was said to have imported seven shipping containers full of goods and thousands of toy lines into the country every year, but blamed the Chinese manufacturers he bought from.

Harrow shop owner stripped of license after thousands of litres of illegal alcohol seized

Joby Mundackal with wife Vinitha and kids, Annmarie, Michael, Therese and George (Photo: Dominic Salter)

Joby Mundackal will be giving up Christmas with his wife and four children to spend time with someone terminally ill in what could be their final hours.

Instead of playing games and watching festive films on the sofa with his young family, Joby Mundackal will be trying to make Christmas Day as special as possible for someone very sick.

The 40-year-old has worked as a community nurse for Marie Curie for four years visiting patients in their homes to provide them and their families with expert care and sup-

port.

This year, the dad-offour - who lives with his family in Chorlton - is one of many Marie Curie nurses and staff who won’t be stopping on Christmas Day. He will leave Ann Marie, 11, Michael, 10, Therese, six, and George, 18 months, as well as his wife, Vinitha, to offer oneto-one support to someone who needs it.

Joby says it’s tough to know him not being there on Christmas will upset them, but that he wants to be there for people who may be facing their final Christmas alone.

A shop owner has been stripped of his license after he was caught with thousands of litres of illegal booze. This is the second time that Amrik Singh Arora, 42, who owned the Good Morning Superstore in Kenton, was caught with illegal alcohol on his premises.

During a routine inspection in April last year, Harrow Council Trading’s Standards discovered that Mr Arora had not paid the duty on the alcohol and there was hundreds of pack-

A government counter-terrorism strategy has been challenged in the High Court by a writer from Slough writer, who claims it brands him an extremistthat aspects of it breach free speech rights.

Father of three Dr Salman Butt, 31, was

named in a Downing Street press release about an aspect of the strategy, known as the Prevent duty, being used to stop extremists radicalising students on university campuses.

He was listed as one of six speakers who gave talks on campuses and was said

Venus, the planet of love and romance throws a pleasing light on affairs of the heart. It is certainly going to be a fortunate time for those already married or in an established relationship. The keynote is emotional enrichment through close interaction with a loved one.

TAURUS Apr 21 - May 21 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. Expect this to be a romantic period in your life with lots of opportunities arising for you to find someone special.

A blast of personal energy comes your way, and showing your leadership skills works for you now.

Romance and pleasure are highlighted this week. The flowing, expressive, and spontaneous energy surrounding you attracts like-minded people. Be sure to take time to enjoy yourself, preferably around others!

GEMINI May 22 - June 22 You will continue to be in a restless mood for some time to come. This makes you impatient with restrictions and even more determined to cut your own path. Do not get over-anxious if everything seems to be in slow motion - it is time to pull a few strings. You are likely to experience some tension in close relationships.

You will have plenty of energy and drive to improve your status and at the same time achieve financial prosperity - you must make good use of the energy that is flowing, by channelling it positively!

Creativity, romance and leisure all receive a tonic.

However, you will need to focus on what is most important in your life, otherwise mistakes will be made.

LEO Jul 23 - Aug 23

VIRGO Aug 24 - Sep 23

LIBRA Sep 24 - Oct 23

SCORPIO Oct 24- Nov 22

to have views that violated British values, such as democracy, free speech and equality – something he denies. The press release claimed universities should not permit individuals such as Dr Butt to speak at events “in order to comply with the Prevent duty”.

The UK’s leading Vedic writer and TV personality

back on extravagant spending and consolidate your finances. Your social calendar is likely to keep you very busy and you will have lots of opportunities to promote yourself. For some of you this is also a good time to meet likeminded people which could lead to romantic liaisons.

CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 22 Whether you’re single or attached you’ll have to go through a lot, as deep psychological transformations are taking place in all types of relationships. Don’t be afraid to experiment, trust your hunches, go with your gut feeling. Solutions to minor problems should be considered very carefully.

