Indian Weekender 27 January 2017 by Indian Weekender

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27 JAN2017

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Vol. 8 • Issue 43

NZ’s only Kiwi-Indian weekly

The Pulse of Kiwi-Indians since 2009

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27 January 2017 | www.iwk.co.nz

The annual Auckland regatta is back

Events that you can add to your weekend plan:

¡¡ SWATI SHARMA

ith the first long weekend of the year here, it’s time for Aucklanders to witness the annual regatta that takes place on Auckland Anniversary (January 30). If you are in the city, it is an event you should not miss out on. There is this and a lot more planned over the long weekend. But before we head into the details on the different events you can attend in the city, let’s take a peek into the history of the celebration.

What is Auckland Anniversary

uckland Anniversary falls on January 29 and the public holiday is observed on the Monday closest to that date. It is observed throughout Auckland province that includes Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Northland (where it is called Northland Day), Gisborne, and some parts of ManawatuWanganui, and Hawke’s Bay. It marks the anniversary of the arrival of New Zealand’s first Governor-General William Hobson in the Bay of Plenty on January 29, 1840. Mr Hobson officially declared the day as a

public holiday, 29 January also being the second anniversary of the establishment of the Colony. While there were arguments that January 30 should have been the date to celebrate the anniversary, as it was on that day in 1840 when the Union Jack was flown on the masthead of Herald—the ship in which Mr Hibson arrived, it was later decided that the public holiday would be observed on the Monday closest to January 29.

The annual regatta

uckland Anniversary is celebrated with world’s largest one-day regatta. It is the oldest sport in New Zealand. The regatta has grown in numbers over the years. In 2008, 400 boats were a part of the race. Although there is no prize for the winner of the race (except the honour of winning one), the craze among people to be a part of this annual boat racing has only increased. This year’s anniversary regatta will be held at Amanda Cruise on January 30 from Dock 3 at Eastern Viaduct. The good news is that the weather is expected to be nice during the long weekend. So make sure you make the most of it.

• Auckland International Buskers Festival from January 27 to 30 at Viaduct Harbour • St Jerome’s Laneway Festival on January 30 at Albert Park • Ports of Auckland SeePort Festival from January 29 to 30 at Captain Cook Wharf • The Extravaganza (Gypsy) from January 28 to 30 at Craigavon Park, Green Bay Make sure you drive with care while enjoying your holidays. NZ Police is advising you to keep your driving speed in control, keep that phone on the side and so that everyone can get to where they are going, safely.

New Zealand’s biggest ever Bollywood show—Da Bang is only about 80 days away and the ticket sales are picking up pace as we move closer to the event. But that is not what we want to tell you. Indian Weekender is giving you oncein-a-lifetime chance to meet the biggest stars of Bollywood. Not only Salman Khan but you will also get to meet Bipasha Basu, Sonakshi Sinha, Prabhu Deva, Badshah, Manish Paul and Daisy Shah, face-to-face. How exciting is that! This Valentine’s Day Indian Weekender will give you a chance to win an exclusive entry to the VIP ‘Meet and Greet’ event with the entire star cast of Da Bang show in Auckland. All you need is a ticket to the Da Bang show. Here’s how you can enter the contest:

1) Buy your tickets to the Da Bang show from ticketmaster.co.nz 2) Visit our website indianweekender. co.nz or Facebook page and look for the ‘Meet Salman Khan’ contest image 3) Click on the image and enter your details: name, phone number, ticket number, and e-mail id. Click submit. Please note that only those who have bought their tickets in 2017 will get a chance to enter into this contest. The meet and greet passes are exclusive and not for sale. So hurry, up, buy your tickets and enter the contest now and. Buying your tickets now means getting the best seats in the house. So don’t wait and got to tocketmaster.co.nz

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www.iwk.co.nz | 27 January 2017

MP Bakshi appointed PPS,

says police numbers to increase soon

National MP Kanwaljit Bakshi, soon after his appointment as Parliamentary Private Secretary to Minister of Police, assured that police numbers will be increased soon to tackle the crime rate ¡¡ SWATI SHARMA

n an announcement made by Prime Minister Bill English, National Party MP Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi was appointed as Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to assist Minister of Police Paula Bennett. PM English announced Mr Bakshi’s appointment at National Party’s Global Indianz Group (Canterbury branch) luncheon held in Christchurch on Thursday, January 26. This was his first interaction with the Indian community in Canterbury after taking over the reins of the country in December last year. The appointment comes as a big news for the Indian community in New Zealand as Mr Bakshi is the first Kiwi-Indian MP to be appointed as a PPS. It also suggests that Mr English is going to take his relations with the Indian community a step further from what former Prime Minister John Key had. Talking to Indian Weekender about his appointment, Mr Bakshi said, “I am really excited about this additional responsibility that the Prime Minister has given me, and I am honoured to be assisting Hon. Paula Bennet. I have always had a keen interest in law and order, and I am looking forward to work even more for our ethnic communities.” A PPS is appointed by the Prime Minster to assist the ministers. They are not a part of the executive government and a minister cannot delegate any statutory roles or function to a PPS. However, it is expected that the PPS

National List MP Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi with Prime Minister Bill English

represent their minister at public events and deliver speeches on occasions when the minister is not available. So how will he contribute to his new role? “Ethnic communities have been facing issues related to crime and law and order. My effort will be to make them feel safer. I understand that there has been a continuous demand to increase police numbers and to tackle the crime. We are taking actions,” Mr Bakshi said. “There will be an announcement soon by Prime Minister to increase the police numbers. I

believe that the police is doing a fantastic job and they will continue to do so in the future,” he added. Recently, Mr Bakshi received backlash from the Indian community for not raising and standing up for the concerns of the community. He was also criticised for comparing Indian international students to “faulty fridges” and not doing anything for those facing deportation in the false financial documents case. This appointment would be Mr Bakshi’s chance to make a difference.

When asked about the criticism that he has been facing, he said that he was doing whatever he could to make sure the voice of the community is heard. “I have been working in the parliament from last 8 years now, and I have been taking the issues that matter to our ethnic communities to the caucus. That is the reason Prime Minister is considering increasing the number of police because we believe that what is required should be done.” Apart from Mr Bakshi, four other MPs were also appointed PPS. Melissa Lee was reappointed as a PPS to Ethnic Communities Minister with Jian Yang joining her. Jonathan Young was appointed as the PPS to Minister of Economic Development and Scot Simpson as PPS to the Environment and Conservation Minister. In 2008, Mr Bakshi became the first IndianSikh MP in New Zealand and since 2011, he has been the Chairperson of Law and Order Select Committee. Mr Bakshi has been in the parliament for eight years, yet neither he nor any other KiwiIndian MP was appointed as a cabinet minister in the recent reshuffle after PM English took office. In our December 20, 2016, issue, we stated the community’s concerns of not having a Kiwi-Indian MP in a ministerial position. The Indian community needs more representation in the parliament, but would that become a reality soon or not will be decided only after the elections this year.

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27 January 2017 | www.iwk.co.nz

Auckland ranked fourth

most unaffordable city in the world ¡¡ SWATI SHARMA

very now and then, you come across a social media post on how Auckland has been named world’s best or one of the world’s best city—for its lifestyle, for its beauty, for travelling, and most recently as world’s least corrupt country. The City of Sails has once again found a spot in another world’s top list but this time not for a good reason. Auckland has been ranked fourth most expensive city in the world to buy a house. With a median multiple of 10.0, a homebuyer would need to have an average income that is 10 times the current one. Median multiple is an index that allows a quick comparison of different housing by linking median or average house prices to median household income. As per the recently published 13th Annual Demographia International Housing Affordability Survey, the median house price in Auckland has climbed to $830,800 while the median household income is $83,000—ten times less than the average house price. Auckland has jumped a spot from last year and is currently behind Hong Kong, Sydney, and Vancouver out of the 92 major cities and 406 housing markets in nine countries.

City

Median Multiple

Median House Price

Auckland 10.1 $830,800 Tauranga

9.7

$591,900

Hamilton

6.2

$444,900

Christchurch

5.9

$435,300

Wellington 5.8 $463,700 Napier-Hastings 5.7 $340,500 Dunedin 5.4 $322,000 Palmerston North

Hong Kong has been ranked the most unaffordable city with a median multiple of 18.1, followed by Sydney (12.2) and Vancouver (11.8) According to the survey, a ratio of three or less is considered affordable. The results of the survey are not surprising for the Auckland homebuyers, as the ‘housing crisis’ here doesn’t seem to end anytime soon.

Not only Auckland but also other New Zealand cities are increasingly becoming unaffordable. House prices in Tauranga have gone up by 20% from last year, reaching 9.7 times the average income. Overall, New Zealand has been rated severely unaffordable with a median multiple of 5.9, making it extremely difficult for people to buy their first house. According to QV House Price Index, in 2015 alone, the house prices have soared up by 24% while there hasn’t been enough raise in wages. Auckland Mayor Phil Goff told NZ Herald that there is a need to increase the house supply. “The reason is obvious. Our population in the city has gone up by 45,000 a year. We need about 15,000 extra houses a year and are only building about half that number,”

4.7

$255,800

he said. “Supply is falling far short of demand and that puts prices up. In that environment, we are also getting speculative pressures with houses being flipped and going up by hundreds of thousands of dollars in a day as speculators clip the ticket.” Mr Goff added that after the appeal process of the Unitary Plan is completed, it will enable the construction of 422,000 housing units on brownfields developments and 150,000 units on greenfields sites, which will help eliminate the major cost factor in Auckland housing viz. supply of land. “I also want to work closely with [the] government to deal with the deficit in infrastructure funding so we can put the services and transport links in place to enable houses to be built,” he said.

Building and Construction Minister Nick Smith told NZ Herald that the government is making “good progress in addressing excessive house inflation in Auckland, with the latest annual increase in single digit for the first time in last five years.” He added that government has increased the housing investment by 32% in the latest year and is now topping more than 10,000 Auckland houses per year.

Major factors that contribute to the Auckland housing crisis Undersupply of houses: This is the major contributing factor in increasing house rates in Auckland. Until November last year, Auckland had about 4,800 less home to supply compared to the demand. Hence, there is an increasing pressure on the housing market that has resulted in the increase of property rates. Low interest rates: In a recent report published in NZ Herald, Gareth Kiernan, the chief forecaster for Infometrics, said that the low mortgage rates on offer have limited the extent of increases in debt-servicing costs. However, the interest rate is expected to increase to 1.5–2%, which could make the repayments challenging for many mortgage-holders in Auckland.

Aucklanders gather in support of Jallikattu ¡¡ DR ALA MOHAN (VATHSALA MOHAN)

is why can’t breeders breed these native bulls irrespective of jallikattu? To understand that, we will have to understand the chronology of events that lead to Jallikattu and events that happen thereafter. During the sport, the strongest bulls in Jallikattu are identified and mated with cows. Theses bulls used for mating need to be virile. During the mating season (which is typically after Pongal), these bulls need to secrete the necessary male hormones and experience an adrenaline rush. This is where Jallikattu comes into the picture. From the time the bull is released from the Vaadi Vaasal (the arena gate) to the time it manages to reach the other end, it experiences a great adrenaline rush, which boosts its testosterone levels and makes its heart beat faster. This increases their virility—one of the most fundamental necessities for selective breeding. As artificial insemination is not adapted for native breeds, a ban on Jallikattu will lead to the extinction of these native breeds The male calves, which are useless unless there is demand for tasks such as ploughing are slaughtered, however, by observing Jallikattu, their lives can be saved.

massive peace protest against the ban of Jallikattu took place on January 8 in Tamil Nadu. Organised by a student group, the protest gained a historical momentum. Although there was an agitation on January 23, it was later confirmed by the police and media that it was not caused by the students. A gathering was also initiated by Tamil associations in Auckland on January 22 to show their support for Jallikattu. The latest news reports stated that a government ordinance bill for conducting Jallikattu had been issued.

What is Jallikattu?

allikattu, Eru thazhuvuthal and Manju virattu is an ancient Tamil tradition that dates back to 400 BC. It is predominantly followed in in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu as an act of protecting the indigenous breeds in the state. This is practised during the harvest festival of Pongal and is a three-day celebration during mid-January. The first day is dedicated to natural resources such as the sun, moon, Earth, fire, and water; the second day to animals, more particularly bulls that are used for ploughing agricultural lands and cows for providing milk for human consumption, and the third day is dedicated to families and friends. In this ancient traditional sport Jallikattu (jalli means coin and kattu means bag), the indigenous bulls

Top: A peaceful gathering in support of Jallikattu was organised in Auckland

(such as Kangayam) are tamed in a sport ground or an arena. Originally, several native breeds, approximately 88, were used in the sport but now there are only six breeds, as the rest have become extinct. Multiple sportsmen take part in this sport, which is marked as an act of bravery. Men hold on tight to the hump of the bull for as long as possible or until the bull stops. Often the owner of the bulls tie presents to the horns of the bulls that the sportsmen retrieve as victory prizes by taming the bull for so long or until the finish line. There are several literatures, inscriptions, and paintings found in the Tamil Nadu Government Museum and National Museum, New Delhi, about this ancient sport. This sport comes with several rules and regulations, including no cruelty

Acknowledgements:

to bulls and that participants to hold only the hump and not the neck, horns, or tail. The arena has a start and an end-point and after the bull is released from the gate, only one participant is allowed to tame it. If the participant touches the finish line while managing to continue taming the bull, he is declared the winner,

and if participants fail to succeed, the bull is declared the winner.

How does it help in breeding?

he bulls that fare well in Jallikattu are in constant demand for servicing the cows. Now the question

amil youths, students of Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Tamil Nadu, India and people who contributed to Wikipedia. Dr Ala Mohan is a micromolecular biologist at the New Zealand Institute of Plant and Food Research Limited, Auckland.

NEW ZEALAND

www.iwk.co.nz | 27 January 2017

Emergency Housing for Elders: the need of the hour

Chartered Accountants We provide the right solutions at very reasonable price! Seniors and community leaders gather at the opening of SNEH in November 2015

¡¡ RIZWAN MOHAMMAD

he Shanti Niwas Emergency House (SNEH) project has provided shelter to 18 senior citizens of the Indian and South Asian community since its inception in November 2015. The emergency housing project started with a goal to rehabilitate the seniors who fall victim to domestic abuse and physical violence. These victims, who are removed from their houses or opt to leave, are provided temporary asylum at the emergency home for a minimum period of three weeks and for a maximum time of three months. During the holiday period last year, a 70-yearold woman was beaten and removed from her house in Papakura. She refused to lodge a complaint on the family but found temporary refuge with SNEH. The property in Onehunga can house four people at one time, and these senior citizens help cook, clean, and empower each other. The house provides a safe and secure environment for the elders with kitchen, laundry, internet, and counselling facilities and a caretaker is assigned every night at home. “The seniors have all been helped with permanent solutions, which include going back to families, Housing New Zealand, private accommodations, rest homes, etc. We propose to increase and improve our facility to cater to the growing needs of our community,” Nilima

Venkat, Project Manager of SNEH, said. Shanti Niwas mediates with the seniors and the family, and in most of the cases, the seniors go back to their families after a few weeks. In some cases, the seniors either opt for renting homes while some choose to go back to their hometown in India. The project has received no government funding so far, which has limited the number of people that can be accommodated under this facility. There have been instances where some of the seniors had to be given refuge in volunteers’ homes due to lack of space in the facility. However, the project was supported by Ranchhod Foundation to run the facility. Shanti Niwas is catering for the resources and ongoing utilities expenses. The support services in the house are provided by the professionally trained staff of Shanti Niwas. The seniors utilise their time helping the community by doing different activities hosted at Shanti Niwas. There is also a knitting group that make clothes, which is then donated to various hospitals in Auckland. Shanti Niwas also runs other initiatives in Auckland such as Khushi that recognises, prevents, and responds to abuse of older people in the South Asian community, and Dosti where a volunteer visits senior members of the community who are immobile or socially isolated and provide them with rehabilitation services.