The illegal alcoholic drinks seized from the premises

Slough writer takes government to court over 'extremist' label

Sneh Joshi ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 20 This is a good time to cut

ets of tobacco which did not carry the required health warnings for English labels.

In February this year, Mr Arora was caught again as Her Majesty Revenue and Customs (HMRC) Officers seized nearly two thousand litres of illegal alcohol on the site. They discovered he had no proof of purchase for the alcohol and tobacco he claimed he had bought from a “mysterious” man who visited his shop.

The cost to the treasury was confirmed to be a £3,500 loss in revenue.

Things get a little easier now and you can relax. It's been a hectic time as you've tried to accomplish a great deal. It is a good time to consolidate your gains. You need to settle down and remember patience brings happiness. Relationships need to be re-assessed, though a positive outcome is indicated.

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SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 - Dec 21 Now is the time to cultivate an easier relationship with life, get out and about, explore fresh possibilities and make new friends. Any effort to enrich your life by making changes is almost certain to work in your favour and you will be surprised how circumstances help you once you make the initial move.

CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan 20 Make a very conscious attempt to stick to main priorities. Organise your time so that it is not taken up entirely by the demands of other people. If you are not afraid to stick your neck out, you can create your own opportunities. A good time for restructuring and rethinking your aims and interests. Affairs of the heart are likely to flourish.

The outlook remains optimistic as developments point the way forward and bring you a sense of real achievement. However, this is not likely to be an easygoing week as demands on time and energy are going to be heavy. Relationships look great as Venus and Mars help to enhance your personal magnetism.

AQUARIUS Jan 21 - Feb 19

PISCES Feb 20 - Mar 20 It's a lovely week for a clandestine romantic encounter, as Venus embraces your solar 12th house. Bear in mind that Mercury turns retrograde in your eleventh house of friends and associates as well. The next three weeks would serve you well if you spend more time listening to other people's ideas rather than imposing your own.

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Indian boys clinch Hockey Junior World Cup title Continued from page1 title after a 15-year-gap.

Gurjant Singh (eighth minute) and Simranjeet Singh (22nd) scored the two goals for India, who had won their previous Under-21 world title in 2001 in Hobart, Australia.

Belgium scored the reducer at the death via Fabrice van Bockrijck at the Major Dhyan Chand Stadium in Lucknow. The goal didn't matter much for India as it was the final action of the match. With this win, India became only the second nation after Germany to win the Under-21 title more than once. Germany, who overpowered Australia 3-0 to secure the third spot on the podium, have won six titles.

With both the teams coming into the match unbeaten, the contest was expected to be an enticing competition between two bands of talented youngsters. And it were the hosts who looked to be the better side from the very beginning. Urged on by a vociferous crowd in good attendance, India got off to an emphatic start.

Varun Kumar's long aerial ball in the Belgian

circle forced Belgian goalkeeper Loic van Doren to come out but he couldn't fully palm the ball away with Gurjant lurking near him. The Indian took the ball to the left, dodging past van Doren before employing a ripping backhand strike from a very tight angle that hit the top corner of the far post, giving the hosts the early advantage.

India's midfield, led by Harjeet Singh, did a fine job of restricting and breaking the flow of the Belgian game. One such fine example turned into

the second goal for India as link-man Santa Singh caught short an opposition counter-attack few metres ahead of the half-line before making a cross-field pass to his left. Nilakanta Sharma fed Simranjeet at the top of the circle and the latter delivered a clinical finish, giving no chance to van Doren, to make it 2-0.

Towards the end of the first half, Belgium had their moments but couldn't make their chances count as India defended as a team. The Belgians even earned a penalty corner but they couldn't trouble

Indian custodian Vikas Dahiya. Trailing 0-2, Belgium tried their best to turn things around in the second half but India's superiority in one-on-one duels helped them keep things under control and hold their 2-0 lead.