Konkani Radio launches on Planet FM 104.6

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Aiming for Excellence? Entering into the 10th Glorious year

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(From L to R) Baptist Lobo, Hector de Souza and Richard Miranda hosting the radio show

¡¡ IWK BUREAU

preading the flavour of diverse Konkani culture, traditions, music and language among its diaspora settled in Auckland is ‘Susegad Danpaar’ (meaning calm, peaceful afternoon), a community radio programme launched on 104.6 Planet FM. Broadcasted every Saturday at 3:45 p.m., Susegad Danpaar brings alive Konkani melodies from over the years. The programme is an endeavour of Good Guys, a group of like-minded people whose aim is to help establish a cohesive and vibrant Konkani-speaking community in Auckland. The founding members of the programme are Hector de Souza, Baptist Lobo and Richard Miranda. “Our first project was the screening of the film, Nachom ia Kumpasar (Dance to the Rhythm) in Auckland mid-last year. The film was a tribute to the Konkani musicians of yesteryears, who continue to have a significant influence on the community,” says Mr de Souza.

Following the success of the movie screening, Good Guys identified radio as an effective medium to reach the Konkani speaking diaspora in Auckland. Mr Lobo says that their key focus “…is not only to popularise Konkani music but also the language, especially among the youth. We also want to recognise and acknowledge accomplished community members by inviting them on the programme.” The radio programmes will be hosted by different Konkani-speaking communities, with a combination of Konkani music, both traditional and contemporary, talk shows combined with music, short radio plays, and Konkani commentary. “In the long run, we’d like to get a team of youngsters to keep the programme going, remain connected to their heritage and [give them] an opportunity to express and develop their talents,” Mr Miranda said. Apart from the radio station, you can also listen to Susegad Danpaar online at www. planetaudio.org.nz/susegaddanpaar.

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27 January 2017 | www.iwk.co.nz

London-based ‘Sikh Illustrator’ wows Auckland ¡¡ RIZWAN MOHAMMAD

IWK: Tell us a little about the theme ‘Heartaches Better The Art’. Amandeep: I got bullied at school, and I don’t want to glorify that, but it was those moments that allowed me to realise who am I as a person. I got bullied in my art class, and I was traumatised by the experience. I was so sad about going to school at the thought that the kids would laugh at my work; my teacher would also say my work wasn’t good enough. I wanted people to realise that it is okay to be heartbroken because it is what makes you stronger. Moments such as those made me realise how much I value art and wanted to pursue it. There were two ways of doing things—either I stop doing what I do or I wake up and work consistently on my art and perfect it.

mandeep Singh, a graphic illustrator from London, caught the attention of art lovers in 2012 with his first exhibition that was a massive success in Toronto. The pop culture-inspired artist showcased his work at The Thievery Studio on K’Road in Auckland on January 21 and 22. Amandeep adds a hint of pop culture to his colourful illustrations that have created a new cult in historical paintings. He has different paintings under the name ‘Inkquisitive Illustrations’, that include a portrait of Bhagat Singh, religious art such as that of Guru Nanak, Guru Govind Singh, the Golden Temple of Amritsar, Lord Vishnu, and Hanuman, pop artists such as Michael Jackson, Drake, and Pharrell William, and personalities such as Nelson Mandela, Saint Teresa, and Martin Luther King. Amandeep has more than 150,000 followers on Instagram and 130,000 on his ‘Inkquisitive’ Facebook page. The artist was in town for his first New Zealand exhibition and hosted a workshop for the Sikh Youth NZ summer camp in Papatoetoe. Speaking to Indian Weekender, Amandeep shared his passion for colours, described his art technique, and how he came to be known as ‘The Sikh Illustrator’.

Amandeep Singh with his potraits at the ‘Heartache Bettters The Art’ exhibition at The Thievery Studio

IWK: How did you develop a passion for painting? Amandeep: I got my art technique from my dad; he is a calligrapher. As a child, I would practice calligraphy under his guidance, and from a young age, my fingers worked fast. I never let go of the pen because I enjoyed looking at my art, and I would love to see the ink touch the paper. The more I did that, the more I realised how much I was passionate about it and that led me to pursue a Masters in One Graphic Designing of the things Illustrations from that I do to get Potraits of Guru Nanak Dev, Micheal Jackson and Shri Krishna. Visitors at the exhibition. (In circle) the University of over such thoughts is Hertfordshire to travel, it makes you years of my career, when I used to be in London. IWK: What a story teller and drive out of ideas. You keep putting your The reason it is called ‘Inkquisitive’ Studying graphic techniques and artwork on the wall, you get support is that I want people to ask questions. around and talk to people, illustrations material do have conversations and recognition, but it is not always I love to twist their thoughts and was difficult you use for your about likes and followers. I realised emotions when observing the artwork. because it inspires you because it was illustrations? to learn something I should stop pleasing people and an independent Amandeep: As start creating artwork for myself. The IWK: Looking at some of your from others subject and I had the name ‘Inkquistive’ second I started doing artwork for Sikh historical paintings, they to create my brief are exotic and unconventional suggests, I mainly use ink myself, I stopped feeling redundant. for art. at the same time. What goes in for my work. I love using Indian The more I became honest to my IWK: What were your major inks because they flow so well; the artwork, the more honest audience your mind while or before you breakthroughs as an artist? colours are sharp and bright, and I got, and they could relate to the were painting them? Amandeep: My first exhibition they also blend well. I don’t have a illustrations. Amandeep: I owe a lot to my dad. ‘Keep Calm Imagination is Free’ in particular process or a sequence to One of the things that I do to He is one of my biggest inspirations, Toronto was my first breakthrough. follow. I like to have fun. get over such thoughts is to travel, and as a child, he used to tell me all The more I play, I realise I am it makes you a story teller and drive stories about gurus, Sikh history, and People realised that I took my work seriously. There are a lot of people challenging the norms. Sometimes I around and talk to people, have the history of India. who claim to be artists, but they do put ink and watercolours on cartridge conversations because it inspires The tenth Sikh guru, Guru Gobind not take their art to the next level. paper or canvas, or at times, I burn you to learn something from others. Singh, was an artist as well, and I feel In December 2012, Rick Matharu paper and use it, or pour water on Inspiration is everywhere and not just like it is a crime for me as a Sikh to not and Harjot Ghuman invited me to paper and do spontaneous work. I in books. use that as an element to inspire the Toronto to exhibit my work. Although don’t like working in a pattern or youth. I am not the kind of a guy who IWK: Do each of your paintings a routine. initially I declined, I decided to go will draw the guru standing straight have a story to tell? I try to experiment. The more I ahead with it and that was incredible. Amandeep: Yes, I firmly believe so, ahead. I love to embed a story within play, the more I learn about myself, My second breakthrough was when and it reflects in my work. Each of my and I like to deepen the mystery in my a story. rapper LL Cool J recognised my There are so many different things art pieces has some similarities, yet work. These are not just art pieces, work. I was blown away when he these are stories, and I want everyone in that piece that are different from they are different. shared my work. I sent some of my to see the piece and become an a conventional Sikh art. It may be paintings to him, and he changed IWK: As an artist, have you artist themselves. contemporary because it allows you them to his profile picture on social at any point of time felt So you might see an orange colour, to learn something new. media, and it was then people outside redundant? some people may decipher it as a mere You may see an arrow in there or the community started noticing Amandeep: There have been so colour and some may say that is my many times, especially in the first two sunshine. It is all about perspectives. another guru in the picture. my work.

IWK: You mention through one of your paintings ‘Art gets a lot of recognition, artists do not, not necessarily’. Tell us a little more about it. Amandeep: It is common for artists to be let down. People don’t realise that a piece they have seen for just five seconds and walked away may have taken five months for someone to do. Because what an artist wants is someone to dive in. I want people to give the artist a chance like a photographer, who looks for the perfect moment, angle, light and what not before he shoots. Appreciate the artist for the work he has delivered. IWK: What message do you have as an artist to an artist? Amandeep: I think that expression is a beautiful thing. Express yourself in any way possible without worrying about what others may say. The second you give your value to others, you have lost the battle. It takes a lot to keep your value when you train because values can easily slip away. That is what I am doing now. I keep everything with me, my value, passion, courage, and my independence. IWK: What do you intend to impart to the young artists at Sikh Youth Camp? Amandeep: The biggest weakness we have in our community is that we are not consistent and that is what I want to convey to these young minds—follow your passion and be consistent. Do not get discouraged or carried away by what people are saying. Be consistent with anything you are doing be it art, drama, cooking, dancing, etc.

www.iwk.co.nz | 27 January 2017

Working towards safer communities

New Zealand Police works with the community to make New Zealand safe and secure for its citizens. We seek to prevent crime, improve public security, and detect offenders. The unwavering commitment of NZ Police officers to provide service to the public helps in maintaining the law and order in the country. As a part of the NZ Police force, we are actively involved with the community to ensure that we address the grievances of the citizens. two years. They should be using the words such as “Please leave the store and I am banning you not to come to my store for a period of two years. If you do return to the store within that timeframe, I will call the police and you may be arrested.” If a trespass notice is delivered verbally, it is advisable to record the date and time along with the reason for giving a trespass notice to that person along with the name or description of the person asked to leave. Please note that once a verbal trespass has been issued and details recorded, if the person trespassed from the store is allowed back into the store within that two-year period, the verbal trespass issued by the retailer becomes invalid. Therefore, retailers need to ensure if they issue a verbal or written trespass, they need to ensure the person is not allowed back into the store within the time limit posed by the trespass order.

¡¡ SERGEANT GURPREET ARORA, DISTRICT ETHNIC SERVICES COORDINATOR, COUNTIES MANUKAU

Police in action 1.

At about 6 p.m. on Friday, December 9, 2016, two males with their faces covered walked into a superette in Otara. At the time, there was only one attendant present in the store. One of the males produced a weapon and demanded money. They stole cigarettes and cash and ran out of the store on foot. Police reached the scene and collected valuable forensic evidence. Subsequent investigation by the on the basis of forensic evidence led to the arrest of an offender who has been charged with aggravated robbery and appeared in Manukau District Court on January 26, 2017. At about 5:30 p.m. on December 27, 2016, a male entered a superette in Mangere. At the time, there was one attendant present in the store. The male produced a weapon and demanded money. He stole cash from the cash register. During this time, two other men entered the superette and stole cash and cigarettes. All three left the store on foot and decamped from the scene in a getaway vehicle. Police investigation is ongoing to identify offenders. At about 8 p.m. on Monday, January 23, four men walked into a liquor store in Papakura. At the time, there was one attendant present in the store. One of the men produced a weapon, pointed it towards the victim, and demanded money, while the others picked up liquor bottles and cigarettes off the shelves. The men stole liquor, cigarettes, and cash and ran out of the store on foot and decamped from the scene in a vehicle. Police investigation is ongoing to identify the offenders.

Prevention tips It is all about safety in the community and therefore we wish to share some prevention tips regularly with our readers to ensure they are more aware and informed, which directly relates to their safety.

Verbal Trespass In case of verbal trespass, the retailer can ban a person, who is refusing to comply with the store rules or is causing trouble, for a period of

Written trespass Written trespass notice is the ideal way to trespass anyone as it formalises the trespass proceedings, and it can be issued by the owner or police. There are normally three copies of the trespass order that need to be completed by the person issuing the trespass notice. One copy is given to the person being trespassed. One copy remains with the property owner and one copy is given to police for their records. Once police receives a copy of the trespass order, the details are entered in their system against the person who has been trespassed from the place. If the trespassed person returns to the property within the period of two years of being trespassed, police should be notified and the person trespassing on the property can be arrested and charged with Trespass. Templates of a Trespass Notice and Details of Service of Trespass Notice are available on police.govt.nz. You can contact Sergeant Gurpreet Arora, District Ethnic Services Coordinator, Counties Manukau on 021 191 0461.

NEW ZEALAND

27 January 2017 | www.iwk.co.nz

SOUTH LINE Ara opens new student accommodation News-in-brief from South Island

The new accommodation was started in recognition of its growing international students’ population, with one-third coming from India ¡¡ GAURAV SHARMA

total of over 1,017 EFTS (equivalent full-time international students) studying at Ara in 2016.

n an effort to contribute towards the city’s rebuild and provide more options to its growing international student population, the Ara Institute of Canterbury (formerly Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology) has more than doubled the accommodation it provides to students in Christchurch’s CBD. Ōtautahi House opened its doors to two new accommodation blocks, with a third block scheduled for opening in April 2017, boosting the bed numbers available for Ara students from 72 to 192. “The Otautahi accommodation has always been very popular and with increasing demand, the Ōtautahi Education Development Trust decided to build three new blocks. We’re pleased that for those students who come from out of town to study at Ara, they now have greater inner city accommodation options,” Ms Diana Law, Student Support Manager at Ara, said.

Relationships

Ara Institute of Canterbury (formerly Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology)

Notably, the number of Indian students has been steadily increasing at Ara in the last

few years. It was just 160 in 2014 and rose to 365 last year, which was more than one-third of the

eanwhile, Canterbury’s premier polytechnic is set to welcome 10 students from Kumaraguru College of Technology (KCT), India for a ‘Motorsport’ Engineering Systems Analysis programme commencing shortly. It involves an intensive two-and-a-halfweek face-to-face component in Christchurch followed by a research project that will be completed in India. This is part of the relationship Ara has developed with a number of Indian institutes, including KCT, Jaipuria Institute of Management, Rizvi College of Arts, Science & Commerce, and Gujarat Technological University (GTU). Few of Ara’s business management students, funded by the Prime Minister’s Scholarship for Asia, will also be visiting GTU soon.

ISKCON’s Hare Krishna Centre to reopen after 2011 ¡¡ GAURAV SHARMA

lmost six years after suffering extensive damage in the 2011 earthquake, ISKCON Christchurch will be holding a three-day grand opening ceremony of its newly constructed Hare Krishna Centre between March 3 and 5 this year. The event will feature the official opening of the new temple, fire yajnas, kirtans, aartis, guru pujas, and an initiation ceremony by Indradyumna Swami. Installation of the deities including that of Sri Sri Nitai Gaurachandra—a form of Krishna who appeared 500 years ago as Lord Caitanya (also Lord Chaitanya)—and his brother Lord Nityanand will also be a part of the ceremony.

History

The Hare Krishna movement was brought to Christchurch around 1972, with the first

Finishing touches are ongoing at ISKON Christchurch Hare Krishna Centre's grand opening on March 3

temple constructed in Waltham Road in 1973. Later, the temple was moved to a house in Worcester Street, Linwood, before moving to a larger property at 30 Latimer Square in 1979. Then in 1986, the present site at 83 Bealey

Avenue became the Hare Krishna Centre’s permanent home. Unfortunately, the centre suffered extensive damage during the September 4, 2010, earthquake, but engineering inspections

determined that the building could be repaired. A double whammy struck before any work could commence, on February 22, 2011, as another earthquake struck, completely destroying the building and everything inside. Since then, the Christchurch Hare Krishna devotees relocated their Sunday community gathering to a rented hall in Ferrymead, and this has continued since then. The organisation has also been running its Hare Krishna—Food for Life programme at Christchurch’s New Brighton Clocktower every Saturday for the past one-and-a-half year. Mr Ramanuja, a prominent member of ISKCON Christchurch, while talking to Indian Weekender earlier had expressed hope that the new Hare Krishna Centre once completed and open would embark on true community service based on ISKCON’s philosophy of pure love and devotion.

Christchurch’s Holi will be a free event ¡¡ GAURAV SHARMA

behind organising the event, Mr Sharma added, “Holi is a traditional Indian festival designed lthough there is still more than a month to bring people together and strengthen to go, the Garden City has already communities. It is about connecting, forgiving, started gearing up for the fourth and looking ahead. celebration of Christchurch’s Holi—the Festival The throwing of powder colours symbolises of Colours. everyone becoming equals, whether they are And the icing on the cake is, the event that friends, foe, or strangers.” is being organised on Saturday, March 4, on Ms Tracey Saunders from TribalDiva Belly the corner of Madras and Gloucester Streets Dance Company, which will be performing (opposite Latimer Square) in central city, will for the first time at Holi, added, “I can’t wait have free entry. to be part of this year’s Holi. It’s great to see Christchurch’s new Crown company Otakaro different cultures coming together to celebrate Limited is one of the main sponsors of the event. one another.” Mr Hitesh Sharma from Revel Events, one of Taking to the stage for the second year in a the co-organisers, noted, “It’s awesome that row will be Bollywood hip-hop group, whose Otakaro, along with other sponsors, member, Ms Darshana Darshika, said, Holi is helping to make this event free, “Holi, for me, is all about spending is a so everyone in Christchurch can time with the people I care about traditional Indian dance, throw colours, and have and being among all that colour, festival designed fun together. which is something you don’t to bring people People can also purchase get to do every day.” together and strengthen Holi colours at $5 for two Others helping to keep the communities. It is about packets at the venue.” crowd on their feet in the colourconnecting, forgiving, Explaining the motivations throwing zone will include and looking ahead

Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel with event organiser Hitesh Sharma at last year's Holi celebrations in the City. Picture courtesy: Revel Events

entertainment group Chant et Danse and several DJs. Traditional Indian food and games will once again be a part of the celebrations. Among these, the crowd favourite matki phod will be back this year. “This game sees teams of three to five work

together to create a human pyramid and then try to break a pot of coloured yoghurt above their heads. All this makes Holi so much fun. “There’s nothing else like it in Christchurch,” concluded event co-organiser, Mr Sandeep Khanna.

NEW ZEALAND

www.iwk.co.nz | 27 January 2017

Auckland, get ready for a laughter riot

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¡¡ MAHESH K

irst Gutthi and now Dr Mashoor Gulati—here is an actor who is so incredible in his job that his characters are more famous than the man himself. Meet Sunil Grover, the comic actor par excellence who shot to fame with Comedy Nights with Kapil and then The Kapil Sharma Show. Grover is coming to Auckland for the first time for a show that is sure to be a big hit given the number of his fans in Auckland. The show is being organised by Trivision Entertainment on Saturday, February 4 at 7:30 p.m. at Logan Campbell Centre, Greenlane, Auckland. Over the years, Sunil Grover has made a name for himself. Even though Kapil Sharma has been top credited but the characters Sunil Grover created have always been the highlight of Kapil Sharma’s both shows. The characters of Gutthi and Dr Mashoor Gulati have created a cult following with many watching the show just for Grover. He is the master of improvised banter and he does not really need a script to make the audience go gaga. He was discovered by the king of Punjabi satire comedy, Jaspal Bhatti when he was in college. His initial stints include playing Sud on radio and acting in India’s first silent comedy show, Gutur Gu on Sab TV. Though he is known to be a comic actor, he has played serious characters too in films such as Gabbar is Back and more recently in Coffee With D. The promotors of the show, Trivision Entertainment Ltd is helmed by Dharmend Shyam who has organised various successful stage concerts and performed himself in Fiji, Australia, and US.

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NEW ZEALAND

27 January 2017 | www.iwk.co.nz

Seniors recollect Republic Day memories ¡¡ RIZWAN MOHAMMAD

eniors at the Bhartiya Samaj celebrated the Indian Republic Day at Mt Roskill War Memorial Hall on Saturday, January 21. More than 200 seniors attended the celebration. The tricolour was hoisted, which was followed by the national anthem. The seniors continued the celebration by singing songs and recollecting some of their most vivid memories of the Republic Day celebrations back in India. Indian Weekender spoke to some of them, who shared their views about what Republic Day meant to them, how differently they celebrated the day back in their hometown in India, and their efforts to continue the tradition in New Zealand as they pass the baton of patriotism to the next generation of Kiwi-Indians.

BSCT President, Jeet Suchdev addressing seniors at the celebrations

Sarla Prakash:

Suresh Dwivedi:

The most vivid memory that I have from the first Republic Day was celebrations in 1950. Dr Rajendra Prasad became the first President of India, and the Rashtrapati Bhavan was decorated with thousands of diyas and flower strings on the stairs and the balcony, and the grand chariot parade on Rajpath. Over the time, I have found that although we have massive celebrations in New Delhi and different cities in India, there is some intrinsic and honest spirit of this day that is eroding from the hearts and minds of the people. The celebrations today are more like a ritual and you don’t see the same enthusiasm that was elicited when we were young. I came to New Zealand in 2004, and before that, my son and daughter were already part of Bhartiya Samaj, and in those days, we would march to Cornell Park for the celebrations.

“Pt Jawaharlal Nehru would often come to our town Modinagar in Uttar Pradesh, both before and after Independence Day and especially during Republic Day celebrations. We were close to the Gandhi family. My husband was a doctor at a hospital in New Delhi and he performed Sanjay Gandhi‘s operation twice. On R-Day, we would go to the President’s House for a ceremony and had several opportunities to chat with Mrs Indira Gandhi. “The celebrations held here are crucial. It is small but it does remind us of our great nation. I think the younger generation should be a part of such celebrations or over a period of time, they may forget what these days mean to us.”

“My father was a freedom fighter of Independent India. In 1946, he started a movement from Mahad—a place in the Raigadh district about 200 km near Bombay (now Mumbai)— for which he was imprisoned in the Worli Jail for nine months. Republic Day and Independence Day brings some very old memories and reminds me of the struggle of my father and freedom fighters like him, without whom the India we know today wouldn’t exist. “I remember the chariot march on the first Republic Day celebrations at Rajpath. Every year since then, we dressed in our best clothes, pinned the tricolour flag on our chest, and gathered with family and friends to witness the parade. I was the captain of a battalion of National Cadet Corps during my college days and hoisted the flag. “Here in New Zealand, we have various celebrations organised by different associations on different dates as per the convenience of the public. We should have one celebration on the R-Day and that too on a large scale so that all three generations can come together and observe the patriotic day together.”

Urmila Seth:

Pradeep Narhar Chitale:

“I have been active when it comes to hosting and being a part

ndia’s 68th Republic Day was celebrated at Bharat Bhavan in Wellington on Thursday, January 26 in the presence of Indian High Commissioner Sanjiv Kohli and his wife Dr Ruma Kohli.

(above) Gathering during the national anthem recitation; (below) Hoisting of the flag

work and family to observe the patriotic events in New Zealand. “Republic or Independence Day would mean a holiday for me. I would close my dental clinic and stay at home, spend some time with my family. “I hail from the busiest city of India—Mumbai—where a holiday would mean time for the house,” a senior at the event said. Present among the seniors at the event was the technical supervisor at Bhartiya Samaj, Ankur Gupta, the young and dynamic photographer had been an integral part of such events.

Ankur Gupta: of patriotic events. I was a teacher in Chandigarh and our school had more than 1,000 students. In Chandigarh police grounds, we had a big celebration where 70 schools participated, and I trained one of the platoons, and we received the award for the best platoon. “As citizens, we get too occupied with our family and work priorities, but the government makes sure that we do not forget the sacrifice and Republic Day and Independence the contributions of our Day has a big significance in my life, freedom fighters As and I can proudly say that it was and forefathers. citizens, we my school that inculcated I commend the get too occupied those values in me. associations with our family and Like every school, we here who are work priorities, but the had a parade, cultural still trying government makes sure performances, and their best that we do not forget flag hoisting, and such to keep the the sacrifice and the events embedded a deep patriotic contributions of our patriotic spirit in me,” Mr flame alive in freedom fighters and Gupta said. our hearts, even forefathers National List MP Kanwaljit though it might be Bakshi joined the celebration on a small scale” at War Memorial Hall, and the While some seniors shared their event concluded with a folk dance most vivid memories of the R-Day performance by children and a celebrations, a few seniors said that light lunch. they were too occupied with their

NEW ZEALAND

www.iwk.co.nz | 27 January 2017

Tamil Short Film Festival to be held in Auckland ¡¡ RIZWAN MOHAMMAD

he Tamil Short Film Festival returns for its third year with eight movies to be screened at Mercury Theatre in Auckland. It will be held on Saturday, July 8 at Mercury Theatre Started by TASMANZ (Tamil Short Movie Association New Zealand) in 2015, the festival gained immense momentum across the community in its inaugural year. TASMANZ comprises directors and creative personalities committed to supporting the creation of short films in the Tamil community of New Zealand. It was formed by a group of young professionals, who have a passion for making films. The annual film festival gives an opportunity to aspiring film-makers, actors, musicians, cinematographers, and writers to showcase their work on the big screen. The film Ninaivirukkum Varai won the in the inaugural year and was selected in the Top 10 category at the International Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) for Tamil Short Film Competition in London from among several entries from all over the world. The winner of the following year, Kanthaha Medu,was screened in the theatre across four European countries. Young film-makers register for the competition in December and then work on their film for the next four months. As per the rules, the films have to be shot in New Zealand only. Submissions are accepted by the jury until April 30, which are then sent to the labelling body and judges, who are based in France. Eight top movies selected by the jury will be screened at the festival. The festival will also witness a red carpet event and a ceremony awarding the best film to acknowledge the efforts of the film-makers and artists. After the festival, all films submitted will be screened

at selected theatres around major cities in New Zealand. This year, 12 teams are participating, and in the next few years, TASMANZ expects at least 15 teams. The association also hosts workshops to help young minds polish their creative skills. The workshops help individuals network with others from the same field. Last year, TASMANZ conducted free workshops on scriptwriting, casting, acting, and film editing along with a special acting class for children. This year, the association is running acting and directing workshops that are priced at $15 for each session. “We will also be running directing and music workshops on how to use tools to layer and create emotions and drama in a film,” Ms Amuthini Prasanna said. Prominent Tamil screenplay writer Ahilan Karunaharan, director Padma Akula—who has worked as an assistant director on Mani Ratnam’s 2010 hit film Raavanan and currently working as a creative director for her production company in New Zealand—and actor Abbas Ali were special guests for the 2016 film festival. “We want people of the Asian descent to enter these (creative) professions and not be pressured into becoming what is expected for us to follow. We have many doctors, [engineers] lawyers, but there is a dearth of creative artists in the community,” Ms Amuthini said.

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FOR GROOM Bubbly, vivacious 25-years, 5.6” Sikh girl settled in NZ seeks suitable match. She has done post graduate- honours in information systems + BCom marketing and currently works as database marketing analyst. She loves reading, singing and dancing having performed in many Indian festivals. To know more about them or other available profiles, email with details to info@knotted.co.nz, call 021-0486462 or visit us at www.knotted.co.nz

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NEW ZEALAND

27 January 2017 | www.iwk.co.nz

Tips to combat back-to-school jitters ¡¡ MAHESH K

Plan and prepare

s schools reopen in early February, a lot of parents will heave a sigh of relief. It is normal for parents to find the long summer holidays stressful as they juggle their work in office and kids at home. So while parents find the end of holidays something to look forward to, kids can be a little stressed about going back to school, especially the younger ones. While they might not be able to express their emotions, you can tell by their behaviour that they are not looking forward to going back to school. Some kids also develop symptoms that are easier to observe such as tummy aches or headaches. It is important that you identify these signals and calm your child. The worst you can do is by constantly reminding the kids about the big day. This will only lead to more anxiety and exasperation that they can neither express nor deal with. If you think the child is more disturbed than normal, it might be a good idea to talk to a doctor or a counsellor. If your child is going to a new school, it might be even more difficult for them to handle preschool restlessness. So here are a few tips on handling the pre-back-toschool jitters:

Reinforce the positives

s a parent, you need to talk about the good things about

sk your child to be organised with their homework and assignments. It helps to have a calendar or a planner handy. Help your child prepare a routine for waking up, going to school, homework, and going to bed. It is important to inculcate the habit so that your child is organised from early on.

Some kids also develop symptoms that are easier to observe such as tummy aches or headaches. It is important that you identify these signals and calm your child

a simple snack that your child wants when he/she comes back home. Maybe the games and fun they have in school or playing during breaks. Try putting a smile on your child’s face by reminding them of the fun they had during the last term.

Talk it out

going to school. Highlight the positives and give your child the confidence by discussing the things they can look forward to. For example, it could be a good friend or a bunch of friends who your child has not seen in a while. It could be

ometimes, kids are stressed because of a strict teacher or a bully in the school. They might not admit to it or talk about it, and therefore, you need to sit with them and tell that it is okay to have concerns. When they are relaxed, take them into confidence and ask them about their worries. Once your child tells you, do not overreact. Do not blame them. Tell them to be confident and handle the situation.

Some other tips that can be helpful

Help transitioning

t is important for parents to ensure that the transition is easy for the kids. You can do this by adjusting your schedule to ensure that a routine is set. If the child throws tantrums in the morning before leaving for school, be firm and talk to them with patience but do not give in and allow them to skip school on the first day. Also, make sure that on the first day, you arrive five minutes early to pick up the child from school. or reach home on time.

Stay healthy

t is important that you get the basics right. Ensure that your child gets enough sleep. Established a bedtime routine that is conducive to a good sleep in a comfortable bed. Make sure the meals are healthy and nutritious.

f your child is going to a new school, try visiting the school before the schools open. This might help relax your child. If possible, take a tour and see the classrooms, playground, and meet the teacher along with your child. Before the school, ask your child what they want in their lunchbox. Ask them to choose the outfit for school. Also, ask them to prepare their bag the night before. Try little funny things such as putting a note in their lunchbox, or a favourite toy in your younger one’s backpack. Some parents go to eat out at their favourite restaurant after the first day of school and discuss how their day was. Follow these tips to help avoid the pre-school jitters, and over the course of a week, your kids will get accustomed to the routine. So until the next long holidays!

Young Sikh immigrants keep up the tradition ¡¡ SWATI SHARMA

t all started with a group of five students who strived to stay connected with their culture, traditions, and roots in a land far from their own. Now, those students are working professionals but their intentions remain the same. A group of Kiwi-Indians have been organising three-day akhand paath (continuous recitation of the sacred text from Guru Granth Sahib) every year for the past eight years. This year, too, they held it from January 20 to 22 at Gurudwara Shri Kalgidhar Sahib, Takanini. “We used to visit gurudwara every Sunday and every now and then heard that someone sponsored or organised an akhand paath or langar (free food) at the gurudwara sahib,” Sunpreet Kaur, who has been a part of the group since 2010, told Indian Weekender. “We also wanted to do something like that so we approached the committee members who told us that it costs about $3000–$3500 for an akhand paath that goes on for three days. We were students and didn’t have that much money. So we asked a few more friends who agreed to be a part of this initiative.” With the intention to do good to the community, these five students—Mandeep Singh, Sunpreet Kaur, Baljinder Singh, Tarunjeev Singh, and Sarvjeet Singh (who now lives in Canada)—contributed and collected enough money to organise the first paath in 2010. “When they do ardaas, they call out the name of the donor and pray to god for their wellbeing. We wanted to do this for all the students living in New Zealand. So we always used to ask them to consider it as a contribution from all the students and pray for the success and happiness of all of them. “Now when none of us is a student anymore, we pray for everyone—sarbat da bhalaa—as our gurus taught us,” Sunpreet adds.