Moreover, India's balancing act in defending the two-goal advantage and pushing for the third goal was just perfect and captain Harjeet deserved all the credit for controlling the tempo of the game.

Gurjant had the chance to make it 3-0 when he won a battle with Martin

Vijender knocks out Francis Cheka

The Vijender Singh, the Indian boxing star took less than 10 minutes to successfully defend his WBO AsiaPacific Super Middleweight title with an emphatic Technical Knockout win over Tanzania's Francis Cheka in New Delhi.

Vijender landed the winning blow in the third round of what was to be a 10-round contest to leave on the former World Champion Cheka dazed and a packed Thyagraj Stadium delirious. "I trained hard in Manchester for two months for this. I thank all my coaches for the effort they put in. Cheka talked so much but I believed in my punch power, and I have done it," Vijender said after the bout.

Celebrities adorned the front rows surrounding the

ring. Vijender had the crowd excited even before he entered the ring. When the bout finally kicked off, Cheka seemed quicker off the blocks even as Vijender played block and dodge.

However, the Indian got into the groove soon enough and landed lusty uppercut to the body to rattle Cheka.

Cheka seemed on the backfoot in the second round and was wary of having a go at the hard-hitting Haryana-lad, who stuck to landing clean and straight blows. Cheka was also undone by the reach advantage that Vijender enjoyed.

While Cheka struggled to keep his balance owing to his shorter reach, Vijender put his long arms to good use. Earlier, the evening started with a 61kg contest between Rajesh Kumar and

Vijender Singh

Uganda's Mubakaraka Sseguya. In a rather slow four-round contest, it was hard to pick between the two counter-attacking boxers and it reflected in the judges' decision, who awarded the bout to the Indian in a split decision of 39-37 37-38 39-37.

Next up was Deepak Tanwar (67kg) against Indonesia's Sutriyono Bara Boys. The bout seemed grossly mismatched and Deepak looked way more

than a handful for his rival.

Deepak, undefeated in the circuit so far, was hardly tested before forced an early end to the proceedings.

It took him one and half a round to pummel his rival, forcing the referee to stop the bout and award a Technical Knockout to Deepak, who stretched his unbeaten streak to four with this win.

Dharmendra Grewal (95kg), six fights old in the circuit, was up against Abasi Kyobe, another Ugandan. The crowd was up on its feet on every punch scored but that did little to hide the sheer sluggishness of the bout. It went the whole hog of four rounds though and Dharmendra was the judges' unanimous choice for the winner.

Amir Khan in bid to heal family rift as he thanks mother-in-law Boxer Amir Khan has begun to heal the rift that is tearing his family apart. He publicly thanked his mother-inlaw for “all her support” during his week from hell.

The former world champion posted a photo online of himself with wife Faryal’s mum Zia Makhdoom, who has helped look after the couple’s daughter Lamaisah, two, in the US. A bitter row blew up between Faryal and Amir’s parents who disapproved of her flesh-

flashing clothes. They believed they were “not acceptable” in the Islamic faith.

Amir’s post came as it was revealed he could be frozen out of his multi-million pound property empire. He has ploughed a fortune into a business which is run by his dad.

A pouting selfie by Faryal is said to have sparked the initial row with his family, who accused her of spreading 'nude' pictures of social media. The image was posted to thousands of followers in April

asking what they thought of her new peroxide silvery blonde hair. But a friend close to Amir's parents, who have previously slammed his wife for wearing un-Islamic clothes and no headscarf, were unhappy with the amount of flesh on show.

Faryal's recent revelations on social media about 'ill-treatment' from her in-laws made headlines around the world, where she claimed that her in-laws abused her and wanted to end their marriage.

Boxer Amir Khan with wife Faryal

Lambeau just five metres ahead of the Belgian circle.

Gurjant faced a one-onone situation against goalkeeper van Doren but the latter managed to keep the Indian at bay. Later, India got two penalty corners to put an end to Belgium's challenge in the match but penalty corner exponents Varun Kumar and Harmanpreet Singh couldn't make them count.