The group of youngsters has been organising annual akhand path fro last eight years

With time, more students joined the group. Currently, there are 11 members who contribute every year for this cause. The current group members include Jagpal Singh, Gursimran Singh, Gagandeep Kaur, Jimmy, Amrit Singh, Amninder Singh, and Swastika Naicker apart from the original five.

The feeling of feeding so many people gives you a great pleasure and you feel content. Like us, she also found it inspiring and hence joined us.” All members are Sikhs or Punjabis except for Swastika who hails from Fiji. “She is a colleague of one of our friends and visited the gurudwara with him. She liked what we do and wanted to be a part of this,”

Sunpreet says. “The feeling of feeding so many people gives you a great pleasure and you feel content. Like us, she also found it inspiring and hence joined us.” During the three days of the paath, about 1,000 people visit the Sikh temple. The organisers of the akhand path also sponsor the three-day meals for the visitors. “Now that we all are working, some of us have moved out of Auckland. But whenever this time of the year comes, we get together here,” Supreet said. “Some of us take [a] holiday from their work to do sewa (serve) at the gurudwara. The paath starts at 8 a.m. in the morning. “Some of us go to the free market early in the morning to buy fresh vegetables and fruits every day. Some take the responsibility of buying other groceries required during the three days. And the rest go to the gurudwara for preparations.” The group prepares food, snacks, and tea for the visitors with the help of the main cook. They help in the bulk preparation of the meal provided to the visitors during the three-day period, which includes preparing meals for the dozens of students who visit the Sikh temple for

Punjabi and culture classes that are held every Saturday at the temple. “We all have a great time there. We enjoy every moment while doing sewa. These three days are the best days of the entire year because we all get together for such a great cause. I think the feeling of being given an opportunity to contribute towards and serve the humanity is greater than any other feeling in the world,” Sunpreet added. Although their family might be miles away, the group found a family among the friends they have made at the gurudwara. They have already planned and booked the paath for the next few years. They plan their holidays in advance for these three days—mostly in the third week of the January—which has now become an important part of their yearly calendar. They contribute whatever amount of money they can and donate it to the temple. More power to these young men and women and to all those who want to do their bit in making this world a better place.

NEW ZEALAND

www.iwk.co.nz | 27 January 2017

Ensuring every child has Everyone needs a home the opportunity to succeed Barry Coates

Green Party List MP

Kanwaljit Bakshi

National List MP

s the holiday break comes to an end, another school year is set to begin. Across the country, National is working hard to ensure all our kids have the opportunity to get a great education that will allow them to fulfil their potential. Throughout New Zealand, more than 1,503 schools have formed Communities of Learning, around 60 per cent of our nation’s schools. What this means is more than half a million students are benefiting from shared teaching expertise and resources—with teachers working alongside each other to raise students’ achievements. In addition, there are 95 early childhood education and tertiary providers involved. The Communities of Learning allow better transitions for students from early childhood to school to tertiary, and are funded through the National-led government’s $359 million Investing in Educational Success initiative. Evidence shows, quality of teaching and school leadership are the two most important factors in a child’s education, so National is focusing on improving performance across the education system to ensure every child has the opportunity to be successful. With the information technology sector as one of the fastest growing sectors in New Zealand, National believes it is important Kiwi students are prepared to learn and work in a modern, high-tech world.

We want our schools to be ready and able to support young people to develop skills, confidence, and an interest in digital technologies, to set them up for successful futures. So in 2018, digital technology will be formally integrated into the New Zealand curriculum and Te Marautanga o Aotearoa. This change to the school curriculum reflects National’s commitment to championing 21st century practice in teaching and learning. Delivering better education services, which meet the needs of every child, is a top priority for the National-led government. That is why Budget 2016 provided a $15.3 million funding increase to ensure students with a range of learning difficulties, can receive support tailored to their individual learning needs. As a result, an extra 1250 Kiwi children will receive help from teacher aides. Together with the increased funding in Budget 2015, the government is now funding an extra 550,000 hours of classroom support for students with additional learning needs. All parents want to see their children lead happy, successful lives. National believes giving every child the best education possible will help achieve that.

uckland just climbed a place up on an international rating, but it was for the wrong reasons. Auckland is now the fourth most unaffordable city in the world. The median house price has risen to $830,000 but the median income is $83,000, creating a price: income ratio of 10:1. Most Indian New Zealand families already know this only too well. Although home ownership is a cherished New Zealand expectation, fewer and fewer families can afford to buy their first home. The proportion of home ownership is the lowest it has ever been. There needs to be urgent action. A good place to start would be for the government to admit there is a crisis. Rather than the government selling off state houses, we should be building many more. The private sector will not build enough affordable houses by itself— government investment is needed. The Green Party’s ‘Home for Life’ policy would build 10,000 affordable homes under a rent to buy scheme, with weekly payments capped at 30% of income.

The policy would also work with housing associations and community groups to build a further 5,000 energy efficient homes and keep the costs low to tenants. But building more houses is not the whole story. There has been too much money bidding up the price of real estate in Auckland, and increasingly in other cities. A major reason is because speculators and developers have been making tax-free profits. Investment in real estate in New Zealand dwarfs investment in the productive economy. In order to ensure that wage and salary earners are not disadvantaged, the Green Party would implement a comprehensive Capital Gains Tax, to level the playing field for all income earners Money is also flowing into real estate from organised crime and drugs, often through tax havens, according to recent investigations by the police and a report from the international Financial Action Task Force. New Zealand has become a route for money laundering because of its minimal regulations, and real estate is the favourite sector, according to the police research. The government has been dragging its feet on developing laws to stop dirty money pumping up house prices. The Green Party is committed to ensuring that all New Zealanders can afford a warm, dry and affordable house. This is election year and voters will have their opportunity to find out more.

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FIJI

27 January 2017 | www.iwk.co.nz

Fijian businessman honoured with Pravasi Bharatiya Samman in India C hairman of the Board of Vinod Patel Group, Vinod Patel, has been awarded with a prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (PBSA) from the Indian Government. This is for his commitment in philanthropy and social services. The 78-year-old Ba based founder of Vinod Patel Group is amongst 30 recipients who have been honoured with the award in Bengalore, India. In receiving, the award Mr Patel said: “I’m grateful for this recognition which truly belongs to all the hardworking community members who supported my effort to make a small positive difference in people’s life. “I have been fortunate to receive overwhelming support from many friends and family members and many charitable organisations. “These organisations include Red Cross of Fiji, Sanathan Dharam, the Gujarat Association and from many other social organisations from Ba. “Therefore, I truly feel whilst I have been awarded this recognition it is bestowed to many hundreds of people who supported in my social service journey. “I thank my wife for her support and all my children and family who stood by me all the times. “Finally this is an award for all the Indian origin diaspora community of Fiji – God bless Fiji!”

Education Society. Not only in Fiji, Vinod Patel fondly known as Vinodbhai and his family have built and funded a village school for Boys and Girls in their father’s village of Karkhadi near Vadodara, Gujarat. This school is in the name of their parents Shankarbhai and Shantaben Patel. His contribution to the field of sports especially in soccer has been exemplary and unmatched in the District of Ba and as the National Team director and vice president. Mr Patel is the recipient of several awards given by the Government of Fiji. This includes the peak Hindu religious body Sanatan I’m Dharam Pratinidhi Sabha grateful for of Fiji and the prestigious this recognition Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi (centre) with recipients of the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award life membership of the which truly belongs including the Ba-based founder of the Vinod Patel group, Vinod Patel (second from right) Ba Soccer Association to all the hardworking to name a few. community members who The award is the highest honour both in India and abroad. in the field supported my effort to Vinod Patel’s conferred on overseas Indians. of education, This was the 14th edition of the make a small positive commitment to sports, religion, It is conferred by the President Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention difference in community health work community of India as a part of the Pravasi held from 7 to 9 of this month. people’s life has been exemplary as well. health, local and Bharatiya Divas Conventions. Ba Methodist Mission national Governments These conventions have been Hospital, Ba Vision Centre for and in community. organised annually since 2003 for visually impaired, Fiji Red Cross, His contribution to non-resident Indians, Persons of Mr Patel has given remarkable St John Ambulance, and Veiseisei education in Fiji and India Indian Origin or an organisation or service to the Town of Ba as a Village Sai Health Centre as is legendary. institution established and run by the Councillor and Mayor and to the few notable organisation that Non-Resident Indians or Persons of He has been the manager, country of Fiji as an elected Member he gave his valuable time and Indian Origin. president of A.D Patel College of Parliament on two occasions. support to. & Tagore Memorial School and This also includes the recognition Despite a busy schedule, Mr Patel Mr Patel has no plans to stop his a member of the Ba Gujurat of their outstanding achievements has immensely contributed his service service to the community.

Background and Achievement:

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FIJI

www.iwk.co.nz | 27 January 2017

MIOT Pacific hospital is what Fijians needed, says Mohandas M adras Institute of Orthopaedics and Traumatology (MIOT) Pacific Hospital is what many Fijians needed in terms of medical upgrade. This comment was made by Dr Prithvi Mohandas, the managing director for MIOT International. He said: “So the challenge MIOT has is to provide the most advanced care at an affordable price. “This is exactly what Fiji needs and this will be MIOT’s focus when they start operating here.” The official launch of the hospital is tomorrow and it will be opened by the Attorney-General and Minister for Economy, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum. Dr Mohandas said a lot of people had previously come to Fiji and said a lot of things and not much tangible benefit had resulted. Dr Mohandas, a surgeon from India added this would not be the same for MIOT as they were adamant at providing the best

The managing director for MIOT International, Dr Prithvi Mohandas, outside MIOT Pacific Hospital which was previously known as Suva Private Hospital

services to Fijians. “You will see a perceptible move towards a very positive beneficial system that will enable Fijians to have access to treatment that is required urgently,” he added. “This means modern treatment at the right price.” Dr Mohandas said they had partnered with owners BSP Life, to establish MIOT Pacific and address

problems faced by people. “The two major problems are to provide the services medically and to provide postgraduate education to Fijians,” Mr Mohandas said. Medical students in Fiji will get a chance to train with world class medical personnel under the postgraduate education scheme. “This initiative will eventually allow Fijian Specialists to train and

Fiji Airways rated in top 10 F iji Airways has set another record in the international arena. This is after being listed as one of the top 10 airlines in the Asia and Pacific region for punctuality in 2016. Airline intelligence company OAG has ranked airlines and airports that are punctual using figures from 54 million records. It rates punctuality as operating within 15 minutes of the schedule. Fiji Airways was rated 6th among top renowned airlines such as Qantas Airways, Japan Airlines, Singapore Airlines, All Nippon Airways and Virgin Australia International. “Fiji Airways is always looking to improve and this is a great testament to the CEO and the team,” Minister

for Tourism, Industry and Trade, Faiyaz Koya said. Mr Koya said it was something he knew, the Fiji Airways team would try to even better and

hopefully one day they would get to the top three. OAG according to the CNN, is a UK-based aviation data group that analyses travel. It provides

Presenter Anna Kendrick at the 74th Golden Globe Awards

FIJI Water, he added, “is thrilled to continue its partnership with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association”. The awards was held on January

8, 2017. FIJI Water’s 750ml and 1l aqua products was enjoyed by Hollywood’s biggest stars and leading industry innovators.

MSG chair welcomes Fiji’s signing

he Melanesian Spearhead Group chair and Solomon Islands PM Manasseh Sogavare has welcomed Fiji’s signing of the new Melanesian Free Trade Agreement (MFTA). Sogavare described Fiji’s signing of the new MFTA as ‘yet another milestone occasion’ of the Melanesian sub-regional grouping. He says Fiji is the second MSG

About MIOT International The hospital has been operating in India for 18 years. It is a private hospital with 1000 beds and 63 specialties. This is also recognised for Postgraduate Specialist Degree Accreditation and have 15 specialties are trained and examined here. The hospital also has a nursing school and a technical school.

A Fiji Airways Boeing 737-700 which services the Auckland - Suva route

Fiji Water at the 74th Golden Globe Awards iji Water continued its reign internationally by being the official bottled water for this year’s 74th Annual Golden Globe Awards in Los Angeles, the first being in 2015. The company, which has expanded to more than 60 countries worldwide, again partnered with the long-standing Hollywood Foreign Press Association at the iconic 2017 Golden Globes. Clarence Chia, FIJI Water’s vicepresident of marketing, said the company was honoured to be a part of such an unforgettable night honouring film and television’s finest.

later provide treatment for their fellow Fijians in Fiji.” The hospital will also invest in different diagnostic equipment which will be brought from India soon. Speaking about future development, he said MIOT Pacific Hospital would be a hub for the Pacific. He also added they were planning on refurbishing the hospital rooms to cater for more beds. “Currently we have 40 beds, in 18 months we will have 250 and in three years it will be 350 beds.”

member country to sign the new agreement. Solomon Islands signed the MFTA in November 2016 and was the first country to do so. The MSG chair says Fiji’s signing will give effect towards MFTA coming into force when two or more parties are able to also sign and ratify the treaty and deposit their instruments of ratification with the MSG Secretariat.

PM Manasseh Sogavare

accurate, timely flight information data and feeds to the world’s airlines, airports, government agencies and travel-related service companies.

Indian Cultural Centre marks new school year

he Indian High Commission celebrated its Indian Cultural Centre’s (ICC) Classes Inauguration ceremony. The event was organised to promote and officially mark the start of the centre’s academic year. There are six academic faculties at the ICC – Carnatic Vocal, Kathak, Tabla and Harmonium, Hindi, Yoga and Bharatnatyam. During the event, each of the faculties showcased their respective genres. Carnatic Vocal music teacher Kavitha Sudarshan said she had been teaching at the centre for the past eight years. “I learned my Carnatic from my teachers in India and I’m still learning. Music does not have any boundary; so I’m still pursing and teaching st udents at ICC,” she said. “I’m happy to be part of ICC and I love to teach students Carnatic Vocal Music.” Ms Sudarshan said ICC was giving an opportunity for those who want to learn about Carnatic Vocal Music. Viveka Nand, who has been teaching Harmonium, Vocals and Tabla since 2009, said he was proud to show students how to play the harmonium and tabla. “It’s a better feeling when students show progress and do something in society,” he said. Mr Nand said some of his students were already performing in their respective communities. Hindi teacher Kiran Singh said she has taught in various secondary schools around the country for the past 27 years. She joined ICC last year. Indian High Commissioner to Fiji Vishvas Sapkal wished the ICC teachers and students well as they embark on their academic year.

Malaysian support for Fiji team

andikar Amin Haji Mulia believes the Vodafone Fiji 7s team will perform to expectation in Wellington next week. The Speaker of the House of Representatives in Malaysia and his family were at the Uprising Beach Resort watching the team train. “The facility you have here compared to your achievement is out of this world,”Mulia said. “What you have here compare to countries like New Zealand and the rest of the world are no comparison but it is through the players commitment that gives

you glory. In Wellington I’m sure you are going to do well.” Discussion with FRU Meanwhile, the Speaker’s wife Diana Diego is the president of Sabah College Rugby Club and chairperson of Sabah Women Rugby Club in Malaysia. She met the Fiji Rugby Union chief executive officer John O’ Connor yesterday. “I’m grateful for this opportunity to meet the FRU CEO,”she said. “The plan is to bring some of my girls here and play and also take some girls from Fiji with their teachers and coaches to Sabah.”

Speaker of the House of Representatives in Malaysia Tansri Pandikar-Amin (sitting 4th from left), his wife Puansri Diana Diego with others join the national side for a team picture at the Uprising Beach Resort

Thought of the week

Editorial

hen we were almost ready to go to press, Prime Minister Bill English’s announced the appointment of Kiwi-Indian MP Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi as the Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to Minister of Police Paula Bennett. Mr

Bakshi was the only Kiwi-Indian MP among the five MPs appointed as PPS. This is big news for our community, considering no Kiwi-Indian has made it above the rank of a Member of Parliament. With this appointment, Mr Bakshi has been given an

“Ch ange s won’t h appe n if we wai t f or he lp or f or t he r igh t mome n t. We sh ould wai t onl y ourse l ve s. We are t he ch ange s we ne e d.”

— Barack Obama

Funny Bone

additional responsibility of assisting Minister of Police Paula Bennett in, what PM English says, “keeping all of our communities safe.” In our last issue, we discussed how safety has become one of the most important issues for the migrant communities in a country considered to be one of the safest in the world. So it would be a big responsibility for Mr Bakshi to deliver on the expectations of the people he represents. This would be a real test period for him until the general elections later this year that could potentially decide whether we would see an Indian-origin minister in the Cabinet or not—provided the National Party wins. Mr Bakshi has been in the parliament for more than eight years, and this is the chance for him to prove his worth and show what difference he can make if chosen for a bigger role. To some, this announcement may come across as Mr English’s efforts to build a closer relationship with the Kiwi-Indian community, similar to what former Prime Minister John Key had. Unlike Mr Key, Mr English does not give that impression of being approachable to the Indian community and there’s a lot that needs to be done to fill that gap. Meanwhile, this week, New Zealand has made it to two of the world’s top lists, for both good and bad reasons. Auckland was ranked the fourth most unaffordable housing market in the world, but on the other hand, New Zealand was ranked as the world’s least corrupt country along with Denmark. If there’s a reason to cheer for, there’s another one to worry about. Housing in Auckland is becoming an unachievable dream with property prices skyrocketing. It is worrisome to find out that if you want to buy a house in the city, you need an income 10 times the current one.

Picture of the week Burj Khalifa glows with tricolor to mark India’s 68th Republic Day

And it is not only Auckland going through this crisis. Other New Zealand cities such as Tauranga, Hamilton, and Christchurch are also embroiled in the same situation. Read our report on the issue, its causes and probable solutions on page 04. With Auckland Anniversary long weekend, the school holidays also come to an end. While parents are ready to take a sigh of relief, make sure your kid also feels the same about going back to school. Read our tips to combat back-to-school jitters and prepare your child to go back to school stress-free. Indian Weekender : Volume 8 Issue 43 Publisher: Kiwi Media Publishing Limited Managing Editor: Bhav Dhillon | bhav@indianweekender.co.nz Content Editor: Sandeep Singh | sandeep@indianweekender.co.nz Chief Reporter: Swati Sharma | swati@indianweekender.co.nz Reporter: Rizwan Mohammad | rizwan@indianweekender.co.nz Chief Reporter—South Island: Gaurav Sharma Chief Technical Officer: Rohan Desouza | rohan@indianweekender.co.nz Sr Graphics and Layout Designer: Mahesh Kumar | mahesh@indianweekender.co.nz Graphic Designer: Yashmin Chand | design@indianweekender.co.nz Accounts and Admin.: 09-6366306 | accounts@indianweekender.co.nz Sales and Distribution: 022 3251630 | sales@indianweekender.co.nz Views expressed in the publication are not necessarily of the publisher and the publisher is not responsible for advertisers’ claims as appearing in the publication Views expressed in the articles are solely of the authors and do not in any way represent the views of the team at the Indian Weekender Kiwi Media Publishing Limited - 133A, Level 1, Onehunga Mall, Onehunga, Auckland. Printed at Horton Media, Auckland Copyright 2017. Kiwi Media Publishing Limited. All Rights Reserved.

Tips of the week 10 best job interview tips for jobseekers

1) Conduct research on the employer, hiring manager, and job opportunity 2) Review common interview questions and prepare your responses. 3) Dress for success. 4) Arrive on time, relaxed and prepared for the interview. 5) Make good first impressions 6) Be authentic, upbeat, focused, confident, candid, and concise 7) Remember the importance of body language 8) Ask insightful questions. 9) Sell yourself and then close the deal 10) Thank interviewer(s) in person, by e-mail, or postal mail.

OPINION/EDITORIAL

www.iwk.co.nz | 27 January 2017

SP-Congress will give BJP a run for its money in UP ¡¡ AMULYA GANGULI Any satisfaction which the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) felt over the internal strife in the Samajwadi Party (SP) must have been diluted to a considerable extent by the truce, albeit an uneasy one, among the family members of its main political rival in UP. Moreover, the emergence of a ‘minigathbandhan’ or an alliance between the SP and the Congress will be a reminder of the combine which squashed the BJP’s hopes in the Bihar assembly elections last year. True, there’s many a slip between the cup and the lip. The disquiet in the Congress rank and file over a tie-up with the SP is an example, for one, of the bumpy road ahead for the putative partners and, for another, of the signs of life in the Congress— which is generally regarded as a moribund organisation Such an evidence of vitality is also bound to come to the fore if Priyanka Gandhi takes up campaigning for the Congress in real earnest. The BJP, therefore, will be up against two major obstacles. One is a rejuvenated Akhilesh Yadav, fresh from his victory over his father, who wanted the chief minister to dump his pro-development agenda in favour of the SP’s customary politics based on caste and musclemen. The other is the Congress, which has been politically astute enough to agree

UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi

to play second fiddle in a state which once enabled the party to lord it over the rest of the country via leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi. The main advantage of the SPCongress alliance is that it will attract the votes of large sections of the Muslims, who comprise 18 per cent of the state’s population, because of the belief that the “secular” combination can not only give the BJP a run for its money but perhaps even get the better of it. As long as the SP was the victim of the father vs son squabbles, it was believed that the Muslims would tilt towards the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), whose leader, Mayawati, has promised not to build parks and memorials as during her last tenure as chief minister but concentrate on development. Now, however, these calculations will have to be reworked. The BSP

may retain its virtually impregnable Dalit vote bank, which constitutes 20.5 per cent of the population. But the Muslims are likely to drift away towards the SP, which already enjoys the support of the Yadavs, who make up nine per cent of the population, and other OBCs (Other Backward Classes) except the Kurmis who may stay with the Apna Dal, an ally of the BJP. The X factor is to what extent Akhilesh will be able to jettison the SP’s baggage of being a party of goons and sell his development agenda a la Modi. The BJP’s disadvantage in this battle of perceptions is that it doesn’t have a leader of stature in UP. There has been some talk, therefore, of the party projecting Rajnath Singh as the chief ministerial candidate. But the Union Home Minister is said to be unwilling to shift his base from Delhi

to Lucknow in what can look like a demotion. The task of winning UP, therefore, as also the states of Punjab, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur, will be wholly on Modi. Although the prime minister singlehandedly won the general election for his party in 2014 and also in the states of Maharashtra, Haryana, Jharkhand and Jammu and Kashmir in that year, he hasn’t been as successful since as the BJP’s defeats in the assembly elections of 2015 and 2016 (except in Assam) showed. The failure of the economy to generate employment to the desired extent because of automation has also dampened his chances. Besides, demonetisation has complicated Modi’s task. Although Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen—no admirer of Modi—has conceded that

the Prime Minister remains popular, the jury is still out on whether the average people have forgiven Modi for their inconveniences. As of now, most of the local elections have given the thumbs up to the BJP. But the real test will be in the assembly polls, especially in UP, where Modi will be pitted against a young leader who has understood the value of economic growth and is not hamstrung by the BJP’s communal tag or his own party’s caste-based approach to politics. There is indeed a fear, therefore, that in case the BJP finds the going tough, it will fall back on the Hindutva card as the display of videos on the Muzaffarpur riots of 2013 by the BJP’s Sangeet Som, an accused in the riots case, shows. There are also anti-minority politicians like Yogi Adityanath and Sakshi Maharaj in the background who can queer the pitch for the BJP. If Modi succeeds in keeping 17 such communal elements in his party and in the larger saffron brotherhood at bay, the country will see - perhaps for the first time - a contest where the economy, and not identity politics, will be the key factor. If UP shows that caste and communalism can be dispensed with in an election campaign, it will become the paradigm of how politics should be conducted. Amulya Ganguli is a political analyst. The views expressed are personal.

Modi/Trump, Gandhi/Clinton electoral dramas have parallel scripts ¡¡ ARUL LOUIS

hen the American Presidential election campaign got underway in 2015, it was unfolding as a 2008 Bangladesh-style poll, a battle of the begums, the dynastic war of Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia, before Zia’s 2014 election boycott. It was assumed that the 2016 election similarly would be a clash of the Clinton and Bush dynasties, Hillary versus Jeb. But last week Donald Trump became the 45th president of the United States. What happened? US politics entered another time warp. The 2015 certitude of a ClintonBush match-up got derailed and in 2016 the US ended up like India of 2014 with a war of attrition between a dynasty and an upstart politician, with his populist, incendiary style. An outsider. The Hillary Clinton against Donald Trump race in the US began to look a lot like Gandhi dynasty versus Narendra Modi in India. The Gandhi/Clinton camps, smug about their lineage, assumed the nation’s leadership was theirs by right. Muslims and minorities and certain special interests had a central role in the Gandhi/ Clinton campaigns in the belief that this lineup can overcome a split majority community. Modi/Trump and BJP/GOP and anyone who supported them were depicted as deplorable communalists/Islamaphobes and anti-immigrant. And throw in paternalist/sexist for extra effect. Repeated by voluble sections of the media, the intelligentsia and popular cultural figures, who became the overarching unnuanced message of the Clinton/Gandhi campaign. This ignored the more general angst of an electorate that was concerned about corruption

US President Donald Trump (left) and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi

and economic matters. And they couldn’t all be written off as deplorable communalist or Islamophobic sexists. They just didn’t want the election to be solely about Muslims or immigrants (from Mexico in the US and Bangladeshis through code words in India). Modi/Trump also rebelled against their party’s established leadership, which had to fall in line with some exceptions after the elections. In this mix third personalities emerged: Arvind Kejriwal in India and Bernie Sanders in the US. Both could match the antiestablishment rhetoric of a Modi or a Trump. Sanders could muscle his way into the Democratic Party and mount a credible challenge to Clinton and force the party to at least acknowledge on paper his economic and social concerns. But a Kejriwal could never get a voice in the dynastic Congress party, leave alone challenge the leadership. The campaigns in both countries quickly sank into personalised confrontations and name calling while issues faded into background.

Dismissing Modi/Trump with contempt as personalities unfit for office the media pushed itself into a corner. Meanwhile, Modi/Trump managed to get the message out to the base by manipulating the media in their own game. The Indian media at least was more accurate in its polls, even if it didn’t get Modi’s victory margin right. The US media was left stunned by its own ineptitude. Modi/Trump during the campaigns and after the elections treated the media, NGOs, activists, the intelligentsia and the culture icons with disdain and cut off their easy access to power and the attendant privilege. Patriotism is the rallying cry of Modi/ Obama. Both have vowed to put their countries first and emphasise private sector-style of management. They are courting businesses at home and abroad to sign on to their agendas of job growth and “Make in India/America.” Modi/Trump, with outsize egos and strong wills, are exercising strong control over the government.

The media and the defeated sides, meanwhile, continue their relentless, scorch earth campaign—and its not entirely their fault. The victors haven’t reached out to heal the rift across the polarised divide. And here comes another foray into the time warp. After Indira Gandhi won the 1971 election, the opposition raised the spectre of Soviet interference. She did move closer to the Soviet Union, signing a treaty of friendship that year. She in turn invoked the “foreign hand,” an allusion to the West, trying to destabilise her. The Democrats and a majority of the Republicans have declared Russian meddling on behalf of Trump was a factor in his victory. Meanwhile, it has emerged that a man who used to work for a British spy agency put together a dossier of unsubstantiated personal allegations about Trump and this was shared with US intelligence agencies and media to try to derail Trump. Some Democrats have declared Trump’s election illegitimate and refused to recognise him as President. After the 1971 election, many in the opposition took the same line against Gandhi. Ultimately the Socialist Raj Narain, the rival in her Lok Sabha constituency, got the courts to annul her election. Not to make any projections for the US, but that led to Gandhi becoming an outright dictator by declaring a state Emergency in 1975. Finally a time warp trip to Bangladesh in 2014: Sheikh Hasina’s swearing-in was marred by violent riots. Something similar happened last week in Washington. Arul Louis is an IANS correspondent in New York. The views are his own.

INDIA

27 January 2017| www.iwk.co.nz

India conducts second successful test of Guided Pinaka Rocket

ndia on Tuesday, January 24, conducted the second successful test of the Guided Pinaka rocket from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) launch pad at Chandipur in Odisha. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar congratulated both the Army and the DRDO for developing the Guided Pinaka in a very short span of time. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully test-fired the Pinaka Multi Barrel Rocket System from the the ITR (Integrated Test Range) success of in the presence of senior Guided Pinaka has artillery officers, an official Pinaka Mark II MBRL “reinforced the techstatement said. nological strength of the tracked and According to sources, country in converting monitored the range of the rocket unguided systems into the vehicle all has increased from 40 to through the flight weapons of high 70 km with an improved path. Scientific precision accuracy from 500m Adviser to Defence to 50m. The Guided Pinaka Minister G. Satheesh is a modified version of the Pinaka Reddy, who was present Rocket, equipped with a navigation, during the launch operations, guidance and control kit. said the success of Guided Pinaka This conversion has considerably has "reinforced the technological enhanced the range and accuracy of strength of the country in converting Pinaka, an official statement said. unguided systems into weapons of "The Mission met all the high precision." objectives," the statement said. On January 12, the first test The Radars, Electro Optical and flight of the improved version was Telemetry Systems at ITR Chandipur conducted by the DRDO. The

Modi welcomed Sheikh Mohamed after he alighted from the aircraft with a warm hug. This is Sheikh Mohamed’s second visit to India after his visit in February 2016. Ties between India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have been on the upswing ever since Modi made a historical visit to the Gulf nation in August 2015. It was the first prime ministerial visit from India to the UAE in 34 years after the visit of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1981. On Thursday, Sheikh Mohamed attended the Republic Day parade as the chief guest. A contingent of the UAE armed forces also

radars, electro-optical and telemetry systems at Chandipur, tracked and monitored the vehicle all through the flight-path. The Guided Pinaka is developed jointly by Armament Research & Development Establishment (ARDE), Research Centre Imarat (RCI) and Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL). India at present is operating two regiments of Pinaka and has ordered for two more regiments. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) last year cleared a proposal for six additional regiments at a cost of Rs 14,633 crore.

hile paying tribute to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his birth anniversary, CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury on Monday, January 23, accused the Narendra Modi government of subverting the nationalist leaders enduring slogan Jai Hind. “Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose is internationally recognised as a Prince among Indian patriots. He believed in Indian nationalism, not in a narrow idea of nationalism based on religion or sect,” said Yechury on Netaji’s 120th birth anniversary. “In the Indian National Army (INA) trials we see the broad spectrum of people, Netaji was able to mobilise towards the nationalist cause,” he said. “Sadly, now we have a government in power which claims to be Indian but has even managed to subvert his enduring slogan of Jai Hind to Jio Hind,” said Yechury in an apparent reference to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s picture appearing in a Reliance Jio advertisement. “But, Jai Hind shall be reclaimed by all of us,” he added.