Belgium, in their pursuit of pulling one back, kept fighting and eventually it came, with barely 22 seconds left on the clock.

With the hooter already being blown, the penalty corner was the last shot of the game and van Bockrijck was successful in his job. But they couldn't celebrate the goal, as the match ended, triggering huge celebrations in the Indian camp.

After the win, a delighted India captain Harjeet said that their success boils down to their long and arduous preparation they did for the last couple of years.

Germany sail past Oz to finish third: Six-time champions Germany redeemed some pride by sailing past Australia 3-0 to finish third. In the placement

match for the 5th - 6th places, Argentina fought past Spain 2-1, while in the match to decide the 7th 8th places, the Netherlands thrashed England 6-2. Playing some fast-paced hockey, German forwards Timm Herzbruch and Anton Boeckel kept harassing the Australian defence through the game. The Australians, on the other hand, looked a bit jaded and allowed the Germans to run away with the game.

Argentines, on the other hand, had to fight hard before unlocking the defensive doors of Spain.

After a barren opening half, they struck twice in three minutes to pull down the Spanish resistance.

In the match for the 7th-8th places, the Dutch had too many guns to silence England. After Thijs van Damm provided the orange shirts the lead, the Dutch side ran riot in the second half. Skipper Thierry Brinkman and Bram van Groesen found the target twice each, while Morris de Vilder got the other goal to subdue the English resistance. The two consolation goal for England came off the stick of Tom Sorsby.

Afghan boy finally meets his idol Messi

Murtaza Ahmadi, the Afghan boy who gained online fame after a picture of him wearing a makeshift Lionel Messi jersey went viral, has finally met his football hero in Doha, Qatar. Murtaza Ahmadi was shown dressed in a blue-and-white-striped plastic bag with Barcelona and Argentina star Messi's name and number etched in pen on the back in January.

The image, which garnered global attention after it was posted on a Messi fan site, sparked a manic search by fans to find the six-year-old from Jaghori, southwest of Kabul.

Now, almost 11 months later, a series of images and videos showed Messi and Murtaza meeting for the first time. "The image the world wanted to see. The six-yearold boy who dreamed of meeting his hero, Messi, finally comes true," the tweet accompanying one video said.

Another video showed Messi reaching out to hold hands with Murtaza, who was wearing a Barcelona jersey.

Murtaza poses with the Barcelona team before its game against Saudi Arabia's Al-Ahli.

First Sikh cricketer in Pak to join national academy

Pakistani cricket has seen Christians and Hindus represent the country at home and abroad, but for the first time a Sikh has secured a place in the National Cricket Academy.

Mahinder Pal Singh, who hails from Nankana Sahib (Lahore), is among the list of top 30 emerging cricketers in the country, Geo News reported. In a video, Singh expressed his desire to make Pakistan proud and thanked his coach and the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board for having faith in him and recognising his talent. Singh said he was proud to be able to represent the entire Pakistani Sikh community and to have secured a place at the Pakistani Cricket Academy. Over the years Pakistan cricket was facing a dearth of new talent.

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Jadeja spins India to victory over England Continued from page 1 intact, but collapsed inexplicably in the final session of play. They lost six wickets for 40 runs in the posttea session to plunge to a humiliating innings and 75-run loss to India.

Ravindra Jadeja took 7/48, a Test career-best, as the visitors collapsed in the final session. India have won the five-match series 4–0. India's comfortable victory made even easier by poor performances from England cricketers with bat and ball.

The first Test in Rajkot had ended in a draw but that was the most success England enjoyed. At tea on Tuesday, England was comfortably placed at 1674 and heading for a draw to end the series with a modicum of satisfaction.

England then collapsed, bowled out for 207 runs in the span of 24 overs since.