Kejriwal again targets Election Commission

elhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday, Jauanry 24, again targeted the Election Commission, saying it had failed to stop “vote for money” in poll-bound states. “EC fails to stop this. EC prevents me from saying ‘Take money from them (BJP and Congress) and vote for us’. EC’s message (is) vote for those who give you money’ (sic),” Kejriwal tweeted. His remarks came after Aam Aadmi Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Party (AAP) leader Ashutosh tweeted that money was allegedly being distributed to the poor in Cumbarjua in Goa to lure them before the February 4 assembly election. In a letter to Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi, Kejriwal accused the EC of promoting bribery by banning him from telling people to take money from other parties but vote for the AAP. Kejriwal also asked the EC to make him its brand ambassador if it really wanted to end the use of money to lure voters. Kejriwal insists he is not instigating people to take bribes.

‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ themed National Girl Child Day celebrated

Prime Minister Narendra Modi receives the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi on his arrival in New Delhi

marched along with the Indian armed forces during the parade. The UAE is home to around 2.6 million expatriate Indians.

Tejas to make debut at Republic Day

ndia's indigenous Light Combat Aircraft Tejas made its debut run in the Republic Day Parade, the Indian Air Force (IAF) said. Besides Tejas, the flypast will include Su-30 aircraft in Trishul formation and also a high speed run by a single Su-30, followed by vertical Charlie, which means the aircraft will virtually stand in the air. Tejas has earlier flown at Indian Air Force Day last year, when its maneuvers left the spectators spellbound. It was also flown at the IAF's fire power demonstration Iron Fist, Aero India, and the Bahrain International Airshow. At the Air Force Day, on October 8, 2016, the flight by Tejas included a steep pull right after the takeoff, that demonstrated the aircraft's ability to climb rapidly to desired altitude, with the aircraft standing vertical in air to the awe of the spectators. The pilot also performed a loop, took a fast turn at a rate of approximately 20 degrees per second, and took turn at a speed as low as 160 knots, displaying the aircraft's capabilities. In May 2016, it was flown by the then Air Force Chief Air Chief

Modi government subverted Jai Hind to Jio Hind: Yechury

Modi receives Abu Dhabi Crown Prince at airport ignifying the high importance India attaches to its ties with the UAE, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, Janaury 24, personally went to Delhi airport to receive Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan who arrived to attend the Republic Day celebrations as chief guest. “Special gesture for special guest! PM @narendramodi receives H.H. Mohammad Bin Zayed The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted along with pictures of the two leaders.

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ndian women who showed remarkable performances in their respective fields were applauded by the government on the celebration of National Girl Child Day, themed on the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme (BBBP). Women and Child Development (WCD) Minister, Maneka Gandhi praised women including Silver medalist at Rio Paralympics 2016 Deepa Malik and Avani Chaturvedi, a fighter pilot, for their success. First woman amputee to climb Mount Everest Arunima Sinha and Shanno – main advisor of Balaknama newspaper, which is run completely by street children – were also applauded at the even. “The BBBP programme has done very well across the country especially in Haryana. Parents have to ensure health, education and success of their daughters as well as contribute to the development of their talents,” Gandhi said. Narrating her experience and said: “It is the parents, especially the mother, who can help girls become arrows into the future.”

Lalu Prasad demands Bharat Ratna for Karpoori Thakur

R India’s indigenous Light Combat Aircraft Tejas will make its debut run in the Republic Day Parade

Marshal Arup Raha, when Raha carried out manoeuvers in the flying envelope of the aircraft, simulated air-to-air and air-to-ground attacks and assessed the advanced modes of the radar and helmet mounted display sight. Indigenously developed Tejas fighter jet was inducted in the IAF in July 2016 with two aircraft. The plan is to increase the production of aircraft from the present eight to 16 aircraft each year. While at present it has only an initial operational clearance, a Final Operational Clearance is likely to be accorded to the aircraft in a few

months. The IAF plans to induct 120 Tejas fighters to replace Mig-21s, including 100 of modified versions in its frontline fleet. As a fourth generation aircraft, Tejas can fly at 1,350 km per hour and is comparable to the world's best fighters, including French Mirage 2000, American F-16 and Swedish Gripen. As a single-engine, multi-role supersonic fighter, Tejas weighs 8.5 tonnes and can carry three tonnes of weapons, including air-to-air missiles, laser guided bombs, guns, conventional/retarded bombs and beyond visual range missiles.

JD Chief Lalu Prasad sought the Bharat Ratna, the country's highest civilian award, for late veteran socialist leader and former Bihar Chief Minister Karpoori Thakur. "We demand that Karpoori Thakur should be given Bharat Ratna," Prasad RJD chief Lalu Prasad pays tribute to Karpoori said during a function to Thakur on his birth anniversary in Patna. mark the birth anniversary of Thakur at the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) office. He added that Karpoori Thakur deserved the Bharat Ratna.Last year Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also demanded the Bharat Ratna for Karpoori Thakur for his contribution to social justice. Popularly known as 'Jan Nayak' (people's leader), Thakur was one of the socialist leaders close to Jayaprakash Narayan who spearheaded the movement for 'total revolution' as well as protests against the Emergency (1975-77). Belonging to the extremely backward castes (EBC), he emerged as an important icon for consolidating EBC votes in caste-ridden Bihar. The EBCs are a cluster of over 100 castes accounting for around 32 per cent of the electorate. Regarded as an honest and hard working leader, Karpoori Thakur was the chief minister of Bihar from December 1970 to June 1971 and from December 1977 to April 1979. Thakur passed away in 1988.

INDIA

www.iwk.co.nz | 27 January 2017

Congress:

Huge support for Priyanka to play larger role

aving played a key role in sealing a deal with Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will play a significant role in campaigning during the assembly elections in the state, hinting at a larger role for herself in the party. The Congress on Monday said party workers want Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to play a "larger role" in politics. Several senior Congress leaders acknowledged her role in striking an alliance with the Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh. The Congress will contest 105 seats and the Samajwadi Party 298 seats. According to sources, there will be joint campaigns in Uttar Pradesh with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi will share the stage on few occasions. "There will be star campaigners from both parties. The programme

and schedule of the campaigns will be finalised soon. There could be few symbolic appearances of both Rahul and Akhilesh together," said a party source. "Priyanka Gandhi will also campaign beyond Amethi and Rae Bareilly," the source added. The source also said the campaign schedule for the Congress will be finalised by month end. "Congress workers Congress are desirous of workers are her playing a desirous of her larger role playing a larger role in in the party. There is a the party. There is a huge amount of support for huge amount her which is obvious. of support When her role is for her which Priyanka Gandhi played a key role in sealing the alliance between Congress and SP in UP. decided, you’ll be is obvious. her and the Congress General and Rae Bareilly out of choice and with a like-minded party." He (Rahul informed When her role Secretary in charge of Uttar we respect her privacy. Gandhi) took a decision in the best is decided, you'll be Pradesh to get involved in sewing the interest of the party. As far as Uttar Pradesh elections informed," said Congress alliance with the Samajwadi Party. were concerned, Rahul Gandhi “It has been followed, executed spokesperson Ajoy Kumar. "Priyanka Gandhi has been active requested Ghulam Nabi Azad and and a wonderful alliance is in place," Kumar said Congress Vice in the two Lok Sabha seats Amethi Priyanka Gandhi to sew an alliance he added. Prseident Rahul Gandhi requested

Rahul to address joint rallies with Amarinder, Sidhu

he Congress will launch a mega offensive against the Badals in Punjab during the joint public rallies by Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, state Congress chief Captain Amarinder Singh and Navjot Singh Sidhu from today, Janaury 27. According to a party statement, Rahul Gandhi will arrive in Punjab on a three-day electioneering tour, the highlights of which will be joint public rallies with Amarinder and Sidhu in Majitha, Jalalabad and Lambi. While Amarinder is taking on Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in Lambi, Jalalabad is the constituency from where Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal is contesting. Majitha is the battleground for the Badals's kin and close associate Bikram Singh Majithia.

S Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi

Navjot Singh Sidhu

"Rahul Gandhi's campaign will scale up the Congress offensive in all these three assembly segments and will further strengthen the wave in the party's favour in the state," read the statement. "Besides these three key assembly constituencies, Rahul Gandhi will also campaign in Rampura Phul,

Congress chief Captain Amarinder Singh

Talwandi Sabo and Bathinda Urban, besides Majthia, on the first day (January 27), followed by Jalalabad, Budhlada and Dhuri on January 28, when he will also meet industrialists in Ludhiana," it added. January 29 has been scheduled for Rahul Gandhi's public meetings in Gidderbaha and Lambi.

PM felicitates 25 children with bravery awards

rime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, January 23, presented the National Bravery Awards to 25 children from different parts of the country who have been selected for the honour by the Indian Council for Child Welfare (ICCW). The National Bravery Award Scheme was initiated by the ICCW in 1957 to give recognition to children who distinguish themselves by performing outstanding deeds of bravery and meritorious service. "Their deeds of bravery show these children's decisiveness and courage," the Prime Minister said during the felicitation ceremony. Interacting with the awardees, he said: "You must ensure that this award does not become the end of your life's purpose, but rather should

India to ratify Doha pact, sends powerful political signal to developed world

Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented National Bravery Awards to 25 children in the national capital, on occasion of the 120th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose

only mark the beginning." He said that bravery is a state of mind; a healthy body helps, but the prime moving force is the mind. He further added, "we need to make the mind strong. The adulation and fame that you are getting, should not become an obstacle to the

future progress." Modi reminded the children about the significance of the day – January 23 which is Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's birth anniversary – and urged them to read as much as possible. Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi was also present on the occasion.

etting an example for other nations, especially the first world, to contain global warming, India on Tuesday, Janaury 24, approved the ratification of the Doha Amendment that binds certain developed countries to reduce their emissions of Green House Gases (GHGs) till 2020. The decision to meet the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol was taken by the Union cabinet at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Kyoto Protocol, that was adopted in 1997 and came into force in February 2005, is an international agreement under United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) which binds a certain group of "developed countries" (listed under Annexe-I) of its total 192 parties to reduce their emissions. While the landmark Paris climate change agreement – COP21, that entered into force in November 2016 (during COP22), is for the post2020 period, the Kyoto Protocol is like the pre-2020 agenda to contain climate change. "In view of the critical role played by India in securing international consensus on climate change issues, this decision further underlines India's leadership... to global cause of environmental protection and climate justice," an official statement said. India ratifying the Kyoto Protocol will also encourage other developing countries to follow suit. The first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol was between 2008 to 2012 and the second period – the Doha Amendment – which was adopted in 2012, was to enter in action in 2013 to 2020. It is yet to enter into force as it requires 144 ratifications out of the 192 parties to the Protocol.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Kyoto Protocol is the commitment of the developed countries – the major cause of global warming due to their higher emissions, to bring these down. However, unlike the Paris Agreement, the Kyoto Protocol does not bind its "developing parties or counties" like India and China (based on the per capita emission) into any kind of obligation to reduce the emissions or set any targets. The targets are only applicable to the less than 40 countries listed in Annexe-I. The US, which amounts for about 17 per cent of global emissions (the highest), was among the first developed countries to oppose the Kyoto Protocol and has not signed it yet. Canada, following the US, has also withdrawn from the Protocol. Experts see India's move as a step to build pressure on the developed countries to operationalise the Doha Amendment. During the first commitment period of the Protocol (2008-12), 37 industrialised countries and the European Community committed to reduce GHG emissions to around five per cent against the 1990 levels.

INDIA ABROAD

27 January 2017 | www.iwk.co.nz

Indian diaspora seeks Modi’s

help over demonetised currency

he Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) has pointed out to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that diaspora Indians are being turned away by the RBI from depositing or exchanging their demonetised currency and appealed that they be allowed to do so. The GOPIO, which brings together the Indian diaspora around the world, said in a statement that Indian diaspora with foreign citizenship and OCI/PIO card holders are being turned away by Reserve bank of India from depositing their demonetized currencies, despite the extended deadline for NRIs being till June 30, 2017. The GOPIO, in an appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said that after standing outside for several hours, Indians with foreign citizenship were being told by the RBI that only NRIs with Indian passport can go inside and exchange the scrapped Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes. The organisation requested the Prime Minister that Diaspora Indians with foreign citizenship, and Person of Indian Origin (PIO) and Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) card holders be given the same opportunity for depositing old currency notes as given to NRIs (Indian Passport holders), allowing them to deposit up to Rs 2,50,000 of Indian currency in the RBI instead of notified amount of Rs 25,000. The appeal further states that Diaspora Indians (who are not able to visit the country) should also be permitted to deposit money in their

Anerood Jugnauth’s son takes over as new Mauritius PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

bank account in India through an authorised agent. (The amount certified by the foreign branches of State Bank of India or Indian Missions in the country of their residence or in RBI/NRO accounts with various banks in India.) The GOPIO also said that since all Diaspora Indians with foreign citizenship, PIO and OCI card holders may not be able to visit India prior to June 30, they should be allowed to deposit old currency notes at either the RBI/NRO accounts maintained with various banks in India up to December 31. The appeal addressed to the PM states, “You have repeatedly acknowledged the role of NRIs/ PIOs and expatriates in the resurgence of India and their record annual remittances to India which is the highest compared to any country in the world. “We urge you to agree to the requested concession for goodwill of 30 million NRIs and PIOs and amend the notification # RBI / 201617/2005 / DCM/(Plg) No 2170 / 10.27.00 / 2016-17 dated December

31, 2016,” the organisation said. The Centre had extended for six months the last date for applying for conversion of PIO cards to OCI cards to June 30, 2017 from December 31, 2016. The PIO card was first implemented in 2002 as a benefit to foreign nationals who could establish at least a third generation tie to Indian origin. The PIO card was valid for travel, work, and residence in India for a period of 15 years. The OCI card was implemented in 2005, and carries more expansive benefits than the PIO card, and is valid for the holder’s lifetime. Sarosh Zaiwalla, Founder and senior partner at London based law firm Zaiwalla & Co. Solicitors, in a statement said that the “Indian diaspora from various countries have expressed that the government should consider for deposits in Indian embassies around the world as a solution for ease of implementation of the currency exchange across the globe, as majority of NRI’s reacted positively to the demonetization move”.

Indian Americans celebrate as Trump becomes President

ndian Americans gathered for the presidential gala to celebrate the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th President of the US. The gala, which was attended by a hundred Indian Americans, took place at the Grand Ballroom of the central Mayflower hotel in Washington and was organised by the Asian Pacific American Advisory Council and National Committee of Asian American Republicans, American Bazaar online reported. The event was attended by the ambassadors of several countries, including the Indian ambassador to the US, Navtej Sarna. "This is a great celebration of Asian success," said Sarna, speaking on the occasion. I am very happy that Indian Americans are part of the successful large Asian community." "It was a grand success," Virginia Republican Puneet Ahluwalia, one

NEWS in BRIEF

Ambassador to the US, Navtej Sarna

of the organisers of the event, told the American Bazaar. "We were able to create a platform for the AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islanders) community to come together and celebrate the Trump election. The gala also made a strong statement that we are very much part of the American mainstream and will play an effective role in the next administration." Ahluwalia added that by showing up in good numbers, the Indian

American community has made showed their desire for "the US-India relationship to be on the front and centre for the next administration." Top diplomats from Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, South Korea and Singapore attended the gala. Dozens of dignitaries attended the event, including Congressman Ed Royce, chairman of the powerful Foreign Relations Committee, Representative Barbara Comstack, Guam Governor Eddie Baza Calvo, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Governor Ralph DLG Torres as well as a number of Republican leaders from various Asian American and Pacific Islanders communities. "The [Trump] administration is looking to increase its relationship with the Asian countries," Royce said. "We should reach out to our friends in Asia. We will work to further and deepen this relationship."

ravind Jugnauth, son of Indian-origin Anerood Jugnauth, took over as Mauritius Prime Minister on Monday, January 23 after the 86-year-old former premier resigned in favour of his son. Anerood Jugnauth, who has been in his post since 2014, announced in a televised address on Saturday that he was resigning in favour of a “younger and more Pravind Jugnauth dynamic leader”, reported news channel Africanews. The move prompted accusations of nepotism and calls for refrendum from opponents, according to reports. Pravind Jugnauth, 55, is the leader of the main political party Militant Socialist Movement (MSM), and had already formed his ministerial cabinet after receiving an appointment letter from President Ameenah Gurib-Fakim. The main opposition Labour Party protested against the appointment which it termed as a “Father-Son Deal”. The police rejected a request from the Labour Party to hold a sit-in protest. Labour leaders urged their supporters to wear black to denounce the move. Pravind Jugnauth also holds the post of Finance Minister and his party has the majority of seats in the National Assembly since December 2014. Pravind Jugnauth had visited India in September last year as Finance Minister and held talks with India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.

Modi congratulates new Mauritius PM

rime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated new Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth who assumed office after his father Anerood Jugnauth, 86, stepped down from the post. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke on the telephone with Pravind Kumar Jugnauth to congratulate him on his assumption of office as the Prime Minister of Mauritius,” the Prime Minister’s Office said. It said Modi and Pravind Jugnauth, a person of Indian origin, affirmed their shared commitment to further strengthen the time-tested and unique relationship between India and Mauritius. “The Prime Minister also appreciated the leadership and contribution of outgoing Prime Minister Sir Anerood Jugnauth to strengthening the strong bonds of friendship between India and Mauritius,” the statement said. Pravind Jugnauth thanked Modi for the telephone call.

India contributes $100k to UN for Haiti cholera relief

ndia has contributed $100,000 to a UN fund to help Haiti recover from the ravages of a 2010 cholera epidemic that claimed more than 10,000 lives and was blamed on peacekeepers from Nepal. Ashish Sinha, first secretary in India’s UN, mission handed over the Ashish Sinha, a First Secretary in cheque last week to Jennifer Topping, India\’s UN mission hands over the the executive coordinator of the cheque to Jennifer Topping, the coordinator of the MultiMulti-Partner Trust Fund (MPTF), executive Partner Trust Fund (MPTF). which administers the Haiti fund. The UN Haiti Cholera Response Multi-Partner Trust Fund was set up last year in response to criticism about the organisation’s failure to quickly take responsibility for the cholera outbreak attributed to Nepali peacekeepers and improper disposal of human waste that polluted the water supply. The fund has a target of $200 million to be raised through donations. India’s contribution comes after recent disclosures that a contingent sent by India to Haiti peacekeeping operations had not been properly inoculated against cholera, a serious lapse because of the earlier history with Nepali troops. The Indians are participating in the peacekeeping operations as police. Stephane Dujarric, the spokesperson for SecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres, told reporters that the peacekeepers who had not been vaccinated against cholera were being inoculated in the field and the country that sent them would be charged for the procedure.

India, US must collaborate more on space research: NASA scientist

ndia and the US should collaborate more on space research programmes, a prominent scientist from the US space agency NASA stressed as he felicitated two young Indian astronomers who created history by discovering asteroids in 2010 that are now recognised by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in the US. Amanjot Singh and Sahil Wadhwa, former students of Ryan International School in Rohini, were part of the All India Asteroid Search Campaign (AIASC) conducted by New Delhibased Science Popularisation Association of Communicators and

Amanjot Singh (left) and Sahil Wadhwa (right)

Educators (SPACE) organisation in collaboration with the International Astronomical Search Collaboration, where they discovered the main belt asteroid numbered as 2010 PO24. "India and the US should

collaborate on such research programmes. NASA is looking forward to invite students from across the globe to participate in their space outreach programmes," Paul Rosen, Project Scientist, NASA-ISRO

Synthetic Aperture Radar from NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), said. "What started as an excuse for night-out with friends became a passion. It is this passion that helped me succeed," added Singh at the annual meet organised by SPACE which is working to make science and astronomy popular among youngsters in India. In the asteroid search campaign, students from across the country were able to discover nearly 500 new rocks in space. However, these remained preliminary discoveries as they appeared to be asteroids but did not get confirmed because they

tend to move away from their orbits. But, when the discovered asteroids remain in their orbits, it is named as a provisional discovery. "Out of the 37 asteroids discovered (provisional discovery) worldwide in 2016, 27 have been by Indian students," Sachin Bahmba, Chairman and Managing DirectorSPACE Group, said. The annual meet was also addressed by former SPACE achievers who stressed on the need for research platforms and opportunities for children across the country to excel in astronomy and science and technology.

www.iwk.co.nz | 27 January 2017

Disciplined England record five-run consolation win over India

edar Jadhav and Hardik Pandya's heroic batting efforts went in vein as England produced a disciplined performance riding on an all-round show by Ben Stokes to defeat India by five runs in a nerve-wracking third One Day International cricket match at the Eden Gardens on Sunday, January 22. However, with India having already taken an unassailable 2-0 lead after the first two games, it was only a consolation win for the visitors before a full house at the iconic Eden Gardens, where the track's bounce and movement afforded good assistance to the English seamers. Put in to bat by Indian skipper Virat Kohli, England consolidated a sound start with rollicking sloghitting to post an imposing 321/8. In reply, India managed 316/9. Chasing 322 for victory, India began poorly, and despite some repairwork by Kohli (55; 63b 8x4) and veteran Yuvraj Singh, saw half of their batsmen back in the hut with only 175 on the board. However, there followed an awesome 83-ball 104-run partnership

After winning the series 2-1, India head for the three-match T20 International series against England

for the sixth wicket between Kedar Jadhav (90; 75b, 12x4, 1x6) and Hardik Pandya (56; 43b, 4x4, 2x6), which raised the hopes of yet another superlative Indian victory from a difficult position. But the script did not go as the way it has been going in recent times, though the match went to the wire. After Stokes saw the back of Pandya in the 46th over, and then

dismissed Ravichandran Ashwin in the 48th, India needed 16 off the final over. Jadhav, India's latest find adjudged man of the series, hit pacer Chris Woakes for a six and four in the first two deliveries, to bring the requirement down to 6 off 4 balls. But Woakes fought back with two dot balls, and then got Jadhav back into the pavilion as the latter went for a slog that was gleefully accepted

Tamim takes full responsibility for Bangladesh's batting collapse vs Kiwis

angladesh captain Tamim Iqbal has shouldered the blame for Bangladeshs poor batting in the second innings of the second cricket Test against New Zealand at Christchurch. Bangladesh needed a good start to capitalise on it but Tamim failed to deliver at the top of the order, allowing New Zealand to win the second match by nine wickets at the Hagley Oval on Monday, January 23 as per a report by bdnews24.com. Tamim attempted a pull shot but was out caught off fast bowler Tim Southee. Bangladesh then folded up for 173, leaving the hosts needing a mere 100-odd runs to complete a 2-0 series sweep. "I got out in a very poor fashion. I could have waited for a bad ball and stayed at the crease for a long time, built partnerships. Things could then have been different," Tamim said after the match on Monday. "I am taking full responsibility for

Bangladesh player Tamim Iqbal during a WT20 match between Bangladesh and New Zealand

this, because I started it." Being the captain, I could've led the team by example with my batting. But the way I got out, I don't think it sends out a good message from the leader." This had been the case with all his innings throughout the tour. He could not stay at the crease long though despite being in fluent touch. "I did not struggle in any innings during the whole tour. Whatever I scored, I played very well, had no problems. But I could not put that to good use, only managed a couple of fifties, forties," he said. "But the team expect much more from me. If I had struggled, it would've been understandable. But I didn't, yet could not do well, it was a crime. I myself am responsible for that." From the team perspective, Tamim pointed out the lack of dedication in their batting for the repeated failures in the department in each format throughout the tour.

Sindhu favourite, Saina opts out of Syed Modi meet

lympic silver medallist P.V. Sindhu will be aiming to continue her dream run in the international badminton circuit, while Saina Nehwal, who recently clinched the Malaysia Masters Grand Prix Gold, has decided to skip the Syed Modi Grand Prix Gold which commenced on Wednesday, January 25. Ever since Sindhu clinched the Olympic silver medal at the Rio Olympics in August, she is in rampaging form and will be a hot favourite to clinch the women's singles title. She had sealed her maiden Superseries title at China Open Premier, before reaching the finals at Hong Kong Open and qualifying for the prestigious Badminton World Federation (BWF) Dubai Superseries

Finals in December last year. Among others, second seed Beartiz Corrales of Spain, third seed Fitriani Fitriani, fourth seed Dinar Dyah Ayustine, fifth seed Hanna Ramadini of Indonesia and seventh seed Ksenia Polikarpova of Russia will battle for the title in women's singles category. Top seed Sindhu will take on compatriot Anura Prabhudesai in the opening round. She is expected to have a smooth sailing, especially given that World No.10 Saina has decided to give the tournament a miss. Apart from Saina, several other prominent players will also skip the tournament. Men's top seed Thai Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk, fourth seed Ajay Jayaram and 14th seed Parupalli Kashyap and women's seventh seed G. Ruthvika Shivani have also pulled out.

PV Sindhu of Chennai Smashers in action during a Premier Badminton League 2017 match in New Delhi

In men's singles category, third seed Kidambi Srikanth will take on compatriot Lakhanee Sarang in the opening round while second seed Hans-Kristian Vittinghus of Denmark will face unseeded Munawar Mohammed. Among other Indians, H.S. Prannoy, Sameer Verma and B. Sai Praneeth will also take the field in the opening round on Wednesday.

by Sam Billings at deep point. Now India needed six from one ball. But Bhuvneshwar Kumar missed, and celebrations broke out in the England camp. For Stokes, who got the Man of the Match award for a cracking unbeaten half-century and bowling figures of 3/63, it was a classic reversal of fortune. It was on this same ground where he was clobbered for four

SPORTS

back-to-back sixes by West Indies' Carlos Brathwaite in the last over of the World T20 finals last year to fashion a Caribbean triumph. The Indian reply began on the wrong note. Ajinkya Rahane departed as early as the second over, failing to negotiate a late swing from David Willey, and drove down the wrong line to see his off stump dislodged. Skipper Virat Kohli, played some exquisite strokes, disdainfully dispatching Chris Woakes to the fence through long leg and Mid wicket of consecutive balls, and a over later cover drove him majestically for another four. But India got another jolt a little later, as Lokesh Rahul (10) went out to a poor shot. Coming together, Kohli and Yuvraj Singh authored a 65-run third wicket stand. But Yuvraj - on 3 - got a painful taste of the nature of the wicket, when pacer Jake Ball surprised the left-hander with one that kicked off the wicket and hit the batsman on the chest. At the other end, Kohli was lucky to be the beneficiary of a dropped catch at long leg.

NEWS in BRIEF Sania vs Bopanna in Australian Open mixed doubles quarters

ania Mirza set up a face-off with Rohan Bopanna in the mixed doubles quarter-finals after she and Ivan Dodig defeated Alexander Peya and Zheng Saisai 2-6, 6-3, 10-6. Earlier in the day, Rohan Bopanna and Canada’s Gabriela Dabrowski mounted a great fight back to win against Poland’s Lukasz Kubot and Taiwan’s Chan Yung-jan to win 6-4, 5-7, 10-3. The quarter-final pits the two Indians who represented the country in mixed doubles at the 2016 Olympics. At the Rio Games, SaniaBopanna lost the bronze medal playoff tie. The Indo-Croatian pair were outplayed in the opening set as Peya-Zheng began the proceedings aggressively. But the second seeded Sania-Dodig used all their experience to turn the tide and broke their opponents at a crucial time in the India's Rohan Bopanna in action during ATP Chennai Open in Chennai second set to win it 7-5. In the deciding third set tie-break, Sania-Dodig imposed themselves on the match, hit several winners, including backhand and forehand volleys, to snuff out the opposition in an hour and four minutes. Second seeded Sania and Croatian Dodig entered the second round after beating Germany’s Laura Siegemund and Croatian Mate Pavic 7-5, 6-4. The unseeded duo of Bopanna and Dabrowski clinched the first set without much fuss but went down in the second before bouncing back in the third set tie-breaker in a match that lasted one hour and 16 minutes. Siddhant Banthia and Turk Kaya Gore entered the boys men’s doubles quarter-final, beating Zizou Bergs and Yshai Oliel 6-3 7-6(6). In the girls singles, Mihika Yadav lost 2-6, 1-6 against Japanese Mai Hontama.

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General Knowledge 1.

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Page 1/2

What is the name of the biggest part of the human brain? Page 1/2

The colored part of the human eye that controls how much light passes through the pupil is called the?

What is the name of the substance that gives skin and hair its pigment?

The muscles found in the front of your thighs are known as what?

True or false? The two chambers at the bottom of your heart are called ventricles.

What substance are nails made of ?

What is the human body’s biggest organ?

The innermost part of bones contains what?

True or false? An adult human body has over 500 bones.

10. How many lungs does the human body have? 11. Another name for your voice box is the? 12. The two holes in your nose are called? 13. Your tongue is home to special structures that allow you to experience tastes such as sour, sweet, bitter and salty, what is their name? 14. The bones that make up your spine are called what? 15. The shape of DNA is known as? 16. The flow of blood through your heart and around your body is called? 17. The bones around your chest that protect organs such as the heart are called what? 18. What is the name of the long pipe that shifts food from the back of your throat down to your stomach? 19. True or false? Your ears are important when it comes to staying balanced. 20. The outside layer of skin on the human body is called the?

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General Knowledge Answers

1. Marvin 2. Oxford Street 3. Charles M. Schulz 4. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation

5. 15 6. Libra 7. William Shakespeare (in 1964) 8. Emerald 9. Knot 10. Signs and symbols

On this day in history

27 Jan, 1967 – Apollo 1 27th January, 1967 : Three astronauts aboard Apollo 1 ( Virgil I. Grissom, Edward H. White II and Roger B. Chaffee ) die while still on the launch pad as they are practicing for a two-week mission in space. 27 Jan, 1985 – Coca Cola Coca Cola starts distribution in the Soviet Union 12 years after Pepsi 1981 - U.S. President Reagan greeted the 52 former American hostages released by Iran at the White House. 27 Jan, 1967 – Astronauts killed at Cape Canaveral. At Cape Kennedy, FL, astronauts Virgil I. “Gus” Grissom, Edward H. White and Roger B. Chaffee died in a flash fire during a test aboard their Apollo I spacecraft. 27 Jan, 1945 – Nazi Genocide The Russians liberated Auschwitz concentration camp, where the Nazis had killed over 1.5 million people, including over 1 million Jews.

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Meat 6.01: Mughlai Mutton

Melt in the mouth mutton, marinated in yoghurt, and slowcooked with spices

Introduction

nother delightful gem of a dish, this is a gift of the royal dynasties who made India their home. The strong, gamey flavour of mutton is well suited to this elaborate preparation. The cooking method works to soften the meat, while the use of a variety of spices adds complexity. This recipe brings the mighty Mughlai (royal) mutton to the home kitchen in style.