Jadeja had taken 3/38 before Tea, and he continued his fine form thereafter, picking up four more wickets for 10 runs. His previous best was 6/138 against South Africa in Durban in 2013. This was Jadeja’s first 10 -wicket haul in Test cricket, as he picked 3/106 in the first innings, returning a total 10/154.

Moeen Ali had advanced to an untroubled 44 when he played an extravagant mistimed heave and was caught at mid-on by a leaping Ravichandran Ashwin. Ali had been given a life in the 70th over, when he was dropped at short-leg off Jadeja.

Then, Ben Stokes (23) was caught at midwicket off Jadeja again, the leftarm spinner picking his first five-wicket haul since his 5/73 against New Zealand in Kanpur this past September. Stokes and Ali had added 63 runs for the fifth wicket, and thereafter it all fell apart as England lost their last six wickets for 15 runs.

Amit Mishra (1/30) bowled Liam Dawson (0) with a googly, and then Umesh Yadav (1/36) had Adil Rashid (2) caught at point by Jadeja. Jos Buttler (6 not out) and Stuart Broad (1) resisted for a while but Jadeja returned to pick up the last two wickets. Broad was caught at Short-leg, and then Jake Ball (0) was snapped up by Karun Nair to bring the curtains down on the series. England went from 103-0 to 207all-out, losing 10 wickets for 104 runs.

Karun Nair cracks triple century

Karun Nair on Monday became only the second Indian batsman to score a triple century in a Test match, when he achieved the distinction on the fourth day. He joined Virender Sehwag, who has the distinction of reaching the landmark twice.

Nair, who plays for Karnataka in the domestic circuit, is only playing his third Test, having made his debut against England in the third Test of this series in Mohali. He represents Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League.

Nair's milestone came at the same place where Sehwag scored an amazing 319 against South Africa.

The Delhi Dasher also has a triple century against Pakistan.

Karun's knock included 32 fours and four sixes. At the time of India's declaration, he remained unbeaten on 303 runs. Before this knock in Chennai, Nair had failed to make an impact in the series.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan and several cricketing personalities hailed Karun Nair's landmark innings. "Congratulations on the historic triple century @karun126! We all are delighted & proud of your remarkable feat," Modi tweeted.

England totally humiliated, inquisition must follow Nilesh Raj Patel ACA; The Prideview Group Talk about sending someone packing. England have been totally humiliated and the inquisition must follow. From being No.1 in the world a few months ago, they now return home cap-in-hand hoping for some Christmas mercy.

So keeping with the festive spirit, I too would rather focus on heaping praise where it’s due. The new No. 1 side, led by one of the most aggressive Test captains of recent times, is taking no prisoners. With the series done and dusted coming into the final Test, the question was whether England could salvage any pride.

Another toss win, this time on a flat track, bode well – surely they would at least avoid defeat? Surely with a solid 400+ total TM

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consuming all but 2 days; but as India already showed in the Mumbai Test, never say never.

But no one could have

predicted that were India to post a record 759/7 total, Kohli’s contribution would have been a mere 2% of that. Two rookies,

Rahul and debutant Karun Nair, showed incredible application.

Rahul was desperately unlucky to hole out on 199, whilst Karun was permitted by his captain to power on (at the risk of giving up the opportunity to win the Test).

The ensuing fireworks which got him to 303* were worthy of any T20, but it didn’t stop there.

With 10 wickets needed on the final day on a flattish wicket, India’s spin kings led by a revived Jadeja posting best-ever

figures of 7-56 completely bamboozled the English defences.

This was only the 4th time in history a team has won by an innings after conceding 400+ runs (the 3rd time was in Mumbai!).

So many records have tumbled this series, but the one which stands out most is that India became the 1st team to post four 400+ totals after losing 4 tosses. It is a testament to Kohli’s captaincy that he has been able to consistently galvanise his team when under pressure, and with 18 successive matches unbeaten and 5 consecutive series wins, expect the Indian train to go steaming on across all formats in 2017.

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