Features Preparation Time: 10 minutes (Plus marination time: 1 hour or overnight) Cooking Time: 45 minutes Serves / Makes: 4 Tastes: [on icon of spice meter] [Mild / Medium / Spicy / Hot] Medium

Ingredients • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

For the marinade 700g mutton pieces, on the bone ½ cup thick plain yoghurt (or Greek yoghurt) 1 tsp. salt or to taste For the gravy 10 green cardamom seeds (choti elaichi) 4 black cardamom seeds (badi elaichi) 4 whole red chillies 2 bay leaves 2 large onions, grated 2 large tomatoes, chopped 5 tbsp. ginger paste 5 tbsp. garlic paste ½ tsp. red chilli powder 5 tsp. coriander powder ½ tsp. turmeric powder 2 tsp. cumin powder 2 tbsp. water 2 tbsp. oil, for cooking Salt to taste

Method For the marinade Clean, wash, and cut mutton into bite-sized pieces. Whisk yoghurt in a bowl, add salt, stir,

Sitting for long can age women faster E

lderly women who sit for more than 10 hours a day with low physical activity have cells that are biologically older by eight years compared to women who are less sedentary, a new study has found. Researchers from University of California (UC) found that women who have a sedentary lifestyle have cells that are biologically older and invite cardiovascular diseases and diabetes as compared to women who are active and exercise regularly. “Our study found cells Our study found age faster with a sedentary cells age faster lifestyle. Chronological with a sedentary age doesn’t always match lifestyle. Chronobiological age,” said As a cell ages, its telomeres naturally logical age doesn’t lead researcher Aladdin shorten and fray and make a body prone always match bioShadyab from UC. to cardiovascular disease, diabetes and logical age Elderly women with less major cancers. than 40 minutes of moderate“We found that women who sat longer to-vigorous physical activity per day did not have shorter telomere length if they and who remain sedentary for more than 10 exercised for at least 30 minutes a day, the hours per day have shorter telomeres—tiny national recommended guideline,” said caps found on the ends of DNA strands that Shadyab in a study published in the American protect chromosomes from deterioration and Journal of Epidemiology. progressively shorten with age.

add mutton pieces, and mix well to coat evenly. Cover and keep aside for at least one hour or overnight. For the curry Heat the oil in a heavy-bottomed pan on medium heat. Add green cardamom, black cardamom, and bay leaves. Sauté over medium heat for 10 seconds. Add onions and sauté until it turns light brown. Add the garlic paste, stir, add ginger paste, stir, and then cook until the moisture has evaporated. Lower the flame, add coriander powder, red chilli powder, and turmeric powder to the onion

masala, and stir well. Add the mutton along with its marinade and fry on a high flame for two to three minutes to brown the meat. Add the tomatoes and sauté until they are soft and the mutton is well coated with the masala. Add the cumin powder and whole red chillies, stir for a minute. Adjust the seasoning. Add 2 tbsp. water to the mutton, stir, then lower the heat, cover, and simmer until tender. Stir at regular intervals to ensure it does not stick to the pan (you can add more water to the mutton if it’s too dry, as you prefer). Serve hot with the bread of your choice.

Low protein levels may up kidney function decline in elderly

lder adults with low blood levels of a circulating protein in the blood may be at an increased risk of experiencing decline in their kidney function, a study has found. The findings showed that higher blood levels of a protein called soluble klotho—with anti-ageing properties—may help preserve kidney function. “We found a strong association between low soluble klotho and decline in kidney function, independent of many known risk factors for kidney function decline,” said David Drew from Tufts University in Massachusetts, US. The kidney has the highest levels of klotho expression and is likely the major source of soluble klotho, and thus, in patients with kidney disease levels of klotho tend to be low. Although the exact mechanism of action of soluble klotho remains to be identified, the protein has been shown to influence multiple cellular and endocrine pathways, the researchers said. After adjusting for various factors such as demographics, comorbidities, and kidney disease risk factors, each two-fold higher level of klotho was linked with a 15-20 per cent lower likelihood of experiencing kidney function

decline in the elderly. “This suggests that klotho could play a role in the development of chronic kidney disease and also raises the possibility that klotho could be an important therapeutic target for future clinical trials,” Drew added. For the study, the team analysed 2496 study elderly with measures of soluble serum klotho and repeated measures of kidney function over 10 years of follow up. Although additional studies are needed, the findings point to a potential target for preventing and treating kidney disease, the researchers stated. The study is forthcoming in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN).

Every meal triggers inflammation that may protect us

very time we eat food, it may trigger an inflammatory response that acts as a protective mechanism to fight the bacteria consumed along with the food, a study has found. The findings showed that this inflammatory response, which acts as a protective mechanism, fails in overweight individuals leading to diabetes. On the other hand, in

healthy individuals, short-term inflammatory responses play an important role in sugar uptake and the activation of the immune system. The study, led by researchers at the University of Basel in Switzerland, showed that depending on the concentration of glucose in the blood, the number of macrophages—a type of immune cell or “scavenger cells”— around the intestines increases during meal times and produces the messenger substance

Interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta). This stimulates insulin production in pancreatic beta cells and prompts the macrophages to increase IL1beta production. Insulin and IL-1beta work together to regulate blood sugar levels while IL-1beta ensures that the immune system is supplied with glucose and thus remains active. This mechanism of the metabolism and immune system is dependent on the bacteria and nutrients that are ingested during meals,

the researchers said. With sufficient nutrients, the immune system is able to adequately combat foreign bacteria, said Erez Dror from the university. Conversely, when there is a lack of nutrients, the few remaining calories must be conserved for important life functions at the expense of an immune response, Dror added. The study was published in the journal Nature Immunology.

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27 January 2017 | www.iwk.co.nz

January 27 to February 2 | By Manisha Koushik ¡¡ Aries (Mar 21-Apr 20)

¡¡ Cancer (Jun 22-Jul 20)

Manisha Koushik is a practicing astrologer, tarot card reader, numerologist, vastu and fengshui consultant based in India with a global presence through the online channels. She is available for consultations online as well. E-mail her at support@ askmanisha.com or contact at +91-11-26449898 Mobile/ Whatsapp: +919015607139 • www.askmanisha.com

¡¡ Libra (Sep 24-Oct 23)

This is a good time for brainstorming, sharing ideas, and reaching a group consensus. Be more flexible in listening to what others have to say as it can help improving your intellect and thought the process in the long run. Delegating work among the colleagues will prove beneficial in delivering results at the desired deadlines. Do not let unimportant issues distract you and prevent you from achieving your goals. Spending time with loved ones will help you stay calm.

You may feel a bit off key this week, so don’t waste your time on activities that require deliberation. Don’t be impulsive in giving up if you hit unexpected challenges; rather focus on the long term benefits and be determined to find solutions. Appreciating your life partner or planning a special evening with them will improve your love life. Advice regarding financial matters will prove to be fruitful. Minor differences with close friends are possible.

Lucky number: 8 / Lucky colour: Lavender

Lucky number: 3 / Lucky colour: Maroon

¡¡Taurus (Apr 21-May 20)

¡¡ Leo (Jul 21-Aug 22)

Think twice before you speak this week as the bond with your professional associates depends entirely on your communication with them. Your ability to correctly read the subtle details will make you popular among your colleagues. Be patient and hear everyone out even if you disagree with their objectives and opinions. Romance is good and can get better if you are willing to play a supportive role. Financially, not a very favourable time; so stay away from speculation.

New business ideas will be welcomed but you need to check if you have appropriate resources in place to implement them. Focus on the small but important details to avoid the last minute confusions or delays. Avoid carrying pending tasks at home, if the health doesn’t allow doing so. Romantic relationships will be good. The health of the spouse may need attention. Relatives seem to support your ideas for expansion. Huge financial gains are foreseen.

Lucky number: 9 / Lucky colour: Purple

Lucky number: 11 / Lucky colour: Beige

¡¡ Gemini (May 21-Jun 21)

¡¡ Virgo (Aug 23-Sep 23)

Your creative and enterprising spirit allows you to focus on your goals with more determination and strength now. Distractions and interruptions will not prevent you from accomplishing what you have planned for yourself. Love life can be little tense if you are unable to give time to your partner. You may feel the need for some space and time for yourself to relax and unwind. Gains from investments or other sources are likely.

Stress would be easier to deal with as long as you stay physically fit. This period is a mixed bag. It may find you slogging to finish pending work on the professional front. Be extremely cautious before signing any important documents this week. Lover makes you feel happy by doing small things to spice up the love life. Those planning a vehicle need not worry about loans. Opt the colour silver if buying it this week. Some of you can begin with their driving lessons.

Lucky number: 15 / Lucky colour: Violet

Lucky number: 15 / Lucky colour: Light grey

It is the right time to reunite with friends you have lost contact with. Leave aside the differences you had in the past and try to sort things out amicably. Big projects are accomplished easily as your confidence lifts up. Someone may avoid you on the social front due to your overbearing nature. Your spendthrift nature may frustrate those around you. A lifestyle disease can play up if you are not regular in taking medication. Lucky number: 18 / Lucky colour: Chocolate

¡¡ Scorpio (Oct 24-Nov 22)

Lucky number: 2 / Lucky colour: Light grey

¡¡ Aquarius (Jan 22-Feb 19) You are likely to be full of energy and determination in this week, and this helps you sail through the challenges coming your way without much effort. If you have a liking for someone; express your feelings only if you are sure of the similar feelings at the other end. You will feel the difference in your fitness by adopting an exercise regimen. Cash inflow is seen to be obstructed somehow. Drive carefully and don’t take chances on the road.

Lucky number: 1 / Lucky colour: Light red

Lucky number: 22 / Lucky colour: Dark slate grey

¡¡ Sagittarius (Nov 23-Dec 21)

¡¡ Pisces (Feb 20-Mar 20)

Love life is set to improve through mutual efforts. An overseas journey will prove most enjoyable. There is a good chance of firming a property deal that you had been longing for. Superiors on the work front may commend you for the good work done. Romantic relationships could go through some tense moments. Discussing the issues with your partner seems productive; you may be able to benefit from their insights and advice. Lucky number: 18 / Lucky colour: Coffee

Innovative ideas and out of box thinking will help you stay ahead of the crowd. Be assertive and diplomatic when dealing with domestic issues. Property related matters need to be sought with more concern and research. Singles need to be clear about their expectations and concerns from potential relationships in order to avoid disappointments later. New contacts act as a reservoir of more opportunities. Socialising with close friends will be on your list of priorities this weekend. Lucky number: 15 / Lucky colour: Dark red

for destitute women who cannot fend for themselves. Other than rendering social services to the needy, Sri Swamiji has deep compassion towards the flora and fauna. This can be felt by one when walking into the Datta Peetham Ashram in Mysore. One will be enveloped by the sense of tranquillity and calmness in that place, on top of that, your senses will be flooded with the beautiful greenery and chirping of the birds in the ashram. Sri Swamiji has set up a bonsai garden called the Kishkindha Moolika Bonsai Garden. This garden has more than 450 carefully shaped and miniaturized trees from all over the world. Furthermore, there are other gardens such as the Herbal and Nakshatra Garden which has myriad type of herbs and plants that corresponds to the 27 stars. The other biggest charm of the Ashram is the Shuka Vana. The Shuka Vana is a rehabilitation centre for parrots. This park has numerous rare and colourful species of parrots

¡¡ MOLLY PALANIEAPPAN DATTA YOGA CENTRE NZ

Hence, there are many seers and spiritual teachers that have taken it upon themselves to guide us to fulfil our dharma. One such seer is Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji from Mysore, India. Sri Swamiji has been preaching the importance of social service as a means to reach

A silent conspiracy may rage behind your back at work. As a result, you may have to sit for long hours in the office to complete an urgent task. Those looking for a suitable job will find one. Financially, some good news will take you by surprise. Some of you may complain about a stomach ache. Romantic relationships will be stable overall though minor tensions cannot be ruled out. Business travel is indicated for bureaucrats; keep the important documents handy.

Work hard to find ways to keep yourself updated with the latest developments in your area of interest as this will enhance your career prospects. Set your pace, if you want to expand your business horizons. Your hopes and aspirations are likely to receive a boost as the much-awaited property deal materialises. Communication with the spouse will be more free and relaxed than before. Make use of number 7, if purchasing a vehicle.

Music the Soul of Compassion ur Indian scriptures emphasizes that one should fulfil their dharma. In this day and age, the word dharma has been used interchangeably with the word religion or morality, however, this does not depict its true meaning. Dharma can be translated as one’s duty in leading a righteous life in harmony with the natural laws. This is also the principal teachings of Lord Dattatreya (the incarnation of the Trinity; Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara) which can be simplified to seeing divinity in all beings and to conduct one’s duty as a human being by nourishing the gods and ancestors, providing to the needy beings and other living beings and serving seers and brahmanas. The biggest burden that we have now is discerning which practices are consistent with dharma.

¡¡ Capricorn (Dec 22-Jan 21)

divinity and to fulfil one’s dharmic duty. A few of the social services that Sri Swamiji has established are SGS Vaidya Seva, which is a medical camp organised by dedicated professionals to provide free services to the needy and poor in the city and rural areas; Ammavodi, a rehabilitation centre

from around the world. Shuka Vana has the latest facilities to give shelter and care for the injured and uncared birds with an abundance of commitment and compassion from the veterinaries and the volunteers. Based on ancient Indian texts, parrots has the ability to travel into spiritual dimensions and convey essential nourishments to departed human souls. There are also parrots that symbolizes the zodiac signs, planetary and musical notes. Caring for the parrots such as by feeding, housing, training and health maintenance will enhance an individual’s worldly and spiritual live.

Sri Swamiji with his unconditional love will be conducting a Music for Meditation and Healing Concert in Auckland on the 4th of February. This concert will be held at the Dorothy Winstone Theatre. Do not miss this extraordinary musical evening which would benefit one and all.

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Inviting nominations for Kiwi Indian Honours 2017 K IW

I I NDI A

The guidelines, which need to be adhered to, for nominations, are as follows: 1.

He/she needs to have an undisputable recognition in his or her field of work. 2. Nominated by a nominator of repute. Further, the nominator has to be in confirmation with the nominee. 3. The nominator has to provide their full contact details. No anonymous applications will be accepted. 4. All fields of work are welcome (e.g. politics, business, sports, art, culture, or any other profession. 5. The definition of Kiwi Indian, for the purposes of this award, is defined as follows: any person of Indian origin, from any part of the world, who has settled here in New Zealand. To be of Indian origin, at least one of the parents of the nominee have to be Indian, by blood, thereby making the nominee of Indian lineage. 6. The nominee must have either a Permanent Residency (PR), or Citizenship of New Zealand to be eligible for consideration. 7. The nominee should have no prior convictions. 8. For minors, under the age of 18, parental consent will be required. 9. The successful candidate, will be required to attend the ceremony in person. In case a person is not able to attend, due to any unforeseen circumstances, the jury will use its discretion. 10. The juryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decision will be final and binding; and cannot be challenged.

Established 2013

The Kiwi Indian Honours recognise those individuals who have built a road to glory for themselves and left a path for the coming generations to tread on; who have touched the lives of thousands and enriched the society with their being; who have brought fame and respect to New Zealand and the Kiwi-Indian community. The Indian Weekender invites nominations for such personalities from the community for getting inducted into the Kiwi Indian Hall of Fame 2017. We also invite nominations for Kiwi Indian Young Achiever of the Year and Kiwi Indian Unsung Hero of the Year 2017. Nominate Online: visit www.iwk.nz or www.halloffame.co.nz to nominate Post your nominations: Fill this form and post it to use at the address given below.

ENTRY FORM: Form for nominating candidates for Kiwi Indian Honours 2017

Nominator Details

Nominee Details

Name of the nominator

Name of the nominee

Please fill and post it to the address below

About the Nominee For how long have you known the nominee?

Professional details of the nominator

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Address & Contact number of nominator